Davir's lived his whole life hunting Cloud Stepping Rams on the slopes of Cloud-Burst mountain, so he can say with certainty that the cave before him hadn't been there last season.
Curiosity tickled him however his senses told him going into this cave would be a bad idea, but Davir has never retreated when something piqued his interest. So he slowly made his way towards the cave, a slight chill brushing against his face as he stood at the cave's mouth, he squinted into the darkness hoping to see anything which might prove to be a threat. Not seeing anything with his sight he made his way down the path leading into the depths of the cave, honestly hoping he wasn’t making a terrible decision by entering this cave.
Walking along the wide twisting tunnel, Davir felt the Mana around him rapidly thinning the further he moved into the cave reinforcing the notion of this cave being dangerous. Having reached a point where he couldn't see anymore he used Hunter's Vision, allowing him to see in the dark as if it were day. Having activated his skill, he continued down the tunnel at which point the air was practically devoid of Mana making his hunting instinct scream at him to leave this place before it would become his tomb. However, Davir stubbornly marched on, entering his sight was an opening which he hastily made his way towards hoping it would be the end of this cave, the moment he stepped through this opening he saw a yellow flash out of the corner of his eye.
Davir nimbly rolled forward narrowly dodging the attack aimed directly at him. Twirling in the direction of his attacker Davir got to observe what had tried to take his life, standing at one and a half meters in height with a length of 3 meters, the sight of a bear with lightning arcing across its black fur greeted his eyes.
Cursing under his breath at his luck Davir's thoughts turned to ways of escaping the Storm Hide Bear before him. Warily watching the bear pull its paw out of the wall it had hit when he dodged, he watched it veering his way, immediately Davir drew his bow and nocked an arrow ready to shoot at any given opportunity. As they gazed at each other, neither wanted to give their opponent an opening, so this standoff continued until Davir took a chance and shot at the bear's eye hoping to distract it long enough to escape. Unfortunately the moment he let his arrow fly, the bear vanished from its position due to its extreme speed.
Davir could only twist to his left as the claws raked his waist tearing large gashes which bled profusely as he bolted towards the exit, gnashing his teeth in pain. Behind him, he heard the bear smash into the wall again, unable to control its own maddening speed, and by the time it freed itself, Davir had long left the cave hastening back to town with a warning.
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Elsewhere in an enormous white castle with onyx trimmings, a dazzling young man with golden hair, sharp facial features contrasted by a kind smile, warmth, and compassion could be seen as he greeted the servants cleaning the halls with them returning bows and continuing their tasks bearing smiles on their faces. As he reached his destination, the young man's aura turned from its previous tenderness into an atmosphere embodying cold contempt towards the large onyx doors standing before him engraved with golden depictions of heroism, freedom, and courage everything he felt the current Empire lacked and needed. Ending his line of thoughts, he stood waiting to be invited inside.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
"Come in Silfus." hearing the loud, hoarse voice calling him inside Silfus pushed the doors open walking gracefully in the direction of a man sitting on massive gold throne trimmed with Star Rubies and engraved with the same depictions as the onyx doors behind him, reaching the throne he knelt before the one perched on the throne.
"You've called father?" Silfus asked in a cold tone making no effort to hide his contempt.
His father gaze's inspected him briefly before telling why he'd called him before the throne, "You've still no wish to be a commander, I take it?", Silfus instantly snorted when he heard this, "Father, our people, die by wild beasts, pillaging orcs, and marauding goblins yet we fight the Theocracy to the west! Tell me, when will we deal with these threats? After we've won? The war is nowhere near its end, and unless we make peace with the Theocracy, our Empire will crumble before the war can end!", Listening to his son's outburst his expression hardened as he replied, "You care for these commoners so much? Then go to O'te Nill at the base of Cloud-Burst mountain there's been reports of a Storm Hide Bear being sighted there, and if you care so much for these commoners, you'll have no problem dealing with it alone."
Hearing the task, he'd been given Silfus's expression turned ashen knowing he couldn't fight a Storm Hide Bear and live; his level only sat at 37 whereas he would need to be around level 80-82 to take one on alone, thinking this he rapidly spoke up, "Father! You know my level is only 37, are you trying to send me to my death?"
Just as he finished saying this his father's voice thundered out, "You'll take Kace with you as your aid and no one else! Now begone!"
Straightaway Silfus spun on his heel, knowing there was nothing else to be said, and strode out of the throne room, not sparing an extra glance towards his father. As he walked along the halls, he cursed his father in his mind as he made his way towards his quarters.
Reaching his quarters, he was greeted by the aged voice of his butler Kace, whom he felt had been more of a father towards him than his actual one, "How was the meeting, young master Sil?", Silfus shook his head, "Terrible Kace we've been assigned a suicidal task by my mad father. One I fear might be too much for you and me to do any good." Kace sighed regretfully wishing he'd been a hundred years younger to aid Silfus without being a burden upon his young liege.
"Kace, prepare a carriage we'll depart at noon and arrive at O'te Nill by the morrow." Kace bowed leaving to fulfill his assignment.
As Silfus stood on one of his quarter's balcony gazing at the heavens, he prayed he would succeed in slaying the Storm Hide Bear which threatened the Town of O'te Nill, and prove to his father that he would accomplish and stand by his ideals.