It was the last night at home, come tomorrow morning Arthur and his friends begin their summer break as adventurers. Arthur had just finished inventorying his supplies and put them into his dimensional ring, and was looking down at his bed. On his bed were the clothes he would wear as an adventurer, even his cloak which arrived only a week ago were all laid out neatly. He had been worried that it wasn't going to be ready in time, so he was grateful when Elder Viron had dropped it off when he came to visit Tess and evaluate her progress. Sadly though Tess' clothes weren't ready yet, although they did promise her order would be ready today. Sylvie was curled up in a ball on one of the pillows that she had claimed as hers, when there was a sudden knock on his bedroom door.

"Hey Tess," Arthur greeted as he opened his door.

"Hey Art, I got you something!" Tess announced nervously as she quickly pushed a thin wooden box out in front of her.

"Oh, thanks. What's this for?" Arthur asked as he took the box.

"I-I don't need a reason to give you something do I?" Tess replied, still sounding a little nervous.

"I guess not," Arthur replied with a chuckle at her nervousness. "Can I open it now?" Tess nodded vigorously, and Arthur gestured for her to come in.

Arthur placed the box on his bed and sat down next to it while Tess remained standing twiddling her fingers nervously. Arthur looked down at the wooden box, it was for the most part simple, with the logo and name of the shop it was purchased from engraved in the middle of the lid and filled with gold.

"I knew that place seemed too fancy," Arthur thought to himself.

He then removed the lid to see a cream colored shirt, similar to the one he was going to wear. He picked it up and immediately noticed the material was different from any other he had felt in this world, reminding him of workout clothes from his previous world. As he lifted it up and it unfolded he saw that there was a gold trim along the seams. The gold was subtle against the color of the shirt, but it did shine when the light reflected off of it. Once fully unfolded an image was seen, at the abdomen where his mana core would be was an image of a dragon outlined in gold. No doubt it was intended to resemble Sylvie, but with the color of the shirt it more so resembled Sylvie's mother and dragon who gave him his beast will, Sylvia. Underneath was also a black pair of pants made of the same material, but with no special details.

"Thank you," Arthur replied with a smile, genuinely loving the gift.

"I'm happy you like it," Tess replied with a sigh of relief. "The material it's made of is also very special. When mana is channeled into it the fibers become stronger than steel and when hit with mana it redistributes it to lessen the impact."

"Oh wow. I can't believe I've never heard of anything like this before. Is the elven army equipped with this?" Arthur replied as he gazed at the clothes in amazement.

"Umm, no. The fabric is made from the leaves of a very rare tree found only in the Elshire Forest that's at least a thousand years old. It's also extremely difficult to turn the leaves into usable threads, even weaving the threads and making them into clothes is a painstaking task, so there are only a few tailors who are even willing to work with it. That's why it took so long to get the gift and my clothes back. Because of all this anything made from these require permission from the royal family," Tess explained.

"Tess, I can't..." Arthur started to refuse the gift, feeling she was taking advantage of her position as the former Princess of Elenoir.

"Yes you can accept it!" Tess replied sternly. "And it's not just me who gave their approval, my grandfather did as well!"

"Ok then," Arthur relented, feeling better that it wasn't just Tess giving approval for him to have this. Although he didn't consider Elder Viron to be objective voice either.

"Good. Now why don't you try it on," Tess said with a stern voice.

Arthur nodded and stood up. He grabbed the bottom of his shirt to pull it over his head when he realized Tess was looking at him with anticipation. He figured she was only thinking of the shirt, and he didn't care if she saw him shirtless, but a memory from their childhood popped into his head.

"Turn around," Arthur instructed with a tone that sounded as though he expected her to have already done so. Tess rolled her eyes at the comment as she did so. "So perverted," Arthur added, earning a giggle from the elf.

"Ok, how do I look?" Arthur asked after quickly changing.

Tess turned around and blushed. "That looks really good on you."

"Thanks. It's so lightweight and comfortable," Arthur replied as he moved around. He then channeled some mana into the clothes, causing them to glow slightly, and pulled a cooking knife from his dimensional ring.

"Arthur what are you doing?" Tess asked. But Arthur didn't reply as he lifted the knife and quickly brought it down hard onto his left arm. "ARTHUR!" Tess yelled in panic.

The blade hit Arthur's arm and slid off in a slicing manner. "Oh wow, better than I expected. I expected it to at least hurt and feel like a wooden blade, but it didn't hurt nearly as much, more like I just tapped my arm," Arthur said, sounding impressed.

"You didn't have to scare me like that," Tess said as she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Sorry," Arthur replied sheepishly. "Thank you again." Arthur then gave Tess a hug, which she returned, but as they broke the hug Arthur did something neither of them expected.

Just as they began to part Arthur kissed Tess' right cheek. They were both shocked by the act, as Arthur didn't even think, and only acted almost out of instinct. They both stood there rigidly with bright red blush on their faces, Tess' right hand on her right cheek.

