Author's notes:Lol. First real fic ever. Spoilers for the Hunting Blades challenge sidequest. Got nothing else to say, so here goes!

Pairings: KarolxNan, maybe YurixEstelle and others later....

Disclaimer: I don't own ToV. If I did, Nan would have more screentime. I also don't own the quotes in the flashback. They are actual quotes from the game.

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The group was resting and had set camp a bit away from Keiv moc. Karol sat under a tree, a bit away from the others. He wanted some time alone. Some time to reflect on what just happened.

"Nan..." Karol whispered as he held a picture close to him. His eyes teared up at the scene that was replaying in his head. He was able to save her, but he didn't make it time for her to not be hit. 'No! I will not cry! I have to be strong!' Karol thought. He remembered it all...

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Flashback

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The gang just arrived at Keiv Moc. As soon as they got in, Repede sensed something.

"Woof!" Barked Repede, and then he was off.

"...Find something, Repede?" Inquired Yuri, as Repede lead them deeper into the forest.

"Woof! woof!" Repede stopped in front of the Hunting Blades. They found out that they were injured.

"Those guys are Hunting Blades... What the hell happened?" Yuri said.

"We were done in by that huge monster...Agh...If only the Chief were here..." Groaned the Hunting Blade.

"Nan's all alone... Please..." Said the other Hunting Blade.

"Nan!" Karol screamed, and without a second thought, rushed to her aid.

"H-hey, whaddaya doin' chargin' in by yerself..." Raven said

"I-I'll go too..." Estelle being Estelle, had to help the ones in need.

"It's finally Karol's time to shine. Don't you think so?" Judith said, remembering how much the girl meant to him.

"...His time to shine...?" Estelle asked, being as naive as ever.

Meanwhile...

The big monster was too hard for panted, knowing that she had reaching her limits.

"Agh!" she screamed as the monster knocked her down. As it was about to strike again, Karol jumped in front of it.

"Punishing Smash!" He screamed as he finished off the monster.

"Nan, are you okay?"

"Karol! Why are you...?" Nan said, unable to finish her sentence due to her shock.

And it was at that time when Tison and Clint had arrived. "Eh? What? What happened here?" inquired Tison while Clind demanded "Nan, explain this"

"Ah...yes sir... When you and the others went in to hunt monsters, a huge monster suddenly appeared..." Nan answered immediately

"And that monster beat everyone?" Tison confirmed.

"...Yes. But Karol... Karol defeated the monster."

"Uh, but I didn't do it alone..." Karol said, knowing that it was Nan who weakened the monster.

"Karol, you did this?" Tison said in disbelief

Clint approached Karol and looked at him sternly, making Karold nervous. "You helped us out. You have my thanks."

"Uh..Eh...?" was all that Karol managed to say.

"It's not every day that the Chief thanks someone... Anyway, you have my thanks as well." Tison said. Now sure that it was really Karol who saved his apprentice.

"Uh, no... I mean, you don't have to..." but before was able to finish his sentence, Nan interrupted him.

"...This is for you." Nan said, as she handed over a golden armor.

"Huh...? What's this...?" Karol asked, looking at the armor that he held.

"It's a piece of clothing I made from the fangs and tusks of a monster that I slew recently. It had the most amazing golden tusks..."

"It's tusks were made of gold...?" Karol said in disbelief.

"I tought it wouldn't look right on anyone who wasnt strong enough, but I think it will suit you just fine." Nan said, knowign fully that Karol has indeed, matured.

"Huh...?You mean..." a confused Karol asked.

"Well, I'm going now... The next time I see you, I'm going to be stronger too!" Nan said and then ran after Tison and Clint. She did not want to lose to Karol. She WILL get stronger.

"O-okay...!" Karol said as she left. "Then I'll get stronger too..." Karol said to no one in particular.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

End of Flashback

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'I will get stronger... for you...' Karol tought as he stared up at the starry heavens.

Meanwhile back in camp, Yuri took a look around, seing that Judith and Estelle were chatting, Repede and the old man was sleeping and Rita was still researching. He noticed that Karol still didn't come back to camp. He was still under the tree, and he seemed to be thinking hard. Yuri went over to him and sneaked behind his back.

"Boo!" Yuri screamed, scaring the hell out of Karol.

"Uagh!!" Karol shouted and looked behind him. "Yuri!" Karol said as he noticed the culprit.

"What's up boss? you seem to be deep in thought. " Yuri asked as he took the spot next to Karol.

"Well... I was just... um..." Karol stuttered, finding the right words to say.

"Thinking about Nan?" Yuri answered for him.

"H-how did you know?" Karol said, flustered.

Yuri pointed at the photo that he was holding, and Karol's grip of it tightened as he did so.

"Well...yeah..." Karol said in a low tone.

"What are you worried about? she can handle herself." Yuri said in a knowing manner.

"But you saw wha happened in Keiv Moc! I still can't believe that Chief and Tison left her...."

"They knew she could handle it. They believe in her. And so should you. She's strong, Karol, and you know it." Yuri said.

"I know she's strong... I just don't want her to be hurt..."

Yuri smiled and saw himself in the kid. He, too, would protect the people he love, even if he knows that they can fend for themselves. Knowing that he could do something about it, and doing it. That's Yuri alright.

"We all know that, Boss. Anyway, you better get some rest. We'll be heading for Dhangrest early in the morning. We would'nt want you to be lagging behind now would we?" Yuri said as he held an arm out to Karol.

"Yeah..." Karol agreed as he took Yuri's offer and got up. The both went back to camp and called it a day.

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A/N:And here ends the first chapter! I don't really know how many chapters this will have, but I just wanna point out that it ain't a oneshot. Don't also expect a quick update becuase even I'm not sure of what's gonna happen in the next chapter.

Reviews and Constructive Critisisms are gladly accepted. Flames are used to cook my BBQ.