Chapter 13: A Long Awaited Debt

{This chapter contains info dumps. Take your time reading and don't skip because it introduces another important character and other few prime details.}

The Sikor Kingdom stands as the solitary island kingdom within the vast Firaa continent, surrounded entirely by the sea.

Its governance adheres to the traditional hierarchy, beginning with kings and culminating with village chiefs.

The kingdom is subdivided into two duchies, three counties, and seven baronies, each functioning independently.

While there exist additional counties and baronies, they all operate as vassals under the other two primary duchies.

Hilston Duchy, one of the dominant powers within the Sikor kingdom, stands as a pillar of influence among all other powerhouses.

The rulers of those lands for generations, the Hilston family hold a position of almost equal power to the royal lineage of the Sikor Kingdom itself.

Beneath the umbrella of the Hilston duchy, numerous baronies and counties pledge their loyalty, including the notable Barony of Summerlake.

The esteemed Barony of Summerlake is governed by Baron Raymond Wolf of the Wolf family.

Interestingly, the Wolf family shares a marital connection with the Hilstons, although not within the main branch, yet still yield significant influence among their vassals.

Nestled within the vast territories under Summerlake's rule lies Red Hawk Town, a rural settlement situated in the far southern reaches of the region.

The town has been under the lordship of Jhon Gray, the head of the Gray family, for many years. The Grays have faithfully sworn their allegiance to the Barony of Summerlake for many generations.

Among the residents of Red Hawk town is Jandar, a retired soldier, who previously served directly under Baron Raymond Wolf of Summerlake.

After sustaining severe injuries during a beast attack, including the loss of one of his eyes, Jandar was compelled to retire from his military duties.

Some higher-ranking officials, eager to promote their own candidates, pressured him into stepping down from his position.

Despite the safety of Summerlake City, Jandar found himself restless and idle, much to his frustration.

As a veteran soldier and a former hunter, the absence of the stench of blood and the touch of a blade felt like a slow death to him.

During this time, the town lord of Red Hawk, known for his keen eye for talent, seized the opportunity to extend an invitation to the veteran hunter.

While many would have declined such an offer, citing reasons like reluctance to uproot their lives and settle in a remote rural area far from a bustling hub like Summerlake, Jandar saw it as a chance to rediscover purpose in his life.

Jandar accepted the offer knowing that pursuing his dreams in Summerlake or any prominent city was no longer feasible.

In a landscape where young, able-bodied individuals vied for opportunities daily, a seasoned veteran like him, especially one with physical limitations, felt like a discarded blanket on the streets.

Additionally, being a single man without immediate family made the decision easier for him.

Seven years had passed since Jandar arrived in Red Hawk Town, and he had integrated deeply into the society flawlessly.

However, despite his long stay, he remained an outsider in the eyes of the locals.

It wasn't his skin tone that set him apart but the unmistakable aura he carried, a constant reminder of his past in bloodshed and death.

His very presence seemed to breathe out the tales of his battle and survival, a stark contrast to the gentle and sheltered lives of the townspeople.

Jandar's expertise and experiences far surpassed the norms of Red Hawk, leaving him isolated in his own aura of rugged experience.

Even the self-proclaimed warriors who boast of their roles as soldiers wielding swords and spears in Red Hawk Town are, in reality, inexperienced amateurs hired primarily to create an illusion of strength in numbers by their lord.

It's not entirely their fault, though, as the very nature of Red Hawk Town and its surroundings fosters such a situation, where true skill and expertise are rare commodities.

Having been bred, born, and raised their entire lives within the confines of this rural town, there was never a necessity for the locals to learn the ways of a warrior.

While some may harbor ambitions of becoming warriors, the practicalities of training and sustenance pose significant challenges.

Apart from the wealthy families like the Grays, who can afford the expenses associated with warrior training, most families would find the costs of food and nutrition alone a substantial dent in their annual income.

As a result, few are interested in pursuing the path of a warrior in Red Hawk Town.

The only encounters with violence they ever faced were rare instances of having to deal with beasts that occasionally strayed from the forest and reached their town.

However, since Jandar's arrival, even these incidents became a thing of the past.

Upon arriving in Red Hawk Town, Jandar wasted no time in recruiting able-bodied individuals to train them and forming the Hunter Society.

This society operates independently and does not owe allegiance to the town's lord.

Jandar, having already sworn allegiance to the Baron of Summerlake, remains steadfast in his loyalty and will never submit to another authority in this lifetime.

Likewise, even Lord John Gray is a devoted follower of the Wolves of Summerlake, so he had no objections to Jandar's actions.

The Hunter Society in Red Hawk Town operates autonomously, taking orders from no one and showing no favoritism towards commoners or nobles.

