Lualia, accustomed to his gaze, understood that the sensation she was experiencing now was different.
When she wanted to answer her friend about her thoughts, the girl noticed the remaining hunters approaching, among whom was Kio's future husband and a young man who did not take his eyes off Lualia.
The young man was handsome by the standards of the girls who cast interested glances at him. He had medium length black hair, gray eyes and an attractive face.
Philo was slightly shorter in height than Lualia, but his muscles, barely restrained by his clothes, gave him a menacing appearance.
As before, he did not take his eyes off the girl; Philo's partner walked next to him. His partner was Kufi, he was one of the most experienced hunters in the city.
And as Lualia heard from other hunters and from Kufi himself, he was one of the elders of the city. Many doubted whether he should continue to work as a hunter, because of his age there were fears that one day Kufi might not return from hunting.
His slightly hunched back and a hood on from which only dark blue eyes were visible with which he examined the hunters and the tips of gray hair that escaped from the hood.
The girl did not know how old Kufi was, someone said that he was sixty, others said that he was eighty, youthful interest was visible in his gaze.
Turning her gaze to the other hunters she knew, Lualia saw her friend's future husband. He was taller than both Kyo and her, unlike other hunters, he was dressed in shabby armor, which had once been silver in color.
Now most of the armor was covered with rust, and some of it was no longer there, as was the coat of arms to whom the armor belonged.
In his hand he held a helmet that completely covered his head and only two holes for his eyes were visible.
She always wondered how Fash didn't feel hot wearing such armor all the time during the hunt?
In his other hand he had a large triangular shield that covered the entire upper part of his body, a long sword was visible on his belt, and on the other side a dagger could be seen. Her friend, seeing her future husband, quickly walked towards him, leaving Lualia alone.
- So that means everyone has arrived, I hope everyone is ready for the hunt? - The senile voice of Kufi was heard, he looked from one hunter to another.
Everyone he looked at confirmed their readiness for the hunt, everyone began to team up with their partners Lualia heard them exchange jokes and suggestions for the hunt.
She immediately remembered the last hunt with Namil; they also discussed what they would do after the hunt. But all plans were interrupted and only she was left.
- Are you still left alone Lualia? He wouldn't want you to die alone in this forest while hunting. - Kufi said in a quiet, sympathetic voice as he approached her.
He had known Namil for a long time and knew that he did not want the girl to reproach herself for his death and did not want anyone as a partner.
After the incident with Namil, the old man tried to help the girl find a partner, but the girl refused everyone and Kufi could only accept her decision. Without waiting for an answer, he clapped his hands, attracting the attention of the hunters.
- You all know your territories where you hunt, remember that your lives are in the hand of your partner and his life is in your hands. Don't try to take more than you can carry. If the situation is dangerous or the monster is strong, retreat, do not sacrifice yourself. - Kufi addressed everyone in a stern voice.
Without waiting for an answer, the old man turned his back to everyone and headed towards the first gate.
The hunters silently looked at the partners standing nearby and headed for Kufi. Lualiya went with her friend and her future husband, she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching them.
Inquiring from Fash, he just shook his head. Approaching the gate, the guards who stood on the walls saw it and ran towards the levers to open the gate.
The closer they came, the more they heard the sounds of the gates opening; many guards cast envious eyes at the hunters.
Unlike them, hunters left the city and brought benefits to the city. The guards were more like a reminder to the residents not to try to disturb the peace of the city residents.
Many guards would like to try to become hunters, but all the places were taken by hunters.
Passing through the gate, the voices among the hunters began to become quieter until everyone fell silent.
Lualia didn't need to look around to understand why everyone was silent. She and the other hunters had a serious expression on their faces, and the hunters' eyes were looking at the foliage in the distance from them.
Continuing to walk towards the forest, they heard the sounds of the gate closing behind them. Now they had no opportunity to return to the city; next to the girl, Fash put on a helmet and grabbed the shield in his other hand and held the hilt of the sword with his other hand.
Finding themselves in the middle of their path, the hunters began to silently disperse in different directions.
Lualia glanced at her friend and headed in her direction. The further she moved away from the other hunters, the more she felt eyes on her.
Squeezing her weapon tighter, the girl entered the forest, she began to hear various sounds of the forest, looking down, she began to look around.
Like any hunter, the first thing Namil taught her was the ability to read the tracks of monsters and animals.
Even a slight deviation of foliage or slightly deviated grass could tell her more than sounds. Many monsters and animals remained silent until the moment of the attack.
Making sure that there were no traces near her, the girl tried to listen and watch the ground. The gaze she felt began to disappear over time and then disappeared completely.
Deciding that this look appeared to her after a nightmare, the girl continued to go deeper into the forest.
She didn't come across any traces of monsters or animals, she didn't understand what happened in the forest?
Remembering her other hunts, traces of monsters were already visible in this place, but now she had the feeling that there was no one nearby.
Frowning, she continued walking, the girl hoped that the other hunter would be more lucky than she was at the beginning.
It seemed to her that she heard footsteps approaching her, stopping and listening, Lualia heard where the sounds of approaching footsteps were coming from.
There was not a single hunter on the other side from where the sounds were coming.
The girl was thinking about what to do, looking around the area in which she was now and the opportunity to hide, but she was unlucky; there were no secluded places here.
Depending on where the sounds of footsteps were getting louder, she could only meet whoever it was face to face.
She had no doubt who the one making those steps was. Besides them, there were also robbers living in the forest, and most likely they were waiting for the hunters to come out to attack them.
She had already seen how the foliage under the stranger's hands spread to the sides. Squeezing the spear with her hands tighter, she did not plan to surrender to the mercy of the robber.
Lualia kept looking at the place where the one who was making all the noise was supposed to come out.
Time passed slowly, the girl began to get more and more nervous until the sounds of footsteps stopped before the last obstacle.
She felt her hands becoming wetter, and sweat began to stand out more strongly on her body, her gaze incessantly looking at the place where the stranger was supposed to come out.
First, hands appeared in front of her, pushing apart the foliage, and then the stranger completely passed through the foliage and found himself in front of Lualia's gaze.
The girl looked at the stranger with a surprised look; he did not look like a robber. The right side of his face was severely burned, the white hair that was missing on one side gave him a strange appearance.
His orange eyes looked steadily at the girl, she had a feeling that she had felt this gaze before. Was he one of those who were expelled before?
She doubted, carefully examining the left side of her face, she realized that in front of her was a half-elf. The stranger was dressed in black armor, which did not look like the clothes of robbers.