"Alright, since I have no business with you, I'll be on my way now," Frøya bid farewell to Charles before continuing on her path.
As she walked away, Charles remained in his spot and called out, "She's gone, you can come out now."
Dyskólios emerged from the shadows, his curiosity piqued. "So, did you give her the right one?" he inquired as they both left the hideout and headed towards where Charles was.
"Yes, you need not worry," Charles replied confidently.
***
Cough... cough... 'Damn, I might not make it if she takes too long. It's been a while since this happened,' Guto thought, his hand resting on the iron bed. He felt a slight relief as he cooled down.
Creak... Slam.
Startled, he sat up quickly, his eyes wide with alarm. "Guto, are you alright?" Frøya's concerned voice reached his ears.
"I... I will be, if you give me that medicine I asked for," Guto replied, his voice strained.
"Right, my apologies," Frøya said, retrieving a small flask from her pocket and handing it to Guto. He quickly removed a pill and swallowed it.
"Thank you, Frøya. How did you even get these in the first place?" Guto inquired.
"Don't concern yourself with that for now. Just rest," she replied.
Guto, feeling some relief, sank back onto the bed. He contemplated, 'I should hunt some wild animals for dinner.'
Guto soon fell asleep, and Frøya left the house to hunt.
***
Seven Years Ago
13:32PM
In a desolate garden within a small castle, dark gray clouds wept over the scene.
"You've reached the age to see if it was worth buying that wretched woman your mother was. I'm going to give you my all, so until you show me some of your power, I will not stop," Throel declared.
"O-okay," Guto replied, his voice trembling.
The battle commenced with Guto exhibiting nimble footwork, circling Throel as he analyzed his opponent's moves, searching for a weakness. Guto launched swift attacks with his dagger and sword, targeting vulnerable points in Throel's armor.
Throel, on the other hand, unleashed raw power with each swing of his axe, delivering devastating blows that reverberated through the battleground. The earth quaked beneath them as Throel's heavy axe struck with tremendous force. Guto dodged and retreated to evade these strikes, narrowly escaping each one. Guto's speed and agility allowed him to dodge with precision, but he struggled to inflict substantial damage on Throel.
Despite Guto's attempts to exploit Throel's slow movements, the relentless onslaught of Throel's heavy axe began taking a toll. Throel's superior strength and weaponry overwhelmed Guto's agility and finesse. The weight of Throel's strikes wore down Guto's defenses, rendering him vulnerable and incapable of launching a significant counterattack.
Then, in a swift move, Guto dodged an overhead attack. He sidestepped to Throel's right while spinning to face his side. Throel's axe became stuck in the ground due to the immense force of his attack, exposing his ribs. Guto seized the opportunity and attempted to stab him with his dagger, but Throel anticipated the move. He released his grip on the axe, swiftly dodged the dagger, and grabbed Guto's hand that held it. Throel then began pummeling Guto's face and body, maintaining his grip to prevent Guto from escaping.
"You're too weak. I can see that, just like your wretched mother," Throel taunted.
Exhausted and battered from the battle, Guto let out a scream of rage. He clutched Throel's arm, unleashing his powers for the first time. Guto's hands turned purple, and the discoloration spread quickly along Throel's arm, covering it entirely. Realizing the peril, Throel released Guto and retreated.
"Hahaha... Now I'll be able to defeat anyone," Throel exclaimed.
***
Back to the Present:
Guto abruptly woke up from a dream with a start.
"Calm down, Guto. I'm here. It's Frøya," she assured him.
Gradually, Guto's breathing stabilized. "I'm alright. It was just a dream."
Frøya asked, "Can I get you anything? A glass of water, perhaps?"
Guto declined, saying, "No, I just need some fresh air."
He got up and headed outside, after Guto left the house Frøya seemed to zone out for a moment before snapping back to reality. Guto sat alone outdoors, his thoughts plunging him into a deep abyss of despair. Throel, a man who should have shown him love and care, now stood as an obstacle to his freedom.
His heart ached with the cruel irony of it all. How could he entertain such dark thoughts? But he had been molded by pain, shaped by a past he could barely comprehend. Memories of a mother he never knew crept into his consciousness, forever etching themselves into his heart.
He clung to a single memento, a ring hanging from his neck that once belonged to his mother, a fragile thread connecting him to a woman lost in the annals of time. In the silence of that moment, he reached for the ring, his trembling fingers brushing against the cold metal.
His heart pounded with the intensity of his emotions, as if in defiance of the life he was about to disrupt. With tear-filled eyes, he held the ring close, tracing its delicate curves and feeling the weight of his mother's love contained within.
His lips, tainted by determination and desperation, pressed against the necklace gently. In that instant, he tasted the bittersweetness of his existence. The love he had yearned for, the void he had sought to fill, everything culminated in that solitary act of reverence.
As he closed his eyes, the darkness enveloped him like a shroud. The world outside ceased to exist as his thoughts succumbed to the raw intensity of his emotions. The boy's destiny teetered on the precipice, balanced between the love he craved and the darkness that beckoned him. With tears still in his eyes, Guto whispered:
"I will kill you, Throel."
Guto's contemplation was interrupted by the creaking of the door behind him. He quickly concealed his ring and wiped away his tears as he turned to see Frøya standing there.
"Are you okay, Guto? You've been out here for about an hour," she said, genuine concern in her voice.
"That long? Yes, I'm fine now. Thank you," Guto replied.
"Well, I've already skinned the boar and prepared some food. We can make clothes from the pelt after we eat, if you'd like," Frøya offered, trying to comfort the young man.
