A Temporary Farewell

Yulan Calendar, December 5, 9998.

Early that morning, a thin mist shrouded Ernst Institute. The distant mountains behind the campus loomed faintly through it. Akes stood at the dormitory entrance, watching Linley emerge with a pack on his back.

He stood there quietly, carrying a small bundle. It looked as though he was setting off on a long journey—or perhaps only heading to the mountains for a day of training.

"That's all?" Akes asked.

Linley patted the bundle on his back. Beneath the cloth, a hard-edged shape showed through. "It's enough."

Yale, George, and Reynolds came out too. The four of them stood in the courtyard, watching Linley. The mood was a little heavy. Even Reynolds, who was usually so talkative, had fallen silent.

"Fourth Bro." Yale spoke, his voice lower than usual. "I had someone take that stone sculpture to a secure room at the Wald Hotel. Three layers of protection, guarded by a Level Seven warrior. It won't get lost."

Linley nodded. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it." Yale waved a hand, trying to sound casual. "You can deal with it yourself when you get back. Sell it or keep it, whatever you want. It's safer there than with you."

Reynolds came over, wanting to say something. He opened his mouth, then swallowed the words. In the end, he only patted Linley on the shoulder and gave it a firm squeeze.

George stepped forward. "Be careful on the way. The Magical Beast Mountain Range is no joke. I hear there are even Level Nine Magical Beasts in Mist Valley."

"I know," Linley said.

George nodded and stepped back.

Linley looked at Akes.

They met each other's eyes for a few seconds.

The morning mist drifted slowly between them, carrying the chill of early winter. Akes looked at the friend he had known for nearly eight years—from when they had started school at nine to now. They had trained together, fought together, and been through all kinds of things, big and small. He knew why Linley was going. Grandfather Doehring, the Dragonblood bloodline, and all the things Linley had never spoken of but had carried in his heart.

"When will you be back?" Akes asked.

"I don't know," Linley said. His voice was calm, but Akes could hear the determination in it. I don't know meant it could be soon, or it could take a long time, or it could—no. There was no other possibility.

Akes nodded and said nothing more.

Linley turned and headed for the institute gates. The mist gradually swallowed him. First his outline blurred, then his back, until only a faint shadow remained. Then he disappeared completely.

The four of them stood where they were. None of them moved.

The courtyard was very quiet, quiet enough to hear droplets of mist fall.

"He just left," Reynolds murmured, his voice tinged with a faint, hard-to-name sadness.

Yale sighed and rested a hand on Reynolds's shoulder. "Let him go. No one else can help with this sort of thing. If it were you or me, we'd have to face it ourselves too."

George nodded. "He'll be different when he comes back."

Akes said nothing. He only watched the path.

He knew better than the others what Linley would become when he returned. Mist Valley, the Dragonblood transformation, the Purple Blood God Sword—the events of the original story played through his mind, as clear as if he had read the novel yesterday.

Some things had to be experienced for oneself. Some roads had to be walked alone. Even though he knew everything, he couldn't walk those roads for Linley. That was Linley's own fate, his own transformation.

"Let's go back," he said.

The four of them turned and went back into the dormitory.

The days that followed went on as usual.

There was just one person missing.

Every morning, Akes went to his sixth-year classroom for lessons. In the afternoon, he trained in the mountains behind the institute, and in the evening, he chatted with Yale and the others in the courtyard. Sometimes he went to Fenlai City to look around, buy a few things, and have a good meal.

At the end of December, the institute went on break.

Students streamed out of the gates like a tide. Some rode in carriages, others on magical beasts, while some traveled with their families' guard units. The campus, which had been bustling for days, suddenly fell quiet.

Yale returned to the Dawson Chamber of Commerce, saying his father had assigned him yet another family matter. George went back to the Yulan Empire; his mother had written to say she missed him. Reynolds returned to the O'Brien Empire. Before leaving, he clung to Akes's arm and wailed for ages, saying things like, "Big Brother Akes, you have to take care of yourself," and, "I'll bring you something delicious when I get back." After Yale smacked him away, he ran off with a grin.

Akes stayed at the institute and continued training.

The cafeteria was still open, but far fewer people ate there. The library was open too, but it was deserted, and even footsteps echoed through it. Only a handful of people remained in the dormitory buildings, mostly sixth-year students like him who had stayed behind to train.

He had already reached the threshold between Level Six and Level Seven.

That afternoon, he sat beside the waterfall and trained. The Fallen Heart Flame pulsed slowly inside him, like a miniature sun, radiating steady, gentle heat. The Fire Spirit Bead rested against his chest, glowing faintly as it continuously absorbed the surrounding fire elements. The Five Spirit Wheel spun at full power, tempering and compressing the elements it absorbed before sending them into his middle dantian.

Fire elements poured into his body. He could feel his magic power growing at a steady rate, little by little, like water being poured into a container. The container was nearly full, but still just a bit short.

Just a little more.

He opened his eyes and looked at the waterfall before him.

