Chances to Another Life

7. Being Hunted? Why Not!

I am not a skilled archer, so it was a miracle that the arrow hit the panther's eye and I ended up being chased by a four-meter-long animal.

This is not hunting, this is being hunted.

I have decided to write about this experience in my future job application. Do any of you have experience working in multinational companies? Well, I have experience being hunted by supernatural fantasy creatures.

Now, the beast is getting closer. I leap over giant rocks easily, but the Panther does the same effortlessly.

Fortunately, the condition of the forest doesn't make it difficult for me, but I still lose track of Cedric and don't know where he is. Does he really think I'm such an expert hunter that he won't wait for me to fight a one-eyed black panther?

I cross a small river with shaky steps; cats don't like water, so I assume black panthers are similar, since I consider them big cats. The animal's growl sounds loud in my ears; it wasn't for nothing that I threw myself into this situation.

I reach the edge and kneel down after crossing the river with adrenaline as a prey; it seems to have a strong effect on my energy. I cough and inhale a lot of oxygen. However, it seems that the panther has a better ability to overcome fear than I do.

The one-eyed panther prepares to leap, and I quickly step back, exhausted.

Just before the panther leaps, someone shouts, "Enough! You stubborn Panther!"

It's Cedric's voice coming from somewhere; his face isn't visible because he must be hiding somewhere. Something hits the black panther; even though bullets wouldn't affect it much, I see its stumble to the ground, with legs convulsing.

I hesitate to approach to ensure it's dead, but I breathe a sigh of relief knowing I won't die foolishly in a world I've just begun to live in.

The rustling of leaves and the sound of branches moving distracts my attention. Cedric emerges from the bushes in a dirty, muddy shirt, his hair adorned with clover leaves, but he doesn't seem to notice.

"Are you all right?" he asked. Both of his hands are still gripping the rifle carefully.

"Of course, thanks to you," I answered.

"I was hiding in the tamarind tree earlier and was about to call out to you, but you turned to me instead," Cedric pointed to the river. "It seems you've already anticipated and exploited the Panther's weakness, so I had a chance to take it out. You are a great hunter," he praised.

I was unsure how to respond to his praise. Cedric must have misunderstood my actions. I didn't have a strategy; it was just pure luck that there was a river along the way I was trying to escape, while I was screaming inside.

I couldn't possibly say that and ruin the fierce image of the hunters, so I just smiled and said, "No, not really."

"Panthers are rare animals, they usually live in the West. It's unfortunate that he got lost here." Cedric ran to the panther.

I followed anxiously as he stroked its mane.

"The poison I made turned out to be quite effective. You know, commercially available products are usually lethal to Panthers. I don't want this species to go extinct, so I developed my own poison that only stuns them," Cedric explained without being asked.

I only knew about rat poison, which I used in my dingy apartment; if that could be compared to poisoning a creature the size of a panther, which is thousands of times larger than rodents.

"How long before it wakes up?" I asked.

Cedric patted the panther's fat belly. "About an hour, give or take," he said.

I was hoping that an hour would give us enough time to get out of this forest.

"But it looks like it will only be able to see out of one eye after that." Cedric gently and carefully removed my arrow that was lodged in the panther's eye. Then he took out a bottle of medicine and applied it to the wounded area, perhaps some kind of panther-specific antiseptic.

I suddenly felt guilty for Cedric, the wildlife lover, and for the thorny-tailed Panther that was about to eat me.

"Sorry, I was aiming at it by reflex," I apologized.

I thought Cedric would show a sad or unhappy expression, but instead he turned to me with an astonished look.

"Wow, it's not easy to shoot a moving object, especially one as big and fierce as a Panther. You have excellent skills, maybe I can learn from you since I'm not very good at archery," he said as he stood up.

Once again, he misunderstood my actions. It's not good for a military commander to reveal his weaknesses, and it's even worse when he demands that I teach him how to improve in that skill.

"You are too humble. Of course, I'm nothing compared to the best warriors in the kingdom," I said with a dry laugh.

"I'm trying to do my best," Cedric replied. For some reason, he sounded bitter when he said it.

After Cedric patted the panther on the shoulder once more, we quickly left the forest before an hour passed and the animal became hungry again and wanted to devour us.

Too distracted by my recent experiences, I could hardly believe that the sun had risen so high in the sky when we emerged from the forest.

When I return from here, I also have to prepare myself for carrying out the King's orders which is overseeing Adellia's training course.

I mentally arranged sentences to start a conversation about Adellia with Cedric, but until we mounted our horses to return to the palace, I had nothing else to say.

Halfway home, Cedric slowed down so that we could talk comfortably side by side without having to shout or direct the reins.

"Are you close friends with Adellia?" he asked first.

I wanted to answer 'no' because we only became friends yesterday. "Yes, she is a friendly and kind princess. She even visited me in my hovel of misery when I was sick," I answered honestly according to reality.

"I already know about your relationship with the Princess, I hope you are willing to give Adellia some time to open her heart," I continued when Cedric remained silent.

Cedric the Commander now looked like a broken young man. The wildness was gone from his face. From the way he referred to Adellia without using the title of Princess, I assumed he was trying to bridge the gap between them.

Adellia said they never really met, but Cedric must have watched her all the time.

"I was surprised and happy when the King asked me to marry Adellia. To be honest, I had liked Adellia for a long time, but I didn't have the courage to confess my love to the princess. Even now, I sometimes feel unworthy of being with her," the young man said at length.

We had crossed a rocky path with mountains on either side, their peaks covered in white, perhaps the snow-capped mountains of Swinggelir.

This is undoubtedly a beautiful view to enjoy while riding with a gentle breeze cooling your skin, especially in such clear weather as now. However, I couldn't enjoy it because... why does everyone confide in me so easily?

It's true what Solace said, that I was destined to be an 'observer' in new worlds. But I never expected that thinking about other people's problems would have such a drastic effect on my soul.

"Believe in your own qualities. A young man like you becoming a commander is a great achievement." I even boasted; I don't know how old Cedric is, but he gave me the impression that he is younger than me.

"Or are you worried because your rival is Prime Minister Elliot?" I continued.

Cedric flinched for a moment, but quickly regained his composure. "If Adellia truly loves Mr. Elliot, then I cannot be so confident."

Oh, look what love has done; even the best warriors fall to their knees before it and become insecure adolescents.

"Meet Adellia first and make sure she has an impression of you," I advised arrogantly.

"I met her last night." Cedric sighed in frustration. "She's very beautiful and well-behaved, but I sense rejection from her. We were allowed to be alone in the garden last night, and I could see sadness in her eyes."

Poor you, I muttered to myself.

This is my time to fulfill my duty as a matchmaker for both sides. "I can be your outstretched hand for Adellia. I will try to give you enough time to get to know each other and... fall in love."

I hope I didn't sound hesitant with the last word.

With that sentence alone, Cedric immediately smiled broadly. He was handsome, on a par with Elliot. If this were a dating show on television, people like them would surely be banned from appearing, because women would definitely swoon over them and ignore other men.

Cedric clenched his fists in the air and I jumped, thinking he was going to hit me after saying that nonsense. But it turned out to be a fist bump.

"I guess we can officially be friends now."

I welcomed his gesture because there was no way I could refuse.

"I'm really grateful, Joe. I count on you," he said happily.

I nodded, sharing his joy. These love-struck children seemed so happy to rely on this 27-year-old man who had never fallen in love in his entire life.