“I am glad to see all of you, but I thought all of you were going to be another year or two.” My father said. While glancing over all of them, one at a time.

“Well, that is a long story, it would be better if we sat somewhere and had dinner at the same time. However, there is something we need to talk about first. I am assuming the boy next to you is your son.” One of them responded. While looking at me. I just hid slightly behind my father.

“Ah, yes this is Artemis. Although he is a little shy at times. He most lost likely does not remember all of you, since it has been a few years. Well, anyways. Let us go to the table in the corner and order some food.” My father said.

We where sat at the table and before they started with their story. The decided to introduce themselves. Apparently the four of them are from my father’s adventure party. The woman who was talking to my father talked first “My name is Ria.” Apparently, she was the healer of the group, which is rare to have a dedicated healer. The man sitting next to her talked next “I am Alvin.” He was a skinny looking man, the scout and dagger user of the group. He could also apparently use a bow, but he was not carrying one. The next man had a shield on his back and a mace on his side. He said, “I am Vince.” The last man said, “I am Bart and Vince’s older brother.” I heard Vince sigh. He was apparently the leader when my father was not around and a long sword user that also uses magic. I nodded and my father just said “He is not one for too many words yet. Well, let us continue onto why you are back so soon.”

“The request we left for, was about the new dungeon discovered near the Rulan Kingdom border. Well, they originally thought the dungeon was bigger than it was. That is why the request said it could be four or five years, but it ended up just under two years.” Ria said.

“Well that make sense then. I hope is was good money, however I am glad that you are back.” my father replied.

“It was decent money and the dungeon was very interesting. From what I was told, they are going to try find more in the area. From what the archeologists could tell it was the ruins of a small city from an ancient civilization that could use some very advanced and special magic. Some of the magic, being time and space magic. I have heard of both, but I have never heard of a user of either.” Bart said.

My father responded with “Well it sounds like you enjoyed it.” My father glanced at the other and they all tried to not make eye contact, as it looks like Bart was the only one excited about the dungeon.

Before anyone could continue about the dungeon, Ria blurted out “So, how have you and your son been doing and what brought you bringing your son to the guild hall? Was it a social visit, but if it was. I find it out that you were not working right now, as a lot of others are returning from quests for the day and it will be busy for the other staff for a few hours. Wait, are you not staff anymore? Did you get fired? Where yo…” but she was interrupted by my father before she could speak.

“I was not fired… I had the day off after this morning, as Art has turned three today. So, I wanted to bring him here and show him around and start getting him used to the guild hall. As I am sure he will become an adventurer when he gets older. I plan on having him become an apprentice when he turns five and wanted to start his training sooner rather than later.” My father said and then had to take a quick breath. As he had said it quickly, so he would not be cut off or have any misunderstandings.

“Hahahahaha…” They all laughed at the same time for a few seconds.

Then Alvin spoke up while looking at me “So, the question is do you want to become an adventurer Artemis?”

I yelled “Yes!!”

Alvin chucked and said “That’s the attitude. So, will you use a spear and magic, like your father?”

I shook my head and said “No, swords.”

My father nearly jumped from his seat when he heard me say that and said, “You mean a spear, the long sharp metal rod is not a sword.” He was sitting on his seat in anticipation for my response.

“I know. I want swords like mom.” I said. My fathers head just sank and you could hear a groan from him. Everyone else was laughing so hard that Vince fell out of his chair and when he collided with the stone floor, the thud could not he heard. It took several minutes for everyone to stop laughing.

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When everyone stopped, Bart said “Well since you want to learn how to use swords and we will be around when not taking requests. I will teach you a few things. I am a former knight, before I was an adventurer. By the way, when is art starting training?” He said most of that while looking at me, but for the last part he was looking at my father.

My father just looked at him with sad looking eyes. After a few seconds he responded “He will start tomorrow. From what Marv told me, he will be doing some very basics for a few weeks. So, he will not be even swinging any wooden weapons. He will also have another training with him, and I am not sure what the pace will really be. With that said, when the time come, I would appreciate anything you can teach him. Thank you.”

