Liam and Tomlin walked side by side along the winding forest trail, dappled sunlight dancing on the ground between the leaves. Tomlin swung his walking stick (which doubled as a spear in his mind) through the air with an excited grin. He had been chattering non-stop since they left home that morning, a bundle of eager energy hardly contained by his lanky frame. Liam, calm and mysterious as ever, listened with a slight smile and the occasional nod or hum of agreement.
"We're finally doing it, Liam!" Tomlin exclaimed for what felt like the tenth time that hour. "Out on our own, the great wide world, on our way to our first village as real adventurers. Can you believe it?" His eyes sparkled at the thought of the adventures to come.
Liam glanced at his friend and gave a small chuckle. "You've only reminded me a dozen times," he replied in a gentle, teasing tone. He adjusted the strap of the pack on his shoulder, looking up at the canopy of trees overhead. "But yes. It feels... good to be out here."
Tomlin laughed, undeterred by Liam's mild sarcasm. "I know, I know. I'm repeating myself. I'm just excited. Today marks the start of our journey to become Hunters." He jabbed at an imaginary foe with his stick, nearly tripping over a root in the process. Liam reflexively reached out to steady him by the elbow before Tomlin could sprawl face-first onto the dirt. Tomlin righted himself and flashed a sheepish grin. "Thanks. Heh, guess I'm a bit too eager."
They continued along, the forest peaceful around them. Birds chirped and a soft breeze rustled the leaves, carrying the scent of pine and wildflowers. Liam let Tomlin's enthusiastic monologue wash over him. There was comfort in his friend's endless optimism. It balanced Liam's own quiet nature. Where Tomlin filled the silence with dreams and plans, Liam was content to observe and listen, offering support in his own understated way.
"I can't wait to get my first Essence," Tomlin was saying as he hopped onto a fallen log to balance-walk along it. "Imagine it, Liam! Me, finally absorbing an Essence. I'll be on the path to becoming a great Hunter, just like we've always talked about." He hopped off the end of the log and spun around dramatically, as if addressing an invisible audience. "They'll sing songs of Tomlin the Brave, first of his class to slay a monster and claim its Essence. I'll be famous!"
Liam raised an eyebrow, pretending to consider this. "Tomlin the Brave, is it? What about Liam the Helpful Sidekick?" he said dryly.
Tomlin burst into laughter. "Sidekick? No way! You'd be Liam the... uh... Liam the Mysterious! The quiet hero who saves the day with a single glance." He struck a pose, one hand shading his eyes as if peering into the distance, imitating Liam's usual stoic expression.
Liam snorted and shook his head, though a hint of a smile tugged at his lips. "A single glance, huh? I might need a bit more than that to save the day."
"Well, you do have that spooky eyeball thing," Tomlin said, tapping the side of his own eye in reference to Liam's unusual ability. "Eye of the Abyss, was it? Still sounds kind of cool if you ask me. Even if I have no idea what it actually does. Maybe you could use it to scare off a dragon or something, one day."
Liam's expression grew slightly more guarded at the mention of the Eye. He turned his gaze back to the path. "Maybe," he allowed softly. Not wanting to dampen Tomlin's mood, he quickly added, "Let's hope it won't come to facing a dragon just yet. I'd rather start with something small."
Tomlin nodded vigorously. "Oh, of course! Gotta start somewhere. Maybe we'll see a goblin or a wild boar near the next village. I could handle that." He puffed out his chest in mock bravado. "After all, I'm a natural, right?"
"Right, a natural," Liam echoed, rolling his eyes playfully when Tomlin wasn't looking.
As the morning wore on, they delved deeper into the woods than either had gone before. Sunlight grew a touch fainter under the thickening canopy. Still, the atmosphere remained friendly and bright. Tomlin launched into a cheerful tune he remembered from tavern nights back home, singing (slightly off-key) about a wandering knight and his loyal horse. Liam walked quietly alongside, occasionally murmuring a correct lyric when Tomlin got the words hilariously wrong.
Their laughter echoed among the trees. Everything felt simple and free. For this first leg of their journey, there were no monsters, no worries—just two friends on a grand adventure, joking and dreaming of the future. Unbeknownst to them, however, the forest ahead held mysteries that would soon turn their lighthearted stroll into something far more suspenseful. But for now, Liam and Tomlin were content, blissfully unaware of the subtle shift in the breeze that carried a hint of something foreign... something watching.