Chapter 12. Loss

Shawn took the journal of his grandfather and cracked it open to find instructions. Inside the journal was the old man's instructions.

"I write this in advanced to you my child. You are now alone, with little covering to save you. Times are becoming desperate and it should not be long before war spreads to our slice of land. Do not lean too hard on that woman Tabitha, she is not what you think she is. In times of need even the kindest would sacrifice the innocent. Keep my teachings son… get strong enough to where you can leave this land and reclaim your homeland. Go see all the world has to offer.

Try to get into Star-winter Academy. A good place to provide covering and learning; at that school you should meet an old acquaintance that will help you. It is however on your shoulders to pass the test in order to actually attend the school.

The money that we have collected may seem like a lot but more than half will go to your awakening ceremony and the rest will go to your cultivation. This is not much at all, do not underestimate how much it takes in order to cultivate. Take a knife and cut your thumb, leave some blood on the pouch and you will be amazed. The book is something you will learn about naturally as you grow. Those clothes were made by your mother for you, you aren't big enough to wear it yet, but one day you will.

Hide your coin, hide your pouch on your body and let nobody take it, put the book in the pouch and carry it. Burn this letter after reading it."

Shawn held the letter for dear life, he reread it until he memorized the content forward and backwards and set it on fire with a lit candle. Then after, he looked at his savings which was half full of a variety of coins. He counted his silver which was about 2 platinum, 10 gold, 40silver, and 35 bronze, and 67 iron. It was an impressive amount and Shawn wondered why his grandfather never did anything with the money. That was until he remembered something, the weak having treasure is equal to calamity.

What could a sick, and dying old man with no protection and a very young child do with all this wealth. Not to mention grandpa was a foreigner in a new land.

Shawn took the pouch and not his finger enough for a drop of blood to drop on the pouch. The pouch had a beautiful design on it that matched the design on the clothes his mother made. Shawn thought that maybe it was his family crest. Putting the pouch deep inside his clothes, the boy looked at the book, it didn't seem anything special except for the design on the cover. The cover had a claw mark on that almost seemed alive.

Observing the object for awhile, Shawn put it inside his bag of holding. Getting up, Shawn went out and noticed he was inside the inn that Tabitha ran. Looking at the shined wooden floors and smelling the air laced with good food helped Shawn calm himself. Moving to find Tabitha he went to the front desk and found Casey there.

Casey looked at the kid, smiled and said, "Rise and shine sleeping beauty. I'll let the boss know you are up because she wanted to have a word with you."

Shawn nodded his head and waited as Casey left to let Tabitha know he was awake. Not too long after Tabitha appeared looking tired and stressed.

"I'm glad to see you awake, this must be rough on you. Don't worry about housing because you will stay here. Your grandfather arranged that, you don't need to pay me anything. Your jobs will continue but beyond that, your free time is your own. Please be careful in the coming days because war from the North is coming this way."

Hearing that his gramps made arrangements already and that he would have a fair amount of free time, consoled the boy. It also seemed to remind him that he truly did have a loving grandfather.

Casey heard that the boy was being taken care of by Tabitha and was surprised. Tabitha was a kind woman bug not that kind, he wondered what those arrangements were.

Tabitha hugged Shawn before leaving to handle her affairs. Shawn went to work immediately after. He then started to exercise in his room afterwards, it was big enough for him to do exercise in. After training his body, Shawn then ate a big meal in the tavern. Following that, he took a shower and proceeded to meditate.

After meditation, Shawn looked at the moon and fell into thought.

"It's not so bad here. Grandfather, I hope your watching."