“Ooh, I’m gonna miss you all so much!”

Val cried out, her eyes tearing up like a mother seeing her daughter move out of the house. Mikella had a complicated expression on her face as Val was hugging her and Clara so tightly that it might as well try to crush them. Obviously, she held back as Clara was utterly fine, in fact tearing up as well while hugging her back.

Zeke was thankfully left off from that. He wasn’t sure how to handle Val’s overwhelming emotional hug, but instead went over to Cloud to offer a sincere smile and slight bow of his head.

“Thanks for everything Cloud,” Zeke said. He meant every word as he continued. “After letting us stay at your house, teaching us everything, and even accepting us as we are… thank you.”

“Those should be my words,” Cloud smiled back. “You did so much for our town despite your situation. This town will forever remember what you all did, no doubt. I wish I could have at least done more for you as you did for us.”

Zeke shook his head. “Just taking us in when we had nothing was good enough for us. Where we came from, that’s asking a lot.”

Cloud chuckled, shaking his head. “Zeke, just remember. Arcelot is… not a kind place. But if you make sure to use everything you learned here, all of you will be fine. But remember to make allies there. There’s only so much the two of you can do on your own.”

“Understood,” Zeke inclined his head.

Cloud offered his hand, and there was something behind that gesture. Zeke did the same, and the two clasped hands. He knew then that this was the greeting between master and student. Cloud taught him everything when it comes to magic, and now he saw Zeke as an equal, to a sort. He was still half his age, and he still had a lot to learn even after becoming Journeymen.

And Zeke was more than happy to stay like that. Even if they become equals later, Zeke would always see Cloud as a respectable uncle or big brother of his own. It was the sort of thing Zeke wanted to copy for Clara’s sake. Maybe he’ll never be exactly that, but he can try.

Once the two separated, the otherworlders then met the last Journeyman who took care of them. Zacharia had his arms crossed, his face completely neutral. At least it wasn’t scowling like normal, so perhaps even he was feeling something from this.

“...The place you’re going to is more cutthroat than anything you’ve seen so far,” Zacharia finally said once the otherworlders got up to him to say their goodbyes. “Eve Glade, in comparison, is child’s play.”

“I… sort of get that,” Mikella said, frowning. They had it easy in this town, but only because this town was special under the guise of a powerful king. “Thanks, though. We’ll keep that in mind.”

“And Zeke, don’t take offense,” Zacharia said without really looking at him. “But the mages there don’t really see other people eye-to-eye. At least that’s how I see mages from anywhere.”

“Don’t worry,” Zeke grinned. “Cloud taught me enough that mages are pretty freaking weird.”

“Oh, so it’s a universal thing then,” Mikella said with a teasing grin, causing Zeke’s eyes to roll.

“...Take care of yourselves.”

Zacharia’s last words felt more… genuine, more than normal. Despite everything that has happened between them, neither Zeke nor even Mikella felt any hostility towards Zacharia anymore. He did everything he could to do his duty, even if it meant being seen as a villain by the two.

Mikella rubbed her neck awkwardly, looking away before forcing herself to look at him. “Umm… thanks for everything. We… we appreciate it.”

Zacharia offered a nod, and to Zeke, that felt like something the two could be proud of to receive from him. Zeke offered a hand, hoping that it wouldn’t piss him off, but thankfully Zacharia took it gladly. It was firm, and it almost made his hand ache, but he couldn’t have it any other way.

Mikella did the same, and Zacharia actually grinned when she tried to crush his hand. Unfortunately, it was to no avail as Mikella winced from the firm handshake, and when they let go, Mikella cursed softly as her hand swung back and forth.

“You still need more work, child.”

“Ugh, screw you…”

The two shared the last words before they left through the entrance. But just before they faced the waiting Master mage and his entourage, Ana cried out.

“Clara!”

The little blond-haired girl ran up to Clara, who in turn faced her. After the two faced each other, their eyes wet with tears, Ana spread her arms wide.

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“Man hug. Now!”

Clara took a moment to understand, then spread her own arms wide. The two approached slowly, somehow the scene becoming intense as the two collided with their arms still spread wide, then lightly punched each other’s back with their tears fully running down.

“You’ll always have a place here!” Ana cried out, snot dribbling down her nose. “But remember that your best friend is me!”

“Don’t forget me!” Clara cried out, and Ana was nice enough not to hit Brucey on the back who despite everything, was still asleep. “I’ll come back soon!”

“You better!”

Zeke smiled at the scene, however strange it looked. He figured the girls would be crying like… honestly, they were crying right now. They were just expressing in their own special way, something that he was glad Clara got to partake in. In his periphery, he noticed Mikella trying–and failing–to keep her sobbing to a minimum. For her, it was doubly painful to force Clara to leave her first ever best friend behind.

Though it would’ve been better had it not been for Ana glaring hard at the other side of the crying Clara at Zoan who remained dauntless in her position as the serious little girl.