Bart replied with “It is not a problem. I just wanted to make sure he gets proper training, as you are horrible with swords. Unless you want to tell us you magically got better in the last two years. Hehe” he let out a small laugh at the end and my father looked like he sunk in his chair with eve sadder eyes.

My father just said quietly, could hardly hear him “No, I have not gotten any better. Not for a lack of trying. That is why I said I would appreciate it.”

Ria chimed in “You should still teach him about the spear. As it is good to still be able to use one, even if he will not be carrying one. The rest of us will also show him how to use our weapons as well. You just never know what situation he will find himself in himself in.” My father nodded in agreement. “Also are you planning on teaching him any magic?” Everyone turned and stared at my father.

“Of course, I will start teaching him magic. As that will be one of the most useful things for him to learn. It would not only help him with being an adventurer, but anything and everything else he may do. I will start by teaching fire magic first, as that is magic, I know that most about and I am very adept at it.” He said as he returned the glances from everyone.

Ria started to talk really loudly and strictly at him “See, this is why I asked. As that is extremely dangerous and reckless. He should start with another one of the four basic magic types. If your planning on teaching him a lot of fire magic, maybe you should teach him water magic first.” She seemed a little angry with him, but maybe more frustrated.

He was taken back some and could only respond with “Alright alright. I will start with some water magic training, as that will help him the most. Outside of fire that is. Wait, Ria since it is your idea about not teaching fire first. Outside of the water magic, would you mind teaching him some healing magic? Just some basic, as he will not be able to do the advanced stuff unless he is adept at healing. If you do not mind that is.” My father just had a wide smile on his face after saying that. It almost looked like a grin. She just sighed and agreed to it when she had free time and once, I have learned a little water magic first.

All of them talked for some time more about various request they took, from here to the dungeon and on the way back. They also mentioned stopping by the magic academy city. The have a few artifacts from the dungeon and tried to sell them for extra money. Many sold, but there where a few that did not. After they finished talking about everything, they have done in the past two year. My father decided it was time to head home, as I will have to be up early for training and could use the extra sleep.

“It was nice seeing all of you again and I know I will be seeing you around more as well. However, with art starting training in the morning. He could use the extra sleep. I will also most likely see all of you tomorrow anyways.” My father said.

“You are most likely right with him needing some extra sleep. As I am not sure what old man Marv has is store for him tomorrow on his first day. As he will most likely want to test where he is at physically.” Vince said.

“It was good seeing you again, but we are actually going to be taking a week off and then going on requests.” Ria added.

Alvin was short with what he said “See you later.”

Bart grabbed my father and hugged him, then said “It was really good seeing you again and seeing that you are doing well. We will be seeing you around and I look forward to when we can start taking Artemis on some adventuring missions. Once he becomes an apprentice that is. Oh, that is right. It is his birthday and we do not have a present for him. However, I have an idea.” He glanced at everyone and they all glanced back, then nodded one by one at him. “One of the artifacts we got from the dungeon did not sell and we want to give it to you for your birthday.” He said will looking directly at me. He leaned over and opened his leather pack. Then took out an old looking leather bound book. “This is a basic space magic book. I sure you will like it. Since there is no one who can use space magic, at least none that anyone knows about. It is mostly just a good read.” He said, while giving me the book.

My father tried to refuse the book at first, but Bart insisted on it. I just took the book and enthusiastically said “Thank you!” I quickly held the book in my arms.

We parted ways and started on our way home. Before we left, they told my father that they are staying at an inn. They said it was the Silver Leaf inn, just incase he needed anything. On our walk home it was already fairly dark, which made it a lot colder. So, we walk fairly quickly to get home faster. We arrived home in a much shorter time than when we went to the guild hall.

We entered the house and my father said “You will be going right to bed. No looking at the book, you can look at it tomorrow after noon.” As he walked me to my room and I got under the covers and he wished me good night.

He left and I was having a hard time sleeping. Most likely from my overwhelming day today and how excited I was to start training soon. I just laid staring at my ceiling for what seemed like forever, till I started to feel my consciousness slip away.