Broken Soul

Michael

With a crack, Michael broke through the undergrowth. He ran along the ridge, sweat reflecting the dim light making its way through the treetops, only strengthened by the weak shine of Michael's skin.

He glanced down the ridge to his right periodically, looking for his escaping prey. He could hear the squealing boar and the cracking of branches to his right.

Michael came to a slithering halt. The forest had opened up, and he saw a clearing at the foot of the ridge. Michael grabbed an arrow and readied his bow. He wasn't a great archer, which was why he was in this situation in the first place. He had been hunting for two days already, tracking this boar, but when he had finally found it, Michael had missed his shot and only grazed the pig. He knew that Eydis was following him even though he had only seen her once today. She was not to interfere anyway, so Michael didn't waste a thought on her.

He was now waiting for his prey from his elevated position. He didn't have to wait long as a boar broke out of the thicket with a loud squeal. Michael quickly drew back his arrow, aimed, and released it in one fluid motion as he had been taught.

And he missed again, the arrow going short and landing between the boar's legs. Michael growled and charged down the ridge, strengthening his body and enhancing his sense of balance to keep on his feet. The boar was halfway across the clearing when Michael reached the foot of the ridge.

He grabbed another arrow and took it slowly this time. He would only get one more chance. Breathing slowly, he drew back the string of his bow and waited. The boar jumped over a large rock, and Michael let loose. The arrow hit the boar in the front leg right before it landed, and it crashed into the ground, its wounded leg not strong enough to withstand its own weight. It got back to its feet but limped heavily when a second arrow hit the boar in its hind leg. It was easy to hit the limping boar now.

The pig squealed, as Michael approached it as fast as he could, and tried to get back on its feet, but its legs didn't obey anymore. Michael put his bow over his shoulder and drew his short sword. The boar tried to defend itself, but Michael was faster and sank his short sword into its heart.

As the last breath of the boar escaped its maw, Michael raised his hand to his forehead and said, "Thank you for the gift of this hunt, and let the soul of the hunted go into death's warm embrace." It was a tradition Eydis had shown him. Normally, you would pray for the soul to go to the Father, but Michael changed it for obvious reasons.

Eydis came out onto the clearing right as Michael pulled out his short sword. She made her way over to him and signed, "Good job." She moved over next to the boar and inspected it.

"I guess I have to practice more with the bow," Michael said with a shrug.

"Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, even you," she smiled at him empathetically. "So, let's get your catch back to camp. I would say you have a good chance with this."

Eydis bound the boar's legs and just heaved it on her shoulders, doubtlessly burning a good amount of mana. Michael had grown a lot in the past years, but was still too small to carry it with Eydis.

Michael's thoughts wandered as they made their way back. It had been over two years already since his time in the capital, and Michael had become ten years old a couple of weeks back.

He had spent most of the last years focusing on his studies, but also getting out into the world more and learning more practical skills like hunting.

The time has really melted away, hasn't it? he thought.

Eydis was struggling with the heavy boar through the forest due to its size, more than its weight, and it took them over four hours to make their way back to the camp, so Michael had a lot of time to think.

The camp was filled with nobles and knights. They were all here for the hunt and the competitions. The boar had been part of his own competition with his older brothers. They were all out for three days. Alone with only one guard to protect them, but not interfere.

Many stared at the huge boar that Eydis was carrying. Some were looking impressed, and others were disappointed that he managed to catch something large. Even though years had passed, there were still many who resented Michael, but they weren't overwhelming anymore.

When they had made it halfway through the camp, Michael could see Geron close to their tent. He spotted them and hurried over, taking the load of Eydis, who gladly handed it off.

Sola joined them from the tent and carefully inspected Michael, "Everything went well? That is a big one."

"Yes, everything is fine." Michael smiled at the compliment. They had to bring the boar to the main tent to let Father judge them and determine a winner.

Geron carried the catch as Sola and Michael walked in front of him, chatting. Solon and Kiran had preferred to stay in Reen, rather than be surrounded by nobles who didn't want them there. Eydis wasn't liked too much either, but Michael wasn't sure if she could care less.

