Poor Maverick finally got his cone of shame off today! Getting him to take his medicine has been an absolute war, but my wife found a trick that seems to work. After he outwitted cheese, yogurt, and even peanut butter, it turns out cream cheese is the answer! Wish we had figured it out before we were almost done with his pills.

Chapter ahead is a bit of a transition one. We're jumping ahead a bit so we can get to the real meat of this arc soon. Kind of a relaxed chapter looking over the time skip and setting up things for the coming chapters. Looking forward to ramping things up soon.

Adam sat alone in his room, staring at the small picture. At the family he'd never see again. His hand shook. His eyes burned. But he held on through it all, envying those smiling faces.

Finally, with a defeated sigh, he tucked the photo in his drawer once more. It was too painful to keep close to him nowadays. Instead, he only pulled it out once a year, on the anniversary of Mazarin's death. The day his dream died.

Today.

Even after a few years, it hurt just as much today as it did the day Alyssa delivered the fateful news. Even now, he could remember clinging desperately to Alyssa, wailing and shouting in the hopes that his denial would somehow change the truth. Alyssa had sat there with him for what felt like forever, doing her best to comfort him.

Through it all, his grieving mind had lashed out for someone to blame. He'd cursed the monsters who'd killed her. Cursed the merchants for traveling to Kuchinashi. Cursed the gods for letting her die. Even cursed Mazarin for leaving him, then cursed himself for daring to blame her. But nothing helped. Just like with Father Bernard, nothing he could do would bring Mazarin back.

He'd been inconsolable for weeks, refusing to speak with anyone and spending most evenings in his bed, staring at the picture. Erik had joined him sometimes, hovering nearby in a silent show of support, waiting until Adam was ready to open up again. Nila would always grab an extra plate for him at meals so food would be waiting for him when he reached their table. Through it all, the two did their best to care for their downtrodden friend without being too pushy.

Alyssa had tried to help in her own way, letting him skip class for a few days without penalty and covering the material later on in extra tutoring sessions once he was feeling up to it. She never judged him for crying. Never promised that things would get better. The last thing Adam wanted was pity, so none was ever given.

Eventually, the crippling pain soured to a dull ache, letting him do his best to pick up the pieces and carry on. He spent most of his time training, not because he needed to, but because it helped distract him. It was hard to cry when he was too tired to stand. The ache of his muscles replaced the ache of his heart. Little by little, he found ways to dull the pain until the wound on his heart eased into a scar.

But his time of mourning would only be tolerated so long. He still had chores to do. Classes to attend. A life to live. Eventually, the lien Mazarin had left behind ran out, but the expenses for Eve continued, even if he rarely got to see her now. Madam de Thom had given him a simple choice. Sell Eve, or get a job in town. Even though he wasn't old enough at the time, they'd convinced the inn that he was older. Being taller and more muscular than most of the boys his age helped sell the lie, while his experience back home quickly earned him a spot as a junior stablehand. Not only could he keep Eve, but he could now see her every weekend. He even got to take her out for a short ride every now and then. His hours didn't fully cover the costs, but Madam de Thom had agreed to cover the difference until he was old enough to work more hours.

Along the way, Pika proved a constant thorn in his side. While it was never as bad as that first beating, Pika made sure to remind Adam of the hierarchy. Anytime the two passed each other, Adam knew to brace for an inevitable shoulder. He did his best to ignore the insults when they were near. If he saw Pika and his gang near the workout room, he made sure to steer clear.

Days flew by without meaning. Weeks and months saw very little change. Even after a few years, Adam didn't really know what he had to look forward to anymore. The only surety ahead was being kicked out of the orphanage when he got older. Until then, he was just going through the motions.

But this year hit harder than before.

As he prepared to face another day of monotony, Adam couldn't help but think about one important detail. Adam was thirteen now. Enrollment for Combat Schools would be opening soon, but he was stuck here. With no way to reach one of the schools, no weapon to fight with, and no lien for the entrance fees, Adam was forced to accept a fact that he'd long tried to deny.

