LET

Chapter 1

*Crunch, crunch, crunch* The air was abnormally frigid even for the dead of winter. Our sun is peaking over the treetops with its light leaving a dark orange on the floor beneath me. *Crunch, crunch, crunch*

Emilia had better appreciate that I went out of way to get her these witch ears. I remember the first time we met months ago; I was with my hunting partner Lucien, and we had followed the ruby red blood of a Harpy to a black riverbed. There she was, stealing our kill right in front of us but we couldn't do anything about it because of that damn Huntsman code. I can count numerous times where Lucien and I would be hunting something only to have some other hunter show up and claim it as their own because they delivered the finishing blow. 

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"What did you guys do to this Harpy?! She was just crawling on all her fours, just bleeding out everywhere! I actually felt bad for this messed up creature."

There she was, her sword drenched in the ruby red blood of the Harpy and a quiver full of arrows.

"Is it safe to assume that you finished the Harpy, huntress?"

It's rare to find a huntress in the current world, mostly are studying to be a nurse or studying at their local college.

"Indeed, I did, she would have gotten away if it wasn't for me being here." I think we could have handled it just fine, but I'll let her have this. 

"Well huntress, would you care to take this kill to the Lodge while me and my partner here discuss our next move?" Upon inspecting her some more, I noticed that she had scars crawling down her arms starting from her shoulders.

^Lucien, have you heard anything about a huntress with those scars before? From my knowledge the lodge hasn't had a huntress ever since...^

^Do not continue Lord Torren; what happened is still fresh in my mind as well. Though, I do agree with you, I haven't heard of such a huntress like her before.^

She swung her sword around to shake off the excess blood, "What are your guys' names?".

We were just talking away, and I had already forgotten she was right there next to us, "I'm Torren, and my partner here is Lucien. What about you huntress?"

"The name is Emilia, what was that thing you were doing with your hands, some form of magic perhaps?" Oh yes, everyone asks about that.

"Well before I can explain that, Lucien open your mouth for the fine lady." He drops his jaw open for Emilia as she comes closer to look.

"Oh by the gods! What happened?!" I couldn't help but laugh at her face, everyone reacts the same when it comes to Lucien.

"Yeah poor fellow was amongst the group of people to suffer the raids in Kilera. They took his tongue so me and him created our own little language. We just like to call it sign language. Despite what's been done to him, Lucien still has a big heart, he's saved me countless amount of times."

As I finished saying that, he strikes a strongman pose and started dancing much to our surprise. "Though I would like to add, the humor could use a little bit of work. Huntress, if you're heading over to the lodge we'll meet you there in a bit. A toast to our new friendship."

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I come up to the trailhead with two different paths. One path lead to the new College of Magic. The sudden increase in magic users is astonishing to me. Magic had always been around but only a select few were able to fully take advantage of it. Originally, you would have to be a member of a royal family or have some familial heritage to even be accepted into a College of Magic. Ever since they lifted this requirement a few years ago, kids have just flocked to the College to study. There is a part of me that wishes I could have studied in magic, but I was declined enrollment at another College back when I was younger. Though that never stopped a late partner of mine to teach me some magic in secret. A hunter and mage combo, it's almost unheard of, you either do one or the other.

This path to the College had become well-worn to the point where the grass no longer grew, and the trees overhead had been cut down due to the heavy traffic. Unfortunately, because of this, there is litter all over the place from empty ale bottles to small burlap sacks. However, the other path is where I was headed. It had brush up to the common man's waist, constantly tickling those who cross. It has only experienced a few travelers throughout recent years, but I remember when this was the popular path. Unlike the other path, this path was covered in platinum white snow, constantly crunching under my boots and untouched by even the smallest of rabbits.

Down the path lied the Hunter's Lodge, home to all licensed hunters within them. Hell, it's my home and it's all I've known. I had no other choice but to pursue hunting after being declined. I remember when I first walked into the lodge, it was just filled with nonstop noise. The rafters were shaking, and people were just yelling but it wasn't arguing, rather everyone was trying to speak over each other, so it got noisier over time. It was funny though, some guy who clearly was drinking and had a huge ale belly, came over to me and called me a "shorty". In that moment I was scared for my life, it was a completely new environment for me. The man just started laughing along with everyone else who was watching me. That's where it all started for me, and well, I still wonder what it would have been like if I wasn't rejected over at the College.

Winter has been here for months and our days have been growing shorter and shorter. Our sun peaked over the treetops only to go back to sleep for who knows how long. I can see the lodge ahead of me, the only source of light in the darkness. The Hunter's lodge has suffered in terms of popularity. A place that had up to 300 people at a time, I would be lucky to even see maybe 10 people at a time. All thanks to that damn College opening. I make it to the lodge door and I could already fill the warmth coming from the inside. Opening the door, I'm hit with a wall of heat but it's not overwhelming. I look around for Emilia and she was sitting at the bar, girl never knows to hold her ale.