Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Beaters, drivers and hunters

The forest enshrouding the academy was situated near Birom Town in the southern reaches of Tvar kingdom, just a stone's throw from the capital of Pery-Firth, accessible within three days by horse-drawn carriage and a day's journey from Claudrontrunk.

 

However, the Birom's townspeople and the wandering hunters of the forest were kept at bay, as the Raven's Perch academy was enveloped in a veil of misty fog. This magical fog, a potent enchantment, descended upon the forest, rendering the academy all but invisible from afar. All this was part of a powerful magical enchantment that kept the academy safe from prying eyes.

 

The appearance of the fog sparked fear among the townspeople, yet some still dared to test their luck and venture inside. However, many met their downfall as they lost their way in the mystical fog, with some emerging back at their starting point and others becoming lost forever. The number of individuals who disappeared within the fog only grew, leading the town chief to declare it a forbidden land and marking it off limits. The young ones of the town, filled with fear and awe, named this shrouded area the Misty Murkwood.

 

And within the training grounds of the academy, specifically within the "misty Murkwood", the once tranquil forest was abuzz with frenetic activity. Dozens of humans, each unique in size and shape, sprinted forward in a single, organized line, leaving behind a frenzied trail of footprints and fluttering green cloaks.

 

Most of the young students were so consumed by the fear of losing their hard-earned merit points that they had forgotten the valuable lessons taught by their instructor, Master Keiran, on the art of tracking. Without a second thought, they raced blindly forward, driven only by their intuition and the hope of finding the elusive boars.

 

The frantic sprint of the young students obliterated what remained of the boar's tracks. Some of the green cloaks were fleet of foot and nimble, and one trio, composed of three youthful nobles with robust builds, were the swiftest of the lot, heedless of the tracks they crushed underfoot as they gave chase. But their efforts proved to be in vain, as the fleet-footed beasts outmaneuvered them at every turn, utilizing their mastery of the forest terrain to evade capture. The boars disappeared into the trees, leaving the hapless green cloaks far behind.

 

Though Asrar and his companions were in the rear of the pack when they entered the dense forest, they soon overtook many of the other students. Some teams, like the all-female group led by the red-haired Elysia, had started at the front but could not keep pace due to their slight builds. As the chase wore on, Asrar and his companions gradually overtook all of their female peers.

 

The Black Hand Academy was known for teaching skills that were deemed unsavory by many nobles, which made it a less popular choice for their daughters. Thus, the academy was heavily skewed towards male students, with nearly 70 out of every 100 learners being young men. 

 

"Though we stumbled at the outset, we can at least surpass the ladies." panted Baldwinn after a quarter hour of running. Despite his rounder build, he appeared to be the least winded of the trio, while the once-debonair playboy Gawain and the formerly carefree Asrar were both drenched in sweat and panting heavily. 

 

Seeing this, Baldwinn chuckled, his lips curling into a smirk. "It seems that the princely charmer has abandoned his beloved Adela," he taunted in a playful tone. "Shall I guide you back to her side? She is but a few steps behind us after all." Adela, Gawain's sweetheart and a member of Elysia's team, was running closely behind Asrar and his roommates. Baldwinn's words sent a mischievous glint dancing in his eyes, and he eagerly awaited Gawain's response.

 

At the sound of Baldwinn's taunts, Gawain's blood boiled with anger. Despite his desire to lash out and retort, he remained silent, since he was both breathless from the sprint and mindful of Adela's proximity. The object of his affection and her two companions were close by and they could overhear every word spoken between the trio. So instead, Gawain merely cast a withering gaze at Baldwinn and huffed dismissively.

 

While running behind the three young men, the two friends trailing behind Adela cast a glance her way. Her delicate features were suffused with a rosy hue, causing her friends to wonder if it was from the exertion of running or from embarrassment at being the subject of Baldwinn's teasing. Despite her beauty, Adela hung her head low, ashamed at being the center of attention.

