The sun hadn't fully risen when Kael suddenly woke up, his heart racing with excitement. Today was the day of his first hunt.
He quickly dressed, nearly tripping over his pants, and rushed out of his room with swift steps. He went down the stairs and found Ronald already ready, sitting by the fireplace while checking his bow. The old man looked up and smiled, seeing the excitement gleaming in the young man's eyes.
"Did you sleep well, champ?" Ronald asked in a playful tone.
"Not really," Kael admitted, stretching. "I couldn't stop thinking about today."
Ronald nodded with a sly grin and stood up, snapping his fingers. "Good, then let's get moving."
As they stepped outside, they were greeted by the crisp morning air, which quickly chased away the last traces of sleepiness. The sky was clear, and the sound of birds singing marked the start of their day.
"We're heading to the forest to the south. That's where we usually find deer."
"Okay!"
"Great. Now, get into a squat position and follow me."
"…Huh?"
Kael's enthusiasm instantly vanished, replaced by pure confusion.
"Come on, kid, we don't have all day," Ronald urged, trying to hold back a laugh at the lost expression on Kael's face.
"But…the forest is over an hour away! And the path is all uphill!" Kael protested.
He looked at him with pleading eyes, hoping for at least a bit of compassion. Unfortunately, he was dealing with Ronald, and such strategies were completely useless.
"Don't say that," Ronald replied with a wise air. "It's great leg training. And what do I always tell you?"
"…They must be tough and stable like a boulder," Kael replied in a dull voice.
Ronald nodded, satisfied. "Good. Now, let's go."
Kael sighed, resigned to his fate. With one last look at the village, he bent his legs and started following Ronald with a waddle.
The walk soon turned into a torture. After just ten minutes, Kael could already feel his leg muscles burning, but he gritted his teeth, determined not to complain. Ronald, ahead of him, was moving with a relaxed and steady pace, as if it were just a normal walk.
"You're slowing down, kid," Ronald commented without even looking back.
"I'm not... slowing down..." Kael retorted, trying to keep up, but he was starting to run out of breath.
Ronald chuckled. "Come on, don't tell me you're ready to give up yet?"
"Never!"
Kael took a deep breath and tried to think of something else, mostly about Ronald.
He didn't know much about his life, only the things most people in the village already knew. It was said that, when he was young, he had extraordinary talent, becoming an Expert at the age of eighteen. Even though he had never confirmed it, Kael was sure that he had also reached the rank of Master.
Now, let's clarify the different ranks.
The first stage was Novice, and the requirement wasn't just being able to perceive mana. For a warrior, it was also necessary to learn how to absorb it into their body. Only then would they achieve the rank of Novice-Basic. Constant mana absorption strengthened the body, and as the amount increased, the rank would rise: Intermediate, High, and finally, Highest.
The second stage was Expert. To reach it, a warrior had to master a technique called the Aura Manifestation, which allowed them to convert absorbed mana into an elemental aura. Once they obtained this ability, they became Experts. At this stage, they would progress through various ranks, making their aura denser and more powerful. It was at this point that a warrior could begin using Arts, martial techniques that used the aura to deliver devastating blows.
The third stage was Master, distinguished by the ability to infuse their weapon with the aura, amplifying its power and destructive capacity.
The fourth stage, Grand Master, was an even further advancement: the aura became solid and tangible, allowing it to extend beyond the body and weapon.
Finally, there was the rank of Saint, about which Kael knew little. He only knew that those who reached this level towered above others, and with a simple gesture, could wipe out entire armies or flatten mountains. These were just rumors, however, as no normal person could survive a battle between two Saints.
****
After that long and exhausting walk in a squat position, Kael felt his legs turn to jelly.
"Not bad, kid. You managed to keep up without collapsing," Ronald commented with a nod of approval once they reached the edge of the forest.
Kael collapsed to the ground, massaging his thighs. Ronald burst out laughing, patting him on the back and giving him the time he needed to recover.
They were in a small clearing at the edge of the forest, an ideal spot for hunting. The ground was covered with soft moss, and the trees towered high above them, letting through only a few rays of sunlight. The air was fresh, filled with the scent of wood and damp earth.
Kael looked around with bright eyes. It was his first real hunt, and the excitement made him forget the fatigue. He tightly gripped the bow that Ronald had given him, a lightweight but sturdy model, perfect for a beginner. He couldn't be called an expert with such a weapon, but Ronald had given him a solid foundation.
"Alright, where are the prey?" He asked enthusiastically.
Ronald crouched down, scanning the ground. "First, we need to find tracks. Have you rested enough?"
Kael straightened up suddenly, ignoring the burning sensation in his legs. "Of course!" he replied with a determined smile, even though his breath was still a bit uneven.
Ronald watched him for a moment with an amused look, then nodded. "Good. Then come take a look."
