Ethen stood hesitantly at the entrance to the guild, his weary eyes staring at the wooden door with a blend of reluctance and quiet dread. The very thought of what lay beyond those doors was almost too exhausting to consider. "Do I really have to do this?" he muttered, his perpetual sleepy voice thick with fatigue, as if he were half asleep and teetering on the verge of giving up.
"Come on, Ethen, a few adventures won't hurt you," Alma's voice rang out, brimming with forced enthusiasm, though he remained hidden from view. Alma, who was nestled comfortably in Ethen's worn leather bag, had Alcatraz—who was lazily napping atop Alma. Despite their attempt to remain unobtrusive, their presence was a constant reminder that this was a task Ethen couldn't avoid.
With a reluctant sigh, Ethen finally pushed open the heavy door and stepped into the guild hall. The space was alive with the hum of voices, the thrill of quests, and the promise of action—all things Ethen had long since lost his taste for. The bustling cacophony of conversation, occasional outbursts of laughter, and the clinking of armor each sound grated on Ethen's nerves, which were already frayed from his long day of rejections. Already, his patience was wearing thin. "Too noisy," he grumbled to himself, wishing he could retreat to a quieter, more peaceful corner of the world where he could retreat from the world's chaos.
The line for registration stretched on seemingly forever, a slow-moving queue of adventurers waiting their turn. Ethen shuffled along, his gaze distant, barely noticing the passage of time as his patience dwindled. By the time he finally reached the front of the line, it felt like an eternity had passed. Steeling himself, he took a deep breath and stepped forward.
"Um, hello," Ethen greeted the guild staff member, his voice a gentle mix of politeness and exhaustion. It was a soft, soothing sound, the kind that could lull someone to sleep, but the weariness behind it was unmistakable.
The guild attendant, a young woman who couldn't have been more than eighteen, looked up at Ethen with a gentle gaze. Her short, bob-cut brown hair framed her face perfectly, with bangs that lightly brushed her soft, youthful features. Her emerald-green eyes, hidden behind round glasses, sparkled with a warmth that contrasted sharply with Ethen's tired demeanor. Her slightly pointed ears—a telltale sign of her half-elf heritage—peeked out from beneath her hair, adding an air of grace to her appearance. Clad in a black, form-fitting guild uniform that accentuated her curves, she was the picture of professional poise. Yet, as her eyes met Ethen's young eyes, a flicker of sadness briefly crossed her face, a sadness that disappeared almost as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by a warm, welcoming smile.
"Hello, how can I help you today?" she asked, her voice carrying a gentle, soothing tone that mirrored her appearance. Yet Ethen could sense the concern lurking just beneath her kind words.
"I'm here to register as an adventurer. My name is Ethen Winters," he said, his voice still soft but laced with the same tiredness that seemed to weigh him down with every step.
The half-elf's fears were confirmed in that moment. Her smile faltered, replaced briefly by a grimace before she masked it with professionalism once more. "Are you certain you want to become an adventurer?" she asked, her tone gentle but undeniably tinged with concern. "I'm here to help, of course, but… you seem so young, and the dungeon is a dangerous place. It's not a path to be taken lightly."
Ethen let out a small, almost bitter chuckle. "Heh, I'm sure," he said, his words carrying a weight that seemed to age him beyond his years. "I used to be an adventurer outside Orario. Danger's not exactly new to me…"
"Oh, I see…" the half-elf replied softly, a glimmer of understanding flickering in her eyes. So young, yet already a seasoned adventurer, she thought. Her gaze softened as she regarded him more carefully. "In that case, let me introduce myself properly. My name is Eina Tulle. I'll be your advisor during the registration process, and if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask. Now, if you could please head to that table over there, we can begin your paperwork."
Eina gestured to a nearby table, and Ethen nodded, giving her a small bow of gratitude before heading in the direction she pointed. She sighed softly as she signaled for a replacement at the counter, her mind still lingering on the boy's solemn expression.
A petite girl with vibrant pink hair appeared at Eina's side. "I've got you covered, Eina. You don't have to push yourself so much," the girl said cheerily, her tone light despite the somber atmosphere.
"Thanks, Misha," Eina replied with a small smile, though Misha could tell it wasn't entirely genuine. Eina always seemed a little more melancholic when handling adventurer registrations, and Misha understood the weight that came with that task.
