The Gifted Masters: A Silver Century

Chapter 4 ♦️ Decree

  Chapter Four ♦️ Decree

     Christine returned to the resource ground from before, but only straddlers were around, so she continued on the sprint to the main village instead. She focused on the dark scenery, carefully glancing at bushes to see if she could find any other dragon to slay. She only found blood splattered on the snow, she still didn't have a Razor Shin dead in her hands and did not want to kill any. A hesitant dragon-slayer was certainly unheard about. She hated her title because she was expected to bring loads of dragon bodies each time she was allowed to venture out, but she had none, dead or alive. She breathed silently, and a small puff of smoke left her while covering the ground toward the village.

Christine felt a trickle on her neck, aware of the questions she would receive from Jonathon. She developed a statement to tell him why she didn't slay a single dragon that night.

She slowed down into a gradual trot toward the village. Candle lamp posts guided weary folks to the center of the town, and with each second, homes began to align around her, each building unique and convenient to the homeowner's liking. Music was in the distance, a joyful melody of pan flute, drums, and a few string instruments played on the eventful, cold night. Jonathon had always been the last to leave the event room, the feast was still taking place for the folks who brought the required quota of dead dragons.

Razor Shins.

There were plenty of folks holding or pulling their loot of dragons to get admitted into the feast. Razor Shins could be the size of the modern Westland terrier and up to the size of an adult wild boar. The dead beasts were thrown in stables while the ones that remained alive were secured tightly for later butchering, it was quite a busy night.

Christine was a legendary Razor Shin slayer, but the people weren't sure whether to be amazed or terrified. None of the participants seemed to have around ten flying reptiles, and she gave a puff when she passed by people who murmured in surprise, looking at her empty hands.

While Christine neared closer to the great hall, she'd ignore the eyes of everyone that she passed, not truly getting a break from those fleeting stares. She approached the stairs where the great hall proudly stood from its multi-leveled platform and smelled the cooked goods from outside. Folks immediately made way for Christine, not wanting to encounter her up close, but before she could go up three wooden steps, she heard her parent's laughter, Jonathon, who was blocked by people ahead of her.

The crowd around her grew silent. Tension filled the brisk atmosphere when she heard a tired man call out to her when he noticed she didn't have dragons to fill the bloody stables. She couldn't access the food fest inside the great hall so she was immediately turned away.

Once Christine took a mere step down the stairs she got Jonathon's attention, who was looking between the heads of people to greet her.

Utterly overwhelmed by the people for their remarks and her incompleteness of action, Christine mentally prayed to the gods with an exasperated sigh. She could've gone to her home instead, but she came to seek her father who sent her crew after her, to let her know she returned safely from the monthly hunt.

The mage held a strong front in the crowd, but it was a deceiving look, not wanting to seem meek from their expressions and remarks even though she held such wondrous power. Christine mentally scolded herself, running her fingers through her short black hair while she watched people go to the stables to turn in the dragons.

     Christine clenched her hand and frowned slightly. Every action of mine comes with this same, same result.

Christine saw Jonathon make his way down the stairs. People gracefully allowed him to walk and take careful steps. Christine then went to Jonathon after being motioned forward by his hand, and she approached him calmly.