The cold snow fiercely made it's way down to the ground. It had completely covered the forest ground that surrounded the village and had pushed several of the animals living in the forest out and brought a new ecosystem in.
The village though looked the same as it always did. If you saw the village only you would not think that it was snowing heavily.
"Light the torches!! And don't forget them to enchant them" A big muscular man holding a damaged sword in one hand said
"ON IT!" Several men responded as they rushed to the torches that stood on the fence of the village.
After lighting them they placed their hands on the torch and said a single word.
"PROTECTION" suddenly the space around the torch began to glow a feint green and the snow could no longer dim the flames.
The village fence had been lit up along with the center of the village where a large flame had been lit. This flame was controlled but was not covered by any spell as it had been lit by a level 1 flame stone that the village acquired from the baron.
That was the only support they got from the baron but they couldn't complain as they were lucky to get something.
This village had 53 hut houses each the same size a tiny room forced to fit a family.
In the large hut all the women gathered there and as they lifted the food (plants, herbs and dead animals) to the fire along with a giant black pot.
As the women cooked and the men secured the premises. The kids swung their sticks in the motion of a sword, clashing with each other.
"Fall Amber for you are no match for the great Duncan." Duncan said as he repeatedly swung his sword straight down on Amber's sword.
"I got you where I want you. Flame phoenix!" Amber yelled out as she raised her towards Duncan.
Duncan put his hands in the shape of an X and snickered "You are no match for my GREAT! BLOCKING! SHIELD!"
The kids continued to fight as an old lady made her way into the hut holding her back.
"Oh I'm getting too old for this" She said but was drowned out by the kids play fighting
"HIYA!" "HIYA!" "HIYA!" "HIYA!" the words repeated by each kid
"WILL YOU SHUT UP!" finally the old lady snapped.
The kids immediately put down their sticks as well as their heads.
"Sorry Mamoshka" they said in unison
The old lady then got up and began sorting the ingredients for cooking.
"i cast flame phoenix burn forever" Amber whispered
"great shield activated" Duncan retorted
And as quickly as they ended was as quickly as they resumed. The playfighting and the noise continued with Mamoshka being forced to endure it.
Back in the forest.
A white wolf with red eyes wondered around. Its fur blended in with snow making only the eyes a sign of its presence.
Covered behind a tree was the muscular man (Gerald). No sound was made, no movement was made as even a leaf falling could alert the wolfs super sensitive hearing and the wolf could see objects kilometers away as though they were in front of it.
This was the power of a D rank monster after all. Gerald had sent all his men away as a stealth approach was the only solution. Though this meant if the wolf saw him he would die but even if the whole village fought the wolf they would all die.
So Gerald continued waiting for the wolf. Suddenly the wolf looked away, turning to a nightcrow that suddenly appeared.
Gerald immediately fired the poisoned arrow in his hand. The sound the arrow made alerted the wolf it turned its head to the arrows direction leading to a perfect headshot.
The wolf trembling a little bit but it was too late after a while it fell to its death.
"FFFFOOOODDDD!!!" Gerald yelled out even alerting the animals in the forest.
The men then returned each with small E-rank animals, their jaws dropped at the sight of the wolf.
Whispers could be heard among the men.
"Of course it had to be him" One of the man said
"Gerald the man closest to being a knight" He continued
"Gerald when you get famous remember us"
"Send us some money"
"And women!"
The men said as they celebrated Gerald. Gerald smiled at their comments he picked up the wolf with vigor and put it on his back.
"Lets head for the village, men!!!!" He rallied them
"YESSS!!" and they responded in kind.
Back at the hut.
Mamoshka had already made the soup aswell cut the bread evenly for everyone.
The kids still continued playing although some began cheating.
"No fair Duncan you used great shield more than 20 times not even Grey can do that" Amber said
"I am king of the world i am greater than grey" Duncan said in return while pointing at himself in pride.
"Duncan dont cheat" Ian said trying to win Ambers approval
"I'm not cheating you should have just made a stronger character. My character has the most mana, can use every spell, has 4 abilities, can auto heal as well as control animals. I'm just playing the game" Duncan proudly boasted
"Fine then my character has the mostest mana and has 5 abilities as well as everything you have" Amber retorted
"No fair" "Yes fair" "No fair" "Yes fair" "No fair" Duncan and Amber went back and forth which word leading them closer to each other until they were face to face and had to held back by their friends.
"Will you kids shut up and get ready for the meat to arrive" Mamoshka said
The kids separated each getting knives and utensils ready.
"You know magic isn't all that its cut out to be. Trust me the war taught me that. Magic and death are the same. People will betray others for magic and families will kill each other for magic. Its a disease on this Earth. That's all it is." Mamoshka said
The kids listened and went back to organizing the utensils in peace. Until Gerald returned.
He couldn't even pass the door without being bombarded by his adoring kid fans.
"GERALD WE ARE HUNGRY!" "STARVING!" "FOOD!" the kids said while holding on to his legs
Gerald smiled and said
"Dont worry i got it" He crouched before removing the wolf from his back and showing the kids.
Their jaws were on the floor, some even slowly trying to touch the creature.
"Damn now how am i gonna impress my kid" One of the men
"Same even my wife might leave me for him"
The men chuckled
"Atleast we brought home some food so lets be happy with that plus in a few months he'll be gone so no more of this" The men said snickering to themselves.
The night went well for the village. They ate and survived as they always had before.
Somewhere out in the forest far away from the village.
A cloaked figure carrying a baby wandered. She staggered with each step, leaving a trail of blood with each step how much longer could she survive for?
After a while of staggered walking that turned into crawling she finally stopped turning to the baby in her hands and saying
"We should be far away from them here. Lets step up camp"
From her pocket she pulled out a tiny yellow ball and threw it to the ground.
The ball hit the snow breaking, a bright light followed. And house revealed itself.
It was tiny and was fit for one person.
"Sorry baby i would have gotten you a mansion but that would draw too much attention."
The lady and the baby walked in the tiny house. She placed the baby down before collapsing on the floor.
"FUCK! I need to get up" She said while holding the hole in the side of her chest.
She tried to get up but fell each time. She reached her hand out towards the baby.
"live... your .... l life