Life at the church was... not what Kel expected.
When he imagined moving in with the famous Dragon Slayers, he pictured daily training, tactical discussions, maybe even sparring sessions by candlelight. What he got instead was...
"Arlo," Kel whispered one afternoon. "Why are you... lying on the floor?"
Arlo rolled onto his side, crumbs falling off his shirt from whatever bread he'd eaten earlier. "Because it's cooler here than on the bed."
"And the pile of laundry?"
Arlo waved lazily at the heap of half-folded tunics in the corner. "That's... uh... insulation."
Kel blinked. "Against what?"
"Life."
Kel turned to Tessa, who sat at a desk, quill in hand. At least she seemed busy. But when he leaned over her shoulder, his jaw dropped. "...You're doodling flowers."
Tessa's cheeks flushed. She quickly slammed the book shut. "I was... sketching medicinal herbs! For future reference!"
Kel raised a brow. "...Sure."
The truth was painfully clear: outside of near-death battles, Arlo and Tessa were monumentally lazy. They lazed about the church, ate whatever food they had, and occasionally Tessa healed minor scrapes for townsfolk who brought her fruit in return.
After a week of this, Kel couldn't take it anymore.
"Arlo!" he shouted, bursting into the room one morning. "Get up! We're training!"
Arlo groaned, pulling a blanket over his head. "Pass."
Kel yanked the blanket off. "Please. Please. Please. No passing! Heroes don't nap their way to greatness!"
Arlo sat up with his hair sticking in every possible direction. "...We're not heroes. We're idiots who got lucky against a dragon."
"Exactly!" Kel beamed. "Teach me how to be lucky too!"
Arlo stared at him. "...That's not how it works."
"Then at least spar with me!" Kel said, bouncing on his heels like a puppy begging for a walk.
Arlo rubbed his face. "Fine. But if you break my nose, I'm sending a bill to your sister."
They stepped outside the church courtyard, the morning sun already warming the stone. Kel was practically vibrating with excitement, fists clenched, eyes wide.
Arlo stretched, stifling a yawn. "...Alright, before we start, what's your skill again? Everyone in this world's got one."
Kel puffed out his chest proudly. "Mine's Hyperactivity!"
"...That's not a skill. That's just being annoying."
"It is a skill!" Kel insisted. "When it activates, I get super bursts of energy. My speed increases, my stamina spikes, and I just... go!"
Arlo squinted. "Go where?"
Kel grinned sheepishly. "That's the problem. I don't always control it. Sometimes I trip, sometimes I crash into walls... sometimes I pass out."
Arlo slapped his forehead. "Great. You're basically a human slingshot with no brakes."
"Think of the possibilities!" Kel said eagerly. "If I launch myself at an enemy, I'll be unstoppable!"
"Or splattered," Arlo muttered.
Still, Kel's enthusiasm was contagious. The boy hopped from foot to foot, shadowboxing with wild swings. Dust puffed from the ground each time his boots slammed down.
"Okay," Arlo said, standing across from him. "Show me what you got."
Kel nodded and inhaled sharply. His body tensed, his eyes lit up—then suddenly, he exploded into motion.
"WOOOOOOO!"
He darted left, then right, then charged straight at Arlo. The speed was impressive—blurry, even—but his aim was horrendous Kel zipped past Arlo, arms flailing, and slammed shoulder-first into the courtyard wall.
"Ahhh—ow ow ow ow!"
Arlo blinked. "...Are you dead?"
Kel peeled himself off the wall with a goofy grin. "Nope! Still good! Let's go again!"
Arlo sighed. "This is going to kill me faster than the dragon."
From the doorway, Tessa watched the chaos unfold, sipping from a teacup like a noblewoman observing peasants. "...You both look ridiculous."
Arlo pointed at her. "Don't just stand there! Come down and help train your apprentice!"
Tessa sniffed. "He's technically your apprentice. I didn't agree to babysitting."
"Hey!" Kel shouted indignantly. "I'm not a baby!"
He charged again, his eyes flaring, and this time barreled straight into Arlo, sending them both tumbling into the dirt. Arlo groaned as Kel scrambled up, grinning like he'd won the championship.
"See? I landed a hit!"
Arlo spat dirt. "...Congratulations. You're officially more dangerous to me than the dragon was."
Kel pumped his fist. "I knew I was cut out for this!"
Tessa sipped her tea again, smirking faintly. "Yes. Truly terrifying. Perhaps the walls should be your first opponents—they seem to be losing badly."
Kel ignored her jab, eyes gleaming with excitement. To him, this was the first step of his great journey. To Arlo and Tessa? It was the first step toward another migraine.