The following morning arrived with a cool, crisp air. Frase and Kanone sat atop their carriage, the horses restless and ready to move, while Geehrt stood on the side of the road. It was the moment of their separation.
Frase had finally accepted that there was no changing Geehrt's mind. The boy was as stubborn as he was talented.
The only solace she could find in this situation was the undeniable fact that Geehrt had grown strong enough to face almost any enemy that might come his way.
He had proven himself against a Demon General, a feat that most adult mages could never dream of accomplishing.
The only reason she remained reluctant to let go was due to his age. He was still a child, not even eleven years old yet.
But even with that maternal worry gnawing at her, she could not raise a logical concern, especially after seeing the efficient and brutal way Geehrt had handled their recent mission.
"Are you sure you do not want to wait at least two years before starting your own journey? You are still incredibly young, and you have no experience surviving in the mountains and the harsh climate of the North," Frase said.
Her voice was laced with concern. She looked at him not as a powerful mage, but as her grandson who was about to walk into the unknown alone.
"You have nothing to worry about, Grandmother. You have given me a hundred Stral gold coins.
That is more than enough to let me buy my supplies, proper attire for the cold, and food. Plus, I have been trained to withstand even the most lethal poisons by Master Wehrlos.
He also taught me a trick to ensure that I would not die from freezing in the mountains by regulating my mana flow to heat my body. Anything else I need to know, I will learn along the way," Geehrt said.
He spoke with a calm assurance, trying to put her heart at ease. Kanone just watched the interaction between the two of them silently, respecting the gravity of the farewell.
"I want you to have this," Frase said suddenly.
She reached out and summoned an object. "This is something that I have been keeping as a gift for you. It is a staff shaped like a short sword. I know you have no intention of using both of your hands to hold a traditional long staff, so I figured that giving you a casting focus that would function as an off-hand weapon would be better."
The weapon appeared in her hands. It was sleek and elegant, almost similar to the design that Wirbel used, but with distinct improvements.
The core of the staff was embedded deep within its handle, while the blade itself seemed to be an incredible conduit for magic, allowing for spells to be cast directly through the strike.
As Geehrt accepted it, he weighed it in his hand. He could feel that the balance of the weapon was just right for him.
He unsheathed his main sword with his right hand and held the new staff-sword in his left. Now he had two weapons.
One was a long sword for reach and power, and the other was a short sword for quick casting and defense.
Seeing that her grandson genuinely liked her gift, Frase smiled warmly.
"I want you to accept this as well," Geehrt suddenly said.
He finished examining his new weapon and stored it away using magic, dissolving the physical form into his storage just as high-level mages often did to avoid carrying heavy loads.
Geehrt then reached into his robe and took out a parchment scroll. He handed it toward Frase, who accepted it gracefully.
"This is the magic that I used when I caught that Demon off guard. I call this the Projection Spell.
It allows me to project my movements in advance, dividing my actions into twenty-four distinct frames and letting them happen within a single second. This allowed me to move fast enough to vanish in the blink of an eye.
But of course, mastering it requires rigorous talent and a specific perception of time. I hope it will be helpful for you, Grandmother," Geehrt explained.
Frase held the scroll, realizing the value of the magic he had just handed over. It was a spell that could revolutionize close-quarters combat for mages.
Frase and Geehrt just looked at each other with deep affection. Both of their eyes held a trace of reluctance, a silent wish that they did not have to part ways so soon, but neither of them voiced any displeasure. They knew this was necessary for his growth.
"I will see you later," Geehrt finally said.
He turned and started moving toward the path that would lead him to Auberst. He walked with a steady, confident rhythm. He left Kanone and Frase alone by the carriage.
Frase looked at the back of her grandson for the last time, watching his small figure get smaller in the distance.
She smiled, a mixture of pride and sadness, before she signaled the horses. They both turned the carriage around and started their journey back toward Eiseberg.
---------------------
Geehrt walked alone along the winding path. He could not help but feel a rising sense of giddiness at the prospect of being on an adventure entirely by himself.
It was a freedom he had not felt in a long time. However, despite his excitement, his guard remained raised from the very moment he began his journey.
His Six Eyes were fully active, constantly observing a specific radius around his person to ensure that no entity could suddenly launch a sneak attack against him.
"I have to stock up at the next village first. I left so quickly that I am without proper clothes and food for a long trek," Geehrt said to himself as he continued to walk.
He consciously decided not to use his demon flight magic to speed up the journey. Instead, he wanted to enjoy the walk.
He looked around at the lush forest, feeling a sense of peace just by observing the way the sunlight filtered through the leaves.
As the hours passed by, he stopped by the side of the road. It was now time for lunch. The time seemed to fly by so quickly, especially for him, as he was truly enjoying his solitude.
Suddenly, a presence entered the detection radius of his Six Eyes.
A wooden cart rolled into view, pulled by a steady horse and driven by what looked like an elderly man.
As the carriage passed through the area where Geehrt had been resting, Geehrt and the older man met eye to eye.
The older man looked at Geehrt with immediate concern. To him, the appearance of Geehrt was just that of a small child, and the Northern Forest was an unforgiving place for the youth.
The elderly man pulled on the reins, stopping his carriage and stepping down to address the boy.
"Where are your parents, boy? Do they not know the dangers that this forest holds? It is reckless of them to leave you alone out here," the elderly man said, his voice thick with worry.
"Do not worry, sir. I am alone by choice. I may not look like it, but I am a fully-fledged mage. I am currently on a journey to Auberst to take the Third Class Mage Exam that will be happening in the next two months," Geehrt said.
He began to explain his side clearly, trying to sound as mature as possible. His claim surprised the elder man, who looked skeptical.
However, before the man could voice his doubts, a group of monster wolves suddenly burst from the forest line, teeth bared.
Without flinching, Geehrt immediately dispatched them. He used a precise application of magic that killed the beasts before they could even leap, causing the elderly man to stare in shock. He had no choice but to believe the boy's words now.
"I see. You are indeed capable. I could take you to the nearest town here. That is my home, and it is on the way to Auberst," the older man offered.
Geehrt accepted the offer and boarded the cart. As they traveled, Geehrt kept his senses sharp.
He looked around constantly to guard them, for he knew that there were many monsters in this region.
Even if they could not do anything to harm him, they would easily be able to harm the elderly man and the horse.
Sure enough, his caution was warranted.
They were attacked multiple times by loads of monsters waiting in the woods, as well as predatory creatures diving from the skies.
Geehrt quickly dispatched every single threat, ensuring the cart did not even suffer a scratch.
After another two hours of traveling by horse, they finally arrived at the village. The elderly man, grateful for the protection, led Geehrt to one of the inns where he could stay.
Surprisingly, the inn was owned by the elderly man himself, and he insisted Geehrt stay.
Geehrt wasted no time. He went to the local shops to buy the essentials for his travel.
He purchased heavy winter clothes for the mountains and lighter summer clothes for the valleys.
He also bought large quantities of food that could be prepared in advance. He utilized his magic to freeze the rations, ensuring that they would not go to waste during the long journey.
'First day was a success,' Geehrt thought.
He fell asleep quickly after a long day of traveling. He knew that he would be back on the road tomorrow, but before he left, he made a mental note to take a look around the village in the morning.
He wanted to see if there was a magic shop hidden somewhere in this quiet town.