Go Hunting

Lucian woke up sore.

Every inch of his body ached, as if someone had dropped a boulder on him, then beat him with a sword for good measure.

For a moment, he lay there, staring up at the sky. The cool morning air brushed against his face, a sharp contrast to the deep burn in his muscles.

Then, a waterskin hit him in the chest.

"Up," Garran said. "You're wasting daylight."

Lucian groaned, sitting up slowly. His ribs throbbed. His legs protested. His arms felt like they didn't even belong to him anymore.

Garran sat across from him, chewing on a piece of dried meat. His expression was completely unbothered.

"You look awful," he said.

Lucian scowled. "And whose fault is that?"

"Yours," Garran said without hesitation. "You didn't listen yesterday. You fought like an idiot, and now you're paying for it."

Lucian took a slow sip of water, ignoring the urge to throw the entire waterskin at Garran's head.

"So, what?" he muttered. "Are we training again?"

Garran smirked. "Oh, we're doing something even better."

Lucian tensed. That was never a good sign.

Garran stood, stretching. "We're going hunting."

Lucian blinked. "Hunting?"

"Yep. There's a river nearby. We're low on food." Garran kicked dirt over the remains of their fire. "And since you're so determined to learn how to fight, we're gonna start with the basics—killing something that won't stab you back."

Lucian exhaled, pushing himself to his feet. His legs nearly buckled.

Garran sighed. "You're pathetic."

Lucian glared. "You nearly killed me yesterday."

"Exactly. Which means today should feel easy in comparison." Garran tossed him a small dagger. "Here. You're going to need it."

Lucian caught it, frowning. "Why not just use my sword?"

Garran gave him a look. "What, you plan on swinging that thing at a rabbit?"

Lucian hesitated.

"...Maybe?"

Garran groaned. "Gods, you have so much to learn."

The river was calm and quiet, sunlight filtering through the trees.

Lucian crouched near the edge, gripping the dagger tightly. His heartbeat was slow. Steady. Focused.

There, beneath the water—fish.

His stomach growled. He hadn't realized just how hungry he was until now.

"Alright," Garran said behind him. "Go for it."

Lucian exhaled.

Focus.

He waited. Then—he struck.

The dagger stabbed into the water—

And missed completely.

Lucian scowled. The fish darted away.

Garran laughed. Loudly.

Lucian turned, narrowing his eyes. "I don't see you trying."

"Because I already know how to do it," Garran smirked. "And right now, you're doing it horribly."

Lucian's grip tightened on the dagger. He refused to fail at something so simple.

He took another breath. Slowed himself. Watched the water more carefully.

Then—he struck again.

The dagger pierced the water—

And when he lifted it—a fish, wriggling on the blade.

Lucian grinned.

Garran let out a slow clap. "Congratulations. You caught one thing. If this was a battle, you'd have won a single fight after fifty failures."

Lucian exhaled sharply. "At least I got it."

Garran smirked. "Yeah. Barely."

Lucian looked at the fish, then back at Garran. An idea formed.

Before he could second-guess himself, he flicked the fish straight at Garran's face.

It hit him square in the chest.

For a moment, silence.

Then, slowly, Garran turned to face him.

Lucian barely had time to register his mistake before Garran lunged—and shoved him straight into the river.

Lucian hit the water with a loud splash. He surfaced quickly, coughing. "What the hell?!"

Garran grinned. "Lesson two—don't piss off your teacher."

Lucian glared. He was so going to regret training with this man.