Life with Kel in the church quickly fell into a new rhythm.
Or... more accurately, chaos disguised as routine.
The day began with Tessa attempting to sweep the chapel floor while Kel darted around her like an overexcited puppy.
"Kel!" she barked. "Stop running or you'll knock over the—"
CRASH!
The vase of wildflowers toppled, scattering petals across the stone floor.
"...that."
Kel froze, rubbing the back of his neck with a sheepish grin. "Sorry."
Arlo, who was sprawled across a bench, muttered without opening his eyes, "Just ban him from moving indoors."
"You're not helping," Tessa snapped.
Still, the chores somehow got done. Kel carried buckets of water, though he sloshed half of it on himself. Arlo grudgingly patched a leak in the roof, complaining the entire time. Tessa handled the finer cleaning, her patience stretched thinner than ever.
By midday, Kel was fidgeting again. "Can we please do something fun now?!"
Arlo tossed him a rag. "Fun is cleaning bird droppings off windows."
Kel groaned. "That's not adventuring!"
Tessa smirked from the doorway. "Then why don't you take him shopping for equipment? At least then you'll both be out of my hair for a while."
Arlo's eyes narrowed. "...You just want peace and quiet, don't you?"
"Exactly," Tessa said sweetly.
The marketplace bustled with noise and color. Merchants shouted over each other, the smell of spices and grilled meat mingling in the air.
Kel darted from stall to stall, eyes sparkling at every shiny piece of gear.
"Look, Arlo! A dagger! Look at this sword! Look at this helmet—it's got horns! I'd look amazing in this!"
Arlo trudged behind him, sighing. "You don't need horns. You need something practical. Like... boots that don't make you trip every five steps."
Kel stuck out his tongue. "Practical is boring."
"Practical is what keeps you alive."
Eventually, after much arguing and haggling, Arlo managed to outfit Kel with sturdier boots, a small satchel, and a cheap but reliable short sword. Kel, however, insisted on also buying a ridiculously oversized scarf in bright red.
"It'll make me look like a hero," Kel declared proudly, wrapping it around himself until he looked like a walking ball of fabric.
Arlo pinched the bridge of his nose. "You look like laundry on legs."
After shopping, the two ducked into a nearby tavern. The place smelled of roasted meat and ale, a comforting warmth filling the air.
The tavern was noisy, filled with laughter, tankards clinking, and the thick aroma of roasted meat and strong ale. Arlo slouched across from Kel, watching the younger boy devour his stew like a man starved.
Kel beamed. "Mmm! This is amazing! Way better than Tessa's plain bread and boiled whatever-that-was!"
"It was stew," Arlo muttered. "I think?"
Before Kel could argue, a nervous voice called out:
"E-Excuse me... you're the Dragon Slayer, aren't you?"
Arlo stiffened. Slowly, he turned his head to see a woman standing beside their table. Her clothes were worn, her hands fidgeting with her apron, eyes hopeful yet desperate.
Kel's eyes lit up instantly. "See, Arlo? People recognize you!"
Arlo groaned. "Great. Fame is worse than I thought."
The woman bowed her head. "Please, forgive me for intruding. My husband went hunting in the woods three days ago... and he hasn't returned. I-I don't know what else to do. Could you... could you help me find him?"
Arlo opened his mouth, ready to say the obvious.
"Sorry, but we're not—"
"YES!" Kel shot up from his seat, nearly knocking his bowl over. "The Dragon Slayers and I will find your husband and bring him back safely!"
The entire tavern went silent for a heartbeat, then murmurs spread.
"Did he say Dragon Slayers?"
"Even the kid's with them?"
"They're taking a request!"
Arlo's jaw dropped. "What are you—Kel, sit down!"
But the boy puffed out his chest. "A man's missing, Arlo! Heroes don't turn their backs on people in need!"
Arlo buried his face in his hands. "Oh no. He's using the H-word."
By the time they trudged back to the church, Arlo was still grumbling under his breath while Kel marched proudly at his side.
Inside, Tessa looked up from polishing a gold chalice. "You're back. And alive. That's surprising."
Arlo exhaled loudly. "Barely. Kel went and accepted a request from some random woman in the tavern."
Kel raised his fist dramatically. "Her husband is missing in the woods! And we're going to rescue him!"
Tessa blinked. "...We're what?"
Arlo slumped into a bench. "We're wasting our time, that's what. I told him we shouldn't get involved, but he shouted our titles in the middle of a packed tavern. Now the entire town thinks we're on the job."
Kel grinned. "That's right! You should've seen it, Tessa, they were all whispering and pointing. Everyone was like, 'Whoa, the Dragon Slayers are helping!' We can't back down now!"
Tessa massaged her temples. "You absolute idiots..."
Arlo pointed accusingly at Kel. "Don't look at me—he started it."
Tessa shot him a glare. "And you didn't stop him?"
"I tried!" Arlo snapped. "But apparently hero speeches are louder than common sense."
Kel puffed up again. "Because heroes don't say no!"
There was a long pause. Then Tessa sighed, shoulders slumping. "Fine. I suppose we can't refuse now without looking like frauds."
Arlo grumbled. "We are frauds!"
"Shut up, Arlo," Tessa said flatly.
Kel practically vibrated with excitement. "Yes! Our first quest together! This is going to be amazing!"
Tessa gave him a deadpan stare. "It's going to be a nightmare."
Arlo flopped back on the bench, muttering. "...I should've just pretended to be some random guy with the same name."
That night, the church was filled with the sound of Kel sharpening his new short sword, humming cheerfully.
Arlo sat nearby, resigned to his fate.
And Tessa, though annoyed, was already packing her healer's kit, because she knew all too well: once they were dragged into something, there was no going back.
The Dragon Slayers—and one overeager apprentice—had just picked up their next adventure.