As he exited his cultivation cave, Lassim sent out a message to Sirium and Lustria through the jade bracelet, asking them to meet him.
It took a few moments, but Sirium arrived first. His approached with a look of curiosity and concern.
"Lassim, what’s up? You sounded serious in your message," Sirium inquired, his brows knitted together.
Lassim took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "I have something important to tell you. I’m going to leave for the Southern Continent soon. The Headmaster has given me a letter, the extra reward he presented in front of everyone. It’s a letter of recommendation to join the Lightning Sect there.
He spent some time explaining to me that most students will join a sect after they reach the Spirit Growth stage to continue their cultivation, and suggested it for me."
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Sirium’s eyes widened in surprise, then a smile slowly spread across his face. "That’s incredible, Lassim! But... that’s so far away. You’ll probably be gone for a long time as well..."
"Yeah, it is and I probably will be...," Lassim agreed, a tinge of melancholy in his voice. "Yet, with that in mind, I don’t want to lose touch with you or Lustria. I’ve also written a letter to my family that I’m going to send today, asking them to connect more with the your Giffard family. I hope, in this way, our families can build stronger bonds, and we can keep in touch through them."
Sirium clapped Lassim on the shoulder, his expression earnest. "That’s a great idea! I’ll write to my family too, telling them about our friendship. I’m sure they’ll be supportive. It’s not everyday that a new Baron family can have an easy partnership with the Iron Marquis’ Vanthar and the Rohese families.
I appreciate it a lot, and hey, if you ever need anything, you can always count on the Giffard merchant caravans. We have routes and contacts all over Nexaria. I’ll ask my family to offer their aid if you ever approach one of them in the future!"
"Thank you, Sirium. That means a lot to me," Lassim said, gratitude evident in his voice. "It’s reassuring to know I have a friend like you, no matter where I am."
"Of course! We’re going to be legendary cultivators one day, right Storm Bringer? We’ll cross paths again, I’m sure of it," Sirium said with a wink, then he shook Lassim’s hand firmly then transitioning into a forearm grasped half-hug. "Take care, Lassim. The wind tells me Lustria is almost here, and I wouldn’t want to in between your farewell.
I’ll go write that letter right away and I’ll see you someday in the future, again! !"
As Sirium darted off to leave, Lassim felt a surge of appreciation for his friend’s understanding and support.
Moments after Sirium departed, Lustria approached, her presence heralded by the subtle flutter of emotions Lassim felt through the pair pendant they shared. Her steps were hesitant, a stark contrast to her usually confident demeanor.
As she came into view, Lassim noticed her hesitation, her usual smile dimmed by an expression of worry.
"Lustria," Lassim started, his voice soft, betraying his own turmoil of emotions. "I need to tell you something important."
Lustria nodded, her lips pressed tightly together, bracing herself for what was to come. The message he wrote sounded important and her thoughts spun wildly at that time. She had an intuition that now that he was at Spirit Growth stage, a big change would come.
"I’m going to the Southern Continent," Lassim said, his words hanging heavily in the air between them. "The Headmaster believes it’s the best path for me to grow stronger, and it’s my mission to help protect Nexaria from the Dragal."
Lustria’s breath hitched, and she took a step closer, her emotions swirling so intensely that Lassim could feel the tumultuous waves through their pendant connection.
"I... I understand," she finally managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper. "But it’s so far, Lassim. And after everything that’s happened... I was hoping we’d be able to spend some more time together. Possibly take some more missions and have more meals together."
"I know, Lustria, I know. It’s hard for me too," Lassim admitted, feeling a knot form in his throat. "But I believe this is something I must do. For myself, for my friends, for everyone. I haven’t told anyone else this, but I trust you. Please keep this a secret between us, but I want you to know something important...
That day during my Spirit Awakening Ceremony, the gods gave me a special duty when they bestowed me my spirits. They said that I need to become a bastion against an incoming invasion by the Dragal. It’s the reason why my cultivation, so far, has been unrestricted and why I have two spirits. I’m just too weak right now and I’ve been getting this feeling that I need to advance more quickly.
I think this will really help me, so I’m going to do it."
There was a pause, heavy with unspoken words and shared memories between the two as they reflected in the tension of the moment, before Lustria suddenly stepped forward.
With a swift motion, she used her enhanced SI3 strength to grasp the collar of Lassim’s martial robe and pulled his head down to her level. Her lips brushed against his cheek in a tender, fleeting peck, leaving a warm imprint that sent the feeling of a cascade of butterflies fluttering through Lassim’s stomach.
"I promise I’ll catch up to you," she declared, her voice laced with fierce determination. "Wait for me!"
Before Lassim could respond, Lustria turned on her heel and stormed off, leaving a trail of mixed emotions and shadows as she activated a night elemental movement technique in her wake.
