CHAPTER 17
Grey had spent two months attempting to master all the spells given to him, making significant progress during that time.
He was now able to utilize his abilities seamlessly; although his Earth magic remained relatively weak, he compensated for that deficiency with his wind and fire magic.
This balance made him essentially on par with an average blue-grade magic user.
The other area he had struggled with was the runic and portal symbols.
He practiced these for two months straight, eventually seeing some visible results.
He was finally able to draw runes that could serve as effective illusion-casting tools.
However, the portal runes were where he faced his greatest challenges.
He tried repeatedly to draw the symbols for a portal that would transport him to another world, meeting failure at almost every turn.
But finally, everything changed.
He gained the inspiration he required and was able to complete and even activate the circle.
Currently, he was staring at the illuminating glow emanating from the portal in front of him.
He couldn't help but smile widely as he watched his hard work bear fruit.
"Finally! After so long, I have finally been able to complete it," Grey shouted, jumping around in sheer excitement.
The light glowed brilliantly for two minutes before it dimmed and eventually went out, but Grey didn't mind.
He knew he could reactivate it at any moment as long as he possessed mana.
"I can just trigger it whenever I want, provided I have mana—which I have in surplus," he said with a grin.
He sat down on his Earth-molded chair and took a long chug of a canned drink.
"This drink tastes so much better now that I have accomplished something this monumental," he whispered, taking another refreshing swallow.
After he finished the beverage, he tossed the empty can upward with all his strength.
In a flash, he shot out a thin, concentrated stream of fire toward the metal, causing it to ignite instantly.
The object burned brightly as it arced back toward the floor.
Before it could impact, Grey quickly moved to the projected landing spot.
He placed his hand on the floor and opened a small pit using his Earth magic.
The scorched can fell into the dark hole, and Grey promptly closed the earth back up before returning to his seat.
"Now that that task is finished, I need to concoct an excuse for Mum for when I actually activate the portal and head out," Grey thought, stroking his bare chin in deep contemplation.
After several minutes of pacing around the room and stroking his jaw, he still hadn't come up with a believable reason to explain his absence to his mother.
Since he had no immediate ideas, Grey stood up and walked toward a specific wall in the room.
He placed his palm against the surface, inputting a small amount of mana, and the stone opened up.
He stepped through, and the wall shut tight behind him.
Grey now stood in the small outer cave he had initially entered from.
With a sigh, he walked out into the fresh air and began his trek out of the forest, his mind still racing for a plausible explanation.
"I think it would be wise to tell Mum that I have finally unlocked my affinities. I can't keep her in the dark forever; sooner or later, the truth will be revealed.
I would much rather tell her myself than have her discover the reality from somewhere else." He sighed as he reached the outskirts of the woods.
He kept walking with his head down, trying to structure a gentle way of informing her of the truth.
Finally, after twenty minutes of travel, Grey arrived back home. He twisted the door knob and walked inside.
Immediately, he saw his mother frantically pacing around the living room, looking distressed as she tried to gather some belongings together.
"Mum?" Grey said, stepping further into the room as he watched her methodically packing her belongings into several bags.
"Are you going somewhere?" he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.
"Yes, honey. You know the factory where I am currently employed? They selected a few workers to head over to another town for a few weeks to assist with a specific project," Clara replied without looking up from her task.
"A few weeks?" Grey repeated. A subtle, small smile began to play on his lips as the realization hit him.
"I'm so sorry, honey. I know you will be lonely here, but this is incredibly important. If we manage to complete the job perfectly, we will be rewarded handsomely—and you know how much we need the extra money right now.
I truly wish I could have taken you along, but I simply can't," Clara apologized, pausing her work to rest her hands gently on Grey's shoulders.
"It's okay, Mum. I will be perfectly fine. I'm not a kid anymore; I will take care of myself, so please don't worry about me," Grey said, his smile widening even further.
"Thank you, honey, for your understanding. I love you so much," Clara said, pulling her son into a tight, affectionate hug.
"I love you too, Mum," Grey whispered, hugging her back while his mind raced with the freedom this provided for his portal experiments.
After a few seconds of silence, Clara pulled away and returned to her packing.
"Come and help me, dear."
"I was already planning on doing just that," he said with a grin, kneeling down to help his mother arrange her clothes and essentials inside the bags.
"So, when exactly are you leaving?"
"Tomorrow at dusk. And I will be back in about three weeks or so," Clara replied.
"Don't worry; the house is fully stocked with food, and I have placed five silver coins on the kitchen counter for your general upkeep."
"Five silver coins? Isn't that far too much? Do you even have enough money to take care of yourself right now?" Grey asked, his concern genuine.
"Don't worry, the factory authorities will be taking care of all our expenses for us," Clara replied, a reassuring smile on her face.
After a few more minutes of labor, they were finished arranging the luggage.
The bags were set aside as Clara headed into the kitchen to prepare a final dinner for the two of them so they could enjoy a quiet meal together.
That night, they ate and chatted for hours, sharing stories and laughing happily.
After a long evening of bonding, they both finally retired to their respective rooms and drifted off to sleep.