“Have you packed all your clothes?”

“For the hundredth time, Ronald, yes. You helped me pack all my clothes.”

“Ah, right. Your toiletries? Books? Accessories? Oh… the portal card?”

“Yes, yes, and yes.”

“And-”

“Ronald, the way you’re nagging, people would think you are my mother. Stop. I am sure I have everything I need. And even if I don’t, you are one letter away.”

Ronald sighed. “Very well.”

Emilio smiled and pulled the young man into a tight hug. Ronald tensed. Nobility was not intimate with servants. But Emilio wasn’t particularly suited to be nobility. So, a tight hug was the least he could do for the person who had been his constant companion for the past eleven years.

He pulled back after a moment. “I’ll be fine.” He said softly.

Ronald nodded and sighed. “Please take care of yourself, Young Master.”

Emilio nodded and looked around at the luggage being hauled onto the carriage. Ronald did go all out in the packing. Ronald, Jeremiah, and Henry would accompany him to the portal station and bid him farewell. So, he had company for a while yet.

“All done?” The Baron’s voice came from behind him.

He turned around and smiled at his father. “Yes, father.”

The Baron nodded and surveyed the servants going about their work. After a moment, he nodded in a satisfied manner and turned to his son. “Emilio… will you be alright?”

Emilio did not hesitate to answer. “Yes, father. Please don’t worry about me.”

Edmund exhaled heavily. After a moment, he pulled Emilio into his warm embrace. It was different from the hug he gave Ronald. His father was a broad, strong man. His arms felt like they were protecting him from the world. Emilio sighed softly and closed his eyes, just basking in the feeling of warmth and safety. He did pull himself away after a few moments, afraid that he wouldn’t be able to let go if he held on any longer.

Edmund grasped his arms gently and looked him in the eyes. “Emil, no matter what happens, I am so very proud of you. I love you and I will always be proud of you.” He smiled. “You are the best son one could ask for.”

In that moment, he believed those words. Just a bit.

“Thank you, father.”

Edmund nodded and stood straight. Emilio could see Jeremiah coming up behind him. He sighed. It was time.

“I should get going. Father,” he said softly.

Edmund nodded and put his hand on his head.

“May the gods watch over you.”

Emilio smiled and bowed to the man. He then paused and looked around, frowning.

“Your mother is not here,” Edmund said. Emilio turned to his father before sighing in disappointment. He had expected it but it still felt… horrible.

He sighed and beckoned Jeremiah closer. “Let’s go.”

They both got on the carriage, Ronald and Henry with them. He waved at his father and the rest of the servants that were there. His father opted out of going with them because of the territory check that will be happening in a few days. But right now, the Baron stood and kept watching the carriage grow smaller and smaller until he couldn’t see it anymore. Emilio himself kept watching his father, his home… until he couldn’t.

He sighed softly and sat back. Jeremiah was excitedly chattering away, pointing at something or other occasionally. They passed through the commoner towns. They made way and those who noticed him or Jeremiah bowed. Emilio did not miss the way some of them wrinkled their noses when they saw him. He sighed. That was par for the course for a Laik. He was in a far better position than the Laiks who were born in commoner households. He should be grateful for that.

The journey to the portal station took the better part of an hour. Jeremiah got less excited and more forlorn as their destination got closer and closer. Emilio held his hands comfortingly, talking about everything and nothing at the same time.

Once they reached the station, Henry and Ronald got off first to get the luggage out of the other carriage. Emilio and Jeremiah stepped down together.

“I’ll go get the tickets,” Emilio told the two. “You guys follow with the luggage. Jeremiah, stay with them and don’t stray into the crowd.”

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“I’m not a child!”

Emilio smiled and shook his head fondly before he made his way inside. There were three different areas - one for regular commoners, one for merchants and business dealers, and the last for nobility. The nobility area was… scarce. There was only one counter there and one station staff sitting at the counter. There was probably one portal too. The rest of the workers were working in other areas. Commoners traveled in groups. Especially if they were taking a portal since they couldn’t afford the fees alone. Commoners usually took portals for a journey of more than a month. As did the nobility. And of course, commoner merchants and suppliers, and brokers were always traveling. Portals were the fastest way to transport goods and make good on business deals. Most of the stations’ money came from them.

Emilio sighed softly and walked over to the nobility area. It was the smallest area of the lot, the biggest being the wealthy commoners’ area. He walked up to the counter, ignoring the few heads that turned towards him.

“One ticket for Irantha Academy, please,” he said as he reached the counter.

