Chapter 5 : Past
“Why…”
Ryl groaned, dragging his feet behind Aspen.
“Why do I have to come to this creepy forest…”
Sunlight slipped through the trees and the birds chirped softly. The forest felt far more peaceful than yesterday.
“Did you forget?” Aspen snapped.
“I lost the money because of you - and you promised you’d help me.”
“Come on Aspen!! It was an accident!!" Ryl hissed.
“I don't care.” He said adjusting his bag.
“You helping me today.”
“Alright, fine!!” he hissed.
“But if I die, make sure my body goes to my parents. Tell them their son fought bravely and made them proud.”
Aspen sighed. “We’ll see about that…”
“By the way, where are we going?”
“To Slime Pit.”
“Slimes? Aren't they easy to fight? Others might have already wiped them out - It’ll be boring!!”
“It's fine, I found a secret spot where we can find plenty.” He glanced at the sky.
“Summer’s almost here. They'll be hiding inside the cave since it's cooler.”
Ryl's eyes widened.
“Inside the cave?!! What if the beasts living there attack us?! I've had enough already…”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
“Don’t worry. They stay deeper inside - we’ll not go that far. ” Aspen reassured him.
After a long walk they reached the cave’s entrance.
It was huge, shadows stretching wide with vines crawling up the stone arch and moss lining its mouth.
They stepped in, torchlight flickering.
The sweet scent of the wet soil filled the air and the faint trickle of water echoed deep within.
“Do you think… Is it really fine?” Ryl's voice trembled.
“It's still morning, but it's already dark here…”
“I told you, it’ll be fine.”
Aspen placed his hand on his shoulder.
“I've come here plenty of times - I know this place.”
“But still…”
“Are you that scared?”
Ryl froze. “Me?! Scared?!”
He puffed his chest.
“No way!! Did you forget who saved you yesterday!?”
“Yes, yes it's you Mr. Brave...” he mumbled
“Though you only carried me…”
“Yes!! I saved you by not letting you die there!! You should at least be grateful!!”
He marched ahead dramatically.
“So stay behind - this cave is nothing to me.”
Aspen shook his head smiling and followed.
Deeper inside dozens of slimes bounced around.
“Wow!! There are so many!!” Ryl exclaimed.
“Yes! We can make a lot of money today.”
Aspen began slashing.
Slish!
Slash!
Each one burst and degenerated; leaving tiny stones behind.
“Aspen, I’ve got a question.” Ryl asked, picking stones.
“Why do you even hunt? Your father runs a good inn - you don't need money this badly.”
Shluk!!
“It's a good question.” Aspen swung his dagger, slicing another slime.
“One day, I saw a little boy attacked by a beast. Without thinking, I covered him.”
“Are you stupid!! You could’ve died!!" Ryl shouted.
Splat!!
He pierced another slime.
“I know. But I couldn't help myself…” He murmured.
Almost all slimes were killed and only a few escaped into pits.
“I was lucky at that time. A hunter showed up and killed it instantly. From then on I wanted to be like him - someone who saves others.”
A massive slime rolled towards him, he leapt bringing his dagger down.
Swishk!!
It burst apart.
“Then why keep it secret? Is it because of the rules? You could at least tell your father…”
Aspen smiled faintly, looking at his dagger.
“You already know - my father was once a mid-rank hunter. Strong enough to beat a Rock Beetle. But…”
He lowered his dagger to the ground.
“After my mother died he couldn't continue.”
Ryl went quiet.
“I only remember my mother and uncle leaving for a faraway hill. Father begged not to go, but my mother insisted. They left…”
The air felt heavy and the tiny stones left on the ground twinkled.
“And a few days later only uncle came back. He said they were attacked by a cursed spirit…”
He paused.
“...and she couldn't make it.”
His grip on the dagger tightened.
“Father blamed uncle for not protecting her. They argued… and after that, everything changed.”
Aspen glanced around - the cave was silent now.
“And since then, father forbade me from hunting.”
“So, that's why your uncle suddenly moved out…” Ryl murmured.
Aspen nodded, sitting beside him.
“I can't stand watching people die… I know the pain of losing someone - so I don't want to stop.”
He drank the last of his enhancer potion.
“I can't always ask my father for money to buy these stuff.”
he gestured towards the orb and the potions.
“And it feels good to earn it myself."
“You sure work hard, Aspen.”
Ryl smiled, patting his back gently.
“And I believe you will become a great hunter someday.”
Aspen smiled back faintly.
Suddenly-
Screech!!
A strange voice echoed through the cave.
Both of them froze.
“Not again!!” Ryl yelled. “Run!!”
“Ryl, wait!” Aspen grabbed his hand.
“It's not what you think - those are ju-”
Before he could finish, a swarm of bats shot past them.
They both ducked down.
Wings flapped, silence fell again.
“That was scary!!!” Ryl gasped.
“Yes… it was.”
Then-
Thoom! Thoom!
Heavy footsteps echoed from the shadows.
A tall figure stepped forward.
Ryl's face paled.
“As… aspen… be-behind you…“
*****
Chapter 6 : First Trail
Spirit Wielders - A Bond with a Sacrifice up to this point. Reaching five chapters means more to me than you might think, and I truly appreciate every follow, comment, and bit of feedback.
