Quinn comes rushing out of the bedroom, moving swiftly across the hall, and he leaps over the wooden railing to get ahead of Sam. His agility and movements are impressive. It was only for a second, but even Sam was in awe at how quickly his brother gained the upper hand.

  “Hey, no fair!” Sam whines, realising he just lost.

  “Says the one who started the race halfway down the hall.” Quinn bickers back, taking his seat at the dinner table.

  “Alright, no fighting at the table,” Zeke chimes in, “Quinn, tomorrow we are heading to the guild so that you can report back about the quest.”

  “What? M-me?” Quinn looks at Zeke with desperate eyes that scream, “Please don’t make me do this.”

  “Do not worry, I’ll be right there with you just in case you forget something. You just have to go over everything that happened during the hunt. Should be quick and easy.” Zeke assures Quinn, believing he is getting nervous about his first time reporting back.

  “Everything?” Quinn stretches out the word, unsure whether Zeke meant that he would have to let them know how his father had to save him after he got ahead of himself.

  “Yes, everything. They need that information not only to evaluate you but also to assess the magnitude of the corruption. Leaving out information could be detrimental.” Zeke informs him, now knowing Quinn is more worried about the contents of the report than who he is giving it to.

  “Den-tri… what?” Struggling to understand the meaning behind the new word he just heard, Quinn looks to Sam as he always does when he needs clarification on something he doesn’t understand.

  “It means how it could cause harm to others.” Sam clarifies after setting his fork down.

  “Exactly. Withholding information not only puts you in danger but also puts others at risk if they do not know what they’re dealing with. Understand?” Zeke speaks in a calm manner that still carries weight.

  “Yeah, I do.” Quinn takes a deep, silent breath. Great, more people are going to know how I screwed up. He wonders how he will give the report without totally embarrassing himself.

  ***

  The next afternoon, Quinn wakes up a little early and dresses in his best, coolest gear. It is all black, freshly washed, and magically steamed: a pair of pants and a shirt. He wears boots and silver arm, leg, and chest guards. Dad seems to be finishing up getting ready, so I’ll just wait patiently. Quinn thinks to himself. He hurries past Sam and onto the sofa, where he starts bouncing his leg rapidly.

  “You're gonna put a hole in the floor with all that tapping if you don’t stop,” Sam says, putting his book down in annoyance.

  It seems the ‘patiently’ waiting part was in his head. “Sorry, guess I’m a little more nervous than I thought I would be. This whole giving a detailed report by myself is kinda nerve-racking, you know?”

  Quinn hopes his brother will share some of his wisdom that might calm him down a bit. But alas, Sam just picks up his book again and continues his studies.

  Dick. Quinn curses inwardly.

  “You’ll be fine, you’re my big brother after all,” Sam says while covering his face with his book. The low and muffled words are enough to lift Quinn’s mood and make him stop tapping.

  Shortly after, Zeke finally comes down in his usual hunting outfit. He wears a sleeveless shirt that shows off his muscles, long brown pants, and a leather shoulder strap meant to hold his quiver. Since this outing is a simple, peaceful trip to the city, he decides to leave the weapon behind.

  “Ready to head out?” Zeke asks Quinn, who quickly stands up. His heart is beating a bit faster than normal. He’s unsure if he is more anxious or excited to head into the adventurers' guild for the first time.

  “Ready, I guess,” Quinn replies.

  “Good enough for me, let’s go. See you soon, honey.” Zeke says as he gives his wife a quick kiss.

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Once again, the two leave home. They wave goodbye to Jennifer and Sam, who wish Quinn luck as they head into town.

  After taking their time walking, they arrive outside the city gate an hour later. Two guards are stationed by the main gate. They are there to prevent suspicious people from entering and to inspect cargo entering and leaving the city. Their armor is well-maintained and polished to the point that Quinn can see his reflection in the chestpiece.

  One of the guards is an older gentleman named Marvin. He’s been standing in that same spot for as long as Quinn could remember. He’s usually really quiet and polite whenever Quinn sees him when he enters the city with his mother, but this time is different.

  “Morning, Zeke. Here for another quest?” Marvin smiles, creating more wrinkles on his already loose skin.

  “Something like that. I’m taking Quinn here to report back on his first corrupt subjugation quest.” Zeke replies, placing his hand on Quinn's shoulder. Marvin bends over and looks at Quinn, sizing him up.

