Chapter 15

"You leaving the village… in three days?" Sincerely surprised by this announcement, Rudeus stammered a few words with furrowed brows.

Edward nodded "Yes, I will leave in three days with a troop of merchants, everything has been planned for a few days already."

Rudeus stood up, his face still confused. "But, why do you want to leave… Why now?"

Edward sighed and rubbed the back of his head "You probably know this but I am no longer progressing in my swordsmanship, well to be precise I am progressing much too slowly, I think that discovering new things and implementing practicing my skills is the best solution… But I'm sure you already know that."

"So I'm going to go and become an adventurer to use my swordsmanship in real life and earn some money, I think with this I will be able to advance my sword…"

Rudeus' face stiffened, as Edward thought, Rudy was already planning to leave for the magic academy because his magic skills were blocked.

'As expected, the best justification is to talk about my sword skills as if to convince my parents, I can't tell them my real goals like that'

A few weeks earlier, Edward had informed his parents of his decision, convincing his mother to let him leave the village alone at such a young age was not easy, however his father was surprisingly understanding.

He had told them of his desire to progress in his fencing skills, thanks to his few years of practice and his strange physique which makes him much more powerful than a normal child, his mother finally agreed to let him go and become an adventurer, on the condition that he returns to the village at least once a year until he is ten.

As Rudeus nodded understandingly accepting Edward's explanation, a sob sounded from one corner of the room.

Sniff

"E–Ed… Why… Why are you saying that all of a sudden… Sniff It's not funny at all!" Sylphie, her red eyes filled with tears, spoke while shaking her head from side to side.

"Sylphie…"

Unable to meet the little girl's gaze, Edward lowered his eyes and stammered a few words.

"I'm sorry Sylphie… I'll come back from time to time, don't worry, it's not farawell."

Paf

Unable to bear it any longer, the young elf fell to her knees in tears, rubbing her eyes.

"Waaa, why, sniff, why didn't you tell me before, sniff, it's unfair!"

As Sylphie fell into tears, barely articulating incomprehensible words, Edward closed his eyes and sighed, he didn't know exactly how to react to this situation, for his part, Rudeus seemed as lost as he was.

Finally, Edward moved closer to the girl and patted her back gently.

"Come on,  Sylphie, calm down, everything is fine... It's not farawell, I promise you…"

"Eddddd" Without warning, Sylphie hugged Edward while crying, surprised, Ed gave a look asking for help towards Rudeus who just shook his head.

'Dirty traitor !'

The girl continued to cry hugging Edward like a Koala, time passed until she finally fell asleep, her face covered in snot and tears.

Edward gently wiped her face with his handkerchief, careful not to wake the finally calm girl.

After delicately laying him down on a makeshift mattress made of deer and fox fur, Edward approached Rudeus who was keeping the fire going with a jealous look directed at Edward.

Rudeus muttered softly while looking at Ed, however thanks to his exceptional hearing due to his particular physique, Edward heard everything.

"What are you, some kind of protagonist in a novel? Tsh With your face you probably think you're better than us, Mr. Prodigy Swordsman tsch I'm not interested in girls his age anyway... Well, he could still leave her to me for a bit."

As usual, Edward chose to ignore Rudeus' disturbing remarks and sat down next to him.

Time passed slowly until Rudeus spoke in a timid voice.

"So… How are you going to do it, I mean do you have money and a destination planned?"

Edward scratched his chin "For the past few months I have been selling what I hunt, I also worked whenever I could for a little money, I think I have enough money to spend two weeks in a low inn of range, maybe even more"

"Then I should be able to make money as an adventurer, at worst I'm confident in my flying skills… hehe just kidding"

Rudeus showed a forced smile. "It didn't seem like a joke…"

Edward tilted his head "What are you talking about again? Anyway as I said earlier I will leave with the merchant troop, thanks to Sylvano and your father they will transport me and feed me for free if I protect them during the journey"

Rudeus nodded "Hmm I see, that looks like an adventurer's mission"

"Exactly, I see it as early training." After Edward's answer, Rudeus hesitated for a few moments before asking another question.

"What about Sylphie? She won't be able to stand it if you leave like that, especially so suddenly"

Edward smiled gently before speaking "I know, that's why I warned you so late, but she's still a child, she'll get over it, plus I wasn't lying, I'll come back to the village often"

Rudeus sighed before slowly responding, "I see."

  The two continued to talk for a few dozen minutes, without them knowing it, Sylphie had her eyes wide open pretending to be asleep while listening to their conversations.

****

Three days later, in front of a merchant's cart, Edward said his last goodbyes to the village and his loved ones before leaving.

Unknown to everyone, his true goal was to find a way to prevent the teleportation accident.

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After the survey, you have mainly chosen a solitary journey in the company of Sylphie, for the moment Edward will be alone but it is not impossible that a certain Elf will join him later...