"Well I'm going to go get some sleep. Good night," Tess said and quickly scurried out. As she ran to her room her heart raced as she fought to keep her joy filled screams contained.

Arthur slapped both his cheeks to snap himself out of his dazed state, replaying what had just happened through his head. However he was torn from his thoughts by a voice in his head.

"It seems I picked the perfect time to wake up," Sylvie teased.

"Go back to sleep Sylv," Arthur replied as he began to remove his new clothes.

"I didn't think you had it in you. I guess you'll be ready sooner than either of us expected," Sylvie continued to tease.

However Arthur gave her no attention as he placed his old clothes into his dimensional ring as back ups, and then climbed into bed.

—————————————————————

Next morning

"What's taking them so long?" Elijah groaned as he was sitting in a chair in the entrance of the Helstea's home, wearing the same outfit as he did when he dove into Dire Tombs.

No one responded, although they all agreed Tess and Lilia were taking a while. Waiting with Arthur and Elijah were Arthur's parents and sister, Lilia's parents, and Elder Viron, all of them wanting to wish the teens well as they left.

"Sorry were late," Lilia called out as she and Tess stared walking down the stairs.

Lilia was wearing a dark green well fitting strapless dress that ended mid thigh with a matching green cloak that ended at knee level, both with silver edging. Her staff was about the size of a cane, and resembled a question mark with an emerald colored crystal in the opening.

Tess was wearing a light pink dress that stopped mid thigh. She wore a leather belt around her waist with a gold buckle, two strips of leather came off of the belt and crossed her mana core and attached to leather armor at her chest. There was dark pink lacing on her sides starting below her waist and at her mana core.  A top this she wore a matching dark pink coat with light pink trim that ended at her waist. On her right side attached to her belt like a sword was her light gray bladed wooden staff.

Vincent Helstea was blubbering about how proud he was of Lilia as tears trailed down his face. Elder Viron on the other hand stayed silent as he looked upon his granddaughter with a proud smile. However Viron wasn't the only one staring at Tess, Arthur's eyes were also locked on her as he admired her beauty, as a light blush formed on his face. Viron glanced over at Arthur who was only a step away to his side, and saw this. He took a side step closer as he placed a hand on his shoulder and bent down to be more on his level.

"Are you feeling a little warm, or do you see something you like?" Viron teased.

"Be quiet Gramps," Arthur replied as he turned his head away, Viron chuckling quietly at his response.

"Ok everyone, do you have your healing crystals?" Alice asked. Elijah, Lilia, and Tess and become like family to Alice, like nieces and nephews, so their well being was important to her now. So after she agreed to allow Arthur to lead them and their other friends into the beast glades she started placing healing spells into crystals, just as she did when Arthur first became an adventurer, and gave each of them three. The teens each revealed their crystals, Tess and Lilia's were on necklaces, while Elijah's were on a bracelet, and Arthur's were in the same glove that he received his initial crystals in. Lilia and Tess' families were of course grateful for this, and they assumed Elijah's guardian would be too if they were able to speak with him.

"Arthur one last thing before you all go," Viron announced as they started to make their way to the door. Arthur stopped and walked over to the old elf who was down on one knee so he could speak quieter and not be heard. "I won't ask you to protect my granddaughter, because I know you'll do everything in your power to keep her safe. So I will only say this," Viron took a deep breath and looked at Arthur with a serious gaze, making Arthur feel whatever he was about to say must be extremely important. "Even though I fully support you one day becoming my Grandson-in-law, I'm nowhere near ready to become a great grandfather..." Viron appeared to have more to say, as Arthur backed away with a blush brighter than Tess' outfit. But before Arthur could say anything Tess then jabbed her grandfather in the back with the blunt end of her staff, causing him to straighten up before crumbling to the floor. Tess had heard her grandfather clearly and had a blush that matched Arthur's, as elf ears were more than just a cute feature.

"Ok then. I think we should head out now before Elder Viron says something else that results in him getting punished," Arthur announced as he took Tess by the hand and led her out the front door with Elijah and Lilia following right behind them, while everyone wondered what Virion had said. They then climbed into a carriage that was waiting for them and left for the Xyrus Adventurers Guild Hall.

It didn't take thirty minutes and they were arriving at the guild hall, and easily found the rest of their party. The Glayder family's carriage made them easy to find, although if it wasn't there the six foot tall world lion would have been a dead giveaway. Their friends stood waiting outside the guild hall with Curtis and Kathyln's parents, and were surrounded by four knights in full armor, with one standing within the group with his helmet off.

As they approached the four of them had to take a double take of the rest of their party, as they at first confused Curtis with one of the knights there acting as guards for his parents. He was wearing a full suit of armor with a sword secured to each hip and a helmet under his right arm. His armor was definitely fit for a king. The armor itself was polished to the point where one could see their reflection in it, with gold ornamental detailing on the chest plate, and a red flowing cape with the picture of a golden world lion to complete the look.

