Late afternoon light tinted the cobblestones gold as Liam and Tomlin sat on a low wall outside the guild. The training day was over, and heat from the sun lingered even as the cool evening breeze picked up. Tomlin turned the small bronze badge over in his hands and began to polish it gently on his sleeve. Liam leaned back, watching the sky's colors deepen. Silence stretched comfortably between them after the morning's adrenaline; both were content just to be sitting together. It was peaceful in that silence, a rare calm.
Tomlin broke the silence first. He reached into his satchel and pulled out something wrapped in cloth. It was a rough necklace, the pendant a polished tooth from the fleshburrower. Tomlin's eyes were warm as he held it out. "Figured we should have something to bind us together," Tomlin said, unwrapping it carefully. "From the start." He offered it to Liam. Liam took the necklace in surprise; the tooth had jagged edges but was beautiful in its own way. It felt heavier than expected in his hand. "This is… actually really cool," Liam said, eyes wide as he admired the craftsmanship. The two boys shared a smile. Tomlin grinned back. "Friends for life," he said, the corners of his eyes crinkling.
Liam helped secure the necklace around Tomlin's neck. Then Tomlin slipped the matching pendant around Liam's neck as well. The weight of the polished tooth felt reassuring against Liam's chest. The sun hung low now, casting long shadows across the street. A warm satisfaction filled them at the simple ceremony of friendship. In that moment, the earlier exams and trials felt distant; this was who they had become together.
Behind them they heard voices and laughter. Music drifted from the direction of the guild's tavern, where the new hunters were gathering to celebrate their success. Tomlin and Liam stood up, stretching limbs stiff from hours of training. Tomlin patted Liam's shoulder and smiled. The sounds of festivity and clinking mugs made Liam smile too as they walked toward the tavern. Liam felt a warm pride in his chest; the tension of the morning seemed miles away now, replaced by relief. They moved with easy companionship, grins matching on their tired faces. Liam exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
As they walked toward the open door of the tavern, an older hunter passed by. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with a weathered face and white hair. He glanced at their gleaming bronze badges and nodded approvingly. He gave Tomlin a brief, friendly nod and ruffled Tomlin's hair before moving on. "Copper in your pocket. Fire in your eyes." he said quietly. The words were heavy with meaning. Liam and Tomlin exchanged pleased looks; for a moment Liam felt honored and strangely at home. He felt proud in a way he hadn't expected. He silently vowed to always remember those words.
Under a rosy sky the two friends finally reached the tavern steps. They paused for a moment, fingers brushing the new necklaces around their necks. Above them, the guild's job board loomed with pinned notices. Tomlin pointed at a small cluster of papers in the corner. "Spiders in a cave. Think we're ready?" he asked quietly. Liam glanced up at the faded flyer for a cave hunt. Liam let out a contented sigh. "Spiders first. Dragons later," he said softly. Tomlin let out a laugh in agreement. They shared a quiet laugh as they stepped inside, feeling ready for whatever came next. Nothing could dampen their spirits now. They turned together and stepped into the warm glow of the tavern, the door closing softly behind them.