Chapter 18: 18
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Five years went by so quickly. I feel like it hasn't even been a year since Gracia was born, but now she's an energetic girl. She's so curious about the world, and always watches me as I train. She even started mimicking my movements at one point, making her beautiful lavender hair flow in the wind. So I started teaching her martial arts, back when she was two. I soon learned she was a prodigy, quickly absorbing anything I taught her. Gracia prefers the spear to any other weapon, and she is almost a master of it. She obviously can't hold a candle to my 10,000+ years of experience, but compared to the soldiers here, she's a goddamn legend. She even had multiple spears made by the Dwarves, each one increasing in weight. Unfortunately, she become quite attached to me because of my mentoring. It will make it difficult for me to leave, she won't be happy.
Mom spent the first year after Gracia's birth, depressed by Dad's situation. Breaking an oath with the Council of Ten is guaranteed to end with imprisonment after all. Hopefully I can manage to change their decision, but it won't be easy. It will likely take decades of convincing, but I will wear them down. After the year, Mom eventually regained her bright personality, though occasionally she does seem to show melancholy. It never happens around Gracia, Mom doesn't want her to be affected by it. She also started taking an active approach to Gracia's education, hiring many tutors to teach the various subjects a ruler would need. For many nights I saw my sister run into my room and cry to me about how unfair it is.
The city and Palace were rebuilt rather quickly following the Lich's assault. The High Elves managed to come together and work to restore their homes. It was quite the pleasant feeling watching the normally haughty Elves actually doing physical labor. Even the Dwarves were involved, well in a sense. They were tasked with making new building materials, things like nails and supports. Obviously they weren't too happy about having to postpone finishing their Legacies. Gildor actually yelled at the person who brought in the order. Most of what was said was just explicit, I never knew you could use those words like that. Talk about shooting the messenger, I thought the poor guy was going to have nightmares.
It's almost time, I should start saying my goodbyes. I've got everything I need to begin my journey, to the west. I'm headed to the coast to stay in a Human settlement and get my Adventurer's license. Gracia is the main obstacle, Mom already knows what's going on. Gracia always wants to stay by my side, I suppose she see's me like a father figure. I don't know how I should break it to her, maybe I should disappear. No, that will just make her resent me, I have to find a better solution. How the hell do you break this kind of news to a 5 year old girl? Dammit, now I'm frustrated, this isn't how I wanted this day to go.
Alright, just take a breath, exhale. Okay, I think the best approach is to just tell both Gracia and Mom at the same time. Mom should be able to calm her down, and then I can escape. Why is it so hard to deal with girls? Well, I think both of them are in the Throne Room, Mom has been teaching her about the responsibilities she'll have to take. This is going to be painful, I can feel it.
Yup, there they are, chatting up a storm. Mom is anyways, Gracia looks bored out of her mind. I guess that's to be expected from the girl who thinks everything besides training is a hassle. Well, she's going to shift gears once I walk in, and unleash a barrage of complaints. She is very predictable, after all. Oh, Gracia has already noticed me, and now she's walking over.
"Big Brother, Mom won't let me train! Can't she wait till I'm older to tell me about responsibility?" Her voice is adorable. She wants me to answer that, she doesn't do rhetorical questions.
"Well, the capacity to learn is connected to how young you are. Mom just wants to make sure you have the knowledge before it becomes more of a chore to teach. You are next in line for the throne after all."
"Why can't you be the next ruler? I just want to get stronger and fight."
"I'm not cut out for leadership, I don't have the charisma for it. You do, I already see it when you play with the other kids. It will only get stronger with age. Maybe one day you'll be known as the Immortal Queen."
"I like that name. Why do you look so sad, Big Brother?" I turn to look at Mom, motioning her to join in.
"Is it time Lugh?" Mom's voice echoes with sadness.
"Yeah."
"Time? Time for what? Big Brother, you're scaring me!" Gracia's voice is trembling. I kneel down, bringing my face closer to her.
"I'm leaving the Palace, my precious little sister. I don't know when I'll come back."
"No! NO! I don't want you to leave, I don't wanna! Why do you have to leave? Was it because of me?" She's starting to cry.
"I have to go, I can't stay here any longer. I was going to leave when I was ten, but Dad got taken away, so I had to postpone until you were old enough. I didn't expect you to get so attached to me."
