Amber City is home to many families. A deep, lush woodland borders the city’s outskirts. It’s filled with creatures such as birds, elk, rabbits, and corrupted cats?

  Amber, for the most part, is an amazing and peaceful place. However, a strange phenomenon that began over a century ago has been corrupting everything in its path.

  It dyes the land, air, animals, and people with a gray hue, morphing anything it comes into contact with. The world was on the brink of destruction until heroes from all over came together and sealed it in the neighboring Continent, Xeya.

  Since then, rifts started appearing around the world, spilling corruption and infecting living beings. As a result, the world sometimes encounters monsters like this—an unusually large and angry murder kitty.

  Believe it or not, the bulky 300-pound beast was once no bigger than an adult's head. Its heavy paws crush the grass as it hurries across the land.

  Right behind the beast is Quinn, a boy no older than 13, on his first extermination quest. He is on the shorter side, standing at 128 cm. He’s wearing loose everyday clothing and is armed with a spear.

  Quinn, along with his father, Zeke Feywin, has been tracking this thing for days. Finally, today's the day I take down my first beast. Quinn thought to himself.

  “Slow down, you stupid cat.” He says out loud, pushing his way through the thick hedges and over boulders. The beast swiftly traverses the woods, narrowly evading Quinn.

  Although he’s inexperienced, Quinn confidently chases the beast because he’s no ordinary kid. Due to his genetic makeup, he’s much stronger and faster than most adults.

  “Quinn, wait!” A husky voice yells out from further back.

  Ignoring it, Quinn leaps high onto the tree branches, jumping from one to the other.

  Quinn’s sky-blue eyes peek through his wavy silver hair and lock onto the target. He grips his spear tightly and launches it at the beast, piercing its back.

  It lets out a cry. It begins to stagger. Eventually, dropping to the floor, motionless.

  “Bulls-eye.” Quinn cheers. He quickly hops down the tree. Excited, he approaches his bounty. Quinn reaches for his spear when, suddenly, the corrupted beast comes to life.

  It's fast and desperate. It lunges at Quinn, and its massive paw knocks him onto his back. It bares its fangs, aiming for Quinn’s neck.

  Damn, it wasn’t dead? Quinn couldn’t get the spear in time and is now unarmed. Left with no other choice, he shields himself with his arms. The beast’s sharp teeth latch onto Quinn’s left arm, digging deeper and deeper into it. hoping to break it off.

  Quinn is in agony as the beast manages to puncture his arm and vigorously shakes it, hoping to tear the arm off. Using his free hand, Quinn desperately reaches for the spear, but it’s too far. His arms aren’t long enough. Unsure of how much longer he could hold out, Quinn panics and calls out for help, “Dad!”

  From the hedges further back, Zeke fires an arrow and pierces the beast's head, killing it. The body goes limp and falls on top of Quinn. Now that the beast is actually dead, he is able to pry his arm free from its mouth, which is now a bloody mess.

  While sobbing, Quinn rolls the corpse off himself, gets up, and brushes the dirt off.

  “I told you to wait.” Zeke steps out and walks toward Quinn. His hair is long and a radiant silver. His stern golden eyes meet Quinn’s, who is still getting it together.

  “Sorry, Dad,” Quinn says, between sniffles from crying. “I-I-I thought I had i-it.”

  Quinn’s arm is in shambles, his clothes are stained red, and after a long day of tracking the beast, he’s tired. But above all that, Quinn is angry—so incredibly angry at himself for failing and needing his Dad to rescue him. He can’t tell if Zeke is mad, worried, or disappointed. He doesn’t want to know. He is so afraid of the answer that he can’t even look Zeke in the eye.

  “Hey, look at me. It’s okay, you’re okay.” Zeke kneels and places his hand on Quinn’s shoulder. “You tried your best. You might not have succeeded today, but you’re alive. So you get to keep trying until one day you no longer need me. Until that day comes, however, you can not be reckless. Properly evaluating your opponent is also a strength. Take this as a lesson to grow.”

  “Okay… I will.”

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  Zeke’s eyes soften. “How’s the arm?”

  Quinn stretches out his arm. It’s completely healed. No visible marks can be found on the limb that once looked to be barely hanging on. Besides being all dyed red from the blood, there’s not a single scratch to show that he was ever hurt.

  “Never better,” Quinn says while wiping away some snot.

  “Good. Let’s get you rinsed off before going home. Your mother would freak if she saw you right now. The river is a few minutes back the way we came. Think you can keep up?”

  “Of course.”

  With Quinn’s first hunt done, the two head back home.

  ***

  After freshening up as best they could, the two arrive at a cozy two-story log cabin nestled in the woods, about 10 minutes from the main road that leads to Amber.

