At the sa ti, a gentle yet firm current of Qi ford out of thin air, like an invisible hand pushing lightly against the stag’s flank.
The stag’s charge shifted almost imperceptibly.
It brushed past the edge of the small tree, its heavy body stumbling for a mont. The stag let out a confused cry before changing direction and plunging headfirst into the dense woods on the other side, quickly disappearing from sight.
The entire encounter, from the stag’s appearance to its escape, lasted only a few breaths.
Silence fell over the clearing, broken only by the rustle of wind in the leaves.
Kaiden lowered his bow, sighing in relief. He turned to his sister, a look of astonishnt on his face.
Annie ran over, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at Eleanor. "Eleanor, what was that?"
Eleanor lowered her hand. Her dark eyes were serene as she simply nodded, offering no further explanation.
Elizabeth stared at Eleanor, her eyes filled with disbelief. The surprise soon gave way to a complex and profound admiration.
Aurora walked to Eleanor’s side and gently draped an arm over her shoulder. Her brilliant blue eyes were filled with warmth and pride.
Only then did Murphy slowly open his eyes. His gaze fell upon his daughter, and he gave a slight nod, a nearly imperceptible smile gracing his eyes.
"Well done." His voice was even, but held a note of approval.
Kaiden put away his bow and ran over to Eleanor. "That was all you, Eleanor!" he said sincerely. "If that thing had charged us... it probably wouldn’t have hurt anyone, but it would have been a real pain if it scared the horses or smashed our things."
Annie nodded emphatically, her expression a mixture of curiosity and admiration.
Surrounded by her brother and Annie, Eleanor’s small face remained impassive, but the tips of her ears reddened slightly. "It was just frightened," she murmured.
Elizabeth took a mont to compose herself before walking up to Eleanor with a genuine smile. "That was astonishing control, Eleanor. You possess an extraordinary gift."
"Thank you, Your Highness," Eleanor replied politely, her dark eyes clear.
Aurora chose that mont to speak, her gentle voice drawing everyone’s attention. "Alright, it was just a minor incident. Kaiden, Annie, are you going to continue? Perhaps there’s more suitable prey waiting for you in the woods."
Kaiden and Annie exchanged a look, their determination rekindled.
"Of course!" they said in unison. They headed back into the woods, their steps more cautious this ti, their teamwork more in sync.
The clearing grew quiet once more.
Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, dappling the ground with flecks of light.
Murphy leaned back against the tree trunk, his gaze distant.
Aurora stood beside him, watching the direction in which the children had vanished, a faint smile playing on her lips.
Elizabeth stood quietly to one side, taking it all in: the harmonious yet powerful scenes, Murphy’s serene profile, Aurora’s gentle but firm posture, Eleanor’s calm, dark eyes, and the vibrant figures of Kaiden and Annie.
The spring breeze, carrying the scent of fresh grass, brushed against her cheek. She gently clenched her fist, then slowly relaxed it. Finally, following Murphy’s example, she cast her gaze into the deep, vibrant forest, as if lost in thought.
...
By the ti the sun reached its zenith, the hunt in the woods had co to an end.
Kaiden and Annie’s hunt had been fruitful.
Two plump gray rabbits, a brightly-feathered pheasant, and several mountain sparrows.
Kaiden even had a half-grown, smooth-pelted young deer slung over his shoulder. It was a fawn they had found while tracking, apparently separated from its herd during the earlier commotion. A single, precise arrow from Kaiden had ended its misery.
At fourteen, the boy’s body was not yet fully developed and thus unsuited for the arduous cultivation of the Knight’s Breathing Technique. To have hunted this young deer by himself was a testant to his fitness and skill.
Back at the clearing, a clean space had already been prepared on a gentle slope, sheltered from the wind.
Rather than leaving it to others, Murphy set to work himself. With a few sturdy branches and sharpened stakes, he quickly constructed an ingeniously designed grilling rack.
The design was completely different from the crude local racks. It was more stable and made it easier to control the heat of the fire.
He then found a few relatively flat stone slabs, which he propped up at the edge of the bonfire. After heating them thoroughly, he wiped them clean with broad leaves.
Soon, the bonfire was blazing. The cleaned and prepared ga was skewered on sharpened branches and set over the flas to roast, turning at a steady pace.
Fat dripped into the fire, making a pleasant SIZZLING sound. It mixed with the special powdered spices from Monte Castle that Murphy occasionally sprinkled on. A rich, aty aroma imdiately filled the air, whetting everyone’s appetite.
The rabbit at was tender, the venison firm, and the pheasant skin crispy over succulent at.
The stone slabs, anwhile, were used to grill thin slices of venison and rabbit. The edges were slightly charred, but the inside remained juicy.
Even the small mountain sparrows were carefully skewered and roasted until their skin was crisp, offering a unique flavor all their own.
Everyone gathered on a thick felt blanket spread out by the bonfire.
Kaiden took a large bite of venison, his eyes squinting in satisfaction. "Father’s cooking is as good as ever! Annie, hurry and try so of this stone-grilled at."
Annie picked up a thin slice of the stone-grilled venison and took a careful bite.
The edge of the venison was lightly charred, but the inside remained a perfect shade of pink. The juices burst between her teeth, mingling with the complex flavors of the unique spices.
Her eyes imdiately lit up. "This is just as amazing as what we had at Blackstone Fortress! Grilling it on the stone like this makes it so fragrant. It’s crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and the spices are perfectly balanced."
She looked at Murphy. "Lord Thunder Sword, I could eat this forever. Every ti my father ntions you grilling for the soldiers at the fortress, he can’t stop singing your praises."
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