Beside Curtis was Kathyln, wearing a white and deep ocean blue dress that ended right passed her knees. And instead of her usual staff, she had a white wand with a sapphire blue crystal at the base attached to her hip.

Feyrith was wearing a traditional light blue elven conjuror attire with matching blue robes covered in blue crystals that looked like a child gotten a hold of it and went crazy with a bedazzler.

Finally was Claire, she was wearing black boots that stopped right below her knees, with stockings that continued to almost mid thigh. She wore a grass green sleeveless dress that ended only an inch or two above her stockings, with a skirt on top that didn't cover her front, but wrapped around and stopped at her shins. On her chest, back, and upper arms was metal armor, with black leather armor continuing from her elbows to her wrists, ending at her hands with a pair of black fingerless gloves. Her look was completed with her reaper secured at her left hip.

"Council members," Arthur said with a bow. "Come to see your children off, I take it?"

"Yes. Despite the fact they are always at school, we at least know where they are and that they're safe," Priscilla Glayder replied.

"But we know they will be fine," Blaine added, then looked to Arthur as his eyes narrowed giving a serious gaze. "Because they have such an experienced adventurer guiding them."

"Don't worry, I'll make sure everyone comes home in one piece," Arthur replied as his eyes locked with Blaines.

"Well we should get going, goodbye," Priscilla said, then gave her children one last hug each.

Blaine and Priscilla climbed into their carriage as the soon to be adventurers began to walk up the steps to the guild hall, when Arthur stopped and Turned around.

"Council members," Arthur called out. "Before we leave could I have a moment of your time? There is a troubling issue I believe you should be made aware of."

Priscilla gestured to Arthur and he approached the carriage. "So what is the problem," Priscilla asked.

"I believe you should be aware that there is a man who claimed to represent your family, and made an offer to my parents that I highly doubt you would approve of," Arthur informed the Glayders.

"Thank you Arthur, we'll look into it," Blaine replied.

"What kind of offer?" Priscilla asked.

A week ago when Arthur was returning home for the last time from school, he and the three friends he resided with arrived to see a regal looking carriage parked by at the front of the Helstea home. Before their carriage even stopped a well dressed man burst out of the door running to his carriage while ripping his coat off that was on fire. As his carriage sped off Arthur and his friends saw his father in the doorway, his body covered in a bright yellow flame. Arthur didn't know what the man did to anger his father to that degree, but he was impressed that his father made that much progress with his fire magic to turn his flames yellow instead of the usual red he used.

Arthur had asked his father what happened, but he just brushed it off and told Arthur not to worry about it. Arthur didn't want to just drop the topic, but he didn't know of any other avenues to pursue to get any information. Thankfully for him, Ellie had mastered the art of eavesdropping, and proudly shared the information. Apparently the man represented the Glayder family, and was trying to persuade Reynolds and Alice to agree to an arranged marriage between Arthur and Kathyln. The Leywins remained peaceful through most of the attempted negotiations as they refused offer after offer, not wanting to have any hand in deciding Arthur's future wife, and even asked the man to leave several times. Eventually the man made a comment about their upbringing and place in the world, and Rey finally had enough and gave him one last warning to leave. When the man refused yet again, Rey resorted to force, igniting his mana into flames as he grabbed the man by the arm.

Arthur explained all of this to the Glayder's, leaving Blaine with a nervous expression and Priscilla with an angry one.

"Thank you Arthur. You're right, we would never arrange our children's marriage. I'm very sorry that happened, but don't worry, I will personally ensure this matter is handled appropriately," Priscilla replied.

Arthur bowed and thanked them for their time, and turned to walk away. As he walked he heard a loud slap, and a pained grunt from Blaine, leaving Arthur with a satisfied smile on his face as he proceeded to walk up the stairs to join his friends.

"Why did you have to keep them here for so long?" Curtis groaned as sweat dripped from his face.

"Umm, sorry?" Arthur replied, unsure why it was a problem.

"It's fine. To make it up to me, help me get out of this armor, I feel like I'm roasting in it," Curtis replied as he placed his helmet on the ground.

Arthur nodded and began helping Curtis get out of the armor. Kathyln and Claire eventually joined in as Arthur was having trouble, as several pieces of the armor were secured on together, and one had to be removed to remove another. Eventually the armor was off except for the chest and back plates, and the groaning plate. Aside from those Curtis now wore a pair of brown leather boots with brown pants and a red short sleeve shirt with black fingerless gloves. Aside from the shine of his remaining armor, he now looked more like an adventurer starting out.

"Thanks. My mother wouldn't compromise and wouldn't let me go unless I wore all that armor," Curtis explained as he put all the remaining pieces in his dimensional ring. "But she never said I had to keep it on."

"Ok then. Is everyone ready?" Arthur asked as he looked to everyone. They all nodded. "Good, now let's go. It's time for you all to become adventurers!" Arthur announced with enthusiasm and lead his party inside.