Life Lesson Part 1: The King of the Forest

[Location: East Main Road near Hidden Village- Kingdom of Tevell]

[4 days have passed]

After leaving the hidden village behind, Celes and I returned to the main road now better prepared, the villagers supplied us with food rations that can last several days, as well as some blankets, some healing potions and another map thanks to Ernis, I filled the canteen with water and now finally with my personal knight Celes, I felt more confident and optimistic, for the first time since I came to this world I could feel that things were finally going well for me.

-Zyrus: (Deep breath and exhalation) Ahhhh... but what a good day it is today.

-Celes: I see it with more encouragement since we left the village, My Lord.

-Zyrus: And how not to be, since being brought into this world against my will, being persecuted and fleeing the capital for refusing to be the Hero, getting lost in the forest and almost dying at the hands of a monster boar, finally I feel that the goddess of luck smiles at me.

-Celes: I can also feel the same since I met you, almost as if our meeting had been destined to happen.

-Zyrus: You're wrong, our meeting had nothing to do with fate.

She looked at me confused while I looked at the sky thinking about what the king told me that day, that it was my destiny to be the Hero and save this world and I had to fulfill it.

-Zyrus: My true destiny was to be the Hero that would save this world from the Demon King but I refused to accept that destiny by refusing to be the Hero, our meeting was something that I provoked, having accepted to be the Hero, you and I we would never have met.

Celes looked at me puzzled, she did not expect that answer from me and it was not surprising, thinking about it, it was true that what I said, if I had accepted to be the Hero, I would never have run into Blum on the road, he would have somehow pulled his wagon out of the hole and would arrive in the capital to sell Celes to the Slave Master who one day would end up selling her to some nobleman.

"I wonder if things would have been better if I had agreed to be the Hero, bah...there's no point in thinking about that now, nor would I want to be someone else's puppet"

She remained silent as she did not know how to respond to that while we continued walking, the rest of the day remained the same, we stopped in some cleared areas that were marked on the map to rest and eat, Celes commented to me when she saw the map that for the distance to reach the next town would take us around two days, from time to time we would deviate through the forest to evade checkpoints and guards who patrolled the road.

"I still don't know if Sarah managed to delay my capture order outside the capital and for how long it would stay that way, but until I'm sure it's better to keep avoiding the Tevell soldiers I see on the way"

On those occasions we ended up running into some wild wolves, slimes and giant worms, but Celes made quick work of them, the way she fought was incredible and she had no problems even wearing village clothes, when fighting she didn't give them time to counterattack and each attack was precise, the confidence and serenity that she showed when fighting was evident on her face and I was surprised by the way in which she managed to master that poorly made sword, what a way to adapt but in a certain way I felt... strange, each time we ran into danger in the woods I would back off and she would take care of everything and that made me feel safe but.....also kind of useless.

"What's wrong with me now? Why do I feel like this? Someone is finally fighting for me to protect me, I don't have to worry about some wild animal or monster hurting me or trying to kill me again and yet I still have this feeling that I am a burden"

It had already been a day since we left the village, we hadn't had any problems so far except that Celes' clothes were starting to get damaged, tears were visible on the feet of the skirt and some buttons had come loose on the collar of his shirt showing her breasts a bit, she had some dirt stains and some tears in the shirt itself, as I imagined, those were not suitable clothes to fight despite the fact that she did not receive damage in combat, having to dodge and move in the forest ended up affecting her , finally it was a little more than noon and we deviated towards a lake that marked the map where we decided to rest and eat something.

-Zyrus: How are you, Celes?

-Celes: I'm fine My Lord, how are you? you're not hurt right?

-Zyrus: Not at all, with you protecting me it's hard to happen.

She smiled at me happily and she felt an air of pride coming from her, I knew that as long as I was fine she would be doing her duty well, I suppose that being able to protect someone again as a knight, having that purpose again had given her new life to his once dying soul.

-Zyrus: I'm sorry that you have to face all the enemies by yourself, the clothes that Annie gave you are damaged by so many battles on the way.

