Endless thoughts. Isolation, anxiety, excitement, yet deep exhaustion all flowed through Azai’s mind. A tireless night, with thoughts for the lust of danger, knowledge and adventure leaving Azai’s mind greatly fatigued, barely getting any sleep during the night. The sound of a wooden door creaking open had interrupted Azai from his tiring thoughts, his eyelids feeling incredibly heavy, barely mustering the strength to even open them up.

A white, tall and petite figure slowly approached in Azai’s blurred vision, surrounded by a soft and warm, amber light. His mind could not yet register language, or even their presence, hearing only a strange sound coming from the figure, slowly growing louder and impatient, until finally, his mind had awoken from its tired state.

“Azai!” The woman’s voice called out loudly, and rather impatiently. Azai’s nerves nearly jumped out from his skin as he quickly shot himself up in the bed, having a rather surprising and rude awakening, and only having a white blanket to cover himself up.

“What..” Azai quickly stammered out, their words jumbling together in his tired mouth. “What who..what’s going on? I’m up!” Azai’s heart raced a little bit, even though he saw the figure coming towards him initially, his mind just didn’t register their presence.

“We need to get going if we’re gonna get to the combat trainer, so wake up, sleepyhead!” The girl yelled out towards Azai, trying to wake them up further from their tired, groggy state. She crossed her robed arms, her leather gloved hands clenching tightly. She gave a piercing stare through her silver hair with striking viridian eyes towards Azai, tapping her foot incessantly against the floorboards.

“Who...wha...Oh!” Azai’s eyes widened as he stared down to his blanketed self, his tan skin only being covered only by the sheet drawn over his lower body. “Could I get a few minutes, Eiri? I…” Azai paused as he pointed with his eyes towards his lower body, his cheeks flushed with a crimson red. “Am not decent.”

“Oh…” The fair skinned woman surveyed Azai’s nearly naked mocha and slightly plump body, a slight shade of pink brushed over her face as she gave a heavy sigh. “Yes, I do suppose that’s in order then, isn’t it?” Eiri turned around and opened the oaken door, turning her ear towards Azai. “Just don’t take too long, we’re already fairly late, and I don’t want you to be tardy, you know.”

Azai waved off and tried to shoo Eiri away, muttering in a high tone of voice. “Yeah yeah, I got it, I’ll hurry.” Eiri turned her head back to open doorway and shut it behind herself, the door locking into its hinge with a solid ‘click’. Azai jumped out from the bed and quickly started to put his clothing on, for the only thing he having worn under the sheets were some shorts, after all. He quickly slid on some light, yet rather sturdy cotton pants, soon following with silky socks, before finally slipping on tall leather boots, with an iron toe and heel melded on.

Several minutes had passed as Eiri waited patiently outside of the door, her back pressed against the wall as she gently bounced her leg up and down, her tweed satchel bouncing with her leg. Eiri idly checks her glove and boot straps to make sure they’re properly tightened. Inside of the room, Azai had soon finished dressing and preparing himself, sliding his trusty bound leather journal into his leather bag, and strapped it onto himself, tightening it against his body, before finally putting on long, supple deer hide gloves.

The door handle begun to shake and rattle as Azai pulled open the door, fully equipped in a mixture of leather and cotton equipment, covering vital parts of himself, a rather intricately designed short sword at his left side, concealed by a leather and brass studded scabbard. His crossbow and quiver against his back, and his dark leather bag hanging down from his right side.

“Took you long enough, we’ll need to make haste in order to make up for any lost time.” Eiri steps away from the wall that was against the door, turning around and looking up and down Azai’s body. “Though, I gotta say, you look pretty good. You know, for a newbie and all.”

Azai furrowed his brow and playfully jabs Eiri’s shoulder, she giving a small chuckle before patting his head. “You know I’m just messing around, Azai. Nothin’ to get your straps in a knot for.” Eiri smiled softly to Azai. “I’m gonna go pay the bill for our stay at the inn, you can get go outside and get some air, help wake you up some more.”

“Alright, I’ll see you there!” Azai unfurrowed his brow and smiled, quickly going down the staircase to the east of them, going down the several corners before passing through the various tables and seating within the inn, before bursting through the teak doors of the inn. Azai’s body was basked in the blinding, warm light, his eyes adjusting to the scenery before finally, he could see the road ahead of him.

Azai could see a beautiful, quaint little village, with soft grassy hills rising in elevation to the distance. The chipper call of dashing red birds echoed throughout the air, and the songs of the cold, crisp wind bellowed through the trees, causing Azai to shiver a little bit. Azai looked into his bag, looking much larger on the inside than the outside, and pulls from it a wool poncho, graciously given to him by his sweet mother, and knit with the utmost love, giving him a feeling of warmth both in and out as he adorns it.

Eiri soon followed Azai through the door, tying up a small cloth bag of money and attaching it to her waist. “Right then!” Eiri called out to Azai, the boy turning around towards Eiri, before she walks up to his side. “Ready to head off?”

“I was born ready!” Azai said with determination in his eyes. The two set off towards the forest due north of the serene village, marking the first day of their journey together.