Farewells

The next day in the early morning, Gray and the others all met up outside at the town gate where the carriage is waiting for them as per instructions by Count Randalf.

Regarding the issue of a certain Quest recently appeared in his notifications yesterday after the chat with Lily, Gray naturally accepted it as he found no good reason to decline it. Since he'll be talking with Lily to find out more about the Order, so why not benefit it via Quest Rewards.

Although the group is not the only one present as they were accompanied by each of their respective dear people who wished to bid them farewell. To be more specific, it's Rarsu for the soul-siblings and Sarah for Isamu. The others, most notably Malic cannot join them as he is rather busy with his duties as the Guild Master of the Warrior's Guild.

"I'm not much for farewells and goodbyes, but as your Master, I'm obligated to do so," Rarsu said as he was witnessed talking to his apprentices, the soul-siblings. "A piece of advice from me before going outside into the vast cruel world, take good care of yourselves at all times, and choose wisely of whom you can trust, especially you Gray, given your legendary status, added by the nobility rank."

"I will," Gray said with utmost appreciation of Rarsu being here for the two of them before their departure. Selena, who was beside her brother, simply nodded as a way to show her gratitude.

"And before I completely forget," Rarsu added as he conjured two pieces of sealed letter from his Inventory and handed it to Gray and Selena. "These are the recommendation letters to Arkanos University that I promised you after the completion of your apprenticeship. I was so caught up with other businesses of mine that it went out of my mind. For that, I apologize."

"Wow," Gray smiled as he and Selena looked at Rarsu with gratitude upon receiving the letter. "Thank you, Master. We truly are honored indeed to be your apprentices. We'll never forget you."

"Heh, you talk as if this is the final time that we'll see each other again," Rarsu smirked mischievously. "If that's what you're worried about, then don't. I sometimes find myself in different other places, so our paths will most likely cross out there. When I wish to find you, then you know damn well that I'll be able to. That, and I know that you still have plans to come back to this town."

"That's reassuring, haha." Gray chuckled heartily. He then eyed his Master with a smile once more. "Well, thank you for everything again Master. We promise that we'll put your teachings to good use."

"Heh, you better be." Rarsu returned the gesture with a smile of his own.

Rarsu's attention then shifted to Selena as the girl eyed him with the utmost intent as if she's expecting something from him.

In an instant, Selena engulfed Rarsu into a hug, causing the latter to be slightly taken aback by her soul-stirring action. Of course, the word 'slightly' is taken into account as the lizardling kind of expected such gesture coming from someone like her.

'I will miss you, Master.' Selena uttered telepathically in a sad manner, her tone certainly sincere.

Rarsu merely nodded at the Sentinel's gesture of kindness with a smile while returning the hug. 'Yes, yes, I'm going to miss you too, girl.'

Gray crossed his arms with a grin as he stared at the heartwarming scene between Sentmaturgist and Sentinel before eventually joining them in their emotional embrace.

Meanwhile, beside Gray's scenario, Isamu was seen to be conversing with the love of his life, Sarah. The brown-haired young woman is seen with a sad look as she eyed her lover who will be leaving with his noble lord, Baron Gray Allister in a few minutes.

"It's really disheartening to see that you are going to leave, Isamu," Sarah said with her head down in sorrow. "I mean, we only get to spend time as lovers for at least a week and I wish that I could convince you to stay for even longer."

"As much as I want to cherish and be by your loving side at all times, Sarah." The cat-folk answered her with the same sentiment of heartache, every word filled with agony at the prospect of leaving his beloved. "I'm now a Knight, and thus honor and duty-bound to serve my new lord and support him throughout his endeavors until my dying breath."

[+1 ORDER]

"I… I know," Sarah responded with understanding as it's her beloved's duty. As much as she truly loves him, she does not want to be the reason for Isamu's hesitance in pursuing his chivalrous career as a Knight and get in the way of his dream of being a hero. Although the grief on her voice still remains the same despite knowing the reason behind her lover's departure. "It's just that, I dread the feeling that something unpleasant might happen while you're away. I can't help but be worried about you."