 

Asrar, who was gasping for air, pivoted to face Baldwinn and spoke out, his voice clear, "Not necessarily," he said. Baldwinn's brow furrowed in confusion. "It's not a guarantee that the fastest among us will complete the task," Asrar continued. "You must remember that this is a hunting assignment, assigned to us by a master tracker." Though his words were directed towards his roommates, he spoke them loud enough for even the three girls trailing behind to hear everything

 

The three girls at the rear took heed of Asrar's words and were a bit surprised, since they had heard similar words spoken by their leader and roommate, Elysia. Though her countenance remained serene, she was secretly astounded; after all, the only reason she had considered utilizing cunning over speed was because their team was made up of all girls, and there were many boy teams among the green cloaks who were incredibly fast.

 

Baldwinn remained unconvinced, as evidenced by the creased brow on his face. Gawain, on the other hand, considered Asrar's words before speaking up, "Indeed, but how do we go about this task?" As he spoke, he quickly glanced back at Adela who, upon meeting his gaze, felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment.

 

Gawain, despite being a ladies' man, was not without a heart. The reason he had neglected Adela earlier was because he feared he himself might not succeed, and if the girls managed to find one for themselves, he wouldn't want to burden the girl with the failure of his own task.

 

Asrar remained silent for a bit and said loudly once again, "Let us stop for a second, and I'll tell you my plan..." But before he could continue, the gruff and grizzled Baldwinn interjected, his voice a storm of annoyance and frustration. "No, Asrar! I've not yet forgiven you for your halt at the trial's start, which did cost us precious time and ground. And now, should we pause once more to heed your so called plan, we will surely fall further behind. Eadric's team may already have snared their first boar!"

 

The Eadric's team he was talking about was a trio of big and robust 17-year-olds, green cloaks, who had begun running from the front rows. They were the swiftest among all teams and the first to delve into the forest. Their leader was none other than Eadric Ravenwood, a scion of the noble house of Ravenwood, renowned throughout the Tvar Kingdom for their mastery of the arcane arts, as they had some of the best magicians in the kingdom.

 

Elysia's countenance darkened at the mention of Eadric's name. The latter was one of her many pursuers, which was fine and all, but his persistence was unmatched. No matter how many times she told him she wasn't interested in any romantic endeavors, he still hounded her relentlessly. But Baldwinn's words echoed with a harsh truth, and the thought weighed heavy on Elysia's heart. Eadric's band may well have already claimed a boar, if not more.

 

"Following your logic, we may as well give up; after all, a hundred or more students are already ahead of us." Asrar kept a calm face as he explained, " And how many boars are there? We were in the middle, so we couldn't see clearly. However, by counting their pounding hooves, I estimated the herd to be only a dozen; if you doubt my words, ask lady Esylia." He made a quick calculation in his mind and continued quickly. "Should we assume the best, that the boars number fifteen, and the number of competitors is two hundred, then that is about 51 teams that would be required to lose ten merit points, assuming that each boar is claimed by a separate group." Asrar's breaths grew heavy as he rushed to finish his words, "To put it simply, in this test of strength, at least 150 students will have ten merit points stripped from them."

 

Following Asrar's intricate explanation, Baldwinn and Gawain's jaws hung agape, with Baldwinn's faster pace causing a small fly to slip into his open mouth. The sudden interruption of the insect caused him to erupt into a fit of coughing, yet amidst his choking, he managed to gasp out, " Blood and bones! you're right!" He had already stopped running.

 

Not far behind the trio, the young ladies caught up and came to a halt, their faces aghast before concern took its place. The thought of blindly sprinting without a clear strategy currently sounded foolish to them. Elysia felt a hint of embarrassment at her previous recklessness, but her crimson cheeks from the swift run concealed her blush.

 

Who might this young man be? I have never heard of him....He appears to be of a similar age as I, so this also must be his first year at the academy.....

