My Last Hunt

Journey (7)

They started their journey again. Wuza was handed responsibility to keep critical lookout in the surrounding; his enhanced senses could work during fast pace without skipping details. Vaga Hillocks spans hundred over miles and every part carry surprises for the hunters. The monsters were usually hidden and apparently it looked peaceful; the hidden dangers might remain hidden unless triggered. Sometimes it turned otherwise for no specific reason. The drizzling increased the slipperiness on the ground where the monster was not hidden under the ground so naturally anyone who wanted fast pace had to slower down in case slipping send them in the hell holes. 

Vaga Hillocks hosted all types of monsters with difference of their levels. For the level five hunters most of the hunting methods were mystery until they reach the Hightown and get selected in any of the Three Schools of Hunting or the Guild campuses. Mostly hunters related to any Guild have bits of information on the least methods for example Blood Hunting, Meat Hunting and Typical Hunting. The Azzura Continent hosted Typical Hunters and a very little numbers of Meat Hunters. So the information regarding these two types can be found in the scripts in the old bookstore. 

Qiao was short of time so he skipped most of the wandering and unnecessary information about the number of Guilds as well as the actual population references. He once went in the lower town for buying the fleece later he got busy with level up. He did not venture the normal population and how they spend their lives; what were their sources of living and how they meet their daily needs. There was one more aspect and it was about hunting; how do they decide which of their kin's could succeed in hunting or level up. 

The people were usually forced to earn spoils at first. It was because their living needed wealth to buy food. Most of the human towns were not advanced. Their concerns and likelihood was different according to their necessities. Working for money was most common; they built raw houses according to their sources. For example if a person wanted to shelter his family first he need to consider his sources. Being poor he cannot afford expensive workers and costly material so he remained contented on the temporary but strong tents. Those who could afford with the fact that one or two men from their family happened to be hunter; they could order to build a better house. 

When a common human decides to go on the journey of hunting; he would say goodbye to his family once for all; it was common fact that most of the normal humans cannot survive in the hunting world. The normal population was guarded by the strong Hunters so they take it as the safest place where they were out of danger hence going for hunting meant throwing life in the peril. Nonetheless if a hunter returned after a year with some spoils; his family would celebrate this occasion thinking that perhaps the next year might not be the alike blessed. 

It can be said that the human population was divided between normal humans and the hunters regardless the types of hunting. The normal humans vie for level up after witnessing the grandeurs of the Middletown and the big markets bustling with sources and opportunities. They force their families to become a part of this advanced living of the hunters. They live in lodges which were lot better than the tents. Eat better food to their tastes however it demanded something in return. The humans with guts might choose to abandon the useless living in the lower towns and become ambitious. 

No matter what circumstances led the normal human to become hunter; it was beneficial for the balance of power between humans and monsters. Most of the humans start it as their responsibility to add their efforts in the stream of struggle and maintain their freedom. They eventually reach the higher grades known as the Hunter Kings and respected wherever they venture. Most of the normal population prospers under their guard. They were the real guardians of the lower towns and live hundreds of years to protect the population. At the end of their life span; the responsibility was handed to another Hunter King. 

Few of the retired hunters were also part of these towns. After returning from the hunting world; they built their own colonies and hire normal people for rest of their lives and spend their time leisurely. After a long struggle; many wished to live peacefully before retiring for death. No one was forced otherwise hence they were worry-free. The hunting was a profession which can only be learned with the will and the senior hunters were very well acquainted about this fact. 

They would not wish to throw a normal human in front of a monster to get trampled when he was unwilling for the hunting. The later rules and regulations were for the betterment however few surely neglect them. They did not care about the restrictions and only follow their personal motifs. Any hunter could end up in front of such crude hunters and it was unavoidable. There were not specific terms issued to point out their identity from the Hightown because the Hightown was doing a thorough investigation. Only that they were no more called humans. Since they were labeled as 'Lost Ventures'; they can't live among humans or hunters. 

They live among monsters in the forests and the uncertified areas were their habitats. Vaga Hillocks was not part of the Middletown or the part of any island under the hunters so it was naturally their habitat. They were temporarily called lost ventures and the normal hunters has no clue about their existences because they were not allowed to wander in the uncertified areas without permission. The permission was granted in the ongoing season for the reason that many hunters cross Vaga Hillocks in the same time of year. It was to avoid the risk. 

…

"Brother Hunter; my elders used to say that the areas shorn of the prudence of the associations were not risk free." Wuza spoke dry when he voiced this time. His senses were sending some alerts but he was unable to spot anything unusual. "This is why 'ignorance is called bliss'*(the saying 'Ignorance is bliss' originates in Thomas Gray's poem "Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College") sometimes else none of us have taken courage to cross Vaga Hillocks." Qiao has some understanding about the nature of this world and how mysteriously the elders kept the secrets hidden from normal hunters. 

"What? How ignorance can be bliss?" Wuza was stunned to hear and asked. "In a way your three blood hunter clans are living in the dens without any worry of the world; if they suddenly come to know that the monsters were about to take hold on the world, would they still choose to act the same way?" Qiao asked. This made Wuza fell in the conflict of argument. "I know nothing about others; my choice would be to fight back." Wuza spoke determined. "How come? Did you forget that your clans are restricted for any type of actions?" Qiao shrugged his shoulders ready to hear the answer. 

"I am sure the elder would hold back restrictions when the circumstances went wild." Wuza tightened his chest. "This is so the hunters cannot back down in the times of dangers for the whole race of humans. Then they did not need the rules to follow only the force to fight and battle." There was difference in the normal peaceful days and the battle scenario. The battle always carry single plan and that was to defend against the enemy. "Does brother hunter means that if there is danger in our surrounding then we can go all out to get rid it?" Wuza was looking stupefied. "For sure else we would perish in the Vaga Hillocks and our dead bodies might become food of the monsters." This time Lowa added in the conversation. She cannot tell the level of danger however going all out would be the last option. 

Lowa was not thinking any other danger but the team of huntresses. They would show up soon and she might be looking foolish again. Qiao cannot stop her since she had already received two fatal injuries back then. 

She was reaching the peak of level four and soon would break through level five; he has no idea whether she was seriously affected or there was chance for her to mend the inner damage? She might have advanced but because two fatal injuries she might not be able to cross further from the level seven at most. It was destined with her injuries however her uncle would never reveal it to her. Qiao was only being optimistic. He was now trying to decipher the words of the blood hunter as to what kind of unseen danger was awaiting them?