His dream was dead. While he knew not every Huntsman went through one of the official Combat Schools, few made it in otherwise. Those that did often had extensive training in their childhood far beyond what Adam could hope to emulate with his limited time with Mazarin. They'd have the next four years to prepare and improve, while he didn't even have a proper weapon to train with. As much as it hurt to admit, he had as much chance getting into Haven as Erik would have against an Ursa.

Just another loss to add to the pile.

As much as he might wish to sit around and mourn, time refused to stand by and wait. Breakfast was well underway, and if he didn't hurry, he'd go hungry. He jogged down the hall, slipping into the noisy cafeteria and quickly making his way to his usual table. Erik and Nila were already waiting for him, a plate in front of his empty seat as usual.

"Thanks," Adam grunted as he sat down.

"You're late," Erik pointed out.

"Hush!" Nila ordered, glaring at Erik. "It's fine, Adam. Your food's a little cold, though. I can go ask them to heat it up, if you want."

"Don't worry about it." Adam dug into the lukewarm oatmeal. While it definitely tasted better hot, he wasn't about to make Nila do anything extra for him. She'd already gotten his food for him, yet again. It was only cold because he'd taken too long to get there. Making her do extra because of him would be wrong.

Not that she'd mind. Nila stuck by Adam pretty often, always looking to help him when she could. While she'd been relatively friendly back when he'd first come to the orphanage, she'd grown a lot more attached in the last year or so. Adam doubted it was purely out of friendship either. Nor did he miss how jealous Erik would get.

"Heard we're getting new chore assignments today," Erik reminded them. "About time. Getting sick of cleaning the bathrooms."

"I kinda like my job, though," Nila complained.

Adam had been put to work in the kitchen, carrying in food deliveries and assisting in meal prep each morning. Nila worked on dishes around the same time, so they'd chat a lot while they worked. If Adam finished his chores fast enough, he usually offered to help Nila finish up. Despite her protests, she never stopped him. She'd tried to join in on his chores one time when they'd gotten a large delivery. It had been funny watching her struggle with some of the larger boxes at first before she finally decided to help with organizing instead, leaving the heavy lifting to Adam.

Adam and Erik would likely have more demanding chores, given that they were both teens now. Either that, or they'd be put in charge of a group of younger kids. Adam wasn't thrilled with that idea, unless he had Nila on his team. He didn't really know many of the other kids that well. Besides, he preferred working by himself.

But being teens came with another requirement.

"You two ready to go job hunting next week?" Nila asked, snatching Adam's newly-emptied bowl and stacking it atop her own.

Now that the boys were old enough, they were required to find a job with one of the businesses in town. While Adam already had his weekend job, that was for the additional cost of Eve. He still needed a job during the week like the rest of the teens. He'd already asked around at the inn, hopeful that he could spend more time at the stable with Eve and the other horses, but they'd turned him down. He'd have to find another employer.

"Shouldn't be too bad," Erik shrugged. "It'll be nice to learn something I can use after…"

"They kick us out?" Adam finished.

"We age out," Erik corrected. While he was just as nervous at the idea of being tossed out on his own when they got older, Erik accepted the fate far easier than Adam. To Erik, the orphanage was a place to prepare for adult life. Complete his schooling. Learn a trade. That way, when he aged out, he'd be ready to face life as an adult. Probably more ready than most kids their age, he'd once claimed.

Adam had a much less gracious view of their temporary home.

Once it was clear Adam wasn't going to push back, Erik continued. "Maybe I can get work in an electronics store."

"Oh, I'd bet you'd be great at that!" Nila encouraged him. To be fair, Adam couldn't help but agree. While Adam was definitely the brawn of their little trio, Erik could run mental laps around them. He always seemed to pick things up quicker and was near the top of their class in pretty much every subject. "What about you, Adam? Any idea where you wanna work?"

Far away from here. Not that he didn't like being around Erik and Nila, but he'd had such bigger plans for life. Instead, he was still stuck in the middle of nowhere in a building for the children society had forgotten. Worse, he didn't see much chance of leaving anytime soon. Adoptions were rare this far out. Even rarer for a faunus.

"I don't know," Adam shrugged. Working in a store didn't sound as thrilling to him. "Probably something more physical. Not sure I'd do well stuck in one of those stores all day." Sitting still was dangerous. If he wasn't moving, then his mind was free to wander. And it often wandered to less happy topics.

Nila nodded along with his answer. "Well I think it all sounds exciting. Must be nice to get out of here for a change."

That was something Adam could get behind. He looked forward to his weekly visit to the stables. Seeing Eve - his last connection to a happier life - was nice, but it also gave him a chance to be away from the orphanage. For those few hours, he could pretend he wasn't trapped, waiting around as others his age began pursuing their dreams. Especially on those rare occasions when he got to take Eve out for a ride.

More than once, he'd considered just taking her and running. Racing out the gate before anyone could think to stop them. He'd hit the trail and head for the nearest town. Shizukana would be too obvious, so he'd have to head elsewhere. But with no lien to his name and the dangers of the trail, he knew such an endeavor would be foolhardy. Instead, he'd always come back, returning Eve to her stall before trudging back to his own confinement.

"Everyone, listen up!" The chatter of the cafeteria died off almost immediately as they all turned to face Madam de Thom, who stood near the entrance of the room with a clipboard. Alyssa hovered nearby. "The new chore assignments are ready. All children thirteen and older will report to Alyssa for individual assignments while I handle the others."

It was the same every six months. Madam de Thom would loudly call out a team and the names assigned. If they called your name, you immediately went to work. Meanwhile, the teens would be assigned by Alyssa individually, since the younger children were typically grouped into larger chores like the cafeteria.

Erik and Adam quickly followed the small herd of teenagers to the far corner and lined up as Alyssa came over. Adam could faintly hear the first teen be given his assignment before he rushed off to get to work. The line moved rapidly. In no time at all, it was Erik's turn. Adam tapped his foot impatiently behind his friend.

"Let's see now, Erik…" Alyssa hummed his name as her finger drifted down her list of assignments. "Ah, here you are. Looks like you'll be leading the cafeteria team this rotation."

"Nice," Erik said before jogging off to his new team. Adam had to wonder if he'd get something similar. Leading a team would be a nice change of pace. He'd find out soon enough.

"Good morning, Adam," Alyssa said warmly as he approached. "Are you still up for our tutoring session today? I can cancel if you want."

He hadn't missed any in a long time, but he knew why she was offering. Unlike the rest of the orphanage, Alyssa knew the significance of the day. After all, she'd been the one to deliver the news of Mazarin's death.

"It's fine," Adam answered without any real enthusiasm. Honestly, he could use the distraction. Plus, the recent math lesson hadn't gone well for him. He was quickly learning to hate triangles. "What's my new assignment?"

"Upstairs, actually," Alyssa quickly replied. "You've got cleaning duty in the hall. Just need to run the vacuum and clean the windows, mostly. Might have you do the baseboards soon, though. They've taken a bit of a beating lately."

Adam had never had a chore upstairs, but then again, most of the activity was on the lower level anyways. Other than classes, they rarely went upstairs. Thanks to his extra lessons and workouts, he knew the layout rather well. The cleaning supplies would be in the supply closet near Alyssa's room.

"I'll meet you up there once I finish with everyone else. Just wait by my room."

Adam did as ordered and headed up. The second floor was silent, with everyone downstairs at the moment. All of the lights were out as a result, but the light pouring in through the various windows proved more than enough to get around, even without his faunus advantage. Adam slowly strolled down to Alyssa's hall, knowing he'd still have a few minutes. Unlike the other rooms, her door stood open.

