I am Just an Average Tamer

"What exactly were you trying to pull, you petty little thief?" the man growled, his grip tightening on Kai's arm.

Kai's eyes widened as a cold sweat formed at the back of his neck.

'What now?' Kai's mind raced, heart thudding in his chest.

"Didn't you hear me? What were you trying to pull?" the man's voice snapped Kai out of his thoughts as his breathes were becoming heavy.

That man was one of the higher-ranking commoners who resided in the upper part of Ashenford.

The town was divided into two sectors: the upper part, where high-ranking, wealthy commoners and some low-ranking nobles lived, and the lower part, where normally commoners resided, neglecting slums that were at the town's corner used as dump yard by them.

Kai turned his head and body slightly, "U-Umm...sir, I was just...t-trying to get home" Kai muttered in a shaking voice.

Kai felt the man's cold glare pierce through him, sweat beaded on his forehead as his body trembled, he said "T-The market was packed... I-I was just trying to walk past the stalls—"

"Then, what were you reaching for on me?" the man interrupted in icy tone, making the hair on Kai's back to stand to no end.

"I-It...it isn't what you think, sir...I wasn't...trying to s-steal gold coins...from your pouch, it's just—" Kai blurted with cracking voice but got interrupted once again by the man, standing tall in front of him.

"I never mentioned stealing, and how did you know my pouch was on this side of my belt?" the main said without any change in his expressions, "I was just going to teach you how to walk straight without bumping into people, but it seems like you had ulterior motives." He clenched his fist tightly and brought near his chest, as he grabbed it with his other hand cracking his knuckles with deliberate force as if preparing to strike.

'Shit,' Kai cursed himself, for falling for his trick and spitting out his plan to rob him.

Even though his body trembled with fear, he mustered all his innocence he could, his eyes began to sparkle with invisible stars. "N-No si—" thwack! Before he could play his trump card, the man's fist connected his face, sending him tumbling onto his butt with a low thud.

The crowd barely glanced at their direction; higher-ups beating riffraff's was normal, so everyone just minded their business and left without batting an eye.

"Argh!" Kai grunted, clutching his nose, which was now bleeding, as he struggled to get back on his feet.

Of course, that man had held back—otherwise, one single punch could have easily killed the skinny thief.

Well, he hadn't hold back out of empathy...nor fear of killing him; "nonsense," that man was a higher-ranking commoner, nothing would happen to him even if he killed a few commoners from the lower district. And who was Kai? Nothing but a lowly orphan from the slums.

The man had held back because he wanted to have a little fun while battering the boy.

"You lowly peasant, I'm going to teach you a lesson you'll never forget!" the man snarled as he closed the distance, aiming to punch Kai again.

But Kai, with quick thinking, pointed behind the man and shouted, "Holy shit! The Mother of Dragons!"

"Huh? Where?" The man turned around in a rush, eager to see the Dragon's mother for himself. Almost everyone else around did the same, all of them falling for Kai's clever trick.

"You little bastard! How dare you trick me!" He barked but when he turned around there was none except few drops of blood that fell from Kai's bleeding nose.

He scanned the crowd, muttering, "There you are," after spotting Kai who was trying his best to escape.

"Stop running and get back here, bastard!" The man shouted, enraged, as he charged after the fleeing Kai, determined to make him pay for the humiliation.

Kai, glancing back, felt a chill run through him as the man closed the distance. 'Shit he is coming,' he thought grimly, 'I am going to die today.'

His heart pounding like a drum, his breaths came faster as he pushed himself to increase his pace, desperately hoping he wouldn't get caught this time.

Despite his frail and malnourished build, Kai was surprisingly agile when it came to speed. With pure confidence, he navigated the narrow streets, taking sharp turns and twists as if the layout of the area were etched into his memories.

As he weaved through the alleys in a zigzag pattern, he finally lost the man chasing him—but dared not look back, fearing the worst.

Eventually, he made his way out the bustling market square, dodging the crowd before dashing toward the forest, giving it his all.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Kai glanced back and saw no sign of his pursuer.

He didn't stop though, fear gnawed him, urging him to go onward.

Soon he reached near the forest, "I better hide there" he murmured "He won't be able to find me in the huge forest."

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"Damn that bastard! Just where did he go?" The man growled; his voice filled with frustration as he scanned the area.

The bustling crowd had allowed the boy to slip out of sight.

"Why are you looking so worked up, Daniel?" a voice echoed from behind the man chasing Kai.

He turned around to see a figure in a cloak, leaning casually against a building, looking at him, in a narrow alley where they stood.

"Hmph!" Daniel scoffed. "Why are you here? Did that old man finally kick you out?"

The figure straightened and stepped toward Daniel, a smirk playing on his lips.

"You haven't changed a bit, have you? Still as rude as ever...Brother," he said, pulling back his hood to reveal a face identical to Daniel's, except for the eyes—Daniel's were a deep brown, while the man's were striking grey.

