The horse halted on its feet and started neighing when it encountered a pack of wolves. The young man riding it narrowed his eyes when those wildling snarled at him. He roamed his eyes only to find them walking in circles around him as if he and his horse were their prey they must devour.
Napatingin ito sa bracelet na suot. Bumuga ito nang malalim na hininga. With the sealing bracelet on he can't unleash his power to defeat them easily. All he can rely for now is the bow and arrow he's holding. Tinitigan niya lang ang mga ito.
It's Hunting Season. The queen also set the Imperial Hunt for those with the noble kinds. Iyon ang rason kung bakit narito ito ngayon sa gitna ng Infinite Forest. They need to hunt for animals, each with corresponding points when presented to the queen. Ang may pinakamaraming puntos ay mayroong gantimpalang matatanggap.
When those wolf attacked his horse, he jumped and took four arrows as he aimed his bow. Walo ang mga ito't tig aapat na palaso ang gamit niya. He need to draw four arrows two times in mid air.
Kinalkula niya nang mabuti ang direksyon ng mga ito sabay pakawala ng sunod-sunod na palaso. Matapos niya pakawalan ang unang apat na palaso ay muli itong bumunot ng apat upang patamaan ang natitira pang apat bago pa ito tumakbo. Fortunately, he managed to hit them.
Paglapag nito sa lupa'y iginilid niya ang kaniyang ulo. Ang mababangis na hayop ay walang buhay na nakahandusay paikot sa kaniya. One wolf is only three points. For now he got 21 points in total.
He doesn't really care about the points he got. What matters to him is that he enjoys it.
Bukod doon ay nais niya rin maglakad-lakad sa loob ng kagubatan. The queen, his own mother used to live here alone in the forest. He can't imagine how she managed to survive by herself then.
"Sevyn!" Mabilis na napalingon ang binata nang marinig ang boses ng isang dalaga. He knew who it was dahil iisang babae lang naman ang tumatawag sa kaniya sa pangalang 'yon.
"Arcana?" Inikot niya ang paningin niya't wala naman siyang nakita.
When the cold breeze of the wind touched his face, he look up only to see Arcana standing above the swaying bamboo shoot. Nakadungaw ito sa kanya habang ang dalawang kamay nito'y nakalagay sa likuran niya.
"What are you doing up there?" Arcana shrugged her shoulders as she swiftly glide in the air to go down.
Ang ibaba nitong kasuotan ay biglang hinangin kaya naman iniwas ng binata ang mga mata niya rito. Bahagya lang kumunot ang noo nito kung bakit ang isang kagalang-galang na babaeng 'gaya niya'y naroon sa itaas ng punuan ng kawayan nagpapahangin.
"I've checked the whole forest. . ." Nang maramdaman niyang nasa tabi na niya si Arcana ay nilingon niya ito.
He just stared, urging her to continue what she's about to say. Arcana rolled her eyes with the way he looks at her.
"There was a huge barrier surrounding the whole forest." Kumunot ang noo ng binata.
Why would there be a barrier?
Bumbewelo ito't tinukod ang kaliwang paa sa lupa bago tumalon. He reached the bamboo shoot where he saw Arcana earlier. Mula roon ay nakita niya ang kabuoan ng kagubatan. Humangin kaya naman binalanse niya ang katawan niya upang hindi mahulog sa kinatatayuan niya.
From where he was standing, he can see the barrier that surrounds the whole Infinite Forest. Anyone in the ground won't be able to notice it since it reflects the color of the sky. Makikita mo lang ito kung nasa isang mataas na lugar ka.
Hindi na siya nagulat pa nang mayamaya'y nasa tapat niya na si Arcana habang nakatayo rin sa isang manipis na kawayan. The bamboo shoot keeps on swaying as she tried to balance herself. Hindi maiwasang mainis ng binata rito dahil malaki ang posibilidad na mahulog ito.
BINABASA MO ANG
Elysian Tale: Flare of Frost
FantasyFlare Fyche Henessy is her name. Living an adventurous life across the four continents of Elysian Empire. She's a daredevil, blunt, and feisty woman of the Fire Tribe. Untamed like a tigress, hot as a wildfire. The woman with so much finesse, and m...
