The Hunter's Apprentice Read Online Free PDF Page B

that lay on the table was still higher than him.
    -We will start with the lowest category which is named as C class creatures. Those creatures are generally creatures that move in group. They don’t oppose such a great threat on their own but when they attack together, they become extremely dangerous. Can you name me one example?
    Aerys remembered some fireballs and he smiled.
    -Imps.
    -Right, replied Erasmus happily. I see that you know quite a bit already. Imps are a perfect example. A single imp is not a great danger but a swarm of imp surely is. There are many other creatures like this. Gnolls, dwarfs, troglodytes and goblins amongst others. You will need to learn about all of them; their weakness and strength, their natural habitats, etc…
    -Really? Asked Aerys thinking of the amount of things he would have to memorize.
    -Really boy, said Erasmus seriously. A good hunter must be able to identify a creature quickly be it by its prints or by its smell or anything else. Then he must be able to eliminate it and he can only do that if he knows everything about the beast. Do you understand?
    Aerys indicated that he did and Erasmus pursued.
    -Next we have B type creatures. Those creatures are not immediate threats to humankind. They are mostly pacific and sometimes offer their help to humans. Can you name one?
    Aerys racked his brains but he could not think of any. He then remembered something the hunter had told him.
    -Would the creatures that helped the first men against the demon fall in this category?
    Aerys shook his head slowly.
    -Unfortunately this time is long gone and few actually remember these days. There are very few creatures that remain in good terms with humans alas. No.. in this category, you will find creatures such as fairies who still help hunters sometimes but only if they can be found for fairies are magical creatures. They are so hard to find.
    -The rest don’t have any contact with humans or try not to as much as possible. There are the elves, who live in hiding somewhere, the gnomes…yes we were in the last alliance although we try not to mingle with the human race anymore. There are some more which you will learn about in due time again.
    -Finally there are the A type creatures. Needless to say that they are the most dangerous of all. In this category you will find the likes of dragons, vampires, werewolves, hydras, and so on. The list is quite big in fact surprisingly.
    Aerys did not know what to say. The creatures he was hearing were all terrible foes. Erasmus noticed Aerys worried face and said quickly.
    -Now don’t be so worried lad. If the beasts and monsters are so powerful, that does not mean that they cannot be killed. Each and every one of them has been slain at least once, well there are some exceptions, but most have been.
    -Even dragons? he asked …
    -Yes dragons, he answered with a smile. But it was long ago and few still remember these days when men were powerful enough to take even dragons down. But now these days have passed. The age of heroes has long gone lad.
    -Why that?
    -The force of men has declined. They don’t have the same values that the men of older times had. There are very few persons left that still fight for honor and justice anymore. They are more interested in power and fame and their eyes are blinded. They can’t see their fall alas. They are just the shades of what they were.
    There was sadness in his voice that Aerys had never heard before. He looked out through the window and remained silent, probably remembering things of the past. Aerys wondered how old he was. He had never asked him. Did gnomes live longer than men? It was possible for he had said that he remembered about the men of the past. If that was true, he was probably hundreds of tears old. Was that possible? He turned towards Aerys and smiled.
    -Well that does not mean that no such men will ever appear again. There is still some hope. Now let’s start your lesson. We have still much to