"Ull! Ull!"
As the sun rose over the horizon, the sound of cheerful, youthful voices echoed outside Muria's small treehouse.
"Sigh!" Muria sat up from his tree bed, stretched, and adjusted the animal skin clothing he was wearing. "Just a moment, I'll be right out!"
"What are they looking for me again for?" Muria thought, feeling a bit troubled. There were many Ikon children of his age in the tribe, but Muria found it hard to pretend to be childish and play with them.
As a result, he usually kept a distant and aloof attitude around them. Over time, the children stopped seeking him out, and when they did call his name, it was more out of courtesy than genuine interest.
"Ull, I heard you're planning to conquer the Misha and become the King of Ayale Forest!"
As soon as Muria stepped out of his treehouse, a young Ikon girl grinned and asked him this question.
"That's right!" Muria nodded in response, feeling a little helpless. It had only been one night, and already his first goal had spread throughout the tribe.
There was no need to guess who had leaked the information. After all, he had only discussed it with the elder. Seeing that even this young girl had come to ask him about it, it was clear the entire tribe knew by now.
"So, it's true! I thought it was just a joke," the girl said, her face lighting up with admiration after hearing Muria confirm it. "Ull, you're really amazing!"
"Tch, what's so great about that? Anyone can brag. I can do that too!" a nearby boy said, clearly dissatisfied with the girl's praise.
"Greze, don't talk nonsense! It's already impressive if we can ride the Blue Creek Beast, let alone conquer the Misha with such wild claims!" another child scolded.
"Then you should tell Ull that, not me!" the boy named Greze shrugged. "He's the one making grand statements!"
"It's not just talk. When I decide to ride the Misha, it will become a reality in the future," Muria said, his face expressionless. The group of young Ikons could sense the intense confidence in his words.
"Ull, what makes you so sure?" a boy stepped forward, challenging Muria, clearly unconvinced.
Muria walked over to the group of children, towering over them despite being around the same age. His height alone made him an imposing figure, and as he looked down at them, he said, "Step aside. I'm going to get breakfast."
Muria's physical presence was enough to make them feel pressured, and they obediently parted, making way for him to cross the vine bridge. Without another word, Muria left them behind.
"That guy!" the boy who had challenged Muria clenched his fists in frustration. Under Muria's gaze, his body had trembled involuntarily, and he had instinctively stepped aside.
"He's so strong!" Unlike the boys, the young girls were filled with admiration for Muria's display of confidence and strength. Even in this peaceful environment, the Ikon people still admired the powerful.
…
Muria arrived at his parents' treehouse, where his father and mother were already awake, preparing breakfast for him—some freshly picked fruits.
"Ull, you're just in time! Come and eat!" his mother Hida called out with a warm smile, always kind and gentle toward Muria.
"Ull, I heard you want to conquer the Misha and make it your companion?" Batu, who was adjusting his bow and arrows, asked with a smile as Muria walked in.
"Yep!" Muria replied casually as he grabbed a bright red berry and popped it into his mouth. The fruits, though small, were nutritious enough to sustain him if he ate enough of them.
"Ambitious! That's my son!" Batu laughed, clearly proud of his son's aspiration. To a father, it didn't matter whether his son could actually achieve such a feat—the fact that he had the ambition was reason enough to be happy.
"What ambition!" Hida's smile faded, and she scolded, "What's so great about conquering the Misha? Wouldn't it be better to grow up peacefully and just ride a Blue Creek Beast?"
"Hida, riding the Misha means becoming the King of Ayale Forest!" Batu replied with a grin, knowing well what such a conquest meant, even if Muria didn't fully understand yet.
"And then what? What does being king get you?" Hida retorted immediately.
"Uh…" Batu hesitated, unable to think of any tangible benefits to being the King of Ayale Forest.
"Even if you become king, you still live in the same treehouses, eat the same food, and wear the same clothes as the rest of us!" Hida pointed out. "So why risk your life to conquer the Misha when it's not worth it?"
"A king's house, food, and clothing are definitely better than ours!" Batu tried to argue, though he struggled to make his point.