"You know, I could take over the registration if it's too much. You've got that white-haired adventurer to look after, and he's a handful on his own," Misha offered with a teasing grin.
Eina shook her head. "It's alright, Misha. If I run away now, I'll never be able to face them again…"
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"Alright, with those papers done, we can move on to the next set of documents," Eina said after what seemed like hours of paperwork.
"Ugh… I didn't expect registration to take this long…" Ethen grumbled, exhaustion seeping into his voice as he eyed the pile of forms still left to complete.
Eina couldn't help but sigh in sympathy. "Well, there's a lot the guild has to keep track of. And to access all the guild's services, you need to enter into legal agreements for each one. Otherwise, every complaint we get could end up in court…"
"Agreement after agreement. Even contracts for insurance…" Ethen mumbled, half-jokingly.
"The guild does provide emergency treatment near the dungeon, along with postmortem arrangements in case… well, in case of the worst," Eina explained, her tone growing more somber.
Ethen paused, the weight of her words settling in. He sighed again, feeling the gravity of the situation sink in deeper. "It's the same outside Orario… but we didn't have nearly as much help as you do here."
Eina's eyes widened in surprise at his mature response. "Most people don't even notice those services when registering. You're really thoughtful for your age, Mister Winters."
"I had to grow up fast," Ethen said quietly. "And over time, I learned to recognize and appreciate the small things. My father always said the smallest acts of kindness often go unnoticed, but they're the most important."
Eina smiled softly, touched by his words. "Your father must be a good man to have raised you with such wisdom."
"Yeah," Ethen said, his voice tinged with a quiet sorrow, but with a small smile. "He was."
As they continued their registration, the atmosphere between them didn't go unnoticed. Adventurers passing by threw envious glances at the interaction, while guild staff watched the young, handsome boy with curiosity but one stood out from the rest, a certain beautiful red-haired wolf woman, standing nearby, observed them.
"Okay, now that we have those sets of papers, we can start with the familia document to finally register you fully as an adventurer," Eina said, her professional demeanor returning.
"Oh, okay…" Ethen said with a quiet yawn, clearly a little tired but still attentive.
"So, I assume you have a familia?" Eina asked, though there was a hint of caution in her voice.
"Well, not anymore," Ethen replied, his voice steady.
"Oh… did you leave them when you came to Orario?" Eina inquired.
"They… died during an ambush by a horde of dragons. My goddess was sent back to heaven during the attack and I was the only one who survived," Ethen gave a different but still a hurtful story that had some truth, his tone calm but distant.
Eina's face softened with sympathy. "Oh… I'm so sorry I brought that up."
"No, it's okay… It's been a long time since it happened," Ethen said, his voice low but controlled, giving the impression that the wound had long since healed, even if it left a scar.
"Alright then… May I ask what level you were?" Eina asked, careful to avoid delving deeper into potentially painful memories.
"Level 3, if I remember correctly."
"Level 3?" Eina blinked in surprise, unable to hide her astonishment. "When did you join your familia?"
"I believe I was seven years old when I first joined," Ethen said, rubbing his eyes as if recalling a distant memory.
"H-Huh?! Seven years old?!" Eina exclaimed, her shock breaking through her usual composed demeanor.
The red-haired wolf woman, who had been silently observing, glanced at Ethen with equal surprise. Another seven-year-old adventurer, huh? she thought to herself, recalling a certain blonde haired adventurer. Her ears twitched, and she frowned at the thought of what that might have meant for his childhood.
"You joined your familia at seven years old?!" Eina repeated, still incredulous.
Ethen smirked slightly. "More like kidnapped and forced to join," he whispered under his breath jokingly.
"What?" Eina asked, tilting her head.
"Uh, nothing," Ethen said quickly. "But yes, I joined my familia at a very young age."
Eina shook her head in amazement. "That's... remarkable," she muttered. "For someone so young to have survived and grown as strong as you..." She trailed off, and then added, "You know, given your level and experience, I could easily recommend you to any familia that's recruiting. I'm sure any of them would be thrilled to have you as a member."
Ethen's expression hardened slightly, and he shook his head. "Thanks, but no thanks. I really don't want to join any familia at the moment."
Eina blinked, surprised by his firm response. "What? Why not? You said yourself that you were an adventurer before. You know how important a falna is. It's essential if you want to go into the dungeon."
