Stephan left that afternoon, right after having lunch with his parents. His parents and him were still full from the birthday party, but meals in the valley were much more about the tradition of them rather than the feeding, although the feeding was quite important as well. There wasn't much talking at the meal, there never really was at Gerard household. But this time it felt more dour and serious than the usual comfortable silence.

After the meal his father got up without a word and went into the one bedroom of the small hut. His mother got up and walked to the small hollow they called the front closet.

“Here’s the travel pack we set up for you, it's set up for the travel to the capital, so you should get to Cliffgate with plenty to spare” she said, taking the heavy backpack out. She stopped for a moment. “Hopefully it'll be enough to bring you back as well, here let me help you put it on.”

Stephan let her fuss over getting it on him. Adjusting straps and buckles until she was satisfied. It was quite heavy, his family didn't have close to enough money to buy weight reduction tools, but the specific locations and number of straps equalized the weight, making it quite comfortable to wear. Stephan guessed he would have to get used to the weight, which would take a day or two of misery, but he pushed that into the back of his mind, he would deal with that when it came.

“Well what do you think? It's been a while since I got pop ready for travel. But I think I still got it in me.” Helfa stepped back and looked at her handiwork approvingly. Stephan was about to answer after a second of thought, then tears began to run down Helfas face. Stephan was shocked, he'd never seen his mother so much as sniffle before, she was one of the most stoic people in the Valley.

“It's great ma” he said. Trying hard to not break into tears as well. “It fits like a glove. I'll be coming home in a couple weeks, so it'll help. I promise.” Helfa stood for a moment, face scrunched in silent sobs. She relaxed back into its stoic smile after a couple of seconds, but the tears didn't stop.

“No Stephan, don't promise that. Go to the university as soon as you can. Don't let this farce stop you from fulfilling the future you want.” Helfa’s voice shook a bit before taking on the firm supportive tone Stephan was used to.

“We're kicking you out Stephan.” Said Gerard, coming back out of the bedroom. His eyes were a bit red. But his tone was light and confident. He was carrying a bundle in his arms. “Come here, I want to give you your last birthday present.”

Gerard motioned to Helfa and she quickly cleared the table. With a grunt he put the bundle down and unwrapped it carefully. Inside was a belt, Gerards hunting knife, a small satchel attached to the belt, and what looked like a large metal bar with a handle. Stephan had seen many at different types of weapons, at least through books, but he'd never seen something like that before.

“This is my hunting knife, it's still quite sharp, the care kit is inside the satchel along with a firestarter and some other necessities” said Gerard.

“But Pop” Stephan looked at him in surprise. “You never leave the house without that knife. You said it was the bwst purchase of your life when you bought it.” Stephan remembered it vividly, it was from the fair that came once every few years, the food was amazing, and his pa had managed to convince an adventurer that was guarding the fair to part with it for some coin and one of Stephans toys he made, a small magic propelled bird.

“Yes, and you played no small part in that. He sold it at a loss because he loved your bird so much” Gerard sighed “I do regret letting it go, but you're going to need it far more than I will, no matter what happens when you get to Cliffgate. Besides” he said, leaning in close “it's about time I get some new toys”

Helfa leaned in from behind him “your going to get old toys from the lumbermaster.” Matching Gerards whisper. Then proceeded to bop him on the head with the plate she was carrying.

“I don't even know how to use a knife” Stephan said plainly, he felt guilty taking it. It was a beautiful knife, one of the most high quality ones in the town. A green full tang blade as big as his forearm with a heavy leather handle. The blade was unadorned, but after 5 years of use the metal seemed only slightly worn, his pop never even changed the leather in the handle. His family had very little of this quality.

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“You'll learn, and you're not gonna stick yourself with it, you're too level headed.” Replied Gerard. “But don't stick yourself” Helfa butted in. “your Pop is also self taught, you can do a lot without real training. Besides, I'm sure there's some bits and bobs in your head from that library floating around.”

Helfa was right, it was hazy but there were two books that explained fighting with a knife. No illustrations, but Stephan was always good at visualizing with just written word. “Now, don't use it to fight” said Gerard, seemingly reading his son's mind “I want you to pracice with it everyday, and use it whenever you can. It should be an extension of your body so you can use it in a pinch. But if it looks like there's a fight. And you can't intimidate them away with looking like you can fight, run if you can.”

