Volume 1. Chapter 10: At Lily's house

Lily opened the door and gestured Ken inside. He looked around with curiosity: a spacious, cozy house stretched out before him, traditional in style but with amenities that were distinctly different from simple country dwellings. Light streamed softly through the windows, flooding the room with warmth and creating a sense of safety and peace.

- Not bad for such a small place, huh? - Lily smiled, watching Ken's reaction.

Ken nodded, not hiding his surprise.

- Not bad? Lily, it's more like a nobleman's house! It's so spacious and... cozy,” he said, taking in the details of the interior, the carved wood paneling and soft carpets on the floor.

- Father was once an adventurer,” Lily explained with a slight embarrassment, as if she wasn't used to bragging about it. - He'd made his fortune through years of traveling and fighting, so he'd been able to build this house when he returned to the village. We all lived here together until-” Her voice grew quieter, and she was silent for a moment. - Anyway, he did everything he could to make us comfortable.

Ken sensed that there was pride in her words, but also a slight sadness. To change the subject, he looked around, trying to get back to his usual tone.

- Do you even have a bathroom? - He asked with a smile, hoping to lighten the atmosphere a little.

Lily, obviously noticing his effort, nodded.

- Yes, my father thought comfort was important. Especially when you come home after a long day in the woods,” she said, her lips curving into a slight smile. - We have a big bathtub here, the water heated by a stone my father brought from some hot spring.

Ken whistled, genuinely impressed.

- Look, your dad was a really cool guy,” he said with admiration. - And he seemed to have taken care of every little detail.

Lily blushed slightly at his praise and gestured for him to follow her.

- Come on, I'll show you his room. - She hesitated for a moment, but then added firmly: - I thought it would be better for you to wear something of his clothes. What you're wearing now will attract attention, and you'll need something more practical on the way to the temple.

Ken, slightly surprised, nodded and followed her down the hall. Lily opened the door to a spacious room with dark wood furniture. The windows let in soft light and the walls were decorated with ancient artifacts and weapons that Ken realized belonged to Lily's father. There were many things in the room that testified to the adventurer's life: amulets, maps with notes, and several daggers stacked carefully on a table.

Lily walked over to a large chest against the wall and opened it carefully. Inside were neatly folded shirts, pants, jackets, and other clothes that had belonged to her father.

- I thought you might want to choose some of these,” she said, turning to Ken. - You'll need a lot of changes of clothes on the road, and I wouldn't want you to stand out. And-” Lily hesitated for a moment before continuing, ”-he was large, so maybe things will fit you.

Ken walked over to the trunk and looked at the clothes. Surprisingly, they were in good condition, well-made and looked practical enough for long journeys.

- Thank you, Lily. I'm really not comfortable taking your father's things,” he said, a slight uncertainty flickering across his face. - I realize they're precious to you.

Lily lowered her gaze, but then smiled softly.

- It's true,” she replied quietly, ”but Father always said that his things should serve a purpose, not just lie idle. He wouldn't want something valuable to gather dust if it could be of use to someone else. I'm sure he'd love it if you could use his clothes.

Ken, feeling her words penetrating his heart, nodded slowly. He took one of the shirts and slipped it on, slightly hesitant to see if it would fit. However, it sat on him as if it had been sewn especially for him.

Lily watched him and, blushing faintly, noted how good the clothes looked on him. The shirt fit Ken perfectly, and the dark pants he tried on added maturity and confidence. Lily froze for a moment, admiring him, but quickly pulled herself together.

- You know,” she said, a little embarrassed, ”it really suits you. You remind me of my father in that outfit...” she stopped talking, as if realizing what she'd said out loud, and a slight blush came to her cheeks.

Ken grinned, trying to ease her embarrassment.

- I guess your father and I had similar tastes,” he winked, adjusting his sleeves. - Do you think I'd do well in his role - at least partially?

Lily laughed, her laugh light and warm.

- You will, if you're as good with a sword as he is,” she said with a genuine smile, then turned back to the chest. - Speaking of defense, you'll need something else.

She pulled out a simple but sturdy sword with a worn but sturdy hilt. The blade gleamed, reflecting the light from the window.

- It was my father's sword, one of the first he carried. It's simple but sturdy,” Lily explained, holding it out to Ken. - You won't be able to handle heavy blades at first, but this one is for beginners.

Ken took the sword carefully in his hand, weighing it, and feeling the power that came from it, he felt a mixture of respect and excitement.

- Thank you, Lily,” he said, looking at her gratefully. - You do realize that if anyone can teach me how to survive in this world, it's you, right?

Lily was slightly embarrassed by his words, but nodded.

- I'll... try to be a good mentor,” she said, trying not to betray her joy. - After all, if you're going to come with me, you need to learn how to defend yourself.

She reached into the chest again and pulled out a couple of protective amulets.

- And these are for you, too,” Lily said, holding them out to Ken. - These amulets are made to protect against curses. They are old, but trusted, my father used to wear them on his quests.

Ken took the amulets, looking at them carefully, realizing he was holding something very personal and important to her.

- Thank you, Lily,” he said, feeling awe at her generosity. - I promise I won't let you down. Even if I have to fight, I'll do my best.

Lily nodded, her face slightly flushed, and she looked away slightly.

- You... you just try to stay out of trouble,” she replied, trying to keep her tone firm, but her voice still trembled with slight worry. - I'll be there to help, but I wish you wouldn't take any unnecessary risks.

Ken grinned and said with a wink:

- Well, since I'm under your protection, what have I got to fear? - He paused, then added in a soft, warm tone, “Thank you, Lily. I don't even know how to express how much it means to me.

Lily smiled softly and looked into his eyes.

- You know, Ken, it means a lot to me, too,” she replied quietly. - It... feels good to be able to help someone this time. That feeling... fills me with meaning.

They stood looking at each other for a moment, but then Lily woke up, slightly embarrassed, and pointed toward the hallway to change the subject.

- 'I think you should go wash up before dinner. The bathroom is down the hall to the right. Everything's in there. I think you can figure it out on your own. It won't take long to heat the water, so when you're done, come down for dinner,” she said, clearly pleased that she'd found a new reason to talk.

Ken nodded, realizing that she needed some time to get over her feelings, and decided not to linger.

- That's fine,” he said with a smile. - I was just about to look at the famous bathtub.