In the Terra Thicket, there is an area not far from the Lumber House and a small distance below the Fruit Gardens in elevation is a small and quiet area in the woods that many are not aware of. This area is much like other parts of the forest and has no particular special markings, resources, or landmarks. Because of the Mountains there are several boulders along with a few stones scattered around the area. It is the perfect place for someone seeking isolation or a place to think.
The sounds in the area are soft and subtle. Flowing the air of peace the forest gives, a peace that a young man named Takara is very fond of. It is his favorite spot to escape from the judgment of the village. He would spend time with his brother's in arms but for right now he wanted alone time to think and to practice. After reaching his spot he looked for some decent sized stones and placed them on a boulder he's using as a bench/ table, even grabbing some broken outer bark he found on the floor and stacked it onto the boulder.
After he gathered the stones and bark, Takara brought out his bow and set the quiver of arrows next to the boulder. He grabbed one as he then threw it in the air in front of him quickly aiming his bow and drawing his arrow watching the stone fall from the air. He released the arrow as it traveled through the air with great speed flying towards the falling stone and completely missing it.
"Wonderful…" The young man said, grabbing another arrow and stone repeating what he had done.
"Missed again…" The young man sighed, grabbing another stone and throwing it. This time his arrow flew true and hit the stone making its fall get diverted in another direction. When he saw he hit his mark Takara gave a satisfied smile before he grabbed another stone to repeat the process.
Arrow after arrow, stone after stone, bark after bark; Takara trained himself to at least connect each arrow to these targets he picked up off the floor. Archery was a skill he always viewed himself being lesser than the other archers he knew, even the men that went with him to fight in the front. It was always easy to hit a target that stood still or was naturally slow, even though at this level most hunters are ok with similar skill, Takara wanted to improve even further to master the bow much like how he mastered swordsmanship in that battle and training. Because of the number of enemies he had killed he had felt a connection to the sword strapped on his hip as if it felt natural to him any time he drew it. A feeling that the next battle he takes a part of would cause his sword to never leave his hand. It's a feeling the young man wants when using his bow the next time he fights or when he hunts. Or perhaps he just wants to get better especially for a village that doesn't share an ounce of sympathy towards him.
"You're a Bastard Child, a cursed child, the fact you're the only one who came back alive only further proves your a cursed child."
"Look, it's Takara, Kotonoha's Son… Best we stay away from him."
"The Cursed child of the unfaithful couple…"
"Don't be fooled, his mother was sweet and look what kind of monster she turned out to be."
"He looks too much like his father. Watch out for him too."
These constant reminders echoed inside the young man's head anytime he came to a stop to pick up the arrows off the forest floor. Every single statement he has heard as gossip, and spat on his face throughout his years growing up in the village. The ridicule he faces against the other villages has become very normal to him; but nevertheless it doesn't mean he doesn't get hurt by it. There were often times where Takara had thought about taking his own life however when those times came something always tugged at his heart as he's reminded to look at the positive parts of his life and the few people who he actually gets along with. Marlin the hero of blue, Zac a knight, and Ishil the mute bowman who all became friends with him. Even though it was very recent where they became friends just knowing he had made them was enough to further motivate him, especially in the memory of his Grandmother. The only good memories he had of the village; the ones he holds onto, cherishes, and drives him to try his best for the village. It's a hard choice however that is the choice he makes because he has faith that one day it'll turn around for him.
Matter of fact the spot he practiced his archery in was shown by his Grandmother when he was much younger. A place to get away and just think, and clear one's mind. Which is what Takara was doing, practicing his bowmanship just to clear his thoughts of his worries and the ridicules from the village. So arrow after arrow he fired each one either hitting their mark or missing completely, with each arrow he fired his finger's grip grew stronger, and subtly trickle with blood as the nock of the arrow would graze not only his cheek but the fingers that secured the nock of the arrow before it's fired.
He'll continue this up until his quiver empties and he'll have to go and collect his arrows. As his grip tightens on the last arrow before releasing it towards a rock he threw, and he'll miss it entirely after all his aim hasn't been perfected yet.