'Her cooking skills are absolutely dreadful,' Guto thought to himself.
"Sure, that would be nice, Frøya. Thank you," he responded politely.
Frøya offered him a warm smile, and together, they walked back inside the house. Frøya soon served Guto a bowl of stew she had prepared for both of them. With a hint of anxiety on his face, Guto cautiously took his first bite.
Crunch... Gulp...
Frøya watched him intently as he tasted her cooking. Guto's eyes widened, and a joyful smile blossomed on his face. He savored the flavors, his taste buds dancing in delight. This meal was a vast improvement from the disaster they'd experienced the previous day. However, Guto decided to keep his previous distaste to himself, not wanting to hurt Frøya's feelings.
'What is this? It's absolutely delicious! It's like an entirely different person is cooking,' Guto thought in amazement.
"Wow, Frøya, after that first meal you made, I didn't expect anything this good, but this is even better," Guto exclaimed.
Frøya responded modestly, "Well, thank you, Guto. I did my best."
Guto quickly finished the food in his bowl and asked, "Can I please have some more?"
"Certainly, there's plenty in the big pot over there," she replied, pointing to the pot.
As Guto approached the pot and peered inside, he was astonished to see a substantial amount of meat.
"Damn, how many boars did you hunt?" he inquired.
"Just one," Frøya replied.
"What?" Guto exclaimed.
Frøya directed Guto's attention to the massive boar carcass nearby.
"Wow, was that boar mutated?" Guto asked.
"Yes, have you never seen one before?" Frøya responded.
"No, I've encountered mutated beasts, just not a boar. If we eat this, won't we gain its powers or something?" Guto wondered.
Frøya responded calmly, "Guto, you don't need to hide it from me. I know you have a mutation."
"What, how do you know?" He inquired.
"A very young man working as a mercenary and asking for a very specific type of antibiotic when he's sick."
Guto, surprised by her insight, admitted, "Well, you have a point."
"Don't worry, this boar's mutation was very weak, especially for a boar. Most of them are herbivores, unless they have a chance to scavenge from a dead animal. So, it didn't have the opportunity to become stronger," Frøya explained.
"Alright, how do you know all this?" Guto inquired.
"I've read a lot of books," she replied.
"Okay then, why don't we make those clothes you mentioned?" Guto suggested.
"Sure, have you ever done this before?" Frøya asked.
Guto hesitated and then admitted, "Well, no, actually, but I'm a quick learner."
Frøya chuckled, saying, "If you say so."
Under the ethereal glow of the moon, Guto and Frøya worked side by side in the secluded house. The enormous mutated boar lay on the table as their unconventional raw material. As they meticulously crafted the boar's hide into sturdy clothing, Frøya decided to strike up a conversation.
"Tell me about your past, Guto. What brought you to this point?" Frøya asked, her voice filled with genuine interest.
Guto paused briefly, his fingers momentarily halting their work. His eyes reflected the pain and longing buried within him. "I was taken in by my adoptive father," he began, bitterness seeping into his voice. "He saw my mutation as a means to profit. I despised how he exploited me, forcing me to use my abilities for his twisted gains."
Frøya nodded, her sympathy evident. "I understand what it's like to be used," she said softly.
Guto sought a connection in Frøya's gaze, a genuine bond. He yearned for someone who could truly comprehend the depth of his pain. "And your family, Guto?" Frøya inquired with a gentle tone. "Do you know anything about your birth parents?"
A mixture of sorrow and longing crossed Guto's face as he shared, "I never knew my mother. She passed away when I was born. Sometimes, I wonder what life would have been like if I had known her, if I had her guidance."
Frøya's eyes briefly averted as she replied, "I wish I could give you the answers you seek, Guto. But sometimes, the past remains an enigma we can never fully unravel."
"Thank you, Frøya," Guto responded.
A few minutes later, Frøya said, "Okay, I think we're done. Why don't we try these clothes on? I'll go to the next room to give us some privacy."
"Sure," Guto agreed.
Frøya left the room, allowing Guto to try on his new attire. As he examined himself in a tall mirror within the room, he marveled at the craftsmanship. The clothing consisted of armor crafted from bones and pelt, offering a balance between mobility and defense. The bones primarily came from the boar's skeletal structure and were strategically affixed to key areas for protection. The pelt acted as a base for the armor, providing additional coverage.
Guto also wore a full-length cape that hung gracefully from his shoulders. The cape, fashioned from heavy, dark fabric, allowed him to blend seamlessly into dimly lit environments. The cape was lined with the fur from the boar, offering both insulation and an extra layer of protection. A bonnet, featuring a wide brim that cast a shadow over his face, was attached to the cape, adding to his air of mystery. To further obscure his identity, Guto wore a mask that covered his entire face, intricately designed from a combination of bone and metal.
"I love the new look, but it seems like she doesn't want anyone else to see me," Guto thought.
Just then, the door creaked open, revealing Frøya in her new clothes. She wore a cloak made from deep black fabric, allowing her to blend into dark surroundings effortlessly. The hood, when raised, partially obscured her face, adding an element of mystique. Underneath the cloak, she had on a form-fitting leather tunic that provided both freedom of movement and modest protection. The tunic was dyed in a dark shade of brown with intricate stitching patterns along the edges.
"Wow, Frøya, your craftsmanship is exceptional. But why did you make me a mask?" Guto inquired.
Frøya paused for a moment, then replied, "Thank you, Guto. I made you the mask because... I want you to work with me."