By Lake Onyx

Night.

Anna's grandfather had only one arm and one eye left, but even so, he was still one of the luckiest among countless hunters.

Few hunters lived to his age. Most, like Reilo's Father, ultimately died at the hands of their prey. After all, ordinary beasts and Magical Beasts were far too different. Before a Magical Beast, an ordinary hunter was merely a two-legged animal.

Anna's Father was an honest farmer who tilled land for the baron in town, while her mother was a housewife who did needlework to help support the family.

In the firelight, Anna held a soup bowl. She seemed to already know what the next topic would be, keeping her head lowered shyly without saying a word.

"Come, Reilo, eat more. Only when you are full will you have more strength to devote to the God of Light."

Anna's grandfather smiled, shedding his usual sternness. It was clear that he truly liked Reilo—or rather, he liked him because of Reilo's Father.

"Grandfather, I'm really full."

This was already the third time Reilo had explained it. He smiled helplessly.

Anna's Grandfather looked at Anna, who sat beside them with her head lowered in silence, then at Reilo. Slowly, he said, "Reilo, have you truly decided to serve the great God of Light for your entire life? Oh, don't misunderstand. Grandfather is also a loyal believer in the God of Light, but... in serving the God of Light, you could choose to become a Light Knight. After all, Light Knights can marry and have children."

Reilo understood grandfather's meaning and said quietly, "Because my mother had a difficult childbirth, my body will have a hard time meeting the requirements to become a Light Knight."

Disappointment showed on grandfather's face.

"Ah, what a pity. If Anna could be with you, then I would be at ease."

Grandfather sighed and said no more.

Reilo secretly glanced at Anna. Seeing the firelight reflected on her freckled cheeks, seeing the shy yet disappointed look in her eyes as she looked at him, Reilo could not help recalling the innocent, carefree days they had shared as children.

If I weren't a Descendant of a Witcher, if I could become a Light Knight and live here with her for the rest of my life, always simple and happy, how wonderful would that be?

At that thought, Reilo hid the disappointment and sadness in his heart. A contented smile appeared on his face as he said excitedly and hopefully, "Praise the Lord! Just yesterday, I received the Church's special grace. They have decided to send me to a remote town called Sophiel, where I will spread the Lord's light as an Apprentice Missionary. I can finally devote my whole life to the Lord!"

"Ah!"

Hearing Reilo say this, everyone gathered around the hearth revealed delighted expressions. Even Anna, amid her inner disappointment, sincerely blessed him and assumed a praying posture.

Half a month later.

The ice and snow melted, and all things came back to life.

Meltwater gathered in Lake Onyx beside the town. Emerald ripples reflected the tender buds on the lakeshore branches. People stepped over muddy ground and began the labor of the new year. In the fields, they listened to the distant bells of the church; among the hills and farmland, they prayed for a good harvest and did all they could to praise the God of Light.

Though life was poor and exhausting, people were easily content. Simple smiles appeared on their weary faces.

Reilo stood at the edge of town with a travel chest strapped to his back. He turned and gave Agate Town by Lake Onyx one final look. The reluctance in his eyes gradually became resolve.

"Father, Mother, I'm leaving!"

Reilo turned around and departed resolutely.

Walking along the muddy road, Reilo's eyes reddened slightly. He was leaving behind everything familiar and setting out on an unknown journey. He did not know when he would return, or perhaps whether he would ever return at all.

His leather shoes followed the muddy tracks left by carriage wheels, though splashing mud inevitably dirtied his clothes. His father had said that following this road through Demon Eagle Forest would lead him to Saint Grand Fort, the capital of the Grand Duchy.

No one in Agate Town noticed the boy who had once aspired to become a Missionary quietly leaving. To the town, he was insignificant. Perhaps only when next year's qualification selection arrived would the priest remember the believer who had always lingered at his side in previous years, wondering why he had not appeared this year.

He walked like this for nearly two hours.

Gradually, farmland gave way to shrubs.

As far as the eye could see, there was no longer any trace of human habitation. In the distance, endless tall trees were turning green, and several Bat-Rats faintly leaped through the woods.

Ahead lay Demon Eagle Forest, the destination of the town's hunters.

Legend had it that deep within Demon Eagle Forest lived a flock of terrifying Demon Eagles. Any prey caught in their gaze would have its soul frozen before being hunted down. No one could escape their talons.

Besides that, there were other unimaginable, terrifying creatures deep in the forest. All manner of monsters and Magical Beasts roamed there. Only some powerful mercenary groups dared attempt to explore its depths in search of wealth.

Fortunately, this road only passed along the edge of Demon Eagle Forest. Merchant caravans often traveled through it, and normally no Magical Beasts appeared. At most, there would only be ordinary wild beasts.

After his brief initial sadness, Reilo found himself nearing the Magical Beast forest, farther than he had ever explored before. Yet deep in his heart, an inexplicable excitement seemed to suddenly arise.

It was as though the cells in his body, dormant for more than ten years, were cheering. They were thrilled at escaping the dull, monotonous life of the town, leaping with anticipation for the brand-new life about to begin, eager to explore everything unknown beyond and see the vast world outside.

Even Reilo's steps seemed to grow lighter.

Thinking about it now, had his years of Pious Faith in the God of Light not begun with the desire to leave town, to travel as a Missionary to unknown places he had never visited?

"Heave-ho, heave-ho..."

The shouts of several men drifted from far ahead on the muddy road.

Surprised, Reilo quickened his pace slightly. After passing through the small patch of shrubs ahead, he saw several men carrying a fat Black-skinned Wild Boar toward him, heading back to town.

Reilo did not recognize them. They were probably hunters from a nearby village. Delighted by their bountiful catch, the hunters greeted him from afar when they saw him.

"Kid, heading into the forest alone?"

The speaker was a rugged man with a full beard, a full head taller than Reilo. Taking advantage of the greeting, he stopped to rest for a moment and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

The other two hunters sat down beside the wild boar, lit their pipes, and took out dried meat to chew on.

"It stayed so fat after an entire winter!"

Reilo looked at the black wild boar, flattered them with a remark, then replied, "Yes, I'm going to Saint Grand Fort."

"Haha, we have the God of Light's blessing to thank for letting us catch this big fellow. We were just planning to carry it to the church first and offer its fattest leg to the priest!"

At the mention of the God of Light, the two hunters resting nearby hurriedly assumed praying postures, afraid that their disrespect might cause them to lose their good fortune from then on. Reilo also hurriedly did the same.

Was it truly because of the God of Light's blessing?

Did the God of Light truly remember every believer's devotion?

After the bearded hunter laughed heartily, he looked Reilo's thin frame over and frowned as he cautioned, "Although this road only passes through the edge of the forest and there usually aren't any Magical Beasts, wandering wild beasts are dangerous too. After the long winter, the beasts have all come out to forage. Be careful on your own."

Having encountered such simple, kindhearted hunters just after leaving town, Reilo felt warmth rise in his heart. "It's all right. I brought some beast repellent."

Beast repellent was the local term used by Agate Town's hunters. It was made by grinding Magical Beast droppings into powder. Wild beasts had extremely sensitive noses, so when hunters rested in the forest, they would often scatter some around themselves to prevent danger.

Hearing that Reilo had brought beast repellent, the bearded man grinned and said no more.

After saying farewell to them, Reilo continued onward. Before long, he truly entered Demon Eagle Forest, and the men disappeared from sight.

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