The next morning, Rick woke early and prepared himself before heading down for breakfast. The others were already gathered at the table, waiting for him.
"Can you believe it? He actually woke up early," Andrews remarked dryly.
"Hey, don't tease him like that," May said, defending Rick. "He's trying."
Rick scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Yeah… a little."
"Alright, enough," Kai cut in before they could start bickering. "Let's eat."
They all sat down together, sharing a simple but warm meal.
As they finished, Rick glanced around eagerly. "So… what are we doing today?"
"We're heading back," Andrews replied calmly.
Rick froze. "Back? Already? But we only just got here!"
Andrews gave a small shrug. "We've already explored the city. There's nothing else left to do."
Rick's shoulders slumped, his eyes downcast. "But… I wanted to see more."
Andrews' tone softened slightly. "You need to understand—C-rank quests don't pay enough for us to stay here longer. The money barely covers expenses. And besides, you've already seen more than most kids your age ever will. Be grateful for that."
Rick bit his lip but finally nodded. "...I understand."
The table fell quiet for a moment until Andrews leaned back. "So, what about the rest of you? What are your plans now?"
"Well," Kai said, "we're heading to the capital city."
"The capital?" Andrews raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
May answered this time. "I want to visit my master."
Andrews' expression flickered. "Your master? You mean the one who taught you magic?"
"That's right," May confirmed with a nod.
Andrews considered this, then said, "In that case, there's no need for all of you to go. Two people should be enough."
May's expression suddenly faltered, her lips trembling as though she were about to break down. Before she could, Kai spoke softly, his voice carrying a weight that silenced everyone.
"Actually… May's master isn't in good health. She reached out, asking May to visit. She… wants to see her one last time. That's why we're all going to the capital together."
The words fell heavy over the group.
May's tears spilled freely as she shook her head. "I don't want her to die… I don't want to lose her! She's like my mother, my father—she's the only family I have left!" Her voice cracked with anguish, her whole body trembling as if those words had shattered something inside her.
Rick froze. He had never seen May like this before. She had always been the strong one—the one who laughed, who smiled, who cheered him up whenever he faltered. To see her crying, broken, was like watching the sky itself collapse.
His heart ached, but he didn't know what to do. He wanted to say something—anything—to comfort her. Yet the words stuck in his throat, leaving him helpless.
In that silence, a realization struck him with painful clarity. He wasn't the only one who carried sorrow. He wasn't the only one who had lost someone precious. May's grief was proof—proof that pain was everywhere, that people all over the world carried invisible wounds. Some carried the memory of loved ones they could never see again. Others clung desperately to fragile hopes they could barely hold onto.
Even so… they kept moving forward. Even when they didn't know what awaited them, even when the future felt dark, they kept walking. Maybe… maybe that was what life truly was.
After May's sobs quieted, the group headed for the station to catch the train to the capital. At the gates, Andrews placed a hand on May's shoulder, steadying her, before turning to Rick.
Rick's thoughts still swirled with May's words, her tears. His small fists clenched at his sides as he whispered, "It's really hard, isn't it? To lose someone precious…"
Andrews looked at him with eyes that had seen too much of the world. His voice was low, yet steady, like steel tempered by fire.
"Yes. Nothing in this world is easy, Rick. Some people are lucky enough to smile through every moment they live. Others…" He paused, his gaze drifting to May, "…others lose the things that mean the most to them. The world is cruel. The world is unfair."
Rick's chest tightened. The words cut deep—because he knew they were true.
But Andrews' voice suddenly sharpened, filled with determination. "But does that mean we give up? Does that mean we stop living? No. It means we fight harder. It means we keep moving forward, even when it hurts."
Rick stared up at him, his young heart pounding. In that moment, Andrews' words carved themselves into his very soul, like a promise he would never forget.
"Even though the world is unfair, we still live our lives, don't we? It's hard—because in our hearts, we cling to the belief that one day, a happy time will come for us. Maybe it's just a dream, one that may never come true, but still… we hold onto it. Even when everything falls apart, even when we lose something—or someone—precious, we keep moving forward. We keep chasing the dream that someday, life will be better. And maybe… maybe that's what it means to be human."
Rick listened quietly, his small hands clenched at his sides. May wiped her eyes, forcing herself to stand straighter. Andrews gave her a firm nod.
"Don't make that sad face, May. You're strong—you'll overcome this."
Hearing that, Rick's chest tightened. He thought of his own pain, his own loneliness. Yet he found himself whispering, almost without realizing, "Yeah… you're right."
With that they said goodbye to May and left the station to prepare for there leave, their steps carried them to the tall building where they would arrange the journey back.
They stopped before a massive structure, its stone walls weathered by time. Rick tilted his head, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
"Why here? Shouldn't we take a carriage instead?"
