Chapter 12: All That Starts Can Quit

"Trace, let us leave now", Darkseal called out again.

If he were to count himself the times he softly called out to Trace, his heart would burst from anger. But there is stood with a smile, no, a grin, on his face. The training grounds were clean now, Degenre had been carried to infirmary along with a few other Sorcerers. Soon, Dorry and Lorry came out to thank their savior.

"We thank our savior, and on the name of Yuushine Family we swear that we would do anything in our power to repay our savior. May we know out saviour's name?", the sisters called out in unison.

"Call him master Trace", Darkseal cut them on abruptly, "Master Trace, let us leave now", he continued, not bothering to look at the sisters.

Darkseal's heart started beating loudly when Trace's closed eyes fluttered a little. The dream was near competition, after going to Western Holdinberg he would be free from the Yuushine Family that held a grip on his fate since childhood. Today his happiness were off charts. The sisters did not report him, Trace easily beat Degenre, all the Sorcerers that had been looking down on him treated him with respect. And after all this, he was also going to cross the Western Retention Line!

"I think he is sleeping sis", Lorry muttered.

"Let him sleep Darkseal. Why don't we continue for conversation from before", Dorry said, after giving it much thought.

"No need to thank me", Darkseal turned around.

"I cannot imagine how but seems like you are leaving Central", Dorry said in a low voice.

"Where are you going?", Lorry enquired.

"It does not concern you", Darkseal said, plainly.

"With our status, we could provide you food and lodging if you are going to the West… or East", Dorry insisted.

Darkseal's eyes subconsciously turned towards Trace's sleeves. These sisters would never believe if he told him about the treasures their spell failed to detect. Travelling through the mountain pass wouldn't be a problem, Darkseal thought. His plan was to accompany Trace until an opportunity to run away arrived. He shook his head but still asked for gold coins.

"I… ", Dorry tightened her fists, "will cut my hair".

Lorry and Darkseal both looked at her with shock. They both knew what this meant. The golden sand which Darkseal used to activate the Yuushine Search Spell were actually Lorry's hair. Only someone with a strong Yuushine Bloodline could use that spell. Last time, the sisters were extremely unwilling to give their blood to Darkseal. However, after a thorough discussion he manged to make Lorry part from her hair, instead.

A single drop of blood was enough to active the spell but the same could not be said for a strand of hair. Lots of hair was needed, Lorry's short hair were evident of it. Her golden hair barely touched her shoulders. In contrast, Dorry's hair extended further down than her waist. Despite the difference in hair length, both the sisters were considered top beauties in Central Holdinberg.

Darkseal, had conflicted opinions about this. He did not mind grinding the hair and filling up bottles to carry with him all the time. The Yuushine Search Spell was one the reasons he was standing here right now. Why did the sisters not report him to their brother? Ten years ago, a few years after reaching Level 2, he was assigned to the guard squad of the sisters. After ten years, he was the only guard remaining.

Darkseal nodded and sat down beside Trace. He closed his eyes, and the last ten years flashed past his mind. If he were married, then perhaps his daughters would be as old as the sisters. But soon after he shook these thoughts from his head. Leaving this place was important, being free was important.

"We will leave in the morning, you two can rest now….. And don't bother us", Darkseal closed his eyes and laid down.

Early in the morning, Darkseal explained the reason for going West to Trace. North and East Holdinberg bordered the Plague Sea which could not be sailed on. Thus, Trace's master would be headed towards West. This fired up Trace's mood and he wanted to head out that moment. However, Darkseal stopped him and led him into the stronghold for breakfast.

After breakfast, they visited Degenre who was still in bed. He was more traumatized mentally by Dorry's new looks than by his physical condition. The weather was not different than usual. Clouds that hid the sun churned in the sky, the temperature near the Western border was colder. It felt very refreshing to Trace and Darkseal.

On the way to the mountain pass that would lead them to Western Winter Holdinberg, Darkseal did not look back. However, Trace continuously looked back to wave back at the Yuushine sisters. After they entered the mountain pass, Trace caught up to the grinning Darkseal. He took it as a go sign and rushed ahead playfully.

A few miles away from the West Stronghold was a small hill. Trace rushed to the top of the hill, followed by the slow Darkseal. Beyond this hill were lush mountain ranges that stretched out as far as eyes could see. Snowy peaks were only a few mountains away. The snowy mountains were the territory of West Holdinberg. And up to half of this hill was Central Holdinberg.

Darkseal was out of Central Holdinberg, but he did not feel as joyous as imagined. They climbed the hill by following the path that was visibly a narrow road less travelled. He looked back, hoping to see the view of entire Central Holdinberg. But a fog was now covering the place that held memories of almost half of his potential lifetime.

Technically they were already in West Holdinberg, the regional wall was halfway up the hill. But even so, the next few mountains were no man's land. Since, there were no trades between the regions of Holdinberg it was only natural to not have establishments this far away in the wild. Trade and travels through mountains were weary and difficult. Thus, most people lived close to prosperous places. And clearly the hubs of settlement were still far away.

"If we rush, if would take us a day and half. But we should travel carefully to dangerous wild beasts", Darkseal called out to Trace.

Trace was full of excitement and vigor for the rest of his journey. He desperately wanted to find his mater. A little news, and clue, anything. Thinking back to Darkseal explaining that his master most probably went towards West brought him hope. Their carefully and calculated journey began through the wildlands of the Wirina Holdinberg.