Vincent gave his trusted friend a cold glance. Everyone within a ten foot diameter of him, suddenly sensed an animus decreased in temperature around them.
'Is he angry because his most loyal subordinate refused his order or because Ernest outright refused him and told him to find another one?' everyone thought helplessly looking at the situation.
"Sir, you can have this one," another old fellow offered quickly, when he noticed the change in their leader's mood.
Vincent was not a petty person and he did not like repeating himself, so he took the offered spear silently. He took a deep breath releasing his sudden pent up anger. Everyone senses went back to normal as if the air seemed less heavy. To redeem himself Ernest showed Vincent how the little one demonstrated the proper way how to handle a spear. There were many ways to use this new weapon and Vincent liked the weight of the spear, which was comparable to the weight of a bow.
Shortly after Vincent and the other returnees all obtained a spear, a young brown skinned woman and a fair young man walked into the barrack through the back entrance, drenched in sweat. Upon seeing the two youngsters, they were immediately approached by several of their comrades.
"Young Miss, you are quite skilled to craft such a weapon all by yourself!"
"Exactly there are so many of us and you made enough for everyone to try one out. This was such a difficult challenge to complete by yourself. You are an amazing young women."
"Young Miss, if you need a husband, it'll be my honor to marry you!" happily announced someone.
"If you married the young Miss, your father-in-law would be our leader. You would have to get his approval first," someone utter while laughing.
"Yes, are you sure your man enough to match our young Miss as her partner?" someone added.
So many praises, proposals and other banter came at the little woman, which caused her to be stunned silent on the spot. She was not sure if she should feel joy or embarrassment. She had been praised before, though this was the first time she was proposal to. A woman of her nature would end up old and alone and yet she was always being treated like a lady by these roughly and masculine men, since the moment she stepped foot into the hunter's training grounds.
"Alright that's enough. My sister is tired and is in a desperate need of a change of clothes. You can all continued to shower her with affection tomorrow," voiced Travis loudly, making an unyielding stance as her everlasting protector.
The crowds quieted down after a few more praises before dispersing. Vincent walked up to the little girl from the crowd with his usually mischievous smirk.
"Good job, Artemis," he congratulated her with a grin patting her head.
Normally Artemis would glare up at the behemoth for touching her knowing that she disliked physical contact with him, but today she was a bit overwhelmed with emotions. She did not realize her simple gesture would cause such a commotion. She went running with her brother to avoid the earlier praises, hoping that they would settle down with time. She did not expect the behemoth and company would return so quickly. They're return caused an additional wave of praised adorn with multiple proposals.
So, in response she looked up at the behemoth with a shy smile. This reaction stunned the behemoth silent. He did not expect her to show him any kind of expression expect for her fearful face or her annoyed face. This was the first time she had expression such a reaction towards him.
"You have such a lovely daughter there, Vincent. She's kindhearted, hardworking, and such a beauty. Any man who marries her will be very lucky. A lot of new suitors seems to be aiming for her grace now," admired Ernest happily. "Maybe I should sit down and have a talk with my son," he added with a harmonious grin.
Readjusting his expression, he plastered a hearty grin on his face. "One should not chase something that is beyond their ability to tame," he uttered in a sarcastic tone.
'Is my son not worthy enough for your daughter. You said yourself he was a force to be reckon with. If he can't match her, then no one will," Ernest thought with a displeased expression.
'Poor little sis, I fear for anyone who tries to sway your heart. Even if you do approve of him, I'm pretty sure our leader will still find faults in him," Travis sighed standing beside Artemis.
Avoiding the ongoing awkward and embarrassing situation, someone silently slipped away back through the entrance that they came in. Outside she let out a sigh of relief. The surge of unknown emotions terrified her. She cared for all of them as a fellow akin to how you would treat a family member. She thought they also felt the same way about her.
Would she have to avoid coming to the training grounds if those whom proposal to her were actually serious about courting her? She did not want that. Her unfeminine like appearance and quietness was supposed to be a turn off. Maybe all her gesture up until now were to kind of an act of appreciation.
'Should I act more coldly or indifferent next time? Would that be too rude? I don't want them to hate me, though I don't want any to be eyed as a wife candidate,' she thought seriously until she got a brain cramp. 'Forget it! I'll handle those advances when the time come,' she concluded removing her bow from around her body to start some target practice, in an attempted to calm down.
After shooting for about five minutes at the make shifted random targets, that were scattered about, she had a growing audience. The lot were silent watching her every move. Lucky for her she was used to being watched in such a manor, so she did not move a muscles upon hearing the several approaching footsteps.
Her breathing was steady, and her stance was solid. She looked like a predator silently eyeing her prey with caution before attacking. Each arrow released strike either a hung piece of wood that was hanging from the nearby tree branches or a large wooden pole. The shooting section really did calm her nerves and mind down. Now she was ready to face everyone once again.
"Artemis really is amazing!"
"Yeah! I can't wait to see her in action with her bow during a mission."
"My Artemis is the best. I think it's time for this tigress to be release into the wild don't you think my dear?" announced a husky voice from the crowd.
Artemis nodded of course. She wanted to do more as a hunter than just tracking. She wanted to help those that are unable to help themselves, just like how she was saved.
"Travis!" shouted the husky man with authority.
"Yes, sir! Travis is here ready for anything you throw at me!" announced the young man after breaking his way to the front of the crowd.
"I want you and Bruce to supervise any mission that this little one takes on. I can only trust you two." Vincent honestly admitted with an unyielding tone.
"Yes, sir!" Travis responded happily taken on the task.
"Seriously, sir? We are all trustworthy and loyal," decreed Ernest justly.
"Yes, this is true towards me only. I can trust that Travis will not try to court my daughter and Bruce will not try to curry favor with her, trying to make her his daughter," Vincent declared in response.
"Sir, jealousy does not become you," whispered Ernest.
"What did you say? Ernest…." he glared at his old pal with an evil grin.
"Nothing, sir," Ernest said meekly afraid to be punished. They maybe the same age, but his dear old friend knew how to torment him when provoked.
"Alright, on to other business. We got a few dozen notices of demon sightings. The more advance hunters will need to relocate to those sightings. It might take a while to eliminate the threat completely and if you are able, try to train some of the village or townsfolks to defend themselves against an attack. The younger hunters can continue going on scooting mission. Make sure each team has at least one tamer in case, you need to request reinforcement. Now let's go hunt some demons," Vincent smirk with a mischievous grin and a devilish glint.