Hunt Race

Kael awoke to the faint scent of herbs.

His eyes slowly opened.

A wooden ceiling greeted him.

For a few moments, he simply lay there, trying to gather his thoughts.

Then the memories returned.

The beast.

The fight.

The mark.

The injured hunter.

Kael tried to sit up.

A sharp pain shot through his ribs, forcing him to stop.

"Don't push yourself."

An elderly healer stepped into view, carrying a wooden tray filled with fresh bandages and medicine.

"You've been unconscious for nearly a day."

Kael looked around.

The Guild infirmary.

He let out a quiet breath.

"The hunter..."

The healer smiled faintly.

"He's alive."

Relief spread across Kael's face.

"He regained consciousness this morning."

The healer carefully unwrapped the bandages around Kael's ribs.

"You were lucky."

"A few inches deeper..."

He shook his head.

"...and we wouldn't be having this conversation."

Kael gave a small nod.

The healer finished replacing the bandages before setting the old ones aside.

"Try not to move too much for the next few days."

"I'll try."

The healer chuckled.

"Hunters always say that."

A moment later, a young Guild attendant stepped into the room carrying a folded set of clean clothes.

"Good. You're awake."

He placed the clothes on a nearby chair.

"The Guild has already received the merchant's report."

"And the beast?"

Kael asked.

"The recovery team brought it back this morning."

Kael blinked.

"They actually recovered it?"

The attendant nodded.

"The Guild wanted to examine it."

He hesitated before continuing.

"The survey records for Green Moss Valley are already being reviewed."

"It seems the beast wandered into the area after the last inspection."

"So the commission..."

"...was based on outdated information."

Kael lowered his eyes.

That single mistake had nearly cost two hunters their lives.

"The injured hunter also asked about you," the attendant added.

"He wanted to thank the hunter who saved him."

Kael scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"There wasn't much to thank me for."

The attendant smiled.

"I think he'll disagree."

He turned toward the door.

"Oh, one more thing."

"The Guild has suspended all beginner commissions in Green Moss Valley until a new survey is completed."

With that, he quietly left the room.

The infirmary fell silent once more.

Kael leaned back against the pillow.

His first commission had nearly ended in disaster.

Yet somehow...

He had survived.

His gaze drifted to the back of his right hand.

The strange mark was there.

Quiet.

Unchanged.

As though nothing had happened at all.

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