The Chief

As the large man bear like man approached his visage became clearer in my vision.

The enormous boar on his shoulder also looked as if it was weightless in his arms.

The size of it reinforced the idea that I was in a fantasy world.

His presence alone was suffocating, but the vitality he exuded was on another level compared to those around him.

Following him a few paces behind were the other men of the party.

They each beared the marks of battle and toil.

Yet on their faces laid joyful expressions, and the atmosphere among them was happy upon returning to their loved ones.

The hunting party noticed the villagers gathered.

Even though they were visibly worn out, their marching pace increased.

Upon appraoching the crowd, among the villagers, an elderly man stood out to greet them.

He leaned heavily on a cane, his wrinkled face lined with age and wisdom.

His name was Hagan, the village chief's advisor.

Despite his frail outer appearance, I noticed a glint in his eyes that signified a keen mind.

『Urien!』 Hagan called out as the chief approached,『Well done making it back. It good to see you had a nice harvest. But we must speak privately. There are urgent matters that need your attention.』

But after seeing the village safe and sound, the boar like man gave let out a deep laugh at his words.

However, he noticed tone of the old man, so he briskly nodded, acknowledging the urgency in Hagan's voice.

He turned and threw the boar to a few of the men following him, but the weight of the monster nearly caused them to collapse.

The commotion of the return party began to die down and the villagers started to disperse on their own.

When the chief, Urien passed by the weeping families, his eyes glazed over for a moment before returning to his original fierce expression.

The villagers who stayed behind to watch had a mixture of respect and fear looking at the men of the hunting party.

As they passed by my mother and I , another induvidual I had not seen before caught my eye.

A man with a short and stocky stature, with muscular arms covered in soot and burns and his face bearing the intensity of someone who had spent years honing his craft.

His long rugged beard with the ends singed off only played into his image.

A man who should be the village blacksmith, was watching the scene from a distance with a critical eye.

Upon seeing the boar and 'light' injuries of the men, he gave a tiny nod of approval. 

Then promptly turned his back and left without another look.

Coincidentally, where our home was located was in the same direction the Chief was walking.

On my mother's back, she carried me behind the others.

It allowed me to pick up on their conversation. 

Urien and Hagan had started just started speaking, but two more induviduals approached them from behind. 

A mature woman and a scholarly thin man with a stern expression. 

The woman was gazing at the Chief with a worried look, which allowed me to understand that that was the Chief's wife. 

She was a woman of striking beauty and mature curves. 

She was not comparable to my mother, but she stuck out like a sore thumb compared the others in the village.

Standing in front of her, was a man standing in holy vetements. 

His robes were simple, yet he wore them with an air of sanctity.

He clutched a small book to his chest and his lips moving nonstop in a silent prayer as he softly saluted the other men.

Beneath those mutterings, his eyes were sharp and calculating like a hawk.

After noticing them approaching, Hagan gave a small nod of acknowledgement before beginning to speak.

『Urien, this time its bad. We have received news from Frostbury Village. Their elder sent a messenger pigeon asking us for assistance repelling a group of bandits that recently appeared in our Moonlit Forest.

He mentioned Graygal Village had already been razed and pillaged. The scouts he sent out came back with a head count. Their troupe has over 200 men. It's only a matter of time before they turn their attention onto us. 』

As one of the only literate people in the entire village, the elder was usually responsible for these types of interactions. 

(Frostbury Village? Moonlit Forest? These names sound odd...)

Upon hearing this, the group halted in their steps.

The Chief's face hardened, and his wife and the priest both had expressions of panic and anxiety.

Urien's brow furrowed, his jaw tightening, and his deep voice growled out.

『We cannot allow that to happen. 200 armed men is not a small number. Our people have suffered enough these past few years. How is it possible that, our Rosshire Village would sacrifice our men for others?

I'll take the youngsters who have been training with Thorne with me on tommrows hunt. They need to be prepared for the worst as well. Priest Ramon, tell me your thoughts. 』

(Rosshire Village. I guess thats the name of our home. Also Thorne? That should be the stocky man I saw at the gate earlier.) 

Hearing this, the scholarly man gathered himself for a moment before beginning to speak,

『The Divine will guide us in our efforts, however we must take precaution. I will ask Thorne to lead the able men of the village to fortify our surroundings. We must have faith, but also be prepared to act.

I'll head back and prepare a miracle for the injured on this journey. Please tell them to come see me, Urien.』

(Divine and Miracles? This just keeps getting more and more interesting.) 

When he finished saying this, Ramon gave a salute once more then started making his way back to the shoddy Chapel. 

The two men were now lost in thought about the enroaching situation.

After a moment of hesitation, the woman next to the chief spoke up. 

『Husband, we should also consider sending a scouting party to gather our own information. The men from Frostbury might not be reliable as you think.』

As the adults kept discussing these serious matters, the distance between us became too far to hear anymore.

During this time my mother kept me close, her hand gently patting my back.

She must have overheard as well, because her expression became resolute as she looked at me and whispered to herself, 

『I'll keep Kael safe...』 

It seems like banditry is a common occurances in this area.

I think it may have happened in the past based off my mothers reaction.

That night, as my mother and I settled back into our hay bed.

Suckling on her teat, I couldn't help but think about the day's events.

The return of the hunters, the imposing figure of Urien, the elderly man Hagan, the blacksmith who didn't look like he belonged in the village, Thorne. 

That Priest speaking about the so called 'Divine' and 'Miracles'– It made me sure that of these characters were surely vital to my, and the villages survival in this Moonlit Forest.

In my young mind, I began to understand that there was more to this world than I could currently understand. 

I felt a striking lack of information... as a baby. 

After having a full meal, my mother whispered sweetly as she held me closer.

『Kael, I hope you grow strong enough to protect me and those around us one day. Always remember, your mother will be with you no matter what.』

(My mother is very kind.) 

She had a look of worry on her face as she said this, seemingly convincing herself the coming days will be okay.

Her expression was bothering me, so I reached out to her beautiful face and gave it a few pinches with my small milky white hand.

『Gah! Gooh!』

It seems like she calmed down after she noticed me.

『Oh baby, are you also worried about Mother? Don't you know im very strong?』

While saying this and continuing to mutter otherwordly lullabys, she slowly drifted off into dreamland.

The soft glow of the blue moonlight casting started to cast it's shadow across our small home.

In this world, so different from the one I once knew, my mother gave me a sense of belonging and purpose.

And as I grew...

I knew that I would do everything in my power to protect her.