The training period was nearing its end.

The one year was almost over.

It hadn’t felt that long, infact it went by quite fast. From survival and killing beasts or monsters, to even capturing thiefs and bandints. It was quite an action packed year for Teclos.

In this year Teclos changed, alot. Everything he did now was besed on erasing his presence, on being silent.

He practiced stealth all the time even in his daily life, more than a few times he startled the people around him when he "suddenly apeared" inforn of them.

And the old man...

Teclos started to trust him.

It wasn’t complete trust, but atleast he knew that should something go wrong the old man had his back.

Whether he fully or partly trusted him, it was almost close enough that the difference no longer mattered. The only thing he still adamantly dissagreed with that old man, was his shitty mouth and way of insulting him every chance he got.

—

Like most mornings, Teclos was waiting at the guild reception.

Seated near the side wall, just out of the main flow of traffic, he watched as hunters gathered, spoke in low voices, and filtered out one by one through the large wooden doors.

The usual rhythm of the place played out in front of him—gearing up, quiet chatter, the clink of the occasional cup of beer and laughter.

One by one, every one was leaving the guild hall on hunts and patrols.

Assignments were taken.

Groups were formed.

And the Noise was slowly fading away.

Teclos remained sitting there on the bench, it wasn’t unusual.

The old man was rarely early, most of the time he was late even.

But today—

He really took his sweet time to arrive.

Way more than usual atleast.

Teclos shifted slightly in his seat, fingers tapping once against his knee before going still again.

His eyes flicked toward the entrance.

Then away.

Then back again.

He was getting restless to say the least as more and more hunters left the guild hall.

The younger ones, the loudest of the bunch, some were even going half drunk on a hunt.

Although Teclos was bothered by the noise, he still listened to the conversations. And what annoyed him the most, was hearing alot of complaining from the trainees...about the task they had to do, which was just a normal hunt or patrol.

Soon—

The hall quieted.

Teclos exhaled slowly. He finnaly had Peace, still it was getting late to start the hunt.

"...Where the hell is the old man?"

The words had barely left his mouth—when the door opened.

With a slow creak the old man finnaly stepped inside.

Nothing about him seemed different at first glance.

He greeted the staff as he passed by, offering a small nod, a few quiet words exchanged with the receptionist. Nothing unusual.

Nothing out of place.

And yet—

Why the hell was he so late?

Teclos watched him approach. Finnaly.

The old man stopped in front of him.

For a brief moment, neither spoke.

Then—

"Come, boy," he said, his tone even. "Let’s sit down for a change."

Teclos blinked in supprise.

That was new...

He was stunned a bit, but what about the hunt? The old man wanted to start even later than now? Were they going on a night hunt today?

Several thoughts raced through Tecloses mind.

He had never suggested sitting down before, never explained things properly, never chatted more than a few sentences and even that was mostly orders for training and ofcourse insults.

Teclos slowly rose to his feet, eyes still fixed on the old man, trying to read something—anything—from his expression.

There was nothing obvious except that he somehow seemed chirpier...happier?

Not that it showed on his face anyways, it was still just the stone cold expression, only teclos could somehow understand him better now.

"...Alright?" Teclos agreed, though the word came streched out.

The old man turned without another word and began walking to one of the tables at the far end of the hall, in a corner.

Skipping his usuall rout of checking out the mission boards, and walking straight toward the tables.

Teclos followed closely behind.

The old man took a seat at one of the empty tables, the wood creaking faintly beneath him. He rested back as if he had all the time in the world, one hand draped loosely over the edge.

Then he lifted his chin slightly, beckoning.

Teclos hesitated for a moment before stepping forward.

"Sit, kid," the old man said. "Now that our time together is almost over... let’s have a chat."

’Huh? A chat? Is he sick or something?’

After everything—after the missions, the near-death encounters, the constant pressure from him—

Now he wanted to talk?

He didn’t question it out loud. But they spent almost an entire year together...and that old fart didn’t even introduce himself...

Still, he pulled out the chair and sat down across from him, posture straight and cautious, his eyes studying the man carefully and with suspicion.

The old man reached into his jacket and pulled out a bottle of wine, placing it on the table with a soft thud. Two simple cups followed.

"Since this will be one of the last times we’ll see each other," he said calmly, "let’s have a toast, kid."

Well... that fried his brain. Teclos was utterly stunned at this suggestion. In his wildest dreams he couldn’t have predicted that the old man just wanted a friendly chat...the mostly silent and grumpy old man.

It was so out of place that it put a smile on his face, a smile of dissbelief.

’Well...i guess the world is gonna end tomorow, might aswell drink one cup then.’

He reached for the bottle, turning it in his hand before uncorking it.

"Then let me pour you a drink, old man."

For a brief moment the old man smiled.

"Hoh, i guess you can have manners if you want to, kid."

Not the faint, almost invisible curve Teclos had to work tirelisely to even get a glimps off.

But a real smile.

"Didn’t know you could even smile, old man."

"The name is Axel, kid."

Teclos froze for a second again.

Wide-eyed, he stared at him—then scoffed.

"Took you long enough to acknowledge me, old man..." he muttered, pouring the wine. Then, with a small shake of his head, "I mean—Axel."

The name felt strange to addres him as anything but old man, still it wasn’t a bad feeling.

The wine settled between them, untouched for a moment as the quiet of the guild wrapped around the table. The usual noise replaced by a softer chatter from the staff in the distance.

