Beast Human

At last, the stormy days ended. The sky cleared into a gentle blue after three long nights of nonstop rain, and the grassland shined with new drops. After listening to the thundering rain for days, Ark was sleeping deeply in his bed inside the house.

The door creaked open, and Karl stepped in. His footsteps were steady, carrying the presence of a man long used to both battlefields and home life. He paused by Ark's bedside, watching his son's calm face. A faint smile tugged at his lips.

"Wake up, Ark," Karl said gently, patting his son's shoulder.

Ark opened his eyes slowly. "Father...? The rain stopped?”

Karl nodded. "Yes. Which means today, we begin your training. Remember the competition is only a few days away."

At once, Ark sat up, excitement replacing sleepiness. He washed his face, quickly dressed, and followed Karl outside. The morning breeze smelled of wet soil and fresh air.

Their training began not with a bow, but with meditation.

"Before you shoot an arrow, you must steady your heart," Karl explained. He made Ark sit cross-legged beneath a tall oak tree. "Calm your breathing. Empty your mind. If your emotions waver, your arrow will never find its mark.”

Ark breathed slowly and closed his eyes. His mind was racing at first, thinking about magic, mana, and even the rain he had brought about. But he was guided by Karl's strong voice. “Focus. Think only of the arrow flying straight.”After several minutes, Ark's shoulders began to loosen up and his heartbeat. 

When meditation was complete, Karl didn't hand him a bow immediately. Instead, he pointed to the mountain trail behind their village.

"Run," he ordered.

Ark blinked. "Eh? But father, I thought-"

"No excuses. Archery is not only about skill. You need stamina, strong legs, and sharp focus. A weak body cannot support a steady aim.”

So Ark ran. Up winding paths, over rocky slopes, through damp earth that still squelched from the rain. His breaths grew ragged, his legs heavy, but Karl followed behind, calling, "Faster, Ark! Feel the strength of your body awaken!”

Ark thought, ‘ I am good only in magic, but I am very bad physically. I want to train myself in fighting skills. 

By the time Ark returned to the training field, sweat soaked his shirt. He fell to his knees, panting, but Karl only handed him a bow.

"Now, shoot."

The bow felt heavier than Ark expected. He knocked an arrow, pulled back the string, and released it. The arrow wobbled and fell pitifully short of the target.

Ark said in disappointment, "I missed…”

Karl folded his arms. "Of course you did. Control comes with practice. Again."

Thus began hours of practice. Ark drew, aimed, and fired until his fingers burned. Karl corrected every detail-the position of his feet, the angle of his elbow, even the rhythm of his breathing.

"Don't stare only at the target," Karl instructed. "Feel the arrow. Imagine its flight before it leaves your hand. Your body and the bow must become one."

On the second day, Karl added moving targets. Wooden wheels tied with cloth rolled down slopes, and Ark had to strike them before they hit the ground. At first, every arrow missed. But Karl's voice never wavered.

"Focus! Do not chase the target with your eyes-predict it. An archer shoots not at where the enemy is, but where they will be!”

By the third day, Ark's arrows began to land on target. One struck the rolling target directly in its center, splitting the cloth apart. Ark's eyes widened in joy.

"I hit it!" he shouted.

Karl allowed himself a rare smile. "Good. You're improving faster than I expected. But don't get careless-discipline is everything."

As the sun set behind the mountains, Ark stood with bow in hand, panting but smiling. His arms ached, his fingers throbbed, but his spirit burned brighter than ever.

"Father," Ark said, gripping his bow tightly,"I'll win that competition.”

Karl placed a hand on his son's shoulder, his gaze firm but gentle. "You already have, Ark. Keep training, and one day, you'll surpass even me.”

With its golden rays spilling across rooftops and fields still wet from the recent rain, the morning sun rose high over the village. Ark was already in the garden, waiting for his father, with his boots tied and a small bow hanging over his back. His heart was racing because he had another archery practice today, another step toward becoming stronger.

But instead of calm instructions and steady hands, Karl arrived with a serious face. His sword was already strapped to his waist, and the usual warmth in his eyes was replaced by tension.

"Ark," Karl said, voice heavy, "today's training is canceled."

