Adventurer of Many Professions

Arya stirred awake as the first soft rays of dawn filtered through the window, casting a gentle glow over her room. Waking early was second nature by now, a habit she'd picked up from years working at the Becker Hotel, where mornings began before the sun had fully risen. But today, a warm comfort settled over her as she remembered they were no longer hotel employees, scrambling to serve guests. This was their own home. Her home.

She lay back against the pillow, allowing herself to savor the moment. "Very nice," she murmured, a small smile gracing her lips as she stretched luxuriously. The previous night had been filled with a tranquility she hadn't felt in a long time, a sense of peace that was both foreign and wonderful.

And then it hit her, a sharp blush creeping across her cheeks as her mind raced back to last night. She'd slept beside Raymond. Her heart fluttered at the memory. At first, she had been so tense, her mind swirling with nervous excitement, unable to relax. She hadn't realized when sleep had finally claimed her, but it had. Beside him.

Turning carefully onto her side, she held her breath, wondering if Raymond was still asleep. She imagined him there, his face softened by sleep, his steady breathing the only sound in the room. She wanted to catch one last glimpse of him, lying there beside her.

Slowly, she reached out and glanced to his side of the bed, only to find it empty, his pillow cold and untouched. Disappointment washed over her, mingling with her fading warmth. He had already gotten up.

Arya sighed, shifting under the covers as her gaze fell to her pajamas. They were a soft, pale blue, the same pair she'd worn for the past two years. Though she had grown, the pajamas now clinging to her figure in a way they hadn't before, she hadn't thought to replace them. She flushed again, wondering briefly if Raymond had noticed. Was she… was she simply not charming enough to him?

"No, no, no!" She shook her head, scolding herself for such thoughts. She was overthinking. Probably, he'd simply wanted an early start to his day.

Downstairs, Raymond sat at the modest kitchen table, enjoying breakfast in the morning quiet. He spread butter across a piece of wheat bread, savoring its warm, yeasty aroma. This bread was soft and golden, a far cry from the tough black bread they used to eat at the Becker Restaurant. Without butter, those dark, dense loaves had been more an exercise in jaw strength than a pleasure to eat. But now, he could enjoy this simple meal in peace, with no guests to serve, no clanging dishes or rushed mornings.

He took a bite, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as memories of last night flashed through his mind. Despite Arya's timid innocence, there was a quiet allure to her that he couldn't ignore. She was undoubtedly beautiful, and lying beside her, even innocently, had been a lesson in restraint. His heart had raced, his skin warm with a youthful flush he struggled to control. To calm himself, he'd gotten up in the middle of the night, doing push-ups on the floor until he was exhausted enough to feel something other than that heat.

But that hadn't been enough. He'd ended up taking a cold shower just to settle himself, though even that hadn't brought back his sleep.

"Young people… too much energy for their own good," he muttered to himself, half-smiling at his predicament. He took another bite of bread, grateful that, even after a sleepless night, he wasn't feeling tired.

A sound from upstairs interrupted his thoughts. Arya was up. He glanced at the clock, watching as she descended the stairs, her expression sleepy but warm.

"Breakfast's ready," he called, gesturing to the bread and butter he'd laid out.

She gave a small nod, sliding into a chair across from him. Carefully, she spread butter on a slice of bread, then sandwiched it between another piece before nibbling on it daintily, her cheeks still slightly flushed, though he couldn't tell if it was from the morning chill or… something else.

He watched her, caught up for a moment in how she ate so delicately, and before he realized it, he was staring.

"Do I have cream on my face?" she asked, tilting her head and giving him a quizzical look.

"What? No, no, nothing like that." He quickly looked away, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly, trying to hide the sheepish grin spreading across his face.

She felt a little flutter in her chest at his flustered response. The silence hung between them, neither sure what to say next, until Arya cleared her throat, breaking the tension.

"So… why are you up so early?" She raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in her eye.

Raymond chuckled, shrugging with a hint of helplessness. "Because… I didn't sleep at all!"

Raymond thought about explaining his true reason for leaving so early, how the night had left him restless, but instead, he smiled and said, "I'm heading to the Adventurer's Guild to register."

Arya looked up, surprised. "The Adventurer's Guild? Isn't that a bit… sudden?"

Raymond shrugged. "I'm just signing up. I'm not jumping into quests right away." He took a slow bite of bread and added, "Once registered, I can decide when or if I want to take on a mission. They don't force you to do anything you're not ready for."

Relief softened Arya's expression, and she returned to her breakfast, though she seemed preoccupied. Raymond noticed her distant gaze, her mind clearly somewhere else.

"What's on your mind, Arya?" he asked gently.

She hesitated, looking down at the half-eaten bread in her hand. "I was just… thinking. I turn fifteen in less than two months. I keep wondering if I'll be able to awaken by then."

Raymond met her gaze, sensing her anxiety. Awakening was something everyone dreamed of; granting power and abilities beyond the ordinary. But Arya had always seemed content, or so he thought. Just a month ago, after he had failed his own awakening at the temple, Arya had comforted him with a calm smile, saying, "Don't worry, Raymond. Not many get the gift of awakening. When my time comes, I might end up the same."

He had believed her, sensing no urgency in her words. But now, looking at her, he realized that she was more anxious than she'd ever let on. Did her perspective shift because she wanted to keep up with him… or was there another reason?

Arya lifted her head, her cheeks faintly pink. "It's your fault, you know," she said, half-jokingly but with a hint of seriousness. "You went and rented this nice house. How can I live here without pulling my own weight? I don't want to just sit around and rely on you."

Raymond chuckled, about to tell her he didn't mind in the slightest. He'd be happy to support her, to let her take her time finding her path. But he knew her too well; Arya was fiercely independent and stubbornly proud.

He nodded instead, acknowledging her determination. "I get it. But finding a decent job before fifteen is tricky. Employers don't want to invest in someone who might awaken soon and then walk away to become an adventurer. It's mostly odd jobs and meager pay until then."

Arya pursed her lips, clearly unsatisfied. "Well then, I'll help around the house however I can. I'll handle the cooking for lunch and dinner from now on. You already handle breakfast, so I'll take care of the rest."

Raymond gave her a soft smile. He didn't mind cooking or doing chores, but if it helped her feel like she was contributing, he was more than happy to let her take on the task.

They finished breakfast quietly, each lost in their own thoughts. Arya, while buttering her bread, savored it with obvious delight, and Raymond couldn't help but grin. Clearly, she wasn't giving up breakfast duty, wheat bread and butter were simply too delicious.

Once they were done, Raymond suited up in his armor, fastening his belt and checking his weapons. Arya watched him carefully, her eyes a mix of worry and pride. She knew he was capable, but the sight of him preparing to register at the guild brought an edge of concern.

"Be careful, alright?" she said softly.

"I'll just be signing some papers," he replied with a grin, offering a reassuring nod before heading out the door.

The Adventurer's Guild of West Town stood proudly near the east gate, a hundred meters from where Raymond now approached. Its architecture was striking, with tall, stone walls and iron-bound doors that hinted at the strength and diversity within. As he drew closer, he saw adventurers of all kinds moving in and out; humans clad in rugged leather armor, stout dwarf warriors with axes slung over their shoulders, and catfolk with sharp claws extending and retracting as they flexed their hands.