Grey didn't leave right away.
First of all, he needed to repay Talas first.
Since he had given Grey probably all of his savings, Grey needed to cut some trees so that Talas could use them for a while without needing to hire help.
Of course, he also had the Art of Wood, meaning he could cut trees by himself easily. But he was old, so Grey didn't want him to go there.
Second, he wanted to pay Kaiden back for teaching about iron. He still didn't know how he acquired the Art of Iron without Kaiden giving it to him.
It was probably a secret related to his Art of Creation. But, still, without the teaching of Kaiden, it probably wouldn't be possible.
Otherwise, Grey could gain it when he was fighting against the Orcs, and he tried using the Art of Iron on his axe.
Also, he seemed like he learned what he needed to learn and ran away without even thanking them.
Even though he knew they wouldn't think so, Grey didn't want them even to think about it. So, he wanted to at least help Kaiden with his blacksmithing work for a little bit.
However, Kaiden rejected it. He even mocked Grey, saying he would only make things worse. Of course, he was being thoughtful.
Lastly, he needed one more thing before leaving. And that thing arrived three days after he learned the Art of Iron.
When the door was knocked, he was the one opening it, only to see Ray standing there with something in his hand.
"Ray, welcome. What happened?" Since it was evening, he wondered if something was wrong.
"My father sent me. This is for you." He held out the thing in his hand. It was a sword.
No, it was a sheathed sword. The sheath was white with golden ornaments on it. The handle of the sword was also white, but he couldn't see what the blade looked like.
Grey took it with his brow raised. "Why are you giving this to me?" he asked while unsheathing the sword.
Inside came out a silver-colored sword with a blueish hue on the sharp edges. "It is black iron!" Grey gasped while checking it.
"Hehe, I know. Don't you remember? My father broke your sword and promised you a new one with Mark's sword's fragments in it."
Grey opened his eyes wide. "So, this is..."
"Yes. This is your sword now."
"But, wait. How much was it? I should pay. It seems perfect."
"Shut it. You don't need to pay anything." Of course, as the sole blacksmith of a village, Kaiden wasn't poor.
But still, black iron was rare around here.
"You can pay back by leading the ceremony from now on. As you can see, I can't lead any..." Before Ray could complete his sentence, he stopped seeing Grey's head low.
"Oh... So, that is how it is. When are you leaving?" He understood the meaning without even talking about it. He also already knew Grey's wish to leave this village and see the world.
Grey, on the other hand, didn't act like he misunderstood or anything. "In two days..."
He would leave with the sunrise after tomorrow.
Ray smiled. "Hehe, so, your wish will be real now. Will you at least send us letters?"
He was trying to change the mood. Since this was Grey's wish, he didn't want to be the killjoy.
After that, they talked a bit more, and Ray left, saying goodbye. Grey wouldn't see him again before leaving.
---
The next day was worse for Grey.
He first visited Taek. Since he was like a brother to him, Grey must talk to him before leaving.
"So, you are leaving tomorrow." Taek wasn't as sad as Grey thought he would be. Of course, there was a reason for that.
"I am happy that you chose to go to the academy. You know I always wanted you to go there. But, how will you enter the academy?"
"Well, you know I have a surname. I will use it." Since they were in Taek's house and he lived alone, Grey could talk about it without fearing anyone hearing.
"Will your father be okay with that?"
"Who told you I will tell them? I will just enroll with this." Grey took out some kind of card from his pocket.
"Wait, isn't that an ID?"
Commoners didn't have IDs since they didn't have surnames. When Grey was born, they had gotten him an ID involuntarily. But it was the law.
When he was kicked out of the household, he had brought it with him just in case. And his ID confirmed that he was a Stardel.
Of course, IDs couldn't be faked, so his father wouldn't be informed. At least for one year. But he didn't need to think about that now.
"I am so happy for you."
With that, he said his goodbyes to Taek. But there was someone who would be much harder than him.
"Why do you have to go?" Elaine said with tears in her eyes just after Grey told her his plan.
"You know, I will attend the academy."
"I know that, but... Why can't I come with you?"
It took a long time before she settled, and Grey could really say his goodbyes. Still, in the end, she told him that she would find a strong art and follow Grey by next year.
The statement actually scared him a bit since she could endanger herself, but he believed Taek would interfere if that was the case.
So, in the end, he also left.
Before he exited the door, though, she gave him something wrapped in paper. "Don't open it. You can open it later, but not today," Elaine said.
Grey nodded and left. He was almost done with his farewells.
He only needed to go home now.
But when he entered the door, he couldn't find Talas in the living room. He was obviously in his own room, so Grey also went into his own room.
***
The next morning, just before sunrise, Grey left his room, ready to leave the village.
He had spent the last ten years of his life in here, without ever leaving. He hadn't even been to the next village after coming here.
He looked inside the living room, but Talas wasn't there. He contemplated whether to enter Talas's room or not, but decided not to.
Instead, he started going around the house for the last time.
But he couldn't believe his eyes when he entered the kitchen. There was a small sack on the table. It was filled with wrapped food.
It was, obviously, prepared for him. A single tear dropped from Grey's eye in the end.
He took the sack and put it inside his bag, and, without waiting any longer, he left the house.
...
Right after he left, the door of a bedroom opened, and an old man left it. It was Talas.
He looked at Grey's door a little bit before going back in.
He hadn't slept all night.
It was both an exciting and a sad day for him. And for Grey.