"I got you a gift, just a small one. Do you remember, a week ago when I asked you what your favorite word was?" He leaned the broom he was sweeping the church grounds on the low wall and sat down next to me.

"And I said green?"

"Yes, but remember a bit more. Your second favorite."

He handed me a long chain with a small pendant attached.

The letters were beautifully engraved on the metal of the pendant.

"You didn't have to. I'll cherish it," I said while putting it around my neck.

"You earned it. You stuck around and made a lot of visible progress. I remember when I first met you, dirty and hungry but now a few months later you’re a tall, strong young man. If I could just snatch the memory out of my mind and show you how much you've grown.

In a few months or maybe a year's time you will be almost as muscular as me. But I wonder... do you ever get hurt when you train at the guild? I've never seen you with a cut or bruise since you joined them."

"I get hit a lot in training but I'm tough, as you know. Sometimes I bleed but I heal quick, you should know that too," I held the necklace in my hands, "but never bruises. Hopefully, I never have to find out how tough I really am."

"Is there anything special after being a trainee for a year?"

"In a few weeks, the remaining trainees will be split into groups. Lots of others have quit already, so it'll just be three groups and we'll be assigned a different request. Could be hard, could be easy, don't know anything specific."

"Do you know who you'll be grouped with?"

"I'm not sure what to think about them, Eta and Walsh. Walsh is nice enough, maybe a bit too sheepish. If he'd have to take charge if something went wrong things would fall apart and Eta's an asshole," I saw in Nidle's face that he didn't like me swearing, "she's unpleasant to be around, she likes to be the boss and order others around. She talks big as if nothing could go wrong if she takes command but she’s as inexperienced as me, I do hope it's not just talk. I would hate doing all the work. We three started training together, so they should be as capable as me, you know, in the field."

"What's the worry? You would trust yourself, would you not? Why not them then?"

"I have a bad past when it comes to working with others."

"Adventurers usually do group up and form parties. I'm certain you will also have to, in the future, if you want to have a fruitful career. Maybe you chose the wrong profession?" He stood up and began sweeping again.

"I don't think so."