"I'll be fine." The cat-folk Knight assured the brown-haired woman as he tapped her shoulders while looking with the utmost affection. "With Sir Krothu's training, I'm fully confident that I'll be able to manage every trial that stands in my way. Add to the fact that Gray and Selena are with me, and both of them are ridiculously strong in their own right as I witness their combat capabilities right before my very eyes. As such, our safety will be guaranteed."

"I see." Sarah could only nod. "Well, I suppose you won't stay long in Flocaster, and you'll come back right after your lord's business with the Bards is concluded, right?"

"Of course." Isamu smiled lovingly as he was also aware of the Baron's plans. "Gray assured me so, and he's not in a rush to venture places far away without careful planning. Meaning, we'll only stay at Flocaster in the meantime, and head back here after our task is accomplished. That, and he also has plans in going back to inspect his village and greet his new subjects before eventually making way to Everfall, where he'll have an audience with the esteemed Mages of the University."

"Okay." Sarah seemed to be convinced as she returned the cat-folk's smile with the same gesture of her own. "I suppose we'll cross that bridge when we get there. Until then, I'll wait every single sorrowful day of your agonizing absence until your momentous return."

"I promise to come back to your sweet and loving arms for me to gently hold," Isamu said as he proceeded to hug the young woman. "That I swear on the names of every Divine."

After saying their loving farewells towards one another, Isamu and Sarah made one final and passionate kiss, hoping that such feelings of loving tender will never end. Alas, good things must still come to its eventual halt as Isamu smiled once more before leaving her side to meet up with Gray, Selena, and Lily in her sparrow form at the carriage.

Sarah held her chest tightly with a heavy heart as she stared at the retreating form of her cat-folk beloved with mixed emotions, happy for his promotion as a Knight and sad for his departure.

As the quartet now stood in front of the carriage, they were greeted by the driver of the establishment while tending to his brown horse.

The carriage driver is a human male in his mid-thirties, sporting short messy brown hair. He is dressed in a red long-sleeved shirt with a black hooded cowl, black pants, and brown boots. His overall attire is indeed suited for the long-distance travel that he is going to venture with the group that he is going to escort.

Speaking of the carriage, it was fairly simple in design as to not attract too much attention that would instantly give away the group's respective high ranks of society. The wheeled carriage is fairly long, made primarily of wood, and is enclosed of type, with a round roof on top that's made of green canvass cloth for the purpose of protection against the outside elements of nature.

"My respects to you honorable Baron, Baroness, and Knight." The carriage driver said with a respectful bow from his waist. "My name is Ivan Wells, your escort for this five and a half-day trip. I was instructed by the good Steward Howard to accompany as well as to look out for your well-being. This humble driver is privileged to serve his esteemed clients."

Ivan Wells

Level 12

Health: 1,035 / 1,035

Stamina: 567 / 567

Mana: 300 / 300

After Ivan is done with his introductions, the System greeted him with the completion of a certain quest, something that has been lingering inside his Journal for a long period, ever since his first stay in Oakwood.

<Quest Complete!!>

<Into the Warrior's Retreat>

<Quest Summary>

<Quest Completion> - Reach the town of Chadena and speak to a carriage driver [✓]

<Quest Bonus> - Find ways to avail the services for free [✓]

Quest Rewards granted:

600 XP

Of course, Gray also knew that based on the description of his now completed Quest, it states that it's to seek the services of a carriage driver for a faster way of transportation into the capital, Everfall and not to Flocaster. Despite the inaccuracy, the System still allowed its completion despite the different circumstances that Gray and his group is facing currently. The elf simply deduced that this is the System's way of being flexible and having a mind of its own yet again to accommodate the user's needs. Hopefully, it will continue to be beneficial in the future and not the other way around.

After the group did their introductions as well to Ivan, they all finally boarded inside the carriage for the commencement of their departure.

As the horse began its fateful ride in the beautiful horizon, it marks a brand new exciting adventure that awaits the four of them.

Gray could not help but grinned of utmost excitement at the endless possibilities, thinking of what more the fantasy world of Silverhart has in store for him and his new allies.

END OF VOLUME 1: INTO THE WORLD OF SILVERHART