Chapter 11: Goodbyes
"Well, I think this is good for our first exploration. There's more to this catacomb but I will go alone," Zerin said as he grabbed a few things to act as proof.
Kai wanted to see what that feeling was, and go toward the other part of the catacomb, but it was too dangerous for his weak body. 'I will return in a few years,' Kai thought to himself.
Hugh looked less disappointed than Kai, as they left the catacombs. Zerin made sure to close it well, and he even utilized his ice magic to create a barrier around the door.
"This will stop anyone from opening this. Not even a zombie from the inside can come out," Zerin said.
The magic he performed was beautiful. Kai watched how his father channeled his mana through his wand, utilizing a combination of magical glyphs to create that spell. It was the first time Kai was seeing a spell like that.
"Your ice magic is beautiful," Kai said as he passed his hand on the ice surface, "Father is awesome!"
Zerin felt a warmth in his heart. The feeling of having his son acknowledge his prowess was something he always wanted, "Thank you, Kai. I know you will be quite the mage in the future."
Kai smiled, "I bet I will."
The next years were challenging and tiring for Kai. He decided to tell his parents that he could access the sea of consciousness one year and a half after he managed to access it. Zerin and Seneca were happy that their son didn't have the worst of talents, but they hoped that Kai would be similar to Hugh, who had achieved the same feat earlier.
Of course, that was not the truth. Kai had managed to access his sea of consciousness in just six months, and would be considered a genius. He had been practicing magic with Jane during the years, and when Zerin started to teach him some, he needed to pretend not to know or else his disguise would be boosted.
At one point, Zerin had to leave the village. Kai was already 12 years old when that happened. Hugh was 15, and it was time for him to go to the magic academy to study. The village held a festival at that time, with lots of drinks, food, music and dance.
Kai went to the festival too, feeling sad because his father was about to leave, and his mother would leave soon too. Jane was there with him. The old woman looked the same as ever.
"I will be the one taking care of you after they are gone. Also, they never told you that your father is not Zerin?" Jane said as the two shared a drink far from the crowd.
"No, they didn't. Why are they acting like this?"
"I think they want to wait till you return from your studies to tell you this. This is not the kind of thing for a young boy to learn about. I still can't believe how well you handled it when you were six," Jane said, drinking more of her wine.
Kai and Jane got really close during the years. She had been teaching him magic for six years in total, and had known him since his birth. Kai wasn't scared of being alone with Jane there, but the bitter taste was still in his mouth.
"Hugh is going first, then my sister and mother will go next. Damn it," Kai punched the grass beneath him, "And then I will be alone in the magic academy too."
The mind Kai had was from someone way older, but he did not know about the world. His parents and Jane shared some things with him, but it was not the same thing as experiencing it in person. He was scared to go to the magic academy alone.
"Oh, right, I have a surprise for you. I got a position as a teacher in the same magic academy you are going to study at. This means you won't be alone out there, kid." Jane cuddled Kai's hair after saying that, and for a moment, Kai had the urge to cry. Jane was like his grandmother.
"What? Really? Thank you!" Kai went in for a hug, holding his tears, the moon shining brightly over their heads, and the sound of festivities fading in the distance.
The day after the festival was not an easy one. Kai cried when his father and brother had to leave. He loved his father, and the relationship with his brother got better during the years.
"We will always send you letters, bro, and I will visit you whenever I have the chance," Hugh said as he hugged his younger brother, "And please, graduate in the academy so we can work together in the future."
"I will, I will."
Zerin talked to Kai alone. He had a box in his hands, a wooden box. "Kai, this is something I found inside that catacomb we explored years ago, remember? I want to give it to you as a gift."
When Zerin opened the box, Kai laid his eyes on what looked like a silver pocket-watch. The same feeling returned to him! It was like he was linked to that pocket-watch by some mysterious force.
'This is the same item that was calling me years ago!' thought Kai.
He recognized the feeling immediately. "What is this?" he said.
"A pocket-watch. It is good to keep track of time, and you can make it look good in some outfits too. But I want you to always think of your father when you have this with you," Zerin said as he started crying.
That was the first time Kai had seen his father cry. They were alone inside the house, so one was seeing Zerin cry. Perhaps that was the reason he was letting all of his feelings out. Was he thinking about Seneca? About how Kai was not his son? Or was he being grateful for everything that happened over the years?
It was impossible to see what was passing inside Zerin's mind, but Kai enjoyed the moment to be with his father. He had no idea if that would be the last.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone