Halven sprinted through the forest, his feet pounding against the earth as he clutched a precious fruit in his hand. Behind him, a mutated bear gave chase, its black fur seeming to blend with the shadows as it gained ground. The bear's eyes glowed with an unnatural red light, and its jaws were open wide, revealing razor-sharp teeth.
Halven's heart pounded in his chest as he ran for his life. He had been warned not to enter the forest alone, but he had been desperate for food. Now, he was paying the price.
As he ran, Halven could feel the bear's hot breath on his neck. He dared not look back, fearing what he might see. Instead, he kept his eyes fixed on the village in the distance, his only hope for safety.
Just when it seemed like the bear was about to catch him, Halven saw his chance. With a burst of speed, he launched himself at the village barrier, a magical shield that protected the village from monsters like the bear.
Halven sailed through the barrier, landing hard on the ground as the bear crashed into the shield behind him. The bear let out a deafening roar as it bounced off the barrier, its eyes fixed on Halven with a malevolent glare.
Halven scrambled to his feet, still clutching the fruit in his hand. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. He had made it. He was safe.
As he walked towards the village, Halven couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. He had risked his life to get that fruit, and he had succeeded. He took a bite of the fruit, savoring the sweet taste.
But as he walked, Halven couldn't shake the feeling that he had just narrowly escaped death. He was only fourteen, and he had already faced more danger than most people faced in a lifetime.
As he entered the village, Halven was greeted by the guards. "Hey kid, you shouldn't be going into those forests alone," one of the guards said, shaking his head. "You're not even a caster or a drifter. What were you thinking?"
Halven ignored the guard, walking past him into the village. The guard called out after him, but Halven didn't look back.
As he made his way through the village, Halven noticed the stalls closing up for the night. He spotted Kurten, a trader who often bought fruit from him. Halven walked up to Kurten's stall, handing over the remaining fruit.
Kurten took the fruit, examining it carefully before handing Halven five copper coins. Halven took the coins, nodding in satisfaction.
As he walked away, Kurten couldn't help but feel a pang of pity for the young boy. Halven was just a kid, and he was already having to risk his life to survive. Kurten shook his head, wondering what the world was coming to.
Halven walked through the village, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of his next meal. He knew he couldn't keep living like this, always looking over his shoulder, always wondering when his next meal would come.
As the night wore on, Halven found himself a quiet spot to rest. He curled up in a ball, his eyes closing as he drifted off to sleep. Tomorrow would bring another day of struggle, but for now, he was safe.