“—and that’s why I aimed for its eye—Ouch, too tight, too tight.” Adam winced as the old herbalist Kareem tightened the bandages on his ribs.

He was retelling the story of his fight with the Fenrir, adding a few heroic touches, of course. He was lying down on a small cot for patients, while Anas sat across from him, jaw hanging loose.

Aya was standing behind her brother, tending to his bruised shoulder with herbs and bandages, and even she, usually the picture of disinterest, kept getting distracted from her task by his story.

Adam relished Anas’ awestruck expression, continuing. “The stupid monster was enraged, lunged at me with all its might, but I was faster. So it picked up the dead wolves and started throwing them at me.” Adam cleared his throat and drank a sip of water.

He took his chance while the herbalist was mixing his medicine, hopped off the bed, and held the old man’s stick in an exaggerated swordsmanship stance.

“And as I jumped around, dodging the wolf projectiles, I slammed into a tree, and broke my bow. So, I decided to face the abomination with my knife, standing my ground, all bloodied and hurt. I bet it got scared, since when Isha backed me up, it fled like a scared puppy.” Adam swung the cane in a flurry of slashes, elaborating on how the fight went.

“It was so scared in fact, that it chased my horse for a minute while you were passed out.” Isha came marching from the front door, a sarcastic grin plastered on his face.

Anas raised an eyebrow at the comment, while Aya covered her mouth as she giggled. Kareem just slapped Adam’s head from behind, then he snatched his walking stick back. “It’s good to see you safe, Isha. My ears were about to bleed, listening to this bumbling buffoon.”

Anas stood up, stopping Isha from returning the greeting. “Wait, how did you get the shot? How far were you from the Fenrir when you shot it? Was it moving? Or did you get it to stop?”

He was clearly excited, flustering Adam as he stepped closer. “How big was it as a target? What arrowheads did you use?”

Isha’s smile hardened, and he held Anas’ shoulder from behind. “Adam barely survived. Take his words with a grain of salt, Anas.”

Anas turned around, facing Isha with a challenging gaze. “He survived, that is in and of itself an achievement that cannot be disparaged.” He then turned back towards Adam. “So, did you really shoot it in the eye?”

Every eye in the clinic turned towards Adam, as silence followed Anas’ question. Adam gulped in a nervous attempt to act confident, but that only made his story sound like fiction.

“I-I got lucky. The wolves distracted it.” Adam rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment.

Anas looked between him and Isha for confirmation, and when Isha nodded in approval, he froze, staring at Adam in wide eyes.

Even Aya’s skeptical gaze turned surprised, her eyes quickly darting to her father, making sure she heard right. Her old man looked even more aged as he rubbed his temples, mumbling something about a tree and an apple in a hushed frustration.

Anas lunged forward, gripping Adam’s shoulders and violently shaking him. “You have got to join the archery competition, Adam. And next time you want to hunt the Fenrir down, I’ll be the one to take its second eye.”

Isha’s eyes looked horrified, and he yanked the two boys away from each other before Adam got the chance to answer. Kareem, on the other hand, reached towards his son and grabbed him by the ear.

“No son of mine will be partaking in such a suicide mission.” The old man simply stated. “And you, boy, are lucky you came back in one piece.” He pointed at Adam, raising his voice sharply.

His finger lingered on Adam’s face, invading his nostrils with the smell of herbs. “And you still owe me three coppers.”

Isha nodded in confirmation, “Adam and I had a deal, he would not step foot in that place again, if he wants to participate in the tournament.” He took out three coppers and handed them to the town’s only medic.

Anas winced as his father’s grasp on his ear tightened, “Ouch— wait, Adam already applied?” his voice both happy and surprised.

“I thought today was the tournament’s announcement.” He looked at Isha with skepticism.

Adam looked between Anas and Isha, shaking his head in disapproval. “I was going to apply today, and I was planning to make a grand show out of revealing that.” Adam pouted, crossing his arms and turning his back dramatically.

Aya chuckled at Adam’s words, as all eyes turned to her. “Adam, no one would be surprised that you would participate in it. Especially after last year’s tantrum. And when the Fenrir story gets to the town’s folk, you would be lucky if the other kids don’t burn you on a pyre.”

Adam grinned in triumph. Glancing at Isha’s horrified eyes, he stifled a laugh, ‘He just realized, hehe.’

 “I did not throw a tantrum last year. I just wanted to compete; it’s the elders’ fault I was dragged out of the tournament grounds.” Adam’s lips trembled, trying to sound like a victim.

Isha just palmed his face, while Anas laughed at his words. “That was not what happened, Adam, you were not old enough to apply, yes, but you were dragged out unceremoniously because you barged in, in the middle of a duel, with a steel sword.”

“A blunted steel sword,” Adam added. “This year is going to be different, I just know it, I’m going to dominate in the combat competition.”

Kareem tapped his ribs with the cane, making pain spider web through his body. “Those wounds will need a week at best to completely heal. So your glory hunting will have to wait.”

Anas was visibly upset at Adam’s statement. “Adam, with an aim like yours, you can seriously compete with the best in town in the archery section of the tournament.” He pointed at Adam’s mummified body. “And you don’t have to risk injury in target shooting.”

Aya's eyes widened at her brother, “Oh, so NOW you decide to be the mature one?” Adam wheezed at Anas’ flustered expression.

Outside, drums boomed, the tournament announcement had begun, and the people started to gather in the town’s plaza.

Kareem tapped his cane rhythmically on the wooden floorboards. “Alright, enough noise, off with you. I want to have some peace and quiet.”