New Robes

As the moonlight filtered through the dense canopy, Ezra stood in silence, watching the two figures fade into the shadowy depths of the forest. With a deep breath, he lowered himself onto the cool grass, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. As he lay there, the voices of the two individuals filled his mind with many questions: Why did those two come here? What were they looking for? And why did they mention my name?

Previously as he was nearing the top of the cliff, he had overheard two people talking. Not wishing to be discovered, He had stopped and listened to what they were talking about, only to hear them mention a treasure. The most shocking thing he heard, though, was the mention of his name. Unfortunately, he couldn't hear more before they left. He had regretted not arriving sooner and wondered why they mentioned his name and what this

"Well, at least something good came out of this," Ezra thought as he rubbed his arms, which felt a little sore after the climb. "At least now I know how much my physical strength has increased." With a small smile, Ezra slowly walked into the forest, not wanting to stay there any longer.

As Ezra ran through the forest, he was surrounded by the peaceful sounds of the wind blowing through the trees, which brought him a sense of calm. This feeling was familiar to him as he continued to take in the soothing echoes of the forest. Ezra had always found solace in venturing out at night, gazing at the stars and the moon, while feeling the refreshing touch of the cold wind.

As Ezra slowly emerged from the forest, he gazed at the town that seemed to glow in the moonlight. "I'm back," he said as he looked at the sign with the name "Sylvaria" written on it. As he walked into town. He didn't notice anyone else walking around. All that could be heard was the sounds of his footsteps. "Well, that's to be expected that nobody is around at this time of night," he thought. as he quickly made his way to a small shed behind an old, abandoned house.

Ezra carefully opened the wooden door, which emitted a soft creaking noise. Stepping inside and closing the door, he quickly turned on the lamp resting on the table, filling the small space with a comforting glow. Despite the shed's size, it was efficiently arranged with a bed, a small table, and a mirror.

Ezra exhaled deeply as he settled himself on the bed. Looking over at a picture that rested on the table, reaching his hand over, he gently grabbed the picture. The beautiful image of a woman gazed back at him. The woman possessed captivating red eyes and flowing blue hair that cascaded down to her waist. She was adorned in a simple teal-colored robe that accentuated her snow-white skin.

"Mother, I've made a breakthrough to the spirit-gathering stage. It's unfortunate that you're not here to witness it. Since you've been gone, a lot has happened, and I wish I could share it with you. Ezra thought, smiling wistfully. But now I've gained something that I don't fully understand. Ezra said, thinking back on the dark space with all the purple orbs and the two skill books he got. Not to mention the weird blood that entered my body; anyway, I should get some rest, he said, putting down the picture. As the events of the day started to wear on him. 

As the first rays of the sun shone through the cracks in the wall, Ezra groggily got up and stretched his muscles before retrieving a small chest from under the bed. After opening the chest, he selected a new set of robes and changed into them, noticing that they felt unusually tight. As he prepared to go outside, he paused in front of the mirror. "Is this really me?" Ezra thought as he observed his transformed figure. Previously around 5.9 feet in height, he now estimated himself to be closer to 6 feet tall. Looking closer, he noticed an increase in muscle, visible even through the robes. It wasn't that he was bulky now, but instead, his muscles seemed to be more refined than they were previously.

It seems like my robes are feeling tight because of my body changes. Is it because I broke through to the Spirit-gathering realm, or is it something else? He contemplated the strange blood that had fused into his body. I guess I will need to get new robes, he thought as he took out a small bag from the pouch on his waist. Swiftly turning the bag over on the table, he watched as many copper coins came falling out until the bag was empty.

Ezra swiftly tallied up the copper coins in his possession. "I only have eighteen coins left," he mused as he looked at the coins before stowing them away. Stepping outside, he felt the warmth of the morning sun and the gentle touch of the breeze on his face. "Alright, my priority is to fix my robes first, and then I can consider what to do next.

As Ezra strolled from behind the house, he noticed a few kids sprinting down the street toward the main plaza. "I wonder where they are going in such a rush," he mused. Without dwelling on it, he continued until he reached a small shop on the outskirts of Sylvaria. Upon opening the door, he was greeted by the peaceful sound of chimes. He stood there with his eyes closed, savoring the familiar feeling. "Are you just going to stand there with the door open, or are you going to come inside?" a cheerful voice called from the counter. Ezra snapped out of his trance, blushing in embarrassment as he looked at the smiling middle-aged woman. "How long did you just stand there letting me look like a fool?" Ezra asked as he shut the door and walked over to the woman.

