Chapter 7: The strange manbeast
The woman's eyes widened with awe as she took in the majesty of Aphthonia's sacred lands. It was her first time stepping foot in the forest, and she could feel the weight of its ancient beauty pressing in on her.
She had many tales about its wonders from her fellow huntsmen, and she could finally understand what all the fuss was about. The forest was beautiful in all its natural glory, it felt alive in a way she hadn't imagined, its vibrant greenery stretching endlessly, the air thick with the scent of earth and leaves. As she took in a breath, she inhaled some of the purest air she'd ever encountered. She could feel all her worries and anxieties melting away, and the distant sounds of birds chirping around her made the woman feel at ease. Even if her trip proved to be fruitless, at least she got to gaze at the beauty of the forest.
As she ventured further inside the forest, a path seemed to open up to her, and without realizing it, she was walking closer towards the manbeast she was supposed to fight—negotiate with. Her eyes were peeled and she kept her guard up the entire time as she looked around her surroundings. Even if the forest was beautiful, she wasn't going to let it distract her. She knew she was here for a purpose and wouldn't leave until she had accomplished that purpose.
The man she was looking for was nowhere to be found, so she figured he probably resided further into the forest. "Whoever this guy or beast is, he truly is living the life." She whispered to herself.
Hael who had been observing the woman the entire time finally had enough of being an onlooker and decided to step out, making his presence shown. Suddenly, the young woman felt a tremendous amount of pressure—a strong and intimidating energy that made her take a step back. She felt her body freeze for a moment, and she had to force herself to move by controlling her breathing.
As she was left gasping for air, she couldn't help but wonder what that sudden burst of power was. Perhaps she had imagined it considering how the heavy and imposing energy was so strong it made her knees buckled, something she hadn't experienced since the first time she was put face-to-face with the King of Trojas—Ceremus. She had to look up and make sure that vile man wasn't actually in front of her.
Despite the intimidating energy, she felt no malice or ill intent from it. As she took a cautious step back, trying to put some distance between herself and the oppressive weight of Hael's presence, her foot caught on something solid. She stumbled, the ground shifting beneath her, and instinctively reached out to steady herself. Looking up, she was amazed to see a tall man who towered over her with caramel coloured skin, long white silvery hair that had a few strands braided neatly and tied behind him. The man had the bluest eyes she'd ever seen. They reassembled the still ocean waters she used to visit with her father when she was a child.
The man was enchanting in every aspect of the word, and as she looked into those still waters, she momentarily forgot herself. The manbeast—Hael, looked down at her, his gaze swirling with inquisitiveness and wariness. It was only when the man lifted one of his arms that she regained her bearings and jumped back, taking a fighting stance as she clutched the hilt of her sword.
The only reason Anthanasia hadn't taken her sword out of its sheath was because she didn't sense any killing intent from the man standing before her. She was puzzled as the man made no effort to approach her nor fight her. He simply stood there staring, as if waiting for her to speak.