We stepped deeper into the forest, the familiar sounds of the village gradually fading behind us. The trees grew denser as we moved forward, their thick trunks rising high while the canopy above filtered the sunlight into scattered patches on the ground. The air felt slightly cooler here, and the faint rustling of leaves echoed quietly around us.
Camose rested loosely around my arm, its small translucent body barely noticeable against my sleeve. Its golden eyes moved slowly, observing the surroundings as if it too understood the seriousness of the hunt.
Without Vaela present this time, the atmosphere felt slightly different. Previously, she had always taken the lead, guiding us through the forest with calm precision. Her absence made the silence more noticeable, and instinctively, all three of us became more cautious.
We moved slowly, each step careful and measured. I extended my senses outward, feeling the subtle fluctuations of energy around us. Charlie walked slightly ahead, his posture relaxed yet alert, while Sham moved quietly to the side, his eyes scanning the surroundings without missing anything.
The forest floor was uneven, covered with fallen leaves and small roots. Occasionally, distant sounds echoed through the trees, but none felt close enough to indicate immediate danger. Still, none of us relaxed.
After moving forward for some time, Charlie suddenly raised his fist.
I immediately slowed down and stopped, Sham doing the same without hesitation. The gesture was familiar. It was the same signal Vaela used whenever she led the hunt.
Charlie crouched slightly and motioned for us to stay low.
We quietly moved behind a nearby tree and carefully peeked forward.
Not far ahead, a beast lay sleeping near a cluster of bushes. Its body resembled a mixture of a boar and a hound, with rough bristled fur along its back and a narrow snout resting against the ground. Its breathing was slow and steady, unaware of our presence.
Charlie turned slightly toward us, his gaze moving between Sham and me. Without making a sound, he gave a brief hand signal, indicating that we would attack on his command. His movements were calm and precise, the same way Vaela used to guide us during hunts.
Sham adjusted his footing quietly, lowering his stance slightly as his hand moved closer to the hilt of his sword. His expression remained calm, but his body was already prepared to move at a moment's notice. At the same time, I gathered my refined energy, focusing inward as I prepared to form shields the moment the beast reacted.
Charlie slowly raised his hand, and a small flame began forming in his palm. The fire gradually condensed into a compact fireball, its faint orange glow illuminating his fingers and casting a soft flicker of light across his face. The surrounding air warmed slightly as the fire stabilized, yet Charlie maintained steady control, ensuring the flame remained contained and silent.
For a brief moment, everything felt still.
Then Charlie released the fireball.
The moment the fire shot forward, Sham moved simultaneously. His feet lifted slightly from the ground as he hovered just above the forest floor, gliding forward with controlled speed. His movement was silent and smooth, allowing him to close the distance quickly before the beast had a chance to react or escape.
The fireball struck the sleeping beast with a dull burst of heat.
The creature jerked violently as a sharp groan escaped from its throat. Its eyes snapped open, and it immediately tried to push itself up, reacting purely on instinct. The sudden pain seemed to confuse it for a brief moment, but survival took over quickly. It struggled to its feet and attempted to dash forward, trying to escape deeper into the forest.
I focused instantly, and small translucent shields formed near the beast's legs, appearing just as it tried to take its first few steps. The barriers were compact and positioned carefully, restricting its movement without requiring excessive energy.
The beast's legs struck against the shields as it tried to run. Its footing faltered, and it stumbled forward awkwardly, unable to gain proper balance. The sudden obstruction disrupted its momentum, slowing it enough for Sham to close the distance.
Sham reached it within seconds.
Hovering just above the ground, he moved smoothly into position. Without hesitation, he stepped forward and thrust his sword with swift precision. The blade pierced through the beast's body cleanly, the motion controlled and efficient.
The creature let out a low, strained groan as it struggled weakly. Its movements grew slower, its strength fading quickly. After a brief moment, the tension in its body loosened, and it collapsed fully onto the forest floor, its breathing stopping soon after.
Charlie and I stepped forward cautiously, maintaining our guard even though the beast had stopped moving. The forest remained quiet, and only the faint rustling of leaves accompanied our approach.
Charlie reached the beast first. He stood beside it for a moment, carefully observing its body. His gaze moved over the wound Sham had created, then across the beast's chest, watching for any sign of movement. After a brief pause, he nudged the beast lightly with his foot.
The creature remained still.
Charlie waited another moment, ensuring there was no reaction. Only after confirming that the beast was completely lifeless did he give a small nod.
Without wasting time, Charlie bent down and grabbed one side of the beast. Sham stepped forward silently and took hold of the other side. Together, they lifted and dragged the body across the forest floor toward the base of a nearby tree.
The leaves beneath the beast rustled softly as they moved it into position, keeping it partially hidden within the natural cover of the tree roots and surrounding bushes. Once placed, Charlie straightened and began gathering fallen leaves, dry branches, and loose foliage from nearby.
He carefully spread them over the beast, covering its body in layers until it blended naturally with the surroundings. Sham assisted quietly, adjusting a few branches to make the concealment look more natural.
This had become our usual method during hunts. Instead of carrying each beast immediately, we would hide them at secure spots and return later to collect everything together. It allowed us to continue hunting efficiently without being slowed down by the weight of each catch.
Once the concealment was complete, Charlie stepped back and briefly examined the area, ensuring nothing looked out of place. The covered beast blended naturally with the surrounding foliage, making it difficult to notice unless someone looked closely. Satisfied, Charlie glanced toward Sham and me, then gave a small nod before turning and moving forward once again.
We followed quietly, resuming the hunt.
As we moved deeper into the forest, the surroundings gradually changed. The trees grew more thicker and stood closer together, their branches intertwining above us and allowing less sunlight to pass through. The forest floor became more uneven, with slight slopes appearing in certain areas, along with exposed roots and scattered rocks that required careful footing.
The air felt heavier here, and the quiet atmosphere returned once again. Only the faint rustling of leaves and distant calls of unseen creatures echoed softly through the forest. Each of us remained alert, extending our senses outward while scanning the surroundings for any signs of movement.
Time passed slowly as we continued forward, maintaining a steady and cautious pace. Camose remained coiled loosely around my arm, its golden eyes moving occasionally, quietly observing everything around us.
After some time, a faint sound reached us. It was low and strained... a groaning sound.
Charlie reacted immediately, raising his fist.
I stopped at once, and Sham halted silently beside me, all of us becoming still as we listened carefully for the source of the sound.
Charlie leaned slightly toward us, keeping his voice low. "I think the sound is coming from there," he whispered.
He slowly raised his hand and pointed toward the north.
Sham and I followed his direction with our eyes before giving silent nods. None of us spoke further. The forest was quiet enough that even the smallest sound could reveal our presence.
Charlie began moving forward cautiously, leading the way. His steps were slow and deliberate, carefully avoiding dry leaves and loose branches that could create noise. Sham followed a short distance behind him, his movements just as silent and controlled. I moved behind them, placing each step carefully while keeping my senses extended outward.
Camose remained coiled around my arm, its body still but alert. Its golden eyes shifted slightly as we advanced, as if it too sensed the tension building in the air.
The groaning sound grew clearer as we moved forward. It came intermittently, low and strained, echoing faintly through the trees.
After moving forward for some time, Charlie suddenly raised his fist again.
We stopped immediately.
Without hesitation, we moved quietly behind nearby trees, using the thick trunks as cover. Charlie leaned slightly and carefully peeked forward. Sham did the same from another angle, and I followed, slowly shifting my position to get a clear view ahead.