Child's Play

Harry announced the surprise coalition they were going to have, which brought unique emotions to all their faces.

Both Harry and his friend, Hughes looked very much unsurprised and contended with the idea of forming a team. Shain remained faceless, as he always did. However, the most affected person seemed Emily, as she gasped at Harry’s words.

“Harry, can we have a moment?” she asked and walked to the corner of the hall. As he was still holding the jolly face, he followed her.

“She must be beaming to know that the Commander himself will be accompanying them.” Hughes boasted about his position in the army. But Emily never smiled after hearing Harry’s suggestion, nor did she approve of it. Even Shain could see her fuming on her guard, as Harry was begging for mercy while the tip of her sword was touching his throat.

Then after a long minute of talk, they came back.

“She approves the idea. But on the condition that, the hunt will take place at her desired location.” No one seemed against that idea and affirmed it.

“Lady Azwart. Do you have any specific site you wish to proceed on?” Hughes enquired.

“Don’t call me Lady. It defeats the whole purpose of me wearing this dank outfit.” She said, then looked at Harry to finish for her.

“Miss Emily wishes to hunt near the northern ghats. They have beasts of all kinds present there, and will also become a great training before she joins the Academy.”

Upon hearing about the location, Hughes' face turned grim. He looked between Harry and his Master, then hesitantly spoke,

“Miss Emily, I would not recommend that ground.” The two frowned at Hughes’ reply.

“Allow me to explain, Miss Emily. Since the war started, the surveillance group which used to check for any anomaly had been greatly reduced. And no new report about the northern ghats has been made. In these situations, it would be best to not visit that area.” Hughes concluded his words.

“If he is right, then the risk associated would largely increase Miss Emily. How about taking trips to the Silver Forest? I heard many hunts took place there, even during wartime.” Suggested Harry. Hearing all that, Emily remained silent and placed two fingers down her chin.

“No. We will hunt near the northern ghats,” she replied, stubbornly. She carried the authority of nobles in her words, and on her face.

“But Miss Emily…”, as Hughes started his protest, she intervened.

“Anyone not valiant enough can leave right now. Harry”, she ordered Harry to follow her outside the Bounty Hall.

“She is also going to the Academy.” After a long silence, Shian stated, then looked up to Hughes.

“Ha-ha. She is also, what a coincidence!” he grinned. Shain still stared at him with his dead eyes, which forced him to cease his act.

“Yeah. I knew it. Despite her stubbornness, she is quite powerful, even among the nobles. Turning her into an acquaintance will greatly aid you in the mission.” he said and walked out.

Shain did most of his mission alone, as a number on his team greatly hindered his work. Being a part of a team never worked for him, and he also preferred doing it alone. He never wanted an acquaintance, but if the higher-ups ordered him to have one, he had no reason to refute it.

***

Naivan was the northernmost country of the Mega continent. The land extended more to the north, but high mountains and extreme climate near the ghats made it impossible to cross that border. The eternal winter that engulfed it, and the mysterious dark clouds that never allowed the sun's rays to touch the northern mountains made that side of the continent inhabitable.

Thus, the Treaty of the North was signed by the kings of the four countries, which made the other side of the mountains unobtainable to any single nation, and also prohibited any attempt to cross the mountains.

Even though the treaty was made about a century ago, the northern ghats remain to be one of the most menacing and unpredictable places on the continent.

“How much before we reach the destination?” Emily asked Harry, who was scanning the maps.

The wagon on which they were riding, was pulled by donkeys since there was an extreme shortage for horses. Shain, along with Hughes also accompanied them on this ride. At first, she was reluctant for them to join her party but did approve them under some additional conditions.

“An hour or half, according to our current speed.” Two hours have passed since they started their journey from the capital. The entire country was three days across, that is with the best horses they had, traveling in their top conditions.

“Tell the coach-man to haste. We need to reach there before the sun reaches its peak.” Harry nodded and did as she commanded. The path they took was the shortest one, which was used by most travelers. The land around their way was droughted, with no signs of habitation till the eyes could reach.

“Lagos is the most common hunt creature found in that region, followed by Giant Moss and Ice Lizards,” Hughes spoke, as Emily turned her eyes at him.

“The current weather would make it suitable for a Moss hunt, Miss Emily.” She listened as he continued. It was mostly about the how’s and when’s of the hunting practice. The girl throwing a tantrum just ago turned into a perfect adventurer, who listened and corrected Hughes's hunting strategy.

Shain noticed many failures in her suggestion, but seeing how the commander himself didn’t mention it, he simply listened to them.

Finally, they reached the Northern Ghats.

The wagon left them at a site, far from the actual hunt ground. No normal human dared to enter this place or even come close to it. They had to walk an additional mile before reaching the desired place.

