True to his word, Gavin gave me a pretty good general run-down on being an adventurer; and a more in-depth one on archery and being a ranger when I expressed my interest in learning.

He went through what a standard adventurer should carry. Mostly common sense stuff, but I guess it didn't hurt to be sure. Stuff like rope, a tent, torches, bandages, an axe, a knife, etc. Pretty much the fantasy equivalent of camping or hiking gear.

That made me think. Now that I was a centaur, when I was older I would be able to easily and comfortably carry a fair amount of stuff; which could makes things easier. On the other hand, other people might try and use me to carry more stuff. That, and the fact that armour is going to a problem. Do I just leave my horse half unprotected? Is it even feasible to armour up my whole lower half? Even a set of leather armour would take ages to make.

Shit, I was going to need to put a lot more thought into how I was going to do this.

Anyway, after that he moved onto how best to choose your next job and the people you would be working with for it; if you didn't have your own group. He recommended finding one to get to know as soon as possible, and to not go dungeon diving straight off with people you just met; saying that my inexperience would be dangerous to myself and them.

Stories of his own exploits were used as examples of what to do and what no to do, though I was pretty certain he had sterilised some of them or told more kid friendly ones. That said, he didn't hide the reality that being an adventurer was incredibly dangerous, and by the end of it I was feeling a little apprehensive; not that it was going to stop me. Sena looked like she didn't know whether she wanted to run and hide, or listen to more.

I was happy to see her open up during it; starting to ask questions herself and not seem so nervous around Gavin. It helped that he had a natural charisma about him, and seemed to be good with kids. I had to fight down any insult I felt when he would speak to me like a child. I had always hated when people seemed to speak down to me or dumb down what they were saying, but it was to be expected when I was literally a child, I suppose.

Still didn't like it.

Then came the best part. He asked if I wanted to learn how to properly use a bow.

Of course I said yes.

-

After a lengthy Q&A session with Gavin, he moved us all back outside into the training ground.

As we exit the building, I absently notice the armoured man from before was gonebefore focusing back on Gavin. Coming to a stop near the target range, he turns to me and sizes me up. His expression is stern and his attitude has shifted quite a bit, but it's good to see he is taking me seriously with this. "Ok, first we need to find out your dominant eye. Take your hands and hold them out in front of you like this." He puts his hands out and together, leaving a small triangle-shaped gap. I follow his lead. "Good. Now, make it so you can see one of the targets through the gap."

I focus on one of the distant targets between my fingers.

"Alright, now slowly bring your hands back towards your face. Make sure to keep focused on the target, don't pay attention to your hands. Let them do their own thing."

I do as he says, and when my hands come to rest on my face I am looking through the gap with my left eye.

"Hmm. Left eye dominant, huh? That might be a problem. I'm right eye dominant so my bow isn't going to work for you."

My disappointment must have shown on my face because he was quick to assuage me. "Hey, hey, it's ok. I can still show you the basics. How to stand, how to properly nock an arrow, the little important things. There is a lot more to archery than just pulling an arrow back and letting it go at the target." He smiles at me. "You'll just have to get the other stuff from the town hunters once you get hold of your own bow. You'll need them to teach you to make your own arrows and string a bow as well. That is important."

He goes to say something else, but stops partway with a confused expression on his face. "Huh. Guess I can't really teach you how to stand properly. Oh well, with four legs your centre of balance is probably fine no matter what you do. I can teach you posture, though."

He pulls his bow off of his back and moves himself into position. "Ok, so try and copy me. First, rotate your upper body like this."

-

By the time Gavin was finished teaching me as much as he could and Sena and I left, the day was starting to come to an end. The sun would be on its way down towards the horizon soon, and I was thinking it was probably best to head off and find Eris.

We parted from Gavin, but not before he promised if he ever came back through that he would see how I was doing, and was expecting great things from me.

I knew Eris had been heading towards the general store before I had been foalnapped by Sena, so I had her lead me there.

It was easy enough to spot when it came into view, thanks to the wagons nearby. It fit in with the rest of the town's aesthetic, wood with thatched roofing and was a decent size. The people who owned it probably lived in the building as well, after all.

As we get closer, Sena drifts close to me again; taking my how she seems fine one minute, and then she was shy and nervous the next.

Getting closer, I spot someone I definitely wasn't expecting to see. Mikhael was standing outside of the general store, talking to another male centaur and carrying a massive wood axe.

