"Tada~ This is my new recipe. It's called 'Long-eared silver bear' stew. Extra spicy, extra meat, just perfection." Kissing his fingers, Redd showed the two bowls of soup to Lodra.
The latter looked at them for a second before he looked at Redd again. "Really? Soup in the middle of the day?"
"They say soup is good for old people. I'm just following the advice." Red replied with a nonchalant shrug.
"And they say it's also good for bedridden people. Should I make you one?" Lodra replied as he tightened his fist.
Just seeing that abomination of a fist that kept landing on his head again and again and again more times than he wanted to admit -mainly because he always does stupid things-, Redd flinched.
"Sorry, sorry. I was just joking."
"Sigh…" Shaking his head, Lodra picked up the spoon and started eating. Redd also sat down and started eating.
The old man's stoic face relaxed slightly as he ate, showing that he did like the soup after all.
"Hey, Lodra…" As Redd was eating, he decided to ask. "You never really told me this. But, where was I born?"
Lodra's hand motion stopped mid-way as he looked up at Redd with his questioning gaze.
"Lax told me that I'm not actually from this island. You came here carrying me on a small boat fifteen years ago or something."
Redd liked to visit that man during the night when he was guarding the village entrance. He always had stories to tell and Redd liked to listen to them. He told him once that he was actually not from there and that he was brought here along with Lodra on a rainy night from somewhere.
"... You were born in a place far away from here."
"Oh, really? Where?"
"You were born on an island called 'Finish your bowl of soup'." Lodra replied as he continued eating.
"Oh, that's an interesting name for an island. Where is it exactly?" Redd rubbed his chin as he thought about it.
"..."
"Hahaha, I'm joking." Redd laughed heartily at Lodra's dumbfounded look.
"Just eat your food and stop messing around, brat."
The two then continued eating their food. When they finished, Redd stood up and said. "It's time now! Today is the day I will beat you, old man. Remember my word." Redd's eyes burnt with endless determination. It was as if this wasn't the 5 thousandth time he challenged Lodra and failed.
The two walked outside and stood on the grassy hill, facing each other. One was warming up excitedly while the other just stood there, gazing at the boy. A myriad of complicated emotions flashed across Lodra's eyes as he looked at Redd get ready.
No matter how many times he stares at him, Redd's silhouette overlaps with that of his old friend each time. The two were scarily similar in nature, attitude, and even in their shared interest. The boy was a copy of that man through and through.
Closing his eyes for a second, Lodra reminisced about the past. A particular man with a wide grin appeared in his head. He was standing facing the vast lands of the Hunter's Dream with a proud, confident demeanor. Beside him was a younger Lodra, admiring the scenery.
"I'm going to scour every part of the Hunter's Dream, Lodra. Just watch me do it."
Never did Lodra think that this statement would end up being the last thing he heard from that man.
'Where did that bring you, huh? It brought you straight to your grave… You fucking bastard.' Clenching his fists slightly, Lodra tried to scatter those thoughts away.
"Lodra? Are you ok?"
When the boy called for him, he opened his eyes again.
"I'm fine. Now, come at me!" His tone was a little more irritated than usual.
Seeing that, Redd grinned as he tightened his fist. "Of course!"
Then, he quickly dashed toward the old man with nimble steps. Because of his continuous training, Redd's speed had become close to that of a full-fledged adult. Closing the distance between them, the boy threw a punch forward with impressive precision… For someone who never got any proper training that is.
Lodra stared at the incoming attack and then simply tilted his head to the side, dodging the hit. Redd quickly followed with his other fist, aimed at the old man's stomach. But, both of them ended up hitting nothing as the old man side-stepped the second attack.
Redd clenched his teeth and followed those attacks with a rain of punches and kicks that didn't hit their target. His speed and stamina were very good since he spent most of his days running around and fighting animals.
"Do you think these fists would be able to kill someone, Redd?"
"Shut up! I'm trying!!" Redd replied as he continued his barrage of attacks while Lodra dodged casually.
"I'm asking you a question. Do you think with your current strength, you can really do anything? Do you think these weak punches would really do you any good?" Lodra's questions kept coming and ironically enough, they seemed to be more brutal than the punches Redd was trying to hit him with.
"I can get better!"
"You certainly can. But more importantly: Can you survive long enough to get better out there?"
"I can!"
"That's just your pride talking, Redd. I want an honest answer!" Lodra spoke with a loud tone. "The world outside is unforgiving, cruel, and unfair. It rewards those who don't deserve it and buries those who are truly ambitious. It's not something you can really handle, boy."
"Even then! I want to see it with my own eyes!" Redd replied with an exhausted look on his face. His forehead was riddled with beads of sweat and his breathing was ragged. So, as a last attempt, he used all of his power to deliver his strongest punch yet. His eyes were burning with desire to win.
However, reality wasn't beautiful. Lodra grabbed Redd's fist before he twisted it around, making the boy fall down on the ground. He looked at him silently.
"It's… still not over…" Inhaling and exhaling loudly, Redd tried to stand up.
"No. It's over for today." He said as he turned around to leave.
Meanwhile, Redd lay there, with his teeth clenched in frustration. He closed his eyes and tried to hold in the urge to cry. He felt pathetic and weak and it wasn't simply because Lodra told him that. He also knew that he was far from strong. Even though he was ready to die while doing what he loves, it still doesn't hide the fact that he will probably end up dead before he could even do anything noteworthy.
'Dammit… This is painful!' He cursed his head. 'I want to get strong. Strong enough so I can explore the world and live my life however I want.' His hands shook a little bit under the sheer strain he was putting on them. That was his desire, to be free enough to do whatever he wanted. He was ready to do anything simply to have a chance. Anything!
At that moment, he suddenly heard a sound.
[Ding!]
[Analyzing Host.]
[Identifying Bloodline.]
[Process finished successfully!]
[The Hunter's Dream has chosen you.]
[The Hunter's Dream wishes you a great journey.]
"Huh?" Redd's eyes opened, only to see a floating, flat blue square with words written on it and a progress bar beneath it.
"Lodra…" Redd rose up from his position and looked at the old man and then back at the floating holographic image before he asked with blinking eyes. "What is the Hunter's Dream?"
That question made Lodra's calm eyes widen to the extreme as he stood there, frozen.
"What… did you just say?"