After Kael stored all of his stuff, he wrote long notes to Muta, Raen, his parents, and the sibling that would be born before he returned. Looking around his now empty room, he decided that now would truly start his new life. No one would stand in his way.

While feeling high on his new motivation he heard his father shout, “Brat, get your skinny butt down here!” Leaving the note for his parents and his yet to be born sibling on the bed, he left his room with the ominous feeling that it would be the last time.

Arriving downstairs he saw both his parents. His mother had a worried look on her face and his dad looked impatient. Telling them he was good to go, he hugged his mother saying, “Mom, I will be alright, but you two have to take care of yourselves as well.”

Crying as she hugged her son, she rubbed his head, messing up his hair. With a sad smile, she asked for the notes for Muta and Raen. Handing them over, his father interrupted there parting as he said it was imperative to get going now.

Leaving the house with his father, they began to head out of town and into the forest. Dashing through the dark forest, Kael and his father headed the opposite direction of the city Kael had been to previously. Looking at his dad going all out for speed, Kael started to worry. Asking, “Father, you and mom are going to be ok, right?”

Iradin responded, “We will be fine Kael, this is not the worst we have dealt with. Just remember if we get separated, head to the city of sorrow. It is in the northern reaches of the icy tundra. Just head north and ask for directions on the way, it is a gold ranked city, so it is easy to find.”

“Ok, but stop avoiding the issue, why would we get separated?”

“Your mother's bloodline is very rare. When our families fell most of the people were taken as slaves to try to integrate their bloodlines into other families.”

Hearing his father's words Kael felt an uncontrollable rage come over him. That’s pretty fucked up. If I find out who does that shit, I will exterminate them. “So dad, you are saying that you and mom are going to go somewhere else to hide while you leave me in this other city because you are worried, right?”

“Basically, we should be fine after a few months though, so don’t dwell on it.”

Stopping where he was Kael said, “That’s not acceptable dad. Mom is pregnant, you need to be with her and lead her somewhere safe. Not wasting your time leading me to some city. Tell me the name of the city, the direction, and the name of your friend and I will be alright.”

Iradin took a long and hard look at his son. Seeing the determination in his eyes combined with the worry for his wife made him agree. “Ok son. Head southwest at top speed for 6 to 7 days. The area is fairly safe. In a few days, you will start to see outlying farms, you can rest with most anyone there and get directions at the same time. You are headed to the town of Jost. When you get to town look for the owner of the Foaming Mug tavern. Tell him you are my son and you will be good to go. “

“Ok, dad! I left a note for you and mom in my room. Be sure you two are safe. I may be a kid now, but I won’t always be a small fry. Don’t worry about me.”

Hugging his son, Iradin said bye with misty eyes. Turning around to head back home he was afraid if he looked back he wouldn’t be able to let his son leave.

Kael watched his dad dash off into the night. Waving to his disappearing silhouette, Kael put away his childish attitude for the first time. Previously worried that if he let slip, even when by himself, he would lose something precious. He had always stayed in character and enjoyed his life. As his father finally vanished from his sight he said, “Don’t worry my second father. I lived through hell’s torture, I will be fine. One day, you and mother won’t have to live in seclusion and fear.”

Turning around Kael began running again. Whipping through the forest with his heat raising steps activated, he managed to make it until about midnight. Climbing a tree to rest, he snacked on a steamed bun before going to sleep.

The next three days consisted of him running at top speed for 6 hours, stopping to eat for an hour, then continuing. Running almost 18 hours a day, he covered nearly 2,000 miles in just three days.

The next morning around 10 am Kael saw a farming village up ahead. Slowing down to talk to the locals, he found out he was still three days out from Jost. Deciding to stick around for the night, Kael found an old woman who lived alone. Trading her a days worth of work for dinner and a room for the night both parties were happy.

Working for the next 8 hours, Kael pushed himself to his limit. In just that one days time he ended up mending her fence, patching her roof, and chopping a few months worth of firewood.

The old lady was quite pleased with the child. Originally she assumed he would be lazy like all the other kids his age. The amount of work he put in blew her mind. Making a huge dinner for the kid, they both went to bed satisfied.

The next morning, Kael said goodbye to the kind old lady and started to head out of town. Seeing a young couple on their porch chatting he made a quick stop before leaving. Walking up the couple Kael dug into his jacket pocket. Taking a gold coin out of his storage ring he pretended to pull it out of his jacket. “Excuse me, I know I am a stranger just passing through, but I was hoping you could keep an eye on the old lady who lives alone down the way. If she needs help, just treat her kindly. You can consider this a gift.”

With all of that said, Kael tossed the gold coin to the young man before turning around and walking away. Hearing the shout of excitement from the lady followed by the man shouting, “Don’t worry, she’ll be ok!” Kael smiled, then sped up and took off.

Two days later Kael came upon another farming village. Speaking with the townsfolk he found he was only about 500 miles from the city of Jost. Getting directions, Kael then bought a wooden cart from an old farmer for 50 silver, way over its actual value. Making some rope harnesses, Kael hauled the cart out of town.

As soon as he was out of sight from the town he stopped and stored the cart. Picking up speed again he ran towards the city. Finding the city late into the night, Kael ran until he was about 10 miles down the small dirt road from the city. Pondering for a bit he ran off into the woods.

Searching around he found a huge boar sleeping in its den. Although it was only rank 3 or 4, it’s body was easily 6 feet long and 4 feet in height. Killing it with a single kick to its throat, he strung it up outside and drained its blood.

Eating the last of his steam buns while the pig bled out, he decided the pig's den stank too much to sleep there. As soon as it was done bleeding, he stored it and took off back to the road. Taking his cart out, he went to sleep a few hundred feet off the road in the back of the cart.

The next morning Kael woke up early and started loading up his cart. Pilling 20 of the rank 6 hides in the cart, fur down to hide their quality, he dumped the pig on top of them. Tying it all down with ropes, he began to haul the cart into town.

An hour later he made it to the city gate just as dawn broke. Being the first to get there, he paid the 100 copper entrance fee with a silver. Shrugging to the guards with the expression that was all he had, he ended up trading the extra 900 copper for information on where to trade in the city.

Asking where the foaming mug was, the guards gave him a weird look. After raising his payment to 10 silver, Kael found that the owner was totally unscrupulous. He would “adopt” the street kids, and force them to work 12 to 16 hours a day for just a few pieces of bread and the ability to sleep in the barn.

Again shocked at how shitty people were, Kael thanked the guards and pulled his cart into the city. That morning a strange occurrence happened. 4 different shops bought 15 to 20 rank 6 beast hides from a kid who was hauling them around town on a cart with a giant dead pig.

Chuckling to himself, Kael found a tailor and bought a set of nice silken clothing. Heading to an inn, he rented a room, went in, changed clothes, then went out the back. Heading to a nicer part of town, he rented another room, one where he would stay.

Sitting in the inn’s downstairs restaurant, Kael tried to figure out what he was going to do. He certainly was not going to the tavern his dad told him about. He made 30 gold for the majority of the hides. There were a few rares ones that netted him another 25 gold. Sitting on 55 gold, he decided he would do what his parents wanted him to do, sell food. Just he was going to do it in his own way. Thinking of how easy the children in the city were to exploit, his plan started to come together.