"Though it hasn't been long, you appeared so lost in thought that I feared you would turn into a statue if I didn't intervene. Ezra just shook his head, smiling. "So, what brings you here this time? Do you need a new blade, food, or a place to live?" she asked. "No, it's nothing like that," Ezra replied, shaking his head. "Well then, what is it? You wouldn't come here unless you needed something," she said, eyeing Ezra up and down. That's when she noticed Ezra looked different. He seemed taller, and his robes appeared uncomfortably small. Seeing her bewildered expression, Ezra could only laugh before speaking, "As you can see, Aunt Lily, my robes no longer fit me.

I can see that it hasn't even been one year, and you have already outgrown the robes I made for you. "Come here," she said as she motioned for Ezra to come forward. Ezra did as she said and moved forward. Soon he stood before her. As she looked up and down at him, trying to gauge his new height, she said, "Ok, I think I've got just the right set of robes for you." Ezra watched as she went into the back before coming back out a few minutes later carrying a black robe. "Try this on and see how it feels," she said as she pointed to a small dressing room.

In the dressing room, Ezra quickly changed into the new black robes, noting at how silky fabric felt on his skin. However, he couldn't shake a certain feeling. Turning to the mirror, he took in his new appearance - his long black hair was neatly braided and rested on the black robes, accentuating his sharp features and piercing black eyes. With a content smile, he stepped out of the dressing room

Stepping out of the dressing room, he noticed Lily tending to other customers. When she turned around and saw his beaming smile, she remarked, "You seem to really like those new robes."

"Yes, they fit me perfectly. How much do they cost?" Ezra asked with a tinge of concern. With only 18 copper coins remaining, he was anxious about the price.

Instead of quoting a price, Lily simply shook her head and raised her hand. "There's no need to pay, Ezra," she said.

This came as a shock to him, as he had always paid for his purchases in the past. He couldn't fathom why she suddenly declined his payment, especially considering their close bond.

Oh, Ezra, don't you remember the robes your mother used to make for you? Doesn't the fabric and style feel familiar to you? Ezra's heart stopped for a moment after hearing Lily's words before he realized why he had this feeling inside him ever since putting on the robes. His hand unconsciously touched the pendant resting on his chest.

Noticing the subtle shift in Ezra's expression, Lily continued with a nostalgic smile. "Let me share a story with you. Your mother, a worker at my store, used to spend her days meticulously crafting exquisite robes. I recall seeing her pour her heart into creating these beautiful garments for a young boy. At first, it never occurred to me that the recipient was her own son, especially since she appeared so youthful. However, one day, driven by my curiosity, I couldn't resist asking her about the intended recipient of these robes. It was then that I learned the truth – they were lovingly made for her son."

"Anyway, I don't have time to spend talking. Feel free to always come back if you need anything." With that, Lily patted Ezra on the back before walking off. However, she forgot to mention that Ezra would constantly cry while making these robes. The fact that she made robes for each stage of a boy's life also made Lily wonder back then if Stella knew she would disappear.

While walking towards the main plaza, he found himself reflecting on the story Lily had recounted. Suddenly, the sound of his stomach growling as he passed by a bakery prompted him to remember that he hadn't eaten anything for over a week.

Ezra's stomach led him into the cozy bakery, and as he stepped inside, he was enveloped by an unusual atmosphere. Small groups of people were gathered in quiet conversations, creating an odd vibe. The serene setting was very different from Ezra's previous experiences at the bakery, leaving him both puzzled and captivated. As he scanned the room, he noticed at least three distinct groups engaged in hushed discussions. Eager not to draw attention to himself, Ezra swiftly made his way to the counter, where a welcoming middle-aged man stood. "How are you, young sir? What could I get for you today?" the man asked with a warm smile. Ezra, pointing to the sandwich on the menu, asked how much this would cost. Ezra asked, "That will be 8 copper coins," the man responded, maintaining his friendly demeanor.

Ezra reluctantly nodded and took out 8 copper coins, placing them on the table. "This better be worth it," he thought. The man eagerly took the 8 copper coins, not expecting this young man, who looked to be around 14 years old, to be able to pay. Putting on an even warmer smile, the man continued, "Thank you, young sir. Now, take any seat you want, and we will have your food out in a few."

Ezra looked around the bakery before he spotted an empty seat adjacent to a group of people and took a seat. As he waited for his food, he started listening in on the conversation the group next to him was having.

"As I was saying, many disciples from the three clans are going into the pine forest, while others are being stationed outside the forest to prevent others from going in," someone in the group said. "Even the top three clans are getting involved. That hasn't happened in a long time. The last time all three clans were seen together was to deal with Mack," another person chimed in. The table fell silent after Mack's name was mentioned. It was never said openly, but people always thought that what the three clans did to Mack was cruel, but nobody would say it out loud, especially not in public, fearing that one of the clans would hear them. All of them were lost in thought for a moment when a soft cough interrupted them.