"We already live well enough, so there's no need to risk your life to become king!" Hida looked at Muria as she spoke, giving him a stern warning.
"Mom, I don't want to be king for the sake of better food or clothes. A king holds great power and equally great responsibility. A king doesn't just enjoy the offerings of his people—he also has the duty to make his people's lives better!" Muria said, looking up at his parents, trying to correct their understanding of what it meant to be king.
"But right now, every Ikon in Ayale Forest lives well. We don't need a better life, and we don't need a king riding a Misha!" Hida struck a heavy blow to Muria's ambition.
Muria didn't respond to his mother's words. Instead, he silently chewed on a fruit seed, cracking it between his teeth before swallowing it along with the pulp.
There was no way he could explain his real concerns to his mother. Should he talk about the void? Should he tell her about the threats from beyond the void, about how their world was a juicy target for invaders? That would be absurd! To his mother, Ayale Forest was the entire world. She didn't care about anything beyond it; all she cared about was her husband and her son.
…
After Muria finished breakfast, Batu, already dressed in his hunting gear, walked out of the treehouse with him, placing a hand on his shoulder to offer encouragement.
"Ull, don't worry about what your mother said. Do what you feel is right, and I'll support you! Just don't provoke the Misha until you're absolutely ready."
"I know." Muria nodded, already thinking about his next move. This world was just too comfortable.
"Well, I'm off. I need to go hunt for your lunch!" Batu patted Muria's shoulder and prepared to leave. With a son who had such a huge appetite, he had to work extra hard to keep up.
"Dad, wait a minute!" Muria called out, an idea forming as he looked at his father's hunting attire.
"What is it?"
"Take me with you on your hunt!" Muria suggested. He felt it was time for him to explore beyond the tribe.
"Huh?" Batu paused, then glanced at Muria, who only came up to his chest. He shook his head firmly. "No way!"
"Why not? My strength, speed, and endurance are already as good as yours… well, almost as good," Muria quickly corrected himself, leaving his father some dignity.
"As good as mine?" Batu chuckled at the thought.
"If you don't believe me, we can have a contest. If I win, you take me hunting!" Muria said confidently.
"Alright!" Batu agreed without hesitation, though a small part of him had doubts. After all, his son ate so much.
"What am I thinking? No matter how much he eats, he's still so small. How strong could he be?" Batu quickly dismissed his doubts.
"Let's arm wrestle!" Muria suggested a simple and direct method.
…
Half a moment later, Muria calmly observed his father, whose neck had swollen with the effort, veins bulging as he struggled against his son. "Want to try again?" Muria asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Again!" Batu roared like a gambler, unable to accept what had just happened.
"Alright," Muria sighed, releasing his grip. Batu finally managed to lift his arm off the stone table, where it had been pinned by Muria's strength.
With the tribe members around them now watching, the father and son locked hands once more. And once again, "Thud!" Batu's hand was effortlessly pinned to the stone.
"Can I go hunting with you now, Dad?" Muria asked, looking at his father.
"Y-you… let go," Batu stammered, his face reddening under the gaze of their tribesmen.
"Okay!" Muria released his grip. It wasn't that he didn't respect his father, but he had reached the point where it was necessary to show his true abilities.
"Hunting isn't just about strength; it requires skill. There are plenty of powerful creatures out there, but we Ikons can take them down with bows and arrows," Batu said, still reluctant to take Muria hunting, even after losing in strength.
"I understand!" Muria nodded. "I know how to use a bow."
"You…" Batu started, ready to refuse, but paused, realizing his usual excuse wouldn't work. "You've never practiced with a bow. How could you possibly know how to use one
?"
"Words are often hollow. I prefer to prove myself with actions!" Muria extended his hand. "Dad, let me borrow your bow!"
"You're too much…" Under the watchful eyes of the tribe, Batu handed over his longbow and quiver to Muria.
"Pick any target!" Muria drew an arrow, pulled back the string, and the bow bent into a perfect arc. Then, with a sharp snap, the bowstring broke.
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