"As for your question, no, the Grand Master didn't kick me out," he said with a smirk, now standing directly in front of Daniel, the man he had just claimed to be his brother.

"Then why are you here, Damile?" Daniel asked, his tone cold and devoid of any warmth for his brother.

Damile smirked. "I already answered one of your questions. Now, why don't you tell me what has you so worked up?"

"Tsk," Daniel clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"It's nothing. I was just about to throw trash in its place before you interrupted."

"Hah! Is that so?" Damile said, his voice filled with amusement as he crossed his arms over his chest, heading out of the narrow alley that led to the market square's exit.

"Chasing after the brat who just made you look like a fool?" He said with a light chuckle, facing Daniel who was standing behind him.

"Watch your mouth, Damile" Daniel barked at Damile's attempt to tease him.

"There, there, brother, no need to be so angry," Damile said in a calm tone as he tilted his head slightly.

Damile's smirk fades for a split second, replaced by a cold, calculating glare as he pointed his thumb over his shoulder toward the town's outskirts.

"He ran into the Howlfen Forest in an attempt to escape from you. But you don't have to worry—he probably had become a snack for some Hollowsky Wolves."

"Like I care about a worthless street rat! "Daniel growled, narrowing his eyes. "Tell me, why are you here?"

Upon hearing his question, Damile smirked, crossing his arms around his chest again.

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Upon entering the forest, Kai let out a relieved sigh, "Phew" he muttered, his shoulders relaxing as the tension slowly eased, knowing that he would be safe in the Howlfen forest that was full of overgrown tree mazes and filled with magical beasts.

As the name suggests, Howlfen forest is mainly known for its inhabitants of magic wolf beasts, not struck with one type but many.

But how was hiding in a forest safer than hiding in a town?

Why would he choose a forest filled with magic beasts over hiding somewhere in the town?

For most people, staying within the town's walls would be the safer option. The magic beasts would tear them to pieces if they found them out there. But Kai wasn't like most people.

He was different, being a street rat, who had been good at hiding after stealing from the town's market, had come to the forest very often.

"Ow" "OwO" he groaned in pain, wiping blood from his nose.

"Well, it didn't work this time," he murmured while climbing on a tree, "Maybe because of the festival...," he said, recalling memories of the trick that was working just fine yesterday, but today...failed.

"Should I just go now?" He muttered to himself, sitting on a tree branch, overlooking the town. "Not yet," he quickly answered, shaking off the thought. "What if he is waiting for me there."

He jumped down from the tree branch and began making his way deeper into the forest, taking some turns and moving in zigzags pattern. "It has to be nearby," he muttered, scanning the trees for any sign of what he was searching for.

"W-What was that?" Kai muttered; his concentration interrupted by an unfamiliar sound. 'Where is it coming from?' his brows furrowed as he scanned his surroundings, searching for the source.

"Wait... Could it be..." His expression darkened as the realization hit him. "The Wicked Forest Witch?"

"I swear, I've only heard some stories people used to talk about The Wicked Forest Witch, to their children when they don't sleep," his fingers fidgeted through his hair, tugging slightly as his eyes darted around, his voice trembling as he spoke.

Gulp! 

He gulped hard, "But now, that same witch is out here. If I go back that bastard will kill me but If I stay, then..."

A chill ran down through his spine at the mere mentioning of the infamous wicked witch, whose stories had haunted him since childhood.

"Well, at least they say she's beautiful," Kai muttered, trying to steady his nerves. "Unlike that scary man."

He took a deep breath, recalling the stories he'd heard about the Wicked Forest Witch. They painted her as a stunning, petite woman, rather than a horrifying figure.

The thought offered little comfort, though—beauty didn't make her any less dangerous.

"Well, I'm already in the woods, and it's not like anyone's going to come looking for me," he muttered, trying to console himself. Recalling what he heard about the witch, taking kids into deep woods when they don't close their eyes at night, never to be found again.

Taking a deep breath, Kai steeled his nerves. Readying himself to face the wicked witch than going back to die at the hands of that scary man.

He cautiously moved closer to the bush, from which the unsettling sound seemed to come.

"Sniff... Sniff..."

The faint sound of crying reached his ears, sending a chill down his spine.

"Come on, Kai," he muttered under his breath, slapping his cheeks with both hands to shake off the fear. "You're grown up now, no need to be scared."

Each step toward the bush felt heavier than the last, his instincts screaming at him to turn back. But curiosity—or perhaps desperation—kept him moving forward.

Reaching the bush, Kai took a deep, shaky breath.

"Haaa!" He exhaled sharply, mustering the last of his courage, and plunged his head into the thick bush to confront whatever lay beyond.

But the sight that greeted him made his blood run cold.

'T-The Wicked Forest Witch!' His mind screamed as his eyes locked onto the figure crouched next to him.