Stunned, Lassim stood motionless, his hand instinctively touching the spot where her lips had met his cheek.
As her figure receded into the distance, Lassim found his voice, albeit a bit shaky. "I—IT’S A P-PROMISE!" he called out, his words echoing louder than he intended, fueled by the whirlwind of feelings inside him.
The pendant pulsed with a shared embarrassment and a silent vow that he could feel as it rested on against his chest. Sealing their promise together, tying their fate together more deeply, across the distance that would soon separate them.
With a smile and a jittery stomach breaking through his earlier somberness at leaving, Lassim turned and left the cultivation caves part of the academy in the direction of the city. He wanted to also inform his grandparents on the next chapter of his journey.
Walking through the city, he saw the massive concerted effort of everyone working together to repair the damage of the invasion. It seemed that, probably by the next morning, nearly everything would be rebuilt again. He was amazed at the resilience of his fellow Nexarians and how quickly they can bounce back from adversity with the help of their elements and kindness towards each other.
Arriving at the Rohese Estate, Lassim found his grandparents in the midst of overseeing the estate’s efforts to aid the city’s reconstruction. They’d cleared out most of the triage patients in the courtyard that had been used as a sanctuary during the battle. It seemed that most of everyone had been cured or salved enough to return back to their homes and businesses.
They greeted him with warmth, but their expressions turned serious as he shared his plans.
"So, you’re heading to the Southern Continent to join the Lightning Sect," his grandmother murmured, her voice tinged with concern. "It’s a long and dangerous journey for you, Lassim. You’ve only just advanced to the Spirit Growth stage... What is that Headmaster thinking?
Do I need to go over there and slap some sense into him?" His grandfather stepped in to hold her back from making a rash judgement while Lassim also tried to block her way and get her to listen to him first.
"I know, Grandma. But I also believe it’s where I need to go to grow stronger to be able to make a difference. Right now, I’m just still too weak like you said. The Headmaster explained it to me and wrote a letter of recommendation that will make it easy to join once I arrive," Lassim replied, his resolve clear in his voice.
His grandfather, always the more pragmatic of the two, nodded slowly. "It’s a brave decision, but not without risks. However, I have an idea that might ease both your grandma and I’s worries a bit."
Lassim listened intently as his grandfather outlined the plan. "Our family’s construction team is actually heading south tomorrow to assist with some preplanned projects that were contracted about a three years ago. You should travel with them for the first leg of your journey. They’re headed to the kingdom of Aetheria. It’s the kingdom just south of our Aurora Kingdom.
They’ve made this journey and similar ones many times, and they know the safest routes."
The idea brought a sense of relief to Lassim. Traveling with the construction team would offer a level of safety and familiarity, easing his transition into the long journey ahead.
"That sounds like a good plan," Lassim agreed, grateful for his family’s thoughtful support.
"We’ll arrange everything. Just focus on preparing yourself tonight. I’m not letting you leave without a hearty meal and new clothes to travel in before you go," his grandmother said, her eyes softening. "And Lassim, be careful on the trip. We’ll be waiting for your safe return."
That night, Lassim spent what would be his last evening in the city for a long time with his grandparents, sharing stories, laughter, and a few silent, reflective moments. He also passed them the letter to his family so that his grandparents could send it to Swallowtail City the next day.
As he lay in his room, surrounded by the familiar comforts of a soft and comfy bed similar to his childhood bedroom’s, Lassim felt a mixture of excitement and apprehension for the journey ahead. It’d probably be the last decent night’s sleep and luxurious bed for awhile.
The next morning, with the first light of dawn peeking over the horizon, Lassim stood ready at the estate’s gates. His grandmother and grandfather gave him a luxurious new black whale-hide magic bag that was packed to the brim.
He’d received his formal tuxedo at his grandmother’s insistence that he may need it, along with lots of other more casual clothing. Some was emblazoned with Rohese and Vanthar emblems and others more nondescript in case he needed to lay low at any point. It was also filled with various other items and goods he might need on a long journey like a tent, cooking wares, sleeping bag, and whatnot.
His heart didn’t know how to feel in the moment, full of farewells and promises. Yet, his thoughts were ignited with the prospect of the adventures that lay before him.
This time, he’d really be exploring the world and fulfilling his previous childhood dream of seeing the world outside the Emeraldwood Forest that surrounded Swallowtail Mountain City. He’d already gone far, far away from his home town, and past that forest. But this time it would be through to other cities, entire kingdoms, all the way to a whole entire continent. He was thrilled!
As the caravan began to move, Lassim cast one last glance back at the Rohese Estate with its silhouette bathed in the soft morning light.
With a deep breath, he turned forward on his seat in the carriage, setting his sights on the path ahead that would lead him to the Thunder Sovereign, and to what awaited him along the adventure towards the Southern Continent.