The sun was shining through the window when I finally opened my eyes. Just like the night before, I felt a familiar warmth against my back. Elphyete was still there, her arms wrapped around me in a gentle hug. The room was quiet and peaceful, and for a moment, I just laid there, enjoying the stillness. I could hear the distant sound of birds chirping outside, and the air in the room was cool and fresh.
After a few minutes, I felt Elphyete stir behind me. She let out a small, soft yawn and slowly began to wake up. Her grip on me loosened slightly as she blinked her eyes open. She looked at me with a sleepy but happy smile on her face. Her silver hair was a little bit messy, falling over her shoulders in soft waves.
"Good morning, Sogha," she said, her voice sounding a bit raspy from sleep.
"Morning, Elphyete," I replied, turning my head slightly to look at her.
She gave me one last quick squeeze before finally letting go. She sat up on the edge of the bed and stretched her arms high above her head, letting out another yawn. After a second, she stood up and smoothed out her nightclothes.
"I'm going to head downstairs and start on some breakfast," she said softly. "I'll see you in a bit."
I nodded and watched her walk out of the room. I stayed in bed for a couple more minutes, just waking up my brain. Eventually, I got up, washed my face, and headed downstairs. The smell of cooking was already filling the house. It was a comforting smell that made me feel right at home.
We sat down and ate a quick breakfast with Euphyne. He was already half-finished with his food by the time I sat down, his energy levels already through the roof. He was talking about how he wanted to test his new boots by running up a hill later. Once we were done eating, Elphyete started clearing the table.
"Sogha," she said, looking over at me. "I was thinking. Since the adventure class is starting soon, we're going to be traveling a lot. We need better clothes—things that are sturdy and won't rip easily when we're walking through forests or climbing over rocks. I'm going to go to the market today to get some more supplies and clothes for us."
I thought about it for a second. The market was always crowded, and carrying a bunch of heavy bags of clothes and gear wasn't going to be easy for her to do alone.
"I'll come with you," I said, standing up. "It'll be faster if there are two of us to carry everything, and I want to make sure my boots actually fit right."
Elphyete looked surprised but pleased. Her ears twitched a little bit, which I knew meant she was happy. "That would be very helpful, thank you."
We got our cloaks and headed out the front door of the mini-mansion. The walk toward the main market district of the city was nice. The weather was perfect—not too hot and not too cold. As we got closer to the center of the city, the streets became busier. People were rushing around, carriages were rolling over the cobblestones, and the sound of merchants shouting about their prices filled the air.
When we finally reached the market, it was a sea of colors and smells. There were stalls selling everything you could imagine. One stall had piles of bright, exotic fruits that smelled sweet and sugary. Another stall had rows of hanging meats and sausages. But we weren't there for food yet. We headed straight for the section of the market that sold gear for travelers and adventurers.
"We need something made of leather or thick wool," Elphyete said, leading the way to a large stall covered in a heavy canvas roof.
The merchant at the stall was a tall man with thick glasses and a tape measure hanging around his neck. He showed us a row of tunics and trousers designed for long-distance travel. I picked up a pair of dark grey trousers and felt the fabric. It was thick and a bit rough, but I could tell it wouldn't tear if I got caught on a thorn bush.
"Try these on," Elphyete suggested, handing me a sturdy-looking leather vest and a dark blue travel cloak.
I went behind a small curtain to change. The clothes felt a little stiff at first, but they were definitely high quality. When I stepped out, Elphyete tilted her head, looking me up and down. She reached over and adjusted the collar of the cloak, making sure it sat straight on my shoulders.
"It looks good on you," she said with a nod. "It's practical."
Then it was her turn. She looked through a rack of clothes designed for mages who traveled. She found a beautiful, deep green cloak made of a special water-resistant fabric and a pair of sturdy boots that were reinforced at the toes. She also picked up a few extra sets of simple shirts and socks for both of us. We didn't want to run out of clean clothes while we were stuck in the middle of a forest somewhere in Fhajin.
After we picked out our clothes, we moved to another stall to get some extra supplies. We bought two new backpacks with strong straps, some thick blankets for sleeping outdoors, and a few leather water skins. By the time we were done, both of us were carrying several large bags. My arms were starting to feel the weight, and I could tell Elphyete was getting tired too.
"I'm starving," I admitted, looking at the sun which was now high in the sky. "All this shopping is harder than Sir Vael's mana folding practice."
Elphyete laughed softly. "I agree. Let's find somewhere to sit down and eat before we head back."