Adam peeked his head in, despite being familiar with the room. Most of their tutoring sessions were held in her room. The extra chair he often used during their lessons sat beside her desk. He was tempted to look over the stack of quizzes sitting out, waiting to be graded, but decided against it. The room was less tidy than he was used to, but still looked mostly organized. The bed was unmade, with a robe tossed across the foot. A small basket of clothing sat near the corner, waiting to be folded. Adam hurriedly turned away as he noticed what sat atop the pile, blushing up a storm.

And nearly ran into Alyssa.

"There you are!" Alyssa said as she arrived. "Sorry. My room's a wreck right now. I overslept and figured I'd clean up after breakfast." Alyssa closed the door as Adam stepped away, either missing his embarrassment or choosing not to comment. He really hoped it was the first one. Alyssa held out a small ring of keys. "Anyways, here's the keys for upstairs. They're all labeled by room number, but you'll need this," she lifted a silvery key that looked smaller than the others, "to open the supply closet. Here. I'll show you."

The supply closet was larger than Adam had imagined, though not by a lot. He could probably stand in the middle without touching anything. All three walls were lined with shelves, each carrying a host of supplies. Paper towel rolls. Glass cleaner. Even boxes of light bulbs. Underneath the shelves were an assortment of larger items, from buckets to brooms. An old vacuum cleaner held the center spot.

"Start with the windows," Alyssa advised, handing him a spray bottle and a clean rag. "After that, vacuum all the classrooms and the hall. You don't need to worry about the other rooms." Other than the classrooms, there were a pair of spare bedrooms that Adam didn't think ever got used, Alyssa's room, and one for Madam de Thom. According to Alyssa, her mother rarely used her own room nowadays, spending most of her time in her office. Ever since she and the mayor got married, Madam de Thom no longer spent her nights at the orphanage, choosing to head home instead and leaving Alyssa in charge, only to return early the next morning. "If you need anything, I'll be tidying up my room for a bit."

"Got it," Adam dutifully answered, hurrying off to the other end of the hall to start with the windows there. It took him a few tries until he was happy with the first window, but with each one he cleaned, he got a little faster. It didn't take long to get into a rhythm, especially as he got closer to Alyssa's room. Her voice drifted down the hall as she sang some soft tune. Adam didn't recognize the song, but Alyssa sang it well.

Once he was satisfied with his work, he dumped the rag outside the closet and put the cleaner away, swapping it for the vacuum. He dragged it back to the start of the hall and got started, a little disappointed that its loud hum drowned out the music. Vacuuming didn't take long at all, except when he had to stop and hunt for a new outlet once he ran out of cord. Most of the other chores were probably done before him, but that was fine. He enjoyed the solitude.

"All done?" Alyssa asked as he finished vacuuming her hall.

"That's the last of it," Adam promised, yanking the plug out of the wall and coiling the cord up again.

"Mind if I swipe it from you, then? My room's due for a good cleaning."

Alyssa reached for the vacuum, but Adam's words stopped her. "I can do it." After all, he'd already done the rest of the floor. As large as her room was compared to some of the others, it wouldn't take more than a few minutes.

"Are you sure? It's not a big deal."

"It's fine," Adam assured her, pushing the vacuum into her room and looking for an outlet. He breathed a sigh of relief when he noticed the basket of clothes had vanished.

Alyssa sat on her bed, pulling her feet up to stay out of the way. "What a gentleman," she giggled. In no time at all, his extra work was done. He was careful not to bump into any of the furniture too hard. As he wound the cord back up and prepared to leave, Alyssa placed a hand on his shoulder. 'Thank you, Adam."

"No problem." With all she'd done for him since coming to the orphanage, it felt nice to do something for her. "By the way, what should I do with the rag from earlier?" Leaving it in the hall probably wasn't the best solution.

"You can just toss it in my clothes hamper." Alyssa pointed to the open bathroom. "It's all going to the wash eventually."