"Hah… Dang it…" Takara softly and calmly said, taking a breath as he went to collect his arrow off the ground or wherever they landed.
Once he had collected all of his arrows and packaged the arrow heads that broke during today's practice. When he finished he sat down on the boulder and started to bandage his fingers to stop the small bleeding to prevent any sort of infection. Lining the bandage with honey as he wrapped each finger all to prevent possible infection, living in the mountains can bring an extra risk of infection.
Finishing up what he had to do the young man looked up and laid down on the boulder looking at the white sun rays shining through the tree's leaves. All to be alone with more wandering thoughts.
I wonder what'll happen now…
I am getting to that age…
But would I have a family?
Should I have a family?
My parents… Didn't leave a good impression…
The only "Family" in this village was my grandmother…
But mom… Ruined it with her own life…
Perhaps I should travel the land… Maybe see Marlein again.
Nah… After that battle… I think I'm good…
Though maybe with enough patience the people of this village would accept me.
Grandma loved this place… It'll be an insult to not look after and take care of this place.
I should probably get back to the company… They do leave tonight.
Getting up from the boulder the young man takes his Pendant that was given to him by Marlein. The pendant was a Lion, Sheep and Dove together showing a unison between them. The title 'Honorary Hero' will stick in his head, only as a motivator though. It's clear to Takara that if he must live up to the title he must keep himself at peak condition or at least better than what he is right now.
As soon as he gathered all of his belongings he looked back at the path he had taken to get to his spot. With a deep breath he decided to head back to the village to spend time with his brother's in arms before they head back to the Capital. The crunch underneath his feet of the dirt, scattered pebbles and leaves all around the area added to the soothing sounds of nature. Something simple that'll put a smile on Takara's face as he returns to the Village. The time he had to think and with the peace of nature around had worked to raise his spirits a bit.
"Perhaps I should go to the Fruit Garden for a quick snack. It's not that far from here so it shouldn't take me that much time." Takara thought to himself, deciding to cut through the forest for a shortcut to the Fruit Garden.
"Summer is nearly over… It's a perfect time for a watermel-" Takara thought to himself before his train of thought was interrupted by a loud bang that echoed through the forest.
This particular bang was very familiar to the young man. It didn't roar like a dragon but rang like a rock hitting a bell, it immediately alerted Takara of danger nearby.The bang came from a flash bomb the village had specially made to avoid danger, because of it he instinctively grabbed his bow and an arrow from his quiver, looking around to see what was around. Luckily nothing was around him but the sound came from the direction of the Fruit Garden which meant someone was in danger. And since it was in the direction of the Fruit Garden it meant it was likely a woman from the village as the women and young children of the village will forage there. Either way he's the closest one in the area and the flash bomb can only disorient a wild animal, or worse for a time.
With his bow in hand Takara continued on through the forest to see what had happened. He wasn't going to take a chance. Gripping his bow tightly he looked around large trees to clear the area around him and to move on. He knew he was getting closer because there was a familiar feeling in the air, the feeling of heavy air that brought the stench of death and tar. After a mile Takara came close to the Fruit Garden and he hid himself behind a tree as he felt that same feeling from before but now it was much stronger.
Garuk-Nai is nearby, these mutants he knew too well but luckily they're few in number, an amount he knows he can probably handle depending on the rank of Garuk-Nai they are. Upon reaching a certain area Takara immediately realized this part of the forest. An area away from the Lumber House, and the Fruit laid several trees with gaping holes in them and Bark that belongs to those trees. The Village had carved these and opened these trees in order for children and young women to hide while large predators chased them. He knew this'll be the most likely spot for someone in their village to go to and as he slowly stalked by the trees taking cover. He sees three Garuk-Nai looking around trees and into one of the holes; He didn't know which one of the holes the villagers went into but he had to distract the mutants so they could escape. He grabbed an arrow and poked hand with it so it could be covered with his blood, after that quick pierce he quickly wrapped his hand in a cloth and fired the arrow away enough for the blood to trail through the air.
