Chapter 4 - 04 - The Way Forward
POV Hontar Adoldia
My name is Hontar Adoldia, a warrior from the Doldia tribe. You could say I'm relatively strong—if I had to estimate, I'd say I'm at the level humans would consider "advanced" among warriors, which makes me one of the strongest in the tribe.
I've never left the Great Forest, except for one time when I joined an expedition to rescue our enslaved people. It was also when I met and saved my wife, Selene Adoldia. Perhaps because she had been influenced by human society and had lived much of her life as a slave, she was different, but not in a bad way. When I saw the lifeless look in her eyes turn to radiant hope after I rescued her, I had already fallen in love.
Selene didn't stop me when I confessed my love. It was more as though she had been eagerly waiting for it. She never spoke much about her time as a slave, saying it was a dark period, in contrast to her current cheerful and affectionate self. It was as if every second after that was making up for the lost years.
But I wasn't complaining. It was that kindness and brightness that made me fall in love with her in the end.
Our life reached its peak after the mating season. Selene was pregnant, and I was so excited, but I made sure to keep my exterior calm and serious. Selene, in contrast to what I expected, was calm and relaxed, not seeming worried at all, just genuinely happy.
Her pregnancy wasn't without complications. The baby moved a lot, and with each movement came a wave of pain for Selene. It got serious enough for me to seek help from an elf healer, Verdia, who owed me a favor. With her overseeing the pregnancy and casting healing spells when necessary, the baby was finally born. The birth itself wasn't difficult; just the tribe's midwife was there, and that was enough. When I saw him healthy, I was overjoyed.
Watching Rygar grow up was like watching a storm form on the horizon: unpredictable, powerful, and significant. From a young age, he showed something special. His eyes, his reactions, his curiosity, and especially the intensity I felt whenever I paid attention to him.
Once again, I wasn't complaining. My life couldn't have been more perfect. I had an heir, and his talent was astonishing. I was worried at first because he reminded me of Ghislaine, the beast girl from the Dedoldia tribe. Her feral instincts were so strong that she was more beast than man, and she really couldn't live in society. But, fortunately, my son didn't have that problem. He was the complete opposite—very intelligent, learning and absorbing everything around him quickly.
His immense strength and intelligence started making me think: maybe he would be the one to take the beast race to a new level. As a result, I began pushing him harder, giving him challenge after challenge, which he solved with masterful ease. I could never show much pride, but when I felt his gaze on me, I felt as if he could see right through me. My son was sometimes frightening.
Another thing that surprised me: Verdia, contrary to what she had intended, became attached to my son. She had initially planned to leave after confirming he was healthy, but due to his persistent attachment, she decided to stay a few more years until he grew up. Elves are strange when it comes to time—what feels like nothing to them could be years to us.