As soon as Adam locked the supply closet, he hurried back to her room. He put the keys on her desk before taking care of the rag. He'd caught a glimpse of her bathroom a few times during their lessons. The whole room looked pristine. Neatly folded towels hung along a small rack by a large tub that dominated the far corner. The counter for the double sink had nothing on it save a small soap dispenser. The room smelled faintly of some sweet, flowery scent he could vaguely remember. Lavender, if his memory served him correctly. Much like with the bedroom, you could hardly tell someone lived here.

"Sit down, Adam." Alyssa patted the foot of her mattress as he came back out. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine," he lied, even as he followed her instructions and sat down.

She saw through his façade in an instant. "I know what day today is, Adam." Adam couldn't help the way his throat tightened. Even worse, sitting on her bed only reminded him of that horrible day when she'd told him what happened. She gently squeezed his knee, summoning his attention back to her. "It's okay not to be okay, Adam. If you need anything, I'm here for you."

"Thanks, Alyssa. It's just…" Adam gulped, "it's been hard, you know? I was supposed to be enrolling in Combat School this year. Starting my journey to become a Huntsman. Instead…"

"You're stuck here," Alyssa finished for him. "With us." Adam felt a little guilty in how belittling that sounded, but she wasn't wrong. "I get it. You had plans. Dreams. I understand more than most."

"Because you're stuck here too?"

Alyssa nodded. "When Idalia left, it meant I had to stay behind and help Mother. I always thought I would be the one to leave and see Remnant. You know she never even said goodbye? Just left one day and never came back. And I've been here ever since."

That sounded terrible. Just like with Adam, Alyssa had been forced into a role she never wanted without any warning. Worse, she'd been betrayed by her own sister. Maybe Idalia didn't mean to hurt her, but she clearly hadn't cared enough for Alyssa.

"I'm sorry," Adam said without thinking. When Alyssa looked at him in confusion, he rushed to add, "I'm sorry you got stuck here. With us. I guess neither of us got to chase our dreams."

"Oh, Adam." Alyssa rubbed his head. "Well, it's not all bad. After all, I get to help amazing kids like you."

As callous as it might have sounded, Adam was glad she was stuck here, too. He couldn't imagine enduring the last few years without her help. He counted her among his friends - a list that wasn't very long nowadays. "Maybe someday, your mom will get some more help and you can take some time to travel," Adam offered.

"You're too sweet, Adam. C'mere." Alyssa pulled Adam into a quick hug. She wiped a tear away when she pulled back, smiling sweetly at him. "Well, I've got papers to grade. Thanks for the talk, Adam. This was nice. And if you need anything, my door's always open."

/- - - - - - - - - -/

Monday came far too soon, bringing a mix of excitement and fear to many of the newer teens. Their classes for the day had been canceled. Instead, they all gathered in the cafeteria for the afternoon, along with a small assortment of adults from the town. Adam recognized the innkeeper, but most of the faces were new to him.

"Alright, everyone. Line up!" The teens rushed to do as Madam de Thom demanded. "Today, you will be given the opportunity to work with one of our local businesses. Not only will your work help cover the expenses of our orphanage, but you'll be learning valuable skills for when you're older."

It was the same arrangement that Madam de Thom had promised back when he'd first been brought to the orphanage. Since many of them would either settle in Katai after the orphanage or move to another small village, having skills would be even more valuable than their simple education. The town would benefit from the extra labor, while the orphanage would receive compensation to continue housing and feeding the children.

"These fine men and women are here to talk to you today." Madam de Thom motioned to the group of adults from the town. "If you're selected for a position, you'll start work tomorrow. Anyone not selected will be doing extra chores here until we find you a position." From what the older teens said, it was rare anyone got passed over entirely. Those that did wound up doing way more work than the rest, meaning Adam was eager to get any position he could.

While Madam de Thom explained more details they'd already heard before, Adam leaned over to whisper to Erik, "You recognize any of them?"

"I think he owns a butcher shop," Erik answered, nodding to a burly man near the corner. He then gestured to a woman in a crisp business suit, who was busy studying the line of children over the top of her small glasses, jotting down notes on a clipboard. "And she works at town hall. Doubt she's looking for our next mayor, though."

