NOVEL NEXT Chap 165: Farewells and Promises.
Point of View: Gase
"Your best option is to advance to the next rank." Maki's face twists a little at my words. "Don't make that face. I know how badly you want to push your healing ability to rank IV, but if you do that now, you'll overload your cube. Advancing to the next rank will be much harder in that state." Maki laces his arms behind his head, thinking through his options.
When I saw him this morning, I was shocked to see his cube so damaged. If he didn't have such a powerful healing ability, it would have been nearly impossible for his cube to stabilize in so little time. The "scars" left on a cube can "heal" as the cracks close, but there are always lingering consequences unless you have a heart-born ability of your own or a specialized healing mage helps you.
Right now, his cube is carrying an enormous burden for someone at the Emerald rank. He was lucky to have had his cube evolve at the same time. I don't even want to imagine his condition without that evolution—just taking a step would make his entire body ache. I can heal myself and treat small wounds in others, but I never risk healing a damaged cube.
"If there's no other choice…" The marquis and I both exhale in relief at his words, and Ho shows only a brief flicker of relief through his Imra. "I'll do it once I'm back home, though it's a shame I couldn't push my healing ability to the next rank or awaken a movement ability with spatial affinity before reaching Sapphire." I can feel the disappointment leaking faintly from his Imra.
I'm still impressed by his new Imra. It feels far too heavy for someone at Emerald, with a consistency that shouldn't even be possible at his level. Letting him take on the hero's dungeon at this point was the right decision. Maki is already a Sapphire in every sense of the word—his fundamentals are solid, perfectly laid to advance.
"I hope we can meet again soon." The boy's smile shines brightly before me. We're all busy people, and he'll be living far from our territory. It will be difficult to see him again anytime soon.
"Keep training and pushing yourself, but don't forget to enjoy life. The school years are usually the freest and most beautiful." I never got to fully enjoy mine, but I know many who say they miss those days. Truly, it's a time of pure youth, surrounded by people your age with the freedom to do almost anything.
"Gase is right. School life is fun if you know how to surround yourself with good friends from the start." The marquis speaks from his comfortable chair. "If I hear from Susan that you've turned into a bully, I'll come give you a private lesson myself." We all laugh at his joke. We know Maki well—he would never become that type of person.
"I'm more worried about people trying to intimidate you as the new kid… please, don't kill them." My worry is genuine. Maki isn't the kind to endure nonsense, and he doesn't fear confrontation. I don't know how he'll react if anyone tries to intimidate him or his friends.
"I won't… or at least, I hope not." He doesn't sound too convinced at the end. I can only pray for the people foolish enough to try. I hope he can control his emotions in that situation.
We continue talking about the hero's dungeon, a few tips for improving his healing and movement abilities once he advances. He's lucky to still have the reward from the Fallen Hero. Talking with Maki truly makes me happy—seeing a child joke like an adult among the pillars of a territory is far from ordinary.
"I wish you the best of luck, little demon. I hope we meet again soon." I step forward to embrace him. I wish I could show him my face and body, but it isn't time yet. He must grow stronger first.
"Luck." Ho says only a single word, and Maki bows in gratitude. Ho rarely speaks much.
"I'll be waiting for good news from you in the future, Maki. And you already know, if you need help, come to me." The marquis is the last to speak before we part ways. Maki bows to us all before leaving the room.
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"What do you think of him? He's improved so much." The marquis looks at both of us, waiting for our answers.
"Strong and future." Ho, with his usual few words, though precise.
"Yes, that little demon will only grow stronger with every rank up. He doesn't seem like he'll face the same problems as other limit-breakers." Normally, more limit-breakers appear at Emerald rank, but their numbers dwindle as ranks rise due to various circumstances. Maki doesn't seem to fall into that category.
"Yes, I have very high expectations for him." We're all a little saddened by his departure. We don't know when we'll see him again. Good luck, little demon.