Fortunately enough the plan worked and the Garuk-Nai had left following the scent of his blood. He had a clear view of those mutants and from a good range he can easily pick them off with his arrows. Three heads and three arrows are enough to handle the likes of these mutants.
With a deep breath Takara carefully aims at the mutants in the distance, none of them are wearing helmets so it'll be easy picking.
"Hah! NO GET AWAY!" A woman's voice screamed out making Takara lose focus and made the arrow he had on the string flop to the ground in front of him.
"Go ahead and Sssscream! No one will come!" Takara heard from a Mutant as he looked at the direction of the struggle. He sees a woman in a green deel dress struggling to get out of the Garuk-Nai's grasp.
Getting himself into position Takara quickly took aim at the Garuk-Nai as it climbed over the woman. With a deep breath he released an arrow that pierced through the back of its skull as it flew through the mouth stunning the mutant for a bit before grabbing another arrow to finish it off and landing a clean headshot. Taking a deep breath of relief he immediately got out of his cover to go to the woman.
For a moment he pauses as the woman is very beautiful, despite the dirt and scuffs on her, but it's not because of her beauty that stops him for a second it's his curiosity. He knows everyone in his village yet this particular woman he has never seen before. Most of the villager's eye color was brown, blue, or black. But her Jade colored eyes told him she wasn't a part of the village and the nearest village was two days away, which meant she's a new addition to the village.
After he gets his focus back he quickly goes to her and kneels down next to her to make sure she's ok.
"Hey are you ok?" Takara asked with a straight face, he knew the Garuk-Nai were in the area so he readied himself just in case all the while making sure this woman was ok.
"You're- Hah!" Before the woman could answer him the two heard a loud growl close by as Takara quickly grabbed an arrow from his quiver making it fly hitting a Garuk-Nai that was running towards them with two others. The man didn't kill the mutant as the arrow hit his shoulder and still pressed on,
"Tch... Quick get going!" Takara said, quickly putting the bow on his back, drawing his sword, and tightening his fist on it showing he is very familiar with it.
"Kouki c'mon." The woman said, reaching inside the tree trunk as Takara saw she was grabbing her little brother and holding him.
With a loud howl a mutant swung its sword at the woman but was blocked by Takara who used his gauntlet with heavy metal armor on it blocked the sword strike making it stumble back to be kicked by Takara making it fall backwards.
"Go Now!" Takra said, glancing at her before dodging a sword strike, and delivering a backwards elbow at another Mutant's head.
"Right, thank you!" The woman said running away from the fight and heading back to the village.
"Good now I can focus on these freaks." Takara said in his head, parrying the third Garuk-Nai's sword and then with one swing cleanly cleave it's head off making its black tar-like blood splatter across Takara's face thankfully not getting in his eyes.
Standing in shock, the two other Garuk-Nai looked at Takara as they growled at him, gripping their swords ready to kill him. Takara didn't once feel any fear against these mutants, he held his sword with a confident and defensive stance. The bigger one of the two Garuk-Nai stomped forward with a rusted Hand-Axe swinging at Takara with the axe in one hand and clawing at him with the other hand. Due to its size and strength it did push Takara back, putting him on the defensive. Luckily the difference between Takara's Arming Sword and the mutant's Axe was the user and the condition of both weapons.
As soon as Takara saw his opening he used the flat edge of his sword to shatter the axe. When the axe shattered the two mutants were shocked which gave the human they fought a huge opening. Takara thrusted the sword into the Garuk-Nai's torso, then severed its head, moving the body to the side.
The Final Garuk-Nai was shorter than the rest and had a bow and arrow drawn on Takara. By the body and eyes Takara could tell it's a young Mutant. The Garuk-Nai fired its arrow and with a whistling sound flew by Takara's head as he glared at the Garuk-Nai, sheathed his sword and moved his hand behind his back.
