Departure

Six months have passed, and Kizou’s training with Cheron has finally been going exceptionally well.

“Come on, you got to get a little faster than that,” Cheron said with a laugh as he slowly backed up from all of Kizou’s sword strikes. “You’re not even hitting me.”

“Who said I was trying to hit you with my sword?” Kizou asked with a smirk.

“Huh?” Cheron mumbled as he ended up backing into a grass wall. “What the?”

The grass wall wrapped around Cheron and clamped him in place, so he couldn’t move. Cheron kept trying to wiggle out until he realized that Kizou sent a fireball straight at him.

“Looks like you’re learning,” Cheron said with a smile.

“You have to do whatever it takes to win,” Kizou answered.

“Well, you’re still not there yet, then,” Cheron said as he suddenly leapt up and dodged the fire.

Wait, how did he get out? Kizou thought to himself.

He looked back at where Cheron was and realized that Cheron burned through the grass before escaping Kizou’s fireball.

“Know your opponent’s affinity,” Cheron said as he started rushing towards Kizou. “So, you don’t make mistakes and give them the advantage.”

Kizou prepared himself as he could tell that Cheron wanted to do some hand to hand combat. He blinked hard, and the power of his eye activated.

Cheron rushed towards Kizou and threw punches that Kizou was able to barely dodge and deflect by using his eye. Cheron threw a left hook to which Kizou ducked under and lifted his right leg up to kick Cheron in the face. Cheron blocked the strike and grabbed Kizou’s leg and threw him in the air.

Damn, the limit for Time Lord still needs improvement, Kizou thought to himself.

“I know you’ve learned more secrets about your eye, but you need to learn that half a second of stopping time won’t stop a faster opponent,” Cheron yelled out.

Kizou launched ice shards while he was in the air to which Cheron laughed at.

“Didn’t I just explain to you about knowing affinities?” Cheron said as he launched fire towards Kizou.

“And that’s what I was waiting for,” Kizou said as he sent a stream of water down to Cheron’s fire.

“Oh?” Cheron asked with a bit of surprise. As the water cooled off the fire, a smokescreen appeared.

Just like that time with my students, I’ll use this to hide myself, Kizou thought to himself as he entered the smoke.

“That won’t work at all,” Cheron said as he suddenly appeared behind Kizou.

Wait, how did he get there? Kizou thought to himself.

Cheron grabbed Kizou and threw him on the ground. Kizou tapped out and said that he gave up.

“Not bad, not bad,” Cheron said. “You’ve grown faster than I thought you would in a matter of six months.”

“But I still can’t beat you,” Kizou said annoyingly.

“Boy, you’re still a few years too early for that,” Cheron said while hitting Kizou on the side of the head. “But you’re definitely capable of holding your ground against the strongest of people.”

“Even the Chariots?” Kizou asked.

“No, not even close,” Cheron said seriously. “Don’t underestimate them at all.”

Kizou looked at how serious Cheron was and realized that he must’ve sounded cocky to say that.

“But that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to reach their level,” Cheron said with a smile.

“Just six more months of training, and I can go to Lestia Academy to reach their level!” Kizou said as he stood up and smiled.

“Actually, there’s been a change of plans,” Cheron said with a cough.

“What do you mean?” Kizou asked.

“For the next six months, you’re going to register with the Adventurer's Guild and go out on missions,” Cheron said. “But don’t worry, you don’t have to join a guild.”

“What?!” Kizou asked sadly. “But I thought you were going to keep teaching me!”

“There’s only so much that I can teach you,” Cheron said with a sigh.

If only he knew he was a Demon, I’d be able to help him utilize the power of both of his horns, Cheron thought to himself. He’d be the strongest Demon there is.

Cheron took another look at Kizou who was scratching his head and glaring at him.

But that wouldn’t be right, Cheron thought to himself.  He luckily left that life for this one.

“So, how do I even register at the Adventurer’s Guild?” Kizou asked.

“First, you’re going to enter the Kingdom,” Cheron said. “Then, you’re going to want to enter the building called the Adventurer's Guild.”

“That seems easy enough,” Kizou said.

“But you want to make sure that you read the signs correctly, because all of the buildings are the same,” Cheron said.

“Why would the buildings be the same?!” Kizou asked annoyingly. “Whose idea was that?!”

“The King,” Cheron said with a sigh. “He said that he got tired of seeing different looking buildings.”

“What kind of stupid King?” Kizou mumbled.

“Once you enter the Adventurer’s Guild, there will be someone there to help sign you up,” Cheron said. “Depending on your level, you might be scouted by other guilds on the spot.”