"Where's Big Brother going to go? I want to be with you!"Her voice is cracking.
"I want to travel this world, to see its sights, learn its cultures. I can't do that if I have to keep an eye out for you. I'm not strong enough to protect you from the dangers Ulder hides."
"I can protect myself! So Brother doesn't have to worry about me."
"You think a few years of training with a spear is enough to stop the creatures that lurk around every corner? You are naive Gracia! You cannot come! Do you understand?"
"Fine! I don't care anymore! Just leave!" She starts to run away, but I quickly grab and pull her into my arms.
"Let me go! I don't ever want to see you again!" She yells, struggling to get out of the hug.
"Listen! I don't want my sister to get hurt or even killed because of me. I wouldn't be able to live with myself. I want you to live here where it's safer, where you can grow up in peace. I'm sure Mom would also like you to stay with her."
"I going to miss you."
"I'll make you a deal. If you can finish up all your studies and manage to learn Magic, I'll come home as soon as I can."
"Okay, but how will you know?"
"I'll leave this crystal here. I inscribed a few Runes that relate to Alert, Message, and Thought. Basically, once you have finished what I asked, Mom will break the crystal, which will notify me. Then I open a Gate back here, and spend some time with you. Sound good?"
"Yeah! I'm gonna ace them all!"
"That's great. Mom, I'm off."
"Mm. I'll be waiting for your return."
I open a Gate to the Forest, and walk through while waving goodbye to my family. My journey has finally begun.
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Five years went by so quickly. I feel like it hasn't even been a year since Gracia was born, but now she's an energetic girl. She's so curious about the world, and always watches me as I train. She even started mimicking my movements at one point, making her beautiful lavender hair flow in the wind. So I started teaching her martial arts, back when she was two. I soon learned she was a prodigy, quickly absorbing anything I taught her. Gracia prefers the spear to any other weapon, and she is almost a master of it. She obviously can't hold a candle to my 10,000+ years of experience, but compared to the soldiers here, she's a goddamn legend. She even had multiple spears made by the Dwarves, each one increasing in weight. Unfortunately, she become quite attached to me because of my mentoring. It will make it difficult for me to leave, she won't be happy.
Mom spent the first year after Gracia's birth, depressed by Dad's situation. Breaking an oath with the Council of Ten is guaranteed to end with imprisonment after all. Hopefully I can manage to change their decision, but it won't be easy. It will likely take decades of convincing, but I will wear them down. After the year, Mom eventually regained her bright personality, though occasionally she does seem to show melancholy. It never happens around Gracia, Mom doesn't want her to be affected by it. She also started taking an active approach to Gracia's education, hiring many tutors to teach the various subjects a ruler would need. For many nights I saw my sister run into my room and cry to me about how unfair it is.
The city and Palace were rebuilt rather quickly following the Lich's assault. The High Elves managed to come together and work to restore their homes. It was quite the pleasant feeling watching the normally haughty Elves actually doing physical labor. Even the Dwarves were involved, well in a sense. They were tasked with making new building materials, things like nails and supports. Obviously they weren't too happy about having to postpone finishing their Legacies. Gildor actually yelled at the person who brought in the order. Most of what was said was just explicit, I never knew you could use those words like that. Talk about shooting the messenger, I thought the poor guy was going to have nightmares.
It's almost time, I should start saying my goodbyes. I've got everything I need to begin my journey, to the west. I'm headed to the coast to stay in a Human settlement and get my Adventurer's license. Gracia is the main obstacle, Mom already knows what's going on. Gracia always wants to stay by my side, I suppose she see's me like a father figure. I don't know how I should break it to her, maybe I should disappear. No, that will just make her resent me, I have to find a better solution. How the hell do you break this kind of news to a 5 year old girl? Dammit, now I'm frustrated, this isn't how I wanted this day to go.
Alright, just take a breath, exhale. Okay, I think the best approach is to just tell both Gracia and Mom at the same time. Mom should be able to calm her down, and then I can escape. Why is it so hard to deal with girls? Well, I think both of them are in the Throne Room, Mom has been teaching her about the responsibilities she'll have to take. This is going to be painful, I can feel it.
