As the seasons came and went, Adrian's growth was marked by more than just the passing of time. The once-toddler who had clung to his mother's skirts had transformed into a lively and curious boy, with every year bringing new discoveries and challenges. From ages four to eight, he grew not just in height but in confidence, his mind soaking up knowledge like a sponge.
At four, Adrian was a bundle of boundless energy, his laughter echoing through the small cottage as he chased after butterflies or played in the shallow stream behind their home. His days were filled with the simple joys of childhood—building forts out of blankets, helping his mother with small chores, and listening wide-eyed to the stories his father would tell by the fire at night.
By the time he turned five, his world began to expand. His language skills improved, and he started asking questions—endless questions—about everything he saw. "Why does the sun go away at night?" "How do birds fly?" "What's outside the forest?" His parents, both patient and loving, encouraged this curiosity, nurturing his growing mind with books and stories that fed his imagination.
At six, Adrian's curiosity turned into determination. He wanted to do more, to learn more. His mother began teaching him basic reading and writing, while his father showed him how to work with his hands—fixing small things around the cottage, tending to the garden, and even helping with the firewood. Adrian relished these tasks, seeing them not as chores but as challenges to be met.
By seven, he had developed a routine, a blend of learning and play that filled his days with purpose. He would rise early, helping his father with the morning tasks, before spending hours with his mother, studying letters and numbers, practicing simple spells, and listening to her explain the mysteries of the world. Afternoons were for exploration—wandering the edges of the forest, climbing trees, and imagining grand adventures in lands far beyond his home.
As he approached eight, Adrian had grown taller, his once-chubby cheeks now more defined, his limbs stronger from running and playing. His eyes, a deep shade of blue, were sharp and observant, always searching for something new to discover. His curiosity had not waned; if anything, it had intensified. He had become more independent, often venturing further into the woods on his own, his heart yearning to see what lay beyond the familiar paths.
One day he had decided to act on this desire to see the world, to see outside of the woods and venture into the neighboring village of Dawndelle, a smaller settlement that bordered the Ronora Labryinth, something that Adrien had learned from books that he found in his father's study. The books were mostly reference books and maps that Marcus used for his work.
Adrien had been holding one of these maps in hand when he went to his parents who were sitting at the dinner table.
"Mother, Father," Adrian called as he approached the dinner table, where his parents were finishing up their morning tea. His voice was steady, but there was a spark of determination in his eyes.
Marcus looked up from his cup, raising an eyebrow, while Annabeth set down her tea and gave her son a curious smile. Adrian didn't waste any time; he carefully spread the map across the table, the paper crinkling as he flattened it out. His finger quickly found the spot he had been thinking about for weeks—Dawndelle Village.
"I want to go here," Adrian announced, tapping the small dot on the map that marked the village. His tone was confident, but there was an underlying eagerness that made his words spill out a bit faster than usual. "I've been studying the map, and I know the way. I want to see Dawndelle for myself."
Annabeth leaned over the map, her eyes following Adrian's finger to the village marked on the page. Her expression softened, a mix of pride and concern crossing her features. "Dawndelle, hmm?" she said softly, glancing up at Marcus, who had already set his cup aside, giving Adrian his full attention.
"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Marcus asked, his voice calm but serious. "It's one thing to look at a map, but the village is different. It's bigger, busier—there are people you've never met, places you've never seen."
Adrian nodded, his gaze unwavering as he looked up at his parents. "I'm sure," he said firmly. "I've been thinking about it a lot. I want to see what's out there, beyond the forest. I'm ready."
Marcus sighed and pulled a bracelet from his pocket. It wasn't the fanciest thing of all time, but Adrien knew it's purpose, after quizzing his father on every little thing that he made. The bracelet was a type of Expormenting magic, where signals were sent from a transmitter to a receiver. Since Marcus had a receiver on him at all times, he would get the distress signal from Adrien as long as the bracelet was on him and mana was flowing into the bracelet, relaying the basic vital signs of Adrien. Though it required mana to work, everyone in the world, including humans were born with a mana bank. Some mana banks made directly casting magic impossible, while others made it insanely easy.
'It'll be fine, as long as he doesn't try and cast a spell or something he will have enough mana to send a distress signal.. pfft, he's a cute little eight year old, he couldn't cast a spell if he wanted to..'
Adrien and Annabeth were now staring at Marcus as he thought to himself in his head. He looked around, embarrassed, before clearing his throat and handing Adrien the bracelet. Marcus looked to Adrian, and they both nodded. Adrien had a fierce look of determination on his face, ready to meet new people, though he really wanted to spend his allowance on some new books to read that were a little more on his speed.
Annabeth walked Adrien to the door and started pinching at his cheeks, doting over him like he was still a child.
"Hey, Mom!" Adrien exclaimed, swatting her hand away. "I'm a big kid now!"
Annabeth giggled a bit and put her hand on Adrien's head, causing him to gasp. Annabeth looked down at Adrien.
"Be careful, ok? I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you.."
Adrian looked up at his mother, seeing the worry etched in her eyes and hearing the tremble in her voice. He felt a twinge of guilt for causing her concern, but his determination was stronger.
"I will, Mother," he said softly, reaching out to hold her hand. His small fingers curled around hers, offering comfort in the only way he knew how. "I'll be careful, I promise. I know you worry, but I've been thinking about this for a long time. I'll stick to the main paths, just like you and Father said, and I won't do anything dangerous."
Annabeth smiled once more and opened the door for Adrien. Once Adrien had walked to the gate that served as the barrier for the land that his family owned. Once he reached that point, he heard his mother call his name. When he looked back, his mother and father were in the doorway, waving at him. He waved back, then looked forward to the woods. He felt like he had done this before. Leaving home and setting out to do something on his own, though the memories were fuzzy, and he decided to leave it alone, for it hurt his head to even think about it.
'Except for that, I'm so excited! I wonder what the village is going to be like!' Adrien would think. With his head held high, he would begin a sprint through the forest, hoping to make it to Dawndelle Village as fast as possible.