Kalastros's Last Day

Meanwhile, Haalfrin is growing ever more restless back in the countryside. He's keeping himself busy by familiarizing himself with his May Name and working out powerful strategies with them. But beyond that, he has nothing to do.

So, when Prince Tallus personally shows up in an inconspicuous carriage and invites Haalfrin to a private meal and a hushed conversation, Haalfrin puts down his fishing rod, shrugs, and says, "Well, why not?"

While Tallus waits for Haalfrin at his table, he's bouncing his foot and trying to calm his terrified heart… and he has good reason to be scared, too.

You see, ever since Haalfrin had been sent to the countryside, the other nobles began to understand that Haalfrin had been "abandoned" by the kingdom, and they had no real reason to even pretend like they were going to support the prince "behind him" anymore.

With the emperor's health failing more and more, Kanus is getting ready to take the throne, and the nobles are becoming more decisive in who to support… Things have been getting more and more dangerous for Tallus.

What makes it all worse is that the moment Haalfrin sits down, the "man" (more akin to a boy now, after getting his 1st gate some time ago) takes a large swig of alcohol and blurts out, "My master's old and only has a few years left to live. Out of respect for Master Kalastros, I'm not getting into trouble until then." He looks up at Prince Tallus. "Whatever it is you want from me, it better not be too troublesome."

…Of course, "trouble" doesn't include his business with the crime syndicate, since he never thought of them as a threat.

"D-does protecting me from assassins count as troublesome?" Tallus asks.

Seeing the prince's meek expression, Haalfrin can't help but marvel at how much this boy has transformed over the years.

When he first met him, Tallus was a little boy only interested in his hobbies. When he got support from the archmage through his relationship with Haalfrin, his position improved, and he became more confident... and arrogant.

'Now? Now that he feels his power slipping away, he looks just like the scared little sheep he's always been.'

"It it troublesome?" Haalfrin asks himself. He looks up and thinks about Randel, Lia, and their two children.

'If assassins come here, then those people might be in danger again.'

That, alone, is enough for Haalfrin to make up his mind. "Yes. It's troublesome. Please leave."

"But-"

"Now. Out the door."

With the slightest pressure from his Yiir Name, Tallus gets scared and backs away. The man doesn't even dare give an unwilling glance over his shoulder as he rides away on his horse.

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Years trickle past, and all the villagers Haalfrin knew grow up. Randel and Lia both grow old surrounded by grandchildren, and they pass away together during an epidemic.

It all feels very surreal to Haalfrin when he attends the funeral. Frankly, he finds it a little scary when he realizes how quickly the years ticked by. Before he knew it, is old friend was already dead.

What's even more scary is that Galla and Ria are already as old and Randel and Lia were was when he met them for the first time. 'Does that mean the children are going to die soon?' Haalfrin thinks.

Despite the entire village coming together and celebrating Randel's and Lia's lives, Haalfrin can't help but feel withdrawn from the rest. While the some celebrate by getting drunk, Haalfrin remains sober. While the children cry and mourn, Haalfrin remains silent and stoic. While the family gathers and chats, Haalfrin sits on the roof alone.

It's like an invisible barrier is between himself and them. He knows very well that his life operates on a different time frame from them, and he realized for the first time today that it might be pointless to make friends with people who die so quickly.

That night, Haalfrin makes up his mind about something important. 'If I ever get married, she'll have to be a mage as long lived as myself. I don't want her to wither and die before me.'

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In the end, Galla ends up inheriting the house. Despite selling the farmland, he still makes enough profit to support a family, since he grows up working as a scribe, after being taught to read by Haalfrin.

Ria, on the other hand, ends up moving far away to another province after insisting on marrying this one particular carpenter that traveled through town one day with a merchant convoy. Haalfrin never saw her again, though he and Galla would sometimes receive letters from her.

It's only after Ria sends her letter detailing her 3rd child does Haalfrin realize that it's about THAT TIME…

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One day, one of Galla's children wakes up with bleary eyes to hear some rustling going on in the main room; of course, over the years, Galla and his family had grown much richer than his father had been, so there was plenty of addons to their ancestral house.

The little boy wipes his eyes and sees a small shadowy figure opening the door and stepping out the door. "Sir Haalfrin?" the boy calls out.

Haalfrin turns around with his travel sack on his back, and he looks at the little boy in the eyes. "Turs. Go back to bed."

"Where are you going, Uncle Haalfrin?" the boy asks.

"I'm… going on a journey. Don't worry. I already told your parents. Just get back to bed," Haalfrin insists.

Turs gets an expectant look on his face as he runs up and hugs Haalfrin's waist, "Are you going on an adventure? Can I come with you? You promised we'd go on an adventure before, right?"

Haalfrin only smiles at this and tussles the boy's curly brown hair. "Maybe next time kid."

With a soft wave of his hand, Haalfrin lifts the boy up with his magic and puts him back in his bed. Before the boy can scramble back out, Haalfrin closes the boy's door and locks it from the outside.

…And just to be sure, Haalfrin goes around the back and makes sure the boy's window is bolted shut. He's been known to escape before and go explore the woods at night.

As Haalfrin is leaving, he hears soft knocking on the window, "Haalfrin! Take me with you!"

"Oi!" Haalfrin wraps on the window. "Be quiet! You'll wake your sisters up!"

"…Sorry."

Haalfrin gives a silent laugh at the child's antics, and he sets out on his journey…

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High up in the archmage's tower, Kalastros lay prone on his bed, coughing weakly and staring blankly out the balcony he loves so much… and when the lightning flashes, he sees a small figure standing on the rail outside.