They reached the main tent shortly after. It was a large, open one, filled with richly decked tables. Michael could spot his father and Uncle Duncan talking with some of the nobles. Michael gave Eydis a glance when he saw his uncle, but she chose to ignore the count. Michael had never understood how she could just live with the man who killed her clan being so close but still unreachable, but he was happy about it.

He could also see Tara on the other side, but she was mid-conversation, so he didn't try to gain her attention.

Matthias was already back. Michael saw him standing in front of a huge stag that was currently in the process of getting strung up.

"Damn," Michael said with an impressed tone as he saw it, and Sola's eyes followed his. "Well, you are not getting first place." Michael shook his head with a laugh, and they continued to Michael's stop, where a couple of guards started to string up the boar on its legs.

Michael looked over to the twins' spots, but it looked like none of them had returned yet.

After a minute, Matthias appeared next to Michael and inspected his catch. "That is a big one."

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"Yours is bigger, but thanks," Michael replied with a genuine smile. Matthias waved him off and said, „Who cares? First or second, everything that counts is to be better than the twins."

Michael smiled back cheekily, „Still wish that I had your talent for hunting and archery."

Matthias laughed at that and put his hand on Michael's shoulder, „We can swap if you want to."

„Nono, it's fine," Michael said, dramatically, and they laughed together.

As they did, they could see Oska stroll in the direction of his spot with a pitiful-looking deer.

„He is not winning any prizes at least," Michael joked and nodded in Oska's direction. He noticed them looking and made an annoyed face at them before he turned away and walked over to the wooden pole where his catch was to be strung up.

Jona and Michael's youngest brother Sieg came running while Michael and Matthias were still watching Oska.

"That is a big pig," Jona exclaimed as he came to a halt in front of it, and Sieg added, „Big piggy!"

"Of course, it looks big from your standpoint," Matthias teased his little brother.

„I am much bigger now," Jona pouted and crossed his arms in front of his chest while trying to appear as large as possible. Sieg was just looking back and forth between them, not getting what they were talking about. It was this aura of naïveté that made him so adorable in Michael's eyes.

"One day I will be bigger than all of you," Jona declared triumphantly.

"I am sure you will," Matthias said, and Michael added, „No doubt about it."

They stayed there talking for a while longer until the sun neared the horizon. With a gaze over the clearing in the middle of the camp, Michael asked, „Do you think Harlov will make it in time?"

"No idea, he might not have found a worthwhile target," Matthias said, trying to sound nonchalant, but he was keeping a watchful eye on the entrances.

"He might have found something so big that it takes a while to bring here," Michael suggested. Matthias shrugged but didn't reply further.

They waited in silence until the sun had nearly completely set and the servants were lighting the torches when Matthias patted Michael on the shoulder and said with a sorry voice, „Maybe next time." Michael followed his gaze and saw Harlov strutting in like he owned the place, and a large boar being dragged behind him by two men. Michael could instantly see that the boar was bigger than his even from a distance, but he wasn't sure if Matthias's stag was bigger. It was hard to judge with two different animals.

"Where do you people even find those monsters? They could easily be mistaken for mana beasts," Michael said with light-hearted laughter. He didn't have high expectations anyway. He was happy with his catch. He hadn't expected to get something this big, and at least he wouldn't be last.

"You gotta look a little better the next time," Matthias softly punched Michael's shoulder.

"What do you think, is yours bigger?"

He shook his head softly and said, „I have no idea. Father will have to judge." This whole event was to celebrate Lord Rowan's birthday, so he would be the sole judge.

Harlov gave them a nasty smile as he passed them and walked over to his wooden pole, where the men began to pull the boar up. „At least he is confident," Matthias said and turned around, walking back to his spot.

It took a while longer until Lord Rowan finally rose from his place at the table and walked into the open area. The conversations ended immediately, and everyone turned toward the count.

"This hunt has now concluded. I am glad to see that all of my sons who participated are able to sustain themselves if the need ever arises, but we are not here to see if they can hunt. We are here to see who can bring in the biggest prey."

He first walked over to Michael's boar and inspected it. The nobles followed behind him and watched. After a short while, he nodded and continued on to Oska's. He looked at his son and said, „At least you caught something," before he continued. Oska got red in his face but managed to contain his temper for once.

