The wooden dining table stood between Adrian and Marcus, but the real barrier in the room was Anisa’s searing glare. She paced across the floor like a storm ready to break for a few minutes straight, before turning sharply toward them. "Adventuring? Of all the reckless, dangerous ideas you two could come up with, this has to be the worst.”

Adrian clenched his fists under the table. This is going to take a while.

“Listen, Anisa,” Marcus said, leaning back in his chair. “Adrian's stronger than most of the adventurers I’ve worked with, and I’ve seen him handle himself in situations even grown men would struggle with.”

“That’s not the point, Marcus! He's nine years old for crying out loud!” Anisa's voice cracked slightly, and she jabbed a finger in Adrian’s direction. “What happens when he’s ambushed? Or when he doesn’t know who to trust? What happens when—”

“But I’m not just a boy,” Adrian cut in, his voice louder than he intended. “You’ve seen what I can do.”

“Adrian, there are things out there that don’t care how strong or smart you are. Monsters that will rip you apart before you even know they’re there. People who will lie, cheat, and stab you in the back. You’re not ready for that.”

“Please, I can't stay in Willowbrook forever while the rest of the world moves on around me. I need to do something, Anisa. I need to—”

“Enough!” Anisa’s voice cracked, and she stopped pacing, her shoulders rising and falling with each sharp breath.

She crossed the room, slower this time, her expression unreadable. When she reached him, she placed a hand on his shoulder, her grip firm but trembling slightly. “Adrian, you’re like family to me. I’ve watched you grow, watched you become part of this place. I don’t want to lose you, you’re just a kid.”

“I was a kid once too,” Marcus interjected. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “You know what my old man did when I was ten, Anisa? He threw me out into the woods with nothing but a knife and told me to survive for a week.”

Anisa turned to him, her expression incredulous. “And you think that is a good thing to bring up right now?”

“Let me finish, I didn’t think I’d make it. but I learned fast. I made it out and came back stronger. So will he.”

“It’s not the same, Marcus. He’s not you. He doesn’t have—”

“What he has,” Marcus interrupted, his voice rising, “is potential. More than I’ve ever seen. We can’t hold him back forever because we’re scared. That’s not fair to him.”

Adrian swallowed hard, looking between them. I need to choose my next words carefully.

“I’m not asking you to agree,” Adrian said, looking up at Anisa. “I’m just asking you to trust me.”

Anisa stared at him for a long moment, her hand still on his shoulder. Finally, she closed her eyes and exhaled shakily, as though letting go of something she had been holding onto too tightly. "There's a lot that could happen, I know your a capable boy, Adrian, but… it's hard for me to just send you off like that."

Adrian’s chest ached at the admission, but he nodded. “That's completely understandable, and I really do appreciate what you and Marcus have done for me. But to be completely honest, there isn't much opportunity for me to develop here in Willowbrook outside of doing a trade or farming."

"I'm aware of that, and it is true that despite your age, you're still much more powerful than many other adventurer's I've seen. But, there is real danger in that profession, you know?"

"I know, but I still want to become one. And hey, if the adventurer's guild says no to me being an adventurer, I'll still be here with you and Marcus."

"Do you… really want to become an adventurer?"

"I do, Anisa, I really do."

She hesitated, before eventually giving a reluctant nod. “Fine. But if anything happens…”

"Please, he'll be fine." Marcus said with a proud smile.

"If anything happens to Adrian, you better take responsibility."

"I will, I will."

Anisa crossed her arms, fixing Marcus with a hard stare. “If the Adventurer's Guild does accept him, you’re going with him on his first quest.”

Marcus scratched the back of his head. “Ah… about that.” He leaned back in his chair, suddenly sheepish. “I’ve got to head out tomorrow for my cousin’s wedding. Kind of promised I’d be there, and, well, it’s a bit far. I’ll probably be gone for a week.”

Adrian blinked, his heart sinking slightly. A week? That’s... longer than I thought. “So... I’ll have to do things on my own first if I don’t want to wait?”

“That’s the gist of it,” Marcus admitted with an apologetic shrug. “Unless you’re willing to hold off until I get back.”

Adrian shook his head quickly. “I’ve waited long enough already. Besides, it’s just the guild’s evaluation, right? I’m sure I can handle that.”

“And what happens after the evaluation, Adrian? Are you going to dive headfirst into danger without someone experienced to guide you?” Anisa asked.

“Can't you help me out instead?"

A laugh escaped her lips as she waved a hand toward a cluttered bookshelf in the corner of the room. “Come on, Adrian, you know that I gave up adventuring years ago to focus on teaching instead, and someone has to take care of the house while Marcus goes out hunting or on quests.”

“Then I’ll just have to prove myself. I’ve trained hard these past few years, and I’ve learned so much from both of you. I’m ready, Anisa.”