Kael stepped closer to Ronald and examined the area he had pointed out. At first, he couldn't see anything unusual, but when he focused, he noticed a shallow depression in the ground.
"It looks like a small, light footprint..."
"Good." Ronald nodded. "See the shape? The two points and the rounded form are typical of a deer, and since it isn't deeply imprinted, it looks pretty young, so it should be easier for you to bring down."
"And now?" Kael asked, trying to keep his voice calm.
Ronald stood up and gestured with his head. "Now, we follow it. The tracks are still fresh, so follow me and try to stay as quiet as possible."
After a few minutes of silent walking, carefully analyzing new tracks along the way, Ronald raised a hand to signal him to stop. Kael froze immediately, holding his breath.
Just ahead, through the bushes, a shape moved slowly. A deer, its antlers still small, glimmering slightly in the sunlight filtering through the trees.
Ronald bent down slightly and whispered, "Alright, it's time. Prepare your bow, aim behind the front leg. Hit the heart, and it will be a clean shot."
Kael took a deep breath and lifted the bow. His fingers trembled slightly as he pulled back the string, trying to keep his aim steady. He just had to release his hand, and the arrow would do the rest. But at that moment, the deer raised its head, turning toward him.
Kael froze. Not from fear that the animal would run, but because of its eyes. Dark, innocent, full of life.
It was then that the weight of reality hit him like a ton of bricks. One gesture, and that living being would cease to exist.
He swallowed hard. Sweat dripped down his temple, and his fingers clenched around the arrow, unable to release it.
'Do it! Open your hand and be a man!'
He repeated those words to himself, clenching his teeth so tightly he could feel his jaw creak. He tried to release his grip, but a light touch on his hand stopped him.
Ronald.
As if all the courage he had built up dissolved in an instant, the air rushed out of his lungs and his legs gave way. Without even realizing it, he found himself sitting on the ground.
Twitch.
A faint sound, and the deer darted off, disappearing among the trees. Kael lowered his head, unable to meet Ronald's gaze.
"S-Sorry," He muttered, his voice barely a whisper. "I froze..."
"There's nothing to apologize for," Ronald said finally, his voice firm but without reproach.
Kael looked up sharply, surprised. "But I-"
"Did you think it would be easy?" Ronald interrupted, without malice. "It's easy to imagine killing, but when you're face to face with a creature that has done nothing wrong and is just trying to live, the situation changes."
Kael lowered his gaze. "Then why do we have to kill them?"
Ronald gave a small smile. "You like meat, don't you?"
Kael couldn't deny it, and Ronald nodded understandingly.
"There's no such thing as good or bad, right or wrong when it comes to killing. It's a decision you make because it means taking responsibility for that life. You must accept that, to live, we must take, but if we do it with respect, without waste, without cruelty, then it's not a crime. It's part of who we are."
After a moment of silence, Ronald sighed and continued. "This applies to both animals and people."
Kael's eyes widened at the mention of killing people, but Ronald stopped him.
"Don't misunderstand me," he said calmly, looking him straight in the eyes. "Killing an animal for food is one thing, but taking a person's life is a completely different burden. There will be times when you'll need to fight to protect yourself or defend those you love, and in those moments, hesitation could mean death. But you should never take it lightly."
Kael stayed silent, his fist clenched around the wet grass beneath him. It was so easy to hear those words, yet so hard to truly accept them.
"Not everyone deserves to die," Ronald continued. "And not everyone deserves to live. But we don't decide the value of a life without a good reason. The difference between a murderer and a warrior lies in this: one kills out of whim, the other because they have no choice."
Kael nodded slowly, feeling the weight of Ronald's words digging deep inside him.
"So what will you do now? You've already learned a lot today."
"Really?" Kael asked, confused.
"Of course." Ronald nodded. "Training the body is important, but the heart and mind need it too. You'll understand this more when you reach the higher realms."
Kael remained silent for a moment, lost in the peace of the forest, then looked up at Ronald.
"I want to try again."
Seeing the intensity in his eyes, Ronald tried to hold back a satisfied smile. That morning, he had only seen lightness in the boy, and although there was still some uncertainty, his determination and resolve were now clear.
"Let's pick up the trail."
The two crouched again, moving carefully through the dry leaves, following the fresh tracks of the deer. After a few minutes, Ronald stopped and gestured with his eyes. Among the trees, just ahead, the deer had stopped to graze, unaware of their presence.
Kael took a slow breath, raised his bow, and notched the arrow, recalling Ronald's instructions. Aim behind the front leg. A clean shot, with no suffering.
He felt his heart pounding in his ears and his hands sweating, but this time, he accepted the tension and kept his gaze fixed on the animal.
'Thank you.'
With that final thought, he released the arrow.