Loneliness

I went outside, frantically searching for Gramps. He wasn't in any of his usual places. I even ran all the way to the lake. No signs of the old man.

"Where did he go?"

I went inside the empty house and plopped into the chair. Was the house this silent before? Something in the corner of my eye caught my attention. On the table, I saw a letter with a ring and medallion on top of it.

"Letter? Why bother when you could've just told it to me directly, Gramps?"

Still, I quickly opened it and started to read.

"To my student. Brat, some unfinished business found me in this hole, so I need to go away. Nothing dangerous, but most likely will take a long time to solve, so don't bother waiting for me. Hahaha. If nothing unexpected happens I will find you myself"

"Nothing dangerous, my ass. Why couldn't you just take me with you then, Gramps!?"

I left you two things - a "storage ring" and an identity medallion. The storage ring is pretty self-explanatory: you can put pretty much anything inside, except for living things. But this one is unique. You see, there were five rings like that before, now there is a sixth, and now it's yours.

As for medallions... You know, all those years you always refused to tell me your name. I don't know what happened to you in the past. Neither I really care too much, to be honest. All that matters is a simple thing: over the years you've grown on me, kid. Be proud, brat, as I, Oda Ken, bestow you a name. From now on you are Oda Kazuya, my direct pupil. And this medallion is proof of who you are. Oh, and I sealed three full-powered attacks into it. Let it be your last trump card and guard you, while I can't.

You said you wanted to see the world, right? Go for it, kid. Meet new people, fall in love, slay the evil. Do whatever you want! You don't need to make me proud, as I always will be.

If you ever need help, some people will have your back. No matter what, even if the heavens are about to fall, I will be there to catch them.

Take care. Don't miss me too much. And see you soon, My Grandson.

After finishing the letter, I couldn't move an inch and just kept staring into the distance. What is this feeling? What am I supposed to feel? Sadness that the only person in life left somewhere? Happiness that this person cares about me this much? I don't know.

And then everything fell on me at once:

"For the first time in both of my lives, I am truly alone"

I took a deep breath and picked the medallion and the black-colored ring. The medallion was colored gold and had a sword engraved on the top of it. On the back was written "Oda Kazuya". When I saw it, my lips curve up with tears slowly flowing down.

"He even carved my name on it… Sigh, It's fine to leave but at least say it in front of my face, Grandpa."

I walked outside the house, remembering where gramps used to sit all the time. I sat down crossed my legs and shut my eyes. The scene of gramps with me was recurring in my thoughts as I remembered our days together in this forest. From the day he first met me, when I pestered him to teach me magic, to the day he flung me and tied me in the tree when he snapped at my mischiefs, treating me like his genuine grandson and teaching me a lot of life lessons, to the day he began training me, until today.

Those times with Gramps are one of the treasures of my life, that no one can ever steal from me, it was locked deep inside my heart.

I opened my eyes and muttered. "Well, we will meet again in the future, this pain I felt was nothing compared to the joy of our meeting again. When that time comes, It's my turn to shock Grandpa"

I looked at the medallion in my hand and looked at the writing "Oda Kazuya… Kazuya huh, it was not bad of a name, I like it. Thank you Grandpa for giving me a name, I will be your Grandson from this day on forth"

I put a ring on my index finger, which instantly adjusted to the right size, and put the medallion in my pocket. I stood up and went to the lake to rinse myself before returning. Since it's almost lunchtime, let's cook some food and then eat. After filling my stomach, I trained myself till the evening to distract myself from my loneliness. After that, I went to the lake to wash away my perspiration before returning home and sat down on my bed.

"Let's check what is inside the ring"

I looked at the ring for a good moment before shouting "Gramps! You forgot to tell me how to utilize this f*cking ring. What is the use of it if I can't even open it?"

But a thought suddenly popped up inside my head. I flowed my Qi in the ring and finally, I was able to see what was inside it.

"Damn! Lots of treasure! Mountains of Gold Coins, clothes, I don't even know what are those things"

I looked at it in astonishment and then started laughing. "Hahaha, seems like even in this life I'm still a young master"

"Hmm? that sword looks cool"

I waved my hand and the sword appeared. Its color was all black, from the dragon-shaped hilt to its sheath.

I put the black sword at my back and went outside the house to find a big rock to test its sharpness.

"This rock is good to test it"

I grab the hilt of the sword and coat my whole body with qi and send it all to the sword before swinging it down.

*Shing*

The rock was cut clean in half, as I continued to swing it multiple times before returning the sword to its sheath.

"This sharpness is awesome, it was like Gramps made this sword just for me, I felt comfortable holding and swinging it."

"From now on, you will be my partner...

"With this, there shouldn't be a problem to start my journey tomorrow"

I returned and started to cook for dinner and then eat. I meditated for hours before going to bed and slept.