The end of the month came with a swiftness that I didn't expect, but it was time for me to depart Mythral. Of course, I still had to wait around for the Red Manes to arrive, whenever that was.

Isabelle and I enjoyed the hours leading up to my departure, with an eventful afternoon off from her training. Theitus and Altear also seemed to help me enjoy my final hours by giving me their rather lively company, it almost made me forget how much time I had left.

“… Don’t miss me to much Kazu-Kun~. Isabelle might get jealous if you do~." Altear teased, causing Isabelle to puff out her cheeks in embarrassment as she huffed, ultimately making Theitus laugh at it all.

“I think I’ll miss you both quite equally,” I remarked while a faint smirk of amusement pulled at the corner of my lips, to which of course Altear went on with her teasing.

“Truly, Kazu-Kun~. I’m touched, I can feel my heart beating faster~," she said, fanning herself for a moment as if it was actually believable but maybe it was, and she was just expressing that fact behind her teasing.

It didn't matter, all I could do was feel humor in my throat as Isabelle huffed. "A-Altear… knock it off,” Isabelle pouted before Theitus chimed in with his usual laughter.

"Alright, alright. Altear why don’t me and you let them enjoy the last few hours together? we have some work to do anyways," Theitus stated while giving her a nudge, which only caused her to let out a giggle of amusement.

"Oh well if you insist, play nice you two~." she giggled with a wave as she left with Theitus.

Once they left, I looked back at Isabelle, who twiddled her thumbs as her cheeks were a shade of red while her gaze avoided mine.

"Isabelle, what’s on your mind, this time?” I asked to which she was quick to reply.

"I-I'm just wondering when they're going to get here," she answered while fidgeting nervously. “… this all feels so weird." She muttered as she played with the fabric of her robes, as if relieving some kind of anxiety.

"Hmm? I thought you came to terms with me leaving," I asked causing her to huff.

"I- I did! It just doesn’t change the fact, I-It feels weird to me," she said further, clearly further flustering herself in the process.

I couldn't help but smirk at her display while my eyes closed in a momentary thought, "Isabelle, you're going to be fine-“ I began but was interrupted not by words, but her entire body tackling into mine, causing me to fall to the ground as she landed on top of me.

I barely had a clue as to what happened before her lips suddenly collided with mine.

Soft, tender, warm, those were the first sensations that flooded my mind while I watched plainly, her eyes closed while she savored my lips, seeming to hold me down with weight.

This all lasted but a second or two, but when her lips left mine and she opened her eyes in realization at what she did, flustered yet somehow pouting. “I- I wanted to do that for a while, dummy," she muttered with a blush.

I felt her emotions in that moment, she wasn't lying, she meant those words and her actions, it was almost as if I could feel her entire being in those few seconds.

However, all I did was find some sort of smirk on my face before I rose to a seated position with her in my lap. “I don’t mind, you deserve that," I said which only caused her cheeks to darken in an embarrassed flush, but she managed to hide it in my shoulder.

“I do… since you’re such a dummy," she muttered while I simply felt humor well in my throat, letting her cherish her position for a bit.

It wasn’t long before the early evening came around and a Red Mane arrived. It was just after dinner when they came to collect me.

“Keeper Theitus, I have arrived as instructed.” A man spoke out with a bow before the four of us seated at the table.

The guy wasn’t the typical red head most would see in Mythral, but it was clear by the magical energy that this man wasn't a simple merchant or smuggler, and his red hair hid beneath an illusion of grey hair.

“Good to see you, Reg, thank you for coming,” Theitus replied to which Reg seemed to give another small bow of his head in response.

“it’s been a while since I’ve been called my real name. You honor me, keeper," he said with a soft smile of sincerity but remained in his bowing stance. “It must be difficult to remember one's name, with so many to remember," Reg stated.

Theitus gave a loud laugh, “I may not be the Tian Sovereign, but he never forgot a single name of those who crossed his path," he stated to which I could see the surprise in Reg's eyes.

"You live up to his expectations, keeper," Reg said while giving another bow of his head before he straightened his back and looked toward me. “It’s certainly easy to spot you, Xiao, the air around you is like a storm that cannot be tamed." He stated as his eyes met mine. "My true name is Reg, I am a Red Mane. It is an honor to meet you Kazu," Reg said with a small smile and bow.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

I could feel the honesty and respect in his words. I found myself giving a small nod in response before he continued, “I will be the one who will escort you to your destination. everything is set if you are ready?" He asked causing Theitus and the others to look to me for my response.

“Yeah, I’m ready," I answered and the smile from Reg's face grew before he gestured toward the exit of the palace, where everyone would see me off for one last goodbye.

Ready for whatever my next step in life was going to bring.

(Isabelle Kanmori’s POV)

This was it. This was the day. The last time I’d see Kazu’s dark amber gaze that I found myself so lost in, one I basked comfortably in for so long now.

Our steps outside of the palace echoed through the night, as the moon illuminated the sky like above us, but I barely took notice to anything as I stared at Kazu.

My heart ached but I tried to contain it, he was my first real friend and became special to me, he meant the world to me. He was everything to me.