A middle-aged woman was sitting behind the counter, dozing off. She looked up at him and he could see the annoyance in her eyes. But one look at his clothes and she refrained from saying anything. After all, commoners usually couldn’t afford to anger nobility.

“Portal Card,” She held out her hand. He fished a palm-sized black card out of his breast pocket and handed it to her. She pressed it against a triangular slate in front of her. It lit up against the portal card and then his black card lit a transparent blue, showcasing his information. It had his full name, age, status, and territory on it, the gem at the end glowed blue, showcasing the validity of the card.

The woman’s eyes widened a bit and she looked back at him. The annoyance was now mixed in with a hint of disdain. Emilio Florian was well known in this part of the Kingdom of Aeloria, and vaguely known in most other parts as well.

Emilio did not shy away. He wanted to, but he didn’t. Instead, he tilted his head and said. “My ticket, madame?”

She frowned slightly and then sighed. She pulled open a drawer and pulled out what looked like a thin book. She opened to an empty page and took a seal - a runic seal - pressed it against the blank paper. Instantly, he could see something being automatically written on the paper. He knew from reading that it was the location of his destination portal.

“How many bags of luggage do you have that you are not carrying yourself?” She asked.

“Two.”

She paused for a moment before sniffing and then pulling out a similar book. She took another runic seal. This time, she pressed the first paper - the ticket on the blank paper - before pouring mana into it. Once she was done, she repeated the process on another paper. It did not take more than a few moments. Emilio watched intently, fascinated by the small piece of magic happening in front of him.

“Here’s your ticket,” she said as she handed him the ticket. “And here are your luggage tags. Stick them to your luggage before you take them through the portal.”

Emilio took a look at them and noticed that they were the very same, even the numbers of the tags were the same as the ticket number. So that was what that second seal was doing, copying the ticket number and location onto those papers.

“Here’s your Portal Card.” He looked up to see the woman holding out the card which had gone back to its solid black. He took the card from her.

“Thank you,” he said and turned around, ignoring the look of surprise on her face.

He looked around and soon found the people he was looking for. He smiled and walked to them. He held out the tags toward Ronald. “Here, stick them to my bags.”

Ronald took them and Emilio turned to Jeremiah. “Shall we go, then?”

Jeremiah nodded and they all walked towards where the sign said the portal was. They walked through the door and went outside. Unlike the commoner and merchant areas, there were no lines here, and little security. The two guards standing at the door instead bowed. They asked politely for his Portal Card - probably half expecting him to deny - and once they checked it and confirmed its validity, they bowed and showed him the way.

A little ways away, there was what looked like a large gate made of stone pillars. From here, you could see the runic inscription on those pillars. A little distance away from that gate was another, smaller gate. The luggage gate. There was one gatekeeper for each. There were a few other pairs of gates like this.

He sighed and walked to the larger gate. Once he reached there, the man there stood and bowed. He pulled out another of those triangular slates. “Please press your ticket against this.”

He did. The slate once again lit up and then Emilio watched as the gatekeeper put the slate into an empty slot in the stone. It clicked into place and glowed red. After a few moments, it glowed blue and the empty space between the two stone pillars was filled with what looked like a swirling black void with spiraling blue energy at the center.

“It’s connected, you can go now. Make sure to keep the ticket in your hand, my lord.” He turned towards the group behind him. “Please take the luggage to the other gate. It is also now connected to the same destination.”

“Yes, thank you.” He turned towards Jeremiah. “This is it, brother.”

Jeremiah punched forward and wrapped his arms around his waist, burying his face into Emilio’s chest. “I’ll miss you,” he mumbled.

He leaned down to press a soft kiss to his head. “I’ll miss you too.” He said softly. “Take care of yourself. Eat and study properly. Stay away from mother.”

Jeremiah nodded into his chest. He looked up at Henry. “He will be under your care”

Henry bowed. “Please do not worry, Young Master Emilio. I will always be there to take care of him.”

He sighed and nodded. “Take the luggage. Be careful.”

“We will take care of it,” Ronald said. “Don’t worry.”

Emilio looked down at Jeremiah who was still hugging his waist. “Jer, I have to go now,” He whispered, his voice cracking a bit.

The boy’s arms around him tightened for a moment before he let go and rubbed his face, no doubt trying to wipe away the tears that were threatening to fall.

“Write to me, okay?” He said. “You promised.”

“I will,” he said softly and ruffled his hair.

He stepped back and smiled at them. “Goodbye.”

He then turned around and, unsure of what the future held for him, stepped through the portal.