Leaving my cozy home in the morning with my trusted bow, I was ready for the hunt. My goal: to be the best hunter in the wilds. The idea of being a master of the land, an untouchable force, fueled my every step. But soon, I realized how wrong I was. Rabbits were faster than I'd ever imagined, and boars were so strong they could snap a bow in half with a single charge. I didn't even have a spear. No meat for me today, and five arrows were lost in the process, each one a painful reminder of my failure.
So, I did what I had to do—explore and gather herbs and berries. It wasn't the victory I'd hoped for, but it was survival.
"Might as well look for more campsites and markers. I really need to find that focus," I muttered under my breath, my frustration building. My first day of hunting had been a disaster. I didn't hit anything, not even a still target. My aim was horrible, and my power was so low that arrows seemed to travel in slow motion. At this rate, I couldn't even hit a dead target. But having a focus… that would change everything. If I could mark the prey, it wouldn't make the hunt easy, but it would make it a little less impossible.
Learning to use the focus was the key. Coming from a world that wasn't as advanced as this one, I knew I had an edge. To the Nora, all of this was taboo—they didn't understand the power of the focus. But Sylas… he was the only one who could match my skills for now.
Day 2
Still no luck, and even fewer arrows. My stomach growled louder than my thoughts. I was starting to crave meat, something real, something substantial. Hunting, running, and walking all day was exhausting when all I had to fuel me were a few berries and some wild herbs. My body, still young and not fully developed, could barely keep up with the demands of survival.
Then something magical happened. In my cave-home, I found a rabbit, already skinned and prepared for roasting.
"Is this real? Am I hallucinating? Could it be? My parents?" I wondered aloud. They had been angry, furious even, but deep down, they didn't want me to die. This had to be some kind of divine intervention. It was the "just" penance for a six-year-old outcast who had dared insult a high matriarch. The matriarch had claimed I was possessed by the Metal Demon.
I didn't care what the reasons were anymore. I had food. And for the first time since arriving in this world, I felt a sense of peace. I started the fire immediately, roasting the rabbit over the flames. It was the best meal I'd ever had in my short life, and the warmth from the fire was a comfort I hadn't known I needed. But I knew this wouldn't last. I couldn't rely on the charity of others forever. I needed to hunt for myself, to prove I could survive on my own.
With a new resolve, I promised myself that tomorrow would be different. I was ready to go all out or die trying.
"Thank you for the meal, All Mother," I whispered, giving thanks to whatever had guided the rabbit to me.
Day 3
"YES! YES! YES! I did it! I finally did it! Hahahaha! I'm the best hunter!" I shouted, nearly losing my voice in my excitement. Under my foot lay a rabbit, a real rabbit that I had hunted with my own hands. I used my bow, my skills, and my patience. The sensation was unlike anything I had ever felt before—nothing compared to waiting for noodles to boil at home. It was the thrill of the hunt, pure and untamed.
Sure, it had taken all day. I'd had to concentrate harder than I ever thought possible, and luck had played a part. The rabbit wasn't in its prime—old, missing an ear, limping. But it didn't matter. I had done it. I had hunted it. I could survive here, at least for a while.
"Hahahaha. Big boar, you're next. Hahahaha! I'm the king of the wild hunt!" I yelled into the wind, feeling invincible.
I drank in the success of my first real hunt as I made my way back to my cave. The victory tasted sweet, but there was no time to rest. I already had marked a few more hiding spots farther out. This world was vast, and I had to claim it as my own.
As I roasted the rabbit over a small fire, I packed the little I had gathered for my next journey. The original Noir, my ancestor, had taught me some survival skills. I was lucky for that. Being a Nora child in the stone age wasn't easy, but I was learning.
"One step closer to my goal. Rest assured, original one. I'll make our name, Noir, a living legend. Rest well, my brother. And next time, practice your jokes before insulting a leader of a tribe, yes?" I smiled to myself, remembering my brother's rebellious spirit.
After a good night's rest, I was ready to move on. The hunt had given me a taste of what was possible, and now I was determined to find my focus. It was time to take the next step in this new world.
"Just wait for me, Hades. I'll drive my spear into that metal ass of yours. This is my world now. Don't even come close, Nemesis."
As the night sky stretched above me, I couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement. The hunt had only just begun, and I was ready for whatever came next.