Chapter 15 — Departure
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Kael Grenfort:
Ahh… early morning.
The air was cool. The sun had just begun to rise — I watched it slowly climb above the horizon from my bedroom window.
Mornings were beautiful. Especially when the air was this fresh. Breathing was a pleasure — each breath filled my lungs, spreading lightness through my body. I stood by the window for several minutes like that, just breathing, just watching. Sunlight filtered through the tree branches, falling to the ground, playing with the morning dew droplets.
I wouldn't have said no to going out for a walk, but comfort was more important to me. Hehe — I chuckled to myself. Who wanted to run around at dawn anyway? Sleep was precious. The best time was sleeping in.
In my past life too, I woke up whenever I wanted. I never used an alarm clock. If I had something to do, I wouldn't command myself, "Wake up at five tomorrow," but rather think, "I need to get up early tomorrow, we'll see." I know it's not a good habit. But if I force myself to do something, or set rigid conditions like "I must do this," I end up feeling guilty.
Strange, isn't it? Obligations — they kill a person. I know that well.
Well, time to eat and get ready. We were leaving tonight — only two months left until school started. Two months. So much time had passed without me even noticing. When summer began, I thought, "There's still time," and now autumn was approaching.
Nearly a month had passed since Sezer and Uel visited.
Something had changed in our house after that day. On one hand, I felt safer. Uncle Sezer had left guards behind — three of them, 1st-tier Gold-rank soldiers. I never saw them, but I knew they were there. Sometimes when I woke up at night, I'd sense movement nearby — footsteps, branches rustling, or just a feeling. They're watching, I'd think. They're protecting.
Father called them "the uncles' gift." Mother just nodded silently — there was gratitude in her eyes, mixed with a hint of resentment. It was natural for someone who had learned to defend her own home to feel uneasy about others' guards.
I still didn't fully understand this power system. I'd learn at school. I wondered, how high exactly was 1st-tier Gold-rank? The book said about Gold-rank mages: "Their power is enough to topple city walls." If three such people were guarding our house… Mother and Cecilia would be safe.
That thought eased my mind a little.
---
I went downstairs.
The smell of breakfast drifted from the kitchen — fresh bread, butter, honey. Mother stood by the stove, her face wearing its usual gentle smile.
"Good morning, Mother. Where's Father?" I asked, sitting at the table.
"He left before dawn to get supplies for the journey — you're traveling with a caravan tonight. He should be back soon. Come, let's eat," Mother said, placing a bowl of hot soup before me.
The soup — meat, vegetables, as delicious as only Mother's cooking could be. I ate slowly, savoring each spoonful. Each bite carried something: Remember this taste. This warmth. You won't have it again for a long time.
"Mother," I said, pausing for a moment. "Won't you be lonely?"
She looked at me, silent for a moment. Then she reached out and stroked my hair.
"I'm not alone, my child. Cecilia is with me. And… those guards are there too. Even if I can't see them, I know they're there."
Something flickered in her eyes — not sadness, not fear. Something else… acceptance? Resignation?
"I'll miss you," I said quietly.
"I'll miss you too, my child. But you have to go. This is for the best."
I lowered my head. I knew. She was right. But it was still hard.
---
I finished eating and went back to my room.
I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, hands folded behind my head. Thinking.
Well. I was leaving today.
I wouldn't see my family again for eleven months.
Ahh, what a disaster — I sighed. I stared at the wooden patterns on the ceiling, counting them. One, two, three… eleven. Eleven months. How many days? Around three hundred thirty. How many nights? The same. How many mornings?
Stop torturing yourself, I told myself. You're leaving. You'll come back. That's all.
Father had explained: first he would go to another city for business, then after handling things there, he'd take me to the city where the academy was located, enroll me, and return. The journey would take several days. Traveling with the caravan was safer, he said.
Well, passing the entrance exam was still uncertain, but…
Hmmn. I didn't think it would be difficult. Other children started sensing mana at ten or twelve, and I'd already formed my mana core. I'd even advanced to two-star. The exam wasn't a problem for me. The real problem was controlling myself. Not standing out. As Mother said: "Act as if you formed it there."
