Lucas strapped on his leather belt. Pulling out a dagger from its sheath reconfirming its sharpness and place them on the scabbard on his belt. Lucas placed his quiver and arrows on the other side and looped his short bow around his shoulder, perfecting the hunting attire by slipping in a leather bracer on his right forearm completely readying himself for another routine hunt.

'Lucas, I want to join the hunt too'.

"Eh?".

'I mean, I shouldn't burden you too much. You had to hunt more and do more work since I came here. Let me help'.

Lucas scratched his neck upon hearing my request. He seems contemplating about it. He looked at me up and down, judging my small figure that doesn't seem suited for hunting at all. He never thought about letting me hunt. After all, he has this mindset that he had the responsibility to take care of me. He's reluctant about it but still agrees on letting me join. If you think about it, Lucas is only 10 years old but had hunted earlier with his dad in earlier age for sure.

"Alright. Let's go to Mr Roswell to get a bow for-"

Lucas temporarily forgets that I can't use my non existent hands. After all, I actually act like I have one using my magical threads.

I can guess why he stopped midway.

'I can try to hold a bow using my magic'.

I confidently told him. In any case, I am not really worried to fight againts small beasts. The lepus (rabbit beast), at least from the corpse that Lucas brought back look easy to fight. But theorising about the nature of rabbits, they might just run away and that would be a major problem. I have never used a bow either. But if they are aggressive and actually tried to attack me, my self healing skill is too inhuman that I could just use my body as bait and capture them with my magic while they bite me. I quickly shudder waving away those desperate ideas. No, I should care for myself a bit more.

Lucas agreed and bring us to the only blacksmith in the village, Mr Roswell. His wife, Mrs Lisandra or just Lisa can sew leathers and make clothing from fabrics, furs and beast pelts while her husband handles most of the metal work. They had a son working as blacksmith and a daughter who was a scholar in the city.

Passing through the village square, we eventually reaches the workshop.

Mrs Lisa greeted us and brought us into the building. Mr Roswell was sitting while carving thin pieces of wood to make arrows. He stopped his carving motion and walked towards us.

'Oh, Lucas. Here for more arrows?'.

"Mmm, yes. And I need a bow for Bell too Mr Roswell".

Lucas grabbed by shoulder, telling the blacksmith the bow was for me. The man with thick mustache have a questioning look, seeing my petite body and the main reason he doubted me was that he don't think I can hold a bow for obvious reason.

I understood his thoughts, and thus I did a quick presentation of my magic.

'Mr Roswell, I can use try to use magic to hold the bow'.

Blue glows surrounds my hand and threads made of mana grows wrapping my hands to show its capabilities to Mr Roswell. Upon seeing this, he had a surprise look just like Lucas and Mrs Rachel when they first saw it. In agreement, he walk towards one of the glass cabinet, taking out the short bow displayed in it that looked just like Lucas's. He brought it to us and suggested for me to try holding and shooting with it.

We followed Mr Roswell outside to test the bow by shooting at the nearby tree 20m away from us. Mr Roswell handed me the bow and an arrow. With some focus, I wrapped the bow with the magic firmly tying it to hand. I took the arrow and placed them on the bowstring. I tried to pull it but it the bowstring only stretched halfway due to my weak muscles. Well, with quick thoughts I used my magic to add more pulling strength onto the arrow, pulling it back with sufficient force.

I was almost happy that it works until I realised my bow is not stable and keep moving left and right. I can't shoot the arrow like this. My threads of magic can at least hold a mug and a bowl just fine. It was fluid in character unless I apply tension to it but even then it cannot be completely stiff to be able to hold the bow firmly with a single hand, while having an arrow pulling the bowstring.

I did have an idea to make the bow stay still by pinning spikes of mana to the ground or trees then apply tension from all direction. I could make a makeshift ballista. But the problem was I will have to set it up every time I want to use it.

Probably someday I would use this technique to shoot a super big arrow and screams Ultimate Arrow or something but this ain't it.

Mr Roswell and Lucas have the same opinion as I did. Mr Roswell sighed and shook his head. I eventually gave the bow back to Mr Roswell. But I won't give up just yet! There must be a weapon suited for me here. We came back into the building and I immediately searched around until I see it. Yes. THIS IS IT!

A small thin star shaped metal, a shuriken or some may call it throwing stars. I quickly tell Mr Roswell I wanted to try them out. With another sigh he took them out from display. He told us it originally was made for a custom order by a customer who originated from Kanto, a region from an Eastern country far across the sea.

With the dark-brown tree 20m away as my target, I tie the throwing star through its hole, letting it dangle around my hand. I casted a swirling motion spinning the star in a circular motion ready to throw. Lucas and Mr Roswell took a step back afraid that it would accidently fly out.

