Chapter 4
The Hunt And The Stranger.
The Hunt and the Stranger
The forest was alive with early morning sounds — birds chirping, leaves rustling in the gentle wind.
Sam moved silently, every step measured. His palms brushed against tree bark, noting its texture, density, and faint residual mana.
He had spent the last day improving his bow. AIRS had guided him through:
AIRS
Optimal material selection complete.
Core strength: 93% of tensile limit.
String tension calibrated for maximum energy transfer.
The bow felt perfect in his hands — lightweight, flexible, deadly precise. He nocked an arrow and drew the string. The bow hummed softly.
This forest was his lab.
Hours passed. He stalked a deer, analyzing its movements. AIRS provided a constant mental overlay:
AIRS
Target trajectory calculated. Estimated kill probability: 86%.
Wind speed: 4.2 m/s.
Arrow drop: 0.38 meters over 35 meters.
Sam adjusted slightly. The deer froze. His breathing remained calm. He released the arrow.
It struck perfectly — a clean kill.
He approached the animal. Efficient. No waste. Respect for life — taught by the elder.
AIRS
Protein yield sufficient for five days.
Recommended preservation: smoking or refrigeration with cold air.
Sam nodded. AIRS' calm, analytical voice was already part of him.
As he prepared the meat for carrying:
AIRS
Unknown presence detected nearby.
Sam quickly grabbed his bow and stepped back, aiming toward the source.
A young boy emerged from behind a tree. Sam barely noticed him — only AIRS had detected his presence.
The boy froze a few steps away, staring at the bow in awe. He seemed about Sam's age, dressed in fine linen with the insignia of a nearby village.
Sam's instincts sharpened. Observe first. Threat level unknown.
The boy stepped forward slowly.
"Wh-who are you?" he stammered.
"I'm Sam. I live in this forest," Sam replied calmly. "And you?"
"I… I am the young master of my tribe," the boy said. "People call me Young Master Lie."
The boy's gaze dropped to the bow. His jaw tightened.
"That… that bow!" he exclaimed. "Where did you get it?"
Sam smiled faintly, hiding the faint mana along his fingers.
"Made it myself," he said simply.
He held the bow out to the boy but stayed alert, ready to react if needed.
The boy's eyes widened. "Impossible! That string… the curve… even the draw weight! It's perfect!"
AIRS
Caution advised. Observer detected human intelligence beyond average.
Risk of exposure: moderate.
Sam ignored it, his mind calculating. Keep calm. Don't reveal magic. This world doesn't understand it.
"I… thank you for the compliment," Sam said. "But it's just skill. Nothing more."
The boy blinked, impressed but confused. "Skill? You're a master then… young master?"
Sam chuckled lightly. "Just… careful."
The boy nodded slowly, still staring at the bow, then handed it back to Sam.
"I… I must return to my tribe," he said. "They will be worried if I don't get back soon."
Sam watched him go, calm as ever, cataloguing the encounter.
AIRS
Human interaction logged. Attention level: heightened.
Recommendation: maintain secrecy regarding magical ability.
Sam nodded to himself. Secrecy first. Observation second. Patience always.
The forest whispered again. Kingdoms fought beyond its edges. Nobles schemed. Magic users stumbled in ignorance.
And Sam had time.
Time to prepare. Time to learn. Time to build.
End Of Chapter 4
To Be Continued....