Freaking out, Garuk-Nai quickly grabbed another arrow and quickly shot at Takara. As the arrow flew towards his head, he quickly caught the arrow in midair with his free hand, as his other hand that went behind him took the bow off his back and returned the arrow to its sender. Unfortunately the arrow didn't hit the mutant's head but the chest of the mutant.
"Tch… I really need to work on my aim…" Takara said, pulling out another arrow and drawing his bow.
"yhtlif namuh…" The Garuk-Nai said, taking a deep breath before letting out a blood curdling screech.
It had stopped directly after Takara fired his arrow, ending the Garuk-Nai's life.
"Ah hell…" Takara muttered, putting his bow away and drawing his sword again while grabbing a horn from a pouch on his back.
As the wind made the leaves and forest rustle as silence fell upon it. Not even a bird's chirp has sounded, signaling the start to something Takara knew well. A Garuk-Nai herd.
Soon running could be heard heavy footprints and snarls from the mutant herd, seeing the herd come out of the shadows he glared at the herd getting ready for the fight ahead. But he knew this'll likely get him killed but… If they kill him here then what's stopping them from attacking the village. Putting the horn to his lips, Takara blew into the horn signaling for help the moment he saw them approaching.
"NAMUH EHT LLIK!"
"Ugh… Ok… Who's first?" Takara asked, getting into a defensive stance.
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"We're almost there." Hisuinome said to her brother, holding him close as she ran through the forest to head back to the village.
"Hisuinome… Your hurting me!"
"I'm sorry but we're close to the village. I promise we'll -" Before the girl could finish she stopped as a large and deafening screech was heard echoing through the forest. It sent shivers down her spine for the few seconds they could hear that dreadful noise before it was quickly silenced. It gave her the resolve to keep running back to the village with her brother in her arms.
As soon as they left the forest Hisuinome fell to her knees as she watched most of the village and the knights all came running to them.
"Hisuinome! Are you- Gah!" Mekara said calling out to Hisuinome before Nomin (Hisuinome's mother) pushed him aside and slid towards her children.
"HISUINOME! KOUKI! OH MY BABIES…" She cried out pulling them both close.
"Momma!" Kouki cried, hugging her as Hisuinome held her mother before getting up and looking at the Captain.
"Quick you have to hurry! Takara is still-"
"Did Takara hurt you?! I swear when I find him…" Mekara said interrupting Hisuinome annoying the girl but instigating the villager's hatred for Takara.
"No you Lummox! He saved me from the monsters that attacked me! He was still fighting when-" Hisuinome said, looking back at the Captain until they heard a horn sound off in the forest.
"Sergeant Takara is in need of reinforcement! Team Blue keep the Villagers here and defend this position! Red team and Green team head straight into the forest and seek out the enemy Takara has engaged!" The Captain ordered as the knights and soldiers all gave a salute of acknowledgement as they went to work.
"I need to make sure… He saved us… I… I want to make sure he's alive." Hisuinome thought to herself staring at the forest. Without a second thought she ran into the forest avoiding the soldiers that tried to keep her safe in the village.
"Hisuinome wait!"
"Hey girl, get back here!" A soldier said trying to get a hold of Hisuinome but the girl was much faster than he anticipated.
"Don't worry Nomin I'll get her!" Mekara said rushing towards Hisuinome.
"Not on my watch kid!" The soldier said shoving Mekara back.
"I already let one pass me I'm not about to let two pass me."
"B-but…"
"Just stay back." The soldier said, picking Mekara up and tossed him slightly backwards a bit.
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"There's too many of them… I'm getting exhausted…" Takara thought in his head. With his back against a tree covered in blood colored like tar.
He had traveled a long way from where he saved the girl and her little brother. Any further and the village would be in sight. Along the way he traveled he left dozens of bodies trailing to his current position. No arrows left in his quiver and his sword still in his hand while his other hand held his bow he used as a secondary weapon.
The Garuk-Nai all snarled, growled, and bleated at him. They all had swords, axes, even spears in their hands they had all wanted to make it personal. Even the archers in their group held daggers wanting a piece of Takara for the scores of Garuk-Nai he had killed.
