Chapter 175: Alani’s Dream [II] ’A dream...’ ’I saw a dream... A dream that would never end...’ Alani thought as he gazed into the endless sky. Snow was falling slowly, each flake drifting down like a fragment of glass, cold yet beautiful. His breath left his mouth in a thin, misty stream, vanishing into the chill air. He tilted his head back, letting a single snowflake melt against his forehead. Ever since he was young, he could remember one thing — one dream that returned to him over and over, no matter how much time passed. He wanted to be a hunter. But that had never been possible. He clenched his fists tightly. His body had always been frail, a weak container that betrayed him at every turn. His bones cracked too easily, his stamina faltered too quickly, and although he had been born with the gift of flame, even that was pitiful flickering like a dying torch. He couldn’t really do much at this age could he? His father had lived and died as a hunter. His mother as well. His younger sister had even taken up the spear and bow, chasing the same path until she gave up because Prince Azel had come back. Every single one of them were hunters.... Everyone except him. Only Alani remained, tied to the earth, incapable of stepping onto the path his family had walked. He had lived now with his uncle Elyon, the blacksmith for a time. Elyon had once been a hunter too, until his arm had frozen while trying to wield the blade of the goddess, forcing him into retirement. But Elyon had adapted, finding satisfaction in fire and steel. Why couldn’t he do the same? Alani let out a heavy sigh, rubbing his cold hands together. ’I really don’t know how to feel,’ he thought bitterly. He had found something else. A wife. A home. People came to him for food, praised his skill. He loved his wife, he truly did. She was strong — stronger than him in many ways. She had the body of a hunter but had given it up willingly to live quietly with him. He cherished her for it. And yet... When he thought about being a hunter, from the days of his boyhood until now, his heart still throbbed with unexplainable excitement. A thrill he could never chase away. He gripped the hilt of the short sword hanging at his waist, his pulse racing as the forest around him rustled. Then the boar appeared. It pushed out from the shrubbery, snow scattering from its silver fur. Its curved gray horns gleamed faintly, catching what little light the setting sun offered. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶 Its eyes, bright and red, locked on him instantly. The ground trembled beneath its roar. Alani swallowed hard, his breath fogging. A beast like this wasn’t uncommon in the hunting grounds. Yet, each time one appeared before him, it reminded him of how far he was from the path he longed for. He slid the short sword into a familiar grip, adjusting his stance. ’I’ll just drive it back... like I always do,’ he thought, steadying his shaking hands. He couldn’t kill one — not without risk. But he could fight long enough to make it leave. That much, at least, he could do. He exhaled sharply. Muscles tensed. Then... The sky tore open. A shadow dropped like lightning, slamming into the earth with such force the snow burst outward in a wave. The boar’s roar ended in a crunch. Its body lay flattened beneath something—no, beneath someone. "Alani, I didn’t take you for the suicidal type." The voice was calm, amused, and impossibly familiar. Azel. Alani’s eyes widened in horror. His grip on the short sword faltered, then he quickly shoved it back into its sheath, his heart hammering. Of all the people to stumble upon him, it had to be him. "It’s just a misunderstanding," Alani said hastily, his face flushing. He didn’t want to look like a reckless child before the prince. But Azel wasn’t fooled. He stepped off the crushed body of the silver boar, giving the fallen beast a quiet, almost apologetic glance. Then his sharp gaze flicked back to Alani. "Get some fish ready," Azel said simply. "We’ll talk." And just like that, the conversation was decided. ... Minutes later, a small fire crackled in the snow, its warmth pushing back the chill. Alani had pulled a portable set from his bag — something he always carried when he came to the grounds and laid skewered fish over the flames. The scent rose into the air, Azel took a whiff and it was simply amazing. Azel sat across from him, arms resting on his knees, the firelight reflecting in his crimson eyes. Alani tried not to feel small beneath that gaze. He focused instead on the fish, turning it carefully, letting the oils drip and sizzle against the flames. "So," Azel said at last, tearing a piece of fish from the stick once it was ready. He chewed thoughtfully, savoring the taste. "You want to be a hunter?" The words were casual, but they cut straight to the heart of him. Alani froze for a moment, then stabbed his stick into another grilled piece. His silver hair fell forward as he bent his head, hiding his expression. He took a slow bite, chewing, tasting, and stalling of course. "That was my childhood dream," he admitted finally. His voice was low, rougher than he expected. "And... it’s been my dream for as long as I can remember." He paused, tightening his grip on the fish. "But I’m not stupid enough to throw everything away for it. Not my wife. Not the shop. Not the life I have now. Especially not with this weak body." The flames crackled, filling the silence between them. Azel finished his fish down to the bone, licking his fingers clean. He didn’t rush to answer, didn’t argue or laugh. Finally, he leaned back, exhaling. "...Oh, if it’s just that," Azel said quietly, almost as if speaking to himself, "I have something for you that’ll help." Alani blinked, stunned. "It’s the least I can do for this fish," Azel added, tapping the bare stick against the fire’s edge. For a moment, Alani nearly laughed. The sound bubbled in his chest, bitter and disbelieving. Something that had haunted him since childhood, Azel was talking as if it could be brushed aside as easily as repaying a meal. It was absurd. It was insulting. It was... ’Impossible,’ Alani thought, tightening his jaw. There just couldn’t be.