Ethen sighed, clearly uncomfortable with the topic. "It's not that I don't want to. It's just… a familia is a huge commitment. I'm not ready for that right now. Besides the commitment, the guild has too many rules. I'll feel like I'm trapped."
Eina crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing in frustration. "The rules are there to keep you safe, Ethen. It's not a trap; it's structure. And as for the commitment, you don't have to stay with a familia forever. You could join temporarily, get the falna, and leave when you're ready to move on."
Ethen shrugged, looking disinterested. "I'd rather do things on my own terms."
Eina's voice grew sharper. "And what? You think you can just waltz into the dungeon without a falna? That's suicide! No matter how strong or experienced you are, the dungeon is nothing like the monsters outside Orario."
Ethen's eyes flickered with irritation. "Nothing like the monsters outside Orario?" His voice dropped a notch, the air around him seeming to turn cold. His normally relaxed blue eyes narrowed, becoming cold and seemed to glow faintly as he stared at her. "You think I haven't faced death before? I've fought monsters—stronger than you can imagine—both alone and with my familia. I've faced death, multiple times, and I survived. I know my strength."
Eina flinched slightly under his piercing gaze but didn't back down. "I don't doubt your strength, Ethen, but the dungeon is different. It's alive, unpredictable, and filled with dangers you can't even begin to understand. Without a falna, without a god's blessing, you won't stand a chance."
Ethen gritted his teeth, his frustration showing for the first time. "I'll be fine. I know what I'm doing."
Eina's hands balled into fists, her face flushed with anger. "You're being reckless! Just because you've survived the worst outside doesn't mean you'll survive down there! Do you even care what happens to you?"
Ethen's expression softened for a moment as he looked away. "I care… but I've learned not to rely on others to save me. That's why I won't join a familia." His voice, though calm, was tinged with a pain that Eina couldn't miss.
Eina's anger wavered, but she remained resolute. "At least consider it, Ethen. You might be strong, but even the strongest adventurers need allies. You don't have to go through everything alone."
Ethen's gaze returned to her, softer but unwavering. "I've already made it this far on my own, miss.Tulle . I'll be fine."
Eina let out a frustrated sigh, realizing she wasn't going to change his mind today. "You're stubborn, Ethen. I just hope you don't regret this decision."
Ethen gave her a lazy smile, though his eyes still carried that stubborn glint. "We'll see."
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After signing the last few documents, while Eina still glared daggers at him, Ethen finally finished his registration. He sighed, the weight of becoming an adventurer once again settling over him. It was a familiar feeling, yet somehow, it felt different this time.
"Now that you're registered," Eina's voice was still laced with anger. "The guild offers services for adventurers, including assistance with navigating the dungeon, an advisor, and some starter equipment. The equipment is cheap, but advisors come at some large service fee."
"I could use some starter equipment," Ethen said casually, completely ignoring the advisor part. "I think I'll get that."
Eina's eyes narrowed further, her patience visibly thinning. "You completely ignored the part about the advisor, Ethen," she said, her tone now ticking with frustration again.
Ethen sighed, looking up at her. "I don't need one."
"Really?" Eina shot back, her irritation bubbling to the surface. "You're going into the dungeon without a falna, and now you're saying you don't need an advisor either? Are you out of your mind?"
Ethen shrugged, keeping his tone calm. "I'm not planning on becoming a full-time adventurer, Eina. I'll be fine on my own for now."
Eina scoffed, crossing her arms. "Whether you're full-time or not doesn't change the fact that an advisor is essential, especially for someone in your situation. You can't just wander into the dungeon without guidance."
"I can handle it," Ethen insisted. "I adapt quickly, and I'm not a beginner."
Eina's jaw tightened as she glared at him. "Ethen, you're being reckless! This isn't some casual trip into the woods. The dungeon is dangerous, even for seasoned adventurers with a falna, and you're walking in without either? Do you realize how absurd that sounds?"
Ethen gave a tired sigh. "Look, I've done this before."
Eina shook her head in exasperation, throwing her hands up in frustration. Her eyes flickered to her colleague, who was standing nearby with an equally stern expression. She knew then and there that Ethen wasn't leaving the guild without having an advisor, she grinned internally at what Ethen was soon to happen to him. "Fine. You're obviously not going to listen to reason. Do whatever you want." Her tone was sharp, effectively cutting off any chance of further discussion, yet hidden amusement. "Just don't come crawling back here when things go wrong."
