Kenji grinned widely, his eyes alight with excitement as he faced me. "Taka, let's race! The first one to gather all the herbs wins!" Without waiting for an answer, he dashed into the forest, disappearing into the thick canopy.
That was thirty minutes ago. I wasn't worried. Kenji had practically grown up in the woods, always running off into the heart of the forest without a second thought. He knew it like the back of his hand. Still, his recklessness drove me crazy sometimes. I let out a sigh, shaking my head as I pushed forward, continuing my search.
The forest was calm, the quiet rustling of the leaves the only sound that accompanied me. The air smelled fresh, earthy, and cool, carrying a slight sweetness from the wildflowers scattered in the underbrush. A perfect day for gathering herbs.
As I walked, my eyes scanned the ground, noting the small patches of wild greenery growing near the roots of old trees. And then, I found it—a cluster of herbs nestled in the shade beneath a thick oak. The leaves were dark and glossy, just the way I remembered them. I carefully plucked them, feeling the coolness of the plant's stalk as I set it in my pouch.
I moved a few paces further, and the sight of more herbs caught my attention. The little green plants seemed to favor places where sunlight barely touched the earth, where the trees were dense enough to create pockets of shadow. The quiet pace of the search soothed me, the peace of the forest washing over me like a gentle breeze.
Then, I saw it.
A deer, its coat a soft blend of grays and browns, stood at the edge of the clearing. It spotted me just as I spotted it, and for a moment, neither of us moved. Our gazes locked, and I felt the air shift—this wasn't just any deer. I recognized the shape of its antlers, a sharp twist at the ends that marked it as a Wind Deer.
My heart skipped. That wasn't good.
Yesterday, it had taken a whole day to track one down. Senior Truth had warned us about these creatures, calling them Wind Deer due to their ability to control the very wind around them. But from the look of its antlers, it wasn't an elder, just a young one. I sighed in relief, but my body tensed, ready to react.
The Wind Deer let out a soft snort and suddenly reared its head, gathering the wind around its antlers. In an instant, it shot a powerful blast of air toward me, the force of it like a hammer crashing against my chest. I barely had time to react, ducking behind a nearby tree just as the blast hit the ground where I had been standing moments before. Grass and dirt flew, the sharp scent of earth filling the air.
I reached for my katana, my hand grasping at empty air. I glanced instinctively to my waist. Nothing was there.
My heart thudded hard in my chest as panic set in. I had left back in the base.
Before I could regain my composure, the Wind Deer fired another blast of wind. This one hit me squarely in the chest, throwing me back. I landed hard on the forest floor, my left arm slamming into the ground with a sickening crunch.
I winced, feeling the sharp jolt of pain radiating from my arm. I didn't have to check—I could tell it was dislocated. I had forgotten to circulate the Hashi in my body, which left me vulnerable to this kind of injuries. The Wind Deer let out another cry, its eyes narrowing as it readied itself for another strike. I groaned, pushing myself up despite the pain.
"What did I do to you?" I muttered, but the deer didn't care. It was a creature of instinct, driven by something far older than my questions.
I glanced up, and the faint glow that now surrounded the Wind Deer caught my attention. A surge of wind gathered in its antlers once more, and I braced myself. The creature charged, its speed almost too fast to follow. I scrambled to my feet, but the deer was already upon me. Its antlers caught on my bag, tearing it open with a sickening rip.
My herbs—everything I had gathered—spilled across the forest floor, scattered like broken dreams in the dirt.
"No…!" I groaned, watching in horror as my hard work was lost to the wind. My blood boiled—not because of the herbs, but because I knew what was coming. Yushiro would never let me live this down. I'd lost to Kenji, and now this.
Frustration burned through me, sharp and hot. The Wind Deer stood there, its antlers still tangled in the remnants of my bag. It didn't even seem to care.
My left arm throbbed, but I couldn't afford to hesitate. With a growl, I ripped the ruined bag off my shoulder and threw it aside. Grabbing a stick from the ground, I tested its weight, swinging it a few times. It wasn't much, but it would have to do.
The Wind Deer stood poised, the glow from its body growing brighter, its antlers gleaming in the dim light. I raised the stick, both hands wrapped tightly around it as I took a fighting stance.
"I'm going to release a bit of my future annoyance on you," I said, more to myself than the deer. "Sorry about this."
With a final flash of silver, the Wind Deer charged again, and I powered forward, my body enhanced by the hashi. I wasn't backing down. Not today.