Amon and his son, Aerin, were now walking down the road of the village. The Quiet Bloom Village is not big; in fact, it is very small. There are about five hundred people residing in the village.
The people here are categorized by their family. Even if someone is married to other families, they still carry their birth family name.
There are four major families managing the village, led by the village head. The head of the village gets chosen by the people. They usually come from major families, though. The major families keep the village going. For example, the Rourken family supplied the weapons, armor, and tools. This family mostly consists of blacksmiths, showing off their great arm strength. They wield the power of Rocky Bear, giving them a natural affinity to metals and inhuman physical strength. They usually wore the crest of a hammer striking down on a fiery sword.
The Greenroots Family, wielder of the power of the Veilviper, a snake that gives off poisonous mist. People from this family create potions and herbs and treat the injured. Villagers both feared and admired this family.
The two last families, the Lionkin and the Wolfang, are both hunter-based families. They are both considered the spearhead of the village. Lionkin, wielding the power of the Mighty Lion, pride themselves as the strongest. Justifiably so, since most village heads come from this family. They showed great talent in wielding different kinds of weapons, possess overwhelming physical strength, and can even release flames. However, what makes them scary the most is their special ability, the Lion's Might. Anyone targeted by it found themselves unable to move, some with weak will even collapsing. However, among all the major families, they produced far fewer offspring, opposite that of the Wolfang.
The Wolfang Family, wielding the power of the Wolf. They can turn into humanoid wolves with longer bodies, stronger senses, and faster and stronger bodies. They are basically just wolves, but much, much more powerful. They even grow stronger under moonlight, much more so in a full moon. They also have the highest number of members, loyal and organized.
Aside from these families, there are also minor families. However, most of them are under major families.
Aerin's family, the Valewood, is different. They're not under any families and mostly function on their own, making them an independent family. This is both good and bad. Good because nobody will order them around, and they don't have certain duties to fulfill. However, they also did not enjoy certain benefits that other families have.
Back to Aerin and his father, Amon. They were walking down the road, with huts slightly bigger than Aaron's. At the top of the huts are crests of every major family they were under.
The Greenroots's crest is a dagger facing up with a snake coiling around it. The Wolfang shows the side view face of a wolf howling at the moon. The Lionkin family's crest is simple. Just the face of a mighty lion, full of pride and prestige.
"We're here."
Amon and Aerin stopped walking in front of a door. The hut, or more like a shop, had smooth stone walls and a wooden door. It bears the crest of the Rourken family. They walked inside, and what greeted them was the smell of iron and burnt wood.
Inside, next to the wall, is a long weapon rack, with different kinds of weapons in it. A person was sitting behind the counter near the door.
"Good afternoon."
The clerk said smilingly.
Amon nodded.
Obviously, the shop they entered is a weapon shop of the Rourken family.
"Look around. Find something that piques your eye."
Aerin beamed.
"Really, Dad? "
He walked around excitedly, and seeing the sword nearby, he picked it up. As he was about to return to his father, he saw a mace. Looking conflicted, he hesitatingly picked it up. Next to the mace, however, is a spear. He picked it up with a troubled face.
Not long after, he went back to his father, holding a bundle of different weapons with great difficulty. An arrow even fell as he made his way.
Amon laughed at the sight of his son struggling to hold the weapons together. Considering his small body, he really looked silly.
"I want this, but I also want this. Can I have them all, Dad? "
Aerin put the weapons down one by one and looked at his father, giving a bashful smile.
"No, no, kiddo. You can only pick one type, two at most. At least for now."
Aerin pouted.
"But I want them all."
Amon laughed.
"Try looking again. This time, take your time and pick what seems to be calling to you. Picking your weapon is important. To hunters, weapons are like family to us, our partners for life."
Aerin looked confused but still went back to look anyway.
"Calling to me, calling to me."
He mumbled while looking at the weapons displayed.
"How can these weapons call to me? They don't even have a mouth."
He complained. He walked and browsed.
After a while, he reached the end of the rack. He looked to his father, about to say something, but then the pile of weapons on the ground caught his eye. He then remembered a weapon he picked up earlier. It doesn't seem to be calling to him, but he really liked it.
He ran towards the pile of weapons in front of his father and rummaged excitedly.
Though curious, Amon just let his son be. It was important for his son to pick his weapon himself.
After a while of searching, Aerin finally found what he was looking for. He raised it in the air and showed it to his father.
"This! I want this! "
It was a pair of daggers, one straight and one curved. They rested on a leather sheath. The daggers have different shapes, but they were definitely a pair. A white cloth was strapped to the handle.
Amon was surprised. Among all the weapons, his son chose a rather unassuming but unusual weapon. He thought Aerin would pick a heavy weapon just like his and Aaron's.
"Are you sure? "
Despite being surprised, Amon was full of support for his son's choice.
"Yes!"
Aerin quickly answered, afraid that his father would disagree.
"Okay."
Amon smiled.