Departure

Liam stood in his room at the Chestnut Inn, the faint creaking of floorboards beneath his boots a quiet reminder of how old the building was. Sunlight streamed through the window in soft streaks, glinting off the polished edge of the dagger he laid carefully beside his folded tunic.

He packed methodically. One paper-wrapped bundle of dried meat after another, layered neatly atop strips of smoked jerky. Next went a smaller pouch filled with dried fruits, figs, raisins, prunes, and apricots. It wasn't the kind of food he relished, but on the road, practicality trumped preference. These were the kinds of rations expected of a traveler, something a fellow passenger might casually glance at and deem ordinary. That was the goal.

After rolling the bundles tightly into his spare cloth bag, he placed it near the door and reached for his belt. The dagger, a reward from the strange transmigrator package he'd received upon arriving in this world, was surprisingly well-made. The steel was smooth, the edge fine, and the handle wrapped in firm black leather. It didn't shimmer with enchantments or hum with hidden power, but it had a reliable weight to it. With a nod of approval, he strapped it onto the left side of his waist.

Opposite it, he holstered the revolver. The grip was worn smooth from handling, though Liam had only fired it once in secret. Ammunition was limited, and more importantly, he didn't want to risk attracting attention. But having it at his side gave him a quiet assurance, a sort of fallback no one else needed to know about.

He paused. Something tugged at the edge of his memory.

"Ah."

He crouched beside his second bag and untied the top, revealing a colorful assortment of over two hundred lollipops, chocolate flavour. A gift for a certain bright-eyed girl. He carefully re-secured the bag, ensuring the knot was tight, and hoisted it onto his shoulder.

Everything was in place.

He took one final glance around the room. The bed was made. The air still carried the scent of the herbal soap Merra always left near the washbasin. This place had become a quiet kind of home over the past few days.

Liam made his way downstairs.

At the foot of the stairs stood Merra, arms crossed and lips curled into a knowing smirk. Beside her, Raine leaned against the doorframe, while Elli, the little spark of the inn, stood stiffly, her eyes slightly puffy and red.

"Well, look who finally decided to say goodbye," Merra teased, raising an eyebrow.

Liam scratched the back of his neck, shifting the bag on his shoulder awkwardly. "Not exactly sneaking. I just… figured you'd all be busy."

Merra raised an eyebrow. "And you thought we wouldn't notice you dragging your feet down the stairs with half your belongings?"

Before he could reply, he noticed Elli.

The little girl stood a step behind Merra, arms crossed tightly across her chest. Her eyes were red and puffy, her nose slightly runny. It was clear she'd been crying, though she tried to look composed.

He stepped forward and knelt before Elli. Her bottom lip trembled despite her effort to hold herself together.

"Alright, Milady," he said gently, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. "There's no need to look so heartbroken. I'll write to you. And when vacation comes, I promise I'll visit. You'll barely have time to miss me."

Elli tried to glare, but her teary expression made it hard to take her seriously. She sniffled once, then lunged forward, wrapping her arms around Liam's neck.

Elli didn't laugh, not right away. She just hug at him, lips trembling.

"I don't want letters," she mumbled. "I want you to stay."

Liam reached out and gently wiped away the leftover tears from her cheeks. "And I'd like nothing more than to keep eating boiled eggs with you three times a day. But if I don't go now, Big Sis will chase me out with a broom next season."

"I already threatened him," Merra added dryly from the side.

Eventually, Elli nodded. Liam put down the cloth sack filled with lollipops.

"You better," she mumbled.

Merra stepped forward, enveloping them both in a sudden hug. "Just like you're heading off to school, Elli school will start too, once the break ends. And you'll both grow up to make this old innkeeper proud."

Liam managed a small laugh. The warmth of the moment tugged at something buried deep in his chest.

"Here," he said, setting the heavy bag at Elli's feet. "One lollipop a day. Two if you're really good. No more, or your mother might toss the whole bag out."

Elli's eyes widened. "There's that many?"

"Enough to last until I visit again."

"I'll be a good girl," she whispered. "And I'll share one or two with Raine."

"That's my lady," Liam smiled and stood.

Merra handed him a wrapped lunch container, still warm to the touch. The aroma of spiced rice and vegetables leaked faintly through the cloth.

"Lunch. Still warm. Don't eat it all in the first hour."

Liam accepted it with both hands and bowed slightly. "Thank you, for everything."

"You're welcome," she said, patting his shoulder. "Now go before Elli starts crying again."

He nodded, offered a last wave to Raine and the others, and stepped out into the street

Into the afternoon air, the weight of the food bag slung over his shoulder, and carefully slipped the lunch into his inventory when no one was watching. His pace slowed momentarily as his foot struck something small and metallic. He looked down, spotted a silver coin wedged between two cobblestones, and casually scooped it up.

Pocketed, or rather, stored. His inventory had proven more useful than any tool he'd received so far.

By the time he reached the main gate of Redfern Hollow, the convoy was already preparing to leave.

Six carriages stood in line, their wooden frames reinforced with strips of iron and thick ropes securing crates on the rooftops. Travelers moved between them, adjusting harnesses, checking wheels, and chatting in subdued tones.

Ethel spotted him first.

"Ah, there you are! Took you long enough," the guardsman called, waving him over. He carried a halberd wrapped under clothes in one hand, its metal polished and the shaft freshly oiled.

Liam pulled the cloth back just enough to see the halberd's polished blade, gleaming in the sunlight.

"What's this?"

"Something I held on to. Old, but sturdy. Yours, if you want it. Caravans don't always get raided, but when they do, better to look armed."

"I already have a dagger."

"And now you have something longer. You don't need to be a soldier. Just look like one."

Liam nodded, slinging the halberd's strap across his back. "Thanks."

"Also," Ethel said with a smirk, "something from Elli." He pulled out a small bundle of wrapped candies. "She said you might get bored or miss her."

Liam blinked. "Did… she really?"

"No," Ethel admitted. "That one's from me. Bribery. Keep yourself alive out there."

The man chuckled and turned toward the carriage, waving Liam forward.

"Alright, introductions," Ethel said as they approached the group.

Several people were already waiting beside a larger, covered wagon: a pair of weathered mercenaries, clearly armed; a young healer in travel robes; a couple of traders securing crates to a second cart.

"Everyone, this is Liam. Don't let the size fool you. He's sharp, better-mannered than most of you, and not entirely useless."

The mercenaries gave curt nods. One of them, a broad-shouldered man with a scar running down his left brow, offered a hand. "Name's Derrin. Don't get in the way, and we won't have a problem."

Liam shook his hand, firm but respectful.

The healer, a girl perhaps a year older than Liam, smiled faintly. "I'm Tessa. I handle wounds, not whining."

"Got it."

"And I'm the driver you already know," a voice called from the side.

Charlie Chapman emerged from behind the front wheel, his usual grin in place and hat tipped low.

"You're just in time, kid. We'll be moving in five."

"I'm ready," Liam replied.

He climbed into the carriage and settled inside. His pack was secured beneath the seat. The lunch box and halberd rested on top.

Through the window slats, he could see Redfern Hollow one last time. The inn's roof barely visible, smoke curling from the chimney. The scent of bread and stew already felt distant.

As the wheels began to turn and the wooden frame creaked forward, Liam leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes for a moment.

Aetherreach awaited.

But first came Thornmere.

And five long days on the road.