While all the servants scurried through the castle corridors desperately searching for the young master, two individuals stood locked in a silent gaze within a grand chamber of the castle.

One of them in the chamber was young, yet his frame was so thin and withered that he appeared to have just a few days of life left. His hair was as dark as his eyes, and the most remarkable feature of his not-so-handsome face was an unusually pointed nose. Although the boy's countenance wasn't charming, the noble attire he wore distinguished his status among the household staff.

The young man wore no earrings or pendants, but two uncommon rings adorned his skeletal hands. One of the rings was golden, with an engraving on its surface of a person stretching their arms toward the sky, as if reaching for the sun. The other ring clashed with the young man's noble clothes; this ring was made of bronze, significantly rusted, and lacked any distinctive inscription. Due to its neglected state, it seemed more like the ring of an unfortunate merchant than one a noble would wear.

On the other hand, the other person in the chamber sat upon a grand chair, observing the young man intently. At first glance, it would be hard to identify the person in the chair as human, for they were twice the size of an average person. However, their facial features, body, and demeanor were identical to those of any normal human.

The seated man's hair was sparse and white as snow, indicating his advanced age. Nonetheless, his muscular physique and piercing black eyes made it seem like the old man had many years left, a stark contrast to the image of the moribund young man before him. However, their noble attire and the golden ring, exactly identical to the one worn by the young man before him, indicated that these two individuals engaged in the intense gaze shared a degree of kinship.

The two continued staring at each other silently for several minutes, as if unsure of what to say or perhaps knowing but struggling to find the right words in this moment.

Finally, after long and uncomfortable minutes, the old man's patience wore thin, and he broke the silence:

—So, you've come to bid farewell again, Apolo? I thought I said my goodbyes at last night's party.

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—I didn't come to bid farewell...— the moribund young man responded, his voice somewhat raspy, dragging each word as if unaccustomed to speaking much.

—Then why are you here?— the old man asked with a touch of concern. —Shouldn't you be in the carriage checking your belongings? Remember, the journey to the capital is long, and you won't be returning anytime soon. If you forget something, you'll only have regrets.

—Grandfather... I came to talk to you because I don't want to leave— Apolo replied with some effort, while rubbing the bronze ring in his hand. —I'm comfortable here; I'm living well. There's no reason for me to leave this house and endure that long journey.

Hearing the young man, the old man slumped in his chair and tiredly ran his hand over his face as he whispered:

—Reasons abound, Apolo...

Seeing his grandfather's dejected expression, Apolo persisted with a louder tone, aiming to convince the old man:

—It doesn't make any sense for me to go to the capital to live better when I'm perfectly fine here. Why waste so much of my life on a journey when I have everything I need here...

However, the old man seemed to ignore what the young man was saying, instead continuing to rub his face with his hand. Feeling ignored, Apolo raised his voice even more and, breaking into tears, said:

—Moreover, you wouldn't be there in the capital! I'd miss you all terribly. I can't live without my family's company. Don't do this to me, Grandfather, I beg you!

—We both know that's a lie, Apolo...— his grandfather commented with a sad smile, watching his grandson kneel on the floor and cry inconsolably.

—But it's true! You're all the family I have!— Apolo shouted, blending his tears with anger as he sensed that this conversation wasn't going as he had planned.

—Haha, it warms my heart to hear you say you still remember we're your family, lad...— his grandfather laughingly remarked, shamelessly lacking an ounce of compassion for the sobbing young man on the floor. —And it would warm my heart even more if that were true. But it seems you're more interested in the woods around the castle than your own family.

Upon hearing about the woods, Apolo abruptly stopped crying and immediately felt the urge to hide the hand holding the bronze ring in his pocket. Yet, he quickly regretted concealing his hand as he noticed his grandfather's two piercing eyes fixed on the pocket where he had hidden his hand.

—You'll do well in the capital, Apolo. You'll be a good mage, a brilliant mage!—the old man commented, his weariness evident, as though he wasn't too thrilled about lavishing such praises upon his grandson.

—I'm not interested in leaving, and I don't need to go to the capital to learn a couple of cheap magic tricks— Apolo retorted angrily, raising one of the fingers on his left hand as a matchstick-sized flame materialized on its tip. —See, I can do magic already. I'm already a mage. There's no reason for me to leave!