Chapter 2: Make a man out of you
Archibald Cage was an extremely imposing figure, despite his old age and cane that came with it. An old, ruggard face was currectly looking down at Nyx, eyes that were once clearer hardened over decades of experience. The man lazily played with the toothpick, the act giving a weird contrast to the intensity the man seemed to blast out.
The pair was currectly standing in the middle of a small meadow that was next to the house, which by itself wasn't that big as a big tree covered most of it.
"So, you want to be a huntsman." Said Archibald, stating it instead of asking. Of course did he want to be a huntsman, his son wouldn't have made him come all the way here.
Nyx stuttered a bit under his grandfathers critical eyes. "Y-yes." Answered, his head sinking and shoulders rising, somehow scared without even having a reason to. The man infront of him was a figure which demanded respect so Nyx couldn't help but feel a bit intimidated.
Luckily for him, his grandfather was a man who quickly picked up these sorts of things. He approached Nyx and put a hand on his shoulder. "Relax." When Nyx didn't comply right away he added "There is no need for you to be nervous. I am happy to train you." He admitted while scratching his cheek. "To think that you want this old farts help, I cant help but feel happy 'bout it. So don't worry, 'kay?"
"...'Kay."
"But I hope you realize" he leaned forward, grin turning viscous "I wont be going easy on you. You didn't go to any prior combat school so you need to be even better then the rest. Got that."
The boy nodded, determination filling his eyes.
"Good, good. Now lets start with the basics. Conditioning."
The boy tilted his head. "Conditioning?"
"Eyup, huntsman and huntresses need to be fit. You never know how long a mission will take. Sometimes you can finish them in less in a day but sometimes they can last several months."
Nyx looked horrified. "Months?"
"Yes! Which is why we will start with endurance. Now, hold out your hand."
Nyx did as he was asked.
Out of his pocket Archibald fished a small metallic bracelet and put it around Nyxs wrist. Nyx shot his grandfather a confused look.
"Whats this for?'
The man smiled sweetly.
"To give you an incentive." Said the man as he pressed the button. The screen on the bracelet turned on and showed, what he at least assumed, his heartbeat.
"Now you will be running five laps 'round the village."
Nyx gaped at him.
"And everytime you stop you'll get a slight shock."
Nyx kept gaping.
"Don't worry tough, it will be only a slight shock. Don't want to hurt you."
This seemed to put the boy at ease. Archibald smiled at that.
How gullible.
"Now take your position." Ordered the man and Nyx complied by going to the road and bending his knee, readying himself for the run.
"Ready?"
"Yes!" exclaimed the boy with youthful energy.
"Go!"
And off he went down the road and towards the village. Archibald smiled as he watched him go, seating himself on a bench near the road to wait for the boys return. He wasn't alone for long tough as his son soon came up to him, a can of juice in hand. He took it, giving the man an appreciative nod.
"So, where's Nyx?"
"I send him on a run."
"….Tell me you didn't put that stupid bracelet on him."
Archibald didn't deem that question worty a response.
"Dad!"
"Oh come on! What do you take me for? Some guy who enjoys electrocuting people?"
Jasper did not respond.
"Son!"
"Oh come on! You used it everytime when I was younger. You said I gotta toughen up."
"And it made you tough, didn't it?"
" I can spent my life without the knowledge of how electrocution feels."
"Heh, wuss." Said the man turning his gaze towards the road again.
Moments of akward silence passed as they waited for Nyx, who arrived a couple minutes later a bit winder but still strong.
"Nice work Nyx, keep going."
"Don't forget to keep your knees up. You gotta feel it burn."
Nyx gave them a dry look as he continued his track back down the road.
"I am starting to get why you liked training me so much when I was small. This is preety chatartic."
"If only something came out of it." Said Archibald drily.
His son shot him a glare but he just put up his in an apologetic gesture.
Sillence returned but not for long as Archibald asked "Sooo, hows the weapon coming along?"
Jasper scratched the back of his head. "Well, its going fine I suppose, despite its unique design."
"That bad?"
"Oh, y'have no idea."
The old man burst out into laughter. "Haha, its alright. Most hunters these days have those fancy weapons. Everythings a gun, y'know?"
"Oh, I am definetly not adding a gun to it."
"Ah, sticking out I see."
"Yea –" Jasper answer was cut short by a loud yelp coming from the village. The two man shared a look before laughing. Jasper finally sat himself down on the bench next to his father, doubling over in laughter , Jasper mirrowing the action as they laughed.
After a few minutes Nyx came back, a sour look on his face.
"You seem angry."
"You said slight."
"That was slight."
Nyx only glared and kept running.
"I am going to have so much fun with this."
Jasper laughed before answering. "Good for you."
A comfortable silence fell over the two as they sat.
"So… how did Liadan take it?" asked Archibald and his sons face almost immediately turned sour.
"She…is less then pleased."
His father quirked a brow. "That bad?"
" Lets say I have become very comfortable with our couch."
His father laughed and despite himself, so did Jasper.
After a while Archibald quipped up. "She'll get over it."
His son gave him a hopeful look "You think so?"
"Of course. Having your kid decide that he wants to risk his life on a daily basis is a hard pill to swallow, but she'll accept it eventully."
"I really hope so."
Nyx came back from his third lap and it was starting to show.
"Getting tired yet?"
"No!"
"Atta' boy!"
Despite those brave words after a while another yelp was heard from the village. The two man grinned at each other.
"Wanna bet he'll keel over after the fourth lap?"
"You're on."
With a firm handshake the bet was made both of the man turning back to the road.
"So, you think he has good chances?"
"Oh please. He is my grandson. He'll be just fine. We are a family of badasses. Its in his blood." Said the man with pride before adding. " It seemed to skip your generation tough."
"Hey!"
They remained in silence as Nyx came back from his fourth lap. The two share a quick look as they looked at Nyx expectedly.
The boy gave them a look as he jogged on. "What?"
"Nuthin'." Said the father and son duo in perfect unison.
Nyx kept looking at them before starting the last lap, his tail lazily swinging from side to side.
"Hmmm, tougher then he looks." Said Archibald as he handed his son a couple Lien.
" He is from a family of badasses after all."
"You always had a lack of originality."
"Oh bite me."
"Don't make me use my cane. I can still kick your sorry ass."
Jasper rolled his eyes at his fathers empty threat.
"Love ya too Dad."
"You better freaking do." Joked Archibald as he waved his cane at him.
They both laughed again as they kept waiting for Nyx who after a while came back, huffing and puffing and basickly soaked in sweat. He took some more shaky steps before dropping down face first on the floor. The bracelet on his wrist beeping before delivering a final shock as a parting gift. They boy yelped for a second before he fell back to the ground.
"You okay so-" started Jasper but never got to finish as Nyx answered the unspoken question by throwing up his breakfast, and then very unceremoniously fell unconscious.
Jasper bleched a bit at the sight but Archibald smiled.
"The boy has potential. You threw up at least twice as much this."
Jasper didn't have it in him to argue.