Chris woke up, he saw Larka still sleeping beside him. He tried gathering his thoughts. He recollected that he was going to leave today with Roger to the Draconate village.

The day after the ceremony, Chris mostly kept to his room. He felt numb after what William told him. It had become a routine for him to be on the receiving end of other people's decisions.

The next day, Roger came and told him about the journey, and if Chris needed something he would prepare it for him. Chris just asked him to do as he wishes.

On the bright side, Roger informed Chris that the training will be resumed in the journey.

Sarah also visited him along with Ignatius. He could see the conflict in her face. She assured him that he would love the village and the clan members would treat him well. Chris wasn't so sure about that, by now he knew having no magic meant you are a nobody in this world left at the whim of others.

She gave him a letter to be given to her father. She gave him a hug and kissed him on his forehead. "You are brave Philip, and you are strong". She pointed at his heart "Right there you are strong, don't let anyone say otherwise, you are my child, always remember that, know that my prayers are always with you, may Terra give you Strength"

Chris could clearly see how much effort she was making to not cry, she got up, paused, and then slowly walked away.

Ignatius stayed back, he sat there not looking at him. He looked less cheerful than his normal self, probably due to the physical change that was happening to him.

"Philly but you said you will be there for me, why do you have to go Philly". Chris just didn't know what to say, he wanted to say so many things.

"You will be ok Ignatius, you will be a great fire mage like our father, you don't need me, your Philly isn't strong to do anything. I was just lying by saying I will be there for you." The words just came out of Chris's mouth.

Ignatius didn't reply immediately and after what felt like muffled sobbing he looked up with a teary face.

"I hate you Phil....y....y" he couldn't stop himself from crying, he quickly stood up ran to the door, paused, turned around and with his teary eyes just looked at him and went off without saying anything.

Chris knew what that look meant, the look of being disappointed in him, he knew as he was used to it by now.

Chris knew he was too hard on Ignatius, but it's better this way, better to be disappointed now than later. The last thing Chris wanted was for Ignatius to idolise a powerless brother like him. It will only hold him back, he needed to be strong to survive in this world.

Larka was awake and looking at him, he tried to pat her head, she stepped back and jumped out of the window. Probably would have heard the conversation he guessed, yes even you Larka would just realise that I am a nobody.

Chris didn't have time to be melancholy, he needed to leave. He got up, hit his cheeks twice."Alright, let's get going."

It was time to leave, all his luggage was already loaded into the carriage. He said his farewells to all the servants of the mansion, telling him how much they will miss him. William hadn't returned.

Sarah hugged Chris and asked him to remember what she said earlier, Ignatius stood there behind Sarah holding her with all teary eyes, Chris felt the urge to go pat his head and say "Your Philly will be back." But he didn't do that, he just looked at him, turned, and got into the carriage.

He asked Roger to go. He didn't turn back, he could overhear Ignatius's loud sobbing. His heart felt heavy, he held back his tears, this is the world of the strong he reminded himself there is no place for weakness. He had made his resolve, there is no turning back.

Larka didn't come back after she left earlier. He didn't try searching for her, let her go he thought. He came alone into this world, he will be alone, always alone.

Suddenly he felt a movement in his back and then in his shoulder, it was Larka making her squeaking noise. "Oh, girl you were waiting for me". He held her tight and couldn't stop himself anymore and he let go. He cried like a baby.

He cried for everything.

He cried for being born into this world with no memory.

He cried for Eva.

He cried for being born in this world without magic.

He cried for Sarah.

He cried for Ignatius, his little brother who deserved better words from him.

And finally

He cried for himself.

---------

After a while, Chris recollected himself, all that crying helped him feel a bit lighter. He looked back and saw the huge mansion, realising this is the first time he had stepped out of the Druex family house. This also meant the start of a new chapter in his life, even though he was fresh with his memories of saying farewell, deep inside he felt hopeful of this journey.

He looked out to see the huge expanse of the countryside.

Roger had informed him earlier that it will take almost six months to reach the draconate village, they will take the route that goes through the west side of the kingdom across the border that divides the Beazard and the Farlan kingdom.

