The warm light from the restaurant's lanterns flickered softly against the walls, casting a cozy glow as the evening crowd filled the small dining area. Noah was busily moving between tables, clearing empty dishes and bringing fresh mugs of cider, but his attention kept drifting over to the group of adventurers seated in the far corner. They were impossible to ignore, especially with their weathered cloaks, enchanted leather armor, and weapons that glinted with a faint magical aura. To Noah, they seemed like figures pulled from a storybook, brimming with secrets and power.

Every few minutes, he'd glance at their table, eyes wide as he took in the sight of their weapons. The swords were decorated with ornate runes, each faintly glowing with magic. One adventurer even had a gleaming spear propped against the wall, with a crystal embedded in its hilt. The leader, a tall, rugged man with a well-trimmed beard and a powerful build, wore a thick, dark cloak over his armor, his hand resting on the hilt of a dagger that seemed to pulse faintly with energy.

"Noah!" Mira's sharp voice cut through his thoughts. She was standing behind the counter, hands on her hips as she gave him a pointed look. "Quit staring at them and get back to work. They're just adventurers, not gods."

Startled, Noah turned back to his work, cheeks flushing slightly. "Sorry, Mira... It's just—they're so... cool."

Mira rolled her eyes, a small smile creeping onto her face. "Yeah, well, if you keep gawking, they're going to start thinking you're part of the furniture. Besides, they're here to eat, not to be stared at. Now, go clean table six."

Noah nodded, hurrying over to the empty table Mira had pointed out. But even as he worked, he couldn't quite shake the excitement bubbling within him. The adventurers' presence stirred something in him—a mix of curiosity and a deep-seated longing. He could only imagine the kinds of battles they'd fought, the monsters they'd faced, and the lands they'd seen. For a moment, he wondered if he could ever be like them. If maybe, one day, he'd have a weapon of his own.

The evening continued with a steady stream of villagers coming in, chatting and sharing stories over warm bowls of stew and freshly baked bread. Mira moved through the tables with practiced ease, taking orders and laughing with the regulars, while Noah did his best to keep up. The work was hard, but he didn't mind—there was something comforting about the rhythm of it, and he found himself enjoying the small moments of peace between his glances at the adventurers.

When he was finally able to steal a quick break, Noah slipped behind the counter where Mira was refilling a tankard of ale.

"Hey, Mira," he said quietly, "do you think... do you think I could ever be an adventurer?"

She raised an eyebrow, eyeing him curiously. "What, you? Out there fighting monsters and slinging magic?"

He shrugged, trying to hide his embarrassment. "Maybe. I mean, you can use magic, right? So... maybe I could learn too."

Mira's expression softened, and she gave him a gentle nudge. "Who knows? But right now, let's stick to not breaking any dishes, okay?"

Noah laughed, nodding. But even as he returned to work, the idea lingered in his mind, a small ember of hope sparking within him.

Just as Noah was clearing another table, the door to the restaurant burst open with a loud bang, slamming against the wall. The chatter in the room instantly died down, and all heads turned toward the entrance. Standing there were three men with rough, unkempt appearances, their eyes gleaming with a dangerous intent. They wore mismatched leather armor, and the tallest of them—a man with a jagged scar across his cheek—held a short sword that glinted menacingly in the lamplight.

"Alright, everyone!" the scarred man shouted, his voice thick with menace. "Nobody move. Hand over your valuables, and no one gets hurt."

A murmur of fear rippled through the crowd, and Mira moved protectively closer to her mother, her hand instinctively reaching for Noah. The adventurers, however, remained seated, eyeing the newcomers with calm, assessing gazes.

One of the adventurers, a lean woman with a spear, rose to her feet, her voice carrying across the room. "You've made a big mistake coming in here, friends. I'd suggest you leave before things get ugly."

The scarred man sneered, raising his sword. "Oh yeah? You think you can take us on, little missy?"

Without another word, the woman's spear began to glow with a faint, shimmering light, and in a flash, she lunged forward, striking at one of the robbers with a precise, lightning-fast jab. The man staggered back, clutching his side, while the other adventurers sprang into action.

The leader of the adventurers, the bearded man Noah had admired, pulled his dagger from its sheath. It pulsed with mana, blue light swirling around the blade as he slashed at one of the robbers, the energy crackling as it connected. Another adventurer, a tall man with a bow, loosed an arrow that glowed faintly with magic, striking one of the robbers in the shoulder and pinning him to the wall.

As the fight continued, the robbers fought back with desperate fury, some of them calling on their own mana to strengthen their attacks. One of the robbers, his hand crackling with dark energy, raised his fist and hurled a bolt of magic toward Mira.

Noah's POV

I saw it happen in a heartbeat—one of the robbers casting a spell, his hand glowing with dark mana as he aimed straight at Mira. My heart stopped, and before I could think, I grabbed the dagger from the adventurers' table, the one with the swirling runes and faint blue light. It felt heavy in my hand, but something inside me pushed forward, urging me to act.

I stepped in front of Mira just as the robber's attack shot forward. The mana bolt struck the dagger, and I felt a strange surge rush through me—a spark, like a fire igniting deep inside. I didn't understand it, but somehow, I knew I could protect her. I gripped the dagger tightly, and to my amazement, a faint glow began to form around the blade, mimicking the adventurer's magic.

My hands were shaking, but I steadied myself, facing the robber as he sneered at me. "What's a little kid like you gonna do with that?" he jeered.

I didn't answer. Instead, I held the dagger up, feeling the mana pulsing within it, as if it were guiding me. The robber lunged forward, and I reacted instinctively, bringing the dagger down in a sweeping arc. The glow around the blade intensified, and when it connected with the robber's arm, he let out a howl of pain, stumbling back.

Behind me, Mira gasped, but I didn't dare look away from the robber. The other adventurers moved in, dispatching the remaining robbers with swift, efficient strikes. The leader, the bearded man, finished off the last of them, then turned to me, his expression one of surprise and... respect?

Third-Person POV 

The room was silent as the adventurers surveyed the aftermath. The robbers were either unconscious or restrained, lying in a heap at the center of the floor. The villagers murmured in awe, staring at the adventurers and at Noah, who still clutched the dagger, his face a mixture of shock and determination.

The leader approached Noah, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "You've got some courage, kid. Didn't expect to see someone your age take a stand like that."

Noah swallowed, his hands trembling as he handed the dagger back. "I... I just wanted to protect her."

The adventurer nodded, his expression softening. "Well, you did a fine job of that. And it looks like you've got a bit of spark in you." He glanced at Mira, then back at Noah, his eyes gleaming with approval. 

With that, the adventurer took the dagger, sheathing it with a practiced motion. As he turned back to his comrades, Mira put a hand on Noah's shoulder, giving him a proud smile.

In that moment, standing amid the remnants of the fight, Noah felt something shift inside him—a glimmer of hope, a new sense of purpose.