The rooster's crow ripped through my sleep, a jarring reminder that a new day had begun. I stretched, the anticipation of the day buzzing in my ears. Today was the day. The day my real training as a Hunter would start. The day I'd meet the others who would become my companions, my rivals, my family.
I had to be ready. I had to prove myself worthy of the legacy I carried. My father, Captain Gerald, was the most respected Hunter in the land, and I was determined to follow in his footsteps.
I made my way to the kitchen, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon filling my senses. There, at the stove, stood Vice Captain Nikko, his broad shoulders and kind eyes a familiar sight. He was already hard at work, preparing breakfast for the day ahead.
"Good morning, Vice Captain," I chirped, my voice filled with youthful energy.
Nikko turned, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Oh, you're awake, Faelan. Good morning too. Just wait a moment and I'll be done cooking, then we can eat."
I nodded, my gaze flitting around the kitchen. "Ah, Vice Captain, where's Dad? I mean, Captain. Have you seen Captain?"
Nikko chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "Haha, it's okay to call him Dad when it's just us, but when you're outside, you can call him Captain. For now, he went ahead to the training ground with the other leaders and the Master."
My brow furrowed slightly. "Oh, I see. Okay, I'll go out for a bit with Fenrir to get some sun."
"Okay," Nikko said, his voice laced with a hint of paternal concern. "I'll call you when it's time to eat."
I returned to my room, my heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. I retrieved Fenrir, my loyal wolf companion, from his cozy bed. The fluffy white wolf, still half-asleep, yawned and stretched, his emerald eyes blinking open lazily.
As we walked towards the door, Fenrir suddenly stiffened, his ears perked up, his senses alert. "Faelan! Get ready with your magic, I sense a strong mage coming here!" he growled, his voice low and urgent.
My hand instinctively went to my hip, where my lightning claw rested. "Huh? Maybe it's just Vice Captain you're sensing," I replied, my voice barely a whisper.
Fenrir shook his head, his eyes narrowed. "No, it's not Vice Captain. He's a wind mage so I wouldn't sense him. This is a fire mage, but I think you're stronger than him. So get ready with your magic."
I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest. I activated my lightning boots, the magic coursing through my veins, enhancing my speed and agility. Fenrir absorbed my magic, his own fur bristling with energy, ready to unleash his own wolf magic.
As we burst through the door, we were met with a sight that took my breath away. A young girl, no older than myself, stood there, her blonde hair cascading down her shoulders, her eyes blazing with an intensity that belied her age. In her hand, a ball of fire crackled, ready to be unleashed.
Before I could react, Vice Captain Nikko appeared, his presence a calming force in the midst of the brewing storm. "Sigh, what are you two doing? You haven't even met each other yet and you're already fighting," he said, his voice laced with exasperation.
I lowered my lightning claw, a wave of guilt washing over me. "I'm sorry, Vice Captain. I thought Fenrir was sensing an enemy so I attacked. But Vice Captain, who is that girl?"
Nikko's eyes softened as he looked at the two of us, a silent understanding passing between them. "Faelan, this is Uriel, my daughter. Uriel, this is Faelan, the only son of Captain Gerald, and the wolf is Fenrir, Faelan's pet."
My cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "Ahhh, I'm so sorry! I'm Faelan Azure."
Uriel, her initial anger fading, returned a hesitant smile. "Sorry too. I'm Uriel Arfin." She couldn't help but think, "Wait, is this the kid they're replacing Tom with? Oh, I'm a kid too, and he's also Captain Gerald's son. Wow, he's scary. I was surprised by him because he suddenly attacked me."
Nikko, relieved that the situation hadn't escalated, sighed. "Oh well, since you know each other now, be good friends, okay. Let's go inside now and I've already prepared the food. Let's eat."
Uriel and I exchanged hesitant smiles, our initial animosity replaced by a tentative curiosity. "Okay!" we said in unison.
As we sat down to eat, Nikko turned to his daughter. "Uriel, where are Danes and Alexa?"
Uriel, her gaze shifting to her plate, replied, "I told them yesterday to just wait for me at the south gate of the village. That's what I told them, so they might be there now waiting."
Nikko nodded, his gaze flickering to me. "Okay, let's finish eating so they don't get bored waiting for us. Faelan, after you eat, get ready what we'll bring. Wait, are you bringing Fenrir?"
My appetite returning, I nodded eagerly. "Yes, I'll be the one carrying Fenrir. He's still small and I don't have much to bring anyway."
After breakfast, my heart filled with a mix of excitement and trepidation, I prepared my things. I strapped my lightning claw to my hip, the familiar weight a source of both comfort and power. I glanced at Fenrir, who was already waiting patiently by the door, his gaze fixed on me.
As we stepped outside, Vice Captain Nikko and Uriel were already waiting, their faces set with anticipation.
