The stars stretched wide above at the sky as he walked down the path toward his home, the sound of the forest and the warmth of the wine lingering with him and a small amber beginning to spark somewhere inside.
That night, Elio sat in his small home, staring at the slowly dying embers in the hearth. The wind outside whistled softly through the trees, and the scent of firewood and forest filled the room. He'd been turning the thought over and over in his mind ever since he left Robertson’s place.
He had never stepped beyond the borders of the country, let alone the barony. In fact, aside from the occasional trip to the nearby town, he had never even explored most of the barony itself. His world had been this village familiar roads, familiar faces, and the same hills under the same skies. Comfortable, but small.
But now, something stirred in him. A quiet restlessness. A desire not just to move, but to discover. To see what lay beyond the edges of maps. And for the first time, it felt real.
He sat in that stillness for a long time, then finally stood and nodded to himself.
He would go.
He had enough money gathered from the small inheritance his grandmother left , also he still have all trinkets his grandfather left behind. It wasn’t a fortune, but it was enough for a beginning. Even if money become problem he can always ask his father and aunt.
The next afternoon, Elio returned to the mansion with a bottle of wine tucked under his arm. As winter is almost over the sky became clearer , thin clouds, and the air carried the scent of early spring.
As he walked past the open courtyard, he saw Robertson’s disciples training with focused energy. The sharp clashing of blades and bursts of minor magic rang through the air like music. Elio admired their discipline but didn’t slow his pace.
Robertson, as usual, was sitting beneath the shaded hut, a cup of spirit in one hand, watching the training unfold with quiet pride.
When he saw Elio approach, his eyes narrowed with a smile.
“So,” Robertson said, “have you come to a decision?”
Elio nodded, offering him the bottle of wine as he sat down. “Yes. I’m going to see the world. I’ll leave tomorrow.”
Robertson’s eyebrows rose with approval. “That’s a good idea,” he said simply. “It’ll be good for you. You’ll learn more out there than any book or blade can teach you in here.”
Elio smiled, his nerves steadier now that the decision was made. “I didn’t want to wait around. Once I decided, it just felt right. Also i know myself the best. If I delay, I’ll start making excuses.”
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Robertson chuckled, lifting the bottle and inspecting it. “So, when do you plan on handing me the keys to your wine cellar?”
Elio laughed. “Oh, I’m not just handing it over. You’ll have to pay the right price.”
The old man grinned, amused. “You said you didn’t want to do business, and now here you are, striking deals with me.”
Elio shrugged with mock seriousness. “That’s different. This is personal. Also i need assets for my journey.”
Robertson shook his head, still smiling. “Well then tomorrow morning, I’m coming to your place. I’ll bring you something more valuable than all the wine in that cellar of yours.”
“Oh?” Elio raised an eyebrow. “If that’s true, you’re not a very good businessman either.”
They both laughed, the kind of laughter that comes from years of familiarity a mixture of teasing, affection, and warmth.
The sun had begun to lower in the sky, casting a golden hue across the courtyard. For a while, they sat in silence, sipping the wine Elio had brought and listening to the fading sounds of the disciples wrapping up their training for the day.
Eventually, Elio stood, brushing off his coat. “I should head back. I’ve got to pack if I’m really leaving tomorrow.”
Robertson nodded and lifted his cup slightly. “Get some rest. Tomorrow’s the start of something new.”
As Elio turned to leave, Robertson called out after him, raising his voice just enough to carry across the courtyard.
“And don’t forget about our deal.”
Elio looked back with a grin. “That depends on what you bring me tomorrow.”
They shared one last laugh before Elio headed down the path toward the village, the weight in his chest lighter than it had been in a long time.
Elio returned home as twilight covered the village. The stillness in the air reminded him this might be the last quiet night in this house for a long while. Without wasting time, he began packing.
His grandfather,had left him several magic tools over the years little treasures that combined practicality with innovation. He brought out the silver ring that served as a pocket dimension, its surface engraved with tiny glowing runes. This types of relics used to be rare back in the day but nowadays with the help of science and magic they as common as it's get.
One by one, he placed items into the dimensional space: a self-heating kettle, an all-time water dispenser that created fresh, drinkable water from the air, enchanted rope that could tie or untie itself on command, a feather-light bedroll, and a dozen other trinkets that would prove useful on the road.
Then came the most important piece the weapon. Every adventurer need some types of weapon in their venture. Some use spear ,some blade,some bow. Elio practiced sword in his collage days. Although he is not a genius but he is decent enough to defend himself.
The sword lay wrapped in deep blue cloth, tucked carefully at the back of a shelf. Elio unwrapped it slowly, like unveiling a memory.
It's not a blade to be honest just a hilt.
And the hilt is the whole sword.
The sword wasn’t forged by any famous blacksmith, its not a mythical item either . It was unique for another reason it was a family legacy. A weapon born from two generations of thought and effort. His great-grandfather had begun its design, blending science and magic when such a combination was considered eccentric at best. His grandfather, inheriting both the plans and the dream, had completed the sword.
It didn’t have a traditional edge instead, it housed a thin, metallic hilt embedded with a magic stone slot. When activated, a blade of brilliant energy extended from the handle, humming softly in the air like a contained storm. A solid beam of cutting light, it could slice through steel like butter. To most, it would resemble a blade made of pure, focused energy a weapon from another era.
His grandmother had given it to him before she passed, telling him, “This sword carries the spirit of your grandfather and great grandfather . Use it well and wisely.”
Despite its elegance, Elio knew the sword had its limits. Against powerful masters who could shape and project energy at will, its utility dropped sharply. They could shield or redirect its energy easily. But it is a great weapon against a foe who is less skilled.
In truth, it was a gimmick weapon impractical for mass production. The energy blade consumed expensive magic stones , making it unviable for large-scale use. But where it shined was in hunting monsters tearing through hide and bone with minimal effort. And it had one more feature that made it invaluable: it could retract into the hilt instantly and reappear with a thought, making it incredibly efficient and unpredictable in fast-paced combat.
Elio carefully slid the sword into a custom sheath, then packed several high-grade magic stones from his grandfather’s old storage. There weren’t many, but they were enough to get started. When it came to survival, the more resources, the better.
Once everything was stored in his pocket dimension, he took one final look around the house. He cleaned up, dusted off the shelves, and straightened the simple furniture. Not because it was needed, but out of respect for his grandparents, and the life he had known until now. He had lived here for 7 years. So the house,the wall,the garden everything is filled with memory
That night, he lay down in his bed, eyes on the ceiling, heart calm yet full of anticipation. He stopped worrying about everything. If he think it too much he might change his decision.