"Hah… Ok… Bring it you stupid goats." Takara said getting off the tree with no fear in his eyes.
Three of the Garuk-Nai had charged at him directly with spears, those spears had pierced the tree behind him as Takara avoided the strikes and with one chop of his sword he broke their spears and put their heads between his bow and string in one motion and then beheaded them with a single swing positioning himself to block a sword strike to his head.
Making the Garuk-Nai stumble back a few steps, Takara used that opening to free the Garuk-Nai of his head with one swing and giving him a good chance to face off three more that charged after him. Glancing behind him he sees the three spears in the tree from earlier that he can use.
Grabbing a spear head with his free hand he threw the broken spear and it went through a Garuk-Nai's head.
"Figures I'm more accurate with a spear than I am a bow and arrow…" Takara thought to himself avoiding a sword strike by ducking underneath it, slicing it's stomach making it fall to its knees and used it as a body shield to block an axe chop from the other Garuk-Nai as it split it's partner's head open bisecting it.
Pushing the now corpse on the axe wielding Garuk-Nai, Takara grabbed another spearhead and stabbed its head with it just before he avoided a spear that was thrown at him and bounced off the tree. Takara looked up to see a mutant lunge at him and so he plunged his sword into the chest of the Garuk-Nai and threw it down, sword still in its chest. It was clear these things wanted him dead as another was right on top of him trying to stab and slash him. After avoiding a few slashes he used his gauntlets to shatter the sword the mutant was using, once it shattered he head butted the mutant, taking the last spearhead and piercing its head. At this point Takara's adrenaline was coursing through his veins making him do actions he never did before, rolling the spear that bounced off the tree on his foot to kick up for him to use; doing a spin motion using the blunt end of the spear to hit one of the Garuk-Nai away keeping two at bay with the length of the spear. Parrying the blades they were using; he managed to cleanly slice both of the Garuk-Nai's neck then threw the spear through a mutant archer's chest.
Seeing an opportunity to fall back, Takara quickly grabbed his sword and avoided a few arrows in the process, all in an effort to hopefully regroup with the other knights. Arrows flew by his head while the growls, snarls, and bleats echoed throughout the forest. Unfortunately for him the Mutants, due to their unnatural physical abilities were able to catch up and even pass him in an instant, jumping down in front of him surrounding the young man, forcing him to fight in between the Garuk-Nai behind him and the ones in front of him.
"We have you now, human… Kill him." A Garuk-Nai said as the others all surrounded him in a circle. Before Takara could act he took a defensive stance and an arrow pierced his right shoulder making his right arm… The arm he uses his sword in, drop.
"Tch… Gah!" Takara grunted in pain as another arrow pierced him in the abdomen, missing his vitals.
"Nrghh… Hah… Hah… Mrrrhh." Takara grunted and caught his breath he stood up and glared at the Garuk-Nai under immense pain. The Garuk-Nai looked at him in awe at first and then chuckled as they slowly walked up to Takara blades out.
"FIRE!" A man's voice shouted as Takara recognized it and grabbed the Closest Garuk-Nai splitting its throat open quickly with a knife his left hand took and hunched its body over him and shielded him from the arrows. The volley of arrows took out all the Garuk-Nai in front of Takara and some of them behind him.
"Takara are you ok?" The Captain of the company said he and the knights rushed over to Takara forming a line between him and the Garuk-Nai.
"Kill them all!" A Garuk-Nai shouted, causing the other mutants to charge head first as it then made a wail. The same wail to call for assistance.
"Jason patche Takara up and Hiro helps Jason take Takara back to the village once he's able to stand." The captain said to two knights as they started to help Takara with his wounds and carefully work on the arrows first grabbing a bottle of honey-wax and oil.
"Sir there's a lot of them." A knight said as Takara and the others saw a lot ore Garuk-Nai run towards them.
"I killed about thirty-eight of them… That's a lot more than I expected… Most of them are young-blood!" Takara said to the Captain, making him and the other knights smile with confidence.
