Around a hundred meters away, a big boar scratched dirt. Oswald waited for the best occasion to jump on the animal.
His body leaped forward when the boar wasn't paying attention. His feet hit the ground like feathers, yet they propelled him forward at an astonishing speed. His fingers sliced the air and ferociously grabbed the animal by its throat.
Four fingers dug into the meat and cut the main artery in their path.
The boar squealed out of pain and its legs frantically moved to save its life, but in vain. The warm red liquid flowed on Oswald's forearm as he realised how brutal his actions were.
Wiggling his finger inside the meat, he managed to let go of the suffering animal, he then proceeded to kill it with his axe to end its sufferings. The blood gushing out of its throat and face had a bright color, almost messing with his vision, he had to drag the animal back to the house. Everything became annoying now that he felt like working rather than just shutting down.
He had about sixty kilograms of meat on his back both of his hands stained with the smelly and sticky liquid. 'I can't believe what I've done. That's insane!'
While he was busy hunting, Stan paid a new visit to Meryl.
"Hey beautiful!" He said, invading the house by entering the roof's window. Her face was stoic, she didn't know what to expect, seeing how lost she looked, Stan spoke again.
"I came to spend some time with you, because you owe me. You can't expect for us to be even before long." He was relaxed, as if everything danced in the palm of his hand.
"Come on, don't be shy. Your eyes shone with more lust than this the first time we met each other. Here, give me your hand." He said, reaching out his hand.
His horns were nowhere to be seen, his red eyes neither, but the monstrous aura he had made the atmosphere suffocating in the messy room. Meryl's eyes checked his forehead many times before offering her hand.
His charming smile and alluring manners appealed the woman despite the horrific environment she lived in. Deep inside, she knew there was no reason to fight against the creature because she was thankful. They enjoyed one full hour of pleasure on Meryl's remains.
She barely had the time to clean herself that her son came back.
The door almost fell off its hinges when he inadvertently pushed the wrong side, his mind was busy elsewhere.
He was dead tired, and with the boar drained of his blood, he fell asleep on the planks in the entrance.
Stan, not making a noise while moving whispered to Meryl. "Continue what you're doing, until he remembers it all." His arms crossed behind his head, he exited the house and vanished anew.
Another morning started. A new sheep was born in the barn, it had a lot of vitality and would give milk once old enough. It was good news for the family.
Oswald had to bring the boar to Tina, he used a wheelbarrow to carry both the animal and his baggages, he cleaned the black dirt under his nails with his teeth and cut his finger.
He was annoyed until he saw no wound at the tip of his finger. 'A pinch at best.' He thought.
With a wool scarf up to his nose, he passed through the main street and arrived at the butcher's shop. He found the woman dispatching her goods, the sun started to rise later because the coldest part of the year was over.
Now that he seemed to tower above most villager, more eyes looked at him. The nice attire his mother sewn was great quality and the butchered animal in front of him added lots to the villagers' usual landscape.
The first person who talked to him was the inn's owner, lady Emilia.
"You look great! And tall. I can't believe how fast kids can grow nowadays." She said as a greeting. The boy shrugged with a smile, he agreed with her, seeing people from above was a nice feeling, he was now probably as tall as Adelmo.
'Maybe it'll work again.' He thought before saying. "May I have a glass of wine at your place?" And she nodded.
It was still early in the morning, he covered the content of his wheelbarrow with snow and entered. Simon leaned on the counter as per usual, asleep.
There was no other glare at him since most villagers hadn't recognised him so far, though he looked familiar.
He sat in the corner of the room and awaited for the wine, the sole hope he had for his memory to come back.
But when he stared at it, nothing happened. He focused on its colour, smell, but nothing happened. So he drank it. It was his first time tasting alcohol, it was disgusting, but the chemical reaction in his stomach felt funny, so he ordered more. Twice. Actually seven times, until he couldn't pay the bill anymore with the little money he had brought.
His thoughts sunk into an entangled labyrinth. He exited the inn to pay a visit to Tina. He left the meat to rot in the alleys.
"Hello? Tina?" But the only person that came to the door was Ugo, Tina and Adelmo's son. He did not remember Oswald. Only when the boy wanted to prove how good of a hunter he was did he bring the boar in.
"Mom is upstairs, she's busy with dad." He simply said.
Oswald lifted the boar on the workbench with one arm and listened to little Ugo's guidance to get rid of the organs. The young kid had more experience than him since he helped his parents in the familial business. Oswald was more or less attentive, he felt sleepy and had a hard time not puking.
"Not here! You need to cut lower!" Scolded Ugo.
'This stupid... Aargh! Stupid boar!' He thought when his knife was stuck in between the ribs. He sunk his two hands near the knife and broke the bone, cutting his hand in the process.