Yup, there they are, chatting up a storm. Mom is anyways, Gracia looks bored out of her mind. I guess that's to be expected from the girl who thinks everything besides training is a hassle. Well, she's going to shift gears once I walk in, and unleash a barrage of complaints. She is very predictable, after all. Oh, Gracia has already noticed me, and now she's walking over.
"Big Brother, Mom won't let me train! Can't she wait till I'm older to tell me about responsibility?" Her voice is adorable. She wants me to answer that, she doesn't do rhetorical questions.
"Well, the capacity to learn is connected to how young you are. Mom just wants to make sure you have the knowledge before it becomes more of a chore to teach. You are next in line for the throne after all."
"Why can't you be the next ruler? I just want to get stronger and fight."
"I'm not cut out for leadership, I don't have the charisma for it. You do, I already see it when you play with the other kids. It will only get stronger with age. Maybe one day you'll be known as the Immortal Queen."
"I like that name. Why do you look so sad, Big Brother?" I turn to look at Mom, motioning her to join in.
"Is it time Lugh?" Mom's voice echoes with sadness.
"Yeah."
"Time? Time for what? Big Brother, you're scaring me!" Gracia's voice is trembling. I kneel down, bringing my face closer to her.
"I'm leaving the Palace, my precious little sister. I don't know when I'll come back."
"No! NO! I don't want you to leave, I don't wanna! Why do you have to leave? Was it because of me?" She's starting to cry.
"I have to go, I can't stay here any longer. I was going to leave when I was ten, but Dad got taken away, so I had to postpone until you were old enough. I didn't expect you to get so attached to me."
"Where's Big Brother going to go? I want to be with you!"Her voice is cracking.
"I want to travel this world, to see its sights, learn its cultures. I can't do that if I have to keep an eye out for you. I'm not strong enough to protect you from the dangers Ulder hides."
"I can protect myself! So Brother doesn't have to worry about me."
"You think a few years of training with a spear is enough to stop the creatures that lurk around every corner? You are naive Gracia! You cannot come! Do you understand?"
"Fine! I don't care anymore! Just leave!" She starts to run away, but I quickly grab and pull her into my arms.
"Let me go! I don't ever want to see you again!" She yells, struggling to get out of the hug.
"Listen! I don't want my sister to get hurt or even killed because of me. I wouldn't be able to live with myself. I want you to live here where it's safer, where you can grow up in peace. I'm sure Mom would also like you to stay with her."
"I going to miss you."
"I'll make you a deal. If you can finish up all your studies and manage to learn Magic, I'll come home as soon as I can."
"Okay, but how will you know?"
"I'll leave this crystal here. I inscribed a few Runes that relate to Alert, Message, and Thought. Basically, once you have finished what I asked, Mom will break the crystal, which will notify me. Then I open a Gate back here, and spend some time with you. Sound good?"
"Yeah! I'm gonna ace them all!"
"That's great. Mom, I'm off."
"Mm. I'll be waiting for your return."
I open a Gate to the Forest, and walk through while waving goodbye to my family. My journey has finally begun.
Five years went by so quickly. I feel like it hasn't even been a year since Gracia was born, but now she's an energetic girl. She's so curious about the world, and always watches me as I train. She even started mimicking my movements at one point, making her beautiful lavender hair flow in the wind. So I started teaching her martial arts, back when she was two. I soon learned she was a prodigy, quickly absorbing anything I taught her. Gracia prefers the spear to any other weapon, and she is almost a master of it. She obviously can't hold a candle to my 10,000+ years of experience, but compared to the soldiers here, she's a goddamn legend. She even had multiple spears made by the Dwarves, each one increasing in weight. Unfortunately, she become quite attached to me because of my mentoring. It will make it difficult for me to leave, she won't be happy.Mom spent the first year after Gracia's birth, depressed by Dad's situation. Breaking an oath with the Council of Ten is guaranteed to end with imprisonment after all. Hopefully I can manage to change their decision, but it won't be easy. It will likely take decades of convincing, but I will wear them down. After the year, Mom eventually regained her bright personality, though occasionally she does seem to show melancholy. It never happens around Gracia, Mom doesn't want her to be affected by it. She also started taking an active approach to Gracia's education, hiring many tutors to teach the various subjects a ruler would need. For many nights I saw my sister run into my room and cry to me about how unfair it is.The city and Palace were rebuilt rather quickly following