The Next Day – 1A

Chapter 1 – Arrival (continued)

Kaylen did not remember falling asleep. He did not remember dreaming either, except that he had a vague feeling his dreams had left him frustrated. Though at least there was no mess to clean up. He felt he could use another hour or two of rest, but he decided there was no point lounging around. So it was he found himself dressed and opening the shutters on his window before the sun was fully over the horizon.

The false dawn painted the sky a pleasing array of exotic colors, and Kaylen smiled to himself as he contemplated his day. He drew in a deep breath of the fresh morning air before turning back and shuttering the window behind him with a wave of his hand. It was another simple spell to pack his bags though he paused the effort when a small glass vial was about to disappear into his pack. It was a potion of a murky grey color. He’d been taking the stabilizing potions monthly for over a decade, as he’d had trouble controlling his magical energy when he’d first been brought to the tower for training. But he was already a few days late taking this last vial, and he’d felt fine so far. He probably didn’t need them anymore, and he figured he’d save this for emergencies, or at the very least until he could procure more. So he resumed his packing spell then slung his bags over his shoulder and strolled down the hallways toward the dining room.

His boots made little noise against the wooden floorboards, and the noise from outside didn’t seem to filter in here. So when he entered the kitchen from the empty dining room, he was startled fully awake when Adalan screamed the moment she saw him.

“What are… seven circles of hell woman, don’t do that!” He gasped, just barely resisting the urge to cast a defensive spell on the girl.

“Well don’t sneak up on me!” She was still in her night dress, and her hair was unbrushed. It was a minor miracle the pie she’d so obviously been eating from was still intact and hadn’t been knocked from the countertop.

“I wasn’t sneaking.” He insisted. “You were…” He glanced down at the plate, then back at her face. “Are you sneaking dessert?”

Her face went completely crimson, and she snatched the plate from the countertop, carrying it to a large brown chest against one wall. “Just a snack before breakfast…” She muttered. A cold mist emerged from the chest when she opened it to deposit the plate. He guessed this was an example of Aranni’s craftsmanship. A spell to keep the chest’s contents preserved with magical cold.

“What time is Master Rylan usually awake?” He asked.

Adalan cocked her head back at him, “Usually not early. No one bothers her if she wakes late. And sometimes she stays up working on projects.”

“What about the staff?”

“The cook is usually up just after dawn.”

“So any minute now?” He guessed.

“Yeah.” And with that Adalan scurried from the room before he could protest.

“Master Gallowglass!” Another voice gasped behind him. “What brings you to my kitchen?”

He turned, to find a matronly woman tying an apron around her middle, “You must be the cook. I don’t think we’ve been introduced?” He extended a hand masking his irritation behind manners.

“Shari.” She shook hands with a strong grip, but seemed wary of him, or perhaps simply wary of his status. He wasn’t a noble, by any stretch, but mages had their own sort of prestige. He was just glad she wasn’t trembling in fear or revulsion. But he wouldn’t imagine she would be able to work in a guild hall for mages if she had that sort of hang-up.

“You already seem to know my name. I am Adept Kaylen Gallowglass.” He put emphasis on his correct title. “It’s good to meet you, Shari.” It felt a little odd to introduce himself by his full name when she at minimum knew his surname, but it felt even odder to leave it off when making a formal introduction. “I’m looking forward to breakfast.” He added.

“Should be ready in half an hour, tops.” She told him, “Nothing too fancy or involved for these girls. More time to spend on their studies.”

“That’s what I’m used to as well.” He nodded. “I guess I’ll return in half an hour.”

He allowed himself to be shooed out of the kitchen, and returned to his room to wait, spending some time writing and sketching in his journal.

When he returned for breakfast, both Neiah and Adalan seemed embarrassed when he met their gaze, and conversation was somewhat subdued, though Aranni promised to take him to the adventurer’s guild as soon as they were finished eating.