Chapter 9: The Promise Made

  “It's not enough!” a man growled.

  Aspen hung from a tree branch, sweat dripping down his face.

  “Sorry, Master… I’ll… try again…” he mumbled before fainting.

  Six days earlier…

  Aspen pushed open the Hunter’s Guild doors, the familiar scent of iron and parchment greeting him.

  He didn’t stop to look around. His feet carried him straight to the counter.

  “Excuse me,” he said, breathless. “Did Mr. Thorne leave yet?”

  The guild worker flipped through a stack of papers, humming thoughtfully.

  “No. He’s still in town. Staying at the inn nearby.”

  Aspen’s shoulders loosened in relief.

  “Thank you!”

  He was already running before the words fully left his mouth.

  At the inn, he got to know that Ethan had gone out.

  So Aspen searched.

  The café.

  The market.

  The square.

  Even the blacksmith’s alley.

  Nothing.

  His steps slowed. His chest tightened. “…I need help.”

  That thought led him somewhere familiar.

  _ _ _

  Ryl was snoring peacefully, face buried in his pillow.

  Aspen stormed in and shook him violently, “Rylan!! Wake up!”

  “I… don’t like carrots…” Ryl mumbled in half-sleep.

  “Ryl, wake up! This is not the time to eat carrots!”

  Ryl groaned and rolled over. “What is it now?”

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  “I need your help finding Mr. Thorne! He’s still in town, and I have to talk to him!”

  “Good luck with that.” Ryl muttered, turning his back.

  Aspen narrowed his eyes. “Five silver coins.”

  Ryl shot upright. “Let’s go.”

  _ _ _

  After searching for a while, they finally spotted Ethan walking out of the blacksmith’s shop.

  Aspen ran toward him, waving. “Mr. Thorne!”

  Ethan turned, raising a brow. “Aren’t you both who followed us? What are you doing here?”

  Aspen stopped in front of him, hands on his knees, panting. “I heard you were still here… and I wanted to talk to you.”

  “Talk to me? About what, kid?” Ethan wondered.

  Aspen pressed his palms together, pleading.

  “Can you please train me!”

  Ethan blinked. “Train you? Do you even know what you’re asking? It’s forbidden for anyone under fifteen.”

  “I know,” Aspen said firmly.

  “But I want to become as strong as you! I was inspired by how you fought - and you’re one of the top hunters. I want to learn from you!”

  Ethan tilted his head, studying the boy’s eyes. That unshakable determination…

  He sighed, smiling faintly. “Alright. I’ll stay here until my weapon’s finished anyway. But remember, I’ll be strict.”

  Aspen’s eyes sparkled. “Thank you, Master Thorne!”

  From behind, Ryl yawned. “Since you’re done, I’m going back to sleep…”

  He barely took a step before a heavy hand gripped his shoulder.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” Ethan’s voice was low. “You’re joining too.”

  Ryl froze. “Wait - what!? I didn’t ask for this!!”

  Ethan chuckled. “Aren’t you Dorian Morphis’s son?”

  “...Yes,” Ryl muttered nervously, assuming it would be a complaint.

  “Why is he even asking?! Did I do something bad? But I didn't even know him!!”

  Ethan folded his hands, nodding.

  “I thought so. Dorian and I were teammates once, he even saved my life. Since I can’t repay him directly, I’ll train his son in return.”

  Ryl’s face went pale. “Why do good deeds always haunt me…”

  Present…

  Wood cracked against wood.

  Aspen’s arms trembled as he clashed with Ethan’s wooden sword again and again.

  Ethan stood in his stance, wooden sword in hand.

  “Proper breathing while fighting, Aspen. It calms and strengthens your body so your focus sharpens.”

  He pointed the sword at him. “Come. Show me what you’ve learned.”

  Aspen inhaled deeply, exhaled slowly, and charged.

  Thwack!

  Crack!

  Thunk!

  The forest echoed with the clashing of wood.

  “You’re improving,” Ethan said with a grin. “Let’s see if you can handle this-”

  With a sudden shift, he swung harder - Aspen’s sword flew from his hands, landing with a dull thud.

  “It’s still not enough,” Ethan said, the blade resting lightly against Aspen’s neck.

  “Beasts won’t wait for you to recover. You must react faster - sharper.”

  Aspen gritted his teeth. “Got it, Master.”

  Ethan offered a hand, pulling him up.

  “That’s enough for today. It’s almost evening.”

  Something heavy tugged in Aspen’s chest. “Master… you’re leaving tomorrow, right?”

  “Now, now,” Ethan chuckled, kneeling to meet his eyes. “Don’t give me that face. We’ll meet again - when you’re old enough for the Hunters Test.”

  Aspen nodded, eyes gleaming.

  “Then I’ll train hard… and challenge you to a duel when we meet again!”

  Ethan smiled softly. “I’ll be waiting for that day.”

  He glanced at Ryl - who was lying flat on the grass like a corpse.

  “Hopeless,” Ethan muttered, shaking his head. “Wake up, boy. It’s getting dark. Planning to sleep here all night?”

  Ryl twitched awake. “N-no, Master! I was just… resting my eyes!”

  “Resting them too well,” Ethan sighed. “Still, you did great. You’ve got a knack for distracting opponents - use it properly, and you’ll also be a fine hunter someday.”

  Ryl scratched his head, smiling sheepishly. “Thank you, Master! I’ll… try not to die!”

  Ethan chuckled. “Good enough.”

  He turned toward the fading sunlight. “It’s a shame I couldn’t meet your father, Ryl. Tell him I said hello when he returns.”

  Then, with one last smile, Ethan walked away as the orange glow of dusk stretched across the horizon.

  Aspen and Ryl stood quietly, watching his figure fade into the distance.

  Aspen clenched his fists thinking -

  “Until next time, Master… I’ll definitely catch up to you.”

  _ _ _

  Three years passed...

  Aspen had grown stronger day by day, sharpening his skills for the hunter test.

  Ryl, on the other hand, was preparing too… but only because his parents practically shoved him into it.

  “I only wanted a peaceful life…” he mumbled miserably.

  “Don’t start,” Aspen sighed. “Your parents want to see you as a hunter. They actually have hope in you, you know.”

  “But still… I don’t like it…”

  “Fine, fine. Stop nagging already.” Aspen grabbed his wrist.

  “I found a new place to practice. Relax, it’s filled with low-to-mid rank beasts.”

  Ryl groaned as Aspen dragged him away like a sack.

  There were only three months left until the hunter test.

  Both Aspen and Ryl trained in their own ways - one burning with determination, the other whining through every step.

  The road ahead wasn’t going to be easy: Aspen still had to convince his father to let him take the exam, and Ryl had to somehow overcome his eternal dislike for… well, everything related to danger.

  Whether they’d actually make it through the test was a story for the future.

  *****

  Chapter 10 : The Path He Chose