He spots Sena and I as we get close, and he smiles my way; turning the attention of the male centaur on us as well. How are centaurs so damn huge? Those two are a good head and shoulders taller than the human men walking by. I was going to be a giant when I grew up. That could actually end up being a problem…

Ok, what would a kids reaction be to this situation?

I smile back at him and pick up my speed. "Dad!"

When I reach him I put my arms around him as far as I can and hug him. Still kinda awkward, but it feels a little better each time.

"Hello Nilas. Have you had a good day?" He bends down slightly to return the hug.

I nod. "Uhuh. I have done lots of stuff. And Sena has told me lots of stuff and shown me lots of places."

The young centauress in question was standing a short distance away from us. "Sena, this is my dad. Dad, this is Sena."

Mikhael smiles down at the girl, which she happily returns. Her nervousness is gone once again. "Hello Sena. You are Selle's daughter, then?"

"Uhuh. It is nice to meet you, Nilas' dad!"

"And it is nice to meet you to, Sena. So, you are the one that stole away Nilas earlier?"

Sena starts to go red. "U-uh, I was just happy to meet a new friend a-and I got excited. You are not mad are you?"

"Of course not. I am happy that Nilas has made a good friend so quickly. He is a very quiet young boy. And Eris thought he would need a little push."

Hey! I resent that. There is nothing wrong with being quiet. I just listen more than I speak.

Though, I do want to know one thing. "Dad, where is mum? She said she was going here."

"She went out looking for you, actually. She will be back here in not too long, I think."

The centaur from before takes the chance to speak up. "Speaking of partners, I should get back to mine. See you tomorrow, Mikhael."

"See you, Jacob."

Once the centaur left, Mikhael turns back to us. "So, what did you two get up to today?"

Sena and I tell him about our day, with Sena taking the reigns of the story at times. She was very happy to tell him about my reactions to being groomed, to which he told her about the times I fell asleep part-way through at home. It was pretty embarrassing and I felt the need to defend myself, which I don't think helped.

And from the way Sena was looking at me she wasn't going to keep it to herself, either. I had a feeling the next time I was dragged to a grooming session, things were going to be interesting. I grew up the first time with nothing but sisters, I have a sixth sense for these things.

I wasn't sure what I was going to tell him about my reasons for going to the guild. I could tell him straight out, but if he didn't take it well I might not even end up getting a bow to practice with. But, if I kept the adventuring part to myself, later on when I've trained, if they don't agree with it, I could still go off and do it since I would already have what I needed. It sounded cruel, but I was usually a 'better to ask for forgiveness than permission' kind of person, anyway.

Unfortunately, I never got to decide; since Sena decided for me.

"And we went to the adventuring place cause Nilas wants to be an adventurer, and we met one! He was nice..."

Fuck!

I should have asked her not to tell anyone! I wasn't ready to try and possibly argue this.

Mikhael shoots me a look somewhere between confused and worried. Just as he opens his mouth to say something, I am thankfully saved by something behind me distracting him.

I glance behind me and notice Eris coming this way.

Wait, fuck. That's not any better!

Then again, Eris might be more open to the idea…

After a big hug for me and a kiss for Mikhael, she turns to Sena. "Hello, again Sena. Did you have fun with Nilas today?"

"Yes, Mrs Eris."

"That is good." She turns to look at me, and while she is still smiling there is something else in her expression. "Now, I just had a nice chat with an adventurer by the name of Gavin, who was telling me some interesting things about what my little one was getting up to."

I suddenly feel very, very nervous. Everything is going wrong very quickly.

Her and Mikhael exchange looks, then when she looks back at me her expression has softened and her voice is kind. "Tell me, Nilas. Why would you like to become an adventurer?"

Here comes the moment of truth. I take a deep breath to try and calm myself. "Well, uh, I, uh, want to get really strong like mum and dad are, and so that I could go with you into the forest and hunt and see lots of places and learn lots of things." I've started to ramble now, but I can't stop. "And there are lots of things I want to see and so I want to learn to use a bow so I can be strong and safe. I want to be like you, mum! You are not scared to go places people say are dangerous."

Eris looks torn, somewhere between proud and worried. She looks over at Mikhael, who looks just as lost and a little more worried. "Nilas, what your mother does and what you want to do are very different. Being an adventurer is incredibly dangerous, you-"

"I know it is! Gavin told me all about how dangerous it is, but I still want to. Please! Please let me! I will do everything I need to, and I promised I would go and then come back and tell Sena about the things I see and I can not break a promise!"

I could feel myself getting genuinely upset, instead of just acting the part. This meant a lot to me.