  Quinn’s mother, Jennifer, is finishing up drying laundry. The breeze gently tousles her long, sky-blue hair.

  Sam, a 10-year-old boy, peeks out from behind Jennifer’s white sundress, holding a thick grimoire. His big blue eyes are the first thing people notice; they shine and captivate everyone. If his hair weren’t as short as it is, he would be the spitting image of her.

  Unlike his wife, Zeke is an angel. Like him, Quinn has a tough body that doesn’t bruise easily. Jennifer, however, is a human mage. Because of a Divine law that applies to angels, they are not allowed to have children with other beings. So Zeke had to give up his powers to be with her. Since then, his strength has begun to fade and is now only a fraction of what it once was.

  Currently, Zeke has the strength of about seven or eight average grown men. Besides that, he’s essentially a normal human—one with a limited lifespan and a body that can get sick.

  Quinn inherited Zeke’s strength and powers similar to Jeniffer's. Like her, Quinn can heal others. However, while she heals patients with magic, he absorbs their injuries, taking them on as his own.

  Jennifer owns a small clinic in the city, and Quinn occasionally helps her run it. Although she dislikes it when he uses his powers, she reluctantly allows him to treat minor injuries, such as bruises or migraines, since he heals too quickly to feel the pain.

  Sam is the first to call out. “Dad! Quinn! You’re back.” He shouts while waving his free arm.

  Jennifer greets them with her usual gentle smile. “Welcome back, dear. You too, Quinn, welcome…” Her eyes are fixed on the stained, torn shirt. Her smile drops. “Explain.”

  Never in a million years did Quinn think he would rather go another round with the corruption than face his mother right about now. Even Sam instinctively knows to take a few steps back from the red zone.

  Zeke cautiously approaches Jennifer, “Sweety, look, everything's alright. He just got banged up a little, but he’s okay.”

  Zeke makes the first move, reaching for her hands. Jennifer retaliates with her death stare. Left with no other choice, He falls back—round one victor, Mom.

  “Quinn.” She sternly calls.

  Crap, round Two. “I’m fine… really. I’m back to 100 percent, look.” Quinn vigorously shakes his arm to back the claim.

  Jennifer lets out a deep sigh and walks over. “Listen, Quinn. Just because the damage out here is gone,” she places her hand on Quinn’s arm, “doesn't mean it’s fully healed in here-” She moved her hand over his heart. “-You’re bound to get hurt. As much as it pains me, we won’t always be there to protect you. But just because you can’t see the wound doesn’t mean you should ignore it, okay.”

  “...Yeah, okay.” A complete knockout. I didn’t even have a chance to fight back.

  “Good. Now get cleaned up and get ready for dinner.” Without missing a beat, she perks up and hurries Quinn inside.

  Quinn runs off to his room and changes into a fresh set of clothes as Sam walks in. “How’d the hunt go?” His big, bright eyes make it obvious he wants to know every detail.

  Quinn lets out a sigh, “Sorry to disappoint, little brother, but I completely blew it.”

  “Really? Dad was just saying how cool you were. Cats are already fast, but the corruption makes them even faster. But you were keeping up and even hitting it from far away, you’re amazing.”

  “You really think so?” Quinn's eyes widen. Was it really that great? He thinks.

  “Yeah, I do. The other kids got jealous when I told them you were going on your first job with Dad-” His smile fades a little.

  Oh no, he’s doing it again.

  “-I mean, I couldn’t imagine doing what you do. I’m not as strong as you and Dad.”

  Ah, this foolish little brother of mine. Always putting himself down. Quinn doesn’t understand why Sam is always so harsh on himself. Yeah, he’s quiet and taller than most kids his age at 150 cm, but that’s what makes him unique, and the little brother Quinn adores.

  “Hey. Maybe not, but you have us beat when it comes to mana. Heck, you even impressed an instructor from the Lumous Magic Academy. So much so that they are willing to sponsor you to attend next year. No other kid around here can say that.”

  “Yeah, but…”

  “No buts. From where I’m standing, you’re just as amazing.”

  “...”

  Hmm, did I say something weird? He’s looking at me as if I just told him the farmers' pigs grew wings and flew away.

  “Anyways, you’re cool too, so stop being so down on yourself.”

  “Thanks for saying that.” Quinn reaches out and ruffles his hair. Sam tries to yank the hand away, but in the end, there’s nothing he can really do except wait till Quinn is satisfied.

  “Boys' dinner is ready,” Zeke calls out to them.

  Right on time, my stomach is about to join the conversation. Quinn feels his stomach grumble.

  “Come on, Quinn. Last one down helps Mom with the dishes.” Sam rushes out of the room just as quickly as he came in.

  “Haha. You’re on, little brother.”