Given the fact that Casper had left the premises from the front side of the house some minutes ago, it could have been difficult for Jean to believe that he was the cause of the sounds straight away since the sounds were originating from the forest part at the back of the house. And currently this was where Jean was.
With the thought of fleeing still lingering in his mind, Jean came up with a quick plan.
Since there were some possibilities that the person approaching could be an adversary, he found it important to find a place to hide so that he could have a chance to know the kind of enemy he was likely to face.
He believed that this was the best decision since he was pretty sure that the approaching person was yet to notice him since the movements remained the same up to this time.
Aside from the guy not noticing him, this decision of his was also fuelled by the possibility of the approaching person being able to deploy ranged attacks in case it turns out to be an adversary. With this, it would be easier for the person to attack Jean with ease in case he decided to run away, since the person would easily notice him. And due to his movements, he would be rendered defenceless.
Without further hesitations, Jean tiptoed and immediately took cover behind a tree trunk of a nearby tree.
At this point, he understood that his consciousness was crucial in his decision making. So, despite the nervousness that had descended upon him, he still tried his best to maintain a clear mind.
Pressing his back against the back of the tree while facing away from the direction of the sounds, Jean inhaled deeply.
After calming his nerves, he turned to the side while still maintaining his spot and peeked in the direction of the approaching sounds.
Suddenly, Jean's pupils dilated as he gasped before reassuming his initial position.
'So, it was Casper all this while?'
Jean thought to himself as he sighed out of relief.
'But what could be that that he is carrying on his shoulders?'
Jean asked himself as he remained hidden behind the tree trunk.
Since the approaching guy was like forty meters away from where Jean was standing, he didn't have a clear view of what he was carrying. But for his identity, it was easier since he could easily recognize the attires he was putting on and his body stature.
However, the real reason to why he couldn't discern what the guy was carrying on his shoulders was because he peeked at the guy in a quick glance to prevent himself from being noticed by the approaching guy. Additionally, his focus was directed towards identifying the guy rather than what he carried.
Now that he was aware of the identity of the guy, the next thing he wanted to know was what he was carrying.
Inhaling deeply, Jean perked up before turning and peeking at the guy for the second time.
'An animal!'
Jean exclaimed internally at the thought of what Casper was carrying.
Now barely twenty meters away from where Jean was, Casper continued moving with a slightly bend neck due to the weight he was carrying. On his back the bow and a couple of un used arrows rested. They were constricted in place by a leather belt that ran across the neck and the right shoulder.
On his shoulder, there rested a19Kg(42 pounds) lifeless boar with black furs and shades of brown. The fur around its neck were dyed red by blood. Closer to its throat, there was an arrow injury.
Since Jean had previously gone hunting with his grandpa- Natalie's father before while in the village, it was easier for him to identify the animal from a distance. After all, this wasn't the first time that he was seeing a boar. He had seen it countless times already if not multiple.
With this realization, Jean thought of doing something absurd. But since he understood the repercussions of what he was about to do, he decided against it after a second thought.
He was planning on scaring Casper immediately he passes where he was hiding.
But when he thought that the guy could just turn against him and before he notice him, he would have already maimed him or the worst case scenario, killed him.
The reason he saw this as a possibility, was because he had noticed the guy carrying a bow on his back and the the act of choosing to live in the forest from all the places, was a clear proof that the guy was cold.
Despite deciding against scaring the guy, Jean remained hidden.
When Casper walked and past the spot that Jean was hiding, he came to an abrupt stop.
As soon as Jean noticed this, he was about to speak when Casper resounded.
"What are you doing here? I thought you could be inside taking a nap."
Casper asked without looking.
Stepping out of his hiding place in embarrassment, Jean scoffed.
"So, tell me, when did you notice me?"
Jean asked as he approached the guy with a stagger.
Turning in Jean's direction, Casper pursed his lips.
"I noticed you some moments before you got up from the ground."
Suddenly, Jean was stunned. He couldn't believe that the guy was able to notice him from such a distance. Considering that the closely parked trees and the undergrowths in the area also contributed to the obscuring, Jean had to run a recheck and confirm the possibility of what Casper was talking about.