"That woman over there runs the inn," Adam added, grateful to have some information to share. Think I heard they're looking for someone to help clean the rooms."

"Oh great. More cleaning." Adam agreed with Erik's sentiment. Considering how many chores focused on scrubbing every inch of the orphanage, Adam didn't really relish the idea of cleaning more buildings. If the goal was to teach them new skills, then he saw no reason to want that job anyways.

Madam de Thom began wrapping up with some final instructions. "Speak only when spoken to. Answer every question as best you can. And if you are offered a position, I suggest you take it." With that, she waved the business people over. "Alright, they're all yours. Let me know once you've made a decision and we'll fill out the paperwork."

Adam had expected some sort of feeding frenzy, with the gathered representatives rushing forward to fight over their prospects, but the truth proved far different. A few of them came forward and began walking up and down the line, inspecting each of them with a critical eye. The butcher paused briefly at Adam before moving on, eventually selecting another boy and leading him over to Madam de Thom. Others barely even glanced at him and Erik at all.

Worse were the ones who only looked at his horns, then pressed on.

Within a few minutes, half of them had already been chosen. Erik and Adam stood there, watching as they were passed over a second time. And a third. With each pass, the number of employers and teens dwindled further and further. Adam.s smile became strained as two of the potential employers whispered something and left without anyone at all.

The tall girl beside Adam was finally chosen by the lady from the town hall, letting out a loud sigh of relief as she was led away to fill out the necessary forms. A short boy further down audibly cheered when he was selected, even if his new employer looked far less enthused. Adam began to fidget nervously as their prospects continued to dwindle, even as another person shook his head and left.

Adam nearly jumped at the sudden, gruff voice. "Faunus, eh?"

"Y-yes sir," Adam answered.

The man before him had biceps almost as big as Adam's waist. He carefully studied Adam for a moment before prodding his arm. "Not bad. Pretty strong for your age."

"I train almost every day," Adam promised. His hopes rose as he realized this man valued strength. He was already ahead of most of the other kids his age. Of those remaining, it wasn't even close.

"Hope you can use them muscles, then, 'cause I need some help down at the lumber mill. It's hard work, but you look up to the challenge." The man looked down the line to the almost non-existent options, stopping on Erik. "At least, more than the others here." He stroked his beard for a moment before finally deciding, "Guess you'll do. Let's go make it official."

Adam glanced at Erik in relief, only to see his friend nearly fall over in disappointment. A quick look around showed only one employer left, but she was busy chatting up a girl near the end of their line. Adam recognized the woman as one of the ones who'd sneered at his horns earlier, meaning Erik wasn't likely to get a lifeline there.

"Alright, Madam. I'll take the faunus boy, I guess."

Madam de Thom nodded as she pushed some papers across the table. "Very good. Just sign here and on page three. I'll fill in the rest." Madam de Thom narrowed her eyes at Adam as she added, "I'm sure he'll do his best for you."

"He better," the man grunted as he glanced over the form and scribbled his name down. "We've got lots of orders to fill, and with them Grimm actin' up again, we can 'ardly keep up right now."

"Maybe you could use a second set of hands?" Adam tried.

"What's that now, boy?"

Adam glanced back to Erik, who was watching the final employer lead the other teen away, leaving him alone. "I was just thinking that my friend Erik could help, too."

The man turned to look back, stifling a laugh as he saw Erik. "Little squirrel boy, there? An' what's a scrawny runt like 'im gonna do for me?"

"He's a hard worker," Adam promised, even if he knew Erik wasn't exactly the strongest around. "And he's really smart. He could help me figure out ways to work faster. Or help clean up the area."

"You want I should pay for a worker and a maid?" The man hardly sounded convinced.

"I promise he'll be worth it," Adam said. "And I'll work extra hard, too."

"Couldn't hurt to try," Madam de Thom offered, likely more interested in the extra lien than helping Adam and Erik. "If he doesn't work out for you, just send the boy back and we'll cancel the extra contract."

