Minerva

Minerva tucked her sword into the scabbard and picked up a deer on the ground which was dead. After carefully securing the sword, she whistled and picked the dead animal with a big smile on her face.

 Her father would be very happy to see she has killed a bigger animal after a few days of hunting. A brown creature whoosh among the grass before coming to stand in Minerva's front.

 " That's so good Percy, both of us are now good at hunting!" She said excitedly and the Lamal beside her jumped in enthusiasm.

 The forest wasn't far from her small village where she and her father lived after losing their mother to the cold hands of death.

 Then they made their way towards home with Minerva grinning from ear to ear. In fact, the boys would be surprised to see her with such a big animal.

 When she got closer, few people started coming into view and no doubt she could see amused expressions on their faces.

 " Minerva, did you kill that?" A woman who was working on the grain farm asked while pointing at the deer on her neck.

 " Of course I did. Percy also did," she pointed out and the woman looked down to see the dog like a cat carrying a rabbit in its mouth. A smile graced her lips and she looked up at the girl.

 " This is wonderful, I would come to buy some for dinner. Oh…I wish James could hunt," said the woman who shook her head before waving at the two hunters.

 Minerva grinned as they continued their walk. They arrive at the village by dusk, the streets were busy with people and working animals hustling and bustling around.

 Blueshead is a small town in the east. It was also a home for many merchants and people from far away places often come to buy merchandise from here.

 Minerva and her father are known as the butcher. Her father Castiel is a hunter and makes his living from selling meat with his daughter. He was secretly gathering up some money so he could send her to the hunting school in RedShire, the dragon kingdom.

 Minerva arrived at a small tree house and stepped in with Percy on her trail. The inside of the house was lit with oil lamps, burning brightly and enough to see through each corner.

 " Dad! I'm back!" Minerva called and her father hurriedly came through the door which leads to the kitchen.

 An olive toned skin man came through the door with a serious but frightened expression on his face. He was holding a wooden ladle and Minerva immediately knew he was cooking something delicious.

 " Hush Minerva, we've a visitor." He looked around and his eyes landed on her neck.

 " Oh my God! Don't tell me you killed that," there was excitement in her father's voice and Minerva proudly nodded.

 Castiel's eyes went down to see the dog with a white rabbit in its mouth. " So amazing, you two make me proud each passing day." He praised them.

 Minerva smiled as her father helped her loosen the deer from her back. 

 " So who's the visitor? Last time I remembered, our relatives dumped us," said Minerva as she downed the water in the wooden cup in one go.

 " He came from RedShire. The man said he's looking for a few young people to become hunters there. As you and I know, Blueshead is part of the RedShire kingdom so we can't reject such an offer." He said and pushed her inside the kitchen.

 " He's quite selective. If you want to pass into the hunting school and become successful just as me and your mother wants for you, then answer all his questions willingly."

 Minerva nodded in understanding and hee father gave her a light push towards the small sitting room.

 Once in a year, the RedShire head of security would come to each part of the Kingdom, seeking for young hunters they could train for their use, which many didn't know why.

 Most parents find this offer juicy because RedShire is a great Kingdom with good development. Also, the people there are wealthy with few creatures like dragons dwelling there.

 No one has a proper understanding about this Kingdom and its dwellers but everyone does know that, there are hundreds of dragons there but where exactly? Nobody knows which exact place they dwell in RedShire and becoming a hunter, it would be easy to find them.

 Minerva stepped into the sitting room to find it dim lit but nothing caught her eyes. The small couches were empty and the table had only a wooden cup on it.

 " You must be Minerva."

 Minerva immediately turned to look behind her. A man was sitting there and she hadn't noticed him there. 

 A cold shudder went through her and she bowed her head in respect. " Yes. I'm Minerva Castiel."

 " I see." The man murmured before standing up. Minerva suddenly felt small in his presence as his height towered over her and her breath hitched when he walked past her to sit in the light giving her a clear view of his face.

 ' No. No drooling.' She thought to herself and remained composed but that didn't stop her from looking at the handsome man.

 " Your father said you started hunting a few months ago. When he meant few, how many months?" He asked and Minerva frowned. Recalling her father telling her to answer willingly, the crease on her forehead disappeared.

 " Yes. Two months ago."

 " Have you exceeded it greatly since then?" The man asked again before letting his gaze travel down her body, his eyes taking in all her features and no doubt she was strong.

 " Very well. Even surpassing my expectation," she replied with a grin on her face and the man chuckled.

 " You seem so excited to go to RedShire, why?"

 " I heard it's a beautiful Kingdom, oh…I love dragons and wish to see one if I ever get the chance to," Minerva replied sheepishly before scratching her neck.

 All this time, the man was taking in all her actions and words. 

 " How old are you? I don't want little children running around in school." This time, Minerva could hear the humor in his voice and her eyes beamed in realization.

 " So…did I pass the test?" Her heart was beating erratically and in anticipation, waiting for his answers.

 " What do you think?" He asked while tilting his head. " No, you haven't answered my last question. So there's no scoring." The man replied and looked at the girl with beautiful red hair. An amused smirk on his lips.

 " I'm nineteen years old, turning twenty in five months before the year ends."

 " So small and smart," the man replied and stood up from the small couch which was barely enough to make him comfortable.

 " Hunters are more agile if they have good heights…"

 " Like you?" She interrupted him.

 The man tilted his head with a smirk still visible there on his lips. His eyes dilated with something unknown and Minerva realized what she had done.

 " I didn't mean to interrupt…"

 " Hunters don't apologize, Minerva, and yes I have height but…not a hunter. I'm your personal teacher. You can come to me when you have a problem, so lucky to be chosen." He then flicked her forehead.

 " Get me your father."

 Minerva screamed in happiness and rushed back into the kitchen to see her father sitting on a small chair looking worried.

 He was troubled if Minerva would be smart enough to pass their simple test of mind.

 " Father! I passed the test, could you believe this? Come, he wants to

have a word with you."

 Castiel couldn't believe his ears as he watched her with joy. He has been saving a lot for this yet she got it in a few minutes.