  “Hmm, is that right? This little guy killed a corrupted beast? Sure, and I’m finally getting that promotion after fifteen years. Hahaha,” Marvin says in a sarcastic tone.

  Marvin's remarks irk Quinn. He only feels his blood boil before he realizes his fist is flying directly at Marvin, who is still laughing, then…

  -DING

  Marvin blocks Quinn’s strike with his shield. Everyone is speechless, even Quinn has a shocked expression. Before he can react, Zeke quickly pulls him away, revealing a small dent in the steel shield.

  “Quinn! Sorry about that, Marvin. I’ll pay for the repairs.” Zeke apologizes profusely.

  “Haha, don’t worry about it. If anything, I should be the one saying sorry. Didn’t realize the kid is just like his father. Reminds me of you when I was younger?” Marvin assures Zeke.

  Excuse me, what? When HE was younger? I know Dad ages differently, but just how old is he anyway? Quinn wonders, looking between Zeke and Marvin, half confused, half apologetic.

  “But if you really wanna make it up to me, how about a few beers at Orin’s for old time's sake. My shift is over in an hour. So how bout it? We have a deal?” Marvin extends his hand out to Zeke.

  “Alright, fine, we’ll stop by after we’re done in the guild,” Zeke says, shaking Marvin's hand, accepting the deal.

  The two are now once again on their way to the guild, and along the way, many people would say hello and express their thanks to Zeke.

  The overwhelming number of people who approach them shocks Quinn. He is somewhat used to a former patient doing this occasionally when he is with his mother, but this is on a whole other level.

  After a few more minutes of this, they finally reach the guild. It’s a large and impressive, hundred-year-old stone wall that is cleaner than most kitchen tables he has seen. However, after the incident with Marvin, Quinn isn’t confident that he is truly ready to talk to the guild members. What if, like Marvin, they question Quinn and his abilities? What if they look down on him? Would he be able to keep his temper in check?

  Zeke nudges Quinn inside, and it is even more remarkable than the outside. It’s large enough to fit his entire home with room to spare for people to walk around. The marble floors sparkle even after hundreds of adventurers walk over them.

  But, just as this amazes Quinn, he also wonders how the guild is able to keep such a spacious and busy place so clean.

  That's when a bulky bald man, wearing just enough to cover the essentials, walked in after them. Thanks to him, Quinn notices their secret. The man would leave mud behind with each step, and shortly after, a staff member would walk up and, with a wave of their wand, the dirt would dissipate into nothing. Quinn remembers this as a cleaning spell. Sam practiced something similar, but on a much smaller scale.

  Zeke guides Quinn past all the other distractions to the reception.

  “Zeke, you here to take on another quest?” Asks a male receptionist. He has on a formal gray suit with pants, a white tucked-in shirt, a checkered tie, and a name tag that reads 'Armen’. His red slicked-back hair and a scar across his face didn’t detract from his elegance.

  “Maybe next time. Today, my son is here to give his report on this quest.” Zeke hands over a flyer with descriptions of the quest it pertains to.

  “A D-rank corruption subjugation. Color me impressed. Follow me, I’ll take the report.” Armen motions for Quinn to follow. As they walk, Quinn looks back and notices Zeke is still standing at the same stop. He simply smiles and waves at him.

  “Good luck.” Zeke wishes.

  Quinn’s face goes pale. Armen takes hold of Quinn before he can run and whisks him into a room where they talk.

  An hour passes, and Quinn leaves the guild pouting. He refuses to look at his Zeke. He’s still upset about being tricked into giving the report all by himself. He recalls moments when all he could do was stutter and fumble over his words whenever he tried to answer one of Armen’s questions.

  “Haha, you did great in there, stop being so sour.” Zeke pleads, just to be met with more silence. “Alright, let’s go.” Zeke makes a sudden turn into an alleyway, walking further into the city.

  “Where are you going? The gate is the other way.” Confused by his father's actions, Quinn ceases the silent treatment.

  “Did you forget already? We’re going to Orin’s.” Zeke replies, continuing his march to the pub. After passing the fancier houses, the two find themselves on the rougher side of Amber City. At the corner of the street, a small building with a wooden sign hanging reads, ‘Orin’s’.

  Inside this shabby and worn pub, there’s a warm and welcoming atmosphere. People are dancing and singing, while others are busy stuffing their faces.

  Bottom line, everyone is doing things at their own pace and enjoying eachother company. And right in the center of it all is Marvin.