Kael stretched his arms overhead, his muscles still burning from the morning's training session. He was debating whether to keep pushing or call it a day when the system chimed in.
"Quest 2 unlocked," it announced, its tone sharper than usual.
A glowing panel appeared in front of Kael, and his brow furrowed as he read the new objective.
Quest 2:
Defeat the Threat
Kael blinked, his body tensing. "Threat? What threat?"
Before the system could reply, a sound in the distance caught his attention. Shouts and screams. The faint crash of something heavy smashing into wood.
"That one," the system said simply.
Kael cursed under his breath and took off running, his boots pounding against the dirt path as he made his way toward the village. The noise grew louder with each step—shouting villagers, splintering wood, the deep, guttural roar of a beast.
When Kael reached the edge of the market square, the scene stopped him in his tracks.
The Nemean Boar was back.
The massive creature stomped through the village, its bronze hide gleaming in the sunlight. Its tusks were like curved blades, gouging deep scars into the cobblestone streets as it charged wildly, scattering debris and panicked villagers in its wake.
Kael's fists clenched. The village was in chaos—stalls overturned, carts crushed, and people scrambling for cover. The damage was worse than the last time, and the boar showed no signs of stopping.
"Not this again," Kael muttered, stepping forward.
"Time to step up," the system said. "You're the only one here who stands a chance of stopping that thing."
Kael didn't need the reminder. He took a deep breath, focusing on the faint hum of ichor within him. The warmth spread through his limbs as he steadied his stance, his feet grounding him firmly on the uneven ground.
The boar's head snapped toward him, its red eyes blazing with fury. It let out a deafening roar and charged, its hooves cracking the cobblestones with each step.
Kael didn't wait. He raised his hand, summoning a spark of flame in his palm. As the boar barreled toward him, he thrust his hand forward, sending a burst of fire toward its face.
The flame struck true, earning a pained bellow from the beast. The boar stumbled, shaking its head as black scorch marks appeared on its bronze hide.
Kael exhaled, his lips curling into a faint grin. "Still tough, but not invincible."
The boar snorted, its hooves digging into the ground as it prepared for another charge. Kael readied himself, focusing on his stance and the flow of ichor in his body.
But before the boar could move, something struck Kael hard from the side.
The blow sent him sprawling to the ground, the rough cobblestones scraping against his skin. He grunted, pushing himself onto his elbows, and turned to see what had hit him.
A boy stood a few feet away, holding a wooden flute like a club. He was Kael's age, with dark, messy hair and a defiant glare.
"You're the bastard who hurt my friend," the boy said, his voice sharp with accusation.
Kael blinked, confused. "What—who even are you?"
The boy ignored the question, pointing the flute at Kael like a weapon. "You think you can just burn him and get away with it?"
Kael staggered to his feet, brushing dirt off his hands. "Wait, are you talking about the boar? It was attacking the village—I didn't have a choice!"
"Liar!" the boy shouted, his voice cracking. "He was just defending himself, and you—" He clenched his fists, his knuckles white around the flute. "You're a threat. And threats need to be eliminated."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "I don't know who you are or what your problem is, but if you think I'm just going to let you keep tearing up this village, you've got another thing coming."
The boy smirked, though his grip on the flute remained tight. "Then let's see if you can back that up."
He raised the flute to his lips and played a sharp, piercing note.
The Nemean Boar roared in response, its red eyes locking onto Kael once again. It pawed at the ground, its massive body coiled like a spring, ready to charge.
Kael took a deep breath, planting his feet and raising his hands.
"Bring it on," he muttered.
The Nemean Boar charged, its massive tusks gleaming as it barreled toward Kael.
Kael shifted his stance, ichor pulsing through his legs as he crouched slightly. He raised his hand, summoning a flicker of flame, and waited for the right moment.
"Come on," he muttered, his heart pounding.
The boar closed the distance in seconds, and Kael sprang into action. He sidestepped the charge, twisting his body as he hurled a spark toward the beast's face. The flame struck its snout, earning a pained bellow as it skidded to a halt.
Kael landed smoothly, his feet steady on the uneven ground, but he barely had a moment to breathe before he heard the sharp sound of a flute.
Another vine shot out from the ground, curling around Kael's ankle.
Theo stood a few paces away, his flute pressed to his lips, his fingers moving with erratic precision. The vine tightened, yanking Kael off balance and pulling him to the ground.
"You're not even paying attention to me," Theo said, lowering the flute with a scowl. "That's your first mistake."
Kael gritted his teeth, twisting his body to burn the vine away with a quick burst of flame. He scrambled to his feet, his eyes locking onto Theo.
"You're the real problem here," Kael muttered.
Theo smirked, lifting the flute again. "Figured that out, did you?"
He played a rapid, high-pitched melody, and the boar responded immediately, charging at Kael once more.
Kael barely dodged, the beast's tusk grazing his side as it thundered past. He winced, clutching his ribs, but his gaze remained fixed on Theo.
If he could take Theo out of the equation, the boar would probably stop listening to him or at least be easier to take care of.
Kael focused inward, feeling the warmth of ichor spreading through his limbs. He steadied his breathing, letting the fragment of Hestia's style guide his stance.
"You like using that flute to hide behind your pet," Kael said, his tone steady despite the pain in his side. "What happens if I take it away from you?"
Theo's smirk faltered for a moment, but he recovered quickly. "You can try."
Kael crouched slightly, letting ichor pool in his legs. With a sudden burst, he launched himself forward, flames flaring beneath his boots.
Theo's eyes widened as Kael closed the distance in an instant. He raised the flute to his lips, playing a frantic melody that sent vines sprouting from the ground.
Kael ducked under the first vine, sidestepped the second, and used his momentum to close the gap. He swung his arm toward Theo's flute, aiming to knock it out of his hands.
Theo stumbled backward, barely avoiding the strike. He played another sharp note, and the Nemean Boar roared, turning its attention back to Kael.
Kael jumped back just as the boar charged again, its tusks slashing through the air where he'd been standing. He landed awkwardly, his footing unsteady for the first time.
"Focus," the system chimed in. "You're not strong enough to take them both head-on. Use your surroundings."
Kael's eyes darted around the ruined market square. His gaze settled on the collapsed remains of a fruit cart, the splintered wood and spilled crates forming a makeshift obstacle.
"Fine," Kael muttered, adjusting his stance.
He let the ichor flow through his legs, steadying himself as the boar turned for another charge. Instead of dodging, he stood his ground, letting the warmth of Hestia's fragment anchor him.
The boar barreled toward him, its eyes blazing.
At the last moment, Kael sidestepped and kicked one of the crates toward the beast's legs. The boar stumbled, crashing into the debris with a deafening roar.
Kael didn't waste the opening. He surged forward, flames igniting around his fists as he swung at Theo's flute.
This time, the blow connected.
The flute flew from Theo's hands, clattering to the ground a few feet away. Theo froze, his confidence shattering as Kael glared at him.
"You're done," Kael said, his voice low and he punched him square in the shoulder.
Theo staggered back, his legs trembling as he clutched his shoulder where Kael's fist had connected. His breath came in short, ragged gasps, and he leaned heavily against a broken cart for support.
Kael stood a few paces away, his fists still raised, though his flames had dimmed. The Nemean Boar growled low, its hooves pawing at the cobblestones as it waited for a command.
"You're done," Kael said, his tone firm. "Give it up, kid."
Theo glared at him, his face flushed with anger and tears welling in his eyes. "Done? You think I'm done?"
He pushed himself upright, his voice rising with each word. "You don't understand anything! None of you do! All you people ever do is destroy—cut down trees, kill animals, pollute the rivers. Nature was here first, long before any of us, and all you ever do is take!"
Kael hesitated, his hands lowering slightly.
"I'm not just fighting for me," Theo shouted, his voice breaking. "I'm fighting for them—for the ones who can't fight back. The animals, the forests, the land you trample without a second thought!"
The Nemean Boar snorted, its ears twitching as if in agreement.
Theo's chest heaved as he stared Kael down, his body trembling. "If you kill me for that, then so be it. At least I'll die a hero, defending what matters."
Kael stared at Theo for a long moment. Then he sighed, shaking his head.
"You're an idiot," Kael muttered.
Before Theo could respond, Kael stepped forward and grabbed him by the front of his shirt, lifting him off the ground. Theo let out a startled yelp, flailing slightly as Kael held him up.
The Nemean Boar let out a furious roar, lowering its head as it prepared to charge.
"Don't even think about it!" Kael shouted, his voice cutting through the noise. He turned his glare toward the boar, tightening his grip on Theo. "You move an inch, and he gets hurt. Is that what you want?"
The boar froze, its red eyes narrowing as it let out a low, rumbling growl.
Kael's gaze shifted back to Theo, who had gone rigid in his grasp. "Listen to me, kid. I'm not like the Twelve Houses. I don't go around killing people just because they annoy me."
Theo blinked, his expression flickering with confusion.
"I'm not going to kill you," Kael continued, his voice steady. "You're angry, I get that. You're fighting for something you believe in, even if you're going about it in the dumbest way possible."
The boar huffed softly, its stance relaxing slightly as it watched the scene unfold.
Kael opened his mouth to say more, but Theo's head slumped forward, his body going limp in Kael's grip.
"What the—?" Kael frowned, shaking Theo gently. "Hey, are you seriously passing out on me now?"
When Theo didn't respond, Kael let out a short laugh, a mix of relief and exasperation. "Unbelievable."
He lowered Theo carefully to the ground, glancing at the boar. The massive creature's ears twitched, and it tilted its head as if unsure what to do.
"Don't just stand there," Kael said, his tone sharp. "Follow me, or get lost. Your choice."
The boar let out a low grunt, its gaze shifting between Kael and Theo before finally lowering its head.
"Good," Kael muttered. "That's what I thought."
Kael glanced around the market square, surveying the damage. Stalls lay in splinters, debris littered the streets, and several buildings had deep gouges carved into their walls. Smoke drifted lazily from an overturned cooking fire, though the flames had been extinguished.
The villagers began to emerge from their hiding spots, their expressions a mix of relief and frustration.
"This is the second day in a row!" an older man shouted, throwing his hands in the air. "How are we supposed to fix all this with no money?"
"You tell us, Lord Kael," another villager added bitterly. "What are we supposed to do now?"
Kael's lips pressed into a thin line. He couldn't blame them for being upset—the village was already struggling, and this destruction wasn't helping.
"I'll handle the materials," Kael said, his voice cutting through the murmurs. The villagers turned to him, their expressions shifting to surprise.
"What?" one of them asked.
"You heard me," Kael said. "I'll take care of it. You just do what you can with what we have for now."
The villagers exchanged hesitant glances before a few of them nodded reluctantly.
Kael sighed, running a hand through his hair. His gaze drifted to Theo, still unconscious on the ground, and he crouched to lift him onto his back.
"You're lucky I don't hold grudges," Kael muttered, adjusting Theo's weight.
The boar let out a low grunt, stepping closer as if to follow. Kael shot it a glare. "If you're coming, don't make me regret it."
The boar huffed but fell in line behind him as Kael began walking back toward his house.
As the weight of the day's events settled on his shoulders, Kael let out a quiet chuckle.
"This is turning into a real mess," he muttered to himself. "But I guess that's nothing new."
The sun hung low in the sky as he disappeared down the path, the boar trailing behind him.