In the forest one person is hiding behind the tree, he's trying to control his breathing to not to make any sound as much as possible.
Even though he's bit fearful and anxious because of current situation, he's in now but he still got unshakeable resolve in his eyes the determination to kill the beast that chasing him.
He tighten his grip on the bloody axe, he's holding the axe with his both hands and from corner of he's eyes he looks in the direction were he run from and waiting for perfect opportunity to strike.
Axe still has some fresh blood dropping from axe edge to the snow below.
Blood trail were clearly visible to naked eyes and smell of blood too, whlie one might think what's the point of hiding behind the tree, if person who's trying to hide doesn't remove he's trail whether he's running away from human or monster cause sooner or later he would get caught.
While he was looking out for the beast right infront of him flying object like chakram came towards him in speed, he wasn't prepared for attack from front he dodge this narrowly by jumping on he's left side and the flying chakram like thing got stuck in the tree trunk.
It wasn't weapon but curved horn rabbit as curved horn rabbit target dodge its attack, it got stuck in tree trunk by its horn.
Curved horn rabbit tried free himself from tree but it was already too late as curved horn rabbit was pushing his body with all his four paws against the tree but axe came straight for its neck in just few seconds.
Claude looked at the dead curved horn rabbit on the ground as he just killed one now as he beheaded the rabbit his sleeve got stain with blood.
"I never thought killing three of curved horn rabbit would be this hard."
"Well, it still better than before."
"Now, I think I should have awakened as warrior instead of mage."
"Kid being warrior and mage doesn't make any difference, all its depends on how you took advantage of your surrounding and situation for your benefit." Brian said while looking at Claude below on ground.
"Yeah, that's true but being powerful is more important cause if you are weak you won't be able to take advantage of anything."
"That's not true kid." Brian shook his head rejecting Claude opinion.
"For instance take this as example, I have better mastery at using axe compares to you but if you chop down the tree I'm currently sitting at I would be the one who will be at your mercy."
"Is that so but for me to do that I have to be strong enough to cut down the tree in one swing cause you won't give me chance for second one."
"This world is full of mysteries boy." Brian climb down from tree top.
After landing on the snow ground he adjust his robe.
"All my life no-one believed when I tell them this secret, they took it as joke."
"Claude I don't know if you think this is joke or true but listen up, when I was child my grandfather cut down the big tree with one swing of his axe."
"The explosive power behind the swing was unimaginable for old sick man like him."
"He's the reason why I become lumberjack, my grandfather was normal human without any supernatural powers but he was still stronger than most warrior around our town."
"All his life only thing he did was to cut down the trees with his axe and that's all what he knew."
"He was great man but even my parents don't believe me when I told them that grandfather can cut down big trees with one hit."
"Then why did show this to your parents second time, if he can already did it once."
"Well, he didn't cause after few days he died."
"I'm so sorry."
"Its okay, kid."
"Then did he told you, how to use this trick."
"He said for me to cut down tree in one hit, I have to swing axe with my all emotions in it make axe part of me but I never manage to do that."
"All of this seems fake maybe he was warrior but he never revealed to anyone."
"Well, its all in the past now," said Brian and start walking towards the path to settlement but Claude saw tears falling from Brian eyes but he didn't said anything.
Claude collected all three of curved horn rabbit he killed today.
Selling curved horn rabbit doesn't get you good amount of money but its still enough for him, one curved horn rabbit can get four bronze coins.
So, selling three of them he will get 12 bronze coins.
Claude return to settlement and its better than before now settlement is under-construction as six days ago mage manage to completely set up teleportation to Gree during city in Kotswold Kingdom.
In this few days more than 100 people have left the settlement and joined Kotswold Kingdom after what happened weeks ago tragedy that no-one will ever forget and more than 70 people have died in settlement.
Even though settlement population has decreased but humans has to keep on living.
As teleportation circle was open to use and lots people have joined adventure guild and start earning money buy selling woods, animal and monster body parts from forest and brings back goods from the city.
Despite the teleportation circle has been set up here people from city or other adventure from the guild didn't came over here that's quite odd but no way bother to ask for this as only official member of the guild came through teleportation to inspect the settlement and its surroundings after that no one has seen them here again.
Claude also wanted to visit city and join adventure guild too, just like everyone else but village chief Luther, Grandma Mary, Max and Brian rejected this notion out of his mind as it bring more problems for settlement and Claude might get killed just as he steps out of teleportation circle in city.
"Hey, Martin I brought three curved horn rabbit todays." Claude opened the bag he has with him inside the bag is corpse of curved horn rabbit.
"That would be 12 bronze coins Claude, I hope you bring more of them next time." Martin said with smile.
Martin is one of them survivors settlement people found few weeks ago in forest while exploring and since that day Martin and he's group has joined the settlement.
Few days ago Claude through other people that join the adventure guild that throughout the outskirts of the forest many settlement has been established by people who flew from Yorst Kingdom.
The people who lives in settlement doesn't wants to part of any kingdom or Empire they rather stay independent.
"Did you bring what I asked from you last time." Claude inquired about the goods he wanted from the city.
"Yeah, I just brought them last night." Martin said while putting the box on table as he opens the box revealing sheepskin, pull skein, needles, threads and wooden knitting needles.
Claude eyes start shine as he looks at the box, "How much does this cost, I mean all of this."
"Ohh, that would be 4 silver coin." Martin said with merchant smile.
Claude eyes dropped as he heard the price cause it was really expensive and he can't afford it even after working with Brian for two weeks he only menage to save 200 bronze coins.
"That's really expensive Martin, why don't you lower the price bit for me." Claude sad with bit shame in his voice cause he never liked bargaining but he really wants this.
"Nope, I can't lower the price more than this Claude, I have to make my own living too." Martin clearly reject the notion of lower the price to Claude.
"Is it the wool, which is expensive?" Claude asked as he looks at wool though it doesn't look higher quality one from one he uses here.
"No, its not the wool but sheepskin is expensive cause this sheepskin came from "Edinsedurd sheep" unlike normal sheep this sheepskin provide better cold resistance and its hide is also thick."
"Then do you have normal sheepskin."
"No, I only bought one sheepskin this time as we need proper sheepskin robe cause normal one usually doesn't last much in this weather."
"Then what's the price for everything except for sheepskin."
"That would be 150 bronze coins."
"Okay, we have deal then but I'm still feeling like you are ripping me off with this amount."
Martin just smiled at Claude words.
Claude took the thing he bought from Martin and head off to grandma Mary as its been quite few days that he didn't visit her as he gets tired after training with both Max and Brian.
Over this two weeks his magic spell has improved from past but it still at basic level and while working with Brian he learn to how to fight with axe but its more difficult and tiresome than magic practice.
He most of the time he ended up injuring himself, even though he looks normal but his hands and legs are wrapped by bandages and Claude have bit difficulty while walking straight and anyone can tell this by the way he walks.