THREE

[Warning: this chapter contains some scenes of violence (bullying)]

After 2 days of travel, I can finally stop thinking about the great mystery of the forest and I focus more on appreciating the landscape, the truth is beautiful and very comforting, even more with the light of the beautiful sun, this is an unknown part for my and I want to explore it - are those rabbits? - I think I have a good idea.

-Excuse me, sir, could you stop here?

-Why do you want to stop? There are still a few days to be near your city boy, take advantage and rest a little, judging by how you looked, you must have spent a lot of time walking through that forest.

-I know but I have not eaten anything in more in these 2 days and I was thinking of hunting some rabbits.

This area seems quiet but it is not -he says while drinking a little water- the box on your right has dried meat and the one on the left has water bottles -she says while pointing to the boxes around me- take a water bottle and eat 4 strips of meat.

-I don't have money to pay you sir -I say something sad- I can't accept it.

-You don't even have a place to fall dead boy, you are an exile and I know your condition, just eat and shut up, consider this a thank you for your work as a soldier.

I remain silent, I do not know how to thank you for such kindness.

-I don't know what you did to deserve exile but that doesn't obscure the fact that you served the people -he mentions with a smile- Consider this gesture as a thank you from the people.

-Thank you old man -I also smiled- Thank you very much, there are not many people like you in this world.

-What happened to the "sir"? he says, feigning indignation.

-Hahahaha then, may I know what it is called?

-Héctor, that's my name, boy.

-Well, nice to meet you, Héctor, my name is Randall.

And so between laughter and small anecdotes from the old man, who apparently at the time he was also a soldier in his kingdom, we continue on our way until nightfall. The old man stops the carriage and looks at me ...

-Well boy, follow the path to the right and you will reach your city in 5 days, the town I am going to is on the other side, so I can help you up to here -he gives me a big smile- good luck with your exile life, You don't seem like a bad person but "you've met a terrible fate."

-Thank you for everything, -I say as I get out of the carriage with that phrase in mind- I did not expect someone to show so much kindness for someone like me, goodbye old man!"

-Go brat- he says laughing- Traveling on foot alone in the middle of the night is hell, the beasts go out in search of harmless prey, but the ones who give more problems are the wolves, they make the trip practically impossible-.

-Impossible if you haven't been trained for this -I say as I walk into the darkness-.

At night I must move between the shadows to avoid conflict as much as possible but when a wolf detects you with his nose, it is almost the end of the game. I must be attentive to the wolves, when the one who sniffed you approaches, you must kill him by attacking directly to the neck and hiding his body between leaves and branches later. Wolf's teeth are a bit expensive but I don't have time for this now I have to move on as quickly as possible. During the day you can find orcs or the occasional low-level beast. In the mornings fighting is easy, beasts are clumsy, unless you run into a golem or a giant worm, luckily that's not the case for me. I got to Enzidax in 3 and a half days. Eating the meat of the rabbits that I hunted and sleeping a few hours but I managed to arrive much earlier than expected.

-Ok, now I just have to go around the city on the right and I'll be in the cave -I am talking to myself as I walk towards the outskirts of the forest- doing this for some pieces of cloth.

-Look who's here! If he's the exile, do you still have the courage to show your face around here?

In front of me are three Enzidax soldiers, "coincidentally" we were in the same platoon and I was taking terrible with them.

-I'm just going to pick up some things from a cave- I say quickly in an attempt to avoid them- so I'm going ...

- You mean these things? -one of them says as he lifts my things in front of him- some pieces of cloth, rope, water and a lot of food, well, it was a lot of food, right guys?

And all of them began to laugh like hyenas, apparently they are very funny about ruining my day as if they ruined my life were not enough.

-We were thinking of changing the location of your things to play a joke -adds another- of course we were going to let you know, in the cave where you left them we put a note in which we invited you to a little game but punishing you directly sounds more fun -he smiles at his classmates- Do you want your trash? Well, come get it.

I'm already between a rock and a hard place, my hand-to-hand combat is not bad but being three against one, no matter where you look at it, there is no way to beat them.

Now there are only two options: one is to turn around and run as if there was no tomorrow - which is not going to happen because the trip has left me very exhausted - and the other is to let them beat me until they can no longer...

The first of them when he saw that I did nothing to defend myself, approaches and punches me with his fist in the stomach, I fall to the ground writhing in pain, then I feel like they kick my arms and legs and so they continue to hitting until they get tired I don't know how long it lasted, I close my eyes, I huddle where I am, I have nothing else to do.

- What's wrong? That's all? You're not so tough when your opponent knows how to defend himself, right ?!

-.......

-I should finish you right now, what do you think?

I'm not going to answer, my whole body hurts and I can barely breathe, I just want to be left alone.

-Nothing to say? You're trash, don't you dare show your disgusting face around here, or next time I'll assure you I'll kill you -says in a superior tone, throwing the backpack at my face- Take and leave!

-Can't get up any? -she laughs very stridently- a scum like you doesn't even reach our heels, did you hear me? Now leave, garbage.

With the little strength I had, I stood up and left, I have to get to the south, that should be the easiest thing but I no longer have the strength -I have to rest somewhere- I stagger bit-my eyesight is clouded...

-Randall?