"But if you don't wait for Marcus, you'll have to do your first quest or two alone. Are you sure you're ready for that?"

"Well, don't adventurers usually do quests in a party? I could always join up with other people."

"That's only if they accept you, a nine year old, to join them."

Suddenly, Marcus spoke up, "then how about this? If Adrian can't find a party, he has to come back home and wait until I come back. Even if the adventurer's guild lets him be an adventurer."

Anisa raised an eyebrow at Marcus's suggestion at first, but she eventually sighed. "Fine." She then shot a glance towards Adrian. "But no leaving for quests until I meet the people in your party, understood."

"Sounds good to me." Adrian said. This is probably the best compromise I'll get, might as well roll with it.

Anisa shook her head, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Anyway, I still have some cleaning to do around the house. You and Marcus figure things out.”

Marcus clapped his hands together, his grin returning in full force. “First order of business then: shopping! You can’t go adventuring without proper gear.”

***

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Do you think she’ll have anything that fits me?” Adrian asked, kicking a stray pebble in his path.

Marcus shot him a sidelong glance, grinning. “Emma’s been in the trade for longer than I’ve been alive. If she can’t fit you, no one can. Besides, her granddaughter’s there to ‘help’ too.”

"She has a granddaughter?"

"Yeah, she just doesn't visit too often. So you rarely see her."

Adrian’s eyebrow arched. “Before you said ‘help’, like you’re not sure it actually happens.”

“Oh, you'll see,” Marcus said with a laugh.

As they approached the shop, Adrian paused and glanced at the small, flickering form of Mimi beside him. He knelt down to her level, lowering his voice. “Mimi, I need you to stay outside and keep out of sight. Just… in case.”

Mimi tilted her head before letting out a soft trill. Then, with a nod, her form shimmered and dissolved into wisps of green flames that drifted into the air before disappearing entirely.

Satisfied, Adrian straightened up and turned to Marcus, who raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Together, they stepped forward, the door creaking as they entered Emma’s shop. The small bell overhead jingled, announcing their arrival.

Inside they saw bolts of cloth in every hue imaginable lined the walls, and shelves were stacked with spools of thread and jars of buttons. In the back corner, an elderly woman sat, glasses perched at the tip of her nose as she examined a piece of embroidery. Her hands were a blur of motion even as she greeted them.

“Well, if it isn’t Marcus and the boy he keeps dragging into trouble. What brings you here?” Emma asked.

Marcus stepped forward with exaggerated importance. “We need proper clothes for young Master Adrian here. He’s going on an adventure, after all.”

Adrian fought the urge to roll his eyes. Master Adrian. Right.

Emma’s eyes twinkled. “In that case, you’ll need more than tattered sleeves and patched-up pants for that.”

She motioned to the back room. “Go on. Autumn will sort you out.”

From behind a curtain, a girl about Adrian’s age stepped out, black hair tied up in a loose bun. She crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe, feigning a yawn. “That sounds a lot like work, and I’m busy.”

“Autumn, help the boy. No excuses.” Emma said.

Autumn pushed off the doorframe, as she strolled over. “Fine, but only because you asked, Gran.”

She gave Adrian a once-over, her gaze lingering on his worn boots. “You sure you’re going to survive out there? Looks like a strong breeze might knock you over.”

Adrian opened his mouth to retort, but Marcus beat him to it, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “He’ll survive just fine, thank you. Let’s focus on the clothes.”

With a dramatic sigh, Autumn gestured for Adrian to follow her. She led him to a row of neatly folded tunics and trousers. “Alright, what’s your poison? Tough and boring, or flashy and impractical?”

“Neither?” Adrian replied, trying to sound polite but feeling more than a little overwhelmed. How does choosing clothes become this difficult?

Autumn grinned and pulled out a sturdy brown tunic. “Try this. If it doesn’t make you look like a potato sack, we’ll be in good shape.”

Marcus laughed far too loudly. “Helpful, as always, Autumn.”

Adrian took the brown tunic from Autumn’s outstretched hands. He frowned, turning it over. It was sturdy enough, but the shapeless cut and rough texture made him doubt it would do him any favors. I have a bad feeling about this one.

He slipped it on, the fabric bunching awkwardly around his shoulders. Autumn stifled a laugh behind her hand while Marcus leaned against a shelf, a wide grin plastered across his face. Adrian tugged at the sleeves, which hung too long, almost covering his hands entirely. Knew it.

“Well? Does it pass the ‘not a potato sack’ test?” Marcus asked.

Autumn stepped forward, walking a slow circle around him. “Hmm, I’d say you look less like a potato sack and more like… a poorly wrapped package.”

Marcus burst out laughing again, earning a glare from Adrian. “You two are just so helpful."

Autumn shrugged, but there was a trace of softness behind her teasing smile. She rifled through another stack of clothes, pulling out a deep green vest and a lightweight shirt. “Try this next."