It wouldn't be easy. But I would manage.
---
I decided to pack my things before Father returned.
I didn't want Mother doing too much work — after all, no matter what, she was… my biological mother now. I repeated the phrase in my mind: my biological mother. Strange. I'd never said it out loud. There was no reason to. But I thought it anyway.
In my past life, no one had ever been my biological mother. No one. For a child raised in an orphanage, "mother" was an illusion, a word on paper. But now… now I could look at her, hold her hand, call her "Mother." And she would answer.
It felt good.
I started gathering my things. Books first. My spellbook, a few novels (I'd read them on the road, I figured). Clothes — the uniforms Father had brought, still a bit large, but fine. Some food — Mother had packed it in advance, a small bag with bread and dried meat. I reached in and took out a piece of bread, smelled it. It smelled like home.
My eyes stung a little. I swallowed it down.
---
The day passed quietly. Small chores. I stayed with Mother, helped her around the house. When Cecilia woke up, I held her in my arms. She looked at me — her eyes big, dark, not yet understanding anything, but still smiling.
"Grow well, little sister," I told her. "Grow well while I'm gone."
She grabbed my finger.
In the afternoon, I went out to the yard and practiced a bit. Water dagger — it appeared in my hand instantly, much stronger and sharper than before. Wind magic — with a flick of my hand I created a small whirlwind, sending it forward to rustle the tree branches. Flight — I hovered a few meters in the air, held my balance, then descended slowly.
Everything was fine. Everything was in order.
But there was an emptiness inside me. A kind of… waiting. As if time had stopped, waiting for the moment to say goodbye.
---
Father returned near evening.
I heard him before I saw him — the sound of carriage wheels, then his voice. I looked out the window: he was entering the yard, his clothes dusty, his face a little tired, but there was something in his eyes — excitement, or the satisfaction of a man who'd accomplished something.
"Hello, Kael. What are you doing? Ready?" he said, stepping into my room.
"Yes, Father," I said, standing up.
He looked me over. His eyes stopped on my new clothes, and he nodded.
"Good. You look… like you've grown."
Those words struck something inside me. I didn't say anything, just smiled.
We were both wearing new clothes — after all, we were setting out on a journey. Father's shirt was white, with subtle patterns on the sleeves. I was dressed similarly — smaller, but the same style.
He reached out and ruffled my hair. His hand was large, warm, the touch gentle.
"Well, son. If you're ready, let's go."
"Oh! Father, did you get a new carriage?" I asked in surprise.
A new carriage stood in front of the house. Not large, but elegant. Made of dark wood with carved patterns. Two black horses, their manes groomed, stood harnessed together, pawing the ground impatiently.
"Yes, the old one had fallen apart. I took the opportunity to get a new one," Father said with a hint of pride.
I walked around the carriage, touching the wood. Smooth, warm.
"Say goodbye to your mother," Father said.
---
I ran to the bedroom.
Cecilia was sleeping. In her crib, under a soft blanket, her tiny hands curled into fists. Her breathing — slow, steady, as if the world held no worries at all.
I took her small hand. Her fingers were warm, soft.
"Goodbye, my dear little sister," I said quietly. "You'll be so big by the time I come back."
I kissed her forehead. Her skin — soft, smelling of fresh bread.
"Take care," I told her. "Take care of Mother too. You're the older one now, after all."
I didn't know why I said that. She was only four months old. She didn't understand anything. But I said it anyway. Something inside me needed to.
I left the room.
---
Mother was waiting outside.
When I came out, she opened her arms wide. I didn't understand at first — I gave her a strange look. She had never shown her feelings so openly before. But…
I ran into her embrace.
She bent down, wrapping her arms around me. Her hands locked behind my back. My head rested against her shoulder.
"Take care of yourself, my child. Remember everything I told you. I believe in you," she said.
Her voice trembled.
And she cried a little.
I just held her, not letting go. The scent of her hair — flowers, bread, home — filled my nose. A tear escaped my eye.
