Logan raised his head to face Travis as he walked in, his eyes lighting up with recognition. A grin spread across his weathered face as he set down his utensils, wiped his hands on a napkin, and rose to his feet with a chuckle.

"Travis, my boy. You came!" Logan exclaimed warmly, his deep voice carrying the weight of genuine affection. He closed the gap between them in a few strides and pulled Travis into a firm embrace, the scent of wood smoke and freshly tilled earth clinging faintly to his shirt.

"Yes," Travis replied, his voice steady but tinged with hesitance. "I thought maybe I’d drop by since it’s been a while."

A sharp scoff cut through the air, drawing his attention to Jessica, who sat at the table with her arms crossed. Her expression was unimpressed, her eyes briefly flicking over him before returning to her plate.

Logan waved off the tension without missing a beat. "Well, I’m happy you came. Now, let’s eat, okay? Have as much as you need," he said, gesturing for Travis to sit.

Travis moved to the opposite side of the table, directly across from Jessica, whose expression soured further when he took his seat. Her glare didn’t go unnoticed, but Travis kept his focus on Logan, though the awkwardness hung thick in the air.

Logan’s wife, Andrea, entered from the kitchen carrying a steaming dish. Her warm smile was a balm to the tension.

"Travis, it’s so good to see you again," she said, setting the plate down and briefly touching his shoulder.

Travis returned the smile, grateful for the kindness. "Thank you, Mrs. Logan," he said softly, picking up his fork as the aroma of the food filled the room.

Logan settled back into his chair, leaning forward slightly. "Now, Travis, I heard about your shovel breaking yesterday. Don’t worry about it. You don’t need to bother buying a new one. I’ll give you one—hell, take as many as you need," he said with a hearty chuckle.

"Thank you, Mr. Logan. I really appreciate it," Travis said, his relief evident. "I’ll start working as soon as I’m done here."

He forced a smile but couldn’t help his wandering thoughts. 'The only reason I bought my own was to feel more responsible... and because I used it to help clean people’s gardens.'

Logan’s eyes landed on the sword at Travis’s side, his brow lifting in curiosity. "Oh? You’ve got a sword now? Are you planning to become an adventurer?"

Before Travis could answer, Jessica let out a sharp laugh, her voice dripping with mockery. "Oh, please. Don’t even bother. You know how low your talent is for that, right?"

"Jessica, don’t be rude," Andrea snapped, her calm demeanor giving way to a sharp edge. "Now apologize to Travis this instant."

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Jessica sighed dramatically but muttered, "Sorry," before returning to her meal. Her glare at Travis, however, lingered like a challenge.

Logan cleared his throat, steering the conversation back. "So, Travis, what were you going to say?"

Travis shifted in his seat, his voice steady but quiet. "Um, yeah, I was thinking of trying it out, honestly. I know my talent isn’t much, but that doesn’t mean I’m completely useless. Even a few Gleams from kills could help me a lot."

Andrea nodded thoughtfully, her smile returning. "That’s a nice goal, Travis. I hope it works out for you."

Logan chimed in, his curiosity piqued. "Where did you get that sword, though? It looks like it’s high quality."

Panic flared in Travis’s mind. 'Think of a lie!'

He cleared his throat, plastering on a sheepish grin. "Oh, uh, I found it in the river when I went for a bath last night. Couldn’t believe it myself, but I guess someone must’ve thrown it away for some reason."

Logan raised a brow. "Peculiar. Probably belonged to an adventurer. Well, I hope it serves you well. Maybe you’ll join Jessica’s group when you’re strong enough. Did you hear about that?"

Travis shook his head. "No, I didn’t."

"Jessica, tell him about it," Logan said, his tone firm.

Jessica groaned, slouching in her seat. "But, Daddy, I don’t want to."

"Jessica," Logan warned, his glare cutting off any further protests.

She huffed, her voice flat with disinterest. "Fine. Me, Sora, and Alissa started an adventuring group."

Travis smiled faintly. "That’s nice. I hope it goes well for you guys."

Jessica’s frown deepened. She abruptly stood, brushing crumbs from her dress. "I’m going to meet them now. Thanks for breakfast," she said curtly before storming out, leaving the room in tense silence.

Logan sighed, shaking his head. "She’s a good girl, you know. I just don’t understand why she’s so against you. Have you done anything to upset her?"

Travis shook his head, rising to his feet. "No Not anything I can remember. Well, I should get going. Thank you for the meal—it was really kind of you." He bowed politely and made his way to the door.

Logan watched him leave, the weight of unspoken thoughts settling in his gaze. "He really is like his father, isn’t he?"

Andrea smiled softly. "I think he’s more like his mother. Calm, measured... you’d think he had the whole world at his feet."

Logan nodded, his expression thoughtful. "You really would."

.....

Travis went ahead and threw himself into the work, picking up right where he left off yesterday. He labored with focus, his hands moving swiftly as he hauled, lifted, and hammered under the unforgiving glare of the scorching sun. Sweat should have dripped from his brow, his muscles should have ached, but instead, he felt a strange energy coursing through him. Each movement felt lighter, each breath fuller. It was as though the heat only served to fuel him, rejuvenating him with every task completed. No matter how hard he pushed himself, exhaustion never came.

At first, he was baffled, stopping briefly to flex his fingers and glance at his arms, expecting some sign of strain. But then he remembered Eryndor's words from yesterday: "Awakening." The memory lingered in his mind like a half-formed question. He didn’t fully understand what Eryndor had meant, but whatever it was, it seemed to have changed him. He resolved to figure it out later—after work.

By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of amber and purple, Travis had finished his tasks. The tools were neatly set aside, and the day's work stood as a testament to his effort. Collecting his pay, he left without so much as a glance behind.

'Sooner or later, I'll have to quit that job if I plan on becoming an adventurer,' he thought as his boots scuffed against the dirt road.

The idea of adventure tugged at his mind, a mixture of excitement and uncertainty. He needed to get stronger, that much he knew. But how? His goal was clear, but the path ahead was shrouded in fog. Still, he clenched his fists, his resolve hardening. He’d figure it out, step by step.

As he walked, deep in thought, a familiar voice snapped him back to reality. He looked up to see Jessica, flanked by her two friends, Alissa and Sora. The three of them stood a few paces away, their faces lit up with teasing smiles that only spelled trouble.

Jessica’s piercing gaze met his, her smile widening as if she already knew exactly how to get under his skin. Alissa and Sora on the other hand simply stared at him blankly.

'Oh, bother,' he thought, bracing himself.

TO BE CONTINUED