The Twin Mage

The following morning, as the sun painted the horizon with golden hues, Arthur stood in front of Selia's house. His small fist knocked on the door, his expression a mixture of determination and nervousness. The door opened, and Selia, a seasoned hunter with sharp eyes and weathered hands, looked down to see a young boy—his brown hair streaked with silver and darkness, and his striking lapis-blue eyes shining with resolve.

Selia tilted her head, smirking. "What can I do for you, little one?"

Arthur squared his shoulders. "Can you teach me how to skin and gut?"

Selia crossed her arms, studying him with curiosity. "And what's in it for me?"

Arthur replied confidently, "You can keep half of all the skins."

Intrigued, Selia tapped her chin in thought before nodding. "Deal. But how do you plan on hunting?"

Arthur raised his hand and conjured several arrows made of fire, launching them swiftly at a nearby tree branch. The flames hissed as the arrows pierced through with precision, leaving a faint crackling sound behind. Selia's eyebrows shot up, impressed.

"Alright, I'll teach you. But first, you'll need to bring your own kills for me to work with."

Arthur nodded, and soon after, he disappeared into the woods. Using his Darkness Magic, he cloaked his movements, leaping from tree to tree with the aid of light platforms he conjured. Infusing his eyes with Light Magic to activate Life Vision, he scanned the forest, seeing the living beings in vibrant colors against a dull grey backdrop.

Eventually, he spotted three "blinkers," small, quick birds perched in a tree. With a combination of Wind Magic, he conjured two vortexes spinning in opposite directions, snapping the birds' necks painlessly. Noticing two squirrels nearby, he swiftly dispatched them with precision magic and carried his game back to Selia's house.

Selia greeted him with an approving nod, handing him a small wooden-handled knife. "Rule number one," she began, "bleed out the game as soon as possible. Make a deep incision in the neck, hang them upside down, and let the blood drain. If the blood clots, the meat's ruined."

Arthur set to work, using his magic to form an ice blade in place of a knife. He cleanly beheaded the blinkers and used the actual knife on the squirrels. Selia watched, whistling in approval. "Nice trick. You don't shy away from blood, do you?"

Arthur shook his head. "No. I see them as food. That's all."

Selia grinned. "Good attitude for a hunter."

As they worked, Selia asked, "Why come to me instead of asking your parents? Don't farmers usually know how to do this?"

Arthur hesitated, then replied, "Because this is something I need to do for myself." He paused, then confided, "My family works hard, but it's not enough. My older brother… he doesn't make it easy. He blames me for everything—says I'm a burden because of how much I eat, or because I use magic while he works in the fields. Things got worse when he started taking it out on my little sister, Tista, who's sick."

Selia's expression hardened. "That's rough, kid. Your brother sounds like a piece of work."

Arthur clenched his fists. "I don't hate him, but I won't let him touch anything I hunt. Not after what he's said."

Selia nodded solemnly. "Fair enough. Let's get back to work."

Selia guided Arthur through skinning a squirrel, showing him how to pinch the hide and create an opening. Arthur followed her instructions, finding the process both gruesome and fascinating. Once the skin was off, Selia demonstrated how to carefully gut the animal, warning him to avoid puncturing the bladder or intestines.

After finishing, Selia skewered the squirrels and roasted them over her fireplace. Arthur's mouth watered as the smell of cooking meat filled the room. When the first squirrel was ready, he devoured it with ravenous enthusiasm, much to Selia's amused disbelief.

"Good gods, kid. You eat like you haven't seen food in a week," she teased.

Unbothered, Arthur simply licked his fingers clean, his hunger unabated. "It was good. Can I have the second one?"

Selia handed it over with a laugh. "You're something else."

After their snack, Selia moved on to teaching him how to handle the blinkers. She explained the process of scalding, plucking, and gutting birds, showing Arthur how to control the temperature of the water for proper feather removal. Arthur impressed her again by using his magic to stir the water and regulate its heat precisely.

Once the blinkers were ready for roasting, Arthur built a small outdoor campfire. Using a combination of Fire and Wind Magic, he carefully cooked the bird, adjusting the heat and airflow with meticulous precision. His movements were fluid, almost like a martial arts performance, as he ensured the meat cooked evenly.

The result was a perfectly roasted blinker, its crispy skin glistening with rendered fat. The aroma made Selia's stomach grumble despite her earlier meal. She looked at the boy in disbelief.

"Dammit, kid. You're making me regret not learning magic."

Arthur smiled faintly, offering her a piece. "You should try it. It's not too late."

Selia laughed, taking a bite. "Alright, apprentice. You've passed today's test. Let's see if you can keep up tomorrow."

Arthur nodded, already thinking about his next hunt. For the first time, he felt like he was truly contributing to his family's survival—and carving out a path of his own.