It was the longer route as the shorter one would mean to cross the "Anabastha" forest, Roger said no one enters that forest, he didn't explain why.

The carriage kept a steady pace, Roger slowed down and asked Chris to look on the right side of the carriage. He looked outside to see the Great Palace of the Farlan Kingdom, it did look majestic from afar. Further behind it, he saw a tall structure, Roger told him that it is the headquarters of the church, and where the Supreme Mage resides.

At this Chris remembered the first and the only time he met the supreme mage, he clearly had the air of someone who believed he is above others.

-------

Chris started noticing what the world outside Dreux mansion was like, he could clearly see that the kingdom was a prosperous one, wherever he passed be small towns or villages he saw a vibrant culture with busy markets and a population of mostly humans, with the occasional rare sight of other races he couldn't identify completely.

One thing that was common in all the places was how energetic the people looked with most of them always occupied in some activities. For Chris there were so many things to take in, he would just keep staring at all the vibrancy around.

Larka would hide under his seat during these times, only coming out while passing the countryside or when they were halted at an inn. They would stop regularly in the inns for the night, the perk of being born in a wealthy family was that you could stay in good places. When there was no town or village around they will stop in the countryside with Chris sleeping inside and Roger guarding outside. Larka would mostly be outside during this time.

Most of the towns had good roads and in the night they were well lit with "Sinop" light crystals. He would often see Men and Women belonging to different royal orders either doing patrols or in the middle of some duty engaging with the citizens.

Roger would train Chris mostly in the morning, they will wait to move away from the population to train. Roger was relentless in his training.

Periodically Roger would stop at the Banks to withdraw money in order to fill the supplies. One day curiously he asked Roger what was the common symbol in all the banks he saw, Roger replied that it was the symbol of the Shangdu Kingdom and that it was a Merchant Nation responsible for most of the commercial activities of the continent. For Chris, this was new knowledge and he immediately regretted not studying the commercial side of the continent enough.

-------

Time passed by, and it was almost three months since they left the mansion. Chris also realised that it was more than nine years since he arrived in this world. There was still so much he didn't know.

One day while inside the carriage, Roger called out "Master Philip, please look outside".

Chris looked out to see in front what looked like an outpost, he could see a huge wall with a huge gate in between. He saw two flags flying high on the gate, coming closer he recognised one to be of the Farlan Kingdom and the other that of the Adamah order.

They were asked to stop by the guards, they were all wearing green robes. Roger stepped down and pass a letter he had in hand. One of the guards read it and asked him to follow him.

Roger also asked Chris to follow him. He stepped out, Larka seeing the guards had already hidden under. The guard led them to a big battle camp. He asked them to wait outside.

He came out after a moment and asked them to enter. They entered, Chris saw a huge man sitting at the head of a big table, he had a rough beard with his hair kept in a top knot, he was looking at the papers in front of him, he stopped and looked up at Roger and immediately got up and rushed in to hug Roger. He actually lifted Roger up and after putting him down, spoke "I sense your presence Ragar "Esperson", it's been ages since I last saw you. What brings you here my old friend."

"I sense your presence too Terran, indeed it's been ages." Roger replied back. "I am sure you would have read the letter from Mistress Sarah we wanted to meet Aaron."

At this Terran looked at Chris, "Oh who do we have here, this is Saraya's child? he looks too small no?"

Chris just felt embarrassed at this mention but didn't feel bad, he also knew Sarah was called Saraya in her clan. But what did he call Roger just now, Ragar? Esperson? and what was that greeting?

"Not much of a talker is he?" Terran turned to Roger, "But Aaron is not here he has been out in the no race zone, there is trouble brewing in the Beazard kingdom, talks of a civil war, things have been a bit chaotic for the past few months, I doubt he will be coming soon."

Roger paused "This changes things, Terran can I talk to you in private?". He looked at Chris and then at Roger pointing at the corner of the tent. They both started talking privately with Terran giving occasional glances to Chris. After a few moments, they returned.

Terran spoke, "That's settled. So, Philip, Ragar says that you have been training with him, want to show your fellow clan member what you got?"

Chris went "huh"?