A thoughtful gift

Back at the present, she looked at me and ask "You're not going to get yourself killed, are you?" Abigail asked, breaking me out of my reverie.

I blinked, realizing I had been staring at her for a little too long. "What?"

Abigail gave me a sly grin. "I'm sure you will. Just don't get too greedy, alright?"

I chuckled at that, knowing all too well how easy it was to get caught up in the excitement of finding something rare. But deep down, I understood what she meant—surviving was the most important thing, not collecting loot.

"Don't worry," I said, leaning back in my chair. "I'm not in it for the gems. But I'll keep them in mind."

She then said with worrying tone. "you're not going to get yourself killed, right?"

I smiled a little, feeling the warmth of our friendship settle in my chest. "I'll try not to."

The conversation started to die down, and Abigail fell into a comfortable silence, her eyes flicking between the books spread across the table and the shelves behind me. I thought I had heard everything she had to say, but as I began to stand, she suddenly got up as well, almost as if she had been waiting for the right moment.

She walked over to one of the shelves, reaching for a small, wrapped object that I hadn't noticed before. When she returned, I could see her holding something carefully in her hands, wrapped in fine cloth. She hesitated for a moment, before looking me square in the eye.

"Here," she said, holding out the bundle to me. "I've got something for you."

I stared at it, confused. "What's this?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. "I didn't think you'd be into giving birthday gifts."

She gave a soft smile, the kind that always seemed to carry a bit of mystery with it. "This is for tomorrow. It's your birthday, Kael. You're turning 15. You need this."

I blinked at her, taken aback. "You didn't have to—"

"I know, I'll be busy tomorrow onward" she interrupted, her tone firm but kind. "And I want to."

With a sigh, I reluctantly took the bundle from her, unwrapping it slowly, my mind already protesting. I didn't need anything from her, certainly not something expensive. As the cloth fell away, my eyes widened at what was revealed: a large, intricately designed whole right arm guard.

It was made of some kind of dark, reflective metal I'd never seen before, polished to a flawless shine. The metal had an almost otherworldly sheen to it, a bluish tint that shifted with the light. It looked heavier than I expected, but the craftsmanship was flawless. As I examined it, I noticed a retractable small knife embedded in the back of the palm area—a hidden blade for quick defense. The whole thing looked like it belonged to some high-ranking adventurer or, at the very least, someone who could afford to buy the best equipment.

I froze, unsure how to react. It wasn't just a simple piece of armor—it was a work of art. And it was expensive, way beyond what I could afford. I couldn't accept this from Abigail. No matter how close we had become, this felt like too much.

I shook my head and handed it back to her, my voice hesitant. "Abigail, I can't take this. This is... this is way too much. You didn't have to buy me anything like this."

Abigail's smile didn't falter. Instead, she pressed the arm guard back into my hands. "I didn't buy it, Kael. I had it specially made for you by a smith my family knows. He's the one who crafted it, not a shop. And it's not just a gift for your birthday. It's something you'll need if you're going to dive into those dungeons. Trust me, it'll help."

I stared at her, the weight of her words sinking in. She didn't just buy it from some random store—this was something personal, crafted specifically with me in mind. I ran my fingers over the smooth surface, still in disbelief.

"I don't know…" I muttered, still unsure. "It looks... it looks like something only a professional would wear. What if I mess it up?"

Abigail rolled her eyes, exasperated but amused. "It's built to last, Kael. And you're going to need it. The dungeons are dangerous. I know you don't like to admit it, but you're going to be facing real threats. That arm guard will protect you. Besides, you're my friend. I want you to be safe."

She gave me a moment to process her words, but I could feel my resistance weakening. She wasn't going to let me off the hook. And honestly, I knew she was right. I had no formal training, no fancy weapons or equipment. If I was going to dive, I would need something like this to keep myself from getting killed.

With a long sigh, I finally gave in and nodded. "Alright, alright. I'll take it. But only because you had it made just for me."

Abigail smiled, that familiar, teasing glint returning to her eyes. "Good. I knew you'd come around. Just don't go around getting yourself killed, alright? It's a birthday gift. You can't ruin it by throwing yourself into danger without thinking."

I looked down at the arm guard in my hands, now accepting it as my first piece of real equipment. A small part of me felt more confident, like maybe, just maybe, I wasn't as unprepared as I'd originally thought.

"Thanks, Abigail," I said quietly, adjusting the guard on my arm to see how it fit. It was perfect, just like she said.

Abigail grinned, clearly pleased with herself. "No problem. Now, get some sleep tonight. Tomorrow's your big day. You're gonna need all the rest you can get."

I gave her a nod, feeling a small sense of warmth in my chest. She had a way of making things feel a little less daunting.

Abigail suddenly stood up, brushing the stray strands of hair from her face. She looked almost like she was gathering her thoughts, and I could tell there was something she wanted to say. With a small smile, she spoke.

"By the way, Kael," she said, her voice carrying a hint of excitement. "Tomorrow's my graduation day from the academy."

I blinked, surprised. "Wait, really? You're graduating tomorrow?"

She nodded, her smile widening. "Yep, I'll be officially done with the academy. After that, I'll have all the time in the world."

I felt a small pang of guilt. I hadn't even thought about her graduation when I was so focused on my own impending adventure. "I wish I had something to give you," I muttered, almost too quietly.

Abigail raised an eyebrow and let out a short, amused laugh. "You don't need to give me anything, Kael. But if you insist, I'll take whatever you want to give me whenever you're ready."

I shook my head adamantly. "No, I'm serious. You've given me something so important. I owe you a gift, and I will make sure I return the favor. Don't think I won't."

She chuckled, giving a dramatic sigh. "Alright, alright. I'll hold you to it. But for now, just promise me you won't go rushing into danger. I'd hate to see you get hurt."

"Promise," I replied, offering her a grin.

As we were wrapping up our conversation.