Early Rise

He awoke slowly. As was the case most mornings. He'd gotten in the habit of waking up at the crack of dawn, but that never meant he felt any less drained doing it. Throwing the blankets from his bed off him, he swung his legs over the side.

'C'mon Gram, it's game time today. You're a busy man, get yourself sorted out.' he thought to himself.

He got himself up and slipped into some robes. Before heading into the kitchen and seeing his father sitting at the table, a pot over a fire burning in the quiet morning air.

"Hey Dad, you sleep alright?"

"Shockingly, yes. Considering most mornings i'm out before you're even up on Slayer work, it's been awfully quiet these last few days." He looked up and made eye contact with Gram, before giving him a small smile.

Gram's father, Grancis Fellum, was the only official, Slayer Academy recognized Slayer in the whole village of Buroki. While anybody could technically fill the role of a Slayer, only those who were officially registered with a Slayer Academy from a bastion were eligible to any sort of assistance or benefits.

His father was the only one in Buroki who'd dared make the entire trip there and back, it was a story he'd always loved to tell to anyone who'd listen. His village had a few men and women who'd picked up a weapon for defense sake, but Grancis was the teacher, and he always led them if anything happened.

"I'm happy to hear it, your old bones might not be able to keep up if you're not getting your full eight hours." Gram said with a grin. The chuckle and side-eye from his father was all the confirmation he needed to know his jab struck true.

"Can it, you. Gods, you've kept your mothers wit if anything. Now come on, i took the chance to get some stew brewing. It should be done soon, slip outside and grab some of the spare wood for me, be careful though, it's icy this morning. Take my coat with you." Grancis said, he pointed to a rack on the wall with a large, pelt coat hanging off of it.

Getting up with a grunt, Gram headed over and put on the coat. It was the pelt of a Boarwa, thick and heavy. Perfect for the winter weather. Slipping into some boots, he opened the door to a light blast of cold, early morning breeze. It was always chilly in the mornings in Buroki, the morning breeze went right through you if you weren't prepared. Going around to the side of the lodge, Gram grabbed a couple of logs from the storage pile, hoisting them up into his arms, he was about to make the walk back when a voice call out to him.

"Yo Gram, morning dude. How goes everything? You good?" The voice comes from a man no talker than Gram himself. It only took Gram a glance to realize who it was, his friends short, spiked blonde hair was a oddity in his small backwater village.

"Hey Dule. I'm all good, getting some more wood, Dads cooking up one of his stews and asked me to grab it. I'm gonna guess you've been out and fetched some more? You were low last week from what i remember."

Dule smiled and nodded. "Yeah, the old hag wanted me up nice and early so she could make sure i'm ready and waiting to set out for the registration test later. She's doing me some food for the journey and told me to give some to you before we left."

Gram's eyes opened wide "Really? She wants to give some to me? Is she okay?"

Dule gave a chuckle and winced, it wasn't a secret that his old lady wasn't the nicest person in the village, for all his quirks, Dule seemed to be the only person who can warm that cold heart of hers. "Yeah, i think the thought of having me leave for the test might be getting to her, but i'll be sure she gets a share of the food. I'll bring it to you when we meet at the town entrance in a couple of hours."

"Alright, well i've gotta get going, Dad's probably wondering where i've been all this time. I'll see you later Dule, say hi to your mom for me." Gram said, he heard the goodbyes from Dule and headed back in, putting some wood under the fire and sitting back down back at the table.

Grancis set down a large, steaming bowl in the middle of the table and gestured for Gram to dig in. "I wondered what took you so long. Thought you'd managed to slip and get yourself killed on some ice. I've got the stew out for you, now make sure you eat up. You've got a lot ahead of you today, i want you feeling your best." Gram nodded with a smile, thanked his Dad for the meal, and ate to his hearts content.

His Dad was right after all. In just a few hours, Gram, as well as Dule were going to take their first real steps to becoming full fledged Slayers.