The Primal Hunter

William listened to the woman talk on and on about the importance of others. His parents were also there, both off to his side, a chair's width too far away for it to ever be considered close. His mother was still a mess, and his father stoic.

His crying mother told of how hard it was, how it felt like she had lost both her sons. Something William naturally took offense to. How could you compare that defective product that they had called brother to him? A fully functional and overall excellent person.

But he didn’t show it on his face, of course. He had never quite mastered the act of fake-crying, so he just looked down and pretended to be sad. He was sure it was fooling everyone, even the boar sleeping in the corner.

The woman, a therapist, was the only one who knew what had truly happened, what he had done. William had accepted this, as from what he had read, she wasn’t required to report of past crimes committed, only suspected future ones.

The fact that his parents insisting that he “didn’t know better” and “didn’t do it on purpose” likely also helped. Of course, he was more than happy to reinforce that misconception, or at least he had tried to, but the damn woman in front of him was sharp and had seen through his act.

She also knew he wasn’t actually sad currently, but he had to play it off to his parents, at least, as they were the ones currently sitting on the giant cookie jars. And his therapist had given him good advice on how he should focus more on other people’s perception of his actions. He had to admit that a lot of her arguments had logical consistency, so he followed them.

William saw the therapist as one of the few people he had ever grown to respect. She was smart and, without a doubt, the best manipulator he had ever seen. She could speak entirely differently with him, his parents, Richard sleeping on the recliner, and when he and his parents were together. It was terrific and a great learning opportunity for him.

His father, still stoic as ever, asked while petting the badger on his head: “So the medicine is working? We want to make sure everything is alright before we take any further steps.”

“Yes, they are helping greatly. We have even been able to lower the dosage recently as we are making great strides. I do believe William has more tutorial points than Richard also,” The therapist answered with a smile.

William just sat there listening but was still a bit annoyed at the insinuation that he was somehow not complete. Yet he had to accept that to others, he perhaps did appear to lack something. He could make up for that by acting like he did have that something, but not always and not to everyone.

“William, do you have anything to say?” she said as she turned to him.

He had trained his response, and with as much faux sadness, he stammered out. “I am sorry… I really didn’t know how much it would hurt everyone… I promise I will get better, and nothing like that will ever happen again.”

His mother teared up even more at that, and even his father slackened his worried facial expression slightly. If only he could throw some fake tears in and not be covered in blood, it would have been perfect.

“And William, what about that other thing we talked about?” The kind therapist said as she smiled at him once more.

A bit confused, William wondered… what else? She rarely ever addressed him doing these sessions, to begin with, but what else did they talk about?

No, this entire situation was wrong. What was going on? He looked questioningly at The Smith standing at his side, but he just shook his head, as confused as William himself.

what I mean, William. That other thing we talked about you lacking,” she continued, the smile on her face now gone.

pathetic you are. So broken and weak… unable to ever truly

in, a cloaked man with a weapon rushing towards him. He couldn’t react before he was stabbed

down at him as he fell to the floor, completely paralyzed. Those eyes, staring at him like he was some defenseless critter. He couldn’t move; he couldn’t breathe. He felt life slowly seep out of his body as he was absolutely powerless. His chest was rotting as the poison spread, the laughing face of

makeshift bed in a cabin. His heart was pounding as cold sweat covered his entire

to his scream, the door was swiftly opened as he saw the healer Caroline enter. William couldn’t help himself from shaking… he didn’t want anyone to see him

Caroline asked, but she looked and spoke to him

Too shaken to even pick up Caroline’s changed demeanor. “Ye... yeah. I am fine. I am just tired, and

up with him and his stats? Who in their right mind makes a build entirely centered around perception and defensive stats? Also, the poison… it wasn’t purely physical, but magical and far more potent than the venom from the badgers. Did he even

about it, as he was too stuck in his own head. He did perk up

exclaimed, confused as he looked up and saw the cold eyes of Caroline and

what happened?” Richard

back and forth between the two as he put on his innocent teenager

that Casper fellow

like you’ve killed so many others. This

more, William was surprised. What? he knew? How? Richard had been fooled for so

are also young and inexperienced. A powerful weapon that I have

who thinks you’re lesser for what you are. You are a brilliant young man with endless potential to be the perfect soldier, but every soldier needs a commander - a guide to let you reach your full potential. With your intelligence, you know the benefits

the man, perhaps even more than before. He

never been in this position

all he could manage to

the first day we met. Did you think I wouldn’t notice a living weapon waltz

do at this very moment. William didn’t feel like they were about to attack him, and quite honestly, he still felt too weak to fight, which was weird, as all

he asked, trying to look stoic. He had to at least put

I want you to play super-soldier. I am proposing a partnership. I will be at the back, supporting you to reach for higher power, and you will help me be the leader of this camp - an agreement of mutual benefits. I know you want tutorial points and levels and that my death would offer you plenty… but what I can provide

why he hadn't done anything for so long. There was actually someone smart enough to recognize his worth.

This was

“You cannot begin to comprehend how glad I am to have you as a partner. I couldn't imagine anyone better.

from what she did, but he did feel a bit of strength returned. “I have done all I can; the rest is just fatigue. It should be

time to rest,” Richard