Velites

CHAPTER 1 - THE COMING OF AGE

It was just another normal day for V in the mountainous locale of his hunting tribe. Another day of modest but peaceful upbringing, aimless wandering with his friends and learning basically nothing from his hunting instructors. Just another day when he realized the maturity ceremony was around the corner, and glimpses of the real world flashed before his eyes.

As part of the maturity rituals, a junior must set off on a lone hunting quest and bring home a wild animal head. “Piece of cake, really”, V boasted to his unimpressed father. As a seasoned elite warrior, he knew exactly what kind of trouble that attitude could cause for his son; but if there was anything he believed in, it was tough love. “Well then, Young Wolf, go for it!”

And so, V set foot into adulthood with not much more than total cockiness and ill-preparedness. After days of messing around and embarrassing misses, it seemed like V’s journey was saved when he spotted a baby hog from afar. “It’s better than nothing.”, he thought to himself. Everything looked right: target, slow moving and well within range; confidence (or desperation?), sky high. His spear was ready to be launched when out of nowhere, something hit him hard from behind. Next thing V knew, he was on the ground, unconscious.

- “Not today, and not my son”.