Chapter 79 - Care

3rd Person’s POV (12 yrs. and 8 months old)

Five minutes later Ken woke up, oh so unsuspecting of his surroundings, he stretched his hands and yawned, rubbed his right eye and scratched his messy bed hair. He then comes to recognize his surroundings.

“Oh, I fell asleep? And the group’s here, they even made beds around, aww that’s so sweet, and they’re in their beast form, except for Wilbert and Celine of course.” He said to himself. He stood up, dusted himself and held his hips. “Alright, I shall hunt for food.”

“Wait, where’s my scythe?” just as he had asked, his scythe slowly revealed itself in front of him, breaking its concealment, floating. “Oh it’s here.” Ken took the scythe and strapped it on his back.

He walked slowly forward, activated his magic to scan the area of a hundred meters, but found nothing he could hunt, for the surroundings was destroyed, and the animals ran off due to the discord of magic, but this he did not know of since the scenery looked normal.

“Wind Magic: Surveillance Sweep.” He casted, and a quick burst of wind traveled from him outwards in a dome, covering about five hundred meters, he found some animals to hunt and plants that are edible, more importantly, he noticed something.

“Syla?” just outside the one hundred meter radius, there he saw Syla, running towards him.

“Syla!” he met her halfway. “Glad you’re here.”

“Glad to know you’re okay, where are the others?” Syla asked.

“They’re over there, asleep.” said Ken, pointing at his back, Syla took a look.

“Why are they asleep?” she asked.

“I don’t know, anyway, gotta hunt for food before everyone wakes up.” Ken waved at her, leaving her not knowing what to say. She walked towards the sleeping forms of the group and rested just outside the circle they made.

All the while wondering what had transpired since she could not enter this area due to some barrier.

Ken flew off unto the east direction where he located an abundance of meat, he didn’t quite get to know what really lived there since his ‘surveillance sweep’ spell only showed him organisms near him, not entirely what they looked like.

Upon arriving 200 meters later, he comes across a pack of wolves 50 meters away from him, just normal looking wolves taking leisure near a river.

“Huh? They are relaxing, awww, there are pups too!” He noticed something at the other end of the river, a herd of deers revealed themselves from the thick of trees and took a drink by the river.

A big wolf, rose from its lying state and walked towards the edge of the river, Ken also noticed that the first to walk from the other side of the river and drink was also a big deer.

The two looked to be in a conversation, as Ken noticed the two nodding at each other, or so he thought.

“Wow, the animal kingdom on this valley must be quite intelligent, it looks like the pack’s alpha is conversing with the herd’s leader, I wonder why I haven’t explored much in the past.” He held his chin. “Oh right, I was too caught up with training.”

*SQUEAL!*

Ken turned around to see a huge boar. Its red eyes trailed at Ken.

“How in the-“ He did not finish what he said as he jumped upwards and landed behind the huge boar that went on and tackled him. But the boar did not stop and went to rampage on the pack of wolves.

The wolves noticed and went on high alert, but Ken noticed how some of the fairly large wolves quivered at the rampaging boar. Even if it was the slightest information, Ken thought that something was amiss.

The alpha of the pack jumped in front of his warriors immediately to take the charge, but they weren’t able to do much when a human appeared behind the huge boar, brandished his weapon, struck the back of the boar and hauled him backwards.

*SQUAWK!*

“Sword Style: Precision Strike!” Ken performed ten strikes on the vitals of the huge boar, immediately snuffing the life out of the animal without a second thought, but blood sprayed out to Ken.

He whisked the excess blood away from his hands, and wiped some on his face.

“Why does this always have to happen to me. Water and Wind Magic: Cleanse” an improved version of his ‘light cleansing sweep’ spell, whereas the latter cleanses Ken and any target he desires to be affected by the spell to be removed of light filth, sweat would be an example.

While the former, cleanses Ken and any target, to be utterly cleaned from head to toe. The blood on his body disappeared slowly into thin air along with the rancid smell. He then proceeded to skin the boar alive and take out its organs the way he was taught by Uncle Vin.

