I woke up early the next morning, the faint hum of Avalon stirring outside the window. My family was already up and about, and as I walked into the kitchen, I found my father fastening the strap of his scabbard, preparing to head to the guild.
"Arthur, hang out with Aria today, will you?" my mother said cheerfully as she set a cup of tea on the counter. "I've got to go with your father."
"So early?" I asked, rubbing the last remnants of sleep from my eyes.
"Early bird gets the worm—or the guild paperwork," she replied with a tired but fond smile.
