Theo and Liam entered the main stable area, warm atmosphere and thick straw smell enveloping them.

  The traditional horse stall area ran along one wall, where four sturdy horses were calmly chewing dry grass, their chewing sounds steady and familiar.

  However, attention immediately converged on the carefully fenced Strider area. There, eight tall Striders with thick plumage and fierce eyes stood majestically. They were impressive creatures, manifesting raw grassland power.

  Among them, Shadow and Swift were arranged in the two stalls nearest the walkway. They looked noticeably smaller and more slender than the remaining eight; they needed two more years to catch up with their species' maturity, Theo speculated.

  Both stood upright, heads slightly swaying, showing restlessness wanting to run after a night's rest. The stable atmosphere was a strange mixture between horse stall quietness and the Striders' latent tension, where size and strength were clearly displayed.

  Theo approached the stall keeper diligently cleaning dry grass in a corner. This man looked gaunt but robust, face smeared with sweat and straw.

  "Excuse me, we want to retrieve Swift and Shadow," Theo said, voice polite but decisive.

  The keeper looked up, rubbed his eyes then pointed toward the two Striders near the entrance:

  "Those two smaller Striders? They've been well cared for. Overnight fee for both is fifteen Silver Coins."

  Theo didn't hesitate. He quickly drew out a small leather pouch from his belt, counted exactly fifteen shining Silver Coins and placed them in the man's hand.

  "Thank you," Theo said. "Were they fed adequately and cleaned properly?"

  "Of course. They're energetic, ready to ride immediately," the keeper answered, a satisfied smile showing clearly as he recounted the money. "They're excellent mounts."

  Theo and Liam quickly led the Striders out of their stalls. Swift and Shadow seemed bold and familiar with the equipment. Mounting, tying reins and securing luggage bags proceeded extremely quickly, with no resistance or restlessness from the two mounts.

  In just moments, Liam sat firmly on Swift's back and Theo was stable on Shadow. They bowed to greet the keeper one last time, then lightly urged the Striders. The two tall riding beasts, with energetic steps, quickly carried the two boys away from the stables, riding straight toward the secret base in the oak forest.

  Returning to their secret base, Theo immediately set to work cleaning the tent one final time. He and Liam stored all unnecessary items—tools, crude training equipment and leather paper notes about Oakhaven's characteristics—into a concealed chest beneath the floor.

  Theo wasn't just cleaning the shelter; he was cleaning his mind. He knew that after official training on Sol's Day, life would no longer be simple hunting trips or returns to base like this. This tent—once a hideout and private training place—was about to become a memory that needed closing.

  Then, they executed the most important preparation step. Theo drew out two small cloth pouches, each containing one hundred Silver Coins (100 OS)—enough to ensure their families' livelihoods for a long time.

  For Liam, this sum carried greater purpose. He would leave it for his parents and older brother to expand the family's small forge, building a workshop with proper conditions for two blacksmiths to maximize their abilities. It was a gift to help the family advance one step professionally.

  For Theo, the purpose carried lighter and more reassuring colors. The 100 Silver Coins would help his family more easily care for his two little brothers Finn and Ben, along with his little sister Sera, ensuring they were fully cared for during his absence.

  He said to Liam, who was storing the small money pouch in the cloth bag behind him:

  "The next two days, we'll devote entirely to family. After that, everything will change. Enjoy this peace fully, Liam."

  Liam nodded, eyes lighting with rare seriousness, mixed with some sadness but also full of determination. He understood Theo's meaning. They would return home, using all remaining time to say goodbye to loved ones, before stepping onto the new path—where family, though important, would no longer be top priority.

  Theo and Liam placed necessary personal items on the Striders, then together stepped out of the tent.

  They paused briefly, looking at the tent now empty and silent—the place that had witnessed arduous training sessions, hours of quiet research and childhood dreams. It was the last childhood memory both could touch.

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  Without saying another word, both turned their backs on the tent.

  Liam nimbly mounted Swift. Theo placed his foot in the stirrup, mounting Shadow. The two tall Striders immediately understood their masters' intent, stepping quickly. They left the hiding area, leaving the secret base to sink into the forest's silence, then rode straight toward town—toward family.

