Chapter 1

As the first light of dawn appeared, Forsance was still laying in his bed, still groggy from sleep, he opened his eyes. After a few stretches, he got up from his bed and began his daily routine. First, he made his bed, then he ate fruit he had picked the day before in the local forest, then he did some physical exercise and stretching to wake up, and finally, he went outside into his garden to meditate in silence, while passively admiring the beauties of the nearby forest.

Forsance was a 25-year-old young adult. He was slightly shorter than average, with curly hair, piercing blue eyes, a slender figure, and an athletic body. Forsance surely had everything to pair with the female sex even if he himself didn't know it.

Forsance liked to bathe in the morning sun. Being there in total harmony with nature gave him immense happiness. And that feeling when the brain relaxes and there is no longer a need to torture the mind for trivial problems, giving it the certainty that it was going to have the best day possible.

Forsance had understood the importance of meditation, a few years ago. Already at that time, he wanted to achieve wealth and be at least as abundant as the richest of the nobles. So he said to himself, "I have to behave like a nobleman if I want to be as powerful as them." And since in Forsance's mind, the nobles were all extremely lazy, miserly, greedy, narcissistic and a little too sure of themselves. Forsance therefore concluded that in order to achieve his ambition, he had to become lazy, hence his practice of daily meditation.

However, after years of experience, his financial situation had not improved, it had even deteriorated. Forsance did not give up his daily practice, only for the pleasure it gave him, but also because he had the hope that one day his life would change for the better if he continued this way. Maybe the right opportunity just hadn't come yet and his only duty now was to be as ready as possible for this arrival. At least, that was what Forsance's intuition whispered in his ears.

Forsance lived there isolated from the rest of the world. He only had relations with a few of his neighbors. And the inhabitants of the village of Taunelr, for the most part, kept away from Forsance as much as Forsance kept away from them. Many called him the village idiot because his anti-social character, his bizarre activities and idleness were strange to the villagers. There was so much to do in the village, especially in this harvest season. And yet, Forsance only left his house to shop and to go on these forest hikes.

It is also thanks to these forest hikes that Forsance was able to generate income and therefore live on her own. Most of the villagers were far too focused in the vicissitudes of their lives that the overwhelming majority of them left the village only for an imperative and to go to another nearby village. Like Forsance, the local herbalist, Mr. Quartin, frequently walked the winding paths of the Selvatic as part of his activity. Seeing that Forsance also spent much of his time in the open air, he offered him to become his apprentice, which Forsance accepted. After all, earn money for hiking, where medicinal herbs are harvested, what better way to do Forsance. Before, to ensure an income, he did much more physical work.

Once his routine was accomplished as he was every day, Forsance left his house for the herbalist's hut, where Mr. Quartin had prepared a list of the ingredients for him. But on the way, he came face to face with Lautrant, his neighbor who was obviously waiting for him. Lautrant was nearly a head taller than Forsance. He also had a much more impressive build than Forsance. Probably his father's work at his forge had greatly helped him build his muscle armor. At that moment, Lautrant had a smirk plastered on his face, as he stared at Forsance.

"Mhm, you still spend your time collecting flowers for that stupid old crouton, you're really a loser Forsance."

Forsance did not answer and continued on his way as if Lautrant did not exist.

"Forsance, tomorrow I will leave this small village because tomorrow, I have an appointment with my destiny and we will probably never see each other again."

"Oh, that's fine." Forsance replied with a mocking smile on his lips as he stopped.

"I am telling the truth, because tomorrow will be the day of the conscription for our village. It is even said that the best recruit will be rewarded with the sub-rank of sergeant immediately. You can already call me Sergeant Lautrant. He says of a sufficient area and mimicking his future authority.

"It's already tomorrow that this thing takes place," Forsance replied thoughtfully.

"Ha ha ha, you don't fool anyone into being the idiot Forsance. I've seen you in the last few weeks, you were training, punching. You obviously want to become a soldier like everyone else, and on top of that, it's been since yesterday that the mayor started building the platform for the tournament. It's not possible that you don't know about it."

"Well, let it go anyway talking to you is completely useless." Replied Lautrant. "I have come to tell you that you should not come and join the competition or else I will break your legs." Lautrant said while cracking his fingers.

"As I told you before, I have no intention of becoming a soldier. I'd rather remain a beggar than become a slave." Forsance let go as he continued on his way. Forsance had no desire to have this conversation from the beginning.

"Forsance how dare you insult me like that." And Lautrant sprang at Forsance with clenched fists and red with anger. But before he could lay his hand on Forsance, a breathless voice interrupted his tracks.

"Mister Lautrant........"

Lautrant turned and looked at the newcomer and said:

"Phillipe told my father that today, I wouldn't help him at the forge. I have to have my day off, if I want to be in perfect condition for tomorrow's tournament," he said in a lazy manners, but with a voice energetic enough to seem to want to be charismatic.

"Mister Lautrant, it is not your father who is sending me..." Phillipe caught his breath again before continuing. "It's that lovely dancer you asked me to spy on, and well she's gone. now"

"How did she disappear?" interrupted Lautrant, clearly shocked by the news.

"Yes, disappeared as I told you. She was not present for the rehearsal this morning. So I conducted my investigation, I questioned all those likely to have seen her. In the end, only the lumberjacks, have seen her entering the large forest east, but she still hasn't come out. I'm afraid it's already too late, after all she's not from here and this forest is famous for having a wolf pack in its heart, the poor child must have already been torn to pieces." A sorry Phillipe replied.

"And you are telling this right now ?!"

"But I didn't want to bother you." Phillipe replied while casting a furtive glance in the direction of Forsance.

"There's not a minute to lose, help me ask the hunters for help, we're going to organize a hunt, right away." Already soaring like a white knight.

"Wait!" Forsance exclaimed. "There are probably more in this story, since she went into the forest on her own, no one have forced her to."

"Shut your fucking mouth Forsance, you don't understand that my future wife is in danger, it's not a coward like you who is going to lecture me." "Come on, Phillipe, let's get out of here." Lautrant said very sharply, already far from Forsance.

"Every time I see him, I want to hit him so bad, it's stronger than me. How come he has the gift to upset me this much." Lautrant said, his teeth clenched with anger.

"He's very lucky that Margot is in danger, I would have already knock him off, I swear."