chapter two: task 2

Standing back in the line I waited again while still feeling the pain coming from my arm which the guard has grabbed earlier.

"Next" hearing a husky voice I moved forward as it was finally my turn to be assigned the task.

"You are to collect hundred black mangoes by the end of the week" the person assigning the tasks stated, giving me a scare because the black mangoes grow ten kilometers away from the village where there are a lot of wild beasts roaming freely.

"but-"

"Next"

Before I can say something he cut me off.

Feeling dejected I moved on because I knew there was no use arguing, that is; unless I want another beating.

***

After checking if I had all the necessary things needed I left the village at noon.

Making my way towards the forest I started thinking of how I am going to collect the fruits till the end of the week.

*sigh*

"This is going to be dangerous not to mention exhausting"

On my first day of the search, I traveled five kilometers but returned empty-handed.

The second day was still nothing, but I traveled a little more than yesterday.

On the third day, I found a tall, conspicuous white-colored tree with grey leaves on it, forty-something black mangoes were hanging on it.

After collecting all the fruits I counted them to be forty-three to be precise.

Now all I was left with was fifty-seven more but it didn't make me feel relieved at all, but the opposite, because now I have to go deeper to search for more where the chances of meeting wild beasts would increase tremendously.

On the Fourth day, it looks like luck shined on me as I found another tree at the ten kilometers mark, thus collecting another thirty-six fruits, making my total count reach seventy-nine, just short of twenty-one more to finish my job.

Fifth day nothing.

Sixth day and the last day for me before I hand over my collected fruits.

I knew that I have to gather the remaining fruits by today or there will be a tortuous punishment ready for me.

I walked past the ten-kilometer mark, I raised my guard a notch, paying full attention to any noises.

After walking for more than two hours I finally saw another tree, it was at least three times the size of any normal tree that I have seen so far, it had more than a hundred fruits on it from what I can see.

I felt a little remorse knowing that had I come over here directly, I would have finished my job on the very first day.

Anyhow, after feeling stunned for a bit I started collecting the fruits without wasting any more time knowing that I was in a dangerous territory.

*rustle rustle*

After I collected my twenty-fifth fruit I heard a noise coming from my left.

Since I was on my guard the whole time I reacted fairly quickly, backing away a little and took a fighting stance.

Coming out of the bushes was a leopard like animal; but its dark red color and two tails signified that it was far from a normal leopard.

"Oh no it's a Two-Tailed Red Leopard!" I hissed under my breath.

The beast glared in my direction, looking at the sharp fangs of the leopard, the hair on my neck stood up.

*growl*

The beast growled in my direction.

'What should I do!? What should I do!? Shall I make a run for it, yeah like hell I am outrunning that monster'

The beast started moving, making my heart beat like a drum.

But it didn't come in my direction as I assumed instead it left towards the other side seemingly uninterested in me.

I stood there motionless at the spot regaining my senses after a minute had passed.

*gasp*

I breathed heavily as I had stopped breathing in the presence of the beast.

"I should probably return now, it's better not to be greedy, I have already completed my task I should hurry back now, before something else shows up"

Picking my bag filled with the fruits I had just started to make my way back to the village when something caught my attention.

"Huh…is that blood, hmmm…..no wonder the leopard doesn't wanted to get into the shuffle it is probably also heavily injured, must be finding a secluded spot to recuperate from its injuries"

"Wait--What the hell am I doing analyzing the situation like a researcher, I should be running to the village before some other beast comes due to the smell of the blood and eat my guts out"

Arriving near the village I moved towards the village gates where two guards were standing keep an eye out for any dangers.

'Ugh, not this stupid guard again….' I thought as I tried to move in the village quietly, but the guard blocked my way.

Yep, as you would have guessed already, it was the same guard who beat the old beggar the other day when I was collecting my task, he had shoulder length hair and an unkempt beard.

'Ugh, he reeks of alcohol' I thought as the guard brought his face directly in front of my face.

"Where are you going boy?" the guard spoke directly blowing his alcohol filled breath up my nostrils.

"Inside" I stated.

"Well, you will have to pay the gate fee to go inside" the guard spoke.

"Wha-what, but doesn't the gate fee only applies when you enter for the first time in the village" I said.

"Well too bad for you, I just received the new orders to not let anyone enter without collecting the fee"

"B-but, I don't-"

"Stop bullying the kid, Griff" Cutting my sentence the other guard spoke.

"Don't butt in Chase, this is none of your business" Griff gnarled at the other guard whose name was Chase from what I can tell.

Griff stared at the other guard for a second before backing away from me.

"I will see you some other time, boy" Griff threateningly spoke to me before moving back to his post.