Setting out

The coldness in his skin had been increasing over the past few weeks, and Hunter felt as though it were trying to tell him something. That is was time to move on, perhaps.

He had been living in Havenwood for a year, and grown to love the people who lived there. They were a simpler folk - he had lived much of his previous life in a castle, among royalty and scholars, and to truly live with farmers and ranchers had been a humbling and informative time. He had learned to make use of his strength in ways that benefitted life, rather than protecting and destroying it, as once he had. But in his time, he had not been able to regain his lost memories, and he had been isolated from the rest of the world. He knew that the monstrous black arm he possessed would bring him trouble if he ventured the world, but he felt that that was what he would need to do in order to regain what he had lost.

The townsfolk were very supportive of his decision. They had always been good to him, helping him to adjust and to find work, but they were also all familiar with the legends of Hunter and Sage in the Monster War. They had all seen him emerge from the stone statue that had been a center of their town for so long. It made it hard to argue that he was not the Hunter of legend. They had no belief that he would stay with them forever. Many were surprised that he had stayed with them for as long as he had, but he had come to love them, and in this world of uncertainty and fog, it was good to be around people that he trusted. But he had known that eventually he would have to move on.

The mayor had been kind enough to give him a room to stay in. As he was packing his bag with a few supplies and possessions, the mayor approached and knocked on his door. Hunter looked up at him with a smile. "You know you are welcome."

The mayor smiled back. "Yes, I know. But I will still show you some decency and knock." He stepped into the room, his hands behind his back, and Hunter could see there was something he was holding. The mayor knew he couldn't hide anything from Hunter. He was well acquainted with Hunter's astuteness and observational skills. He pulled the item forth, offering a hand-and-a-half bastard sword, with a weathered but tough looking leather grip, and a well worn sheath to be worn at the hip. Gingerly, Hunter reached out and took the blade, pulling it free from the sheath and examining it. It had been a long time since he had wielded a sword. He wasn't even entirely sure he remembered all the movements. "You might find it useful, out alone in the world as you will be. We both know that arm of yours will bring you unwanted attention. A blade may help reduce it."

Hunter stood up fully and hugged the old man, as though he were a long lost father. "Thank you," he said quietly. "This means more to me than you realize. More than I thought it would."

The mayor chuckled lightly and hugged Hunter in return. "I have no doubt, my boy. Now, I think it's about time you get moving. You can only dawdle around in a town like this for so long."