Ethen didn't respond, simply nodding as he turned to pay for the starter equipment. He grabbed the small bundle, his mind already on the dungeon, and headed towards the exit. Just as he was about to step out of the guild building, a firm hand landed on his shoulder, halting his movement.
"Hold up," a low, gravelly voice growled from behind.
Ethen looked back, only to find the red-haired wolf woman standing there, her piercing golden gaze locked on him, as if daring him to try and leave without addressing her.
"Come with me" she said more commandeding than asking. And without a second to decline, he was dragged off by the red haired wolf.
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Ethen and the wolf woman sat in a private booth, the air thick with tension. Her eyes locked onto his with unwavering intensity, golden and piercing, like a predator sizing up its prey. With a slow, deliberate motion, she crossed her legs, her guild uniform tightening around the sculpted curves of her well-toned body.
Ethen leaned back in his seat, his expression calm and unreadable despite the unusual situation. His arms crossed over his chest, he waited patiently, unbothered by her silent scrutiny. Minutes ticked by before she finally broke the silence, her voice low but commanding.
"You will have an advisor," she said flatly.
Ethen sighed, his voice carrying quiet defiance. "I appreciate the concern, but I'm fine. I don't need an advisor."
She raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by his resistance. "The guild mandates that all new adventurers have an advisor."
"Well, lucky for me, I'm not a new adventurer," Ethen replied smoothly. "I've been doing this for a long time. I can handle myself."
The wolf woman's golden eyes narrowed, her voice sharp but controlled. "The dungeon is unlike anything you've faced before. It's a labyrinth—treacherous, full of monsters that will tear you apart if you make one wrong move. You won't last without proper guidance."
Ethen shook his head, undeterred. "I don't need someone holding my hand. I never did when I was younger, and I don't need it now."
She let out a low snort, a wry smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "When you were younger? You had a familia by your side. You had their help when you were what—seven? So yes, I'd say you were being held by the hand more than you'd like to admit."
Ethen's eyes darkened, his voice dropping to a quiet but forceful tone. "Before my familia, I was on my own. For three years. Alone." His gaze drifted off, focusing on a distant memory. "From four to seven years old, I survived on nothing but what I knew. No one was there to guide me."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle between them. The wolf woman's smirk began to wane, though her sharp eyes never left his.
"I survived freezing winters," Ethen continued, his voice steady but threaded with raw emotion. "I fought monsters for scraps of food, went days without sleep, because I knew danger was always there. Waiting."
His jaw clenched as he pressed on. "The cold didn't kill me. Hunger didn't break me. And the fear? The fear of monsters lurking just beyond the shadows… it wasn't even close enough to stop me. I kept moving. I had to. Every day, I grew stronger. If I didn't—I wouldn't be here."
For the first time, the wolf woman's eyes softened, if only a fraction, though her voice remained hard. "But you had a familia after that. They made you stronger. They—"
"They didn't carry me," Ethen cut her off, his voice firm but not harsh. "When they found me, yes, I grew even stronger. But it wasn't because they held my hand—it was because I fought tooth and nail to stand beside them."
"They were strong, and I refused to be a burden to them. And during my time with them… there was an incident. After that, I made a promise to myself. I swore I would never show weakness, and I would never lose—ever again. And I've kept that promise to this day."
His eyes, clear and unyielding, locked onto hers. "So no," he said quietly, but with unwavering conviction, "I've never been held by the hand."
The silence that followed was heavy, the weight of his words hanging between them like a dense fog. The wolf woman remained speechless for a moment, her sharp gaze locked onto Ethen's, as if she were seeing him in an entirely different light. Her previously smug expression had softened, but not entirely faded.
"If you'll excuse me," Ethen said calmly, standing up with a sense of finality, "I'll take my leave now. Thank you for the talk, and… your concern."
He turned, ready to make his exit, but before he could take a single step toward the door, the wolf woman closed the distance between them in one swift, fluid motion. In an instant, she grabbed him by the shoulder, forcing him back into the seat with surprising strength. Before Ethen could react, she leaned in close, her face mere inches from his, her piercing golden eyes searching his with newfound intensity. One of her legs pressed between his legs.
