30 Chapter 30: Hiding

Perseus POV

As I hastily packed my belongings into my storage spell, I could feel the weight of the old man's gaze upon me. His silence spoke volumes, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt at leaving him behind.

But I knew that I couldn't stay any longer, not with the looming threat of the king's men closing in on me.

When the old man finally spoke, his voice was calm and steady, betraying none of the emotions that I knew must be swirling beneath the surface.

"Leaving so soon?" he asked, his tone neutral.

I paused, unsure of how to respond.

"Yeah," I replied, "It's time for me to move on. Hopefully, you don't mind the people who'll kick down the door to check the house later."

He nodded in return

"I won't stop you," he said simply, "I completely understand why after I heard the news of the execution, but where will you go?"

I hesitated, unsure of how much I should reveal.

"I... I'm not really sure yet," I admitted, "Somewhere far away, where no one knows my name."

He nodded understandingly, his eyes filled with a silent sadness.

"I see," he said softly. "Well, wherever you go, I hope you find what you're looking for, but here, just before you go."

He handed me some clothes, some dried food, a sword, and a pair of big shoes.

"You'll grow into them." he said, "Though before you take them, do me a favor when you go."

"Sure, sure...what is it?"

"I'm not going to live for much longer, my medication is no longer effective and my disease can only be treated by those with the rank of the archmage...either way, I would have lived a year after releasing you at best, and I don't think you can come back to visit once that time comes."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"We ain't that close, you know that, and it's not like we can fully get close to another person after what we've been through, so don't bother...anyway, I'll be quick since you don't have long, but it's that when you do somehow meet that brother of mine...I want you to tell him something for me if he asks for me, and only if he asks for me."

"Okay, anything."

"Try to say it word for word, and no, I will not give it in the form of a letter." he continued, " Listen, I need you to understand something. I've been holding onto this anger for a long time, and even after so long, even after no longer being able to feel that anger...

"I've realized that forgiveness isn't something I can offer you. You caused me years of suffering, and because of you, I struggle to trust anyone fully again. I can't live the rest of my life always wondering if I can trust someone again. So, no, I'll never forgive you for that."

"Quite a lot, but long story short, no more anger, no more grudge, but still can't forgive?"

"Yup, if you do come back...go to the pub...I left a lot of things for you there."

"Thank you, Reese."

"Just make sure that use all of this stuff I gave you son, I just don't want it to go to waste."

Before I left, I just gave him a short hug, but as soon as I heard a whistle, the old man started to signal me to go away.

"That's the signal." he said, "You can hide in the pub if you really need to down the line, they'll help you."

"Thanks for everything."

"No worries, I'll see you again someday."

*****

Exhaustion weighed heavily on my limbs as I trudged onward, each step feeling like a monumental effort. For days, I had pushed myself relentlessly, driven by the singular goal of reaching Centralia and escaping that stupid empire.

I barely got any sleep in the past few days, but from the map and compass the old man handed me, I knew that it'd take me probably 5 more days of just continuous running and flying for an experienced and adult mage, it means that it's longer for me.

As the days stretched into weeks, fatigue threatened to consume me, my body was pushed to its breaking point by the relentless pace of my journey. Every muscle screamed in protest, every breath a struggle against the crushing weight of exhaustion. But still, I refused to falter.

Finally, I arrived at a bustling port town, its streets teeming with activity as sailors bustled about, preparing their vessels for departure.

My heart raced as I scanned the area through a binocular, searching for a ship that would take me to Centralia. But as I saw a bulletin advertisement board on the way, my eyes caught sight of something that sent a chill down my spine, the wanted posters with my sketch on them.

Doesn't look that accurate, but my white hair and brown skin would be a dead giveaway. I need to get to that dungeon... there are rest floors down there where I can live and stay there for a while till everything calms down.

Hiding on a ship seemed to be the only viable option, but the thought of stowing away for days on end filled me with a sense of unease. I knew the risks involved, discovery could mean capture, and capture could mean certain death.

But the alternative was to remain nearby and essentially the empire's clutches, where the chances of discovery are higher and the life-or-death poster isn't helping.

As I scanned the harbor from afar for potential vessels, my mind raced with possibilities. Would I be able to find a ship bound for Centralia? And even if I did, would I be able to evade detection for the duration of the journey? It was a gamble.

My life sure has been hell so far, and my only friend who is comforting me is someone who goes by the initial A. I already look insane as is and all of this isn't helping.