I am pulled into a hug by Eris, who begins to stroke my head. "Shh. It is ok, Nilas. We are not upset with you, we just wanted to know why. Many adventurers they… they do not come back. And we do not wish to lose you. We love you too much."

I… I knew that. I was sure I knew better than most what dying was like and the things you could lose. But, I had a chance to not have to go through that again. And as… unconducive becoming something as dangerous as an adventurer would seem to be towards my goal, there was a chance I could… well, live for a very long time if not forever. And I was going to take it. I'd died once, and that terrifying experience was enough for me.

My voice is weak when I speak up. "I...I love you both too. I… I know It is dangerous… but, I want to at least try."

I look up at her, tears pricking the corners of my eyes. "A-are you going to stop me from being one?"

Eris sighs, and for a second I see a pain behind her eyes that makes me feel guilty; but it's gone just a quickly. "You are far too much like me, my little one." Her tone is light and humorous, but I can hear the sadness in it. "I am thinking you are the Gods way of paying back all the things I did to my parents."

She squeezes me gently. "What you want is very dangerous, Nilas. And I can not say I want you to do such a thing, but I am not one to talk, I think. How about this. I will get you a bow, and you can train to use it. When I think you are good enough, you can come with me further into the forest. And then, when you are older if you still want to be an adventurer, I will not stop you. Is that ok?"

I nod. "Yes… that is ok." I hug her tight. "Thank you, mum. I love you."

Mikhael joins in on the hug as well, and I am sandwiched between them. "Just promise us that you will really think about it, and if in the end you choose to go through with it, be as safe as you can. Do not take unnecessary risks. You are my son, so I know you will be strong. But there are stronger things out there, always be careful."

"I promise."

And I meant it. I hadn't realised it, but these people, my parents, meant so much more to me than I had realised. And I would do my best to be as safe as possible, and I would work as hard as I needed to ensure that.

-

A decent time into our walk home, I remember something I was planning on asking Eris before everything else happening had made it slip my mind.

"Mum. When I went to the Stable, when she found out that you were my mum, Matthew's mum started glaring at me."

Eris freezes, all her muscles tensing at once and I swear I can feel the temperature drop. "She. What."

Oh geez, she has one of those stares that looks like it could kill a person. I'm just happy I'm not the target of it. "S-she was… glaring at me?"

Eris practically snarls. "That two-faced, prissy little tail-lifter! Who does she think she is g-"

"Eris." Mikhael interjects. She stops her tirade instantly, noticing me staring at her wide-eyed. Taking a deep breath, she holds it for a second and then releases it. I can still see the sheer rage running through her, though. I think I might have poked something I shouldn't have.

"Sorry, dear. I just- You know how she is and it just…"

"I know."

"And, to treat Nilas like that because of things between us is-"

"I know. But you can not let her get to you. You are better than that."

Hugging him as best as she can around the wagon's harness, she buries her face in his shoulder for a moment. "She is just jealous I got you first..."

Mikhael snorts at that. "I think it is a lot more than that. You two have never gotten along, and it was not all her."

"Mikhael."

"You know it is true, Eris."

Eris sighs. "Yes, I know..."

Letting him go, she turns to me. "Matthew's mother and I have… never really gotten along. Things happened when we were younger, and some of them I am not proud about, and she has never forgiven me. Do not worry yourself with it, but tell me if she, or anyone else, does it again."

"Ok, mum."

Eris smiles and kisses the top of my head. "Good boy."

-

By the time we had gotten home, the sun had set and night had crept in. I was exhausted from how much walking I had done, and I could tell that Eris and Mikhael were both fairly tired as well.

After putting my new bow and the quiver away in the storage room, which we had been lucky to find was a left-handed one which had been kicking around the back of the store for a while, we wiped ourselves down and settled in for the night. I fell asleep almost right after I laid out on the blankets.

Now, I was drifting in that place between sleep and consciousness when I hear my name. I come awake slowly, listening vaguely to the whispering that woke me.

"...Nilas for now...nice night out tonight… All. To. Our. Selves." I only catch brief snippets as my half-asleep mind fails to process what I am hearing.

A few questionable sounds reach me, making confusion and awkwardness well up inside me. What are they...?

It's when I hear dad having to 'make it up to her still', that I realise what is going on.

Well, back to sleep I go. Hopefully I won't remember this in the morning.

I hear mum giggling as a door opens and then closes, shutting out the voices.

I'm going to remember this in the morning, aren't I?

I'm totally looking forward to those mental images.

No, really.