the Lich's assault. The High Elves managed to come together and work to restore their homes. It was quite the pleasant feeling watching the normally haughty Elves actually doing physical labor. Even the Dwarves were involved, well in a sense. They were tasked with making new building materials, things like nails and supports. Obviously they weren't too happy about having to postpone finishing their Legacies. Gildor actually yelled at the person who brought in the order. Most of what was said was just explicit, I never knew you could use those words like that. Talk about shooting the messenger, I thought the poor guy was going to have nightmares.It's almost time, I should start saying my goodbyes. I've got everything I need to begin my journey, to the west. I'm headed to the coast to stay in a Human settlement and get my Adventurer's license. Gracia is the main obstacle, Mom already knows what's going on. Gracia always wants to stay by my side, I suppose she see's me like a father figure. I don't know how I should break it to her, maybe I should disappear. No, that will just make her resent me, I have to find a better solution. How the hell do you break this kind of news to a 5 year old girl? Dammit, now I'm frustrated, this isn't how I wanted this day to go.Alright, just take a breath, exhale. Okay, I think the best approach is to just tell both Gracia and Mom at the same time. Mom should be able to calm her down, and then I can escape. Why is it so hard to deal with girls? Well, I think both of them are in the Throne Room, Mom has been teaching her about the responsibilities she'll have to take. This is going to be painful, I can feel it.Yup, there they are, chatting up a storm. Mom is anyways, Gracia looks bored out of her mind. I guess that's to be expected from the girl who thinks everything besides training is a hassle. Well, she's going to shift gears once I walk in, and unleash a barrage of complaints. She is very predictable, after all. Oh, Gracia has already noticed me, and now she's walking over."Big Brother, Mom won't let me train! Can't she wait till I'm older to tell me about responsibility?" Her voice is adorable. She wants me to answer that, she doesn't do rhetorical questions."Well, the capacity to learn is connected to how young you are. Mom just wants to make sure you have the knowledge before it becomes more of a chore to teach. You are next in line for the throne after all.""Why can't you be the next ruler? I just want to get stronger and fight.""I'm not cut out for leadership, I don't have the charisma for it. You do, I already see it when you play with the other kids. It will only get stronger with age. Maybe one day you'll be known as the Immortal Queen.""I like that name. Why do you look so sad, Big Brother?" I turn to look at Mom, motioning her to join in."Is it time Lugh?" Mom's voice echoes with sadness."Yeah.""Time? Time for what? Big Brother, you're scaring me!" Gracia's voice is trembling. I kneel down, bringing my face closer to her."I'm leaving the Palace, my precious little sister. I don't know when I'll come back.""No! NO! I don't want you to leave, I don't wanna! Why do you have to leave? Was it because of me?" She's starting to cry."I have to go, I can't stay here any longer. I was going to leave when I was ten, but Dad got taken away, so I had to postpone until you were old enough. I didn't expect you to get so attached to me.""Where's Big Brother going to go? I want to be with you!"Her voice is cracking."I want to travel this world, to see its sights, learn its cultures. I can't do that if I have to keep an eye out for you. I'm not strong enough to protect you from the dangers Ulder hides.""I can protect myself! So Brother doesn't have to worry about me.""You think a few years of training with a spear is enough to stop the creatures that lurk around every corner? You are naive Gracia! You cannot come! Do you understand?""Fine! I don't care anymore! Just leave!" She starts to run away, but I quickly grab and pull her into my arms."Let me go! I don't ever want to see you again!" She yells, struggling to get out of the hug."Listen! I don't want my sister to get hurt or even killed because of me. I wouldn't be able to live with myself. I want you to live here where it's safer, where you can grow up in peace. I'm sure Mom would also like you to stay with her.""I going to miss you.""I'll make you a deal. If you can finish up all your studies and manage to learn Magic, I'll come home as soon as I can.""Okay, but how will you know?""I'll leave this crystal here. I inscribed a few Runes that relate to Alert, Message, and Thought. Basically, once you have finished what I asked, Mom will break the crystal, which will notify me. Then I open a Gate back here, and spend some time with you. Sound good?""Yeah! I'm gonna ace them all!""That's great. Mom, I'm off.""Mm. I'll be waiting for your return."I open a Gate to the Forest, and walk through while waving goodbye to my family. My journey has finally begun.
