Roan stepped out to a wave of a teeming crowd doing their daily diligence.
The people truly brought this street to life as several of the construction of buildings always seem very gloomy. People of all types were roaming the streets, no matter the fact that they were pale or tanned from a day's work in the field, they all held true smiles on their faces.
He looked up to see the sky to see it still perfectly grey, accompanied by several townhomes with similar styles of gothic architecture around him. Roan's first step in the crowd was to ascertain himself with the flow before he followed the waterway of a path to his destination.
His trek led him northbound in hopes to reach his academy in due time.
He caught the eye of his neighbor buying some soaps and bathroom appliances from the trading post as he slowly navigated his way toward his neighbor a couple of homes down.
"Nice weather out isn't it Mrs. Beth?"
She was perched down checking the assortment of today's newest products, a wave of fragrant spells and aromas assaulted his nose.
Mrs. Beth whose old age is hard to tell slowly turned to see who brought up a conversation, her eyes widening and shortly after smiling.
"Oh my, if it isn't Roan Klaus."
"In the flesh."
"It is quite a wonderful day. How are you this fine start of the day, Roan?"
Mrs. Beth picked up one of the bottles to smell its aroma before setting it down.
"Even better after meeting you."
She giggled.
"Quite the charmer aren't you? could charm even me if only you were 10 years older."
Her mannerisms did not fit her appearance as she still seemed young, her pale skin accentuated all the places wrinkles should be, but none were present.
"I'm not too young ma'am. My ceremony is happening today so I would be an adult."
"Already? I've known you for so long since you had diapers!"
"Heh, it has been a while. By chance would you need help carrying your bag to your home?"
"Oh! Too much, I don't want to be a bother."
"For everything you've done for me? This barely reaches the thick of it."
Roan went to pick up her bag.
"Then don't mind if I indulge in your presence."
The shopping took mere minutes as they finished up, her house was somewhere due north as it would be along the way to the academy where he studied. They went on to talk about current events and hobbies as time passed along the way.
Roan went into her house to set her bag by a chair in the dining room, her interiors were similar to Roan's but differently arranged.
"Thank you, Roan."
She went into a brief hug with Roan as they began heading on their way.
"See you, Mrs. Beth"
He took a step outside and closed the door behind him, to finally see Kila perched on the small garden that Mrs. Beth cared for by the window. It bobbed its head down to see Roan.
"Kila! How are you?"
Roan used his finger to rub under its beak as it closed its eyes in delight.
"Thought I'd forget to feed you, huh?"
He brought out his own pouch to grab the small parcel made by his handkerchief to pull out the steak, though it was cold, it still sufficed to be a hearty and delicious piece of meat.
Kila held it between its beak and proceeded to pet it once more behind its head.
It fluttered its wings and took off with the morsel in its mouth.
'Gee, I wonder what Kila does all day when it returns.'
The thought forgot itself as the academy was just a short way away.
And just in time.
"Roan! It's the day! It's the day for our ceremony!"
Just before he could turn his head to look, a giant mass pushed against his back and almost caused him to fall.
He was fortunate enough to be somewhat sturdy build despite his looks, but fortune was not enough for the second body rushing toward him.
He fell to the floor and the crowd shimmied around them due to the commotion.
"Hey man, I just got this shirt cleaned."
A bright smile appeared before Roan's eyes and had to step back to see his full face.
"How've you been Jason?"
"Never greater! Hartman and I were just finished hanging out at the spot. You should come with!"
Hartman appeared behind Jason's back, tilting his head at Roan to notify him of his presence.
Both of them just nodded at each other before continuing on.
"Sure, let's go."
Roan and Hartman both patted down themselves from the dust and dirt while Jason continued on without a care in the world.
"The ceremony is just at midnight! I can't wait!" The bundle of energy proceeded to jump and almost failed his landing, causing the shop master to angrily yell to be careful.
Roan bowed for a quick second and proclaimed "Sorry!" to try and catch up to Jason, who couldn't just wait.
Roan caught his breath before speaking again as they continued walking to the academy.
"Get any gifts for the special occasion?"
Jason tipped his hat and also loosened his collar braid to show a rosary necklace.
"My father got me the hat and my mom got me this necklace! Kaching, real ruby! The necklace was made with sterling silver and was a beautiful rose with a ruby center. He seemed more proud of the hat though.
"It's the same hat my father wore for his father's funeral!"
"Oh…"
Roan laughed it off before looking at Hartman.
"And you?"
Hartman looked down and spoke like a rooster in the dead of night.
"New shoes?"
Hartman smiled contently as he wore his new latchet shoes, buckled with a very pure piece of steel.
"Velvet inside as well, almost like walking on clouds."
"Wonderful!" Roan clapped and was truly glad to see his friends happy.
"What about you Roan? Bet your parents got you something special!"
He looked a bit out of it before he could muster up his answer.
"Aha, they sure did!"
Hartman finally chimed in.
"Your father and mother both work for the mayor, right? Must be lucky."
"Sure is."
'If they even bothered to come home or send me a letter.'
The last time he saw them was a year ago, only for a brief moment as they left without even saying a word.
They arrived at their hangout area inside the academy grounds. A small nook between the building with vegetation taking over without a care in the world. It was poorly maintained and nobody came here since it was way in the back.
Safe to say they now use it for their hangout spot, some poorly carved planks to take the shape of swords and lines on the dirt from a wrestling game they frequently played back then.
Hartman sat around the corner foundation to read the book he picked up from the small library.
"What are you reading Hartman?"
Hartman did not raise his head in fear of losing the spot where he left off.
"Oh, this is 'The Need of War, Human Psyche' by Guillerman Strong. It's a book about how humans in this era have recently gone to choose aggression over compassion over needs specific only to them. Something that-"
"Just another mumbo jumbo book, just tell us next time." Jason cut Hartman off and toss the wooden sword to Roan, who reluctantly picked it up to spar with Jason.
"It's not-"
"Why do you want to know about humans anyway? There are humans just outside the city walls in the towns and villages, just ask them." Jason finished talking and prepared his stance to spar with Roan.
Hartman muttered under his breath "Barbarian…" as both Jason and Roan played around with each other.
It took merely a short moment for things to get serious between them as they riled each other up.
Jason pulled rapid strikes to overwhelm Roan, each strike warping the stick Roan held, but he stood steadfast.
Roan always chose a defensive stance against Jason as it was always a battle of endurance with him.
It took him a short notice for Roan to feel the rhythm, allowing him to close his eyes for a brief moment, feeling the vibration transfer to the stick to his arm.
Though it might've been half a second or two seconds, he executed the timing, parrying a strike, and went for the neck, stopping mere inches away not to bruise it.
"Easy there, don't want to bruise you before the ceremony."
"No fair...Hartman, score?"
"Roan, 119."
Jason laid his sword so he could rest his body against it whereas Roan rested his back on the wall with the stick resting on his shoulder.
"Jason, 117"
"Tch, sparring with you is always not fun."
Though they have been learning the basics of swordsmanship, what they showed was too flimsy to be called elegant and more like children's roughhousing.
"Look on the bright side, you'll probably be better than me in a few years," Roan teased as Hartman also laughed.
"Mark those words, Roan!"
Just like his short fuse, his mood always brightened whenever possible. Jason raised his sword in the air.
"When the ceremony ends, my dream will finally come true when my father is gonna take me in to be part of the Glumhaven Knights! Who knows! Maybe even have an instructor from the Montagne House!"
"" Don't get over yourself. ""
Though not every dream comes true, certain ones will eventually make it through the thicket of reality and sometimes will bend it to its utter core.