"Haalfrin!" Kalastros gasps, "What're you doing here!?"

"Not looking well, huh?" Haalfrin mutters unhappily. Seeing his master's blank gaze, Haalfrin puts his hands on his hips, "What? You didn't think I'd forget that you had that fatal heart attack a hundred years from tomorrow, right?"

Kalastros relaxes his face, and he rests his head back on his pillow. "So you remembered, huh?"

"Of course, I remembered, fool!" Haalfrin hops off the rail and strides into his master's hospice. "I didn't know what you'd be sick with… but I didn't care. What you need is a special kind of medicine… medicine for the soul!"

With a flurry, Haalfrin reaches into his bag and pulls out a large flask of honey beer.

"Umm… Haalfrin," Kalastros mutters, "You shouldn't be giving sick people that."

Haalfrin shrugs nonchalantly, "Das said that you had 100 years left to live from the day you should've died… that means you're passing away tomorrow. Why worry about health?"

The disciple then uncorks the bottle of beer and pours some into a glass. "I know this is your favorite thing to drink… so you'd mind as well enjoy your last day."

Master Kal looks over weakly and smiles. "Give me… a glass of that." Haalfrin gives the man some, and the old man gingerly sips on it, then frowns.

"What's wrong?" Haalfrin jumps up and asks with concern.

"…I can't taste it anymore. Ugh… It's making me feel sick."

Haalfrin sighs and takes the glass from him and recorks the bottle again before tucking it back under his cloak. Even Kalastros can tell that Haalfrin is feeling disappointed.

The archmage points to a chair across from his bed, and he says, "Just… go sit down… and tell me about your life so far. It's been a while since we saw each other."

Haalfrin bows his head, takes a seat, and updates him on his life, as well as the adventures he's taken himself on in the meantime.

Kalastros gives an appreciative smile, "I miss… being young like that. I… had many friends… most of them were with me in the Threshold."

The old man looks up and chokes out a few nostalgic tears, "When I went to that Otherworld, it felt like such an adventure at the time. Of course, I was the youngest in my squad… so I've survived longer than all my friends."

And so, Kalastros spends several more hours talking all about the Threshold and his life on the other side of the world gate. He talks until his throat is hoarse and his mind goes numb.

Once the old man grows tired of talking, Haalfrin gives a wry smile. "Master, you never talk much about the Otherworld. You always said you didn't want to inspire me to go traipsing off there and getting myself killed."

After all, Haalfrin learned some time ago that 1st and 2nd Gate mages are allowed to enlist as a Threshold soldier in the Otherworld; it's just that enlistment is mandatory for 3rd gate mages and higher.

If Haalfrin had wanted, he couldn't left for the Threshold long ago; the only reason he's stayed behind is because of his master.

"That's still true," Kalastros coughs painfully. "Promise me that after I die, you won't go to the Threshold. Serving in that place is suicide. Promise me that you'll serve as the archmage and stay in Alasta. Live your life! Don't throw it away just because... I'm going to die."

Haalfrin puts his hand over his master's bony knuckles and nods. "I promise that I'll live my life and try to be happy."

"Good..."

After a long silence, Kalastros looks over to Haalfrin with a scared look on his face, "Haalfrin… I'm ashamed to admit it, but I'm scared to go. I'm going to wake up tomorrow and find myself in a strange place."

Haalfrin gives a sympathetic smile, and he leans back in his chair. "Remember when Das took me away, those few decades ago?" Haalfrin asks. "He took me to the Death Realm."

Kalastros looks over with interest, and, seeing that he's listening, Haalfrin goes on to describe the place to him. "There are buildings taller than the sky… and the sun glows a beautiful silver color – more brilliant than the sun and more mellow than the moon. The streets are paved with enchantments, and people bustle about day after day, living their own lives as they please."

The young man turns to the old one, "It's a lot like the living world just… just more occupied."

"…So I'm not going to be some floating spirit in a deep well or something for all eternity?"

"No," Haalfrin explains, "Nothing changes when you die… just… the nature of your spirit. You become… more of yourself. Eh... It's hard to describe. I meant to say that you'll still be you. In fact, you'll only grow even wiser for all eternity!"

Kalastros lets out a breath… "That's… good to hear…"

Feeling some semblance of relief, Haalfrin's old master closes his eyes and drifts off to sleep.

Hearing the old man's peaceful breathing, Haalfrin slips out of his chair and sits atop the balcony railing with his arms cross-legged, overlooking the entire city below.

After a few hours of sitting there in silence, staring at the grey cloudy sky, Haalfrin hears the old master Kalastros's breathing stop.

Wordlessly, Haalfrin takes out the bottle of honey beer and uncorks it. He sets out two cups, and he pours beer into both of them.

In grim silence, Haalfrin holds up each cup in turn and drains them dry.

Once the entire bottle of honey beer is finished this way, Haalfrin puts the empty bottle back in his cloak and continues staring out into the distance… except his head is hung low now.

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A few minutes later, a thick plume of black smoke billows into existence behind Haalfrin. Without even turning around, Haalfrin mutters, "Das… You'd better take care of the old man."

The old butler figure behind Haalfrin performs a short bow. "Don't worry, little human," the death reaper says, "This old wizard in my lantern will be a perfectly respectable member of the Death King's kingdom.

With no more words shared between the warrior and the death reaper, Das whisks himself away, leaving Haalfrin alone once again.

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End of Volume