Her smirk was gone now, replaced by a far more serious expression. When she spoke, her voice was softer, but no less firm. "You've been through a lot," she acknowledged, her tone almost respectful. "I get that. But the dungeon doesn't care about your past, your strength, or your will to survive. It will tear you apart if you're not prepared."
Ethen, unfazed by her sudden proximity or the forcefulness of her actions, didn't waver. His blue eyes met hers with the same calm defiance. "I'll take my chances."
She sighed, her breath brushing against his skin, her eyes never leaving his. "Here's the deal," she said, her voice cutting through the tension in the room. "You accept me as your advisor, or you don't step foot in that dungeon."
Ethen's eyes narrowed slightly at the ultimatum, but he didn't flinch. "Can you even do that?"
"I'm highly respected in the guild," she replied confidently. "My words carry weight. So yes, I can."
For a moment, they were locked in that tense position—neither backing down, the air between them electric. Ethen could tell from the way her eyes held his that she wasn't bluffing. She would follow through with her threat. With a heavy sigh, he finally relented, though his voice was thick with reluctance. "Fine. I'll accept you as my advisor."
The wolf woman straightened up, a satisfied smile tugging at her lips as she crossed her arms below her chest, making her assets go up and her tail swaying smoothly. "Good choice," she said, her voice filled with a mix of approval and triumph. "I'm Rose Fennatt. Try not to get yourself killed on my watch."
Ethen gave her a small, begrudging smile in return, shaking his head slightly. "No promises."
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After signing a few more papers for this new advisor, he was finally done with the mountain of bureaucracy. The weight of the papers might have lifted, but the burden of this new arrangement settled in. He was now, reluctantly, an official adventurer once again.
"Okay then, I believe everything's done," Rose said as she gathered the signed documents, tucking them neatly under her arm. She glanced at him, her sharp eyes scanning him with a mix of curiosity and authority. "We'll have our first meeting tomorrow."
Ethen let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. "And when do I need to pay the fee?" he asked, his voice carrying an edge of frustration. The money, after all, was the entire reason he'd been dragged back into this life.
Rose raised an eyebrow, almost amused. "I'll cover the service fee for now. You can pay me back over time."
"Hooray, debt," Ethen muttered sarcastically, running a hand through his hair. "I'm never going to get the money I need at this rate." He let out a more exaggerated sigh. "That's my other problem with hiring an advisor."
"Money problems, huh?" Rose said, her tone softening, if only slightly.
Ethen's expression darkened as he slung his bag over his shoulder. "It's the only reason I came back to this mess. I just need enough to start over in Orario. A new life… somewhere far from all of this adventure stuff ."
Rose studied him for a moment, her sharp gaze cutting through the walls he had put up. "Why wouldn't you want to be an adventurer?" she asked. "It's not every day I meet someone who doesn't want the thrill, especially someone with your potential." She paused, tilting her head slightly. "You reached Level 3 at such a young age. That's not something to take lightly."
Ethen looked away, his jaw tightening as if he were wrestling with something deep inside. "There are a lot of reasons," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "But mostly… it's because of them. My familia… their deaths…" He trailed off, the words hanging in the air between them like a shadow.
Rose didn't respond immediately. She didn't need to. She had seen that look before—the kind that belonged to someone who had lost everything. Her lips parted as if to say something, but she thought better of it and simply nodded.
Gathering his things, Ethen straightened up, trying to shake off the weight of the conversation. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow, then," he said, his tone lighter, as if trying to distance himself from the heaviness of the moment. He turned toward the door, ready to leave this all behind for the night.
"Ethen," Rose called after him, her voice softer now, almost gentle. He stopped but didn't turn around. "You don't have to do this alone, you know."
He didn't respond right away, the silence stretching between them. Finally, he glanced over his shoulder, offering a small, tired smile. "I've been doing it alone for a while now. What's one more day?"
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As the door to the guild shut behind him, the cool evening air greeted Ethen, its chill sinking through his jacket. He sighed, long and deep. The day had stretched out longer than he'd expected, but somehow, time had slipped away.
"Bittersweet talk, wasn't it, Ethen?" Alma's wise, gravelly voice drifted into his mind as he walked, laced with the familiar rasp of age and fatigue.
