Adventurer's Prelude

The duel had ended, leaving the grand training hall blanketed in a serene calm. Morning light streamed through the stained-glass windows, painting the polished wooden floor with an array of vibrant hues. The faint aroma of dew mixed with the sharp tang of training oils lingered in the air. Adam, Aqua, and Casial sat on the floor, their breaths gradually evening out as they took a well-deserved break. The occasional creak of wooden beams echoed faintly, a gentle reminder of the emptiness surrounding them.

Casial, ever the thinker with a streak of mischief, broke the silence. He leaned back on his palms, a grin tugging at his lips as he turned to Adam. "Have you ever registered as an adventurer in the guild?" His eyes sparkled with curiosity.

Adam, still catching his breath, shook his head. "No, I haven't," he replied evenly, tilting his head slightly in question. "Why are you asking?"

A playful glint danced in Casial's eyes as he sat up straighter. "Because," he began with a dramatic pause, "we're going to register today. Do you want to come with us?"

Adam furrowed his brow, mulling it over for a moment. The proposition intrigued him, and he finally nodded. "Yeah, let's do it," he said with a small smile, already imagining the possibilities.

Aqua, who had been quietly observing their exchange, spoke in his signature calm tone. "Meet us at the academy's gate after class." His words carried the weight of unspoken efficiency, as if the matter was already settled.

Casial, his carefree demeanor back in full force, added with a smirk, "Oh, and Claire and Emilia are coming too."

Adam's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "Princess and Lady Serus are interested in adventurer registration?" he asked, his tone incredulous. "I thought it was just you two doing this."

A wide grin spread across Casial's face. "Oh no, Emilia's actually the most excited among us," he said, amusement lacing his words.

Adam leaned forward slightly, skepticism flickering in his expression. "Lady Serus? Excited about this?" he said, his voice tinged with disbelief. "She doesn't strike me as someone who'd get thrilled over something like this."

Casial laughed, shaking his head. "I get it, I'd have thought the same if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes," he admitted, the memory clearly amusing to him.

Aqua, ever the voice of reason, chimed in, "It's fine to be excited about something new. It's good to have things we look forward to."

Casial nodded, but his grin widened mischievously. "True, but we're talking about Emilia here. She's usually so shy, it's almost… out of character."

"Maybe she has a fondness for the adventurer lifestyle," Aqua suggested, his calm gaze resting on Casial, who appeared to be dissecting the thought as if it held the universe's ultimate secret.

"That must be it," Casial concluded, his face lighting up with exaggerated revelation, causing Aqua to shake his head subtly, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

Breaking the lighthearted banter, Aqua straightened. "Anyway, let's drop the topic for now. We should head back to our rooms to prepare for class."

Adam pushed himself up, brushing dust off his uniform. "Right, I should get going too." He made his way toward the training hall's gate but suddenly stopped, as though something had just occurred to him. Turning back, he gave a quick wave. "Bye. See you after classes," he said, his tone carrying a note of camaraderie.

Aqua and Casial watched him leave before exchanging a brief glance. Silently, they rose and began heading toward their rooms, their movements unhurried. The air seemed lighter, filled with the unspoken anticipation of what the rest of the day might bring.