Chapter 22: Departure

"Hear me out Father," Hunter said, trying not to look too excited. "You always told me the only way to truly become a man was setting off on an adventure, having true world experience..."

Sawyer sighed. He couldn't believe he was having this conversation. Memories of a younger him flashed through his mind. The pain, the anguish he felt all those years ago, resurfaced as he looked at the face of his child, asking him to leave with the same man Sawyer had left with on his adventures.

"I... I don't know," Sawyer said, holding his head in his hands. He knew no matter what he said Hunter would leave with Theriault, or set off on his own. It was the Voxlend spirit, the word no simply wasn't in their vocabulary.

"This is too much for me. This isn't fair." Hunter nodded silently. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a golden key with red and orange lines spiraling around it.

"I've been speaking with the phoenix, learning many things about the world... How it works, who runs it... that kind of stuff," Hunter pulled out another key, the small red key he'd gotten when he was only 6 years old.

"You'll be hunted you know? Going on this adventure is more than you know-"

"He says I'm chosen..." Hunter said dreamily, interrupting his father. It's simply my destiny to leave the nest... That's how he put it, come on Father, I will return."

Sawyer looked his son in the eyes, grabbing him and holding him close as he closed his eyes. 'No one can guarantee that.'

***

"Do you ever think you'll trust me enough to tell me anything?" Shen Yi asked as she sliced her sword down on Theriault's neck.

The boy quickly dodged it, kicking her in the shin and pushing her away.

"It's possible, it's less about trust and more the fact that I don't know how long you'll be around..." He answered.

Shen Yi scoffed. "And the Master Key? That's your goal?" She asked, rushing in close and stabbing her sword at Theriault's chest, only for him to redirect the blow and smack her in the face, sending her sprawling to the ground.

Shen Yi sighed, moving to get up as she saw a hand clouded her vision. This had never happened before. "Yes, The Master Key, I want it more than you could ever understand. I don't trust you to let you know who... What I am, but I think you're good enough to join me on this journey... What do you say, Shen Yi... How would you like to be public enemy number 1?"

Shen Yi looked around, expecting some kind of joke to be played on her. "You're full of shit." She said, getting to her feet quickly as Theriault smirked, taking his hand away. "Full of? No, am I messing around a little... Yes," Theriault said before his expression went serious once more.

"But It's true, if you continue journeying with me it is inevitable you will become not only a deadly ally, but you will become a target by hundreds of beings... Some you can't even imagine."

Shen Yi thought about this. "Theriault... How old are you? Your true age," She asked, thinking back to what everyone had said. He looked to be about 18 years old, but anti-aging wasn't an uncommon thing for a Kewymaster, hell her mother didn't look a day over 25.

"That's something best told at a later time when we have nothing to hide from each other... Until then though" Theriault replied, then turned toward the city off in the distance, "I'd rather leave today, being back here is giving me nostalgia... And Nostalgia is the poison of emotions."

Theriault yawned as he walked toward the city, "Let's see what my old partner wants to talk about," He said, sighing just a bit.

***

Everyone sat around the kitchen table, all except Wyatt, who had been sent outside to play with the animals that roamed the city. "It was the Voxlend spirit," Sawyer said as he sighed, looking at Ariana as she sat down with a large platter of food.

"That's how he convinced me." This was not a meeting of loss, no it was a meeting of joy. Joy from a father who would soon see his son turn into a man.

Theriault immediately grabbed a large piece of brisket, biting into it before anyone could even think to stop him "Haha! Still no manners eh Theriault?" Sawyer said, laughing loudly as he reached over to grab his own food.

"So what's the story between you two anyway?" Shen Yi asked. She soon realized she was the only one that didn't know the stories.

Sawyer smiled a bit. "Well, we sort of grew up together… Almost, My father knew his father… That kinda thing."

Shen Yi squinted her eyes, she was beginning to get annoyed at the others with all the half-truth answers she had been getting since they'd arrived in Ireland.

"It was more than that," Theriault said, setting down his food. "We traveled the world together, along with a few other friends, we were pretty well known back then... That's all in the past though."

Shen Yi was surprised that, for once, she had gotten a straight answer. She was so shocked that she looked at Theriault with a bewildered expression, looking at the others like she had seen the most dangerous monster in the world.

She shook her head, feeling confused and lost. She hadn't really learned much of the history of the Keymasters besides her families and the origins of them, even Theriault hadn't taught her anything like that... Which made sense considering the circumstances.

"Now there seemed to be a whole new layer to everything. "So you guys were adventurers? Did you ever get into trouble?" Shen Yi asked, pushing her luck.

If they were going to open up and let her know a little information then she would take that little bit and try for a lot. "Not many people realize it now, but yes," Theriault said uncomfortably, glancing between Ariana and Sawyer.

"There were times when we had to run for our lives and defend them."

"Like what?" Shen Yi pressed on, her face morphing into a joyed expression as she got more and more answers. "

You really don't know?" Hunter asked, a confused look on his face. "My dad and Theriault are famous in the underground, their entire group was enemy number one to the key council back in their time, he hasn't told you any of the stories? Like the war? The God trials? Not even the Arcadian subjugation raid?" Hunter said incredulously, looking at his dad in shock. "Isn't it common history?"

Theriault coughed, "Not really, I'm surprised your father shared so much... Anyway, I've finished my food, it's about time we all head off yeah? The Master Key won't find itself..."

"What did you mean by that?" Shen Yi demanded, glaring at Theriault as she stood up from her seat. Theriault gave her a grin. "Q and A has expired..." He said, standing up and looking down at Hunter.

"I changed my mind... You're about to go on the adventure of a lifetime, get some sleep, we'll leave at first light," He finished, walking away from the table.

"Don't bother with him, he's been like that for forever," Sawyer said when he saw Shen Yi's frustrated face. "It's just Theriault..."

***

Hunter was asleep, but only physically, his mind was awake as ever. "I know exactly what you mean, the excitement before an adventure is nearly overwhelming." The phoenix said, floating through the clouds in his dream world as he landed down next to Hunter.

"I wish the rest of the world knew how it felt as well," Hunter said, reaching out and grabbing a handful of the phoenix's feathers. "They'd never be afraid to live life to its fullest."

"Hah, you have such a pure soul for one so old... It's good, my vessel should be the kindest of hearts," The Pheonix declared, glancing at the hand on his side but choosing to ignore it.

"Who do you belong to?" Hunter asked curiously. earning a questioning look from the Pheonix.

"I've heard rumors about the keys you know... How did you become one?" The phoenix turned away from the sky as he spoke.

"No, I don't belong to anyone, the man who made the keys is long dead... My creation process was painful but clearly worth it, I wonder what the world is up to nowadays, it's been several millennia since I've interacted with you mortals..."

Hunter didn't press on, sensing the Pheonix's uncomfortableness from the question. Instead, he closed his eyes, laying his head down on the Pheonix, deciding it was a nice time to fully rest his mind for the big day ahead of him.

***

Shen Yi, Theriault, and Hunter all stood in the Black Pig, ready to set off. They said their goodbyes to Ariana and Sawyer, thanking them for their hospitality. Hunter looked for his brother, but it seemed like he had decided to stay behind in the Voxlend city. "I'm proud of you son," Sawyer said, smiling with a hand on Hunter's shoulder. The orange-haired boy didn't know what to say, choosing to smile and hug his dad for the last time. Finally, the trio set off, and so the hunt for The Master Key finally began.