Ark blinked, confused. "Why, Father? Did something happen?”

Karl exhaled sharply and placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "Many villagers reported a beast-human wandering near the fields. At the same time, hunters discovered dozens of goblin corpses in the forest-slaughtered brutally. Everyone believes the beast-human is behind it. Until we eliminate this threat, you must stay inside. Don't step outside the village, Ark. Promise me."

Ark lowered his eyes. He wanted to argue, but he could see how serious his father's expression was. "I understand, Father.”

Karl replied firmly, then adjusted his sword belt. "Good boy. I'll return as soon as we deal with this danger." Without another word, he strode away, joining a group of armed men gathering at the village fields.

Ark watched his father leave, his chest tightening. When the sound of footsteps faded, he returned to his room and sat heavily on his bed. He pressed his hands together and whispered to himself.

"So, the villagers think it was a beast-human that killed those goblins..." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "But it wasn't them. It was me. I used magic. I destroyed every last goblin."

He leaned back against the wall, staring at the ceiling. "If I told them the truth, Father would worry even more... maybe even scold me. And the villagers... they'd never believe a child like me could do such a thing. They'd fear me.”

Ark got up and moved toward the window. His youthful face was reflected in the glass, but behind it the sky extended, the forest rising like a shadow in the distance. His fists clenched.

"I don't like being locked up. And if that beast-human is really dangerous ,then I want to see with my own eyes.”

The cool morning wind touched Ark's cheeks as he pushed the window open with that thought. He gave the empty house one last look before going outside.

He straightened and repositioned his trembling as he landed gently on the grass. With a excitement

Ark hiding atop a tree, hidden by thick leaves. From this position, he could see the villagers moving like ants below, spears at their sides and suspiciously sharp voices. They were steadfast in their search for the supposed "beast-human threat," their boots stepping through the brush.

Ark narrowed his eyes, raising his hand slightly. With a deep breath, he whispered the incantation.

"Scan."

A faint ripple spread across the forest, invisible to all but him. His mind sharpened, and faint pulses of mana signatures bloomed in his vision. One, two, three... the villagers scattered around. But then-something smaller, weaker, trembling.

He leapt silently from branch to branch, following the faint presence until he reached a dense thicket. Pushing aside a curtain of leaves, he froze.

Three villagers stood in a small clearing, rough expressions on their faces, excitement in their voices. And in their grasp was... a child.

Ark's breath caught. It wasn't some terrifying monster, as the rumors claimed. It was a girl, maybe ten years old-his own age. She had ragged ears poking through her tangled hair, a beast-human trait, and eyes that shimmered with both fear and defiance. Her thin arms struggled weakly against the grip of the men, but she was far too small to resist.

Ark's heart pounded in his chest.

She's just a kid... like me. They said a dangerous beast-human roamed here, but she can't be the threat they were talking about. She doesn't even look like she's eaten in days.

One of the villagers sneered, yanking the girl's wrist. "Finally caught you. You'll fetch a good price at the market."

The girl whimpered, glaring at them with tearful eyes.

Ark's hands tightened around the branch he crouched upon. His mind raced.

So that's their plan... not to protect the village, not to defend anyone from danger, but to capture her. They're going to sell her.

He grit his teeth.

Father said beast-humans were dangerous. But this girl isn't a monster. She's just scared. If I reveal myself now, though... what if they tell Father? What if everyone learns I interfered? No... what if they even turn against me?

The villagers laughed among themselves, one patting the other on the shoulder.

Ark bit his lip.

I can't just watch. If I let them drag her away, I'll be no different from them. But if I act recklessly, I'll expose my powers. What should I do?

The girl met Ark's eyes for a fleeting second, as if sensing his presence in the bushes. Her gaze was desperate, pleading silently for help.

Ark's heartbeat thundered in his ears.

Damn it... why is it so hard to make the right choice? I only wanted to test myself, but now... I have to decide. Do I save her? Or pretend I never saw anything?

He exhaled slowly and said, “  If  I want to help her . So I kill the  villagers. What can I do? That decision was so hard.”

Ark’s heart urged rescue, but his mind warned of danger, leaving him frozen in conflict.