-Celes: Do not apologize My Lord, it is my duty as your Knight to put your safety as my main priority, also I knew that these garments would not last long although I must admit that it is very comfortable to fight like this.

She looked at the damage to her clothes but she didn't seem to care nor did she have a problem fighting alone against the dangers we encountered, maybe I should do something about it too.

-Zyrus: Once we get to the next town I'll buy you a more suitable garment for combat and also a better sword, my knight can't go around dressed as an assaulted villager.

She nodded and we both laughed at my little joke, it was really relaxing these moments when I didn't have to worry about anything, but unfortunately this moment was interrupted by heavy footsteps that came from the forest behind us and that little by little began to get closer, At that moment I knew, my blood froze, I recognized those footsteps, how could I forget that horrible sound.

-Celes: My Lord something is coming! be careful!

She got up and unsheathed her sword to quickly put herself in a combat stance but I was terrified, I began to sweat from fear and slowly back away looking at how the trees moved and listening to the sound of breaking branches, little by little a huge shadowy figure appeared. It approached towards us until it finally appeared and with the sunlight it showed its imposing presence.

Zyrus: It's... It's... him... again.....

There was no doubt, it was him, the huge wild boar that once tried to kill me, it was unmistakable, the cuts all over his body, the scar on his right eye and the piercing gaze of his left eye, it was the "King of the Forest ".

-Celes: What...what is that thing!? it is not possible for such a beast to be real!

As I imagined, Celes was also shocked by the appearance of the huge beast but there was something that neither of us expected.

-????: Hahaha! well believe it! because this little friend is very real!

A voice came from the back of the beast, then a figure jumped from its back and fell next to the gigantic boar, a brown-skinned man had appeared from its back, riding it like a horse, he had short black hair. a large, bushy beard, with a green cloth covering his right eye, his garments said he was some sort of hunter, and at his belt hung a long whip.

-Celes: Who are you!?

-????: Wow, so much hostility, well if you want to know, I'm Doug Silver, Master Tamer of Beasts.

(Doug Silver -Master Beast Tamer- 38 Years)

Zyrus: Beast Tamer...?

-Celes: He is someone with the ability to tame animals and wild beasts so that they obey his orders.

-Doug: Precisely and justly I had just tamed this boy that you see here.

The beast tamer patted the huge boar's belly and he didn't even flinch. Had he really managed to tame that creature?

-Doug: But I have to admit that it took me a long time to make him fall under my spell, he had a very strong will, every time I tried to tame this little friend, he would go crazy and start running wild.

At that moment I remembered what the two soldiers were talking about that day, about someone intentionally causing them to attack the main road.

-Doug: But after several days of trying, he finally bowed down to me and I must thank Tevell's soldiers for weakening him for me, they really made my job easier, now after my success I felt like celebrating and luckily I was able to sniff the virgin flesh of a noblewoman.

Doug licked his lips as he stared at Celes clearly showing her depraved intentions, she glared back at him, clearly Celes wasn't going to let that happen.

-Zyrus: So it was you, the soldiers that died, the chaos that ensued, the fact that I almost died, it was all your fault!

He just looked at me in a pitying way and gave a mocking laugh.

-Celes: I won't let you get away with it!

She charged with sword in hand at the tamer but he simply snapped her fingers and the huge boar got in her way slamming into her with her snout sending Celes prowling to the ground.

-Celes: AAAARGHH!

-Zyrus: Celes!!

She got up quickly, it could be seen on her face that her blow really affected her but even so she decided not to give it importance and continued fighting.

-Doug: Wow, you're very resistant, I like that, but let's see how long you can last, now my pet, go and play with that woman but don't kill her, I want to "use" her before hehehe.

The huge boar upon hearing Doug's orders charged at Celes again, she was ready for him and easily dodged his attack but the boar turned sharply and hit Celes with its huge body, luckily she managed to block the attack and fall standing with minimal damage taken.

-Zyrus: This is bad, that thing is too big and too strong for Celes.

