The tyrant king

Hael's blank expression shifted into a frown as he tried to make sense of the human before him. How could she mistake him for the deity of the forest?

"Yuuja protects the land. I protect the animals. No humans are allowed to hunt them." His voice was final and resolute.

Anthanasia blinked in disbelief. "If humans can't hunt, then what do you eat?"

"I eat the leaves and the fruits," he replied, matter-of-fact.

The huntress stared at him in shock. You're telling me he's this muscular… from eating leaves and fruit? How is that even possible?

It was clear to Anthanasia that Hael was a stubborn man. Every argument she presented seemed to bounce off him, and even as she explained that humans needed to hunt to survive, his stance didn't waver.

"Meat isn't essential for survival. Fruits and plants are enough," he stated, as though it were obvious.

A spark of frustration ignited in Anthanasia. She'd met her share of difficult people, but this was something else. This man doesn't care at all about the people of Trojas. He's just focused on his own rules.

"You sound just like the King," she muttered under her breath.

Hael raised an eyebrow at her. "The King?"

Surprise flickered across Anthanasia's face. How can he not know who the King is? Everyone in Trojas knows about him—hell, even the neighboring countries have heard of his tyranny. 

Just how long had Hael been living in this forest, cut off from the rest of the world? 

Curious, she asked, "Forgive me, but how long have you been living here?"

Hael's response was simple. "My entire existence."

"Your entire… existence?" She repeated, puzzled by his choice of words.

"Do you have a name?" she asked, after a moment's thought.

Hael blinked as if the question took him by surprise. "Yes. My name is Hael."

"Hael…" Anthanasia echoed, intrigued. "That's a nice name. Does it mean anything?"

He shook his head.

"I see," she murmured. He wasn't just unfamiliar with the outside world—he was practically a stranger to it. No wonder he didn't understand her struggle, or the plight of the people in Trojas.

As the thought sank in, another idea began to form in her mind. *Maybe if I show him what the outside world is like… explain the reality of it… I might be able to convince him to let us hunt again.*

It wasn't a move she was proud of. Manipulating someone's emotions felt wrong, but Anthanasia didn't have many options. She couldn't go back to the guild empty-handed. Even if the others weren't expecting much from her, she had higher expectations of herself. If guilt-tripping was the only way to solve their problems, then so be it. Her people couldn't afford to starve during the winter.

With determination, she offered, "How about I tell you a little about where I'm from?"

Hael looked at her, skepticism still in his eyes, but curiosity began to peek through. He nodded, intrigued enough to listen.

Anthanasia smiled. This might actually work.

She began to describe Trojas—the sprawling, welcoming landscapes, the vast oceans, and the Kingdom's many wonders. She shared the tales of legends passed down from parents to children, speaking only of the five golden years when Trojas had flourished. She intentionally avoided mentioning the darker aspects—the harsh reign of the King, or the struggles of the people.

Hael listened intently, his gaze fixed on her as she spoke. All around them, animals began to gather—monkeys, bears, chimpanzees, and birds circled them curiously. Yet, Anthanasia didn't feel threatened. She was too absorbed in her own story to care, her words painting a bright picture of her homeland. Her smile was light and easy, a subtle charm that made her even more captivating.

Hael was enraptured by her tales, unaware of how much time had passed. The sun began to dip, and only when her voice grew hoarse did she stop speaking. Night had fallen.

Anthanasia's heart sank. *I was supposed to head back before nightfall, to report to the guild.* She had completely lost track of time. While she hadn't used the beacon, the captain would likely be displeased if she didn't return that night.

It struck her then how rare it was to speak so freely to someone—someone who actually listened, someone who didn't judge her for what she said. It was a breath of fresh air.

Hael noticed the darkness settling around them and observed the huntress as she stood. "I… I have to go," she stammered, glancing at the fading light. "I need to report back to the guild."

"It's not safe to travel in the dark," Hael said. "You should sleep here and leave at dawn."

Anthanasia hesitated. "But I—" She stopped herself, seeing the unwavering concern in his eyes. There was no arguing with him.

Under normal circumstances, she would have outright refused to stay the night with a man she had just met, especially in a forest. But somehow, she could sense Hael's sincerity. He didn't seem like someone with ill intentions. There was something different about him.

Reluctantly, she agreed. Hael led her to his cave. From the outside, it looked bleak, even eerie, but inside it was surprisingly neat. A soft bed of leaves was carefully arranged on the ground—comfortable, in an unexpected way.

"You can sleep here," Hael said, before stepping outside.

Surprised, Anthanasia watched him retreat. She could hardly believe he was so matter-of-fact about it. Most men wouldn't pass up the chance to sleep next to a woman, especially not one as beautiful as she was. And yet, Hael seemed completely uninterested in her presence in that way.

Confused but grateful, she settled into the makeshift bed. Hael, meanwhile, arranged a pile of large banana leaves for himself and lay down, soon falling into a deep sleep.

That night, Anthanasia had the most peaceful sleep she'd had in ages.

By dawn, she was awake and ready to leave. As promised, she made her way out of the forest and toward Trojas. Before she left, she glanced back at Hael, standing at the entrance of his cave, looking every bit as enigmatic as he had the day before.

"I promise to return in two days," she said, a smile on her lips. "Please wait for me."

Without waiting for his response, she turned and walked away, hoping that in her absence, Hael would reconsider. 

For now, her duty was clear: report her findings to the guild, and return to finish negotiating with the mysterious man-beast.

Hael watched the young woman leave, and for the first time since his existence, he felt longing and loneliness.