The water plunged from above, never stopping. Like time, like training, like the path he was destined to walk. He knew he was already progressing quickly—from Level One to Level Seven had taken only eight years. That pace would rank among the top three in Ernst Institute's history. But he also knew this was only the beginning.

Above Level Seven came Level Eight, then Level Nine, then Saint-level, and beyond that, Deity-level. There was no end to this road.

He drew a deep breath, closed his eyes, and continued training.

One day in mid-February, Yale sent him a message.

The messenger was a capable young man who had ridden all the way from Fenlai City on a fast horse. He handed Akes a sealed letter. The Dawson Chamber of Commerce's wax seal showed a hammer and a gear.

Akes opened the letter. It was in Yale's handwriting.

"A caravan returning from the Magical Beast Mountain Range said they saw Fourth Bro near the edge of Mist Valley," Yale wrote. "He was alone and seemed fine. But the caravan didn't dare go near; there are too many magical beasts in that area. The leader said Linley's complexion looked fine, and he didn't see any injuries on him. He was just a little thinner. The caravan called out to him. He looked back, but didn't come over. He went straight into the valley."

Akes read the letter and felt relieved.

As long as he was all right.

He continued training.

At the end of the month, he broke through.

That afternoon was no different from any other. He sat beside the waterfall, circulated the Five Spirit Wheel, and absorbed fire elements. Everything was the same as it had been during the hundreds, even thousands, of training sessions before. Then, all at once, something changed.

The magic power in his middle dantian jolted, as if it had broken through a barrier. Then the spiritual power in his mind began to surge violently—and liquefied.

It was hard to describe the feeling. It was as if something in his mind had suddenly melted, becoming crystal clear. His spiritual power, which had once been like mist, had now become liquid, flowing slowly. Every drop held ten or a hundred times the power it had before.

He opened his eyes.

The world was different.

The elemental fluctuations around him had become remarkably clear. He could "see" the fire elements dancing in the air and sense the water elements flowing through the waterfall. He could even sense leaves trembling in the distance—not hear or see them, but perceive them directly. It was an extraordinary sensation, as if the whole world had come alive.

"At last," he murmured, a hint of a smile forming at the corner of his mouth.

A high-level Level Seven Mage.

It had taken him a full eight years to progress from Level One to Level Seven. That pace would rank among the top three in Ernst Institute's history. If the instructors found out, they would probably be stunned all over again.

But he knew this was only the beginning.

He stood and looked at the waterfall before him. The water still flowed as before, but everything looked different to him now. He could see how the water elements were distributed throughout the falls and the elemental fluctuations stirred up when the water crashed into the pool. He could even faintly sense the fire elements pulsing deep underground.

When Fourth Bro gets back, we'll graduate together, he thought.

In early March, Linley returned.

That afternoon, Akes was training in the mountains behind the institute when he suddenly sensed a familiar presence approaching. It wasn't merely that the presence had grown stronger—though it had, by a lot. It was a deeper change, as if Linley himself had become someone different.

He opened his eyes and saw Linley emerge from the woods.

He knew at first glance that Linley had changed.

Linley wore ordinary clothes, much like the ones he'd worn when he left. But his whole bearing was different. His gaze was deeper, and his steps steadier.

They looked at each other for a few seconds.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. A breeze stirred, carrying the scent of early spring.

"You're back." Akes stood up.

"Mm." Linley nodded.

They walked back side by side. Neither said a word along the way, but their understanding was still there. There was no need to ask what Linley had been through or why he had changed. Some things didn't need to be said. They both understood.

At the dormitory entrance, Akes suddenly asked, "Are you all right?"

Linley paused. "I'm fine."

Akes nodded and pushed open the door.

Yale and the others were all there. When they saw Linley return, they crowded around him. Reynolds was the most excited. With a whoop, he leaped at Linley and spun him around before Yale slapped him away.

"All right, all right. Let Fourth Bro rest," Yale said. "Dinner at the Wald tonight. My treat."

"Your treat?" George gave him a sidelong look, skepticism in his voice. "The last time you treated us was three months ago, and even that was because you'd lost a bet."

"That's because you guys never gave me a chance!" Yale said indignantly. "I'm in a good mood today. Fourth Bro is back, I'm happy. What's wrong with treating everyone? If you don't like it, don't come."

"Of course I'm coming," George said with a smile. "It's not often you treat us. I'll order the most expensive thing."

"I want the most expensive thing too!" Reynolds raised his hand.

They all burst out laughing.

Akes stood to the side, watching them joke around. A long-missed smile appeared on Linley's face too.

That evening, the five of them sat at their usual table at the Wald and ordered a feast. Yale really did get fleeced. George ordered a bottle of the oldest vintage of red wine, and Reynolds went down the menu, ordering every expensive dish. Yale grimaced at the cost, but still smiled and told the server to bring everything.

"Fourth Bro, how were the past three months?" Yale asked after they'd had a few rounds.

Linley fell silent for a moment, then said, "Not bad."

"What do you mean, not bad?" Reynolds leaned closer. "Did you run into danger? Fight any powerful magical beasts? Did you—"