 

However, with swiftness, she emerged from her musings and spoke, "Your words hold truth. Yet, contrary to your best case, there were only a dozen boars trapped within the cage. And with Master Keiran's skillful shot, only eleven remain, making our prospects even more grim." She finished with a wry smile but a glint flashed in her eyes.

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"Well, what do you think, Lady Elysia?" queried Asrar, "Will you align yourself with our party? I cannot guarantee success, since this also marks my first foray into the hunt for wild boars. Yet, there is nothing to lose in our venture." He addressed her alone; after all, he knew Adela would eagerly join, and he perceived Elysia as the leader of the girls' team.

 

The trio was passed by other students, who sprinted past them and deeper into the woodland, their cries echoing through the air. Elysia cast her gaze upon her companions but found no response. Clearing her throat, she spoke, "You have convinced us that careening through the forest like a tempest, as the others have, is not the correct way. However, I remain skeptical of the wisdom of joining forces." She eyed Baldwinn and Gawain before continuing, "After all, should we choose to ally, the task would grow to become hunting for two boars rather than one." 

 

Baldwinn nodded his agreement, turning his gaze towards Asrar. "Lady Elysia speaks true," he declared. "Do not let your love for the girl cloud your judgment. The team must come first, above all else. Time grows short. So share your plan with haste." With these words, he dropped a bombshell, leaving the girls and Asrar agog, while Gawain facepalmed, cursing Baldwinn's loose tongue.

 

Indeed, before Asrar's memories from his past life returned, bringing with them knowledge and wisdom beyond this world, he was infatuated with the girl. It took weeks for him to learn her name, and yet his heart still skipped a beat when their gazes met. But when his memories came flooding back, he knew at once that this youthful infatuation was doomed to be fleeting. The girl was a daughter of a duke, and Asrar knew that his family could face grave consequences if he acted on his feelings, so he immediately suppressed them lest he get his family into trouble. Of course, this was just him being paranoid, as the girls' pursuers were numerous.

 

Unfortunately, Baldwinn and Gawain were aware of Asrar's secret infatuation, since they had once witnessed him gazing upon the young lady from a distance in their classes earlier in the school year. They pried the truth from him, and now, on this day, Baldwinn carelessly spoke of it to the very object of Asrar's affections. 

 

Elysia's cheeks flared red as she felt the weight of her two friends' gazes upon her. However, she had long grown accustomed to attention from the opposite gender, so she recovered quickly, but she could not shake the suspicion that Asrar's offer of aid may have hidden motives. She fixed her gaze on him with a wary expression.

 

Asrar was a bit embarrassed at this point as well, but he swiftly composed himself and cleared his throat. "The truth is," he began, "we require as many allies as possible to make this plan a success. I chose you three not because of any hidden motives but because I trust that, as ladies, you won't turn on us. Plus, with Adela and Gawain on our team, there's a sense of mutual trust. Just hear me out before you make a decision." Esylia regarded him thoughtfully, then eventually gave a nod of assent.

 

And so, Asrar began to unfold his plan, which took him another quarter of an hour to explain to the others, laying out each detail with care and precision. He spoke of how they would divide their small party into three duos, with each duo tasked with a different role. One pair will act as beaters, one pair as drivers, and one pair as hunters.

 

The plan, though simple, would take swiftness and precision to execute. Three pairs would form the backbone of this effort. The first duo being the "beaters", armed with long staffs or sticks, would beat the underbrush and raise a ruckus to lure the wild boars out of hiding. The second duo being the "drivers", stationed at a narrow pathway or chokepoint, would be equipped with sturdy vines to trip the beasts as they fled. Finally, the last duo being the "hunters", hidden among the trees and bushes near the chokepoint, would wield hunting weapons such as spears or arrows, ready to strike as the boars passed by. If all went well, the drivers would secure the beasts with the ropes and vines, allowing the hunters to slay them and, if possible, secure them for transportation. 

