Promised

Chapter 1: Normal Life

Victor hid on a tree as he waited for an animal to get caught up in his bait. Suddenly, a hare approached, its steps making noise in the scattered leaves. It sniffed at the bait set beneath a tree, and then proceeded to eat it. One bite of the lettuce and the hare fell into the trap. It struggled to untie itself but failed to do so.

"Great!" Victor muttered under his breath. He was sweating hard because this was a difficult task for him, and he was also new in this. But he was slowly learning. He took out an arrow and aimed it at the hare, and with great grip he finally let go. Soon the hare was dead, and blood was oozing out of its injury.

And then he heard rustling from a nearby bush. He saw a deer's antlers and prepared to shoot another arrow. He gripped his bow tightly and aimed at the wandering deer. The deer suddenly took notice of the dead hare and was about to run away when Victor shot an arrow straight through its head. And then the deer fell down. It was dead.

"This is great. Mom will be pleased!" Victor thought. "I wonder how many animals Charlotte has killed by now? Probably upto 6 already. She's really skilled in archery."

"One deer would be enough for our lunch and dinner, and we can sell the rest of the meat." Victor decided. Soon, he heard some growling which belonged to a grizzly bear. Victor got frightened and he backed to a tree, dropping the deer and trying to climb up but failed to do so properly because of panic. He was sweating hard and the grizzly bear was approaching steadily. He tried climbing up again, but misstepped and fell down yet again. Now the bear was 2 inches away from him, standing on its two legs. Victor could feel its hot breath.

"GET AWAY FROM IT!!" a voice came, and with it an arrow piercing through the bear's neck.

Victor got away quickly, while the bear moved with no aim and eventually dropped to the ground. He noticed that there was another arrow in the lower back of the grizzly bear.

Victor caught his breath. He was still sweating hard. "Ha-! Thanks, Charlotte. I was almost dead there! Did you shoot the other arrow?"

"No, I only shot one." Charlotte said.

"Is there any other hunter here?" Victor looked around.

"Yep, it's me." a figure climbed down from a nearby tree.

"That voice and you! If it isn't Ray!" Charlotte exclaimed happily. Her eyes sparkled a bit at his presence, and Victor had noticed that. It had been amost a year since she had last seen him. Ray was someone from an ally country, and had often visited their country along with his father, who was a trader.

"Hey there, Victor, Charlotte. How have you two been?" Ray said with a smile.

"We-"

"Oh, we've been great! How about you? How has your father's business been this year?" Charlotte interrupted Victor, who gave an understanding smile. He knew his sister all too well.

"My father's business is doing great this year. But we may be at a disadvantage next year because of the war predictions between Elidita and Gollist." Ray said.

"Ah..." Charlotte's happiness vanished.

"It's gonna be okay. Hein will do everything they can in their military and medical force to assist Elidita. I've heard that Commander Zoris is going to specifically participate in the war against Gollist. That country is devil spawn! The world sleeps on it." Victor told.

"Certainly that is true. Aren't you kinda shocked that Commander Dolion isn't participating himself?" Charlotte said.

"That is surprising. But our country is grateful for the assistance." Ray smiled.

"I know I'm being selfish but...can't you stay here next year?"

"Unfortunately, we can't. You do remember my mother is an army pharmacist, and she would never give up on people. And we can't give up on her."

This author really wants to make me suffer right from the start. Charlotte broke the fourth wall.

"Charlotte, how much meat did you get?" Victor asked, and picked up the dead deer he had dropped earlier.

"4 hares, 2 deers." Charlotte replied. "That'd make alot of money."

"And we can use the bear's fur as clothing for the approaching winter." Victor added.

"Great idea. So anyway, Ray, where are you staying tonight?"

"My father is still in the nearby capital, and he'll come to the village by the evening. We have decided we can stay at your home for tonight before setting off tomorrow. If you don't mind?"

"That's actually...a great idea." Charlotte almost whispered. Victor could see the spark in her eyes.

"Charlotte?"

"No, don't worry. I'm just happy. Nothing else." Charlotte quickly defended herself.

Ray helped Charlotte with the deers, and so all three of them went on.

But little did Victor know, the days of tragedy that would completely set him off on a new life were soon to follow...