In a harmonious Village of Muir, a boy had abandoned in the door of the goddess Militia's follower. He was considered as a lost lamb, that abandoned by the one who gave life to him. Taking him inside the church, the Nun's who was worshipping the goddess brought him onto the altar of the goddess.
They place him gently Infront of the statue of Goddess, while all of them knelt down, slightly leaned down their gaze and closed their eyes, locking their both hands, while praying deeply.
'Oh, our goddess Militia, have you sent this child as your prophet, or a lost lamb?'
They asked, as the moon light shine upon the child while it is crying out. The light serves as the presence of the goddess descending and giving her blessing to the boy. Her transparent frame, reach for the boy's cheeks, carefully caressing them. She smiled as the light slowly fades cause by the clouds moving blocking the light of the moon, however even a small peek of the light was considered as the presence of Goddess Militia.
Years passed on, The Boy was named Lucas, he was raised by the grace of the teaching of Goddess Militia, only that, the old folks and adults were teaching Lucas many things, such as hunting for the upcoming winter, preserving, using sword and even writing, reading.
Ever since that Lucas got blessed by the goddess, the people in town treated him as the chosen child by the goddess they worshiped.
"Lucas!"
"Yes!"
A man, he was Arnold the head chief of the Muir, also he was known for being one of the best and strongest hunters in their village. His agenda for him was to recruit him for the hunting season, since the winter is coming up. Of course, Lucas was smart enough to know this in advance. He even asked for the Nun's permission ahead of time, just so he can give Arnold a quick reply.
"I was thinking of recruiting you to join the others to hunt for—"
"Hunting for Winter season? Got it."
Arnold was interrupted by Lucas, by his sudden and quick reply, though it gives Arnold a furrowed brow, he just scoffed it off and place his right palm on Lucas, shoulder.
"Alright, In 3 days the hunting group will be called. Be sure to prepared yourself and your equipment."
"Understood, Mister Arnold."
Lucas, walked away from Arnold, as he gave his answer to him.
Arnold, looked at Lucas's back, he was remained of the kid he used to see was so little back then, but seeing him Lucas now, is quite reassuring for him.
"May the goddess be with you." He muttered under his breath, as he turned his back to Lucas's back too, walking on the opposing direction.
***
"Alright, Is everyone here?" Said by the man who will be leading the hunting group.
They are assigned to hunt down many animals with meat, it could be a rabbit, boar, just it won't fall out on the categories of animals, if hunters are bump Into a monster, an immediate retreat will be issued, and take a shelter in a cave, for a night, because they will spending about a month in hunting, while the other will be delivering the meat to the village for preserving and the other will continued the hunting.
"Lucas… Glad you here."
"Mister Arnold, asked me to, and also I am a part of the village, so I won't just sit down and let you guys take the difficult work to feed the people."
Lucas was a kindhearted boy who put other before himself, that's why he was adore by those old folks because of his personality that kind rare in their village, it might be come from the nun that teaching him, but even it was the case, the boy who was there was no doubt the blessed child of the goddess.
Lucas had, prepared most of his tools, such as sword, machete, knives, cloak and even simple hygiene equipment, everything was ready. There's a member of the group was 6 men and 4 teenagers that same age as Lucas, they got a potential to be a best hunter in their town too as they show a sparkle of potential, they were chosen to be part of the group.
Moments later, after the leader called out the names of the participants, ensuring that the group was complete. They also reserve some bandages in case of emergency, and brought a tent, for them to rest for the upcoming days they will not going back to the village.
After calling their names was finished, the people of the village watches the men departed the village with a great smile and expectation on their coming back.
"Are you nervous, boys?" The man who was leading the group, asked the 4 teenage boy on the middle of their formation.
Lucas didn't hesitate to respond. "I am not nervous at all, since I was trained by the adult hunter… and I think it was same goes for my friends here."
"Yeah!"
"We aren't nervous at all!"
"We are going to hunt many animals and eat meats!!"
Their energetic voice sent a sense of reassurance to those adults on the front as they head the ease atmosphere they are giving out.
Walking down the long path heading to the forest. It was known for having many inhabitant animals, same as the monsters, but there are certain locations where the monsters are located at, there's also a warning signs that will be the hint of where place they at.
This forest was known as "The Forest of Organism"
"Why it was called, Forest of Organism?" Lucas asked to the man with rough face and bald head. He give him a warm smile as he explained things to the curious boy.
"It was called that, because of the numerous monsters and animals that are inhabiting inside the forest. Even the king doesn't know the exactly number of them inside. That's why they called it Forest of Organism."
"I see, thank you for your explanation, Mister Arc."
"No, no, it's wise to share some wisdom to the next generation. So be sure to pass it to the next generation, alright?"
Arc, was a nice man with a rough figure, others might misunderstood him because of his appearance, but deep within, he was one of the kind soul, who would not dare to step on a flower.
Half a day was spent on their journey walking to the Forest of Organism.
"We were going to set up a camp here, nearby the forest."
Everyone was heard clear, and they started to pull out their tents. But Lucas was leave with a question inside his head.
