Kian Goldmaul POV

  As we continue walking through the forest, something he mentioned earlier keeps bothering me, so I decide to ask. “Niko, what is knight magic you mentioned just now? I read about it in a book, but it didn't explain anything.”

  He glances at me briefly before answering. “It’s a type of magic used directly on the body. Every knight has to learn it. The magic is mostly enchantments, strengthening muscles, reinforcing bones, sharpening senses, but there’s more to it than just that. Your parents should explain it properly when they start home teaching you. For now, focus on hunting, kid. You’re far too curious about things most normal children would find boring and try to avoid like a plague.”

  Well obviously, because I’m not a child, I think to myself, rolling my eyes internally. Not like I can say that out loud.

  “So what now?” I ask as we head in a slightly different direction.

  “You’re going to shoot down a mutated rabbit,” he says calmly. “We’re heading to one with a small pack so it’ll be easier for me to explain its position and for you to spot it.”

  “The one you’ll shoot and hopefully not miss, it has a jumping mutation, from what I can tell.”

  My eyes widen slightly in surprise. “You can tell that from here?”

  He nods without hesitation. “Yes. You’ll learn to do the same, and even better, when you’re old enough.”

  Then he smiles faintly. “Although, you’ll suffer at first. Even the lowest type of this magic floods your mind with information. It’s tiring until your body and mind adapt.”

  I nod and continue walking slightly behind him, falling into silence as I focus on keeping my steps quiet.

  After about fourteen minutes, we arrive roughly forty meters away from the pack.

  Without Niko needing to say anything, I instinctively slow my breathing and movements, careful not to make any noise as we approach.

  Once we reach about twenty meters, he stops. “Alright, kid. The one jumping around on the right, near the flowers that one. It has a small gray patch on its back.”

  I follow his description and quickly locate it.

  “Prepare your arrow,” he continues, “and wait for it to stop moving. You’re not ready yet to shoot a target that small while it’s moving, especially from this distance.”

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  I nod and reach behind me, pulling out an arrow and placing it carefully on the bow. I keep my eyes locked on the rabbit, waiting patiently for an opening.

  A minute passes. Then another. Finally, the rabbit stops hopping and begins looking around curiously, unaware of the danger.

  I don’t hesitate. I start pulling the string back, pause for a few seconds to make sure it won’t suddenly move, then release.

  The arrow flies true, hitting its target. Even after being shot, the rabbit kicks its legs instinctively, jumping nearly ten meters in the direction it was facing before collapsing lifelessly onto the ground.

  “Woah,” I say softly. “The one you missed yesterday didn’t jump that far.”

  Niko nods. “Unlike that one, this rabbit jumped purely by instinct. It didn’t think, just reacted. That’s why it moved so recklessly without accounting for direction or height.”

  He starts walking toward where it fell. “Let’s go.”

  I follow him.

  When we reach it, Niko removes the arrow that pierced through its body. “It looks no different from ordinary ones,” I say, looking closely at its legs and fur.

  “Exactly,” he replies. “That’s what I was explaining earlier. On the outside, they’re usually indistinguishable from normal animals.”

  He places the rabbit into the bag. “Well then, there’s no need to hunt anymore. I thought we’d do this for a few more days so you could get used to it, but you adapted fast. No—adapted isn’t the right word. You didn’t even hesitate when shooting. Let’s head back. I’ll call your father so he can bring us home.”

  …

  …

  …

  As we pass through the portal, the familiar sight of our backyard greets me, along with my father standing a few meters in front of it.

  My father glances at Niko before turning his gaze toward me. “So, how did our little buddy do?” he asks, directing the question more at Niko than me.

  “Pretty well,” Niko says, placing a hand on my head. “Way better than I did when I first went hunting—and he’s younger than I was back then.”

  Niko hands the bag to my father, grinning. “Here’s his prize.”

  Father opens it and smiles widely. “Haha! A mutated rabbit on his first day? I don’t know anyone who did that while being under ten.” He laughs loudly. “Hell yeah! My son is without a doubt a genius.”

  Niko coughs, snapping my father out of his laughter.

  “Oh, right, right. And you, Kian, how was it? Did you feel any discomfort?”

  I shake my head. “No, I’m okay. I didn’t feel anything. It was… a little fun too.”

  “Good, good! Then we have to celebrate,” my father says after studying my expression to make sure I’m not just acting brave.

  After that, the bag he was holding disappears, and he picks me up.

  We enter the house, and I notice the bag is already in the kitchen.

  …

  …

  …

  The celebration is simple but warm. My mom cooks the rabbits Niko and I hunted—yes, all four of them—along with several side dishes. It’s no surprise she prepared so much food, considering all three of them eat far more than an average person.

  My parents each have an entire rabbit on their plates, while I get a smaller portion. My body simply can’t eat as much as theirs.

  Not like I could eat like them even in my past life, when I was a grown adult. I think to myself.

  I start eating while they chatter among themselves, occasionally including me so I don’t feel left out.

  I take a bite of the rabbit leg. Hmm… this tastes better than ordinary rabbit meat.

  “You noticed?” my mom asks. “That’s a mutated rabbit leg. They generally taste better than normal ones, if cooked right.”

  I nod after hearing her explanation.

  Chapter end