Five Days

The sun had barely risen, but North was already awake and finishing up his morning push-ups. His arms ached, his breathing was heavy, and sweat dripped down his forehead, but he pushed through the last few reps before rolling onto his back.

He looked down at his body.

'Still the same,' he thought. No visible muscle growth and no sudden transformation into a warrior overnight. But that was to be expected. Physical training took time. Even if the progress wasn't visible yet, he knew it was happening.

Besides, his slingshot skills had improved drastically. At this point, he could hit a moving target without even thinking, adjust for wind and angle on instinct, and even switch between different shots he had developed. If there were slingshot rankings in this world, he was sure he'd be at the top. Then again, considering he was probably the only one using a slingshot in Ascalon, maybe that wasn't saying much.

After wiping off his sweat, he took a quick shower and dressed in his best set of clothing—nothing fancy, just something presentable. Today was important. Borislav had called for all prospective hunters to gather in the town square for a briefing.

There was still time before the meeting, though. His stomach grumbled.

"Breakfast first," he decided.

The closest tavern to his house was small and was nothing extravagant, just a place for early risers to get a warm meal before starting their day. North walked in, took a seat at an empty table, and placed his order. The place was mostly quiet, with only a handful of people scattered around, sipping on broth or eating simple meals.

Seated right next to him was a guy around his age.

Jack.

North had seen him around town before. He knew his story—his father passed away a few years back, leaving him alone with his mother. Tough situation. It wasn't easy being the only man in the house, taking on responsibilities that shouldn't have been his so soon. But Jack did it without complaints.

North respected that.

Unintentionally, he found himself staring a little too long.

Jack, noticing the gaze, turned to him. "What?"

North blinked. "What, what?"

"You were staring."

North cleared his throat, slightly embarrassed. "Pardon me, just thinking. You live with your mother, right?"

Jack's eyes narrowed slightly, as if expecting some pity-filled comment. "Yeah, what about it?"

North shook his head. "Nothing, just… that's respectable."

Jack raised an eyebrow. "You think so?"

"Of course," North said. "Most guys our age wouldn't take responsibility like that. You stepped up. That's something."

Jack scoffed but there was a hint of amusement in his expression. "You talk like an old man."

"You have no idea."

Jack chuckled and leaned back in his chair. "And you? What's your deal? I see you around, but you don't really talk to people much."

North shrugged. "Not much to talk about. I live alone, train a little, and I'm planning to enter the hunter selection."

Jack's expression changed slightly. "You too, huh?"

"You're joining?"

"Yeah," Jack nodded. "I need to make something of myself. Not just for me, but for my mother. If I get in, it means steady work, status, and better pay."

North understood that feeling. He had no family here, no one to support, but he had his own reasons.

"Same here," North said. "If I want to stand at the top in this world, I need to start somewhere. This is step one."

Jack smirked. "Sounds like you're aiming high."

"And you're not?"

Jack exhaled through his nose, thinking. "I just want stability. If I can secure that, then maybe I'll aim higher. First things first, though—I need to pass."

North nodded. "Then we're in the same boat."

A comfortable silence settled between them.

It was funny how easy it was for guys to bond over simple things. One conversation, a shared goal, and that was enough to form a connection. Humans were social creatures, after all. They adapted, learned from each other, and formed friendships in the simplest of ways.

Their food arrived, but by then, the tavern had started filling up. More people, more noise. A sign that time was moving closer to the meeting.

Jack noticed it too and stood up, finishing the last bite of his meal. "We should get going."

North nodded, getting up as well. "Yeah, let's go."

…

After finishing their breakfast, North and Jack made their way to the town square, where the hunter selection briefing was set to take place.

The town square was livelier than usual and filled with the murmurs of young men eager to prove themselves. The place had been cleared out to make space for the gathering, leaving only the old stone fountain at the center and a few market stalls pushed to the edges. Wooden torches lined the area, unlit but ready in case the meeting lasted into the evening.

North scanned the crowd.

"Man, there are a lot of people here," he muttered.

Jack nodded. "Looks like at least a hundred. Didn't think so many would try out.

It was a pure sea of young men, all standing in organized lines. Some looked determined while others nervous. This wasn't just about becoming hunters—this was about status, survival, and a chance to carve out a future beyond farm work or trade.

At the front of the line, an older man was registering the candidates, his posture straight and his movements efficient. North narrowed his eyes, recognizing the man.

