Ashborn watched as she stood there looking around the dark forest, she obviously could not see her foe, she climbed a tree, he could understand her reasoning, she obviously does not believe it could climb or jump that high.
That tree did stand at around 50 metres high, it was very tall however she clearly did not understand the capabilities of her opponent, assuming an enemy you know nothing about can't do something is foolish.
He wasn't experienced, infact his experience was barely above hers but even he understood that. Another mistake she had made, probably her biggest mistake was letting fear consume her.
She was nolonger hunting it, she was running, she had allowed herself to become prey. Shade, get ready. If her life was in danger, he and shade would interfere but otherwise, they will just stand back and watch.
He could see the jackal running around in the forest below, it turned and went for the tree she was climbing, with a jump it was already below her.
She panicked and almost fell, he could see the fear in her eyes as she tried to climb faster but how could she outrun it, it bit her left foot and dragged her down.
They both fell down, he was just about to jump in and rescue her when she swung her dagger and drew a long gash on it face that reached all the way to it long ear.
The jackal wailed and ran off, he could still see it circling around her, trying to attack from a blindspot but she kept turning around in circles.
Her left foot was bleeding and she was moving much slower and clumsier than before, she was basically dragging her foot, there was no way she could continue this fight.
He silently landed on tree close to her, do you need help?, he asked.
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Do you need help? Thea heard a familiar voice, she was startled for a second but turned around and saw him, the crazy bastard who put her in this situation. He was standing on a branch looking all cool, like this is not his fault.
His question registered a second later, does she.. does she really need help? Ofcourse she does, she was terrified, she had thought she would die multiple times.
She had once believed having a bloodline would make her life simple but now she realised, being a bloodline holder doesn't automatically make you strong enough to be safe from dangers.
Yes you would be stronger and longer lived than those without but at the end of the day your life would still be in ad much danger as the others if not more in this accursed world.
Why? She asked with a soft voice. Why what? Why am I so weak! I have a bloodline don't I? So why as I still so weak, tears started streaming down her face? Who said you are weak?
I can't even defeat a single beast, aren't bloodline holders supposed to be the defenders of humanity against these things? How can I defend anyone like this.
She could barely see his figure even with her good eyesight, her tears were clouding her vision. I don't know, she was surprised by his answer.
I haven't been a bloodline holder much longer than you, barely over a month actually. I've never once left our little town except when hunting in the forest like this.Besides the two of us, the only other bloodline holder I knew was Tiger.
And I'm not sure if you noticed but that man was far from being a defender of humanity so I don't know if that what bloodline holders are supposed to to do. Sometimes she forgot he was even younger than she was.
As I said before, my experience is not much higher than yours but what I do know is you're stupid. That caught her by surprise, she did not expect to be called stupid.
You may have a higher grade bloodline, normally that would make one stronger but you're comparing yourself to a beast. They larger, faster, have claws as sharp as daggers, fangs like swords and skin like armour.
Even with a lower grade bloodline, it is still stronger, faster and more ferocious than you, you may be better in some aspects but you'll never be truly stronger in every way compared to them.
However humans are different, we're weak, born without a bloodline, our skins are soft and our bones are brittle, but we have something, something they don't, can you tell what that is?
She looked at him with surprise, of everything she did not expect that kind of speech from him, her will was ignited once more.
Something humans have that beast don't, she thought deeply about it, intelligence she answered with confidence. Wrong, not every beast is stupid Thea.
Take this one for example, does it look like it lacks intelligence to you? Now that she thought about it showed a level of intelligence she didn't think was possible for a beast.
No that was wrong, she had met one more intelligent, Ashborns pet, Shade, now she was confused, if it wasn't intelligence then what was it?
I....I don't know. Adaptability, he answered, they are born with claws but they are also stuck with them, what they have cannot be changed, if it doesn't work then they are doomed, because of that we can plan ahead, use what they are weak against and there's nothing they can do about it.
They are born stronger but can they truly utilise that strength to it full potential? We on the other hand can turn their claws into daggers, their hides into armour and bones into spears.
We can adapt to any situation if we have the will, so stop trying to compete with it where it has an advantage, stop relying on speed and strength, use what whatever you can to win but your most glaring weakness Thea, you lack will, you lack the will to kill.
You desire to end it life is not as strong it desire to consume your flesh, your lack of will let fear fester into your heart and cloud your mind.
Will, I lack the will to kill? He was right,she thought of this entire thing as mere practice, she didn't really have much desire to kill the beast.
How does one even go about increasing the will to kill? , I don't even hate this beast. I don't know, he replied but I can tell you how I did it.
She listened intently. I needed strength, strength to free myself from the miserable fate of living like a rat in fear my whole life, strength to live like a king.
I know it sounds shallow but it was mine, it is mine, it's my dream, my goal, my desire and if some beasts need to die to achieve it, then I'll gladly send their souls to the afterlife, besides, doing so keeps some people safe, so that a bonus.
So ask yourself Thea, what is your goal? What reason would be strong enough for you to take the lives of creatures you bear no hatred for without hesitation?
My goal, she whispered I....I don't know, I don't know if I would call it a goal but I want to live, I want a better life, one without constant fear of death.
Then use it. She heard him say in a strangely enchanting voice.