1 "Dream"

A 14 year-old teen, Marces Horiel, is living in the plains of the land known as Ladros. Their area is a small village. His father, Joseph, had raised him alone. His mother died long ago for unknown reason. They live together in their humble home. Everyday, Marces would help his father in the farm. He sows seeds on the field and reaps it later on. Their village is just near to a city-state they call as Howlance, it is the nearest place where there is an academy built for aspiring hunters. Marces dreams of becoming a hunter. In their village, being a hunter is such a great deal. People will highly respect you. Being a hunter does not only end in hunting wild beasts and selling their parts to the market. There is more to it that makes it highly respectable and significant. However, due to lack of wealth, his wish might just stay as a wish.

In the morning, his father speaks unto him. He sits by the table and says, "Son, you're about to be 15, and soon to be 16. Do you already have plans of what you're going to do?" he asked.

"Father, I never said this to you, not even once, right? But I want to become a hunter someday. I will work hard to achieve my dream."

"You want to become a hunter?" he said in surprise.

"Yes, Father. I want to become a hunter, so that people will respect me and to make you proud." Marces responded.

Joseph breathes deeply. "Son, listen to me. Do you know what it takes to become a hunter? A hunter kills monsters and beasts. Do you think you have the strength or power to become one?"

"B-But Father - I can learn the skills. I can master it. I can train to become stronger."

"Son, as a Father, I don't want to lose you. Being a hunter means you are ready to die anytime for the sake of your mission, and I don't want that kind of life for you."

"I understand, but that's really my dream."

"Your mother. You have no idea how she died, haven't you?"

"Mother? How did she die?" Marces asked.

"When you were still too young, we were living in Artemia. But life there is very different than our life in here. It's cruel and dangerous. It is because of the existence of the Nephilims. They are brutish, ugly monsters that could grow as tall as a tree. Your mother was eaten by those horrible monsters, but I cannot do anything. I promised her that I will save you, at least. I ran away as I carried you on my arms. Good thing that a soldier rescued us. We went to a port and we travelled to here, Ladros. This place is safe. The Nephilims have not reached this place yet, and I hope it will stay that way."

"If that's so, it just encouraged me more to become a hunter. I will avenge the death of my mother. Nephilims huh? I can't wait to kill one." Marces uttered.

"Marces, don't talk if you have no idea what that is. Only those who are highly skilled and possess a powerful weapon can kill a Nephilim."

"That's why I will train, Father. I will do everything it takes to become a fine hunter, no, the best of all hunters." Marces responded. He then gets outside to work. He smiles as he thinks about his dream. However, Joseph really disagrees to his dream. He does not want to lose Marces, but he does not want to make his son feel bad as well. He certainly has no idea of what he should do. He just let it for the time being.

A year had passed, Marces is now 15 years old. He still has the same dream, to become a hunter. Joseph is really worried but he knows that it is really his desire. He cannot help but be happy for him.

One morning, Marces and Joseph are working on the field. Then all of a sudden, a loud explosion is heard from nearby. It is accompanied by a small tremor. The villagers come out of their shelters to find out the circumstance.

Joseph's eyes widen as he sees the Nephilims coming to their village. All the villagers panic. They run around and not sure of what to do.

"The Nephilims have come!!!" one of the villagers shouted in fear.

Josephs cools down and he tells Marces, "Son, let's go to our house and get your essential things. We're moving out from here." They then run to their house and quickly get their things.

Deep inside of Marces, he does not really know what to get. He simply takes his pocket and joins his father. They exit their house and evacuate. However, the Nephilims are already near. They are really large in size. They grab on the villagers and eat them like meat.

Marces cannot believe his eyes. Fear struck his heart. Joseph pulls him and runs away. A Nephilim has set its eyes on them, it runs after them. They cannot possibly outrun the Nephilim, Joseph decided to sacrifice himself for his son.

"Marces, listen to me. You have to survive no matter what. Okay? You hear me? Promise me, you'll survive. Run as fast as you can. Escape from this place. Don't look back. I'll give you some time." Joseph said unto Marces.

Marces' tears fall down. "But Father... What about you? W-What are you going to do? I c-can't." he uttered.

"We have no time, Son. Run away! Go!" his father shouted.

Marces has no choice but to run away and do what his father had told him to do. Joseph runs in the different direction and leads the Nephilim run after him instead.

"Come after me! You ugly monster!" Joseph uttered in a loud voice.

Marces just kept on running as if it is the last run of his life. He did not stop running until he reached a forest. The Nephilims are gone as well as his father. He cries beneath a tree.

While he is crying, he hears a growl from nearby. He looks beyond the bush and finds out that it is a guy covered in blood. He is holding something on his hand, but Marces does not know what that is. He can see a dead body of a man. The guy covered in blood spotted him and it growled at him. His growl is eerie. It gives him goosebumps. Once again, fear struck his heart. Marces tried to run away but the guy is swift. It pounces on his back and bites his neck. Marces screams in agony. Then, suddenly, two cougars pounce on the guy and bite him. The guy drops Marces. He fights the two cougars. However, not only the cougars, a wild boar and a hawk also came to fight him. Marces' neck is bleeding, but he still tries to escape the place. He wanders around not knowing of where to go. His sight is whirling and he is rapidly losing too much blood. He wears out his shirt and covers the bite with it.