Blessings of The Sun

In a town where whispers poison reputations and kindness is a rare commodity, Gray, a young hunter, grapples with a past shrouded in mystery and a present marred by prejudice. Despite his master's legacy and his own innate generosity, he is an outcast, his hunts scorned, his very presence seen as a bad omen. Only Uncle Ten, a gruff but loyal innkeeper, and Leon, his childhood friend from a prominent family, offer him solace. But a new rumor spreads, painting Gray as a dealer of monstrous meats, threatening to sever his last ties to the community. When a desperate plea for help arises, Gray must venture into the dangerous depths of the forest, where a fated encounter with a mysterious, powerful stranger will challenge everything he knows about himself and the world.

Blessings of The Sun

In a town where whispers poison reputations and kindness is a rare commodity, Gray, a young hunter, grapples with a past shrouded in mystery and a present marred by prejudice. Despite his master's legacy and his own innate generosity, he is an outcast, his hunts scorned, his very presence seen as a bad omen. Only Uncle Ten, a gruff but loyal innkeeper, and Leon, his childhood friend from a prominent family, offer him solace. But a new rumor spreads, painting Gray as a dealer of monstrous meats, threatening to sever his last ties to the community. When a desperate plea for help arises, Gray must venture into the dangerous depths of the forest, where a fated encounter with a mysterious, powerful stranger will challenge everything he knows about himself and the world.

It was still early, but the town market already buzzed with a thousand voices. Laughter, haggling, and the murmur of gossip blended into a familiar hum. Gray, a young boy with a resilient smile that belied his hardships, walked confidently through the throng, a rattan bag filled with fresh hunts slung over his back. He moved towards the butcher's stalls, his steps light with hope.

But as he approached, a peculiar silence fell. Merchants averted their gaze, their faces hardening. Gray felt a familiar pang of sadness. "Really, what's wrong with me? Uncles and Aunts, I'm not scary, you know," he thought, his smile faltering.

He mustered his courage and approached the nearest butcher. "Good morning, uncle… I just skinned a big boar and do you want to-"

"No. Get lost!" The butcher, a hulking man with a cleaver, cut him off mid-sentence, his eyes blazing. Gray flinched, the abrupt rejection a cold splash of reality.

He sighed, a small cloud of defeat, and moved on, trying his luck with an herb seller, then another merchant. Each attempt met with the same cold shoulder, the same dismissive words. The smile he had worn when he left his home was finally gone, replaced by a gloomy expression. He was about to resign himself to eating the meat alone for days when a roar echoed across the market, slicing through the din.

"GRAY!!" It was Uncle Ten, his voice a booming storm. The townsfolk turned, eyes wide, as the robust innkeeper strode purposefully towards him, his face a mask of fury. Gray's heart sank.