Chapter 17: Time to leave

"Who thought two years will pass this quickly, huh?" Muttered Ray with a dazed look as he moved between the trees along with Flora.

It seemed that she heard him as she giggled softly and said "These last two years were really fun. I enjoyed accompanying you, even though grandpa's training was hell, fufu" Her words made Ray laugh as he looked at her complex with complex emotions on his face.

Ray was not dense and he knew that he was attracted to Flora but not only was he inexperienced in that department he also didn't want to drag Flora with him. He was looking for revenge, something that will probably ruin him in more ways than one and the last thing he wanted was to make Flora and Galdof suffer the consequences of what he will do in the future.

'It's probably around the time that I leave. I won't let them get dragged with me. This is my path and I will walk alone on it to the end!' he thought with a determination that was also mixed with sadness and unwillingness.

"Hey, Ray are you ok? you look sad." Flora asked as she looked at him with worry on her angelic face. Ray was surprised at how sharp she was. 'You always amaze me don't you, Flora?' He thought inwardly while he lied with a warm smile on his face "Nothing. I was just thinking about some stuff."

"Hmm. If you need any help tell me, ok?" As they were conversing the house appeared in front of them. This familiar scenery was something Ray got accustomed to.

As they entered the house. They found Galdof sitting on the sofa with closed eyes in a lotus position. He liked to meditate most of the time when he doesn't have anything to do. So to not interrupt him they silently passed the living room to go to their separate rooms but they heard someone calling.

"Flora, Ray. You came back?" They both turned around and went and sat beside him. Luckily his meditation session was over.

"There's something important I need to tell you." Said Ray with a serious face. Flora tensed a little bit. Ray was ways cheerful and calm so his serious face was something she didn't see that much.

Not hearing any answer, he continued " These past years were the most precious years of my life. Even though I miss my parents a lot. If not for you to I would've probably lost myself a long time ago. Nevertheless, while it's very appealing to stay here and live with you two. I made a promise to myself that I will kill those who murdered my parents with my own hands. I'm going to leave in the next month to search for a way to return to the holy kingdom and also find ways to become even stronger. Strong to the point where I will make them suffer as much as they made me suffer." He said with a dejected face. He wanted to forget about his past and move on but he knew very well that sooner than later his past will come biting him in the back.

At some point, Tears stained Flora's rosy cheeks as she looked at Ray with a shocked look. She knew that Ray said he will leave but she probably forgot or maybe she just thought that they will stay together forever.

"N-no! I know I may sound selfish but I don't want to leave! You're the first friend I ever made, we shared a lot of things together and lived through a lot of things. We are family, aren't we? Tell him, grandpa!" She turned around trying to hold her muffled cries and looked at her grandpa who was in deep thought. A few minutes passed in silence until Galdof finally spoke "In the central region of the Lower lands, there's a prestigious academy that every child attend at 15 years of age. It's the perfect place to train and study to become a prominent person in the Lower lands. I was intending to send Flora there to learn more about this world. What do you think?" Asked the old man while brushing his beard with his hand.

"I don't know. My goal right now is to find a way to go back to the Holy kingdom so I can't really waste time anymore." Ray wasn't a big fan of the idea. Even as they were talking, The holy kingdom might be having major changes that will affect Ray's goal and two years is more than enough time for that to happen.

But when he was about to refuse firmly Galdof said with a knowing smile "What if I told you that you will find a way to go back to your homeland there?"