I clenched my fists because of the helplessness I felt, before she had no problem defeating the enemies we came across but now she was facing one that not even a handful of soldiers could face, I could only watch helplessly as Celes continued to attack and dodge the boar attacks that were getting more and more ferocious..

"I have to do something or that beast will kill Celes, but what can I do?"

I felt frustrated, I was not able to help her in any way, Doug with his arms crossed just smiled when he saw how his "pet" played with Celes while she continued giving her best effort to fight the King of the Forest, the minutes passed and I was afraid that the situation would only get worse until his voice made me react.

-Celes: Please, my Lord, don't lose faith in me so soon.

-Zyrus: Huh?

-Doug: What?

Without taking her eyes off her opponent, she asked me not to see the battle already lost, even with some scratches on her arms and face, she showed no signs of fatigue or worry, she was calm and confident as before.

-Celes: The only reason I haven't defeated this enemy yet is because it's been a long time since I didn't face such a strong opponent and my body had forgotten what it was like to be in a battle where the life of someone important for me it was at stake, but my body is already beginning to remember.

-Doug: What nonsense is that? Do you think a false confidence will save you? If you give up now I will make sure to put your "Lord" a quick death and you to good use ahahahah!

I could feel that Doug's comment had annoyed her even more, Celes tightened her grip on the sword firmly, her stance had changed but the boar charged at her at high speed and Celes didn't move from her place but looked at the boar very Confident, at the moment that the beast was in front of her, Celes gave a quick upward swing hitting the animal's snout, which made it rise enough with its front hooves, leaving it stunned for a few seconds.

-Doug: Im...Impossible!

Neither I nor Doug could believe what we just witnessed, with a sword blow Celes had caused the head of the gigantic animal to rise in the air a few meters, immediately Celes took advantage of the momentum of his first blow to whip another blow horizontally directly on the boar's left tusk, breaking it on the spot, which caused the huge animal to retreat several meters from Celes almost to the shore of the lake and finally fall to the ground.

-Doug: No... It can't be! Who... who is this woman!?

-Celes: Don't underestimate a Zeorian Knight.

-Doug: A Zeorian Knight? DON'T...DON'T FUCK WITH ME!!

Everything indicated by that scream that Doug had lost that confidence he had a moment ago, he took out his whip and while Celes was still focused on the huge downed beast, he lassoed the blade of Celes's sword with his whip, who in response held it tightly, they were both pulling hard for control of the sword.

-Doug: I'll teach you that no one messes with me, you damn bitch!

-Celes: (Struggling) Ggguhhh! .....

-Doug: (Whistle) Come on you stupid animal! stop slacking off and squash this bitch at once!

With his whistle and the order, the King of the Forest slowly got back to his feet, Celes who struggled to maintain control of his sword could not turn to see the boar behind her, Doug did not give an inch or give up on keeping his whip tied to the blade of the sword.

"No...this is wrong, in these conditions Celes can't defend herself, I have to do something but...."

When I thought of an idea, I looked at my hands that trembled with fear, I had not forgotten the sensation of death that I experienced the first time I was face to face with the wild boar, finally the huge beast stood up and even though it seemed to be stunned by the two impacts, he began to walk towards Celes slowly.

"No! This is not the time to be afraid, even if I were to survive, if Celes dies I will never be able to forgive myself, I must stop him!"

I did my best to try to ignore the fear and sprinted to face the boar and look into its eye as it paced panting.

-Celes: My Lord!?

-Doug: What are you trying to do, you wimp?

-Zyrus: King of the Forest listen to me! This was not the reason why you obtained this strength! You are supposed to protect the inhabitants of the forest!

-Doug: Hah! Do you really think that's going to work? It is under my control and will only obey my orders.

-Zyrus: Have you already forgotten what happened to your family!? The blessing, wasn't it so that the tragedy that happened to your family wouldn't happen again!?

Unexpectedly the boar seems to have heard my words as his eye showed signs of reaction and suddenly stopped moving.

-Doug: How!? What stupidity is this? (Whistle) I am your owner, you fucking animal and you are going to listen to me, kill that child and then the woman!