As on an occasion he and his two childhood friends were taught. Through the skills taught to him, Ken had taken upon himself -without reluctance and more like a developing habit- to prepare the animals him and his group hunted on missions.

‘Why do I always encounter huge boars or beasts whenever I want to hunt?’ he thought to himself.

‘Maybe it’s your luck?’ replied White.

‘Yeah, agreed, but I must say, I’m really lucky to find one this early.’ Ken snickered to himself.

‘Don’t push your luck, or it might just run out.’ said White.

‘Yes.x’ replied Ken.

Of course everyone would alternate between one another who would take responsibility for the food, but his group were knocked out so, yeah, he’s the one doing it. Ken conjured a huge table made out of clay -but slick clean- and an ice knife to do the job all the while humming.

He was in a trance.

While all this was going on, the pack of wolves stared dumbfounded at the uninvited guest who took out their supposed to be intruder, and quite possibly predator, for they have recently fought the dead boar and were no match for it.

They went to this specific river to ask for help from their friends the deers, and seeing as this creature single-handedly took out their threat, they were stunned and gratified of the turn of events.

Even the herd of deers were not spared of the pleasantries, if you could call it that.

But they’re staring dumbfoundedly at Ken who began skinning the boar, and watched as he stomped for all the filth that splashed unto him, and the shift of mood once he had cleaned himself and began taking out the innards.

Once Ken had separated the bones, meat and organs, and had cleaned the excess filth with magic, which so just happened within seconds, for he was efficient, he remembered the pack of wolves, he took a glance behind his back.

“Eh?” Ken stared at the pack as they too curiously stared at him, he offered a smile making the pups around the legs of the adults stuck their tongue out and strut towards him, with the intention of taking food, for they smelled some.

The big wolves which can qualify as warriors of the pack who noticed their pups go towards the creature were even more in high alert as they each took their pups by the pelt back towards their group, they were a small pack, a total of 34, with ten of them being pups.

Actually they were a big pack than this, he had only sent out his pack in groups of 13 consisting of 40 wolves to scout the area for the demon gate as they were also tasked by King Raze himself, it was unfortunate that the alpha’s group had less warriors and more female wolves and pups.

Ken having noticed this, did not do anything and just smiled as the interaction between the adults and the pups looking as if they’re scolding their pups to take hold, he chuckled at the whines of the small, cute, fluffy, puppies.

The alpha after taking care of their disobedient pups approached Ken calmly, as to not startle him.

“Who are you creature?” Ken’s ears perked up. He stared at the alpha wide-eyed. The height of the alpha had reached the same height as him and the build looked really buff.

‘Does everyone in this planet know how to talk?’ he thought, even thought he did not see the alpha wolf’s mouth move, he clearly heard him.

‘Are they communicating through the mind?’ he thought to himself curiously.

‘Yes, it seems so.’ replied White. ‘And in my information I’ve gathered years ago, this group of intellectual animals belong to the Lion King’s Kingdom, they may not have that much numbers, but they are powerful as they have the power of the mind.’

‘They have such powers?’ asked Ken.

‘I’m afraid so.’ said White.

‘Why do you say it like it’s a bad thing?’ said Ken.

‘Nothing, it’s just the way they are perceived.’ replied White.

‘Oh, okay.’ while the conversation was going on a more deeper discussion, the alpha felt awkward as the one he was addressing did not respond.

“*Ahem* If you would so kindly answer my question creature, I’m afraid I’ll have to consider you as a threat.” Ken snapped out of his stupor.

“Oh, uh, y-yes, um, I-I’m… uh…” the wolf stared at him confusedly, torn between what to feel, amusement or pity for the creature. Ken took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

“Hi, my name is Ken, and I am not a creature, I am a human.” He said, smiling towards the alpha and held out his hand. There was an awkward silence as the alpha stared at him condescendingly and he felt sheepish under that stare, or so he thought.

“You don’t do hand-shakes? Okay.” Ken retracted his hand.

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