"It takes guts to abandon what you know. The type of person who can willingly walk away from everything they know; well, they're who I've chosen to surround myself with. The will necessary to make that choice, the decision to walk away from everything you’ve grown accustomed to, to give up everything that life provides, is one I admire. It's bravery on the brink of stupidity. You never know what you'll find. You could never assume what you'll end up with will be any better than what you gave up. But you make that leap in impossibly good faith. You jump across that gap, throwing everything down into the chasm to make that jump the slightest bit easier. The shackles of comfort, the bindings of family, often all of it must go to reach the new form of satisfaction on the other side. For every person, what leads them to make that leap is different.

(Chapter 76: Eric, Age of Gods, House of The Silver-Eyed Man.)

"Are we ready to go?" Eric asked his friends. "Are we sure we don't need any more supplies?" He continued.

"Too much more and the weight will become a detriment," Lars replied while looking over the scattered pieces of his armour once more. Apparently, his dad had ordered a new set for the trial. To Eric, it looked the same as before. Hopefully, it at least fits him properly. He'd looked ridiculous the other day, stuffed into training garbs from two years ago.

"I must concur. Too much baggage would only prove to create a hindrance when we need to move. If we require something else, it will have to come from within the trial grounds." Chey seconded Lars's opinion. This was one of the few times Eric was mostly sure she wasn't just parroting someone else. She tended to actually think for herself when hunting, unlike the rest of the time.

Behind the two of them, Hal gave Eric a silent nod. The other night when Eric was checking with him, Hal had confirmed they were bringing more than enough supplies for the trip's expected length.

He'd said that, but then he'd also said he would bring all his regular supplies in case of an emergency. So Eric wasn’t sure what to think.

"Alright. Our slot for entry is early, so we won't have much time to look around when we get to the entry point. We'll ride out at sunrise. Don't sleep in." He didn't bother asking anyone if they had an issue with that. They had already delayed their departure by a whole day for reasons they refused to share with Eric. They had to leave tomorrow, or they might get stuck waiting till the next trial.

"If that's the case, I'm off to bed. I don't want to lose any sleep. I don't have to." Chey said before leaving.

"What about you, Lars?" Eric asked the bulkiest member of the group. "I have a few small tasks to take care of, so I won't be available for conversation." Eric cut short any thoughts of talking over a drink that Lars might have fancied.

"Don't fret. Once I finish checking the straps on my equipment, I'll get some rest." Lars said while picking up another part of his armour. Eric had no idea why it needed so many separate pieces. But he didn't wear it, so he wouldn't comment on it.

"Very well," Eric replied before exiting the room with Hal.

The two of them walked in silence, not toward Eric's room, but the garden. Specifically, their pace pointed toward the garden's edge, where the perfectly manicured plants met with the more wild, untamed life. They both agreed this was the closest thing to a relaxing place in the manor. For Eric, it was a little different than for Hal. The odd manicured cleanliness that stopped just shy of spotless wasn't a problem for him, not after years of living in it. To Eric, the hallways were the home to far too many ghosts. People he’d rather not remember mingled amongst people he missed so dearly it hurt. So Eric preferred to avoid walking amongst those memories and echoes.

"What are you thinking?" Hal asked, his voice like a devil, silver-tongued and dangerous.

Eric knew he should fear the younger boy; Hal never showed his face, he was impossibly strong, and he seemed to have as much of a past as Eric himself. But whenever he spoke, Eric couldn't help but envision a life of adventure and renown standing by his side. It was a precarious image laced with every desire Eric had spent his life fighting off. Still, hearing that sound, Eric had no choice but to follow that trail it tread in his mind.

"I think that tomorrow something will happen, and you'll likely have to adhere to the terms of your contract," Eric replied, trying his best to sound sure of himself. Eric could never tell what the younger boy thought of how he spoke, not without seeing Hal's face.

"We'll have to see. Any ambush will be in the wilds for longer than us. Not the brightest idea." Hal replied with infectious confidence. It was like he knew exactly how to put Eric's mind at ease. "Do you think the others will be a problem?" Hal asked, but his tone betrayed nothing about any doubts he had.

"I doubt they'll do anything on the road. If he wanted them to do something, he'd have them make it look accidental. You're probably safe until we're well into the trial." Eric replied, doing his best to mirror that confidence he felt from Hal.

"Then, unless you have something else to say, I have a few things to handle before we leave." Hal waited for a pause to give Eric a chance to speak before turning and walking away.

For Eric, it was frustrating. Hal seemed collected, talented, and unbound. He didn't bother lying about his reason for being here, nor did he bother acting to impress those whose opinions didn't matter. In a way, he was what Eric wished he could be. But in another, Eric felt anger at someone with so much freedom. But that anger was so minute that it wasn't worth changing his opinion of Hal. He was a trustworthy individual, someone worth keeping around if possible.

Perhaps Eric would see if Hal would stick around in a more permanent form after this. That'd be something Eric would have to probe Hal about during the trial. If he weren't inclined to stay, Eric would need to find out why. Whatever Hal's goal was, Eric was sure he could help. Family, treasure, a thirst for adventure, if it were any of these things, Eric felt confident in his chances. But if it was something else, Eric might have trouble.

Eric wanted Hal to stick around; he valued his friendship, advice, and unique worldview. Despite never having seen Hal's entire face, Eric thought fondly of the younger boy; he seemed worth any trouble his presence might bring.

Perhaps Eric could even choose to follow him wherever he was going.

No, Eric dismissed the idea instantly. His father would never let that happen. Someone would die long before that situation came to pass. Eric had no desire to have that type of blood on his conscience. So he'd stick to trying to convince Hal that staying here wasn't the worst thing he could do. For now.