The morning sun cast a golden glow over the Bervet household, but the mood was heavy with the weight of Reshia’s impending departure.

Faith bustled about the kitchen, pulling a tray of warm, fragrant fairy bread from the oven. Its delicate, shimmering crust made it seem almost magical—fitting for the occasion, though it didn’t lighten the atmosphere much.

Reshia sat at the dining table, her silver hair loosely braided, an aura of calm masking her own mix of emotions. She had spent the past five days cramming as much knowledge into Raul as possible, demonstrating spell after spell.

It wasn’t her preferred way of teaching, but she understood the urgency. Raul had assured her that all he needed was to see a demonstration of the spell .

In the end , Raul’s Spell Store now had over forty spells , though he could only use five of those. The console had not given him any new quests so he hadn’t earned many Level up points.

Alice and Aisha arrived just as the bread was being set out. Alice, holding a small woven basket, approached Reshia with a kind smile. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for my daughter. I couldn’t let you leave without saying goodbye.”

“It was my pleasure,” Reshia replied warmly, crouching slightly to address Aisha. “You’re talented, Aisha. Keep practicing, and you’ll go far.”

Aisha nodded, though her lips trembled. She clung to her mother’s side, clearly fighting tears.

The Bervet family stood nearby. Faith, who rarely got emotional, sniffled softly as she adjusted the plates on the table. Marcus placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, though his own face was uncharacteristically somber.

Raul, however, was the quietest of them all. He stood near the door, arms crossed, trying to seem detached.Her leaving felt like losing a part of his foundation.

As everyone sat down, Faith tried to lift the mood. “Fairy bread, a special treat for a special occasion! Let’s all eat and make this a proper send-off.”

Reshia smiled softly. “Thank you, Faith. You’ve all been so kind to me. I’ll miss this place.”

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The farewell at the gate was a quiet, poignant moment.

Marcus handed Reshia the reins of her horse, his stoic demeanor masking the sadness in his eyes. Faith gave her a quick hug, whispering some final words of encouragement.

Raul lingered at the back, watching Reshia mount her horse, his chest tight with emotions he couldn’t quite put into words. When Reshia waved and turned the horse to ride off, something inside him snapped.

He didn’t think; he acted.

“Wait!” he shouted, but his voice was swallowed by the distance.

Without hesitation, Raul broke into a sprint, chasing after her. Each step felt heavier as the horse gained ground, the hooves pounding against the dirt road like a reminder of how far away she already was.

His breath came in short bursts, and his legs burned, but he couldn’t stop.

When running wasn’t enough, Raul summoned Chimming Winds.

The Console flickered in his mind’s eye, and he poured everything he had into the spell. Every last drop of mana surged through him, and the winds roared to life beneath his feet.

With a sharp whoosh, he was airborne, soaring high above the road. The ground blurred beneath him, and the sky seemed to pull him forward. The force was overwhelming, but Raul didn’t care.

All he could think about was catching her—just one more moment to say what he couldn’t during breakfast.

He landed in a powerful arc just ahead of Reshia’s horse, stumbling onto the road. His legs gave out beneath him, and he collapsed onto his knees, gasping for air. Reshia reined in the horse sharply, her eyes wide in shock.

“Raul?” she called, dismounting quickly.

Raul looked up at her, his chest heaving.

The world seemed to tilt around him, his vision swimming. He tried to speak, but his voice was barely above a whisper. “I... I...”

Reshia leaned closer, straining to hear, but before she could make out his words, the world around Raul flickered.

Everything vanished.

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When Raul opened his eyes, the first thing he noticed was the overwhelming stillness. He was lying on his back in what felt like a shallow pool of water. The surface was perfectly smooth, unbroken even by his movements. It reflected the vast, inky darkness above, creating the eerie illusion of an endless void.

The air was cool and carried the faint, salty tang of the ocean. The only sound was the soft echo of his own breathing, though it felt muted, like the world itself had been placed under a thick blanket. The silence pressed down on him, both comforting and unnerving.

In the distance, dominating the horizon, was a massive moon.

Half of it was submerged in the water-like expanse, casting an otherworldly white light across the space. Its glow was soft but piercing, illuminating the scene with a cold clarity.

Shadows stretched infinitely in every direction, and the water beneath him shimmered faintly, reflecting the moonlight in rippling waves that seemed to move without cause.

Raul pushed himself up onto his elbows.

The place felt neither threatening nor welcoming, as though it were merely there—waiting.