The man thought it over for a moment, mentally debating the pros and cons as he watched Erik, who had finally noticed the extra attention. With a defeated sigh, he finally spoke. "Guess I could use some more help. But he better pull his weight." Adam didn't miss the muttered, "Not that 'e weighs much, anyways."

"Wonderful!" Madam de Thom summarized as she pulled out a second packet of forms. Adam's new employer quickly duplicated his signature. "If you have any problem with them, feel free to let me know. I guarantee they will be dealt with promptly."

Madam de Thom shooed Adam away as she began going over some other details with their new employer. Adam sprinted over to Erik to give him the good news. "I got you a job!"

"What? Really?"

Adam nodded his head excitedly. "Yep. Convinced him he should hire us both. We start tomorrow at the lumber mill." While it wasn't the cushy store job Erik had wanted, it sure beat whatever Madam de Thom would have for him if he stayed behind. Plus, being the only one not picked had to be embarrassing.

"Thanks, Adam," Erik sighed in relief. "I was really scared I wouldn't get picked."

"I always look out for my friends," Adam promised. Not only would they get to work together, but a little physical labor might be good for Erik. And if it proved too much for his friend, Adam would just shoulder the extra load and cover for him.

Erik glanced past him to the doors. "Hey, if Nila asks, can we leave off the part about me not getting picked."

"No problem." Even if Adam didn't think it would do much good for Erik's chances with their friend, there was no reason for him to embarrass Erik like that.

/- - - - - - - - - -/

"That's great!" Nila cheered when they filled her in over dinner. "You two both got picked, and you get to work together? Awesome!"

As excited as the two boys were for their good luck, Nila seemed to amplify it even more. As promised, Adam had left off the details of him pushing for Erik to get hired. As far as Nila knew, the lumber mill needed two boys and had chosen them both.

"Any idea what you'll be doing there?"

Adam hadn't really thought about it much. "No clue." He doubted they'd be helping chop down trees. "Maybe they just need help sweeping up or something."

"Nah," Erik dissented. "That guy was clearly interested in you for your strength. I doubt he just needs someone who can sweep harder."

That was a good point. "Then what do you think we'll be doing?" Adam asked, still unsure what they'd have a pair of teenagers doing.

"I dunno," Erik shrugged. "Something simple, I'd bet. Like stacking the planks or something. Frees up everyone else to do the technical stuff like operating the machinery."

"Either way, I'm sure you'll both be great at it," Nila insisted, reaching out and grasping their hands in support. Erik grinned goofily at the attention, leaving Adam to roll his eyes. How he ever got stuck in this love triangle was beyond him.

Not that he minded the attention from Nila. Adam could admit to noticing her more lately. She'd always been cute, but with her recent growth spurt, she was starting to look more their age. Plus, all the attention she gave him definitely helped, even if Erik clearly wanted it for himself.

"Wonder what job I'll get next year?" Nila pondered. "Not sure I'm cut out for the lumber mill."

As nice as it would be to work with both his friends, He'd rather see Nila get a nicer job doing something easier. Maybe an office job. Or working at a local store. Something she'd enjoy. He'd have to ask around when the time came to see if he could help her out.

As they began excitedly discussing what work would be like, Adam watched his two friends with a contented smile. Maybe he wouldn't be a Huntsman, but he could still protect people. He could still defend those weaker than him without a fancy license or a team.

And he'd start with his friends.

We finally have an age for Adam! I've been purposefully keeping it vague thus far, as it hasn't been overly important. Honestly, it's not a major detail here either, but it does affect a few things, so figured why not include it? Also, at the young age of 13, he's already got 2 jobs! Talk about a go-getter.

Not a whole lot to say this week, even if there's a lot going on in the background. While I normally have fun doing more slice-of-life content, I'm both eager and terrified to get to the focus of this arc.

As always, I'd love to hear from you all, especially before everything hits the fan.

Next chapter: Adam and Erik start their new career.