The boar seemed to be in pain, it shook its head and again began to walk but clearly showing signs of conflict in its mind, it couldn't leave it this way, it couldn't let it be controlled by someone else, someone else tell it what to do, I ran towards the boar. and I put my hands on his fang and on his broken fang trying to stop him.

-Zyrus: I...I know you're afraid...I understand...(gasping)...but you're stronger than this, you are...a noble beast that protects...(gasping) )...to the defenseless of the forest before...aaarrgghh....any harm!

The boar had difficulty concentrating, I could see the internal conflict he had but I could also see the pain and suffering he was going through as he felt his will to be ruled by another.

-Zyrus: Once...(panting)...I was afraid of you.....but now....I want to help you...aargghh....you're not a monster...nor the mascot of nobody.....you....you are....aargghhh THE KING OF THE FOREST!!

Hearing me scream I could feel that the wild boar was no longer pushing and when I saw it I realized that he was staring at me but not in a threatening way, I moved a little away from him and he simply stared at me.

-Doug: Aaarrggghhh...!! I'm tired of all this crap! pet kill them at once, obey me!

Despite Doug shouting orders, the boar remained motionless watching me, Celes saw this opportunity to finish the job.

-Celes: I congratulate you My Lord, that was wonderful, now let me finish taking out the trash.

She gripped Doug's whip firmly with her right hand, taking advantage of the fact that he was shocked at how the situation had gotten out of hand.

-Celes: Forcing others to do your will will never give you a good ending! *Current of energy that flows through my body gather in my hand and release your power* [Shocking Gasp!]

An electrifying blue energy accumulated in the right hand with which he was holding the whip and when it exploded, electricity ran all the way from the whip to Doug giving him a strong electric shock.

-Doug: What the... WOOAAAAARRHHH!!

He fell to his knees to the ground, releasing the whip, smoke coming out of his body after that blow of electricity but he was not defeated yet.

-Doug: (gasping) You...you need...more than that...to beat-

Before Doug finished his sentence, Celes released her sword from the whip and charged at him, using the flat part of the sword she gave him a powerful clean blow to the head, Doug's eyes went white and within a few seconds, he fell unconscious. sideways to the floor.

-Celes: (gasping) Don't ever...again...threaten the life of My Lord...or anyone else.

It was over, our enemy had fallen, the King of the Forest had regained consciousness, I looked at Celes who looked back at me with a smile, I raised my thumb and smiled back. The boar, now free from Doug's control, began its way back to its territory to recover from this battle, we both watched it leave peacefully hoping that it would soon return to normal and when I got closer to Celes something unexpected happened, the last button on its shirt gave way opening it and leaving her breasts almost in sight, before anything was seen she quickly covered herself with her arms.

-Celes: Aaahhhh!

Zyrus: Whoaahh!

Nothing to do, blushing and looking away, I gave her my jacket to cover herself, she received it blushing, not making eye contact and thanking me, I gave her a few moments to put it on while I approached the unconscious Doug.

-Zyrus: Did you kill him?

-Celes: No, I thought it would be better to leave him alive, someone like him must have a reward.

-Zyrus: Reward? Do you mean that it could be someone wanted?

-Celes: That's right, if we take him to the Guard Station in town, they might give us a reward.

-Zyrus: You know I'm also a wanted person, right?

-Celes: Yes, you told me but you also said that your friend Sarah would be trying to avoid the arrest warrant outside the capital against you but you will never know if it worked, unless you face them.

-Zyrus: You're right about that, well let's tie him up with his own whip and take him to town.

She nodded, and as Celes tied the tamer up with the whip, I began to think about what she said.

"It's already been 5 days since I parted ways with Sarah, since then I've been avoiding the guards outside the capital wondering if they're looking for me or not, if I want to know, if Sarah succeeded I have to face them, plus I have Celes at my side and if something were to happen I count with her help"

After Celes finished tying up Doug we prepared to travel to town.

-Celes: By the way, My Lord, did you see them?

-Zyrus: (Blushing) I didn't see anything...