The boys followed the two soldiers into the forest, leaving behind the rest of the garrison who stayed to guard the captain and patrol commander who were injured.They had been given permission to hunt for some game, especially a boar whose gallbladder was needed for serena's potion. The boys were eager to prove themselves, and to enjoy some fresh meat after weeks of stale bread and dried fish. After all it was the youth- only hunt party.
The hunt had lasted for several hours, and most of the boys managed to catch at least one or two rabbits, using their bows and arrows or the few spells they had learned from parents or elder siblings. Some of them even caught a squirrel or a fox, and boasted about their skills. But two of them, Levis and Travis, had not caught anything yet.
Travis was not interested in the small game. He wanted to hunt something bigger, something more challenging. He wanted to impress the soldiers and the other boys with his strength and courage. He wanted to show them that he was not a warrior by blood. He scanned the forest for any signs of a boar, a deer, or even a bear.
Levis, on the other hand, had a different reason for his lack of success. He was too distracted by his own thoughts, thoughts that he had never had before. He had seen a new side of himself today, a side that he did not like. He had seen the vulnerability of his brothers, the fear in their eyes, the blood on their wounds. He had seen how close they had come to death, how easily they could have been killed by the enemy. And Meleona, the girl who had healed all the troop, was younger than him, and yet stronger and braver than him facing the enemy in a life and death situation with them.
He felt a surge of emotions that he could not name, emotions that he did not know how to handle. He felt admiration for Meleona, gratitude for her help, guilt for his weakness, anger at his enemies, and above all, a fierce protectiveness for his brothers. He felt a new purpose in his life, a purpose that was not his own, but given to him by a higher power. He felt that he had to protect everyone, with his wit and his life. He felt that this was his destiny, his duty, his calling.
In the midst of all this thought, He did notice the animal tracks on the ground, the broken branches, the droppings. He did notice the sounds of the forest, the birds, the wind, the rustling. He also notice the smell of the game, the musk, the sweat, the blood. He notice everything, except his own thoughts were not distraction enough. He knew the mission for today was a boar and he was alert to anything like that. But his tracking led him to something.
An elk.
A majestic creature, with a huge rack of antlers, a brown coat, and a white rump. It was standing in a clearing, grazing on some grass, unaware of the danger. It was the perfect target, the perfect prize for the moment.
Levis snapped out of his trance, and felt a rush of adrenaline. He quickly took out his bow and arrow, and aimed at the elk's heart. He held his breath, and waited for the right moment.
Travis had been following the same trail as Levis, but he did not know what it was. He had lost sight of the other boys and the soldiers, and he did not care. He only cared about finding his prey, and killing it. He did not care about the beauty of the forest, or the life of the animal. He only cared about the thrill of the hunt, and the glory of the kill.
He saw Levis ahead of him, and ran towards him. He saw that he had a bow and arrow, and that he was aiming at something. He did not see what it was, but he assumed that it was a boar. He wanted to see it, and he wanted to kill it.
He reached Levis, and grabbed his shoulder. He shouted at him, "Levis, what animal have these footprints? It is big, maybe it is a boar."
Levis did not want to answer. He did not even look at Travis. He was focused on the elk, and on his shot. But he still said, "It's an elk."
He was about to release his arrow, when Travis shook him again, asking more questions. He did not realize that Levis was aiming for the game. He did not realize that he had ruined his shot.
Levis felt a surge of anger, and shifted Travis away. He had missed his target, and the elk had noticed them. It raised its head, and looked at them with its dark eyes. It sensed the danger, and bolted.
Levis did not hesitate. He drew two more arrows, and ran after the elk. He did not care about Travis, or the other boys, or the soldiers. He only cared about the elk, and his shot. He wanted to redeem himself, and to prove himself that he could also help even without magic.
He ran as fast as he could, dodging the trees and the bushes. He aimed at the elk, trying to hit it with a single blow. But it was hard to keep a steady hand, and a high spell, without any magic. He decided to get closer to the elk, by taking the higher ground. He used his agility and his intelligence, to find a way to the treetops.
He jumped to a branch, and then to another. He climbed up a tree, and then to another. He continued his hunt from the trees, while the elk ran on the ground. He had an advantage, and he knew it.
He waited for the right moment, and then he stopped. He found a clear shot, and he took it. He aimed at the elk's liver, and he released his arrow. He watched as it flew through the air, and hit its mark.
He had done it.
He had killed the elk.
Travis saw the elk fall, and he stopped. He was out of breath, and he was tired. He had been chasing the elk, but he had not been able to catch up with it. He had not been able to see it, but he took a shoot at its direction.
He walked towards the elk, and saw the arrow in its side. He saw how deep it had penetrated, and how much blood it had spilled. He saw that it was a perfect liver shot, and he was amazed.
He screamed with excitement, and he was proud. He thought had killed the elk, and he had done it with a perfect shot. He had succeeded.
He did not notice Levis, who was still on the tree. He did not notice that the arrow was not his, but Levis'. He did not notice that he had not killed the elk, but Levis had.
The soldiers heard his scream, and they came. They saw the elk, and they were impressed. They saw the arrow, and they were astonished. They saw Travis, and they congratulated him. They saw that it was a perfect liver shot, and they praised him even more.
The other boys came, and they saw the same. They saw the elk, and they were envious. They saw the arrow, and were curious. They looked at Travis, and admired him. They saw that it was a perfect liver shot, and respected his skill. Asking him what kind of spell he had used.
They all saw Travis, and they all thought that he was the hero.
But Travis was not a hero. He was not a liar, either. He was not one to take others' glory, or to claim others' kills. He was honest, and he was humble. He knew that he had not killed the elk, and he knew who had. He did shot an arrow but even if it had hit the target it would not penetrate that deep. So he knew it must have been a shot from Levis.
He pointed at Levis, who was still on the tree. He said, "It was not me. It was him."
They all looked at Levis, and they were surprised. They did not expect much from Levis, not to mention a liver shot from that distance, and without any spells. They did not know how he had done it. They did not know anything about him apart from his name and that he was magicless.
The soldiers were amazed, and they were curious. They wanted to know more about Levis, and his skills. They wanted to know how he had learned to shoot, and how he had tracked the elk. They wanted to know if he had really had no magic, and if he really used no spells. They wanted to know if he had the ability to become a mage and join the king's ranks.
They all wanted to know more about Levis, and they all approached him. They wanted to congratulate him, and to question him. They wanted to praise him. They wanted to befriend him, and to compete with him.
They all wanted to know more about Levis, but Levis did not want to know more about them. He did not care about their congratulations, or their questions. He did not care about their praise, or their challenges. He did not care about their friendship, or their competition.
He only cared about his purpose, and his duty. He only cared about his brothers, and his protectiveness. He only cared about his destiny, and his calling.
He saw something else, something bigger, something more dangerous. The main item of the hunt.
A ferocious creature, with a massive body, a black fur. It was standing on a hill, marking its territory under a tree. It was the ultimate target, the ultimate challenge