The hunt was planned to be done at the top of a small hill. As they climbed the sloppy rock, the vegetation around them started diminishing exponentially, and so did the temperature. The top was just a pile of snow covering the entire ground. No animals were present here, so producing a large source of light and smoke was the only way to attract small prey.

They hid behind a small tent made of white clothes, which was placed some feet behind the fire. Three rabbits came hopping towards the flame. All three were completely white, indistinguishable from the snowy ground if not for their movements. They came near the fire and jumped around it like they were examining it.

Emily had prepared three fireballs at her fingertips. The fireballs had unequal and weird shapes but would be more than enough for shooting down three rabbits.

She shot it, killing two of them. The remaining one dodged the fireball and escaped into the dark.

“Shit,” Emily cursed, unlike a noblewoman. She sprinted towards the third rabbit but hesitated upon witnessing the darkness around the region. The sun's rays never touched the northern hills, which made the place black as night even during the noon time.

“Miss Emily, we need only one of them to be a bait. The other can be our reserve.” Hughes told her, while she was searching for the missing rabbit. She was annoyed at her own skill sets.

Hughes prepared the bait. Anyone could understand that among them, he had the most experience in hunting, just by witnessing his work. There was always a threshold to every skill, that learning alone can teach you. The rest comes with first-hand experience.

They returned to the white tent, observing the bait that was placed many feet down them. The plan was to attack the prey from above.

Minutes passed. As did hours, but no sign of life was found below. It was rare that this place lacked any kind of creature, even during the surveillance was decreased to null.

“Did you set the bait right, Mr Commander?”, Emily yawned, her eyes turned watery from boredom.

But he seemed too preoccupied with some other thoughts.

Something was odd. Hughes looked around, trying to see as deeply as he could. But nothing caught his sight.

This alone, made it very odd. They were standing at the first level of the Northern Ghats, a place which should have contained more than fifty percent of the total northern life forms. However, the only living creature he had seen until then were rabbits.

“Miss Emily, something seems off here. We should retreat.” Hughes warned and gazed into Harry’s eyes. He needs his help to convince Emily.

“Now what, you need- “, Emily’s voice was outshone by a sound that came from below. Everyone turned towards the sound. It was a huge moving creature, walking on two legs. Its whole body was covered in grey fur, and its face was hidden behind the darkness.

“Do Moss walk on two legs?” Emily whispered but saw only the stunned face of Hughes staring at that creature.

“Run!” Hughes took Emily on his shoulder and ran in the opposite direction. Shain followed him, along with Harry who was confused by the events.

Aren’t we supposed to hunt that thing down, but why are we the ones running? Harry thought.

However, all four halted their legs as the creature from behind was now standing right in front, staring at them with a wide grin on its face. The black eyes and two short horns were the only monstrous traits on its otherwise human-like face.

“What is that creature? I had never seen something like this before. It looks like a giant human.”

“It was, Miss Emily. But not anymore.” Hughes unsheathed the long blade he was carrying.

“Shain, protect Miss Emily and Harry. I will distract this being.” But no reply came. Shain stood still behind them like he was frozen into ice. His eyes wide opened, gazing into the creature’s black iris.

Damn it. Not now. Not here. Before Hughes aimed for the creature, he landed a strong kick at Shain’s gut, bringing him back to reality.

“You punk, take them to somewhere- “, before he could finish, the creature swung its hand at him, which he defended against using his sword. But the impact threw him into the cliff end.

The creature made a jump toward him, but a burst of red mana blasted it away. At the origin of that power, stood a man with a huge red blade in his hand. Commander Hughes Skyler, one of the twelve Highers of the nation, and the strongest soldier of the country.

Others had long gone from the ground. Confirming their absence, he released more mana from his sword, making it even broader. The creature strolled towards him, with the grin on its face unchanged.

He charged at the creature, taking a wide swing and aiming for the creature’s legs. It jumped to avoid the slash, but could not match the speed of the cut and lost its right foot. Without one foot, the creature lost its balance on landing and fell.

Taking the chance, Hughes made another attempt on its neck, but the creature blocked it with bare hands. Still, a deep cut was made on both its hand. While he remained close, the creature raised its leg at him. Hughes jumped back to avoid the kick from the fallen creature. Even will a cut on its leg, it managed to stand straight with the same grin on its face.

“Time to end this,” the sword of his became even brighter, enough to illuminate the creature’s face. The size of the sword reverted to its normal shape, but the edges now shined brighter than the blade’s body.

Hughes did the same attack as before, to which the creature tried to block it with bare hands. But this time, the blade passed through its body, like a cut made in water.

Hughes looked down at the creature, which was now split into two pieces.

“That was it.”, on seeing its face a little closer, it resembled a child’s smiling face.

After reciting a mourning mantra for the dead, he buried the body in the snow and left the hilltop.