Theitus and Altear were the first to say their goodbyes, "Good luck Kazu, I’ll be watching over you," Theitus said with a grin. "Take care of yourself out there, the mainland is a viper pit of schemes and lies, no matter what comes to pass, Mythral will always be on your side," he added giving him a pat on his shoulder.

Kazu was silent for a moment, before replying, "... Thanks,"

Altear got a lot closer to him, as she bent down slightly, bringing him into her large breasts with a hug. “Be safe Kazu-Kun~ I’ll keep your girlfriend in check~," she whispered in his ear as if she was about to kiss him, which caused my cheeks to heat up in a wave of jealously.

"Altear…" I exclaimed, as she giggled at my expense before backing off. Leaving my turn with Kazu.

I didn't hesitate, despite my blush and feelings, I simply couldn't contain myself. How could I?

No words came to me as my arms wrapped around him, one last time for awhile, and I knew I was going to miss this, I was going to miss him.

“Train hard, Isabelle. I can't wait to see how much you improved the next time we meet." Kazu stated, before he hugged me back, giving my body a warmth that felt nice, like a blanket I wanted to stay in.

It felt like so long before we separated, my cheeks were a dark scarlet as I said my final goodbye. “... I-I will! I promise! You can count on it. I'll definitely catch up to you!" I exclaimed with a small smile.

Kazu grew one of his rare smiles and simply replied, "I know you will… I’ll see you later, Isabelle,"

His voice echoed through my entire being as his Amber gaze held mine, and burned into my memory, like a fire that ignited a flame in my heart, his hand brushed away the stray strands of my hair, before he took his first steps toward Reg.

All I could do was stand there, watching him leave,

He was beautiful, so careless… intimidating, I couldn't help but to bite my lower lip in a slight frustration.

“… see you later, dummy," I muttered to myself as I watched Kazu leave.

(Kazu Xiao POV)

A lot of things went through my head as I departed Mythral and walked away from everything that meant a lot to me. The night had settled upon Mythral, a comfortable silence covered the air with a calm breeze as my feet carried me onward.

"… So, you’re one of those, Xiao, huh?” My escort, Reg, asked which caused my thoughts to return to reality.

I glanced toward the man walking beside me before replying. "… that’s what they say,” I answered as we left the city behind and began walking further down the road lit by the occasional lantern hanging on poles.

Reg was silent for a moment before speaking. "Heh, well I guess it’s true what they say, I can barely feel any aura from you, but it doesn’t help this sense of unease I have around you,” He remarked with a nervous chuckle. "Either way, I’m still just your escort. We’re heading to a certain Gate, not to far from here, which will take us to Vectus…” he said as if he couldn’t stand the thought of it.

“… huh? We’re heading to a Gate. Why doesn’t The Golden city have one closer,” I asked while I followed behind him.

“That would be because having a Gate directly in the Golden City would cause a major breach in security, one the keeper wouldn't allow. It’s better to keep them away from the Golden city or any town in Mythral, they are after all, a point of vulnerability, they are practically the only means of transportation to get here, at least when their at a distance, it gives The Keeper, time to set up a defense if the gates were ever compromised," Reg stated as he glanced back at me before his blade suspended mid-air and responded to his silent command. “We’ll get to our destination faster like this, hop on,” he added gesturing to step onto his sword with him.

I wasn’t used to such travel, but there was really no reason for me not to do so. Upon boarding his sword, he took off. The feeling was certainly something, as Magical energy seemed to make us weightless and cut through the air at high speed.

Regardless, his display wasn’t an easy feat, in fact it teetered both the fifth and sixth stage of cultivation, but it just showed how reliable and talented a Red Mane truly was, after all they had to be, to serve Mythral.

Our travel through the night went on in a blur of air before we came to a stop somewhere near the mountains of Mythral.

From here, we walked a bit further to a path leading into the side of the mountain with a cave entrance, where Reg lit a ball of light to light our way in.

“We’re just about there,” he added as we continued on the path until we found ourselves in a rather wide room of the cave, where a familiar looking structure of steel rings and arches, albeit crumbling slightly from age.

It wasn't moments later when Reg activated the Gate Itself, with the Magical Energy suffocating this entire area, and it all came together in the center of the ring, which caused a bright light to illuminate the dark room, leaving a vortex to swirl calmly in front of us.

“Are you ready Kazu, beyond this Gate, Vectus awaits. Of course, we have everything set up on the other side. I also heard they had The Guilds, Black hound already waiting for you there. I’d watch yourself around that psychopath, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say he was unusually strong," Reg said causing me to find some amusement at the idea of such a person waiting for me.

“Theitus said he was on my side, that’s all the reassurance I need. Thanks for the heads up though," I remarked to which Reg gave a small nod before waiting for me to walk into the gate first.

I would never forget all I had experienced in Mythral. I’d carry every moment and the bonds I made, with me forward. That being said, the Gate awaited me, and I stepped through, ready to greet a new future and perhaps new bonds I could cherish.

“Thank you, for everything Mythral,"