The moon was still high in the sky, casting a pale light over the sleeping village of lamperogue. The only sounds were the occasional snoring of the animals and the rustling of the leaves. But not everyone was asleep. In a big hut near the edge of the village, levis-liam was wide awake, his heart pounding in his chest. He had been waiting for this day for a long time, ever since he turned 17 and earned the right to join the youth-only hunt. Today, he would prove himself as a man, and probably a leader.
He got up from his bed, careful not to wake up his parents and his grandfather, who shared the same room with him. He put on his leather jacket, his boots, and his belt, where he hung his dagger and his quiver of arrows. He grabbed his bow, his daggers, and his backpack, which contained some food, water, and a blanket. He checked his reflection in the small mirror, and smiled. He looked ready. He felt ready.
He quietly opened the door and stepped outside. The cold air hit his face, making him shiver. He breathed deeply, feeling the energy coursing through his veins. He loved the feeling of being alive and free, unlike when he was trapped doing chores, farming, studying and taming the animals. He hated the boring and mundane life of a villager, and he longed for adventure and danger. He wanted to explore the world beyond the village, to see new places, meet new people, and face new challenges. He wanted to live his own life, not the one that was expected of him.
He walked towards the meeting point, where he would join the other boys who were also going to the hunt. He knew that his best friend travis-nuel would be there, waiting for him. Travis was the only one who knew about levis's secret trainings and studies, and the only one who supported him. Travis was a good friend, and a gifted kid. He had manifested human magic at the early age of 8, the magic of enhancement, elemental manipulation and conjuring, to aid him in a hunt or fight. He could make himself stronger, faster and more agile, or manipulate fire, water, earth, air or light to attack, defend and even heal. He just needed to be recruited into the king's ranks to now which element would suit him best. Travis was destined for greatness, and levis was happy for him.
But levis had none of those abilities. He was the rarest case of humans with zero affinity for human magic, a phenomenon so uncommon that some thought it impossible. Levis could not use any spell or enhancement, and he could not sense or resist magic either. He was vulnerable to any magical attack, and he had no way to protect himself. He was an anomaly, a freak, and a curse as some villagers thought. He had learned that the hard way, when he was 10 years old and he tried to cast his first spell. He had failed miserably, and he had been mocked and ridiculed by everyone, even his own brothers. He had felt ashamed and angry, and he had sworn to never try magic again. Even though his grandfather always told him that he could just be a late bloomer.
But levis-liam did not let that stop him. He was very smart and a quick learner, and he had trained his body and mind to compensate for his lack of magic. He was agile and cunning, and he knew how to take advantage of the situations and surroundings. He had learned how to track, trap, and kill animals, using his bow, his spear, and his dagger only in theory though, with his grandfather. He had learned how to read the signs of the weather, the terrain, and the plants. He had learned how to survive in the forest, using his wits and skills. He didn't have any real life experience but he had the knowledge anyways. He had never lost a fight against his elder brother calvin, even after calvin joined the army and became a soldier of the northern city. He was confident and fearless, and he did not care what anyone thought of him.
He reached the meeting point, where he saw travis and the other boys who were also going to the hunt. There were about a dozen of them, all around the same age and eager for an adventure. They had their bows, arrows, daggers, spears and bags of supplies and provisions. They were ready to go for this hunt, which was a promising one. The forest was full of game, and they hoped to catch enough to feed the village for a week. They also hoped to have some fun, to test their skills, to bond with each other, and to earn some respect from the elders. They greeted levis with smiles and cheers, and he greeted them back. He felt a surge of adrenaline, as he looked at his fellow hunters. He felt a sense of belonging, of camaraderie and of pride. He felt like he was one of them, and they were one of him.
The sky was still dark and the air was still cold. They followed the dirt road that led to the forest, where they hoped to find deer, boars, rabbits and lots of other game. They talked and joked with each other, travis was particularly very loud. He was always the life of the party, making everyone laugh with his witty remarks and funny stories. He was also the most caring and loyal friend, always looking out for levis and the others. He knew that levis was different, and he respected him for that. He also knew that levis was hiding something, and he worried about him. He wanted to protect him, to help him, and to understand him. He wanted to be his true friend, his brother.
They felt the excitement as the anticipation built up. They did not notice the footsteps ahead of them, until it was too late. A group of armed men emerged from the shadows, blocking their way. They carried swords, axes, and crossbows. They looked menacing and dangerous, and they had a sinister aura around them. Human raiders had been raiding the nearby villages, stealing. They had no mercy, no honor, no conscience. They were the enemy, of the realm caring only about their desires.
The boys stopped in their tracks, shocked and scared. They had never faced such a situation before, and they did not know what to do. It was dark and the forest was thick so only the silhouettes of this mystery gang was visible. They looked at each other, hoping for someone to take charge, to make a plan, to save them. They looked at levis, who was the closest to the mystery gang, and who had the most experience in fighting. He had been fighting against his brothers since he was 10. They looked at him, expecting him to act, to react, to fight. They looked at him, and they saw him smile.