Dawn was approaching. Koh had already packed up, ate a small meal with his family, and was leaving for the eastern region. He had told everyone not to worry and that he was going to be fine. And deep down, he believed it. He had reached the second stage earlier than anyone else in the village. The Beast Hunters had said his ability with the spear was better than what was expected for a child his age. Besides for Sana, there wasn’t anyone around his age stronger than him. No, he was ready. He could feel it. He channeled the chi from his heart to his legs and started running into the forest.
He would have to find the pack, kill the leader, and return home all within a week. For a child his age, this would be impossible. For a child his age from this village, this would be difficult. For a child, his age from his village, with his talent, this would be a challenge. He reviewed the information about the hunt. His prey was in the eastern region. The East Forest. The pack’s leader was in the second stage but did not have an attunement. There were about six other wolves in the pack, two were in the first stage. The pack had recently started encroaching ever so closer to the area and needed to be put down. The mission was to hunt the leader, grab its canine, and return home safely.
‘Doable but difficult’. He thought as he left toward the eastern entrance.
Going deeper in the East Forest, Koh marveled at the size of the trees.
He may not have been the most attentive student, but when it came to lectures involving the hunt and the forest, he was alert and willing to learn. The Elder Trees had been around for a long time, a very long time. It was these trees that gave the village life and protection. The trees were used to build houses and weapons - his training spear was made from these trees. These trees were the very same used to build his house. Some trees gained strength from spirits allowing them to become Spirit Trees. And the logs from those would create powerful weapons and wood works. The Elder Trees were the foundation for which the village could thrive. While dangers were aplenty, opportunity existed for those daring enough to take. And taking care of the forest was each villager’s responsibility. Without it, there would be no village. And it was in this eastern region of the forest, among the Elder Trees, he would find his hunt.
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“Hmm, this plant must be the poisonous Drebel. I can see tracks around it. But there are no signs of animal life near it. That must mean I’m close.” Koh wondered aloud.
The Drebel plant was a potent poison for most living creatures. It was avoided by nearly everyone and every beast - except for the most insidious of creatures. Knowing that the plants around it didn’t look like they were being grazed, Koh could tell he was in the right location. Creatures in the forest had their own territory. The Beast Hunters updated the territory of powerful beasts every time they went out. They put their findings on the notice board in the middle of the village. The eastern region was home to a wide variety of creatures, and had the most diversity compared to the other regions, with an ever-changing territorial map. It was difficult to track which beast had control over the area so Beast Hunters would occasionally be required to check. Otherwise, danger could befall any traveler or so how the tales go.
Koh’s knowledge of the forest was enough to be considered for training to become a Beast Hunter. He knew the Drebel plant attracted poisonous beasts, prey the wolves had to hunt. Otherwise, the poison could destroy their food source.
The sun was beginning to set and Koh was in the deeper regions of the forest. He was certain the wolves would be in this area. Now he just needed to find camp. His wind attunement helped conceal his movements and conserve his chi - he stayed silent as he moved through the forest and avoided getting into any battles. He was able to find a suitable spot a short distance further away from the plant.
Unfortunately, he wouldn’t be able to conserve his chi any longer. He expected it. Every villager knew the saying from an early age; stay too long in the forest, and the forest will eat you.
A snake the length of six spears wrapped around an Elder Tree. The snake was dark green with black markings across its body blending in with the leaves of the forest and the shadows under the shade. Its eyes the color of crimson and those eyes stared right at Koh. Hissing. The serpent's eyes glowed and poison dripped from its fangs.
‘A Stage two Snake with Poison attunement. This was going to be difficult’.
Koh’s chi flared into his legs as he launched himself at the snake. The spear in his hands thrusted out towards the snake’s head. Koh missed as the snake dodged his strike. The Elder Tree was pierced with a hole left in its trunk as the spear retracted to block the snake’s tail. Koh could feel the force of the snake and staggered backwards. His enemy’s mouth opened, hissing, and poison spread out in a fan towards him. Koh jumped back to avoid it. The ground he was standing on started deteriorating.
‘Acid?’ The green grass turned dark and eventually black and withered away.
Chi filled not just his legs but his hands this time, clearly straining the boy. He thrusted his spear with a much greater force than before - faster even. The snake was clearly surprised by the speed of the spear and could barely dodge out of the way. Somehow the spear changed direction mid strike and landed on the snake’s body. Blood started pouring out of the snake.
It was incensed. It had to hide from the wolves in its own territory. And now a child had pierced his scales. Mist started coming from its mouth, slowly covering the area.
Koh realized what was happening and immediately started spinning his spear with his wind-tuned chi around him - trying to blow the mist away. The area around the mist also turned black. And green life started withering away. He lost sight of the snake in the mist. But he could hear it. He could hear the snake hiding, slithering behind the trees and then no more. The snake left. As quickly as it came, leaving a trail of blood.
Koh contemplated chasing after it. But the sky was getting dark, and he had used up almost half his chi. No, he needed to set up camp, recover, and put down his ward. He grabbed his fire stones and injected his chi into them. The stones glowed and heat was emitted. A spark formed from the branches Koh placed near each stone. A fire emerged from the area. He opened his bag and started chewing on his jerky and drinking from his water flask. Tomorrow he’d find the wolves, but tonight he needed to rest.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
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“Kai Rak, can you feel the spirits? What are they saying?”
“I can see them. I can hear them. I can FEEL them! It’s warm.” Kai responded to a figure wearing a robe.