We walked a little further down the street until we found a small, cozy-looking restaurant tucked between two large stone buildings. It had a sign out front that featured a steaming bowl of stew and a loaf of bread. We went inside, and the cool air of the restaurant felt amazing after being out in the sun. A waiter led us to a small wooden table in the corner, and we set our heavy bags down on the floor next to us.
The menu was simple but looked delicious. I ordered a large plate of roasted beef with thick gravy and mashed potatoes. Elphyete ordered a bowl of creamy vegetable soup and some freshly baked bread with honey.
While we waited for the food, we talked about the upcoming adventure. We wondered where Ma'am Cherha would take us first and what kind of dungeons we might see. Even though I was still a bit nervous about the "danger" the Seer had mentioned, being here with Elphyete made me feel much more confident.
When the food arrived, it was even better than it looked. The beef was tender and juicy, and the potatoes were perfectly seasoned. Elphyete seemed to really enjoy her soup, dipping her bread into it and taking small, careful bites. We didn't talk much while we ate; we were both too busy enjoying the meal. It was nice to just sit there in the quiet restaurant, resting our feet and filling our stomachs.
"I feel much better now," Elphyete said, wiping her mouth with a napkin once she was finished.
"Me too," I said, leaning back in my chair. "But I'm not looking forward to carrying these bags all the way back home."
"It's not that far," she encouraged me. "We can take it slow."
We paid for our meal and gathered our bags. The walk back was a bit slower than the walk there, mostly because the bags were bulky and awkward to carry. But we made it back to the mini-mansion just as the sky was starting to turn a bit orange with the afternoon light.
As we walked through the front door, we were immediately met with a scene of total chaos.
Euphyne was in the middle of the living room, but he wasn't sitting down. He was hunched over, his massive arms outstretched, as he scrambled across the floor on his hands and knees. He was moving surprisingly fast for a guy his size.
"I've got you now, you little shadow!" Euphyne shouted, his voice filled with excitement.
In front of him, Snowball was a white blur. The kitten was having the time of her life. She was arching her back, hopping sideways, and then zooming under the couch. As soon as Euphyne reached for the couch, she would dart out the other side and run circles around his legs. They were playing a very high-energy game of tag.
Euphyne saw us standing in the doorway with our arms full of bags and stopped for a second, panting slightly. He wiped some sweat from his forehead and grinned at us.
"You're back!" he boomed. He stood up and walked over, peering into the bags we were holding. "What food did we get? My stomach is already growling again!"
Elphyete laughed and started lifting some of the grocery bags we had picked up at the very end of our trip. "Don't worry, Euphyne. I got a lot of it. I bought fresh meat, some cheese, several loaves of bread, and a whole bag of those apples you like."
Euphyne's eyes lit up like a child on a holiday. "Excellent! Truly a feast fit for warriors about to go on an adventure!"
He helped us carry the rest of the bags into the kitchen. Elphyete spent the next hour or so organizing the new clothes and putting away the food. She seemed much more relaxed now that we had our supplies ready.
For dinner, she made a huge spread using the fresh ingredients we bought. There was plenty of food for everyone, and even Snowball got a little bowl of fresh milk and a tiny bit of cooked fish. We sat around the table, eating and talking about the travel gear we had found. I showed Euphyne the new grey trousers and the leather vest, and he nodded in approval, saying they looked like they could handle a few scraps.
By the time we finished cleaning up the kitchen, the sun had fully set and the house was quiet. The excitement of the shopping trip and the heavy meal had made us all very sleepy.
"I think it's time for bed," Elphyete said, letting out a small yawn.
I agreed. My legs were aching from all the walking, and my brain was ready to shut down for the night. We said goodnight to Euphyne, who was already starting to nod off on the couch with Snowball curled up on his chest.
Elphyete and I went upstairs to our bedroom. The room was cool and the moonlight was shining through the curtains, just like it always did. We changed into our comfortable sleeping clothes and climbed into the large bed. The blankets felt especially soft tonight.
As soon as my head hit the pillow, I felt the familiar weight of Elphyete moving closer to me. She wrapped her arms around me and pulled herself close, just like she had been doing every night. It felt natural now, a quiet way to end the day.
"Goodnight, Sogha," she whispered into the dark.
"Goodnight, Elphyete," I replied.
I closed my eyes and let the warmth of the room and the steady rhythm of her breathing lulls me into a deep, dreamless sleep. We were ready for whatever the adventure class was going to throw at us.