章 48: The Hunt of Frustrations

The dense forest loomed ahead, its towering trees casting long shadows in the late afternoon sun. The air was thick with the scent of pine and earth, the silence punctuated only by the occasional rustle of leaves.

Kaelix marched ahead, his jaw set in a hard line, bow in hand, his eyes scanning the underbrush for any sign of movement.

Eirik, however, trailed behind him with a casual, almost lackadaisical, stride, his hands clasped behind his back, as if he were on a leisurely stroll rather than a serious hunt.

Kaelix's frustration simmered just beneath the surface, bubbling up every time Eirik accidentally, or perhaps purposefully, stepped on a dry branch, the snap echoing through the woods and sending any nearby animals scurrying away.

The latest incident was the worst yet; Eirik had managed to not only crush a branch but also mutter a sarcastic "oops" afterward, as if his blunders were nothing more than a minor inconvenience.