ShapeShifters

"Don't forget your food before you head out!" The caring voice of a woman could be heard in one of the houses inside a village.

The house wasn't too big but it was just enough for a family of three to live in. Inside of it, wisps of light flickered illuminating the house while giving a sense of warmth to its surroundings. The walls of the house were filled with different weapons of sorts as this was a tradition for this family. Unusable bows and worn out swords hung on the wall, presenting a long history of hardships that this family had to go through.

"Thanks! I almost forgot again!" A youth of sixteen years of age could be seen running towards a leather bag left on the wooden table inside what appears to be a kitchen.

The youth had dark hair that matched his dark pupils. He had broad shoulders and even though he had a slim figure his formed muscles were bulging under his armor.

"You airhead!" A lady with dishes in her slim hands turned around slightly pouting. It was the boy's mother. She had long dark brown hair with brown eyes and her slender figure would make many women feel jealous.

"I'm sorry mom, just hurrying to meet up with my friends." The youth said, grabbing the bag, turning around, and almost breaking into a dash.

"Max don't try to run now, are you going outside of the village again?" Max's mother felt a bit annoyed seeing how her son was behaving.

"Yes mom, we are going to hunt some Low-Tier Magical Beasts" The boy sounded annoyed as well, he knew what was going to happen in the next few minutes.

"Do you have your dagger?"

"Yes mom.."

"Did you fill up your water pouch?"

"Yes.."

The lady smiled at the boy in front of her. She was clearly able to see the fact that he was annoyed but she still couldn't let him go, she was doing all of this so that he wouldn't forget them like other times.

"Alright then, you can go! But again, do not fight beasts that you can't defeat." She knew her son very well, he would sometimes act hot-headed or sacrifice himself for others. It was a good trait to have, it showed everyone that he was a kind and caring person, but it wasn't good for his mother's heart.

"Mom you really got to do this every time I go out?" The youth said, trying to look annoyed although he enjoyed talking with his mother before a hunt. It made his nerves go down as he was never calm while going outside the village, after all, they were in constant danger outside.

His mother would be telling him to be careful while checking if he had packed everything he needed and that he didn't forget something. This was also because he forgot things all the time, and today it was his food.

The actual reason his mother was so afraid of letting her son go hunting wasn't that she didn't believe in his capabilities but because he had yet to awaken. An awakened person would experience growth in their battle strengths, they would also probably awaken their magic element, and if not their body would still become stronger and tougher than before, still giving them an advancement in power.

Until the age of 18 youths would be taught how to wield a sword or a weapon of their choosing alongside other useful skills such as aiming and shooting a bow. They were taught so they would be prepared for the change they would experience when they possibly awakened, being able to use their full strength will always help in their life unless they were some noble, guarded by others and getting an easy way through life.

Max was still 16 and still had two full years until his possible awakening. Thinking of his grand day he was always finding the motivation to go through training and fully dedicate himself towards self-improvement alongside his friends and teammates.

It was quite dangerous of course, hunting magical beasts inside a forest wasn't something predictable but Max was sure to not roam around where strong beasts would show up at. He would often check reports about the latest events inside the forest and would pick the outer edges of the places Max thought would be the safest.

"You prove to me every day that I have to" His mother's lips curled upwards as he said that, she turned around going back to the previously-left dishes before continuing.

"Also, don't forget that tomorrow you will be going back to the academy."

"I know mother, I can't forget something like that," Max chuckled at his mother's remark. 'As I couldn't forget it' Max laughed bitterly after almost repeating his words inside his head.

"Mother I will be going then," Max began walking towards the door that leads outside. "I will be coming back around the time the sun falls, at dusk!" He had a triumphant tone in his voice, as if this hunt was already decided to be a successful one.

"Okay then, have a good hunt Max!" His mother cheered him.

As he reached the door he opened it and while looking backward he waved goodbye to his mother which also did the same to him, waving at him from the kitchen.

A click was heard and as the youth left the house no other sound resounded in it.

'I hope you will be alright' His mother faced the same worries every time.