"Ok Men, Let's clear this herd out!" The Captain said as the knights and Soldiers roared with confidence starting to mow down the Garuk-Nai.
"Get me back in there to fight…" Takara said as the two knights cleaned and treated his wounds.
"Easy Takara… You lost quite a bit of blood and your Adrenaline won't last long." Jason said, patting his back.
"Please… I need to finish this fight." Takara looked at him with determination in his eyes.
"Well if Takara's able to fight, let him. These Garuk-Nai are young but we're outnumbered." The Captain said drawing his sword and shield giving Takara a nod and went to the front to fight.
"Ok Takara let's get you going." Jason said to Takara.
"Thanks… I appreciate it…" Takara said, waiting for the two knights to finish patching him up.
The fight had started going very quickly as the more heavily armored and the more experienced soldiers started to kill Garuk-Nai one by one easily. Even with Takara rejoining them and killing more mutants one by one.
"Barli!" A knight said as everyone saw a massive figure walk up towards them, the Garuk-Nai retreating behind it and forming a line behind the massive creature.
A Barli is a monster that came from Cruzog's many mutated experiments. Just like the Garuk-Nai the Barli were Ten to Fifteen feet tall, had stocky figures, gray skins, two horns like goats, and a flat face much like a Garuk-Nai's face. Its feet stomped the ground putting the knights and the soldiers in the defense. Even with their numbers they couldn't take a Barli alone. Even during the final battle against Cruzog the heroes were the ones to make short work of these brutes. One Barli can easily overpower twenty men in an all out battlefield.
"Everyone get back and form a line! Archers take aim." The Captain said trying to keep his men's morale up because due to the Barli's presence the knights and soldiers were slowly and surely getting nervous and frightened.
Seeing this Takara walked up in front and past the line as he looked up at the Barli in the eyes with a determined look on his face. The Barli roared at Takara and with one of its bulky arms and fist attempted to slam down and crush Takara.
Taking a deep breath Takara watched the fist come down towards him. In one move Takara avoided the Barli's slam moving to the right of its fist and bringing his sword down severing the Barli's wrist and hand apart. With a wailing roar the Barli swung its other arm at Takara missing the young man as he ducked under the arm and quickly made his way towards the Barli's legs were he sliced it's ankles causing it to fall backwards on its back. The moment it landed all it could see was Takara next to its head, sword raised up.
"Aaaaargh!" Takara yelled out bringing his sword down and severing the Barli's head from its body.
"Hah… Hah… Hah… Well?!" Takara shouted at the Garuk-Nai, glaring at them. His adrenaline was running through the roof as his sword dripped black blood looking at the Garuk-Nai as the Knights cheered looking at Takara raising their morale.
In shock the Garuk-Nai started backing away and shoved each other aside all in an effort to retreat.
"C'mon they're getting away! After them!" The Captain said as the knights and soldiers charged after the Garuk-Nai.
"Takara you should rest your adrenaline is about to wear off." The Captain said, putting his hand on Takara's shoulder and giving him a smile.
"Right… Hah… Man I'm hungry…" Takara quietly said, sitting on the Barli's corpse.
"You did good today Takara." The Captain said, patting Takara's back and leaving to join the others.
"I hope the village thinks so as well…" Takara thought to himself, hanging his head down and taking deep breaths to calm himself down as his adrenaline started to lose its effects.
While the sounds of battle echoed throughout the forest with Garuk-Nai squealing in pain, Takara took the moment to himself to recollect, and rest. He even started to reflect on the events that had transpired.
"I hope they get them all…" Takara said to himself leaning on his sword while he caught his breath.
Little did he know that he had another pair of eyes on him. From the distance there was a Woman in a green Deel dress with Raven black hair and emerald green eyes, sitting on a sturdy tree branch looking at Takara. With a small smile and a sigh of relief the woman relaxed a bit seeing a bit stressed at first and from the look in her eyes. She's happy.
"Thank goodness… He's alive."