Using the momentum of the swing, I made a swinging motion and release all tension from the strings in an instant. The shuriken flies out at incredible speed while spinning and it eventually reaches the target- and missed a meter away from hitting the bark. I tried to throw another one and this time I give it a little creativity.

With the same swinging motion, I threw it out with a thread of magic still attached to it. The magic thread grew longer as it catches up to the distance consuming little mana as it did so. As it reached close the bark, it seemed like it will miss again.

But behold, the technique inspired by a scene from this popular ninja anime. I applied some tension to the strings and swing my right arm to the left directing the travelling projectile to the target.

Thunk!

The throwing star hit the middle of the bark embedding the sharp object halfway through. An impressed sound escaped from Lucas who witnessed it. This isnt the end, I pulled back the object I threw by pulling in the thread of magic to retrieve them-

But I was dumb and the object shoot backward to me at incredible speed. I will get injured if it hit me! I wrapped my hands in thin layer of mana forming a thin shell. I blocked the projectile with them successfully. With a clang, the projectile drop to the snow beneath my feet.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

An 'Oopsie' escaped from my mouth.

It really is dangerous to retrieve them back that way. I took a look at Lucas and Mr Roswell. They had a worried, anxious, and spooked look on them. Mr Roswell told me off to not do that again. Sobs. But I convinced Mr Roswell that I won't. I learnt from my mistake.

Eventually, Mr Roswell let us go to hunt with throwing stars in my hand. Mr Roswell simply asked for one whole lepus from the hunt for the throwing stars. Thank you Mr Roswell.

I followed Lucas through into an area where some trees grew far apart from another. There's also some dark greenish clover like plant called furclove with tiny black flowers growing at the base of the trees. The plant thrives well in winter and was the source of food for rodents and lepus. Lepus was omnivorous and mostly choose meat but when there's no rats to eat they will eat the plant.

After walking some more distance, we finally sees a lepus. The creature really looked like a rabbit that I know of- an oversized rabbit with its 2 large teeth protruding out of its mouth. It was munching on the furclove not realising it was about to become prey.

Lucas took out his short bow looped around his shoulder, readying an arrow placing them on the bowstring. We sneakily went closer to it. Lucas direct his bow to the lepus, pulling the arrow stretching the bowstring with force. With one eye opened, focusing on the target Lucas released the arrow as it flies straight to the it with tremendous speed.

Thunk!

The arrow hit the body of lepus. The lepus tried to walk but fall over while whimpering. Lucas quickly went closer to the beast as I follows him behind. With a dagger sheathed in hand, Lucas placed the dagger on the beast's neck.

'May the white wolf bless the hunt'.

In a fast motion Lucas ended it's life as to not prolong its suffering. I asked Lucas about the words he spoke before he ended its life. Apparently, 'The White Wolf' is the guardian of the village. Villagers called him the white wolf, but its real name is Fenrir. The stories passed on from old folks say Fenrir was only seen in winter, in which he often protect villagers from intruding predators which were not local to the area looking for more food to eat. But it quickly disappears after giving his help adding more to its mystery.

Lucas and I walk another small distant and sees another lepus. This time, it was my turn to hunt it. Taking one throwing star from my leather pouch on my waist, I whirled the blade with speed and throw it towards the unbothered rabbit. Directing the projectile with magic, the shuriken hit its mark. The beast tried to run away but its movement was hindered by the pain. To prevent it from moving, I pour mana onto the magic thread, moving it to wrap around the beast's body, completely immobilising it.

We approached it closer and Lucas handed me his dagger. It was my first time ending an a life (when I was still sane). I looked at the whimpering beast, as if it begs me to end it. Without anymore hesitation, I placed the sharp edge over it's throat. Reciting the same 'prayer' as Lucas, I slashed it, completing the hunt. Lucas tied its legs with a rope just like the one before, carrying them with his hand. Lucas had a proud look, approving me my skills.

Lucas and I starts to walk back to the village. Lucas was satisfied looking at the prey we captured.

However. A loud squealing sound suddenly directed to our direction. Looking at our back, a big boar beast was staring at us menacingly! Two white tusks potrude from its mouth. His brown fur covers it whole, with some horizontal stripes of lighter color on its side.

'What is it doing here?!'

Lucas screamed out at the unexpected sight. The boar usually lives deeper in the forest. But there are rare times when boar is seen walking out of its usual territory. And one of those times is now!

With a grunt, the boar sweeps one of his front leg forward and backward, readying himself for a sprint. Lucas dropped the rabbits in hand and quickly took his bow out readying an arrow. The boar quickly rushes towards us with speed as Lucas launch his arrow towards it.

Thud!

It hit the body of the boar but it doesn't stop its movement. Lucas and I both jumped and rolled over to sides dodge the incoming boar as it crashes on a tree behind us.