“And if I can't?” Asked Stephan, it was rare for his dad to be so talkative, let alone give him advice. Stephan may have been more lettered than both his parents, perhaps even combined, but he knew that he sorely lacked practical experience, something his parents were brimming with. Both had grown up with almost nothing in the valley. His pop had worked his way up to be the Lumbermasters right hand, and his ma had managed to get him unfettered access to so many things that he would not have had otherwise.

“Well if things do get to that point, don't use the knife.” Gerard picked up the metal rod. “Use this.”

“What is it?” Asked Stephan “A mace? I've never seen a mace or staff like that before.”

“This is called a baston, it's been in our family for a couple of generations.” He said, lifting it up by the handle. “Way back when one of our ancestors was a Traveler and had this on him, it has far more uses than a traditional weapon. Its a walking stick.” He turned it over and stood up, using it as leverage. The handle went up to his chest. “This is very strong, so you can use it for a lever, a support for a tent, a vaulting rod. When I was younger I used this all the time, and Its stood firm for all those years. I don't use it anymore, so now it's yours” Gerard turned the handle to Stephan.

Stephan took it, feeling it's weight. It wasn't too heavy, and he felt he could comfortably swing it more than a couple times with one hand if he had to. He could definitely see the possibilities of it as a weapon, but he could see more possibilities of it as a tool.

“This one I also want you to practice everyday. The knife is going to be useful. But this will protect you more. I can guarantee it. It has more reach than most swords, and will easily turn most blades. I can even say it's stopped a charging boar before” said Gerard gravely “but don't get into that situation if you don't have to.” this time he said it with a twinkle in his eye.

“Go on, put on the belt” said his mother, “I want to see my boy grown up”

Stephan picked up the belt, but stopped midway, looking at the well cared for knife scabbard. “are you sure you want me to have this? You never leave home without it. And your going to use it more than I ever will…” Gerard stood for a second, lost in thought.

“My hope is that you will use it more than I do. As I said, I want it to become a extension of your body, another limb to work with. But even if you don't it's no matter. I cant let you go outside the valley without some way of cutting things. Is rather you go with things I know won't break on you before your even get to Cliffgate, rather than a fancy new toy that'll break the moment you try to split a log with it.”

“Allright” Stephan conceded and put on the belt. He didn't have help this time, his parents probably wanted to make sure he could get it on right without their help. He thought he did it correctly. With the scabbard opposite his dominant hand, for him the right. And the satchel on the left. He had to adjust it a bit, as it was slightly too big on him. He then tightened the belt at the bottom of the scabbard on his leg. It felt secure and comfortable.

“Stop fussing about with it! Let me see my boy, I mean my son.” His ma said impatiently, with a hint of excitement. Well, the belt was as snug as it was going to get. He turned to his parents. They looked at him with a pride he'd seen only once before, a couple hours ago.

he stood there, at the precipice of a change he wasn't sure he was going to come back from. The feeling of the pack on his back and the feeling of the steel on his right leg weighed more heavily on his kind than his mind. At some point while adjusting the belt he had misplaced the Baston. He internally panicked for a bit before he felt it on his arm. His Pop had softly tapped him with it, handle first.

“Don't misplace this again. If you need To set it down there's a loop on you pack that ties around the handle.”

Deckard continued “Aside from immediately losing the family heirloom, I think your ready” ,

“I don't think so,” replied Stephan “But I don't have a choice.”

“Ah, you'll be fine, make sure to send us word from the university when you get there!” said his mother.

They stood there for a moment, perhaps the last comfortable silence for a long time. Gerard was the first to speak. Then Helfa, then Stephan.

“Stephan, we'll miss you. And see you soon!”

“We love you and whatever happens this is still your home.”

“Ill be off! I'll see you soon!”

He enjoyed the silence after the goodbye with his parents for a bit, then he tuend and opened the old creaky door to the outside. With that he left the house he lived his whole life in behind him, mentally preparing himself for the road ahead.