Part 1
A young man and his father walked through the dense forest, the sound of dry leaves crackling beneath their feet. The sun was setting, casting long, sinister shadows among the trees. The young man, with keen eyes and tense muscles, carried his two scimitars with confidence. Beside him, his father, a veteran of many battles, wielded a short sword and a light crossbow.
Suddenly, a piercing scream cut through the air. Before they could react, a huge griffin swooped from the sky, its claws ready to strike. The creature, with the body of a lion and the wings of an eagle, was a terrifying sight, its golden feathers gleaming in the twilight.
"Eddy, watch out!" the father shouted, raising his crossbow and firing a bolt. The projectile flew quickly, but the griffin, with incredible reflexes, dodged at the last moment, the bolt merely grazing its feathers.
The griffin landed heavily in front of the young Ed, its sharp claws tearing into the ground. With a fierce roar, it lunged forward, flapping its wings forcefully, creating a gust of wind that nearly knocked Ed off his feet. He spun his scimitars, ready for the fight.
The creature attacked first, its claws slicing through the air towards Ed. With agility, he dodged, the claws passing inches from his face. He countered with a quick cut, his scimitars flashing as they moved. The griffin blocked with a wing, the blades sliding harmlessly off its feathers as hard as steel.
The father, seeing an opportunity, moved in from the side. With a precise strike of his short sword, he slashed at one of the griffin's legs, causing the creature to roar in pain and stagger. Seizing the opening, he fired another bolt from the crossbow, hitting the griffin in the flank. The light crossbow was effective at close range, and the bolt penetrated deeply into the creature's flesh.
"Now!" the father shouted.
Ed did not hesitate. With a swift spin, he cut through one of the griffin's wings with one of his scimitars, preventing the creature from flying again. With the other scimitar, he struck the griffin's neck, opening a deep wound. The creature roared in agony, its strength beginning to wane.
Desperate, the griffin attempted one last attack, its claws aiming for Ed's chest. But he was ready. With a fluid movement, he dodged and, with both scimitars, delivered a fatal blow, driving the blades deeply into the griffin's heart.
The creature let out a final breath before collapsing, its eyes dimming. Ed withdrew his scimitars, wiping the blood off with a cloth before sheathing them.
The father approached, placing a hand on his son's shoulder. "We need to take the griffin's meat. We can't leave anything for the crows."
Ed nodded, drawing a hunting dagger from his belt. Together, they began working, skillfully and precisely carving the meat from the creature. The father guided his son, showing the best cuts and how to make the most of what the griffin had to offer.
"These wings are tough, but the leg meat is tender." the father said, tearing off a piece.
"And the feathers can be sold for a good price."
They worked in silence, the only music being the sound of meat being cut and the rustling of leaves in the wind. The task was arduous, but they were efficient. In no time, they had removed all the meat and packed it into leather bags.
Finally, with the bags full and the griffin's body reduced to bones and feathers, the father wiped his sweaty brow and looked at his son. "Good work. Let's head out before night falls."
Part 2
They made their way back to the city, the heavy sacks of griffon meat swinging from their shoulders. Arriving at the butcher's shop, they were greeted by the butcher, a burly man with a warm smile.
"Ah, welcome back! What do we have today?" the butcher asked, rubbing his hands together with enthusiasm.
The father opened one of the sacks, revealing the griffon meat. "We got a good haul this time. Griffon. Fresh."
The butcher's eyes lit up. "Excellent! This will fetch a good price. You two are the best Mercenaries I know." He began weighing and examining the meat, separating the higher-value cuts.
"You sure know how to please me," he said.
After weighing and packaging all the meat, the butcher handed a pouch full of coins to the father. "Here's your payment. As always, it's a pleasure doing business with you."
The father shook the butcher's hand. "The pleasure is ours. See you next time."
They left the butcher's shop and headed home, the sun already beginning to set. Upon entering, they were met with the comforting smell of stew on the stove and the sight of Ed's mother preparing dinner.
"You're back!" the mother exclaimed, with a radiant smile.
"How was your day?"
The father placed the pouch of coins on the table and began recounting the story of the griffon battle, exaggerating a bit to make his son seem even more heroic. "And then, he struck the griffon right in the throat! It was spectacular!"
The mother laughed, shaking her head. "You two always get into trouble. But I'm glad you're safe."
As dinner went on, the conversation was light and filled with laughter, everyone feeling relieved to be together and safe. However, a loud, firm knock on the door interrupted their cheerful conversation, causing them all to turn in surprise.
The father stood up, his expression becoming serious. "Who could it be at this hour?"
He opened the door to find an old friend dressed in a black cloak, his expression grave.
"I need to speak with you, Billy," the man said, his voice low and urgent.
"There's something that needs to be hunted."
William frowned, but nodded. "Come in. Let's talk."
The cloaked man entered the small house, making the atmosphere immediately more tense. He pulled back his hood, revealing a face marked by time and battle.
"Wilde, good to see you again," William said, closing the door behind him.
Wilde nodded but got straight to the point. "I need your help. There's a remote island to the north called Fen, which is being plagued by a monster. The inhabitants are desperate. We need Mercenaries who hunt, and who are experienced."
The mother, who had been listening from the kitchen, approached with evident concern. "A remote island? That sounds far too dangerous. You can't go."
William looked at his wife, his expression resolute. "Jona, they need help. And if this monster is as terrible as it seems, someone has to do something."
Wilde intervened, his voice grave. "I understand your concern, but let me explain the situation better." He pulled out a chair and sat down, his face serious.
"The island of Fen is small, home to about a thousand people. Recently, a monster has begun attacking the coastal town, killing livestock and people in a brutal manner. We've lost contact with three Hunters and Mercenaries we sent before. This monster is unlike anything we've seen."
The father crossed his arms, thoughtful. "What kind of monster are we talking about? A wild animal? A magical creature?"
The visitor shook his head. "We're not sure. Survivors speak of a giant shadow with eyes that glow in the dark and a roar that freezes the blood. Some say it's a demon, others think it's an ancient curse that's been awakened."
Jona clutched her husband's arm, concern evident. "This sounds very dangerous. You can't risk your life for something so uncertain."
Wilde looked directly at her, his expression serious. "I understand your concern, but we need skilled Hunters or Mercenaries, and he's one of the best in both. Without him, the chances of success are slim. The people of Fen are desperate. If we don't do something now, I fear it will be too late."
William sighed, placing his other hand on his wife's. "I need to do this. They need someone."
Before Jona could respond, Ed intervened. "I'm going too. If it's that dangerous, you'll need all the help you can get."
Jona looked at him with a mix of surprise and fear. "No, you're too young. I can't lose both of you."
Ed held her gaze firmly. "I've trained for this, Mom. We'll do this together."
William looked at his son, assessing his determination. Finally, he nodded. "Alright. We'll go together."
Wilde nodded in thanks. "The trip to the island will take three days. Once there, we'll need to set up camp and start investigating the attacks. We need to be prepared for anything. Take whatever you can carry, but be ready to fight."
Jona nodded, resigned but with tears in her eyes. "Just promise me you'll both come back."
William squeezed her hand firmly. "We promise. We'll return."
Wilde stood up, ready to leave. "Thank you. We'll depart at dawn. Be prepared."
With that, he said his goodbyes and left the house, leaving the family in a heavy silence. The father embraced his wife, trying to comfort her.
"It will be alright," he said, trying to smile.
"We'll be back before you know it."
Jona nodded, trying to hide her worry. "Let's hope so."