Paine Lionray: Leaving Ari

I can't let anything stop me from going on this adventure, going into the unknown, but I also can't stop thinking about my father's offer because there is no turning back as soon as I walk out of the gates.

I have some time till sunrise, everything is still dark, no one will see me, if I use stairs at the West Wing of the castle, besides no one should be up at this time and guards have a shift change at the sunrise, so I am good. I am panicking a little bit, it will be my first time outside the Wall, but I am also excited, it will be my first time outside the Wall. So far, I am successfully navigating through the castle's halls and stairs and finally, I get to the West Wing, but apparently, I am not the only one, who has the idea of using it for secret purposes at night, I hear Lord Tau's voice as I go down the stairs. It comes from the hallway to the servants' wing and I need to cross that in order to continue my way down the stairs, but I can't proceed because the servant is looking straight to the stairs and Lord Tau is standing with the back to me, I need to wait till they finish, but I hate to eavesdrop on their conversation, which in this case is inevitable.

"Are you sure, no one saw you coming here?" Lord Tau sounds a little bit worried.

"Yes, my lord!"

What is the girl or the woman talking to him? As far as I can see, it is a servant, but it is still odd that Lord Tau has some unfinished business at this time of the night, however, Lord Tau is the most mysterious person in the castle.

"That's great, so tomorrow you will be going with them! Don't do anything, until you are there! Do you understand?"

"Yes, my lord!"

"Be ready tomorrow! You can't show up like this, I insisted on choosing you to Scar!"

Servant turns around and goes away, but Lord Tau looks at how she walks away for a moment, this would be a great time to move on, so I go as quiet as I can. Lord Tau turns around at the exact moment I start walking, we see each other, he looks more frightened than I am because he wasn't planning on meeting somebody, but he calms down as he understands it is me.

"My prince!"

"My lord!" I also didn't want anyone to see me, especially Lord Tau.

"What are you doing here at this time?"

"May I ask the same?"

"Good night, my prince!"

"Good night!"

We both understand that we weren't supposed to encounter each other because we were doing something really secret, so we go our own way. Lord tau turns around and goes the same way as the girl, and I continue my way down the stair. Soon I am already outside the castle sneaking through the city, but I can't get some thoughts out of my mind. I know what I was doing, but what was Lord Tau doing?

Why at night? Most likely because it was the safest time, he also knew there is a shift change, but probably because the girl just got here because he asked her if no one saw her coming. What is she and what is she meant to do in the Karhu kingdom? Should I tell someone about this? That means I should go back!

No, I shouldn't go back and I shouldn't get involved in this, perhaps she is just someone new, who just arrived and is meant to deliver something from Lord Tau to someone at Karhu kingdom.

I am standing at the West Gates, ready to begin a new chapter of my life, I just hope that I choose the right words for my character.

"Brother?" He came, I look back.

"You came!"

"Yes, I came to say goodbye!"

"Why? To talk me out of going?"

"You can't stop someone who is hungry for a better life and, oh gosh, I'll miss you!"

"I'll miss you too! But I need to find my voice!"

"Can you promise me something?"

I look at him, but not in his eyes.

"You will discover the world on my behalf! You will send me something, so I know you are still alive, but when you find yourself, you will come back home!"

"Of course, brother!"

We hug each other. We may seem like two lovers at the sunrise, but it is something much more than love, it is a bond that can exist only between brothers, a connection which is so special it can't be described with words, we will always feel, if something is wrong with each other and will help, also, if far away.

Now I need to encounter the journey, but perhaps I also need to warn Calhoun about Lord Tau.

"Protect our family! Trust is a dangerous game, especially in the lions' den!"

"What you mean?"

"Don't believe everything you see! Keep an eye on Lord Tau!" I didn't want to mention Lord Tau, but it slipped.

"Lord Tau?"

"He says many things, but we can't be certain it is all true!"

I take a last glance at my brother and the city of Lauv before I step outside the gates. The Great West Gates closes after me and there is darkness ahead of me. Darkness in my knowledge about the world I am about to enter, only one map with the element of light-controlled territories before the Dark Century. Darkness in the desert, the sun is still rising in the East, so the shadows from the city of Lauv fall to the West and darkens endless fields of sand.

It is the end of my home but the beginning of our world, the beginning of my story.