When Aerin and his father went back to Aaron's hut, the sun was already setting.
Aerin was still holding his daggers, playing with it. Luckily, the sheath was attached to the handle by a small cloth so that it won't fall off.
He seemed very pleased with the weapon he chose.
"You're back?"
Aaron greeted them. He was outside, watering his plants.
"What did our little boy pick as his weapon? back? "
He asked, looking eager to whaweapon? to seet his grandson picked.
"I'm sure it's a morning star, just like mine."
It was at this moment that he saw what Aerin was holding.
"A pair of daggers? Really?"
Aaron said, dismay evident in his voice.
"Look, grandpa! Really? Grandpa! I got a weapon now!"
Aerin excitedly showed off his daggers to his grandpa.
"Yeah, I can see that. Seems like our little boy got a different taste than the rest of the family. I can't wait for you to hunt using those weapons, Aerin! now! Aerin! "
Though a little dismayed, Aaron's happiness drowned it. He lifted Aerin up.
"Now that you have a weapon, shall we teach you how to use it then?"
Aaron laughed. Amon looked nervous, but he is excited too. Though they were a family of hunters, they shielded Aerin from harm until now. Even though the kid asked many times, they did not waver. Especially after the death of the kid's mother, Amon's wife.
"Really? Yeyy, I can't wait."
Aerin beamed. He was waiting for this moment to come. He always wanted to learn how to fight, tofight and hunt, just like his amazing father.
"Yeah, but you must be prepared and disciplined. I am a very strict teacher."
Aaron, with seriousness in his voice, looked at Aerin straight infight and the eye.
Hearing that, Aerin nodded.
"Okay, we'll start tomorrow."
They ate their fill that night and put Aerin to bed.
"Is it really okay, Father? " Aerin is still so young. What if I…"
"No, nothing will happen."
Aaron cut his son off.
"In fact, he will be able to protect himself, even without us. And he won't be pressured when he goes to the academy later. Those kids from the major families already knew how to fight."
Aaron said.
"Yeah. And I heard that a kid, the same age as Aerin, already awakened her ability."
Amon drew a deep breath.
"The kid from the Lionkin, right? The youngest daughter of the village head."
"Yeah, an amazing kid indeed. Usually, the awakening of an ability happens after hitting the age of ten. To awaken two years prior, she must have crazy talent."
Amon looked at his son, eyes gentle.
"No matter how he turns out later, I will always be proud of him."
…
Night passed, and it was already morning.
Aaron woke his grandson up. This time, it did not take too long for Aerin to wake up. It seems he did not forget what they talked about yesterday.
"Grandpa?"
Aerin walked out of the hut, looking around. He spotted his grandfather sitting on a chair under the shade of a nearby tree. Next to him lay his weapon, a morning star.
Aerin walked over excitedly, holding his pair of daggers.
"Where's Dad? "
Aerin asked, noticing that his father is not around.
"He got something to do. He'll be back later. Here, eat this first."
Aaron handed Aerin a bread.
"Sit down. While you eat, I'll tell you about our family first and our ability."
Aerin obediently sat down, bit his bread, and looked at his grandfather with stars in his eyes.
"A long, long time ago, humans lived each day with fear. They did not know how to fight, and they were powerless. However, eventually, they learned to fight back. They made weapons using stones and sticks, and killed their predators. After hunting,sticks and they ate the flesh of the beasts they hunted. After a while of hunting and eating, their bodies began to change. They began showing the power of the beast they have hunted."
Aaron paused for a while and then continued.
"Our ancestors, the ancestors of the Valewood, primarily hunted the beast of the sky, Swift Hawk. It was not very big compared to other beasts. However, it was very fast. It seemed as if even the wind was helping them to move. After many trials and errors, traps, and sacrifices, they finally succeeded in hunting one. After that, hunting the Swift Hawks only became easier. Eating the flesh of the Hawks gave our ancestors the ability to fly by giving them wings and eyes that can see very far and very wide. Nothing escapes from our awakened eyes."
Aaron removed his shirt, letting it fall to the ground, exposing his torso. He then took a deep breath, and a pair of massive wings unfurled slowly from his back.
Aerin looked at the wings, eyes wide and unblinking.
"Using this power, our ancestors managed to wipe out all Swift Hawks in the area, giving them the title of Supreme Air Hunters. They were fast and strong. When it comes to aerial combat, nothing beats our family."
Amazed, Aering looked at his grandfather.
"Can I have that, too? Can I have my own wings, too? "
"You will most likely have it, too. However, there will always be exceptions. We don't know for sure."
Aerin pouted.
"Okay, enough with our history. Now, let's talk about hunting."