“Zoan, don’t ever forget to protect Clara! But you’ll never replace me as her number one best friend, got it!?”

Zoan tried to ignore the glaring little girl, but as though Ana’s pure persistence kept shoving daggers at her, Zoan let out a tired exhale and glared back.

“It is my duty to ensure her safety. So no, I will not forget to protect her. And no, I will not ‘replace’ you.”

Zeke wasn’t sure why, but Zoan nearly sounded just as childish as Ana. He was certain Zoan was just getting along with Ana’s antics rather than trying to ignore her. Ana’s persistence is just as strong, if not stronger, than Val’s ferocity in battle.

He figured that Mikella would keep watch as she looked ready to comfort the still crying Clara even after separating from Ana. He noticed that their Bastion allies were just to the side, offering their blessings in silence. He went over to them, noticing the grinning Zyler and the clearly healthy and smiling Diaga. Her clothed robes were off her head, revealing the beauty that would even rival a Journeyman. Just how pretty would she be once she ascended to the third stage?

“Zyler, Diaga,” Zeke inclined his head. “Thanks for staying around to see us off. You really didn’t have to, though.”

“It’s only natural for me to do so,” Diaga said, her hand hovering over her chest with a soft smile. “You have saved me from a short and painful life. Nothing I do will ever pay that debt, so this is the least I could do.”

Zeke wanted to say it really was nothing, but decided against it. He never planned on asking for any debts from this poor girl, but he had to consider that if not for him, she really would’ve been screwed. He only offered a kind smile as a gesture, insuring her that her thoughts were appreciated.

“Though I’m not quite sure why my brother remains…” Her usually gentle and beautiful visage scrunched a little at the sight of her elder brother who was grinning behind her like usual.

“What? He’s my buddy! Of course I’m gonna say goodbye to him and his girl. What kind of monster do you think I am?”

“No monster, certainly,” Diaga scoffed. “But you’re the Lord of our nation now. Surely you have duties to attend to?”

“Diaga, do you really see me as a guy who prefers to sit on a desk doing paperwork?”

Diaga took a solid minute of silence, considering his question. Zyler waited patiently before Diaga forgo her earlier question and turned back to Zeke.

“Moving on to important matters, I hope we can still keep up communications. I’m certain that my abilities would be of use to you, should the need arise.”

“Thank you,” Zeke said. “That would really be great. But don’t take it too far. I’d rather you live your life to the fullest than making my life a little easier.”

Diaga offered a bright smile in return. “I am certain to follow that.”

Just as Zeke was ready to head back, his eyes popped wide open. “Oh! I actually got something for you, Diaga. I figured you need a special treat to enjoy your newfound health.”

“Oh?” Diaga tilted her head. “You’ve already given me so much. What else could you possibly give me?”

Zyler seemed to notice what Zeke was mentioning, and a wide grin was plastered on his face as he held onto Diaga’s shoulder. “Trust me on this, Diaga. You’re gonna want this.”

Zeke pulled out the very familiar enhanced fruit that he still held in his pack. He handed several of them over to Zacharia the day before, ensuring that each soldier was rewarded with them once they made it past the threshold. However, he kept several for himself and Mikella when they go over to get the extra stat bonuses for reaching Journeyman. They planned on training a little while before eating the fruits to fully enjoy the bonuses, however.

Diaga’s eyes widened at the attribute fruit in front of her. When Zeke offered it to her, she tried to refuse.

“I-I can’t! This is so valuable, I can’t just–”

“Please, take it. You’re a valuable ally now. It’s only natural for me to help you out for my benefit.”

Zeke said it in a way that sounded like he would be the one to enjoy the benefits than she did, and when Zyler backed him up on this, Diaga carefully took the fruit, offering a grateful nod to him before taking a bite.

Her eyes popped wide as the expected notification dropped onto her vision. Her mouth opened wide, not realizing that she was still chewing.

“W-What is…?! M-M-My stats are…!?”

“It’s an enhanced fruit I made, so don’t worry about it. Just enjoy the fruits.”

When Zeke smiled back with Mikella in tow, Diaga made sure to remind Zyler to be very polite the next time they visit officially. After that, they left the two visitors after giving them another goodbye.

Once that was dealt with, the only thing of worry was the barrier for Eve Glade. Thankfully, even when Zeke had to renounce his Lord position, as long as Zeke consented to it, his barrier could stay with the town for as long as the current Lords wanted. Since nobody, including Zeke, wanted it gone, it would remain in place for years to come, if not decades unless the Unity Core itself was damaged somehow.

With everything in place and Clara returning back to them, her hand squeezing Sissy’s hand tightly, Zeke faced the Master user who waited patiently for their finished business.

“All settled then?” Cronus said, getting the otherworlders to agree. “Good. Then let’s head to Arcelot.”