Chapter 18 Disappeared, Don't Want To Hear

The morning sun shines on the South Valley. Today is Sunday, the Magis Academic holiday, I can spend time alone, and I don't want to meet anyone or people who will come back to tell stories about yesterday's events. I don't want it, just peace I want. The reasons were quite logical for Mother or Gisella not being able to keep me at home, food supplies running out, and Father having to cancel his hunt.

Of course, because of my actions yesterday, Father didn't get anything to take home. It was my turn to hunt in the Ankila forest, without needing to get a permit. The two noble clan leaders had returned to the royal capital, the Hill Valley district to get goods and food. The City Hall building must be busy right now with many residents queuing to get food.

After the events that happened yesterday, I thought, going against the leader of a noble clan would probably lead to problems that would endanger the people of Hill Valley. But nothing happened. They volunteer to provide necessities and basic supplies to the residents of the Hill Valley district. The mayor has worked hard, trying to gain the sympathy of the two noble clan leaders.

Father is going to town to get necessities. Still, I'll hunt into the forest and trade the game to the Hob. I still have a hard time believing them. People at the top, always have cunning plans, putting on a good face to get the sympathy of people at the bottom. It's not that I think badly of the people above, thinking that those above are petty people, but, I can see it with my own eyes. Inequality, and discrimination.

"Can you shoot an arrow straight into the eye of your prey?" Father's question seemed like he was just looking down on me or maybe... something else, but I'm still in a bad mood even now. Sometimes father's words offend me.

My blue eyes stared intently at the big man behind me. "More than being able to gouge out an eye or stab him in the heart." My words were cynical and harsh. Right now I'm easily offended, even simple words can make me raise my voice.

Mother who was cutting carrots had to stop her activity, that woman knew best how to calm me down. Gisella and Helen were stunned at the dining table, everything fell silent for a moment. It's enough to confirm that I'm currently in a bad mood, walking quickly out of the house.

I carry a bag of arrows on my back and bow. I walked quickly, passing people's houses, not wanting anyone to talk to me. At this time I was very fed up, even Uncle Jack greeted me, but I ignored him and quickly looked for a quiet place, without the slightest disturbance.

Passing through the gap in the loose fence wire, I lowered my body, passing through the fence wires which were currently not electrified. I easily entered the forest, I could have passed through the main gate which was heavily guarded by Mage soldiers. The mayor allows us to hunt without having to get a permit, there's no need to be afraid anymore. We were free to go back to hunting in the forest and for a fee, we gave some gifts that were needed, even though the mayor was a good man and always refused our gifts. This was all done with the mayor's sincerity, we gave voluntarily, repaying his kindness.

Lush forest with tall trees, I walked slowly. Listen and observe every gap, look for animal tracks in every corner of the forest. There were footprints on the muddy ground. That night it rained heavily and the ground around was flooded. One four-legged animal's footprints seemed to have recently crossed this place.

Walking along the wet and muddy path, wearing fairly comfortable leather shoes. I still remember the black leather shoes Father gave me. I was twelve years old, my father gave me black leather shoes and that was the first time Father took me hunting. Father had taught me how to shoot human dolls for practice, but I was still unable to shoot a living creature in front of my own eyes.

The first time I shot an animal, I was attacked by a pack of wild dogs who were chasing me in the forest. The first time I shot an arrow straight into the wild dog's eye, after that I still didn't dare to shoot another animal, but I was brave enough to shoot a Crimson Flame Wolf, a Mythical Creature.

With my archery skills, I managed to shoot a Crimson Flame Wolf. There is no longer any reason why I am reluctant to shoot because of pity, sometimes, if I am in great danger, I inevitably have to kill dangerous animals that threaten my safety.

What I do in the forest is hunting, looking for games to exchange for some gold and silver coins or to exchange for other food that is needed at home. There were dangerous wild animals of course, but I walked further and further away from the territory of dangerous wild animals, looking for a safe place to hunt.

My smile widened when my blue eyes sparkled brightly, seeing a doe behind the trees. The animal was enjoying its food, not feeling any danger lurking around it. I was hidden quietly without the creature knowing. I have prepared the bow and arrows, pulling the strings hard, and aiming at the target precisely.

Time continues to pass, but until now I still can't target the doe in front of my own eyes. Until the animal sensed danger and scrambled to leave its place, seeing my presence hidden behind the trees.

I had a hard time shooting that animal. My words were so arrogant in front of Father, that my courage just evaporated. Father seemed to be able to read my mind, his assumption was correct. My ability to shoot prey is very poor and I hate this weakness.

But there was a joke that made me want to laugh. A turkey walked not far from where the doe had fled, so the fat animal came voluntarily into my trap. "Poor turkey. Never mind I didn't get a doe, turkey's fine." The fat, two-legged animal looked very poor, an arrow stuck in its back, and it had bled to death.

I got what I wanted, a very fat turkey. Trading a fat turkey to Avilia, a stocky woman who always serves a variety of dishes in her small shop in the Hob. Customers come and go, going in and out of the shop just to taste the leg of lamb soup, turkey soup, and various kinds of soups made by Avilia which are famous for their distinctive taste.

I know the regular customers who often stop by Avilia's shop, but there are also some I don't know. Whispers were heard again in my ears, and several pairs of eyes looked at me with gazes that were very difficult for me to read or maybe, I just didn't care. They were still talking about yesterday's events. My ears burned and I wanted to shoot the people in the tavern, making a scene that would ultimately harm Avilia as the tavern owner.

My footsteps quickly left the shop, leaving Hob with hundreds of pairs of eyes looking at me. Until a piece of bread was thrown at me, I caught the bread which looked still warm, just out of the toaster.

Lyra put her arm around my neck, the girl's smile made me feel a little comfortable. Lyra knows best when I'm in a bad mood, she easily finds a happy atmosphere.

Academics seem empty during holidays. Lyra and I have often been to Akademic, just to find a place where we can enjoy the view. Even though the Magis Academic building is dilapidated and as old as the Court building, the Academic building is the best place to see the urban views of the Hill Valley district.

Spending a loaf of warm bread with someone who makes it feel warm. The girl's hair was always braided, the braid was long enough to reach her waist. Lyra's mother is very skilled at styling hair, seeing that Lyra looks beautiful in simplicity.

Our friendship has been going on for a long time, making it difficult for us to separate. Lyra and I, we need each other. Lyra is good at making traps and trapping animals. If I'm in a troubleshooting hunt, that girl can be relied on a lot.

"I caught three squirrels. They were very fat and you know... the shop owner at the end of the road was very happy that I brought him fat squirrels. He didn't hesitate to give me two large pieces of bread." Lyra is an expert in making animal traps. I bit into a piece of bread that was still warm, the soft aroma in every bite.

Once a week, Father would bring bread to take home and eat warm bread with me, Gisella, and Mother. Lyra has only been able to enjoy the warm bread sold at the bakery at the end of the road only a few times, you can count them on your fingers. There was a twinkle of happiness in the girl's eyes, she could feel the endless aroma of bread, reminding us of our unexpected meeting.

Lyra is a poor girl who survived to support herself and her mother who at that time could not properly care for her. "I don't want to think about the past anymore. Mama is too sad, so I have to try to survive alone." She lost his father when that ancient event occurred, a dark time that claimed so many innocent lives. Being a single parent, supporting her only daughter ultimately made her mother like a living corpse.

I was amazed by Lyra's resilience, going through such cruel days, with only a loaf of bread to take home.