Chapter 21
"Take this ring too. It contains the remaining foundation knowledge you will have to learn. As well as my legacy."
Elder Grey looked Zack in the eyes, and the ring floated over towards him.
Zack held the ring in his hands and bowed his head without saying anything.
Elder Grey's hair became more translucent as if they lost their life as soon as the ring left his hand.
Looking at his master's wrinkled face and cloudy eyes, Zack remained silent.
...
Ella helped her mother and grandmother cleaning the vegetables and sat on the stone bench. While quietly reading the book her father gave her.
She was 10years old and soon to be 11. In the family, her father was the one who looked after her the most.
From childhood, he would fulfil her every wish as long as it was not overboard.
The reason being she was willing enough to learn and read the books with him.
Her father was always patient with her every time she asked anything.
But recently, he spent less and less time with her. She had seen him being alone in his study room.
He asked others not to disturb him, even if it was for the food. Aside from going to school for his job, he spent every hour of his life in the past two years inside that room.
Before he would teach her and her brother every evening, but now he only gave them some work to do and never even checked if they completed it or not.
Her brother was more than happy to see their father not paying any attention to him.
But Ella was worried that she did something wrong and her father was disappointed.
She asked her mother who replied saying, 'it was work-related and not to worry.
After that, she did not ask anything and only observed her father. Every time he asked to do the self-study she gave it her all.
If she did not understand something, she would ask her father when they ate together or at school along with other students.
She noticed him going to the neighbouring old grandpa who lived beside them.
As far as she could remember, her father would visit the old grandpa regularly aside from the school.
Her grandparents told her that he was her father's teacher. Since then her interest grew and whenever her mother visited the old grandpa, she too went with her.
The old grandpa was a very nice person, he gave fruits from his garden whenever she went there.
The old grandpa had many books in his house, and when he noticed how she looked around, he gave her some and told her to visit anytime for reading.
But her father told her immediately to not disturb him so she only visited his place once in a while.
When he was bedridden she helped her mother look after him.
The old grandpa would tell her stories when she went to help.
The old grandpa was definitely a very knowledgeable person. He knew hundreds of stories and never repeated them after a few times.
It was also at that time her father started avoiding her.
A few days ago her father said that he took a leave from his job to work on something.
And today he went to that old grandpa's house early in the morning without saying anything.
When he returned it was already late in the evening. He looked sad when he returned.
She tried talking to him but her mother stopped her and told her to leave him alone for now.
Even her brother took the hint and behaved well that day not making any ruckus in the house.
Afraid that their father would tie him up upside down on the tree in their backyard.
Her father did not come to eat that day and closed himself off inside his study room.
The next day she saw him sitting quietly in their backyard looking at the sky alone.
It was early in the morning and she woke up with her mother to prepare something for breakfast.
Seeing her father there she approached him and sat down beside him.
The ground was covered with dew But when she sat down, she did not feel any wetness.
She did not found anything strange and looked at her father.
When she looked over, her father was looking her way smiling.
It has been a long time since she was him smile like that.
She smiled back too and said, "Good morning father."
Zack touseled his daughter's hair hearing her greetings.
"Good morning my dear. You woke up early today?"
Ella was happy listening to him and replied happily, "Mother said to help her."
"Father, can I come with you to the old grandpa's place today?" Seeing him talk to her, she asked immediately so as not to miss the opportunity.
Zack smiled and asked, "Why?"
"Mother said the old grandpa was not feeling well and I wanted to tell him the new story I heard in the school to make him feel better."
"Hmm. Sure he would be happy to have you there. Go get ready we will go together."
Ella was even happier when she heard that and stood up hurriedly and left her father back in the garden.
When she stood up, the ground where she sat gradually became coved with dew again.
Runes started appearing around Zack's finger as he looked at the surrounding area.
He ate breakfast with his family. His parents smiled when he sat down with them.
They had noticed his downcast mood these few days but did not say anything.
They too had gone to visit elder Grey and knew that he did not have much time left.
While eating breakfast he also brought up the topic of checking all the study work he gave his children.
It has been a long time since he checked it, almost 2months. When his son heard him, he started shaking and almost cried immediately.
He took his daughter with him and went to the elder Grey's house.
He supported his master to the outside, in the herb garden with his daughter.
When he heard that Ella was going to tell him a story he smiled and sat quietly.
Zack was happy seeing him like that and took a seat himself on the ground.
When it was time for school, his wife came and left with her.
"Teach her well, she is a clever child." Elder Grey said looking at the departing little girl.
"Yes, master." Zack immediately bowed and agreed.
The master and disciple sat there without saying anything.
When the evening came elder Grey spoke, "Tomorrow should be the time. You know where my resting place is."
"Aside from that, I'm leaving my name to you."
"It took me centuries to have the qualifications to have the name I have today. You will understand what it means to have a name in this world." Saying that a small rune appeared around the back of his palm and floated in the air.
It spelt Grey, but Zack picked up at least a dozen versions and meanings in different languages in a moment.
And as time went by there were more versions of it appearing in his mind. If anything, the rune contained a whole book of information.
The rune disappeared in the air and a similar-looking rune appeared on the back of his palm.
It looked much less complicated and only had a few versions to it in languages that he understood much better than those that he did not.
Zack sat quietly and listened to his master's teachings. He knew his master endured only because so that he could pass down his legacy or he would've left this world a long time ago.
...
The next morning Zack with his family and some of the townsmen left the Brown with elder Grey who now had his eyes closed.
The town chief also came with his daughter and some close servants.