 

As the group huddled together, they all nodded in agreement, finding Asrar's plan to be sound and feasible. Yet, as they delved deeper into the details, Gawain's brow furrowed with doubt. "Your plan may be sound, but the question remains: how will we find the wild boars? Luck alone will not suffice in the vast academy forest; unless you're Master Keiran himself and track them down, you'd find nothing amidst those barely visible tracks left behind," he added, echoing the sentiments of the group, including Adela.

 

Though Gawain and Adela were lovebirds, they stood apart from one another at present, recognizing that the predicament demanded their undivided attention and seriousness.

 

"The boars have a complex social order that begins in their youth. A boar's sense of smell is among the strongest of all animals. They can smell odors from miles away and up to 25 feet underground. They seek out strong and dominating odors. They wallow in these strong smells to help advance their social standing. I'm going to mix some ingredients together to mimic that odor; I have already spied some herbs in our vicinity and also got this." He flourished a boar's eye and an arrow from within the folds of his robes, presenting them to all those present.

 

He got this part when he was inspecting the dead boar at the beginning. He originally planned to pluck its ear and present it to master Keiran at the end, but he didn't for two reasons: firstly, he didn't have a sharp weapon with him at the time, and secondly, he knew that smartassing his way this time would not work with this specific instructor, as the latter was cold and strict, and taking that risk for only 10 merit points was not worth it for him.

 

Eventually everyone agreed on the plan as they split themselves into three groups: the beaters were Asrar and Elysia together, who didn't need to have much strength but required quick wits and bravery; the drivers who would trip the boar were Gawain and Adella together; and lastly, the hunters would be Baldwinn and the other girl named Morgaine. She was quiet but volunteered to be the hunter, as she was stronger and older than the other girls.

 

For the success of the plan, Asrar emphasized the importance of having a male and female member in each pair. He explained that each task required a combination of physical strength and agility, and thus the division into male and female pairs was necessary. Another reason being the whistle sign.

 

Before they embarked on their tasks, they agreed upon a secret whistle signal that only the male members could produce. Asrar then set off towards the well-known river, where both male and female students often went to bathe. The forest surrounding the academy was readily accessible to students and was considered relatively safe, as the portion linked to the academy was rid of dangerous creatures, leaving only the presence of common wildlife. The academy took extra precautions and dispatched a contingent of guards to keep watch over the forest to ensure the safety of its noble students. After all, the safety of these young nobles was of utmost importance and not to be taken lightly.

 

Asrar and Elysia reached the banks of the shimmering river, their hands gripped tightly around the long, sturdy branches they had plucked from the surrounding trees. Asrar had already gathered the necessary herbs, like anise and fennel, and crushed them together with the boar's eyeball on a large leaf. With a swift strike from a nearby rock, he ground the mixture into a paste, then carefully added a measure of water to briefly dilute the scent.

 

With steady steps, Asrar made his way along the river, smearing the mixture onto the tree trunks. He motioned for Elysia to follow him as they hid amongst a thicket of prickly bushes, the thorns causing their skin to sting. While Asrar remained unfazed, Elysia couldn't help but frown at the thought of the marks the thorns would leave behind.

 

Time passed, and Elysia was growing restless since she found herself alone in the presence of Asrar amidst the low, thorny bushes. The scent of the smeared mixture filled her nose, and she couldn't help but wonder how long this plan would take. With a whisper, she turned to Asrar and asked, "How long do you think it will be before we see results? And why would wild boars be drawn to such a foul odor?"

 

Asrar hesitated a little but ultimately answered her, "Well... the thing I smeared is a fragrant oil like substance that can mimic the scent of mating and may attract animals." At those words, the little lady blushed and fidgeted even more; he added quickly, "But don't worry, I added the eyeball specifically so only boars would get attracted by the mating scent."

 

Elysia hung her head, a flush of embarrassment spreading across her cheeks. "It's not like I was worried or anything…" she muttered, only for her words to be cut short by the sudden appearance of a wild boar. Both she and Asrar gasped in surprise, their eyes locking onto the animal as it approached.

 

It actually worked!! He thought

 

By the gods! This thing actually works! Who is this guy?