“Can you ask the spirits for protection during their trip?” Said the robe figure while gesturing to the other person in the tent, a massive man with tanned skin, tattoos, and kneeling.
“They hear you. You will have the minor protection of a bear spirit. Your journey will be smooth.”
“Thank the Spirits!” Bowed the warrior as he left the tent.
“Your communication with the spirits has gotten stronger. You are able to provide minor blessings now. In a month’s time, you will undergo the Seer’s test where you will also have your first tattoo.”
“Thank you Elder Sha.”
Elder Sha had seen the talented Kai Rak a few days ago. She wouldn’t have chosen to train him so soon and for such a short period if he wasn’t so skilled. The spirits seemed to love him. She sighed as she thought of Koh - who had dozed off in her class more than a couple of times. As an elder, she didn’t have to teach classes but as only three Seers existed in the village, she thought it best if she did.
‘They’re both so talented and so young. The village is in good hands with those two. And Sana.
Maybe my generation can pass on all our skills to these young kids.’ She thought as she stared at the fidgeting young boy, her silver hair seeming to move on its own. He was as tall as his brother but they were very different both mentally and physically. Kai seemed to always be nervous, fearful even. The younger brother had a skinny build and occasionally dark circles under his eyes. Koh, on the other hand, seemed fearless, ready to take on anything in the forest. His body had started developing muscles and there was no questioning his tenacity.
‘Yet with their talents, and their parents' indulgent nature, these two could be a pillar of the village for years to come. Or the biggest headaches.’ She thought.
And so she stared at the young boy in front of her, knowing he had something he wanted to ask.
“Can you see if my brother is alright?” Kai asked nervously, almost whispering.
“It’s only been two days since he left. And you want me to invoke the spirits for that?” She said with a raised eyebrow. Her blue eyes warned him of the folly of this endeavor.
“No, master, I guess not.” He was confident his brother could defeat the pack of wolves. But the forest was home to creatures that even the strongest warriors in the village couldn’t hope to kill. The massive warrior who was in the tent before would struggle by himself in the eastern region. Now a boy his own age had to go in there to survive and hunt a predator. This was enough to scare the elder’s pupil.
“You have yet to reach the second stage in your chi cultivation and your body is not in balance with your soul. I recommend worrying about yourself before worrying about your brother.” She said before looking at the entrance of their tent.
“Hello, Elder Sha, Disciple Kai.” A young girl walked in lowering her head to the inhabitants of the Seer’s tent.
“Hello Sister Sana.” replied Kai.
Sana’s cheeks got a little bit hotter. “I’m not your sister….yet.” Moving her arms around in an odd motion.
“Oh, to think you’re already thinking about such things Sana. Might I ask why you’ve come to see me?” Said Elder Sha, amused at the relationship between this girl and the Rak brothers.
“Mother wanted an audience and asked me to come get you.” Sana's cheeks were bright red at this point.
“Of course, I will go see the Grand Elder now. Kai, I recommend you train up to the second stage before you commune with the spirits again. Train with a different weapon than your staff.”
“Yes master, I will see you tomorrow.” Kai replied, bowing to his master.
Elder Sha left the tent and left the two alone. She was worried. The Grand Elder hadn’t requested to see her personally for a long time.
‘What could be happening?’
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Kai and Sana made their way to the warriors’ section of the village. They were obviously discussing one of the two things they had in common - Koh.
“When do you think he’ll be back?”
“I wish I could ask the spirits for the answer. I can only hope he comes back alive.”
“You worry too much, he’ll be fine. Hey, is that Teira? I think she likes you.”
Kai looked at a girl in the warrior’s camp. Her hair was light brown and her eyes blue. She was about Kai’s height but not his build. She had more muscles and her body exuded the ferocity of the warriors in the village. She was also two years older than the 13 year old boy, considered an adult in the village. She had tattoos on each of her arms. The marks matching the other man in the ring, though he had his markings on his face. In her hand was a sword and across from her was the other warrior with an axe and a shield.
They were exchanging blows and it looked like they’d be fighting for a while. Sweat dripped from their bodies.
‘Sweat’. Kai gulped as he noticed he was staring.
“I don’t know… she’s just nice to everyone. ” Kai said, walking a little bit faster to the camp. Teira was an adult and a warrior. And she had two tattoos. Her standing was much higher than him. At least until he became a Seer.
“Yea, I’m sure she is. So what weapon are you going to train with?”
“Master says my lack of strength is what’s keeping me from reaching the second stage, so something heavy that I have to carry would be nice. A hammer might work.”
They reached the weapon’s rack in the camp and saw more warriors training than they’ve ever had, albeit they were only 13 and had been around the warrior camp for 3 years.
“Is something happening?” Kai asked. Looking around nervously.
“We’ll find out soon.” Sana said. Not wanting to add more pressure to the worry wart.
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Koh followed the pack’s trail. He’d been trying to find a place to ambush them but he was worried about getting too close. His wind attunement let him dampen the noises he’d make but he was worried about his smell. Additionally he was trying not to run into other creatures. It was already tough to survive against a beast in the forest, trying to fight against multiple beasts would be the end for any warrior. The wolves were exactly as Beast Hunter Mur had told him.
‘The Beast Hunters’ information was always good. You don’t survive in the forest without it’. Koh reminded himself.
He had a plan now and was just waiting for the wolves to take the bait. Although he wasn’t great with traps, they would have probably been very helpful with this plan. However, in the forest, sometimes luck and ingenuity were better than traps. But he still wished he had brought some. He had spotted them a few hours ago and, now, it was time to start his hunt.