Hunt Race

Morning arrived quietly.

Warm sunlight slipped through the narrow window, spilling across the small room. After days of sleeping on cold ground with one eye open, the simple wooden bed felt almost too comfortable.

Kael slowly opened his eyes and lay still for a moment, staring at the wooden ceiling above him.

The silence felt unfamiliar.

There were no distant roars echoing through the trees.

No rustling leaves that demanded caution.

No hunters taking turns keeping watch through the night.

For the first time in days, he had slept without worrying about whether he would wake to another fight.

He sat up and stretched, wincing as the soreness in his shoulders reminded him that yesterday's events had been very real.

A knock echoed from the other side of the door.

Three steady knocks.

Before Kael could answer, a familiar voice came from the corridor.

"You awake?"

Kael stood, straightened his clothes, and opened the door.

Darius stood outside, already prepared for the day. His dark cloak rested neatly over one shoulder, and the calm expression he always carried hadn't changed.

He looked Kael over for a brief moment before giving a small nod.

"You're awake."

"Yes, Captain."

"Good. Come with me."

Without waiting for another response, Darius turned and walked down the corridor.

Kael quickly grabbed the few belongings he had brought with him, closed the door behind him, and caught up.

The Guild had been quiet when they arrived the previous evening.

Now it was fully awake.

Hunters crossed the courtyard in every direction, some fastening pieces of armor while walking, others checking weapons before leaving through the main gate. Small groups gathered around a large notice board covered with fresh commissions, debating which requests were worth accepting, while guild staff moved between buildings carrying stacks of documents as though they had done it a thousand times before.

It was busy.

Yet somehow, nothing felt chaotic.

Everything seemed to move with a rhythm that everyone understood.

Kael found himself watching the people around him more than the buildings.

No two hunters looked alike.

Some wore polished armor that reflected the morning sun.

Others carried equipment so worn it seemed to have survived countless battles.

Veterans walked with quiet confidence, while younger hunters spoke with the excitement of people eager to prove themselves.

It was a world Kael had only heard about.

Now, he was walking through it.

Darius noticed his wandering eyes but said nothing.

He simply continued toward one of the larger buildings overlooking the courtyard.

As they walked, the smell of freshly baked bread drifted from somewhere nearby, mixing with the scent of leather, steel, and burning coal from the forge.

Kael's stomach growled.

Darius heard it.

"We'll eat first."

Kael looked at him.

"I thought we were heading somewhere."

"We are."

Darius didn't slow his pace.

"But there's no point handling guild business on an empty stomach."

Kael couldn't argue with that.

After days of dried meat and whatever they could cook over a campfire, even the smell alone was enough to make him hungry.

Together, they changed direction, disappearing into the morning crowd as another ordinary day began within the Guild.

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