They bear a striking resemblance to adventurers, with their sole focus being on hunting beasts.

Unlike adventurers, they do not undertake expeditions, treasure hunt or act as bodyguards as their singular task is hunting alone.

They respond to requests from nearby villages and towns to procure beasts for nobles' feasts or to protect communities from ravaging predators.

Even John Gray, the lord of Red Hawk Town, must hire Jandar and cannot give him orders directly. This was one of the main conditions Jandar set before accepting John Gray's request to relocate to Red Hawk Town.

However, John also had his own conditions, such as ensuring that taxes were paid from Jandar's operations to the town's treasury and that Jandar would prioritize and protect Red Hawk Town in the event of a beast attack, among other responsibilities.

Both men were true to their word, which led to a smooth working relationship without many problems over the years.

Throughout his life, whether as a soldier or a hunter, Jandar had never found himself indebted to anyone. Even in his days in the military, he made sure not to owe anyone anything.

Whenever someone offered him help, he made it a point to repay the favor as soon as he could.

Many assumed Jandar's reluctance to owe others stemmed from his pride, but in truth, he lived by the code 'Never expect someone's trust if you are in their debt.'

He firmly believed that being indebted to someone could eventually lead to a fractured relationship. And was deeply misjudged by others for his motto.

It was precisely five years ago when Jandar ventured deep into the dense Red Hawk forest, his curiosity piqued by tales of the legendary Golden-Eyed Predator.

Despite initially dismissing the rumors as mere exaggerations, Jandar's unwavering belief in his judgment led him to seek out the creature's formidable prowess firsthand.

However, for the first time in his life, Jandar's judgment faltered. The rumors were incorrect, alright, but they weren't exaggerations; they were grossly understated.

Despite days and nights of meticulous planning, Jandar and his entire crew fell victim to the Golden-Eyed Predator.

More than the name 'Golden Eyed' the term Three-eyed would've been more fit as this formidable creature boasted three eyes, with its golden eye gleaming at the center.

Initially, they approached the hunt with all their collective experience, but the beast proved to be more cunning than anticipated, toying with them and systematically picking off each member of the party.

Despite losing more than half of his party, Jandar adapted swiftly to the dire situation.

As the beast raged on, he aimed an arrow at its head, hoping to weaken it. The arrow veered slightly, striking the creature's neck instead.

In response, the angered beast underwent a shocking transformation. Its once golden eye turned a menacing shade of blue, oozing blood.

It morphed in appearance, unleashing a swift and deadly assault that claimed the lives of his remaining crew in an instant.

Jandar, barely clinging to life, expended every ounce of strength to escape the area, teetering on the brink of death. Despite its rage, the creature strangely retreated to its domain, sparing Jandar's life for reasons unknown.

However, he knew survival was impossible without immediate medical aid from the town. Exhausted and facing his mortality, Jandar resigned himself to what seemed like his final moments, preparing to close his eyes for the last time as he laid on the ground.

Yet, a glimmer of hope emerged as he heard hurried footsteps approaching, signaling potential salvation.

The barely fifteen-year-old boy came to Jandar's rescue, a face he vaguely remembered from visits to the town lord's manor.

It was only later that he recognized the young savior as none other than the infamous outcast of the Gray family, Dorian Gray.

Luckily, Dorian had been practicing his sword alone in the forest, seeking solace from the ridicule of others.

By sheer chance, he stumbled upon Jandar's near-lifeless form and mustered the strength to drag him back to town, single-handedly saving his life.

In that critical moment, Jandar found himself indebted to someone once more, this time on a deeply personal level.

Upon recovering, Jandar revealed the terrifying existence of the beast to the lord, who opted to keep the information confidential to avoid causing panic in the town.

He masked the hunters' deaths as bandit attacks and tasked Jandar with monitoring the Golden Eye Panther's movements, urging him to report any anomalies promptly.

Despite the lord's offer to pay for his services, jandar declined promptly vowing to track the beast for free, feeling a personal duty to do so.

When he attempted to repay Dorian for saving his life, the boy brushed off any notion of repayment, deeming it unnecessary.

In an effort to show gratitude, Jandar tried teaching Dorian sword techniques, but to his dismay, the boy was not even an amateur.

He was a full-blank head when it came to wielding swords, spears, or any weaponry, leaving Jandar scratching his hairless head in bewilderment.

Over the next few months, Jandar persistently offered his assistance, but Dorian repeatedly refused, claiming there was nothing Jandar could do to repay the debt.

After numerous attempts, Dorian relented, promising to call in the favor when he needed it, which brought a sense of relief to Jandar.

Five years flew by, and now Dorian stood before the man with a patch in one of his eyes, ready to collect on that long-awaited debt.