When he confirmed that he couldn't see through a distance of thirty meters from where he was standing, Jean gulped before turning to face Casper with a dubious look. He was pretty sure that the guy could have been at least fifty meters away before he got up from the ground.
"How is that possible?"
Jean asked after a short moment of hesitation.
"I can spot a person for as far as up to one hundred square meters away from here. That's for obscured places like this. That's just of the skills that we hunters have."
'He was a herbalist when we met, and now he is claiming to be a hunter. How many skills do this guy have?'
Jean mused.
"That's impressive. Is the skill teachable?"
Jean asked with a confused expression.
Gesturing Jean to follow him, Casper started moving in the direction of their house.
"Yes, but it requires patience and some special training."
Suddenly, Jean was puzzled.
'Some of this guy's terms are sounding strange to me. What is special training again. I understand.'
"Can you see through walls with this skill?"
Jean asked after a short moment of silence.
Casper almost dropped the boar on his shoulder when he heard Jean's question.
"Why would you think of such? The skill is only limited to partial obscureness and not a complete one like the one that the wall provides. In simple words, the skill only works where there is at least penetration of light."
With a nod Jean lingered as he now directed his gaze towards the.boar that the guy was carrying.
"So, you went hunting without informing me?"
Jean asked with a hint of exasperation in his voice.
Lowering the boar from his shoulders and placing it on the ground, Casper sighed.
"I thought that it could be dangerous to you to follow me. considering that fierce predators are also out there for a hunt."
Jean pouted before replying.
"So, the reason you didn't inform me about this was because you knew that I would insist on following you?"
With a nod, Casper remained silent.
"It is hard to admit, but sincerely speaking, you were right with your speculations. After all, what is here to enjoy other than the insufferable solitude? I even wonder how you were able to stay in this place all by yourself for I don't know how long. By the way, how long have you been staying at this place?"
Jean asked as he directed his gaze at the boar that was now laid on the ground.
"At least three years after relocating from the city and at least fifteen years since my birth."
Jean shook his head in acknowledgement as he glanced at Casper with a complicated look.
He wasn't believing that the guy's sanity was still put despite all the years that he had spent at this sickening place.
Although the guy had told him that he at times read novels to keep himself busy and pass time, he was still not convinced that that was enough to pent up the psychological torture that such level of silence can cause to someone.
He was about to ask him the same question again but finally decided against it.
Just at that moment, Casper turned to Jean.
"Do you know how to skin an animal?"
Giving Casper a confused look, Jean responded.
"I know how it is done but I haven't tried it before."
"If I offer you a chance to skin this, are you taking it?"
Casper asked with a grin.
"Yes, I can try. But you have to stay around to guide me on this."
Jean answered after a short moment of hesitation.
With an amused look, Casper fished out a dagger from his trouser pocket and unsheathed it.
The knife was approximately twelve inches long together with its wooden handle. It had a width of two inches with a pointed tip. The cutting edge was forged from adamant still. Its surface was plain and shiny.
From just one glance, someone could tell that the knife was razer sharp.
When he was done unsheathing the knife, he handed it over to Jean by the handle and lowered himself next to the boar.
Thirty minutes later, the two were done preparing the meat.
Albeit this was Jean's first ever experience of skinning an animal, he was still able to do it with much ease and with little assistance from Casper.
At the end of the day, he was happy because he was able to put his skinning skills that he acquired from his grandpa in Kelb village in practice and also at the same time, he was happy because for the first time since he met Casper, he was going to eat meat.
If such opportunity could have been offered to him a few days ago, he could have turned it down without a doubt. This was because of the trauma he had experienced after sighting Marr's maimed dead body.
But now that he had overcomed the trauma, he was yarning to have a taste of a bush meat after a very long time.
They cut the portion that they were going to use for that night and roasted the remaining to preserve it for the following days.
The following day they were supposed to leave for Casper's friend's home.
So, after supper, Jean went to bed earlier than usual so that he could wake up in time for the long journey.
Casper on the other hand remained in the living room reading some novels as usual.
~{□○□}~