It was a few days later when there was an urgent sounding knock at the door.
Johan opened it and found Markus there with Nath, Pat and Jen. On Pats back was the device, held up by 2 leather straps, Nath carried with him a satchel bag and Markus had his weapon, the real one, with him. Jen had a different outfit, one made from pelts and leather as well as a few knives and daggers on her.
"Uh... What do I owe the pleasure?" Johan asked cautiously.
"We need to talk." Nath said, more serious than even the first time he and Johan had met.
"Alright, come in. All of you." Johan stood to the side. letting the group into the relatively small home.
"You two need to leave, and fast." Nath said.
"Any... reason?" Johan looked across them all, the entire group seemed slightly scared for some reason.
"Well... A powerful mage from Ambevelance is on the way here. They probably wouldn't recognize you, but the fact that you are a mage makes you a target. They may attempt to take you, and if that happens in town it could cause them to take others hostage." Nath explained.
"That... That is certainly not good." Johan replied. "Let us grab our things."
Nath nodded and then continued on to say something, "All the books that you need are currently in this bag. It doesn't seem impressive, but this bag is a heavily enchanted artifact that is known as a bag of holding. It allows you to hold many times more than the volume of the bag itself. Markus, as well as Pat and Jen will all be going with you both. I wish I could go, but I must stay here. I truly wish we had more time to teach you more about magic Johan."
"It is how it is. If we had the ability to continue in relative comfort, that would just be to boring of a life I guess." Johan replied from across the room as he grabbed his things. His boots, gloves and spear, as well as a leather jacket that he had managed to get by saving up his leather to get made, it wasn't the best by any means, but it was helpful in protecting him a bit.
"I had planned to make you my apprentice once you reached your first construct you know." Nath said, a bitterness reaching into his voice, "I had so looked forward to the joy of being able to teach the craft once more."
"You could take me on as an apprentice now. Even if you don't I would still consider you to be my master, at least in the art of magic." Johan said.
Nath shook his head, "No. It's not simply a symbolic thing. It's a ritual type spell that binds the mana of two beings together. It also requires an amount of time we do not currently possess."
"I'm ready." Anne said, interrupting the old mage.
"Alright then. Lets get you guys away from here. You'll be headed towards the capital of Menstra, you'll reach it in a few months. By that time, Johan will have needed to become adept at materializing water, and be started on learning at least one more element, preferably fire or wind as they work well for combat, and you'll want to gain some magical combative abilities, so be sure to keep practicing that." Nath explained as the group walked to the edge of town.
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"Alright. I think I can do it, learning from a book isn't as good, but I'm sure I'll be fine." Johan said, mostly to himself.
Honestly this was giving Johan flashbacks to when he and Anne had fled Ambevelance, leaving behind their father, this time though it was his teacher instead. It hurt either way. It made him angry as well. He had learned so much more, gotten so much stronger, and yet, he still could do nothing.
It was aggravating as hell to not be able to do anything *again* as those he cared for were left behind. Johan shut his eyes for a moment, remembering the pillar that had fallen and... He sighed, well it was really more of a groan.
It pissed him off so much, but he had to swallow his pride, and run. For now he could feel the hot tears threatening to leak out. Although he could do nothing yet, he did still swear to himself that one day, he would not run, he would fight for those he loved.
"This is it. Good luck, you lot. Markus take care of them. Johan." Nath paused for a moment.
"I'm sorry that our time had to end like this. I hope one day you can grow strong enough that you don't have to run ever again."
"Y-yeah." Johan wiped the tears away from his eyes.
Markus watched. It had been a bit since he had last remembered that despite the maturity of the boy, he was still not even 18 yet. The trouble this boy had been through... Markus pitied Johan, but he simultaneously respected the young mans determination.
"Come on." Markus said, the rest followed him. Johan sighed once more, and took a good hard look at the small village, he was sure that the others also stared at it as well. It was a place of great strength and endurance.
The Basin was the home that Johan had grown to enjoy after so long being there. It hadn't changed since Johan had arrived, but it seemed much more different compared to then. Johan knew it was he who had changed. It wasn't hard to understand at all, he had to change in this village. He had his world view shattered and replaced in this village after all.
Johan turned, and then ran after the others who had continued after only a moment. He knew that although it would greatly pain him, he had to leave this place now. Otherwise... He would be taken back to Ambevelance and they would do something to him, what that was he had no clue, but he could assume that based on the fact that the government had lied to its people for so long, it likely wouldn't be good, or legal.
-
Nath watched as the young man ran to catch up with the other 4 people that he was leaving with, and let out a long sigh. The Madam would soon be here. She was expecting a price to be paid for her gift, but Nath had nothing for her here. The old man walked to the center of the small village, Taeo walked out to see what was going on.
"What's going on mister wizard?" He asked
"I'm planting this seed is all. Plants help support mana in the area." Nath explained.
"Ah... Alright. So those kids are gone now?" Taeo asked, as he pulled a small cigarette out of his pant pocket. He had a stash of them from gods know how long ago. The brown skinned man then lit it with his fingers. He wasn't a mage, but Taeo had picked up a few neat tricks involving the reality of fire from years of blacksmithing. It was similar to the concept of aura.
"Yeah, those kids left. Markus went with them." Nath replied, pulling away some dirt and putting the seed into it. he then conjured some water and then decided to channel some nature magic into the plant to help accelerate its growth. In a few mere minutes, the seed had become a sapling. Nath watered it again. "Hey, Taeo."
"Yeah."
"Got any more of those cigarettes? I could really use a smoke right about now."
"Sorry, last one."
"Damn."