"Lightning boots!" I exclaimed, activating the magic that would allow me to keep pace with the older trainees.
Uriel, her eyes widening in surprise, tilted her head. "Hmm? What kind of magic is that?"
I, a hint of pride in my voice, explained, "Ah, this? It's an equip spell that enhances my speed and jumping ability."
Nikko, his eyes filled with a fatherly pride, added, "Uriel, Faelan is only 3 years old, so he needs this to keep up with us."
Uriel, her competitive spirit ignited, muttered under her breath, "Wow, he's only 3 years old but he can already use that kind of magic. He's amazing. When I was his age, I struggled to use a fire ball, but now I can do it much faster. What if he reaches my age now and becomes stronger than me? I'm scared, but I won't lose. I need to be strong too."
With that, we set off towards the south gate, our hearts filled with a mix of trepidation and excitement. The journey ahead promised challenges, adventures, and the forging of bonds that would last a lifetime.
As we approached the south gate, we saw two figures standing there, their faces a mix of curiosity and anticipation. A boy with dark hair and piercing blue eyes, and a girl with long, flowing black hair and a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Sorry we made you wait so long, kids," Nikko said, his voice warm and welcoming.
The boy, his eyes widening in surprise, exclaimed, "Hey, it's Vice Captain and Uriel. But wait, who's that kid with you holding a wolf?"
The girl, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, chimed in, "Oh, Vice Captain, is that the kid? Is he the one replacing Tom?"
Nikko, his smile widening, replied, "Oh, right. This is Faelan Azure. He's 3 years old and your new teammate. Introduce yourself to them, Faelan."
My nervousness momentarily forgotten, I stepped forward, Fenrir at my side. "Hi, I'm Faelan Azure. I'm 3 years old and this wolf is Fenrir."
"Okay," the boy said, extending his hand. "I'm Danes Gabo."
The girl, her smile as bright as the sun, introduced herself. "I'm Alexa Greenleaf."
Danes, his gaze shifting to me, asked, "Azure? Vice Captain, isn't Captain Gerald's last name Azure? How are they related?"
Nikko, his eyes twinkling with amusement, replied, "Faelan? He's Captain Gerald's only son, you know. Did I answer your question, Danes? Can we leave now?"
Danes, his eyes widening in realization, nodded. "Y-yes, we can leave now, Vice Captain." He couldn't help but think, "Wow, so he's Captain Gerald's son, huh? Is he strong like Captain?"
Uriel, her competitive spirit flaring, interjected, "Sorry for making you wait. Let's go."
Alexa, her voice laced with a hint of playful teasing, replied, "Oh, it's okay. Actually, we just got here too. Danes made me wait a long time, haha."
Danes, his cheeks flushing, mumbled, "Huh? S-sorry. Let's go so we can start right away."
With that, the five of us, our hearts pounding with anticipation, set off towards the training ground. The journey ahead promised challenges, adventures, and the forging of bonds that would last a lifetime.
As we approached the training ground, we saw Captain Gerald standing there, his stern face softened by a hint of pride. He was the leader of the Hunters, a legendary warrior known for his strength and skill. The trainees, our hearts pounding with respect and awe, lined up before him.
"Oh, you're here, Nikko. You brought the kids with you. Good," Captain Gerald said, his voice booming across the training ground.
Nikko, his gaze shifting to the trainees, replied, "I stopped by to get them before coming here, Captain, so all four of them are here. I also introduced Faelan to them."
Captain Gerald nodded, his gaze sweeping over the trainees. "Thank you, Nikko. We'll talk again later. For now, focus on the kids."
He turned to the trainees, his voice taking on a commanding tone. "Okay, kids, line up! Today, your training will start again, and I will personally train you. So get ready because today you will run around the mountain all day. There are checkpoints where you can rest, depending on how long you want to rest. Don't worry, there aren't any goblins, orcs, or minotaurs in the forest, so you'll be safe. The group that doesn't finish this challenge today will have a punishment. So start running!"
He turned to me, his gaze piercing me with a silent challenge. "Faelan, don't use your magic because this challenge tests your physical strength. Do you understand?"
My eyes met his, and I nodded resolutely. "Yes, Captain, I understand."
"Then run!" Captain Gerald commanded, his voice echoing across the mountain.
The trainees, our hearts pounding with a mix of excitement and trepidation, took off running. My lightning boots enhancing my speed, I kept pace with the older trainees, my determination fueled by a desire to prove myself.
As we ran, I couldn't help but notice that the other groups were struggling. The trainees, their faces flushed with exertion, were lagging behind. But my body felt light and agile, a surge of energy coursing through me. I was determined to finish the challenge, to prove that I was worthy of being a Hunter.
Time seemed to fly by as we ran, the sun climbing higher in the sky, casting long shadows across the mountain. My muscles burned with fatigue, and I felt a pang of exhaustion. I glanced at my companions, their faces etched with similar weariness.
