On the fourth morning, the village was just beginning to stir, with the first hints of dawn casting a soft, golden light over the rooftops. Reyn stood by the training ground, his heart pounding as he waited for Lirael's decision.
He'd spent the last three days pouring every ounce of himself into the training, knowing this moment would determine his future. Lirael, for her part, had been as stern and demanding as ever, her approval hidden behind layers of sharp criticism.
Finally, she stepped into view, her expression unreadable as she approached him.
"So," Reyn began, trying to keep the hope out of his voice, "I've… done well enough?"
She crossed her arms, studying him with a look of intense scrutiny. "You've improved. A lot, actually," she admitted, her tone grudgingly approving. "Enough that I think you're worth taking along."
Reyn's face broke into a wide grin. "Really? I—thank you! I promise, I won't slow you down. I'll—"
"Calm down, will you?" Lirael cut him off, though her voice held a trace of amusement. "Go pack what you need, but be quick about it. I'm not waiting around all day."
With a quick nod, Reyn dashed off toward his small home, his excitement pushing him to sprint the entire way.
His belongings were few—just a small bag containing basic essentials, and an old, unassuming necklace that had once belonged to his father.
He held the necklace for a moment, running his thumb over the worn surface. 'This is it. I'm finally leaving.'
He slung the bag over his shoulder and hurried toward Irvin and Adelia's house, where he found them speaking quietly with Lirael. The sight of Irvin and Adelia brought a pang of emotion; they'd been like family to him after his parents had vanished.
"There you are," Irvin said with a small, wistful smile. "We thought you might've run off already."
"Run off? Without saying goodbye?" Reyn laughed, though his voice caught slightly. "You know me better than that."
Adelia approached him, her hands reaching to adjust his collar with a motherly touch. "I still think this is foolish, you know," she murmured, her gaze a mix of concern and pride. "But… we're proud of you. You're stepping out into a world that's not easy for any of us."
Reyn swallowed, his smile softening. "I wouldn't be able to do this without you and Irvin. I hope… I hope I'll make you both proud."
"You already have, Reyn," Irvin said, clapping a firm hand on Reyn's shoulder. "But remember—if things get too rough out there, don't be ashamed to come back. This will always be your home."
Reyn nodded, taking in their words. "Thank you. For everything."
Lirael cleared her throat, folding her arms impatiently. "If the farewells are over, we should get moving."
Irvin turned to her, his gaze serious. "Lirael, I'm trusting you to keep him safe. He may be stubborn, but he's good-hearted. We'd hate to see anything happen to him."
Lirael met Irvin's gaze with a steady, unreadable expression. "I'll do my best. But he knows the risks," she said, her tone matter-of-fact. Then, almost as an afterthought, she added, "He's not useless, you know. He may surprise you."
Reyn beamed, the words making his heart soar. He had worked hard for her respect, and hearing even a hint of it was more than he'd expected.
"Take care of each other," Adelia said, reaching up to brush a tear from her eye. "And come back in one piece, both of you."
With final nods and a few murmured farewells, Lirael and Reyn set off, leaving the village behind. The sun was fully risen by the time they reached the main path leading out of the village, the quiet forest path stretching out before them.
The journey was mostly silent, the only sounds being the rustle of leaves and the crunchy sound of twigs beneath their feet. Reyn glanced at Lirael, noticing her calm, focused expression as she strode purposefully along the road.
"Where are we headed?" he asked after a few moments.
"To a town a day's journey from here," she replied. "There's someone I need to meet there."
Reyn raised an eyebrow. "A friend?"
"Not exactly," she replied curtly, ending the conversation as quickly as it had started.
Reyn took the hint and fell silent, but his curiosity continued to nag at him. After another hour of walking, he tried again, hoping for more information. "So… what exactly do you do, Lirael? I mean, aside from terrifying bandits and training hopeless cases like me?"
She gave him a sideways glance, a faint smirk pulling at the corners of her mouth. "I hunt things," she replied simply. "Dangerous things. Relics, magical creatures, sometimes people."
"People?" Reyn echoed, his eyes widening.
"People who deserve it," she clarified. "Bounty hunting, you could call it. Though, lately, I've been focused on a different kind of work."
Reyn's curiosity was thoroughly piqued now. "And what kind of work is that?"
Lirael hesitated, as if deciding how much to tell him. "I work with a group called the Iron Fang Guild. We specialize in retrieving relics and dealing with magical threats."
"Iron Fang Guild," Reyn murmured, trying to let the unfamiliar name settle in his mind. "They… they hunt magical creatures and things like that?"
"Yes," she replied, her voice softening just a fraction. "They're skilled, and they're well-equipped. If you're serious about learning to fight, you'll see things there that even I haven't shown you."
Reyn's excitement bubbled over. "And… do you think I could join them? If I keep training, I mean?"
Lirael glanced at him, her expression thoughtful. "If you survive the training," she said bluntly. "The Iron Fang isn't for the weak-hearted. They don't tolerate failure."
Reyn nodded, swallowing hard. "I'll do whatever it takes. I mean… I want to make something of myself. Prove that I'm more than just—"
"A Null?" she finished, her tone strangely understanding. "That's for you to decide, Reyn. But remember, no amount of training or guild membership will mean anything if you don't believe in what you're doing. The world is harsher than you think."
They walked on in silence, Reyn absorbing her words. As they walked out of the forest, approaching the outskirts of a small town, Lirael gestured toward a large building with a wooden sign swinging in the breeze.
"There," she said. "We'll stop here for the night. In the morning, I'll introduce you to someone who can tell us more about the guild."
Reyn nodded, his mind racing. Everything was happening so quickly, but he was ready for it. He'd left his village, joined forces with a skilled swordswoman, and now he was on the verge of learning about a guild that dealt with magical threats. The weight of the journey ahead made his heart pound, but there was also a thrill he couldn't deny.
As they entered the inn, Lirael paused, glancing back at him. "Remember what I said. No one's going to hold your hand. If you want to make something of yourself, you'll have to fight for it every step of the way."
Reyn met her gaze, his determination solidifying. "I understand. And I'm ready."