A Hunt With The Party

The first light of dawn had barely kissed the horizon when Turai was already wide awake. The young boy stood before a massive tree, its bark scarred from countless blows. This tree, with its thick, unyielding trunk, had become Turai's chosen training partner—a punching bag of sorts.

Boom!

Boom!!

Each strike he delivered reverberated through the tree, causing it to quiver and the surrounding air to hum with the force of his blows.

The surface of the tree bore evidence of his relentless practice. Two distinct sets of fist imprints marred the bark. The first set, smaller and shallower, belonged to Turai, a testament to his precision and consistency. He had pounded the same spot so many times that the bark had given way slightly, creating a depression just deep enough for his fist to nestle into.

The second set, however, was far more imposing. These belonged to Gareth, the so-called Human Boulder. His fists had sunk into the tree so deeply that the bark had torn on the opposite side, almost splitting the two-meter-thick trunk in two. It was a constant reminder to Turai of Gareth's superior brute strength, a challenge hanging in the air each time Turai looked at it.

For the past three days, Turai had been on a hunting trip with Hubert and the rest of the crew, miles away from the Town of Raynes. This time spent together allowed him to grow closer to the other members of the team. He had learned much from them, and they from him, forging bonds that were beginning to feel more like family.

There was Lyra, whose mastery over elemental magic was as impressive as her beauty was disarming. She had a way of bending the elements to her will that left Turai in awe. Then there was Finn, the reserved member of the group, whose stealth skills were so refined that even the group's experienced tracker, Marin, found them unparalleled. Gareth had once mentioned in passing that Finn used to be an assassin, a revelation that only deepened Turai's respect for the quiet man.

Elara, the party's healer, had proven her worth time and again. It was she who had saved Turai's life when he had been gravely injured in a previous encounter. Her healing abilities were extraordinary—deep cuts sealed within minutes under her care, and given enough time, even severed limbs could be reattached as though nothing had happened.

But it was Gareth with whom Turai felt the strongest connection. The man's larger-than-life personality was almost the opposite of Turai's own, and perhaps that was why the boy found himself drawn to him. Gareth had a way of making everyone around him feel at ease, his booming laughter and unyielding optimism a constant in the otherwise perilous life they led.

Gareth had been pestering Turai to join their party of six, but each time, Turai declined. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate the offer—he just wasn't ready to commit to something that might pull him away from the orphanage and the children he had sworn to protect. But Gareth was relentless, never taking no for an answer.

The previous day, after noticing Turai training with the tree, Gareth had left a deep, intimidating punch mark in the bark as a challenge. "If you can do better, I'll grant you one request," Gareth had said, his tone light but his eyes serious. Turai, ever determined, had been training harder than ever since then, his mind focused on surpassing Gareth's feat.

His request, if he managed to do it? He wanted Gareth to stop pestering him about joining the group.

As Turai was getting into the zone, focusing on his next series of strikes, Hubert returned from wherever he had been. The others were still asleep, the campsite quiet saves for the crackling of the dying embers from last night's fire. Hubert's presence was calm but commanding, and Turai knew something important was about to happen.

"Gather round," Hubert called, his voice low but firm enough to rouse the others from their sleep. One by one, Lyra, Finn, Elara, and Gareth emerged from their tents, groggy but attentive.

Once everyone was assembled, Hubert began to brief them on the day's mission. "Today, we're hunting Grey Phantoms," he explained, his tone serious. "They're illusion-type monsters, manifestations of the memories of their victims. They look like ghosts but can take the form of loved ones lost, using their appearance to deceive and lure you into traps."

Turai listened carefully, his mind already turning over the information. Grey Phantoms were dangerous not just because of their ability to harm, but because of the emotional toll they could take on a person. Seeing a lost loved one, even knowing it was just an illusion, could shatter a person's resolve, leaving them vulnerable to attack.

"Stick to your teams, and remember—what you see may not be real," Hubert continued, his gaze sweeping over each member of the group. "Stay focused, and don't let your guard down."

With the briefing complete, the group split into two teams. Turai, Gareth, and Finn headed in one direction, while Hubert led Lyra and Elara in another. The air was tense with anticipation as they moved out, the quiet morning soon to be shattered by the hunt.

As Turai walked alongside Gareth and Finn, he couldn't help but glance back at the campsite where the others had gone. He was more connected to these people than he had ever been to anyone outside the orphanage, and despite his reluctance to join their party, he felt a deep sense of loyalty to them.

Gareth noticed the glance and gave Turai a reassuring pat on the back. "Don't worry, kid," he said with a grin. "We'll take care of these phantoms in no time. Then you can get back to trying to beat my record."

Turai smirked, his determination rekindled. "I'll do more than beat it, Gareth. I'll shatter it."

Gareth laughed, a deep, hearty sound that echoed through the trees. "That's the spirit!"

As they ventured deeper into the forest, the morning sun began to rise higher in the sky, casting long shadows that danced among the trees. The hunt was on, and Turai knew that today would be a test—not just of strength, but of will. 

And as always, he was ready.