The Next Day – 1B

Chapter 1 – Arrival (continued)

Kaylen woke feeling somewhat refreshed, having slept perhaps a bit longer than he’d intended to. He was emotionally drained, but **** himself to rise and greet the day. He threw open the shutters on his window, wincing into the morning sunlight. He almost immediately felt more awake, but went and splashed some water on his face for good measure. With the last vestiges of grogginess washed from his mind, he set about getting dressed before closing his shutters with a wave of his hand then casting another spell to pack his bags, though partway through he paused long enough to examine a small vial before it could be stowed in his pack. It was a potion, one that he’d been introduced to as a very young apprentice in order to better control his magic. He’d come a long way since then, and probably didn’t need the help stabilizing his power. He was supposed to drink one vial a month, and while he was already a few days overdue for this last dose, he decided to save it for an emergency, or at least until he could procure a new supply. He finished packing, and slung his bags over his shoulder before departing the guest room in the direction of the dining hall.

It was quiet, with none of the noise from outside reaching the interior of the guild hall, and his boots were soft soled, so he could hear vague voices ahead of him as he approached the dining room. He found Adalan and Neiah setting the table. Both girls gave him shy smiles when they saw him enter, and it wasn’t long before Aranni entered from the other end of the chamber.

“We’ll sit down for breakfast as soon as Marcel arrives. Cook should have it ready for us any moment. Then after we eat, I’ll take you down to the adventurer’s guild.”

Kaylen nodded. “That sounds perfectly fine.”

Soon enough Arrani’s final apprentice emerged from wherever she’d been, and they all sat down together to dig in to their meal.