Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 110 (Part 2)

Rodin informed Larry and Bianca that they would be leaving in two days. He also told them that they were free to stay behind if they wished.

“So, Big Brother Rodin, are we going to live in Hedenes from now on?”

“No. That hasn’t been decided yet. I’ll decide once we get there.”

“So we might come back?”

“Yeah. We might come back, or we could stay in Hedenes. Or maybe we’ll go somewhere else entirely.”

Rodin didn’t want to make any decisions in advance. He planned to choose their destination based on how things unfolded and where his heart led him at the time.

“What if we don’t go?”

“Then I’ll go alone.”

“And if Brother Larry and I go with you?”

“Then we’ll pack up everything and take it with us. Your desk and bed, Bianca, and even the potion-making equipment.”

There was enough space in his subspace bracelet. It could fit the entire house, if needed.

“How are you going to take everything?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

“Then I’m going. Brother Larry, are you going too?”

“Of course I’m going. Why would I stay here alone without you two?”

It was settled. The whole family would be making the journey together. While they didn’t know where they would eventually settle, their next destination was the Hedenes region.

“Alright, then. I’ll get everything ready.”

“Big brother Rodin, don’t forget to bring my bed, okay? You promised.”

“Got it. I’ll pack everything.”

Rodin spent the next two days preparing for their departure.

The first thing he did was dismantle the magic circle he had set up on the wall around the house. It wasn’t a temporary suspension; he completely removed it.

The day before they were to leave, he started putting the household items into his subspace bracelet, one by one. Though they hadn’t even lived there for two years, it was amazing how much stuff they had accumulated. The kitchen tools, in particular, had multiplied.

The day before departure, he put all the food in the storage into his subspace bracelet and temporarily deactivated the magic circle on the storage.

The preservation magic engraved on the storage had required a rare material called Arovaine. If Rodin couldn’t obtain more Arovaine or a similar material, it would be impossible to re-engrave the preservation spell.

‘I’ll be able to do it once I reach the seventh circle.’

Since he couldn’t create another one anytime soon, it was too valuable to destroy. So, for now, he just deactivated the magic.

The magic circle had been crafted using mana, not regular magical energy, so there was no risk of anyone discovering it.

“Are you alright with this, Matthew?”

“Yes, sir. My mother is already gone. Honestly, I think the subspace might be a better place for her than a bumpy carriage.”

“Thank you.”

“No, I’m the one who should be thanking you, sir.”

Matthew didn’t oppose storing Margaret’s body in the subspace bracelet.

If he had, Rodin would have had to dismantle the Arovaine in the storage to cast the preservation spell on a carriage. That was the only way to transport the body without it decaying.

Fortunately, Matthew didn’t mind where the body was kept, as long as they could safely bring it back to her homeland without it rotting.

Rodin wasn’t the only one preparing to leave. Larry had his own matters to attend to before leaving the Marquisate of Richmond.

Unlike Bianca, who had mostly stayed at home, Larry had been attending Cardos Sword Academy. Every day, he would leave at the crack of dawn and return home late in the evening.

In doing so, he had formed connections with many people along the way: Aunt Lauren at the fruit stand, Mr. Hughes at the blacksmith’s shop, and Mr. Levin, the baker.

They were all people who had supported him when things were tough. Aunt Lauren, in particular, had been a big help, treating his wounds with crushed herbs every time he returned bruised from training at the academy.

To say goodbye to them all, Larry left the house early in the morning. He visited each one in turn, finally arriving at Aunt Lauren’s fruit stand.

“Oh my, isn’t it Larry? What brings you here so early?”

“How have you been?”

“Well, as long as I’m out here every day, I’m doing fine. How about you? Any troublemakers giving you a hard time these days?”

“No, I’ve been training at home. Oh! I’ve actually quit the Cardos Sword Academy.”

Even now, Larry felt conflicted about quitting the academy. It didn’t feel like he had chosen a new path but more like he had given up.

What made it worse was that training alone left him without anyone to compare himself to.

He had no way of knowing how his swordsmanship measured up, or where he stood in his development. No one was there to give him any clear answers.

“Oh dear, that’s a shame, isn’t it?”

“It’s fine. I’m training hard at home.”

“I’m sure you are. You’ve always been a hard worker. You’ll do well wherever you go.”

Aunt Lauren found Larry admirable. He had been just twelve years old when she first met him, yet he had never once whined or complained.

Though still a child, he had shown remarkable depth of character. Even when the other students at the academy beat him, he had always endured it as if nothing had happened.

There probably wasn’t a single merchant in the market who disliked Larry.

“Thank you, Aunt Lauren. Oh, I’m leaving tomorrow.”

“Leaving? What do you mean? Are you leaving the Marquisate?”

“We’re going to the Tebia Kingdom. It’s supposed to be a two-month trip, but I’m not sure how long it’ll actually be. Brother Rodin can be pretty impulsive.”

Impulsive meant that there was a chance they might not come back. For all Larry knew, this could be the last time he ever saw Aunt Lauren.

“Oh my. So you’re really leaving?”

“Yes, Aunt Lauren. But I’ll definitely come back. Even if Brother Rodin doesn’t, I’ll come back when I’m grown up.”

“Alright, I’ll be waiting. Come back after you’ve made something of yourself, alright?”

“Yes, I’ll definitely do that.”

As Larry walked away from the fruit stand, his steps felt heavy. He kept turning back to wave at Aunt Lauren, who was waving back.

“See you again, Aunt Lauren.”

“Take care of yourself.”

Leaving the market, Larry made his way home.

But he couldn’t help stopping in his tracks when he saw a group of unwelcome figures blocking his path.

“Well, well. Look who it is. The runaway, Larry.”

“Do… Dorian? What are you doing here at this hour?”

The Cardos Sword Academy’s schedule started early in the morning and ended in the evening. Right now, they should have been in the middle of physical training.

“Heh, heh, heh. I had a good feeling when I woke up this morning. Like something nice was going to happen. And look at this, I get to run into a runaway.”

“Yeah, who would’ve thought we’d meet you here of all places.”

This was an area between the residential and commercial districts, a place where not many people passed by. During the day, the occasional carriage might come through, but right now, there was no one around.

“Keke, runaway Larry. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

“Did you grow a little taller?”

“Have your bruises healed?”

“You must be living the good life now that no one’s beating you up.”

Larry gritted his teeth as he listened to their mocking.

At the Cardos Sword Academy, there wasn’t a single kid who hadn’t bullied Larry. It was practically an accepted practice. Among the bullies, these five in front of him had been the worst.

Dorian, Malice, Carti, Lucane, and Croneil.

These five had made it their daily mission to beat Larry up. It was as if they thought something terrible would happen if they didn’t, and they always kept to a strict schedule.

They had been the first ones to start bullying Larry and leading the others to follow suit.

“Move.”

“Move? Wow, Larry’s gotten pretty bold. He’s even telling me to move.”

“Guys, I think the runaway here has forgotten who we are.”

“Well, we’ll just have to remind him, won’t we?”

Screech!

Dorian was the first to draw his sword. The other four spread out, blocking any escape route Larry might have had.

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