Chapter 17: Hunting

Sarudei

[Meanwhile, in Soleon- Realm of Warriors]

"Night, take care of everyone while I'm gone, okay?"

He smiled and nodded.

I giggled and patted his head. "Good boy!"

"Hold on, the young man lacks a weapon, don't you?" Elder Alos said, walking up to Ret.

He looked confused at first as if he hadn't realized it himself. "Oh, yeah."

Lady Machiko giggled. "You youngsters are always so rash." She held out her late husband's green pole arm, Adoresio. "Don't let such a simple oversight be your downfall."

"But, Lady Machiko, isn't that-"

She held out her hand and smiled. "It's alright. Here it's only gathering dust. It's best if someone uses it."

Ret stared at the polearm and walked over to an empty part of the cavern. Was he not used to using one?

He began swinging it, slashing the air with its blade. His lips curved into a slight smile. "It's a pretty good weapon. I doubt this has been allowed to gather dust."

Elder Machiko gasped and looked down, smiling faintly. "Well, I have been keeping it maintained. We don't have too many fine weapons here."

I frowned. I doubted it was just for that. That weapon, it was the only tie she had with her late husband, apart from her grandkids.

"Then I promise to take good care of it, Lady Machiko," Ret said, holding the polearm with reverence. His words seemed to bring a sense of relief to Lady Machiko, and she nodded, a small smile on her face.

"Alright, Ret," I said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Let's go see what we can hunt."

He nodded, his grip on the polearm firm and sure. We bid our farewells to the others and made our way out of the cavern. The fresh, cool air of the morning greeted us as we stepped into the wilderness.

The forest was alive with the sounds of nature, the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves underfoot. It was a stark contrast to the quiet and safety of the cavern, but it was a welcome change.

As we walked, Ret practiced swinging and thrusting his new weapon, getting a feel for its weight and balance. He moved with a natural grace, his movements fluid and precise.

"Looks like you're getting the hang of it," I commented, watching him with an approving smile.

He scratched the back of his head. "I've never really used a polearm before, but it feels right, somehow."

"Right, huh?"

He nodded. "Like it was made for me."

That... was interesting. My grandfather used to say that while one may make a weapon for someone, sometimes it was the weapon that chose its owner. As a blacksmith, he knew what he was talking about. Or at least it seemed he did. Each weapon, just like everything else, had a life of its own.

According to ancient stories, there was a realm out there where the peoples' weapons harbored actual guardians. I always wondered if our weapons had something similar.

I glanced at my brown and gold bladed sword. Grandpa had made this for me, before he passed away. It wasn't a Titanos that killed him, but one of those giant dragon-like creatures that roamed the forest.

I shook off the memory, focusing on the task at hand. The forest was dense and full of potential dangers, but it was also our home. I knew its paths and secrets like the back of my hand.

As we moved deeper into the forest, the morning light filtering through the trees, Ret used his polearm to clear away low-hanging branches and thick undergrowth. Despite his earlier admission of never having used one before, he handled the polearm skillfully. 

"Remember, we're not just hunting for game," I reminded Ret. "We're also looking for plants and herbs that can be used for medicine. Keep your eyes open."

He nodded, his eyes scanning the forest floor as we walked. 

For a while, we moved in comfortable silence, the only sounds being the rustling of leaves under our feet and the distant calls of birds. Despite the threat of the Titans, in that moment, we were just two hunters in the wilderness, relying on our skills and each other to survive.

Suddenly, a rustling in the bushes nearby caught our attention. Ret's grip on his polearm tightened and I drew my sword. Slowly, we approached the source of the noise.

A large, boar-like creature burst out of the undergrowth, tusks gleaming in the sunlight. With a roar, it charged at us. With a swift movement, Ret stepped forward, his polearm ready.

He struck as the boar closed in, the blade of the polearm sinking into the creature's side. With a pained grunt, the boar collapsed, its breaths coming in short gasps.

Ret pulled his polearm free, a grim look on his face. "It's a good weapon," he said, swinging it to get the blood out.

It was a good weapon indeed. And Ret... he was turning out to be a pretty good partner. It was actually kind of scary how he adopted.

Ret approached the downed boar cautiously, his polearm held at the ready. He nudged it with his foot, and when it didn't react, he knelt down and checked its vitals. After a moment, he stood and sheathed his polearm.

"It's dead," he confirmed, looking at me. "I'll carry it back to the cavern."

Despite the heavy task, Ret didn't hesitate. He hoisted the boar onto his shoulders with a grunt, adjusting his grip on its legs. It was a large creature, easily the size of a man, but Ret carried it as if it were nothing more than a sack of grain.

I couldn't help but watch in admiration. Ret was stronger than he looked, and his quick thinking had saved us from a potentially dangerous encounter.

Together, we made our way back to the cavern. The journey was slower with the added weight of the boar, but Ret didn't complain. He moved with determination, his steps steady and sure.

As we approached the entrance to the cavern, the others rushed out to meet us. Their eyes widened in surprise at the sight of the large boar.

"Good hunting," Elder Alos said, clapping Ret on the shoulder. 

Ret just nodded, lowering the boar to the ground. He then turned to Lady Machiko, the polearm in his hand. "Adoresio served me well," he said, his voice full of respect.

Her eyes drifted to the weapon and then to the boar, and she gave Ret a nod of approval. "I see that," she said, a hint of a smile on her face. "You've done well."

I hummed. "Although, we didn't get much herbs," I said, staring at the basket on my back.

"Want to take another trip while they prepare the boar?" Ret asked, giving me a stoic look.

Just as we were nearing the cavern, a snap echoed through the quiet forest, causing us to freeze. Ret and I exchanged a glance before quickly ducking behind the thick trunk of a nearby tree. 

Peering around the edge, we spotted the source of the noise. A duo of Titanos soldiers had emerged from the undergrowth, their armored forms standing out starkly against the natural surroundings. Their eyes were scanning the area, weapons held at the ready.

My heart hammered in my chest as I pulled back, trying to make myself as small as possible. Ret was beside me, his expression tense but focused.

"We need a plan," I whispered, keeping my voice low. The last thing we needed was to alert the soldiers to our presence.

Ret nodded, his grip tightening on his polearm. "If we can take them by surprise..."

I bit my lip, that sounded attractive, but... "No, let's not risk it."

He nodded and followed me as I decided to take a different path. Suddenly, a growl echoed.

My body froze as I turned to see golden scales and fur rushing at us. What was it doing this close to the cavern? Its range was further east? It had never come this far west before! Had something happened to disturb it?