Adrian pulled on the shirt, noting its smoother texture, and added the vest. It fit snugly around his chest, but it wasn’t constricting. He adjusted the collar, catching a glimpse of himself in a nearby mirror. It's marginally better I guess."

“Now we’re almost getting somewhere,” Marcus said approvingly.

“Almost,” Autumn echoed with a smirk. She tossed him a pair of dark trousers. “Let’s see if you can pull these off.”

Changing quickly, Adrian stepped back in front of the mirror. The trousers fit well enough, though they were a bit too formal for his taste. “Well?”

“It’s… fine,” Autumn said, almost grudgingly.

Adrian nodded, silently grateful for her seriousness. None of these clothes have been my cup of tea so far.

He rummaged further and tried on a few more outfits, some too flashy, others too plain. Finally, after what felt like hours, Adrian stood barefoot amidst a small mountain of discarded clothes. “Maybe I’ll just stick with what I have."

Emma’s voice called out from the back of the shop. “Wait just one moment, I have something."

She strode forward, something dark and elegant draped over her arm: a sleek, black hooded cloak that caught the faint light with a subtle sheen. The fabric shifted as she moved, hinting at its fine craftsmanship.

“Here, try this,” she said, extending the cloak toward Adrian.

The boy took the cloak with both hands, feeling its smooth texture against his palms. The fabric was soft but sturdy.

He slipped it over his shoulders, the cloak settling naturally into place as though it had always been meant for him. The hood rested perfectly, framing his face without obstructing his vision, and the material draped elegantly, neither too loose nor too tight.

Pulling it closer around himself, Adrian marveled at how perfectly it fit. It’s like this was made just for me. How does it feel so right?

“Well, now that is an adventurer’s look,” Autumn said, her smile wide with approval as she stepped back to take him in.

Marcus let out a chuckle, his arms crossed as he nodded. “A definite upgrade from that potato sack you’ve been running around in.”

Adrian glanced down at the cloak again, unable to keep a grin from spreading across his face. Yeah, I like this one.

He turned to Emma, who had been watching quietly, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Thank you for bringing this one out."

"It was my pleasure."

Adrian and Marcus stood in front of the shop’s wooden counter as Emma tallied the cost of the cloak. Her fingers moved with a deftness that spoke of decades spent behind the counter, weighing coin and cloth with equal expertise.

Slowly, Adrian took out the small leather pouch from his belt, then placed a few silver pieces onto the counter. "Is this enough?"

Emma’s eyes softened as she counted the coins. “It's plenty.” She pushed back a small portion of the silver before shooting Adrian a look. “Take care of that cloak, and it’ll take care of you.”

The boy hesitated but nodded, slipping the coins back into his pouch. “Thank you.”

Marcus, who had spent the entire time idly fiddling with a spool of golden thread, dropped it back onto a nearby shelf and grinned. “All set, then?"

“Ready enough,” Adrian replied.

Just as they turned to leave, Emma’s voice cut through the shop’s ambient creaks and whispers. “Wait a moment, boys.”

They both stopped, turning back to see Emma’s eyes fixed on Adrian with concern. “You’ll need proper boots, Those old things won’t carry you far.”

Adrian glanced down at his worn-out boots, their soles cracked and threadbare. Huh, can't believe I didn't notice how worn these boots are up until now.

Marcus stepped in with a chuckle. “She’s got a point. No sense looking heroic from the shoulders up while your toes freeze off.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Adrian muttered, though a faint smile played on his lips.

Emma gestured toward a far shelf, where several pairs of boots were neatly arranged. “Try those. Sturdy leather, good for walking long roads and rough terrain.”

Adrian walked over, feeling the weight of each step in his old boots. He picked up a pair of dark brown boots, running his fingers over the tough leather.

He slipped them on, testing the fit. They were snug but comfortable, holding his feet securely without pinching. Fits well enough.

“Better?” Emma asked, watching him with an appraising eye.

“Pretty good, actually,” Adrian said.

Marcus leaned in, pretending to study the boots with exaggerated seriousness. “You’re sure you don’t want something with a little flair? Maybe gold buckles?”

“Not everyone wants to look like a court jester,” Adrian shot back, rolling his eyes.

Emma let out a soft laugh before her expression turned serious again. “And a backpack, You’ll need one to carry food, water, whatever else you find on the road.”

Adrian nodded, feeling the weight of practicality settle on him once more. He scanned the shop until he found a simple, sturdy pack made of thick canvas. He picked it up, testing the straps. It felt durable and had enough compartments to carry the essentials without weighing him down.

Marcus crossed his arms, a gleam of approval in his eyes. “Look at you, all properly outfitted."

Adrian adjusted the pack on his shoulders, feeling its weight. “I’d settle for just surviving whatever comes first.”