Paul Krasinski.

"That's Joe's father, right?" Jack whispered.

North nodded. "Yeah. The man has been on cloud nine ever since his son got picked up by that mage, Victor."

Jack smirked. "Can't blame him. If my kid got chosen by a mage, I'd brag too."

North snorted. "Sure. But I bet his hunter colleagues are sick of hearing about it."

They chatted casually, watching as the line moved forward. Slowly but surely, each youth stepped up, gave their name, and was marked down on a large parchment. Eventually, it was their turn.

North stepped up.

"Name?" Paul asked, not even looking up.

"North."

Paul paused for a split second, then glanced up, as if recognizing the name. "That boy who lives alone?"

North just nodded.

Paul shrugged, wrote it down, and gestured him through.

Jack was next. After they were both signed in, they stepped inside the large hall where the gathered youths had already started forming groups.

North chuckled to himself.

 'So even in a different world, people still act the same.'

Social hierarchy formed quickly. At the center of it all was one person—Biff, the butcher's son.

Jack nudged North. "See that?"

North followed his gaze.

Biff was surrounded by a large group, easily the most popular figure among the youths. It wasn't hard to see why. The son of the butcher, he had access to meat—something highly valued in Oakhaven. That alone gave him influence.

But more than that, Biff was well-built. Standing at about five foot ten, his body was packed with muscle, his arms thick and his posture confident. He wasn't just some random strong kid—he was 'the' strong kid.

North sighed. "Bloodydamn, getting outclassed by kids now… what a world."

Jack laughed. "Jealous?"

"Obviously," North said. "Look at him, he's got the whole 'big shot' aura going. If Noir was here, though, this wouldn't even be a competition."

Jack nodded. "Yeah… but Noir isn't here."

North clicked his tongue. 'Exactly my point. So now I gotta deal with this guy being the king of the hill.'

Before they could discuss further, the atmosphere in the room shifted.

The side doors swung open, and Borislav entered.

A giant of a man, broad shoulders with thick arms, and a presence that filled the room. His expression was cold and his eyes sharp like a predator scanning prey. He walked forward with steady steps, each one echoing slightly against the wooden floor.

The room fell into silence.

North glanced sideways and noticed Biff clenching his fists. It seemed even the strongest youth in the room felt pressure from Borislav.

'Good,' North thought. 'That means my instincts weren't wrong. This guy is on another level.'

Borislav scanned the room, taking in each face, his gaze pausing slightly longer on some before moving on.

Then, he spoke.

…

"All of you standing here think you have what it takes to be hunters."

His voice was deep, carrying weight, each word hitting like a hammer.

"But let me tell you something—hunting is not a game. It's not an adventure. It's not some story where the hero slays a beast and returns home to cheers."

His eyes swept across the room.

"Out there, the forest doesn't care who you are. The beasts don't care about your dreams or your names. One mistake, and you'll be dead. No second chances, no do-overs. Just death."

A few of the younger ones swallowed hard.

"A hunter is more than just someone who kills beasts. We are the backbone of this town. We provide food, furs, and materials. We protect the people. Without hunters, Oakhaven wouldn't last a single winter. You think this is just another job? Think again."

Silence.

The weight of his words settled into the room like a thick fog. Some of the more eager-looking boys now looked hesitant.

North remained quiet, arms crossed, his mind processing the speech.

'Yeah, I figured it wasn't going to be easy,' he thought seriously. 'But hearing it laid out like this… feels different.'

Borislav continued.

"If you're here thinking this is just an easy path to glory, leave now. If you're here thinking you'll become some hero, leave now. And if you're here without the resolve to put your life on the line, leave now."

His gaze hardened.

"Because five days from now, I won't be showing mercy. The selection will be brutal. And only the ones who prove themselves will be chosen."

A heavy silence followed his words. No one moved. No one dared to be the first to walk out.

Borislav exhaled through his nose, nodding slightly.

"Good. You've got five days. Prepare yourselves. Meet outside the town gates at dawn. Dismissed."

…

As the tension in the room eased, the murmurs returned. Some looked pumped up, others looked nervous. A few were pale-faced, obviously reconsidering their choices.

North glanced at Jack.

"Still in?"

Jack nodded. "Of course."

North grinned. "Good. Let's go get a drink."

Jack smirked. "Now you're talking."

With that, the two walked out, making their way to a nearby tavern.

Five days.

The real test was coming.

But for now—ale.