She walked over to one of the shelves, reaching for a small, wrapped object that I hadn't noticed before. When she returned, I could see her holding something carefully in her hands, wrapped in fine cloth. She hesitated for a moment, before looking me square in the eye."Here," she said, holding out the bundle to me. "I've got something for you."I stared at it, confused. "What's this?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. "I didn't think you'd be into giving birthday gifts."She gave a soft smile, the kind that always seemed to carry a bit of mystery with it. "This is for tomorrow. It's your birthday, Kael. You're turning 15. You need this."I blinked at her, taken aback. "You didn't have to—""I know, I'll be busy tomorrow onward" she interrupted, her tone firm but kind. "And I want to."With a sigh, I reluctantly took the bundle from her, unwrapping it slowly, my mind already protesting. I didn't need anything from her, certainly not something expensive. As the cloth fell away, my eyes widened at what was revealed: a rge, intricately designed whole right arm guard.It was made of some kind of dark, reflective metal I'd never seen before, polished to a fwless shine. The metal had an almost otherworldly sheen to it, a bluish tint that shifted with the light. It looked heavier than I expected, but the craftsmanship was fwless. As I examined it, I noticed a retractable small knife embedded in the back of the palm area—a hidden bde for quick defense. The whole thing looked like it belonged to some high-ranking adventurer or, at the very least, someone who could afford to buy the best equipment.I froze, unsure how to react. It wasn't just a simple piece of armor—it was a work of art. And it was expensive, way beyond what I could afford. I couldn't accept this from Abigail. No matter how close we had become, this felt like too much.I shook my head and handed it back to her, my voice hesitant. "Abigail, I can't take this. This is... this is way too much. You didn't have to buy me anything like this."Abigail's smile didn't falter. Instead, she pressed the arm guard back into my hands. "I didn't buy it, Kael. I had it specially made for you by a smith my family knows. He's the one who crafted it, not a shop. And it's not just a gift for your birthday. It's something you'll need if you're going to dive into those dungeons. Trust me, it'll help."I stared at her, the weight of her words sinking in. She didn't just buy it from some random store—this was something personal, crafted specifically with me in mind. I ran my fingers over the smooth surface, still in disbelief."I.. I don't know…" I muttered, still unsure. "It looks... It looks like something only a professional Diver would wear. What if I mess it up?"Abigail rolled her eyes, exasperated but amused. "It's built to st, Kael. And you're going to need it. The dungeons are dangerous. I know you don't like to admit it, but you're going to be facing real threats. That arm guard will protect you. Besides, you're my only friend outside the Academy. I want you to be safe."She gave me a moment to process her words, but I could feel my resistance weakening. She wasn't going to let me off the hook. And honestly, I knew she was right. I had no formal training, no fancy weapons or equipment. If I was going to dive, I would need something like this to keep myself from getting killed.With a long sigh, I finally gave in and nodded. "Alright, alright. I'll take it. But only because you had it specially made just for me." Then I smiled.Abigail smiled back, that familiar, teasing glint returning to her eyes. "Good. I knew you'd come around. Just don't go around getting yourself killed, alright? It's a birthday gift. You can't ruin it by throwing yourself into danger without thinking."I looked down at the arm guard in my hands, now accepting it as my first piece of real equipment. A small part of me felt more confident, like maybe, just maybe, I wasn't as unprepared as I'd originally thought."You remembered. Thanks, Abigail," I said quietly, adjusting the guard on my arm to see how it fit. It was perfect, just like she said.Abigail grinned, clearly pleased with herself. "No problem. Now, get some sleep tonight. Tomorrow's your big day. You're gonna need all the rest you can get."I gave her a nod, feeling a small sense of warmth in my chest. She had a way of making things feel a little less daunting.Abigail suddenly stood up, brushing the stray strands of hair from her face. She looked almost like she was gathering her thoughts, and I could tell there was something she wanted to say. With a small smile, she spoke."By the way, Kael," she said, her voice carrying a hint of excitement. "Tomorrow's my graduation day from the academy."I blinked, surprised. "Wait, really? You're graduating tomorrow?"She nodded, her smile widening. "Yep, I'll be officially done with the academy. After that, I'll have all the time in the world."I felt a small pang of guilt. I hadn't even thought about her graduation when I was so focused on my own impending adventure. "I wish I had something to give you," I muttered, almost too quietly.Abigail raised an eyebrow and let out a short, amused ugh. "You don't need to give me anything, Kael. But if you insist, I'll take whatever you want to give me whenever you're ready."I shook my head adamantly. "No, I'm serious. You've given me something so important. I owe you a gift, and I will make sure I return the favor. Don't think I won't."She chuckled, giving a dramatic sigh. "Alright, alright. I'll hold you to it. But for now, just promise me you won't go rushing into danger. I'd hate to see you get hurt.""Promise," I replied, offering her a grin.

  As we were wrapping up our conversation, Abigail's gaze softened, and she spoke with a hint of excitement in her voice. "By the way, Kael, I'm pnning to dive into a dungeon too, after my graduation. But I'm not sure which one it'll be yet. I'll probably get assigned to a squad by the academy after tomorrow."I raised an eyebrow, curious. "You're diving into a dungeon right after graduation?"Abigail nodded, her smile tinged with both excitement and a touch of uncertainty. "Yeah. After graduation, we're all expected to prove ourselves, you know? I'll be assigned to one of the squads from the academy. But the problem is, I don't know if it will be the same dungeon you'll be diving into. There are a lot of factors to consider when they're assigning groups.""Guess we'll both be diving into different dungeons, huh?" I said, trying to lighten the mood. But in truth, I was thinking about how things were changing between us. We wouldn't be able to meet up as easily as we used to.Abigail sighed, the weight of the unknown in her voice.

  "I suppose so. And with the squads, I won't know where I'll be stationed, or when I'll be able to visit the library." She looked down, her eyes drifting over the rows of books.

  "It feels strange, doesn't it? Knowing that we're both heading into this world, but we might not see each other for a while. I won't be able to pop in and chat whenever I want."I nodded, understanding what she meant. Our paths were diverging now—she would be with her academy squad, while I would be on my own, diving into the dungeons with no formal training or allies at my side. It felt like we were stepping into different worlds, even though we were so close."Yeah," I said, my voice quieter than usual. "But you'll be alright, Abigail. You've got the skills and knowledge. You'll figure it out."Her smile returned, though there was a hint of uncertainty in her eyes. "I hope so, Kael. I really do. But for now, let's just make sure we don't lose touch completely, okay?"I nodded, offering a reassuring grin. "Of course. I'll make sure to drop by whenever I can. And when you're free, we'll catch up. Even if it's just for a quick chat."She gave a small ugh, the sound light and easy. "You'd better, Kael. I'm holding you to it."With that, the atmosphere between us shifted slightly, a sense of finality creeping in. It was clear that the next few days would be pivotal for both of us, and that our paths were going to diverge in ways we couldn't yet predict."Guess I should get going then," I said, standing up from the table. "I'll see you again, right?""Right," Abigail said, standing as well. "but who knows when we'll both be able to meet again, maybe at the entrance of the dungeons."I gave her a final nod, my gaze lingering on her for a moment before I turned to leave. "Good luck with your graduation, Abigail."She gave me a wink. "And good luck with your dives. Try not to do anything reckless."I smiled, though a knot of unease had started to form in my chest. It was strange, this feeling of growing apart, but I knew that our time together wasn't over. It was just... changing.