Axel leaned back slightly, rolling the cup between his fingers before finally taking a small sip.

"This place is not much to look at," he said, glancing around the hall. "But places like this... are important. Because of guilds like these, towns and villages around them are safer, people can come and go as they like without being ripped apart by beasts."

Teclos watched him, still not entirely sure what point he was trying to make was, and still not used to hear him speak this much without a curse.

"Sure enough...you’ve been around a lot, I take it?" he asked.

Axel gave a small shrug. "Enough."

A pause followed, though it didn’t feel empty. Axel let it stretch just long enough before continuing, his tone casual—almost idle.

"I take on work where it’s needed. Sometimes for merchants. Sometimes for... higher interests." His gaze flicked briefly to the wine before returning to Teclos. "A lord I’ve worked under for some time now. Keeps things organized. It is pleasant working under him, you can get what ever you want."

Teclos tilted his head slightly. "You don’t seem like the type to take orders."

A faint smirk touched Axel’s lips. "Everyone answers to something or someone, kid. The difference is that the smart ones choose their chains."

Teclos huffed quietly, taking a sip of his own drink.

"That supposed to be wisdom?"

"Call it experience."

Silence settled again, each taking some gupls of that wine.

Axel didn’t rush his point and continued on with his small talk.

"You’ve changed for the better, kid," Axel said after a while, his voice quieter now. "More than you probably realize."

Teclos didn’t respond immediately, though his grip on the cup tightened slightly.

"Yeah?" he said finally.

Axel nodded once. "You move more efficiantly now, your way of thinking is better aswell. You finnaly don’t waste your talent anymore."

A small pause.

"You could finnaly survive in this world."

Teclos looked down at the table for a moment.

"...That was what you wanted to teach me, wasn’t it?"

"Well, Part of it yes."

Axel leaned forward slightly, resting his forearms on the table now, his attention fully on Teclos.

"What now?"

Teclos frowned faintly. "What do you mean?"

"What comes after survival?" Axel asked calmly. "You’ve learned how to stay alive. That’s only the beggining. Not a final destination...not your dream or goal. Or is it?"

Teclos didn’t have an answer for that.

Not a clear one atleast.

Axel watched him closely, seeing the confusion in his face he smiled a little. His smile was a tad bit more sinister but his tone remained even, almost conversational.

"Listen, you’ve got talent," he continued. "More than most actually. But talent without direction and proper guidance..." He gave a small shake of his head. "It gets wasted. Or worse—you get killed. Be it out of envy from others or your own overconfidence."

Teclos exhaled slowly, he was slowly realizing what Axels point was.

"I’ll figure it out."

"I don’t doubt that."

Another sip of wine.

"But figuring things out alone takes time. Mistakes and losses." Axel’s gaze sharpened just slightly. "You’ve had a taste of that already, didn’t you?"

Teclos’s eyes flickered, just for a second.

The memory of the ghoul resurfaced, of the times Axel had to save him during the missions.

Axel leaned back again, letting the pressure ease just as naturally as he had applied it.

"So," he said, as if changing the subject entirely. "What is it you actually want?"

Teclos blinked.

"...What?"

"Your end goal," Axel clarified. "Strength for the sake of strength is meaningless. So what are you building toward?"

Teclos hesitated.

The question felt... heavier than it should have.

"I don’t know," he admitted after a moment. "I just—"

He stopped.

Exhaled.

"...I don’t want to be weak and maybe travel the world?"

Axel nodded slowly, as if that answer had been expected.

"No one wants to be weak, kid. And traveling the world is fun and all, But have you not thought about where to settle?"

Teclos frowned slightly.

’Settle?’

He hadn’t thought that far ahead. Sure he wanted to be a hunter, slay monsters, drink with his friends and travel someday. He knew that for protecting that life style he needed strenght.

But did he want something more? He hadn’t asked himself that question before.

Axel didn’t press him this time. He simply let the silence sit, letting the question linger.

Then, casually—

"I’m heading back to Lupos soon," he said.

Teclos’s eyes lifted.

Axel continued, tone unchanged.

"It’s a bigger place and that means more opportunities. Also more... specialized work." He swirled the wine in his cup, watching it for a moment. "The kind that could suit someone like you."

Teclos said nothing.

"I could keep training you," Axel added, almost as an afterthought. "Though properly this time and not just for survival. Refine you in to a deadly gem."

He pause and glanced at Teclos.

"Give you power."

The word lingered.

"You wouldn’t be wasting time here," Axel continued. "Running the same circles. Taking the same kind of jobs as everyone else and your real friends would understand that ambition..."

His tone or opinion weren’t harsh, nor dismissive.

Just—

Spoken in a Matter-of-factly way.

Teclos shifted slightly in his seat, eyes narrowing just a fraction.

"You’re asking me to leave with you?"

Axel met his gaze.

"Well yes and no...it’s more like I’m giving you an option."

Silence followed again, and Axel didn’t push him.

He simply took another sip of wine, as if the answer didn’t matter.

But it did.

Teclos could feel it, a thought forming in his head...should he go? Should he explore more of this world already? After all he got a golden ticket for the start right now.

He wasn’t sure but—

A new path opened up in front of him, and his life didn’t feel set in stone anymore. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Across from him Axel just smiled, a sinister smirk hiding behind the cup of wine.