-Friday Afternoon, 11th Of the 1st Month, Year 910-

"...Huh?" Hearing his announcement, a stupid sound comes out of my mouth, "... You—You're leaving?"

"Yes," Gramps nods and explains, "I've stayed in this city too long. It's about time I continue my journey."

Seeing his expression, I freeze, '... He's serious. Gramps is really...leaving.'

Part of me hopes that this is all a joke and that Gramps isn't really going to leave. I want him to put on his usual smile, and tell me, 'I'm not going anywhere,' or something like that. But I know that won't happen. Even now, he's just staring at me with a sad yet serious expression, waiting for my response. I want to tell him, 'Don't go.' I really do.

Even though I feel this way, I know I can't say that and get in his way. After spending so much time with him, I forgot the truth, that all I asked him to do was take me to this city, and that his job was over once he did. He didn't have to spend time with me or wait till the exam was over to bring 'this' up, yet he did for my sake. When I left home, he's the one who took care of me. At first, I didn't know much about the outside world, but he didn't mind that or think of me as strange; instead, he taught me about the things I didn't know. Even though I had money from my parents, he told me to save it and paid for everything that I needed himself, both food and a place to sleep. When I got hurt fighting those bandits and passed out, he carried me somewhere safe and treated my wounds. He even brought me a gift for making it through the Entrance Exam. He did all that for me without asking for anything in return.

So, even though I really want to tell him, "Don't go. Don't leave me." I know that I can't, it'd be wrong for me to try and keep him here any longer after all he's done for me. Like how I left home to achieve my goal, maybe Gramps has to leave here to reach his. So with the best smile I can make, I ask, "When are you leaving?"

"Since the Entrance Ceremony is on the 17th, I'll leave on the 16th," I nod my head, feeling a little better about it, 'At least he's not leaving right away.'

Finished talking about it, we continued our walk, but I wasn't as excited as I was before. So, after visiting a couple more places, we go back to the inn.

●●●

-Wednesday Morning, 16th Of the 1st Month, Year 910-

"...Ry...Ryne...Ryner!" I jump up, hearing a voice call my name.

Looking around, I realize that I'm in the room in the inn that I've grown used to these last few days. Staring at the skinny old man with combed-back gray hair, standing beside me, I smile for a moment, thinking, '... He's still here.'

"It's time to get up, Ryner, or else you'll miss breakfast," Hearing that, I scratch my head and ask, "What time is it?"

"A little past 9," I nod my head and get out of bed, "Did you have trouble sleeping last night?"

"Mm," I normally wake up earlier than this, but I couldn't stop thinking about today, 'He's really leaving.'

I'm still having a hard time believing it, but I can't deny it any longer. He finished packing up yesterday. I spent a long time thinking about what I should say to him last night, but no words came to mind, and eventually, I fell asleep.

Putting my shirt on, I head downstairs, finished getting dressed. Different from usual, we didn't talk much during breakfast and ate our meals quietly. It reminds me of when we first met. We've been like this ever since he made the announcement the other day. I just haven't been in the mood to talk lately. It's different from when I left home, Mom and Dad kept me busy with training at the time and didn't give me a chance to think about anything else. But since I'm not busy, all I've been able to do is think about Gramps leaving, and how I might not ever see him again.

●●●

-Wednesday Afternoon, 16th Of the 1st Month, Year 910-

"Haa," I sigh, staring up at the ceiling, 'It's almost time for him to leave, and I still don't know what to say.'

Knock Knock

A couple minutes later, someone knocks on the door a couple times, interrupting my train of thought.

'... That's probably Gramps,' I sit up, and tell him, "Come in."

Gramps opens the door and walks in, taking a moment to look at me he frowns, "Ryner, can you walk me out? I'm about to leave."

Hearing his words, something starts to build up inside me, so I turn away from him. After circulating my Qi for a few seconds, I calm down and nod, "...Alright."

Without saying anything, Gramps steps out of the room. Taking a couple of deep breaths, I leave the room, and he shuts the door behind me. Following him downstairs and out the inn, we stop in front of Gramp's wagon-like carriage.

"Ryner." Gramp's feet turn towards me.

"...Yes?" I answer him without looking up. Again the feeling starts building up inside me, and I clench my fist, if I look at him right now, I might say something that I'll regret. So over and over again in my mind, I tell myself, 'Don't look up, don't look up...."

"Ryner? Can you look at me?"

'Don't look up, don't look-'

Stomp!

"Ah!" I jump back, feeling surprised.

"Ryner!" Gramps shouts at me, "Raise your head!"

'I...I can't...I can't look up... don't, don't lo-' I try to back away, but again, Gramps's voice interrupts my thoughts.

"Ryner! Raise your head and look at me!" His bony hands grab my shoulders, stopping me from moving further away.

"Let me-"

Bang!

He bangs his head against mine, shocking me.

"What are you-"

Bang!

Again he bangs his head against mine and lets go of my shoulders.

"What are doing Gr...amps..." Staring at Gramps face to face, I stop rubbing my head and shut my mouth.

Gramps is looking down at me with an angry expression. It's not the same expression he had when he was worried about my injuries and got mad. It's different. Scarier. It's like when my Mom gets mad. The Gramps who usually greets me with a smile is standing in front of me calmly without any expression on his face.

'He looks really...upset,' I stop trying to look away and stare at him silently, scared of making him angrier.

"Ryner, how long have we known each other? Almost 3 weeks, right?"

"...Mm," After thinking for a moment, I hesitantly nod my head.

"We've only known each other for less than 3 weeks, yet I see you as my own Grandson," His expression starts to soften, "I don't know about you, but I don't want our relationship to end just yet."

"I don't want that either!" I shout with everything I have.

"But I'm sure you understand that I have things I need to do and that I can't always be by your side," Gramps sighs.

"I do, I understand, but-" His hand falls onto my head softly, "Not only do I have things I need to do, but so do you. It's not going to be easy in the Academy, and you'll face many challenges. Even if you want to leave, I told you before that as a First-Year you won't be able to leave the Academy until the end of the school year and I'm not a teacher so I can't enter the Academy either."

'I know that, but still-' My thoughts start to spill out with my tears, "-I still don't want you to go. Sniff- there are still so many questions I have, about everything, about the world, about cultivation, about you."

"I know you do, you curious child. One day- sniff- one day when you're older, I'll answer whatever questions you want," Just like me, Gramps starts crying, "We'll sit together again in this broken-down carriage and talk until the sky goes dark and the sun rises. About anything you want. I promise just wait a few more years. So for now- sniff- Stop- sniff- Stop crying- sniff- or you'll make this old man cry too."

His bony hands pull me into his skinny arms full of a strength that most people probably can't imagine or believe.

"Graammps- Sniff- Hic-" Tears fall from my eyes as he holds me in his arms, "Thank- sniff- you, for- hic - everything."

I don't know how long we stood like that, but after I stopped crying. He lets me go and stands in front of me again. His eyes are a little red, and he has a stain from my tears in the middle of his shirt.

"How about we meet again, right here, when summer vacation starts?" Gramps asks with his usual kind smile.

"Mm!" I nod strongly.

"Then it's a promise. Although our paths may split here, may they meet again sometime in the near future." He stretches out his hand towards me.

I stretch out my hand and smile for the first time today, "Mm, Let's meet again! It's a promise!"

Gramps pats my head one last time, before getting on his wagon. He waves his hand one last time before commanding the horses forward. I keep waving my hand until I can't see the wagon anymore.

'Goodbye, Gramps!' I smile and turn around, going back into the inn to prepare for tomorrow.