บท 25: 25 - See you later! Change of plans.

See you later! Change of plans.

Gwen stepped into Jon's room, softly closing the door behind her with a sigh. The atmosphere was thick with palpable tension, mingled with the sadness and uncertainty that hung in the air. She looked around, noting how the room was a reflection of Jon himself: simple, yet full of character.

"Jon, I... I don't think it's fair. It's not right for me to be the only one going to the academy," Gwen began, her voice tinged with sadness and a touch of embarrassment for being alone in his room. "I'm going to turn down the spot. We can wait and go together when we're both 15."

Jon looked at her, his eyes meeting hers in a moment of silent understanding. He smiled, a smile that carried a blend of bitterness and acceptance. "Gwen, that would be foolish," he said, sincerity shining in his eyes. "Turning down an opportunity like this makes no sense. Besides, who says we won't see each other anymore?"

Gwen looked at him, slightly surprised but still uncertain. "But you won't be there, Jon. How can you say that almost nothing will change?"

Jon moved closer to her, placing his hands on her shoulders and looking deeply into her eyes. "Listen, you'll have breaks, holidays, and other chances to come home. And I'll be here, waiting for you. Plus, the academy offers resources and opportunities you won't find anywhere else. You can learn and grow in ways you never imagined."

Trying to lighten the lingering tension, Jon added, "You know, Gwen, when you're at the academy, surrounded by all that luxury and by handsome, arrogant boys, you'll quickly forget about your old friend here," his tone clearly ironic as he feigned a sad expression.

'Silly girl,' thought Jon, watching her reaction.

Gwen stepped back, looking at him with shining eyes. She gave him two light punches on his chest and whispered, "How could you say something like that?"

"What? I couldn't hear you," Jon leaned in closer, trying to catch her words.

Gwen lifted her face, her eyes filled with shyness and sorrow. "As if I could ever do that, you dummy," she murmured before giving him a gentle kiss on his lips.

Gwen's face turned red, looking like it would burst, a striking contrast to her dazzling hair. She dashed out of the room, passing by Helena and Eric, who had just arrived home.

Helena and Eric looked at Jon, who stood in the middle of the room with a bewildered expression. They couldn't hold back their laughter at the scene, Jon's puzzled face making the moment even more precious.

"Ah, youth," murmured Eric, still chuckling as he closed the door, leaving Jon alone in his room to absorb what had just happened.

Jon lay down on his bed, the room's silence amplifying his thoughts. He opened the status menu in his mind, analyzing his attributes and skills. 'The hit I took today... it was nothing compared to what I faced with Ren,' he thought, recalling the moment he almost lost his life. Back then, he had already decided to take things at his own pace, but now, alone in his room, he felt genuinely downcast.

'At the academy, I'd start my magic training. For a half-elf like me, it's the right path,' Jon reflected. In Aeloria, the base game's magic was quite simple, leading most players to opt for physical classes and learn only healing spells and buffs. This was something Jon deeply despised. That's why he installed the "Redefining Magic" mod.

This mod changed the whole paradigm. Now, to learn magic, you needed an awakening book or a mentor to help open the mana channels in your body. And unlike standard mages, physical conditioning played a crucial role. The higher your agility, the faster you could channel magic. The greater your strength and constitution, the more multiple spells you could cast. Of course, intelligence was still the main focus for increasing mana capacity, but neglecting the physical aspect was a mistake Jon was not willing to make…

Jon woke up after a restless night, feeling every fiber of his being weigh more than usual. 'Yesterday was a day to forget, but today is a new beginning,' he thought, trying to shake off the gloom that enveloped him.

He got dressed and stepped outside, but the crisp morning air did little to lift his spirits. He walked toward Riverwood's north gate, where usually a crowd would gather for farewells. However, the turnout was noticeably smaller. Roderic's schemes in the competition had left their mark, and the community was visibly divided. Some gazes were sympathetic, others indifferent, but all shared a common thread: disappointment.

Jon moved through the crowd, each step echoing with the harsh reality that his life was about to change dramatically. Finally, his eyes met Gwen's. For a moment, all the surrounding noise seemed to vanish. They stood face to face, and the gravity of their parting hung in the air between them.

Gwen looked at Jon, her eyes laden with emotion and uncertainty. "So, this is it," she murmured, her voice shaky.

Jon forced a smile, trying to inject some optimism into the situation. "It's not goodbye, Gwen. It's 'see you later.' We'll meet again, I'm sure."

Both knew the words were true, but also recognized that nothing would be the same again. And so, standing on the threshold of their new lives, they prepared to say what felt like an irrevocable goodbye.

Jon, whose nearly thirty-year-old soul inhabited a still-growing body, had always considered himself emotionally reserved. However, at that moment, as he faced Gwen, he couldn't help but feel a sense of emptiness engulf him. 'Is it youthful hormones? Or perhaps something deeper?' he thought, surprised by his own vulnerability.

Gwen, in turn, seemed to share the same emotion. Her eyes, usually bright, were now clouded by uncertainty and sadness. "Jon, are you sure everything will be okay?" she asked, her voice tinged with a concern that went beyond the immediate situation.

Jon looked at her, choosing his words carefully. "Life is full of challenges, Gwen. And each challenge is an opportunity for growth. You're heading to college, and I... well, I'll find my own way. But that doesn't mean our paths won't cross again."

Gwen nodded, although her eyes still carried a trace of doubt. "I know you're right, but still..."

Jon stepped forward and hugged her, a rare gesture that only underscored the gravity of the moment. "Saying goodbye is always hard, even if it's temporary. But that's precisely what makes our time together so precious."

They pulled away, both avoiding direct eye contact, as if fearing that any gaze could unleash a torrent of emotions they were both trying to contain.

"So, it's a 'see you later,' right?" Gwen finally said, forcing a smile.

"Yes, a 'see you later,'" Jon agreed, returning the smile, although his eyes betrayed a hint of sadness.

And so, each carrying their own uncertainties and hopes, they parted ways. The emptiness Jon felt was now a complex blend of emotions, a clear sign that, despite his mental age, he still had much to learn about the intricacies of the human heart.