When my axe got stuck on the trunk the Orc was using, fear took over, and I jumped back, leaving my axe on the trunk.
I saw Ray and some other fighters getting ready to jump in. But I raised my hand, signalling them to stop.
I didn't have a good Art, so if I couldn't even achieve this much, there was no way I could leave this village. So, I had to try.
I saw Elaine and Taek looking at me with worry, but even then, my decision wouldn't change.
I wasn't going to my death, anyway. I had a plan.
Good thing I learned it.
I approached the Orc. It would be better if I didn't let the axe go, but it was okay. I started dodging the trunk again. The axe was dangling from the trunk.
Unfortunately, I wasn't lucky enough for the axe to drop by itself. Or maybe because I hit the trunk really hard with it, the axe got stuck for good.
After dodging the trunk again and again, the Orc stopped for a second. Even though I moved more, since he was carrying something in his hand, he was tired more than me.
This was also one of the reasons the Orcs were easy to hunt. They were slow and got tired fast.
If one learned how to dodge their attacks, it was easy to hunt them. Of course, in front of life and death, even the stronger ones didn't risk their lives and, instead, attacked in groups.
The Orc put the trunk down for a second. He didn't let it go and could swing it any time. But instead of going to the opening on the opposite side, where he could swing the trunk to, I headed for the trunk itself.
More correctly, I headed for my axe. And since I didn't go for the opening, the Orc couldn't figure out what to do.
Since the trunk was already on his left, he couldn't swing it from left to left. Still, he tried it, but the swing was slow and inaccurate.
If I had approached from the other side, I would have gotten hit by the full swing. But now, I could reach my axe.
The second I held onto it, my eyes started shining. "Art of Wood!" I shouted to everyone's surprise. But I couldn't mind them now.
The axe got unstuck easily, and rings started showing on the tree trunk. Some of these rings were white, while some were gray or black.
I instantly knew what they were. My Art was the Art of Wood; it helped me see the weak points in wood.
Since it only worked on wood, it wasn't a strong Art, and the chief taught it to me in return for helping him for all these years. I also helped him more after learning the Art.
The Orc was here with a tree trunk, so I was his counter. It was lucky since they just took whatever they found on the ground.
Instead of taking the same position as I had dodged him before, I approached the Orc confidently.
The Orc didn't have the intelligence to understand what was happening, so he wasn't surprised and attacked normally.
Unfortunately for him, with a swing of my axe, I divided the trunk into two. It definitely looked cool, like in the novels I read back on Earth.
Too bad it wouldn't work on anything but wood.
Maybe I can find other Orcs with tree trunks...
After cutting the tree trunk in two, the Orc swung the rest of it again. But I cut it every time he swung it.
In the end, only the part he was holding was left. It was my turn. I started cutting the Orc. He tried defending, but it didn't work.
When he used his hand, I cut his hand. When he turned back to run, I cut his back. In the end, he died with a scream.
Ray worried it could attract more Orcs, but that didn't happen. So, after waiting for five minutes in position without moving, everyone started shouting:
"Hurray!"
I saw people running towards me. But before they reached me, I felt my feet give, and I fell to the ground.
Thankfully, Taek caught me and made me sit slowly. The others were still congratulating me. It was a feeling I had been yearning for.
I did it!
I won!
---
"You are finally a grown-up, huh, Grey? I remember your first ceremony. You couldn't even kill a wild boar!"
"Hey, stop telling that story. Also, I am not a grown-up yet. There is still time before midnight. So, pamper me a bit more."
Everyone around laughed.
We had prepared camp and were eating the meat of the wild boars we had hunted. There were forty of us, so one campfire wasn't enough.
Still, we lit three campfires close to each other, letting us easily talk to the others.
Every grown-up worked equally without any regard to gender. Not that there were many women. Apart from Elaine, who wasn't a grown-up, there were only two among the forty.
Once in a while, I saw the three ten-year-olds looking at me the way I looked up at the grown-ups until today.
To be honest, it was a great feeling. I felt successful.
The story was true. I couldn't kill a wild boar when I was "ten." Of course, I wasn't actually ten, but it didn't matter.
Back then, I didn't think I could kill any other living being, even if it was a monster or food. Since I came from Earth, where living was much easier in terms of food, I wasn't used to this.
But I adapted to it soon. And I am glad that I did.
Of course, this wasn't the end; it was just the beginning. I wouldn't be a great fighter or anything, especially after I chose this weak Art.
But I could at least get physically strong. If I were strong enough to take on three Orcs at the same time, I could leave the village.
Only then would I have the courage to do so.
For now, though, it was okay to enjoy this feeling of success.
***
We ate, but no one drank. Even though we had cleaned out the outer layer of the forest, it was still the forest. Especially since we had campfires, we could attract the monsters that we missed, or maybe even some from the inner parts of the forest.
In the end, we decided on the roles. They let me sleep since I was extra tired while four grown-ups took the first shift.
But I couldn't sleep.
"Can't you sleep?" the sound of a girl came. It was Elaine.
"I think I got too excited. It is hard to sleep." We were whispering since there were also others around.
"You looked cool."
"Hehe, I know. But continue."
"Idiot. Why didn't you tell me you had an Art?"
"I don't know... I think I got embarrassed. I won't be able to learn any other Art now."
"Well, you can if you want. It will just be weaker."
"I know that... But who would learn if it meant losing what you already have? Anyway, it is not important. I can achieve my dreams with this."
"You are going to leave, aren't you?"
She got me by surprise with her question.
Did she already know?
I didn't answer, but my silence was more than enough.
"Can I come with you?" she asked. But I didn't wait this time.
"No!"
The immediate answer must have shocked her since she waited before her next question.
"Why?"
"It will be dangerous. Also, I don't even know what I will be doing."
"Isn't it fine? I am okay with not knowing and wandering around."
I sighed silently. "I am sorry, Elaine." I raised my head to look at her face. She had a beautiful and kind face. But there was a tear sliding from her eyes to her nose.
I wanted to console her, but I knew it wouldn't help. Still, I wanted to say something.
But just then...
"Orcs! Orcs are attacking!"