"Yeah," Ethen muttered, his eyes drifting toward the fading sun as it began its slow descent beyond the horizon. He could almost feel the day slipping away along with it. "You could say that."
Alcatraz, ever sensitive to Ethen's emotions, stirred in his bag. The small, blue bird creature with fiery plumage wriggled free, fluttering to perch on his shoulder. Its warmth spread across Ethen's neck, the soft heat of its feathers offering a comfort that words couldn't quite match.
Ethen glanced at the bird, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I don't blame you for leaving me alone for almost three years, you know," he said tiredly, his gaze shifted back at the sun as it bathed the city in golden hues.
Alcatraz responded with a sharp chirp, one of disapproval, and nuzzled closer to Ethen's neck, as if to insist that it would never abandon him again.
"You too, Alma," Ethen added, his tone a little lighter, though the words carried a depth that hung between them like a whisper of guilt. "I don't blame you either."
From the bag, Alma's orb gave off a faint, pulsing glow. The old spirit's voice, soft yet weighted with years of wisdom, answered after a pause. "I know, Ethen. But… it still feels wrong. Leaving you for so long. The silence—" Alma's voice trailed off with a tired sigh, as if the memories themselves were exhausting.
"You were frozen, Alma. You were locked away, just as much as Alcatraz was asleep. There was nothing either of you could've done." He paused then continued. "I really don't blame you."
Alma's response came after a thoughtful pause, the orb's light pulsing softly within the bag. "You say that now, Ethen," Alma began with a tired sigh, the weight of those three years echoing in his voice, "But I can feel it in you. That shadow. The silence we left you in—it left its mark. You still prefer to fight alone, don't you?"
Ethen's jaw tightened for a moment as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket, a familiar gesture when emotions ran too close to the surface. "You know I don't like relying on people. Not even you two," he said, his voice carrying the weight of old habits. "It's not about blame. It's about me… about how I've handled things."
Alcatraz gave another chirp, the flicker of its feathers brushing against Ethen's skin like a comforting pulse. Its heat was steady, constant—an unwavering presence that asked for nothing.
Ethen sighed, his eyes flicking back toward the horizon. The sun was now just a sliver, sinking lower behind the distant buildings. "Besides, the both of you have already helped plenty just by being here," he murmured, his voice quieter now. "The fact that the contract still binds us, that I can still feel both of you alive and with me… it's enough to keep me going."
A deep, gravelly grunt escaped Alma, almost as if the old spirit was shaking his head. "Ethen, we're more than a contract. You know that," Alma said, his tone both gentle and insistent. "We chose to stay with you, not just because of some ancient binding contract, but because we want to be here."
"I know," Ethen replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "But sometimes… it's easier to think of it that way." He shifted his weight, growing restless under the weight of the conversation, the day's events pressing down on him. "It's too bad I couldn't get to the dungeon today," he said, more to himself than to Alma or Alcatraz. His gaze lingered on the last remnants of sunlight, as if watching the opportunities of the day slip away with it.
Alma's voice held a hint of amusement. "Since when did you start wanting to go back to being in the adventurous life huh Ethen"
Ethen shrugged, a faint, wry smile playing at the corner of his lips. "It's not like I want to. But now that I'm an adventurer, I just want to finish as fast as possible, I need to get back to action. I need the money." He paused, feeling the ache in his chest again—the reason he was doing all of this in the first place. "I'm not doing it for the thrill. I'm doing it for myself. For our new life. Is like you said Alma, this could give me the chance to get away from this world of adventures"
Alcatraz chirped again, this time softer, almost understanding. It pressed itself closer to him, its heat steady, grounding him in the moment.
The sun finally dipped below the horizon, leaving the sky awash in purples and blues. Ethen sighed, the weight of the day pressing down on him, heavier than ever. "Well," he muttered under his breath, turning on his heel to head back to the inn he is staying at, "tomorrow's a new day."
"Yeah," Alma agreed, His voice fading slightly, though still present. "And you won't be facing it alone."
Ethen didn't respond, but the ghost of a smile lingered on his lips as he made his way through the quiet streets. Alcatraz, perched comfortably on his shoulder, chirped once more and went back to lazy napping.
No, Ethen wasn't alone. Not really. But it still felt that way.
(Author note)
Change from two to three years.
Changed the title from "shadows of the past" to "the reluctant adventurer."