The pale light of the morning sun barely peeked over the mountains. Evrenos stood in front of the wooden house, a worn but sturdy bow slung over his shoulder and a satchel on his back. The tension on his face was evident. His father, Mehmet, stood a few steps away, watching him with his usual serious yet calm demeanor. Mehmet held a long, sharp spear; his clothes were old but neatly patched.
"Remember, Evrenos," Mehmet said in a stern yet instructive tone, "Hunting requires patience. You must see the tracks, sense the scent, and act at the right moment."
Evrenos nodded in response. "Alright, Father. I'll follow your lead."
At that moment, his younger brother Ömer appeared at the door, his muddy feet and curious eyes fixed on them. "Brother, can I come with you?" he asked.
"You're still too young," Mehmet replied with a slight smile. "Help your mother at home. Maybe we'll bring something back for you."
Ömer's face fell, but he turned and went back inside. Evrenos took a deep breath and followed his father. They walked along snow-covered paths toward the forest. The cold air frosted their breaths, and the silence was broken only by the crunch of snow underfoot and distant bird calls.
Mehmet stopped and crouched at one point. There were faint tracks in the snow. "Deer," he said in a low voice. "It hasn't gone far. Remember this track well, Evrenos."
Evrenos leaned closer. "How can you tell, Father?"
Mehmet pointed at the markings. "Look, the hoofprints are sharp. The ground isn't too compressed. This means it passed through recently. And do you notice the scent?"
Evrenos sniffed and caught a faint smell. "Wet, but… with a sharp tang?"
Mehmet nodded approvingly. "Urine. You can track your prey like this. Remember, being a hunter isn't just about the weapon. Your eyes, nose, and ears are just as important."
As the day wore on, the two ventured deeper into the forest. After a few hours, they reached a small water source where Mehmet stopped and signaled for Evrenos to stay quiet.
Evrenos narrowed his eyes, carefully observing his father's movements. Mehmet crouched beside a rock, drew his bow, and waited silently. A few moments later, a deer emerged from the trees to approach the water. Mehmet's bowstring snapped silently, and the deer collapsed instantly.
"That's how it's done," Mehmet murmured as he approached the deer. Evrenos got up and followed him.
"How do you make it look so easy, Father?" he asked.
Mehmet chuckled softly. "It's not easy, son. I've spent years learning. And you will too. Never forget to honor your prey. It's because of them we'll survive this winter."
While his father was busy preparing the deer, Evrenos began exploring the area. The forest was quiet, but he felt something—an instinct drawing him deeper into the trees. Among the snow, he spotted something partially buried. As he got closer, he realized it was a decayed human corpse. Leaning in, he noticed a book tightly clutched in the corpse's hands. The book was weathered by time, but the title was still legible: "Iron Shirt Skills: Ancient Secrets."
Evrenos picked up the book with a mix of curiosity and disbelief. "What is this?" he whispered. The moment he opened the book, the knowledge within seemed to flood into his mind. The pages described techniques to strengthen the body, making it as resilient as armor.
He paused and glanced at his father. Mehmet was still focused on the deer, unaware of what Evrenos had discovered. Slipping the book into his satchel, Evrenos silently returned. "Perhaps this is the reason I'm here," he thought. This wasn't just a book; it was an opportunity presented by fate.