Lord Rowan inspected Matthias's and Harlov's prey next, and he took the longest time with them. After over fifteen minutes, he finally turned around and walked into the center of the clearing where his four sons were waiting for him in a line. He waited for the nobles to settle down before he raised his voice again.

"This decision has been difficult. You both have done very well, Matthias and Harlov, but there can be only one winner." The whole camp was dead silent as everyone waited for the count's next words.

"The winner is Matthias," Lord Rowan declared, and applause erupted in the audience. Harlov cursed under his breath but mostly kept his decorum. Matthias thanked his father and had to deal with a whole horde of nobles wanting to congratulate him next. Michael quickly made his way out of the crowd and suddenly stood face-to-face with Father Albion.

"Greetings, Father," he said politely. The man stared at him. The hate and fear had not dissipated in the slightest over the years. Michael shook his head and simply brushed past him. He had learned that there was no merit in trying to talk to the man. He made his way to the large table and sat down in his spot, waiting for the celebration to end and the feast to begin. He was starving.

The feast began shortly after, and Michael devoured his meal with as much vigor as he could afford without being embarrassing. The food consisted of the prey of the last couple of days of the hunt. Today was the last day, and they would return to Reen tomorrow.

Michael was glad that they had nearly reached the end. He had little love for hunting, but at least the nobles were less stuck-up out here, and having ample time to spend with the siblings he liked and Tara was nice.

The feast was loud and happy. Nobles were singing, laughing, and enjoying themselves. This was the kind of gathering of nobles that Michael liked the most. There was no scheming, no polite small talk, only people having fun. The sight made Michael smile, and he suddenly remembered the feasts in the capital for the Festival of Light.

He met his friends only once in the last two years, at the wedding of some important lord, but they were in quite active contact via letters. Michael remembered the last letter he had received. The king had gotten ill. What kind of illness, Zen didn't know, but Michael had sensed the worry from his words, which was mirrored in Mira's letter.

Michael decided that he had had enough and rose from his chair.

"Where are you going?" his cousin Tara asked him, curious.

"Gonna go on a little walk," he replied.

"The solitude of the hunt was addictive then," Tara replied with a knowing smile, which Michael returned.

He walked away from the festivities, having to dodge drunk nobles left and right, but he finally made it out.

Michael breathed in the fresh air as he wandered the outskirts of the camp, aware that Eydis was shadowing him from a little distance. She had a good sense when Michael just wanted to be alone and respected it.

Michael greeted the guards he saw on the way, but then cut right into the forest. He conjured a small light, which was a lot more strain on his mana in the dark. Moonlight was the only source he could draw on.

He wandered for a while, subconsciously following a trail of familiar mana, when he suddenly heard voices he recognized.

"This is so beautiful," Sola said.

Michael followed the voice and found Geron and Sola sitting on a large stone in the middle of a clearing. They were watching the stars above them.

"I would have thought that you would prefer a sunrise over this," Geron said with a chuckle.

Michael could virtually hear Sola roll her eyes as she said, "Me being a light mage doesn't define my whole personality, you know?" Geron only laughed.

Sola's head turned toward Michael when she felt his mana, and she smiled. Michael waved and then turned around, giving them their privacy. Michael knew about their relationship, but not many others did. It was frowned upon for members of the church to marry, even though it was technically allowed, as they would split their time between their duty as a husband or wife and their god, and it was even more frowned upon to have a relationship before marriage, so they just kept it quiet.

Living outside of the castle has been very helpful for that, and they were both very professional about it, most of the time.

He continued walking, letting the sound of the birds and the chirping of insects fill his mind. I will have to marry one day, too, he thought. That day was still far away, though, so he didn't waste any time on it.

The forest opened up in front of him, and he stepped into a small grove. An old oak stood tall, and the open space in front of it was filled with moss-covered rocks. Michael walked into the middle of it, and the fireflies circled around.

He took in the spectacle of the little points of light in the old grove. He grinned as he watched the light show and added his own to it, drawing in the insects. He loved the quiet beauty.