"Guys, can we rest at the next checkpoint?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
Uriel, her breath coming in ragged gasps, replied, "Why? Are you tired already, Faelan? I think we can rest at the next checkpoint because we're halfway there. What do you two think?"
Danes, his face flushed with exertion, nodded. "We can rest. I'm feeling a little tired too, so let's rest first. We still have a lot of time, so we have time to rest."
Uriel, her competitive spirit flaring, agreed. "Okay, let's hurry to the next checkpoint."
We sped up, our bodies pushing through the fatigue, our determination fueled by a shared goal. As we reached the checkpoint, we collapsed onto the ground, our bodies aching with exhaustion.
My muscles screamed in protest. I couldn't believe how tired I was. I had never pushed myself this hard before. But I knew I couldn't give up. I had to finish the challenge.
We rested for over an hour, our bodies slowly recovering, our spirits renewed. As we stood up, we saw that the other groups had caught up. But my eyes blazed with determination, and I knew we wouldn't be overtaken. We were the first, and we would remain the first.
As the sun began its descent, casting long shadows across the mountain, Captain Gerald appeared, his face etched with a mixture of pride and satisfaction.
"Congratulations to all of you because no group failed," he announced, his voice booming across the training ground. "Since it's evening, the veteran Hunters are here to help you, so get ready for the tents you'll be sleeping in tonight. See you again tomorrow, kids."
Nikko, his face beaming with pride, stepped forward. "Wait, Captain, we have a problem."
Captain Gerald, his brow furrowed slightly, asked, "What is it, Nikko?"
Nikko, his voice laced with a hint of sheepishness, replied, "Captain, I forgot to tell Faelan's group to bring a tent for tonight. What do we do, Captain? Hehe."
Captain Gerald, his stern face softening into a smile, said, "It's okay. Just let them stay with us tonight."
Nikko, his eyes widening in relief, nodded. "Okay, Captain. I'll just tell the four of them that we'll be staying with us."
A few moments later, Vice Captain Nikko approached us, his face filled with a mixture of apology and concern.
"Faelan, Uriel, Alexa, and Danes, congratulations for being the first group to arrive here," he said, his voice warm and sincere. "I'm also sorry because I forgot to tell you to bring a tent earlier, so Captain and I decided to let the four of you stay with us tonight. Is that okay with you?"
Danes, his eyes widening in surprise, exclaimed, "W-what? You're going to let us stay with you? Haha, we accept your offer. It's an honor to be with you tonight, right, guys?"
Uriel, Alexa, and I exchanged hesitant glances, our faces a mix of surprise and uncertainty. We couldn't believe that we were being invited to stay with the Captain and the Vice Captain.
Danes, sensing our hesitation, added, "Huh? (What's wrong with them? Why don't they seem excited? Oh, I forgot, Faelan is Captain's son, Uriel is Vice Captain's daughter, and Alexa is the student of the only support mage.) Sigh."
With that, we, our hearts filled with a mix of excitement and trepidation, followed the Captain and the Vice Captain to their base camp. The journey ahead promised challenges, adventures, and the forging of bonds that would last a lifetime.
As we arrived at the Captain's base camp, we were greeted by a sight that took our breath away. Nestled amidst the towering peaks of the mountain, the base camp was a haven of peace and tranquility. The air was crisp and clean, the sky ablaze with the colors of the setting sun.
"Good afternoon and welcome back to my base camp," Captain Gerald said, his voice booming across the camp. "Take a bath while Nikko and I prepare dinner for you. Oh, I forgot, we don't have a women's bathroom here, so Danes and Faelan, let the two of them bath first before you two, okay?"
Danes and I, our faces flushed with embarrassment, nodded. "Okay, Captain."
After the two girls had bathed, Danes and I followed suit, our bodies aching with fatigue, our minds filled with the events of the day. As we bathed, we joked and laughed, our initial awkwardness fading as we began to bond.
After our bath, we joined the others for dinner, our appetites ravenous after a long day of training. As we ate, we shared stories and laughter, our initial awkwardness replaced by a growing sense of camaraderie.
After dinner, we prepared our beds for the night, our bodies exhausted but our spirits high. My eyelids heavy with sleep, I lay down on my bed, my mind replaying the events of the day.
I had met my new teammates, faced a challenge, and pushed myself beyond my limits. I had learned so much, and I knew that this was just the beginning of my journey. I was a Hunter now, and I was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
As I drifted off to sleep, I couldn't help but think about Uriel, the fiery young mage who had challenged me earlier that day. I wondered what our relationship would be like, what adventures we would share, what challenges we would face together.
I knew that our journey was just beginning, and I was ready to embrace it, with all its challenges and triumphs. I was a Hunter now, and I was ready to face the world.