Kaden picked up his bow and his self made knife. He felt very confident as he held his weapons!

“I’m going out a bit”, Kaden shouted as he was leaving the house.

“Where are you going Kaden?” Ann asked from another room.

“I’ll go pick up some herbs!” Kaden quickly answered. He didn’t want his mother to notice he was slightly more geared up than he needed to be for such task.

Going out to pick some herbs from just outside the village was pretty safe. Kaden was intending to go much further than that. He wanted to find and hunt some beasts! Then he could come back and say that as he was picking herbs, a beast must have wandered too close to the village. This way he could say he didn’t go far inside the forest! Such a brilliant plan.

Kaden quickly made his way out of the village while also trying not to attract any attention.

Outside of the village was very open. It was that way by design. If a dire beast or other enemies did appear, it would be necessary to see them before they reach the actual village. Humans living close to wilderness had to have adapted to constant threat from wild animals.

To the side of the forest, there was larger open portion. On the other side were farms and such.

Kaden thought to himself that since he can use magic properly now, maybe he would find a rare mana herb in the forest. Such were his dreams. Magic users could do awesome things!

In fact, theoretically it would be possible, but extremely unlikely. Plants absorbed mana too and could change in mysterious ways. Whether it was humans or beasts, all users of mana would find these rare herbs very useful. Usually they appeared only in areas where they would get to grow undisturbed for long periods of time. Village like Dashire was not such a place. Too many people wander the forest too often.

Perhaps in some stories with extremely lucky heroes that could accidentally find such treasures in their backyards.

What could be found from around Dashire were common grade herbs. Perhaps deep inside the forest there could be some more secluded place with a herb that can be considered a mana herb. A higher ranked mana herb would already require special place.

These things mattered to Kaden very little at that point.

“I will prove myself somehow!” Kaden thought to himself as he wandered around in the forest. “I can learn both smithing and fighting! I just need to show that I’m capable! I can do it!”

Unfortunately, after a while had passed, Kaden had not been lucky. Sure, he had picked up some herbs that were good spices for food. Pretty much as he had told Ann he would be doing. It was intended as a small lie, though, but it seemed to be the way things were going anyway.

The village hunters were doing their work well and defeating or driving away any dangerous animals that might live nearby. Beasts outside of the area of human influence were actually rather common. It took quite a bit of work to keep them from encroaching on human settlements. The fact that Dashire could survive in peace already told of quality work the hunters did.

Feeling slightly frustrated Kaden decided to walk a bit further into the forest. He had never been that far. In fact, very few people except hunters ever went that far.

Kaden did see some harmless beasts such as common birds and a few squirrels. Its not that even they couldn’t get strong, but most ordinary beasts started very weak just like humans did. Some higher level beasts were another thing. Some might already be powerful at the moment they are born. Those were the true monsters.

Despite differences between humans and beasts, humans did have tame animals and those animals could grow more powerful too.

Some more powerful magic user could easily have a dog that was smarter and more powerful than anyone in Dashire and could even speak. Still it was not as common as one would think. Training human to use magic was already hard enough. Now do that with a beast that starts out not even understanding your guidance until it gains sufficient intelligence.

Not to mention beasts, whether it is tame and friendly one or something like a dire beast, they all had different ways of cultivating magic than humans did.

It was a very expensive endeavor. Thus, village like Dashire could only have normal animals.

Forcibly taming beasts by use of magic was far more common. It made more sense to beat a beast to inch of its life and then enslave it than find a cub and spend large amount of resources to make it useful and obedient.

Looking at the sun, Kaden was getting even more dismayed. He head yet to see any suitable prey! Time was passing! The more time he spent in the forest the more he would have to explain why he was there and what he had been doing. Still, he decided to keep going instead of going back.

Eventually he did reach a small stream. He finally found a beast!

It was a lone, sickly, malnourished wolf suffering from bad case of mange.

“Damn it! Once I did find a beast its something not worth killing!” Kaden cursed to himself and planned on keeping looking. Such pitiful beast was not worth Kaden’s notice! How could he prove himself by bringing in such a pathetic example! At least that was his opinion.

The wolf, however, did not think so.

As soon as the wolf noticed Kaden it started growling and walking towards him. Then quicker pace until it was running. It was clearly planning on attacking.

“Shit!” Kaden was startled. He had not expected such action from the wolf.

Despite its sorry state, the wolf was pretty fast. Kaden barely had time to take a defensive position and take out his knife. His bow wasn’t of any use at this point. Perhaps, if Kaden had used it immediately after noticing the wolf, he might have had time to shoot, but not anymore.

The wolf leaped to bite Kaden. He was able to avoid getting bitten, but unable to prevent falling down as the wolf crashed onto him. Now that it had the advantage, the wolf snarled and tried to bite again. Kaden didn’t have much time to think, but he managed to somehow think quickly and grab a stick and use it to block the bite.

The wolf quickly bit through and shattered the stick, but during this Kaden managed to swing his knife at it. Unfortunately this didn’t cause much damage, but left only slightly bleeding wound. The hungry wolf didn’t really seem to care. It was probably rather desperate for food. Small injuries didn’t matter anymore.

In retaliation the wolf finally managed to bite Kaden’s left arm.

“Aaaahh”, Kaden screamed. He was unable to get free and the wolf wasn’t intending to let him go either. It even started shaking Kaden’s arm trying to tear it. Pain surged through Kaden’s body.

Luckily Kaden had his right hand free and was somehow still able to act even with extreme pain. He desperately started stabbing the wolf with the knife. It wasn’t causing much damage. At least not enough for the wolf to care. Clearly the knife was not a weapon intended for such fights. It was too late for Kaden to realise his mistake.

As Kaden continued stabbing with the tiny knife he felt his attacks get weaker. He was losing blood and the wolf was still biting and tearing.

“No!!” Kaden screamed. He didn’t have much time left. Kaden started to strike with even more desperation. His mind was racing in attempt to find some solution. Any solution. None of which seemed to be there.

Then suddenly, in midst of his desperation, he felt like a force was moving through his body. A wave of power entered his knife holding arm and somehow burst with power. Kaden struck with his knife at the wolf, striking right at its neck. Blood burst out and finally there was a reaction from the wolf. It actually let go and staggered backwards a bit. It was bleeding heavily from the wound it had just received.

This came at a cost, though. The knife had shattered. Kaden himself was completely exhausted and was having problems staying awake. His left arm was also bleeding heavily.

Wolf still stood there weakly whining. It took a few more steps towards Kaden, but then collapsed on the ground. It was still alive, but bleeding. The would would breath its last pretty soon.

Kaden himself dragged himself away from the wolf. He pressed on the wound on his arm, but was too weak to actually treat it in any way. He breathed heavily. His vision swayed and he felt dizzy. Some moments later Kaden lost consciousness.

Darkness.