"There's no job in this town heading toward Emu town," Andrews explained with a faint smile. "So I thought we should use dragonite. It's cheap, and fast."
Rick blinked. "Dragonite?"
Inside, the building was vast but quiet, an old hall with only a handful of people scattered about. The air carried the scent of dust and stone. Rick's gaze darted around nervously.
"There aren't many people here…" he muttered.
"That's because this method of travel is old, " Andrews replied while scanning the counters. "very few still use dragonites."
"But you said it's safe, right?" Rick asked, frowning.
Andrews smirked. "Safe, yes. But it's not good for carriage. Dragonites are fast—sometimes too fast—and hard to control. They're not suited for heavy loads. That's why most people avoid them."
Still, Rick's eyes lit with curiosity at the thought of riding such a creature.
After a short search, Andrews struck a bargain with the counter clerk, exchanging a few silver coins. With their transport secured, they finally left the city through the wide gates.
The bustling sound of the marketplace faded behind them, replaced by open sky and distant fields. Outside the city walls, they prepared themselves for the road ahead—checking their supplies of food and water, tightening straps.
"Hey, it's already 9 O'clock for your information!" Rick called out while laying around. "So, what I'm saying is—when are we going to leave, Andrew?"
Andrew blinked, startled. "Huh?"
Andrew let out a sigh and shook his head. "Can't you see I'm trying to pack everything down here? Instead of standing around, help me."
Hearing that, Rick laughed awkwardly and quickly joined in. Soon, the preparations were complete, and they were ready to leave Easter City.
Rick stood for a moment at the city gates. He raised his hand in a quiet farewell, eyes lingering on the bustling streets that had given him so many first experiences. "Goodbye…" he whispered, before turning to Andrew.
As they began to roll forward, Rick leaned out, wide-eyed at the speed. "This thing is really fast! I can't believe we've already left the city behind!"
Andrew chuckled. "You're right. At this pace, we'll reach Emu Town in two days. That's how fast it is."
Rick's face paled slightly. The thought of covering such distance in so little time felt overwhelming. Still, excitement burned within him.
Their journey stretched onward. At one point, Andrew turned to Rick, his expression more serious. "Remember what I told you before? About Lily's wish?"
Rick nodded "yeah, I remember."
"Well, from now on, I'm going to take it head-on. I'll do everything Lily wanted to do. So....., you'd better keep watching me, Rick. "
Rick smiled, feeling a warmth in his chest. "I'll watch you, Andrew. So you'd better do it properly."
With that promise hanging in the air, their journey pressed forward. And after two long days of travel, the group finally arrived at Emu Town.
A month later, after visiting May's master, Kai's party returned to the city. But their return carried heavy news—May's master had passed away.
The atmosphere was somber, yet May didn't shed tears. Instead, she smiled softly and said, "At least… I got to see her one last time before her passing. That's enough for me."
Her words struck Rick deeply. He realized then how fleeting time was, and how precious every bond could be.
After that day forward, Rick pushed himself harder than ever. He trained his body relentlessly, learning swordsmanship from Andrew, and slowly refining control over his mana. Sometimes he also received guidance from kai and others.
Rick carried the lessons with him, determined to grow stronger.
Time moved swiftly, almost without notice. In the span of three short years, both Rick and Andrew changed in ways neither could have imagined.
In that time something inside Andrew had awakened. He trained with newfound determination, taking quests more seriously than ever before. Battle after battle, his strength grew, his spirit sharpened. Before long, he had reached the level of an Sword Master thus becoming an A-Rank Adventurer. .
Rick, too, had grown. Under Andrew's guidance, he mastered the fundamentals of mana control, though he was still far from setting foot in the realm of true external mastery. But his dedication never wavered. He honed his swordsmanship day after day, his blade growing steadier, his spirit stronger.He pressed on, tackling increasingly dangerous missions, often alongside Andrew, Kai's party or other skilled groups. Together, they even faced down a stampede of monsters—challenges that once would have been unthinkable
Those years were not only filled with hardship, but also with camaraderie—journeys shared, victories celebrated, and bonds deepened. Yet, as time passed, the inevitable truth became clear: everyone must one day walk their own path.
Three years have already passed. Andrew, Kai, May, Richard… everyone has been with me all this time. But now… it's time for me to step forward alone. They can't always be here to guide me.
His heart was heavy, yet steady. It's time to say goodbye.
And so, at the age of fourteen, Rick stood at the threshold of a new life. No longer a child under anyone's guardianship, he was now old enough to be recognized as a adventurer. Only one year remained before he would join the National Magic Academy—a place where destiny awaited him.
But before that, there was something he had to do.
Now it was time for Rick to depart on a journey of his own.