Arriving before the store Ash took a deep breath and took a step into the store, before shouting.
"Granny, I'm here!"
After a brief pause the sound of rapid footsteps could be heard coming from above and quickly Granny Agate appeared from behind the counter.
"Ash! Why are you shouting? Did you not think I could be sleeping?"
"Hey Granny aren't you supposed to be open? If you were gonna sleep atleast close the store."
Granny couldn't refute the truth in Ash's statement but still didn't like the way he worded it.
"Is that any way to speak to your elder, huh? Why are you even here? Delivery is on Mondays."
Ash felt all the pressure from the prior conversation be lifted from him as a slight smirk appeared on his face.
"Can't I just visit my favorite granny whenever I want to?"
"Sure you can, I mean you visit me so often. If I remember correctly the last the was...right never!"
"No Granny, it was on Monday, is your memory okay?"
"Uhw you know what I meant don't act like you don't"
"Hahahahaha..."
The air in the store was warm, of course it could just be because it was summer, but nonetheless, Ash knew could feel all his worries melt away slowly.
But his great mood was interrupted when he was reminded of why he was here in the first place.
"Come on Ash be honest. Why are you here? I know you aren't the type to come here for no reason."
Ash knew that he couldn't delay it any longer, and also that it was pointless to do so, since he came here for this very reason. To tell her he was leaving.
"Granny Agate, I've decided to go with the SCC."
The air that was warm suddenly cooled down.
"So, you've decided..." A small sigh escaped the old woman's mouth.
"Hey Ash, wanna hear a story?"
Ash felt it was sudden, but he couldn't say no to the old woman's request. To him in that moment she seemed the most serious he had seen her.
"I used to have a son, you kind of remind me of him."
Ash already knew this, but continued to listen.
"About 30 years ago during the SCC's tests he was found to have a remarkable combat skill and was able to join the corporation."
Up to this point Ash knew the story as Agate's son was pretty famous around town for being a remarkable talent.
"After joining the corporation he would sometimes visit, while at others I wouldn't see him for years. During one of those silent periods I got a sudden message through the church that my son was in coma, but I was not able to visit him since only Users could enter Primus as they pleased, nonetheless I still tried to find anyways I could to help him, but before I could even come up with anything a new message has arrived to the church, it was of my son's passing."
Ash felt heavy upon hearing this story, but there was one detail he couldn't understand.
"Granny I heard most of this story before, but why didn't I hear about its end?"
"It's because the mayor wanted to keep it a secret. My son had become such a big inspiration for people all across town, that it felt wrong to make it into a sudden cautionary tale. And in the end I agreed, not because I wanted to keep the town's spirits intact, but because I wanted my son to be remembered as a prodigy, rather than just another person that died in the line of duty."
Ash could understand it, Agate's intentions were in the best interest of her son's legacy, but he still couldn't help feeling sorry for this old granny. In his eyes it was cruel as this poor old woman wasn't even allowed to grieve openly his only son's death.
"I'm sorry Granny."
Ash said with a somber look on his face clearly touched by the story.
"Oh stop with all the whinning, I didn't tell you all this just to make you scared or sorry for me. This all happened ages ago, and while I was sad then I'm not sad anymore so no need to be so sorry for me."
"But then why tell me in the first place?"
Slowly getting up and walking back upstairs after a bit of waiting Agate appeared again this time holding a picture in her hand.
"You see my son actually enjoyed working there, so I did not say this story to discourage you from going. No, actually quite the opposite, I hope you go and have fun, but I wanted to know that I hope you'll be careful out there, because nothing is more important than your life Ash. Nothing."
Taking the picture from Agate what Ash saw on it was a large group of soldiers dressed in some form of modern military gear, all of them smilling happily at the camera.
Pointing at a young buff man wearing a uniform with the number one on it Agate continued talking.
"This here is my son Gabriel, he was the strongest one in his squadron, that why he had the number one on his uniform."
Then pointing at a young petite woman with the number 4 on her she continued.
"This here is my son's wife, but don't be decieved despite her petite stature she was as ferocious as one could get, or so I've heard."
Slowly Agate went through the whole picture introducing all the people one by one, and by the end of the afternoon Ash was quite well acquainted with the whole squadron.
"During the subjugation of Collossal class enemy the whole squadron lost their lives, as the strongest my son was the last to go."
Even though today was the first time Ash had heard of most of these people he couldn't deny the impact the story had on him, as tears slowly started welling up in his eyes.
"You see Ash when you leave I hope you'll be able to make good friends just like my son did, and I would also be happy if you could visit me sometimes, maybe a bit more often than he did."
Suddenly Ash found himself in the warm embrace of the old lady, and by this point there was nothing he could do the floodgates opened and he started crying like a baby. Ash knew full well that he won't be able to visit her if their predictions were correct.
Ash had initially thought that her connection with Agate was just a minor one, but as he lacked any real connections she innevitably became the most important one to him. To him an ophan who had never had a family, she was the closest thing he had to one.
Agate slowly let go of her embrace and started walking to one of the nearby shelfs. After picking of a few packs of candies from it she came back and handed some to Ash.
"Calm down and eat some candies, I didn't think you would react like this. What are you? A baby?
Ash didn't have it in him to argue back and just took the candy from Agate.
After eating half a pack Ash slowly calmed down and asked Agate with a shaky voice.
"Can't you also come to Primus?"
Hearing this Agate looked Ash in the eyes with a serious expression.
"You know, I can't do that. Only Users can come and go out of Primus as they please."
"But...still..."
After a bit of thinking Ash couldn't hold it in and had to say what he wanted.
"Granny...the town is in danger."
"I figured."
Ash was surprised as he had not expected her to already know this.
"How?"
"How long do you think I've known you for Ash? I know you aren't the type to cry like this just because you were leaving."
"Then you know wh...."
Ash was interrupted by Agate before he could finish.
"I know, but leaving town still isn't something I'd do. I am not leaving Blackheart. This is where I lived all my life if it's going down, then I'm going down with it."
"Seriously, what are you Granny? A captain going down with it's ship?"
Suddenly Agate started loudly laughing at Ash's comparison.
"Hahaha, going down with the ship, I guess you aren't wrong Blackheart was named after pirates afterall."
The Blackheart pirates were the founders of this town initially coming here after discovering the large amount of ore deposit.
Ash knew he couldn't change her mind and figured trying further would be pointless.
"I'll atleast come back to say goodbye before I leave."
"Sure that is if you even get selected."
Ash was sure he would be selected. The fact that he was able to see that man's face while others couldn't was clear sign of his abilities, and though he didn't know what it was, that's what the chip was for.
So with his business at the store being done, and curfew around the corner Ash left for the orpanage once more.