The boar was only few meters in front of us. I quickly take out a throwing star, did 2 swinging motion and launch it to the boar hitting its body. The boar turned around and stares at me with anger, and readied itself for another rush. I took out another throwing star and threw it quickly hitting its eye.

The boar only gets angrier. It grunts and start to rush at me- but before it could move any distance I released more mana to wrap threads of mana around its front leg, causing it to trip and fall over. Lucas saw the chance and pull his arrow back.

Schiwkk!

An arrow buried deep into its skull. With that, the boar let out his last breath.

'Whew! We actually killed a boar. Its my first time killing one'. Lucas smiled proudly for his first boar hunt, taking a deep breath and releasing it. Then he turned around to look at me with a worried look.

'Are you okay?'.

He came over and hold my hands, moving them all over checking carefully around my body to see any injuries. Even if there was, it would have healed already. To be honest, I was a bit scared facing that boar. I most likely won't die but I don’t want to have those two long tusks piercing through me. It will be painful.

Looking into his eyes, I smiled at Lucas trying to lessen his worry.

"I am okay Lucas. Don't worry too much about me. I helped right?".

Lucas stood still for a second, letting go his hands from my shoulders.

'Oh- Um. Y-yeah, you did a good job'.

Lucas scratched his neck, muttering quietly while averting his eyes from me for some reason.

The boar was damn heavy. Lucas tied the boar legs and tied them onto a long stick. We hanged the stick on our shoulders carrying it together slowly back to the village. Its really tiring and my legs were shaking from the heaviness. Sobs. I am just 7 years old but I have to do this to not burden Lucas.

And so we return to village stopping by Mr Roswell workplace to give the promised lepus. Mr Roswell was surprised that we brought back a big boar. Lucas told the story of how I am good at throwing the shuriken and helped by tripping the boar over with magic, letting him give the final blow. Mr Roswell was amazed at our capabilities.

With a validating thoughtful eyes, he looked at me and held my hands.

"Child, I can make prosthetic arm for you. You can move them with magic. It takes a little practice to use but you can use a bow with it and make things easier. This boar and one more, and I will make it for you. How about it?".

I wanted to agree with it but hesitated. Its difficult to hunt a boar by myself and I don't want to drag Lucas into it.

Seeing me hesitating, Lucas nudged me with his hand.

'Mr Roswell, take the boar. We will hunt another later'.

Lucas turned to look at me and place his hand on my shoulder.

'Bell, you have me okay? We can hunt another boar together just like before. It will be easy'.

*Sniff*. Lucas is really nice.

And so, we agreed with Mr Roswell to trade boars for prosthetic arms.

We returned home and processes the lepus we hunted. Lucas taught me how to process them. First, it's skin need to be peeled off. Lucas direct the blades dissecting the skin along the legs connecting the cut around the beast butt. Then he cut along the tail. The arms of the beast was cut at its joint to ease the peeling process. Hanging from a chain, Lucas pulled down the pelt of the beast peeling it off, cutting some flesh and muscles as it stuck here and there. Eventually, the pelt and fur was peeled whole. The pelt was placed on a tanning rack.

Then, Lucas taught me how to dissect the meat from the beast cutting different edible parts. As we finished, Lucas dug a hole to burry the leftover over bones and unusable parts.

As I get inside the house to wash the meat and vegetables for lunch, Lucas continued to process the pelt. He removes the fat and flesh on the pelt with a tanning blade. Then, he poured a lot of salt rubbing them vigorously onto the pelt and leaves them in a shed nearby. He got back inside to help prepare lunch.

On a side note, after 24 hours, the salting will be done again and left for another day. Then, it will be soaked in a brine solution for 15 minutes, rinsed multiple times and left to dry. The processed fur will then be sold to Mr Roswell workshop.

So coming back to lunch, the cooked stew taste better than usual. Its probably because the meat was the one I hunted myself. I felt a sense of achievement being helpful and useful. Nothing is better than fresh meat indeed. That evening I helped Lucas gather firewood in the forest and cut them too- I mean, I tried, but I lack the muscle and ability to hold the axe properly.

Lucas let me help a lot and taught me many things. The me that had lived in luxurious mansion before feel grateful to him for teaching me things I didn't know. I feel amazed at him, knowing that he's just 10 and had lived by himself for over a year, doing all these works everyday. *Anyway, the humans in this world were more stronger physically, mature faster and lived longer than those on Earth due to the adaptations because of mana (energy) in the surrounding.*

Tomorrow we planned to just stay home and rest. For the boar needed by Mr Roswell, we would hunt it the other day. I had a lot of fun today accompanying Lucas hunting and stuffs. Its nice, really. It felt like I am at home, and belonged here.