Point of View: Maki
"I'm going to miss you all." Marga will be the first to take the teleportation portal back to the Komil territory. "I'll see you two soon. As for you…" She stares straight into my eyes. "I expect you to come visit before you leave for Skyblue River City." Her gaze is intense—she'll literally hit me if I don't.
"Yes, I will. I promise to see you all before I go." Since I plan to arrive two weeks early before classes start at my new school, I'll have the chance to spend at least one day with them.
Marga says goodbye to Arisa and Sol with a kiss and a hug before stepping closer to me. "I hope we can finish what we left pending that day when Arisa interrupted us." That day? Which day is she talking about? Before I can react, Marga kisses me at the corner of my lips and runs to the platform, chased by Arisa and Sol's scolding.
"See you soon, I love you all." With those words, the daughter of Marquis Komil vanishes from sight.
"I'll scold her when she's back." Arisa looks annoyed about Marga's stunt.
"Yes, she deserves punishment." Sol agrees. They both look upset but also happy—I can feel joy flowing through their Imras from Marga's little prank.
"It's our turn to go." Baron Camux is already waiting for us near the platform to return to Solar Barony, giving us space for our farewells.
"These three weeks will feel so lonely." Arisa truly looks downcast at our parting. Her usual smile barely curls at the corners of her lips.
"It's only a few days. We'll spend years together at school." Sol tries to cheer her up.
"You're right." They share a tight hug before Arisa turns to me. "Don't forget to say goodbye again before you leave for Skyblue River City." She gives me a strong hug like she did with Sol. Our eyes meet, and the tension rises quickly—until Sol tugs on my arm.
"See you in a few weeks, guys." Arisa laughs at Sol's action, waving her hand vigorously as we step onto the portal platform. The sensation of space bending under the platform's power hits me, and in a blink, we're already somewhere else.
"The carriages are already waiting outside." Camux speaks as our minds catch up with the teleportation. "See you soon, Maki. I don't like emotional farewells if I'll see you again in a few weeks." He extends his hand toward me—I clasp it immediately, and we exchange a firm handshake before he goes on ahead to say goodbye to his daughter.
Camux had already told me about the carriage arranged for me—it belongs to his company that distributes flowers and herbs. I'll travel with them since they have solid security, and I'm in no condition to use mana or fight right now.
Sol comes closer, wrapping her arms around my neck. I gently take her waist with my hands before pulling her into my arms. There's no one else here—it's just the two of us. We hold each other's gaze for a few seconds until her face turns from a soft white to pink. I feel the heat in my own cheeks as well.
"We can't. Not yet." I understand her words. The three of them have made some kind of pact to wait for something—they haven't told me what, and I don't expect them to until the moment comes. "They'd be very upset if something happened now. It's hard for me to keep secrets from them." She rises on her toes to kiss me on the nose before stepping back a little. We stay in each other's arms, just not as close.
"See you in three weeks, Maki." Sol takes my hand before giving me one of her most charming smiles.
"Yes, Sol. I'm not even gone yet and I already want to see you all again." We walk hand in hand until we reach the carriages, finally letting go when it's time for me to board mine for the journey back to my father's territory. This carriage is making a stop to deliver goods in another region.
The carriage rolls forward, and I watch Camux and his daughter waving goodbye, returning the gesture until they vanish from sight. I've been given a small private carriage to rest peacefully. Looking out the window, I'm surprised at how fast it moves despite its size—not much slower than the one my family received recently.
I lie back in the small space, reflecting on everything that happened these past weeks. I met Susan, met many people with the potential to become friends, won a championship against another limit-breaker, and cleared a hero's dungeon. This journey has been spectacular, fun, and busy—just as I imagined it would be.
I look at my hands. I've grown stronger, strong enough to advance ranks as soon as I get home. I wanted to push my healing ability one more level or gain an upgrade to my movement ability, but that will have to wait. I must heal my cube first. It's time to return to Talar!