  Theo and Liam urged the Striders back to town.

  At the familiar stables, Theo once again left Swift and Shadow with the keeper, settling advance payment quickly.

  The two boys parted at the crossroads. Liam went toward his family's forge, face clearly showing excitement mixed with the responsibility of a maturing son.

  Theo turned his back, walking slowly toward his home.

  Still the small thatched house nestled snugly among other simple wooden houses in Oakhaven village. With a large luggage bag containing belongings and a small pouch on his back, Theo moved slower than ever before.

  He wasn't just trying to etch the image into his mind but also inhaling deeply, sensing this place's scent. The air carried the smell of old dry oak wood, thick with weathering aroma and fine powder from untreated wood grain, blending with damp earth smell and the lingering thick but not acrid smell of firewood smoke permeating the air.

  He wanted once more to perceive every position around: the house, the rotting wooden fence, neighbors' noisy bustle, cats meowing intermittently, children's crying echoing.

  Theo knew this would be a precious memory and the strongest source of motivation in the future, helping him overcome harsh missions and find his way back.

  Perhaps Theo was cold, 'disconnected' from everything around, a solitary soul—but family was always something intertwined with his heart and part of his soul. He could look at everything through a different lens, analyze with mechanical logic; yet before this small wooden house, he was also just Theo—the young Oakhaven hunter, nothing more.

  Sera, Theo's little sister, was stepping out the door. Her hands clutched a wooden basin full of laundry.

  She suddenly startled, freezing before the tall figure blocking the doorway. Due to plans and training, Theo hadn't been home in a long time. Not to mention, to have sufficient nutrition for brutal training, he'd supplemented quite a lot of meat in his diet. The 14-year-old boy in his growth phase had developed so rapidly that Sera somewhat couldn't recognize her brother.

  The little girl hesitated a moment, round eyes trying to connect that tall figure with her familiar brother. Then, she completely forgot about the wooden basin.

  Crash! The basin fell to the ground, clothes scattering everywhere.

  Sera jumped up, shouting joyfully, running to hug her brother tightly:

  "Brother Theo!"

  Theo steadily caught his sister. He lightly stepped back one step to reduce inertia, not hurting the little girl with his leather armor. The action was quick as a warrior's instinct, yet full of an older brother's affection. Theo smiled lightly, a rare warm smile:

  "Sera."

  Sera's shout seemed to awaken the house's settled, aged atmosphere. Two consecutive calls rang out from inside:

  "Who, is that Brother Theo?"

  "Sister Sera, Brother Theo's home?"

  Two little rascals Finn and Ben noisily ran out the door, both competing to reach the front door first. That chaotic scene made Theo shake his head lightly, but inside he felt warm.

  He quickly retrieved from his coat a bag of roadside sweets bought on the way back, then spoke with stern yet gentle voice:

  "Quiet."

  Theo had natural authority over the two little guys. Immediately, they stopped, standing straight in line before him, eyes wide open.

  Theo gently patted Sera's head, reminding the little girl to let him go. He handed the candy bag to the little girl:

  "Divide evenly for your siblings."

  Sera immediately forgot her longing, clutching the precious candy bag and running quickly inside, the joyful shouts now transformed into the hubbub of sweet distribution.

  His mother stepped out, still wearing an old apron. Her thin, rough hands from work, but her eyes immediately brightened with relief seeing her eldest son still safe.

  Recent days had made her very worried, but she understood clearly. Theo was already 14, ready for the Coming of Age Ceremony. She knew she shouldn't and couldn't prevent her son's choice—this was this small town's tradition, a turning point every youth must experience.

  Theo looked at his mother's relieved eyes, then asked:

  "Father still hasn't returned?"

  Theo's mother, Elara, answered, voice carrying everyday weariness:

  "Yes, you know. The year's beginning oak timber purchasing is in its final stage. Your father and his old friends are trying to finish cutting according to plan."

  She sighed lightly, then quickly regained her busy appearance.

  "Mother is preparing food for your siblings, then will finish mother's processing work. These days are truly busy."