"Mister Arc, why do we need to set up the camp here, instead of camping inside the forest. It would be easier if we camp there…"
Lucas was still a boy who had yet not experienced of hunting in the forest and doesn't yet know the danger within the forest, that's why his question was quite a bit important for him to be answered by the adult who has experience in this field.
"Ah! Yeah.. I nearly forgot that you haven't know what's within the forest, right?" Arc replied to Lucas as he took glance on the forest where a path is reserve and used for decades.
At that time while they are setting up the camp, Arc was thoroughly explaining things to Lucas as a man with experience. On the other hand, Lucas was listening to him as if every word of his was written down inside Lucas head.
"I see… Thank you for your detailed explanation, Mister Arc."
"Nothing much, as I told ya, wisdom must be pass down to the next generation."
Lucas gave Arc a warm smile, return back Arc also gave Lucas a warm and big smile on his face.
Time pass, it was midnight, Arc was the guard for the time being, Lucas who has suddenly woken up by the unfamiliar surroundings and unfamiliar feeling, It was natural for a person to feel discomfort to the place they haven't know yet or familiarized.
"Can't sleep?"
"Um… yeah, I got a lot things on my mind, like how I am going to hunt a boar, since they are quite difficult to deal with."
Lucas, sat down across Arc while the campfire in their between. Arc take a sip on the coffee he had made to himself. He looked at Lucas and tried to give him, but Lucas shook his head refusing to drink a coffee, thinking it's too early for him to drink.
Seizing the time they had, Arc and Lucas dive into a casual conversation, such as talking about experience, telling stories, bragging about their achievements, talents and so on and so far, until the sun pokes out behind the mountains, peeking at them.
Before the sun could reach the high direction, which is giving the light to them, they had already finished their traps inside the forest, hunting few wild animals, and sending the few of them to the village.
Few weeks had passed, but the team they sent to the village had yet not comeback.
In the team they sent two adult men and two teenagers boys to come to the village with the meat they had, hunted down, using a tools with a runes to preserve the meat inside. But they haven't yet comeback for about 3 weeks, it was about their last day, only thing they needed to do was to clean up their campsite and went back to the village and ready for the upcoming winter.
"Well, nevermind them, since we are here and already finished the cleaning up, we might go on now, back to the village."
As the time they spent, walking in the same path they had used few weeks ago, Lucas felt more familiarize with the path, however there's a few footprint that heavily stomped to the soft part of the ground, as If someone was sprinting a their full speed. But Lucas kept and quiet down, knowing it might be get them misunderstood.
***
Few hours had passed.
The sun was about to set, giving a light of orange as it began to hide behind the mountains. While a gloom and black smoke appeared on the sky. Lucas and other hunter adults with him was devastated by the scene appeared before them. Houses that was beautifully built by them, the wooden wall they setup to guard the village from any monsters or wild animals from coming after their village, was engulfing by the flames.
While there's much more horrifying scene that Lucas had seen in his life. A countless lifeless bodies of the villagers was thrown in one corner, while it was slowly devouring by the flame.
In anger, Arc, drew his machete charged towards the unfamiliar figure armed by swords and spears, along with their silvery plate armors, and another figure wore a full body armor but it was only on his upper body. Below him was only a leather armor, giving him enough flexibility to move.
In one swung, Arc who was just about to get near to him, was cut into two, while another man who Lucas recognized is, swung his sword, but it was effortlessly was deflected by the man in armor.
"You, protect the child!" Arnold yelled at the other adult who was with Lucas. They teared up as they picked up Lucas from where he was standing, they run fast as they could, followed by the one teenager who was with them.
But an arrow came from nowhere hit the boy who was following the adults. He was tripped by his own foot, as the arrow directly hit onto his head, killing him in one shot.
The Two adults, become alerted as they, continued to run, not paying attention to the boy who got shot and entirely focus on saving only Lucas. But before they could, run any longer a man with a similar attire from earlier appeared in front of them, stopping the two adult from running, putting down Lucas behind them.
"Listen Lucas, run to the direction," he point with his hand behind directing to the east. "There's a nearby Kingdom guards at that direction, say everything what you saw, alright?" he didn't look at Lucas, but he knew that Lucas was smart enough to understand the situation properly.
Without any further ado, Lucas run off from the east direction that the man point to him, while the two of them face the man in armor, while they also realized that they cannot win against this guy, because if he was in this place, that would only mean that he had killed the most strongest person in the Village which is Arnold.
"He's a 'Knight' right?" the adult man asked with red hair to the other man besides him. He give him his attention.
"That would be unfortunate for us."
The figure in armor attire, drew his sword out from his sheath, removing his helmet, revealing his white hair and blue striking eyes with a grim smirk on his face. Clearly that he was confident on his win.
Lucas, turned and saw the face of the knight, but he avert his gaze into his direction, determined to reach the guard point.
"You won't last long, just like him." He threw something to the two adult men, making them have a sour look in their faces as they saw something they shouldn't have been seen.
It was Arnold's head, cleanly detached from his body.
"You F*CKER!!" the two men yelled, as they charged themselves to the "Knight" they call.