I didn't know why. I was surprised. In my past life, I never cried. Never. In the orphanage, crying was a sign of weakness, of death. I had learned to be strong. But now…
"Okay, Mother. While I'm gone, take care of yourself and Cecilia. Mother… I'll miss you."
My voice came out thick. She held me tighter for a moment, then slowly let go.
I wiped the tears from my eyes. She did the same.
"Go, my child," she said, smiling.
---
I climbed into the carriage. I lowered the window curtain — just a little. Father needed to say goodbye, after all. I couldn't interrupt their romantic moment. Hehe.
I watched from behind the curtain.
Joanna reached up and touched Sedric's face. They slowly drew closer to one another. Her hand on his shoulder, his hand on her waist. They looked into each other's eyes — long, deep.
Then a kiss. Light, soft. Lingering for a moment.
"Goodbye. Take care," Father said.
"You too," Mother said.
Father climbed into the carriage beside me. He signaled to the driver.
"Let's go," Father said.
"Yes, sir," said the driver.
The carriage wheels rumbled over the cobblestones.
I looked back. Mother was still standing there. In front of the house. Her hand raised.
I watched her. Small, distant, fading. With every turn, she grew smaller. First her hand disappeared. Then her face. Then her whole figure. Finally, the house itself — became a single point. Then vanished entirely.
I turned back into the carriage. Father sat across from me, looking out the window, silent. There was something in his eyes — sadness, thoughts, memories.
"Father," I said slowly.
"Yes, son?"
"About the guards the uncles left… They'll protect Mother and Cecilia, right?"
"Yes. Sezer left them for that purpose. Three 1st-tier Gold-rank warriors. No one sees them, but they're there. If there's danger, they'll intervene."
I nodded. Three 1st-tier Gold-rank. People who could topple city walls. Mother and Cecilia were safe in their hands.
"I hope they never have to fight," I said.
Father looked at me and smiled softly.
"We hope."
The carriage passed through the town gates. Ahead — the open road. Fields stretched out on both sides, forests in the distance. The sky was clear, the sun setting, painting the horizon red.
"Well, here we go. A new adventure," I said aloud.
"Not scared?" Father asked.
"A little," I admitted. "But more excited."
He laughed. "Good answer."
I looked out the window. The fields stretched endlessly, as if the world itself was like this road — long, unknown, but moving forward.
Kael Grenfort, I told myself. You're setting out. Leaving home for the first time. Scary, but still exciting.
In my past life, I had never experienced anything for the first time. I was a man who had seen everything, known everything, felt everything. But now… now I was a seven-year-old child. Leaving his mother for the first time. Going to school for the first time. Experiencing life emotionally for the first time.
What was wrong with that?
I smiled. The carriage wheels rumbled, the horses trotted steadily, night and the road waited ahead. I didn't know where it would lead me. But I knew one thing: I was ready.
---
Darkness fell. A caravan was waiting by the roadside — several wagons, horses, people. They greeted us when they saw us. Father spoke to them for a while, then returned.
"Sleep, son," he said. "We leave early tomorrow."
"What about you?"
"I'll keep watch for a bit."
I nodded. I stretched out in the carriage, using my clothes as a pillow. Outside, a fire burned, people murmured quietly, sometimes someone laughed.
Sleep wouldn't come. I lay for a while, then pulled the curtain aside. Father was at the head of the caravan, talking with a group of men. The firelight played across his face — lighting up his profile, then plunging it back into shadow.
I thought of Cecilia. Her tiny hand. Mother's embrace.
My eyes stung again. This time, I didn't resist.
I miss them, I said silently. I haven't even been gone a day, and I already miss them.
Then I pulled myself together. Stop. You're strong. You'll manage. Eleven months isn't so long.
I pulled the curtain aside again and looked up at the sky. Stars — millions, endless, each one burning in its own place.
"I'll come back," I told them. "Soon."
My eyes closed. The rumble of carriage wheels, the crackling of the fire, the murmur of voices — all blended into one sound, pulling me into sleep.
— vionessx
See you later.