The Stonehearted Knight
Chapter 199: Hunting at night (1)

Chapter 199: Hunting at night (1)

’What time is it?’

Lying inside the trunk, Hex opened his eyes. He stared into the darkness, sensing his surroundings. Except for insects and smaller animals, nothing seemed near him.

A few days in the central area taught him not to blindly trust his senses. It helped sense dangers, yes, but many times the things it failed to notice turned out to be even more dangerous.

He withdrew some dry rations and stuffed them in his mouth, munching silently on them. They didn’t taste good but he didn’t dare to leave his shelter before he recovered completely.

After downing a couple of regenerative doses, his body’s recovery rate increased. The drinks caused his body to hurt and burn but it would heal his injuries and fatigue as long as he remained inside the trunk.

The concept of time didn’t seem to exist inside his little shelter. He spent some unknown time inside trying to regain as much of his strength as possible.

Simultaneously with the potions, he used his nature elements to heal the injured parts. He also studied the crystal retrieved from the boa. He missed it at first, but when retracting his sword, it cut the crystal from its original location. Hex only pocketed it.

’Red...dark blue...black?’

This supported his conjecture. The higher the stage of the beast or creature in general, the stronger the soul, hence a higher chance of finding the soul remnants.

’I should increase my strength as much as possible before resuming my path,’ Hex decided. His temporary shelter provided enough safety for now to allow him a respite.

He started to refine and absorb the energy and soul remnant. It was hard to determine how much time passed since he entered the trunk. It remained dark inside all the time. Using his body’s response to hunger and thirst, he is estimated to have spent more than a day inside.

’I guess one more day till I am recovered completely,’ Hex thought. ’Luckily I didn’t need to shit or this would turn nasty.’

...

’It finally doesn’t hurt anymore,’ Hex thought as he pressed his thumb on his side. The two ribs he injured seemed to have healed completely. He partially paused his journey to properly heal his bones.

Cuts and wounds could heal while he traveled but injuries to bones and ribs would impede his movement technique. One small mistake and he would disappear in these lands.

With his body recovered, Hex decided to resume his travels. But as he wished to exit the trunk, his senses picked something up. Something he didn’t expect to encounter.

’Humans?’ Hex focused intensively, wondering whether his senses were playing tricks on him. But the energy fluctuations didn’t lie. They belonged to humans. Strong humans.

’There are two...I think. And both are...Refined Knights?’ Hex hid his energy as much as possible while readying himself to fight. It was better to be prepared than deliver oneself on a platter.

Hex also knew that no matter how much he hid his energy, Refined Knights would sense him at a close distance.

’They are coming from another direction than I did. Are they scouts?’ Hex’s mind wandered, thinking about possible reasons for other humans to be present here. ’Perhaps they are other people sent by the governor to find alternate routes. It would make sense, else they are relying on a kid who they don’t think will survive out here.’

Even now he didn’t understand how his death in a forest or desolate place would help the other determine a path to the Temple.

’Perhaps they are people following me?’

While sensing the others, he thought of possibilities and reasons. None could be proven. It was just how his mind worked.

’They are heading toward the eastern side? They are indeed on their path to the Temple?’

Hex waited patiently. Only when he sensed the people disappear, did he crawl out of his shelter inside the trunk.

He surveyed his surroundings first. The crickets and other small creatures were still around. The existence of these cretins served as a signal to warn him about the existence of Calamities. Like the first dome, he noticed that some places remained devoid of lifeforms. Not even insects lived where Calamity struck.

Even though he expected exceptions to this, it was the sole method he knew to avoid areas with dangers exceeding Disasters.

’The sun is about to set.’

Through the tree crowns, he observed the multicolored sky. He preferred to hide during the night. The nocturnal predators possessed enhanced vision and a superior sense of smell. Even his energy sensors couldn’t outmatch the sensory organs of some predators.

’But if I miss this chance, I might remain ignorant about other dangers. And who knows, they could be friends.’

Hex didn’t believe his own inner voice but the reasoning remained valid. He didn’t mind ignoring other creatures for safety’s sake but humans couldn’t be ignored. Strong or weak, they remained an unreliable bunch and could bite in the ass if given the chance.

With his mind made up, he followed the tracks they left. The people in front of him seemed experts. They concealed their tracks. But Hex sensed their direction. With that information, his work became a bit easier.

A broken twig, a flattened grass stalk, and an indent here and there helped him tremendously. He didn’t hurry. Safety first.

’They have stopped. Did they discover something?’

After a while, Hex sensed their energy. He paused, straining his senses. But as time passed, the people remained in one place.

Doubt filled his mind. He hesitated whether to proceed or retreat. ’They aren’t moving at all. Not away, not toward me. Are they resting, perhaps?’

By now, night had fallen. Hex approached their location, extremely cautious about his steps, breath, and the wind. Underestimating Refined Knights would be stupid.

After a while, he noticed a soft glow between the gaps in the bush. Peering through, he saw two figures sitting around a small fire. The fire was small. It wouldn’t warm them or cook their food.

The two people wore robes with large hoods. Seeing the black robes, Hex wondered whether they belonged to the Dawnbringers.

’It’s too soon to reach any conclusion. They could easily belong to some other group. Not every robed person belongs to the Dawnbringer,’ Hex said to himself. Being alone caused him to talk a lot to himself.

The people sat in silence. They ate some dry jerky and drank from a small flask. The soft crackling fire was the only source of noise around.

"Let’s put the fire out," one of the figures suddenly said. Hex determined the voice to belong to a man. It sounded a bit familiar but he couldn’t place it. But his level of alertness increased.

Hex didn’t doubt his memory. If something seemed familiar, it usually was.

"No," the other figure responded, sounding like she was pleading.

’I heard that voice somewhere too.’

Hex’s curiosity increased. He chanced upon two people he knew or met in a place where danger lurked at every corner. It couldn’t be a coincidence. It just couldn’t be.

"The fire heats the repellant on. I don’t wish to have insects crawl all over me during the night," the female figure continued.

The other figure remained silent but Hex thought he saw him shake his head ever so slightly.

"Rest," he only said in the end. "We have a long day tomorrow. We are near the gate."

The male figure leaned against a tree and rested. He seemed poised and used to living in harsh conditions. The female didn’t seem too comfortable though. She lay on the floor but had trouble finding the right position. She kept turning and twisting.

"Yeah, I know. I never thought that brat would reach this far. We can’t allow him inside the Temple district."

Crack.

The soft sound of twigs and leaves burning hung in the air.

But their words kept repeating inside Hex’s mind. He remained in his spot.

’They are indeed here for me. But not to help. Why doesn’t that surprise me? And why can’t I enter the Temple?’

If their goal was to kill him, they could do that inside the Temple too. Why the need to prevent him from entering? Something didn’t add up.

’But what should I do now? I can’t fight two Refined Knights. There is zero chance of winning. Should I retreat? But what if they have more people cutting off the path to retreat? Going forward? I doubt I can enter the Temple without alerting them.’

Hex didn’t despair. There was always a path out. He just needed to find it. Just as he lay on his belly, breaking his brain, a distant noise fell on his ear.

Owoo!

When he heard the howl, a smirk appeared on Hex’s face.