Entering Adulthood

You slowly close the diary you were looking at. The hustle and bustle of the city outside shakes you from your thoughts. Memories of a childhood fade from your mind as you glance out the window as horses and carts fill the street and children filter in and out of the stalls. Today marks the Nation's annual festival, honouring the gods and the harvest of the year, which coincidentally lies on your birthday.

"John are you awake?"

A voice rings out from the kitchen of the small house carrying the sound down the short hallway and through the curtain that separates your room from the rest of the house. That wonderfully harsh voice ringing out belongs to your mother Alana. At just 40 years old she had you when she was just 22 and the man who she thought would be the love of her life vanished before you were even born.

Sliding the curtain open you make your way down to the kitchen, the floorboards creaking with each step. Even with your {if game:strength <= 3}gentle{elseif game:strength <= 5}light{else}moderate{endif} frame, the old timber groans underfoot. You've been thinking of replacing them, but money has just been too tight to spend on fixing creaky floors. As you arrive at the kitchen your nose is greated by the familiar strong earthy tones of leather. gauntlets, shinguards, helmets and other adventuring armour lays strewn around the kitchen, which doubles as a working space for the family business.

Leather Working was a humble profession people from all walks of life would stumble through the city in need of new armour, long hours working away at the leather has turned the house into a mess of tools and parts. Alana sits by the edge of one of these tools carefully punching holes into what will soon become a leather chestplate. Her flowing blonde hair pools around her shoulders and her pale skin almost glistens in the morning sunlight that streams through the house's one and only window. She looks up from her work, wiping a stray bead of sweat from her brow with the back of a tanned, calloused hand, offering you a tired but warm smile.

"John you're finally up. Happy birthday son, I'm so proud of how far you've come and I can't wait to see how much further you'll go." Bringing you into a hug that was all too energetic for this time of morning you feel a sense of determination that you will make it in life, if not for you for Alana.

Stepping back from the embrace, she wipes a stray smudge of leather polish from your cheek, smiles, and continues

Jess was just here earlier. She wants to go to the market with you. I think she already left, maybe you can catch up if you're quick."

Jess had been your best friend throughout your childhood. When her parents passed away years ago, your mother took her under her wing. Jess was unlike any other girl you'd ever met, and the two of you quickly became inseparable, spending long days and nights uncovering the city's hidden secrets.