“Isn’t that good then?” Kizou asked.

“It would be good if you weren’t going to the Academy in six months,” Cheron said. “So, you might as well not try to become too affiliated with one specific guild.”

“Hmmm,” Kizou mumbled to himself.

“You’ll still have opportunities to party up with other lone adventurers or even team up with a guild on missions,” Cheron said. “I wouldn’t worry too much.”

Will I be able to get my revenge on Shadow’s Guild? Kizou thought to himself. Wait, won’t they be able to know who I am?

“I have one request,” Kizou said.

“And what is that?” Cheron said with his eyebrow raised up.

An hour passed by, and Yui and Kana were busy washing their hands.

“Make sure you wash your hands with lots of water, Kana,” Yui said.

“I know, Mommy,” Kana said as she started clapping her hands with the water and splashing it everywhere. Yui got mad and grabbed Kana’s hand and started washing it for her.

“Are you sure that you wanted to keep the longness of your hair too?” Cheron asked.

“Yeah, I can always put it up,” Kizou said with a smile as he put his hair up into a ponytail.

“I want to look like big brother too!” Kana said with her mouth wide open.

“Come here,” Kizou said with a smile as Kana walked up to him. Kizou put her hair up into a ponytail as well.

“Me and big brother are matching now,” Kana said with her arms on her waist.

Cheron and Yui laughed at the sight of both Kizou and Kana with their hair up.

“Well, I guess I should be heading out now,” Kizou said with a smile.

“Wait, big brother is going?” Kana asked as she didn’t realize the news.

“Yeah Kana, big brother has to go train and go to school,” Kizou said as he crouched down and patted her head.

“But when will I see big brother again?” Kana said with tears in her eyes.

“Just keep counting in your head, and I’m sure we’ll meet again soon,” Kizou said with a smile. Kana gave a smile back as she hugged Kizou.

“It was a pleasure having you stay over, Kizou,” Yui said with a smile.

“It was my pleasure as well,” Kizou said as he went over to give a handshake.

“Stop acting so professional,” Yui said with a laugh as she shook his hand and gave him a hug. “School hasn’t even started yet.”

Kizou let out a chuckle before turning over to Cheron.

“Master, thank you for all the teachings you have provided me for the past six months,” Kizou said as he respectfully bowed down.

Master? Cheron thought to himself with a smile.

“Put your head up, you act like we won’t see each other again soon,” Cheron replied. “I just hope you’ll be able to defeat me the next time we meet.”

“Don’t worry, I plan on being much stronger,” Kizou said with a smile.

“I have a few things to give you as well,” Cheron said seriously. “Take these and put them on.”

Kizou took the gift and looked at them. There were three rings present in front of him.

“What are these?” Kizou asked while looking closely at them.

“These will help hide your affinities,” Cheron said. “While two is exceptionally rare, four has never been recorded.”

Kizou recalled Cheron telling him that during their last lecture.

“If someone were to figure out you had four, despair would only come your way,” Cheron said.

Kizou gulped and put on the three rings. He could feel his energy quickly decrease, and he wasn’t able to use three of his affinities.

“The only affinity that the ring doesn’t block is ice,” Cheron said. “From our training, ice is the only affinity you have yet to master fully.”

“Here are two more gifts that I want to give,” Cheron said. Yui had a shocked expression at seeing what Cheron was giving.

“Is this a mask and an armband?” Kizou asked.

“Only the King will know what that is,” Cheron said with a smirk. “And I want him to know that I have an apprentice.”

“But can I even put it on then?” Kizou asked confusingly.

“Oh yeah,” Cheron answered embarrassingly, since he was only focusing on himself. “Put it on when you leave this palce.”

“Thank you,” Kizou said as he realized how important these gifts were.

“Here you go, Kizou,” Yui said as he handed him a bag. “I packed food and washed your dirty clothes. I also put a provisional I.D. in there as well.”

“Thanks Yui,” Kizou answered with a smile.

It feels kind of wrong to have the Headmaster of the school do all of my laundry and pack me food, Kizou thought guiltily to himself.

“I would’ve gotten big brother a present too if I knew he was leaving!” Kana said with a pout. “Wait!”

Kana ran towards her stuff and pulled out a black bracelet that looked as basic as possible.

“Here is my bracelet,” Kana said proudly. “I will now give it to big brother!”

Kizou laughed and put his hand out, and Kana put the bracelet on. Kizou patted her again on the head.

“And here is something that I almost forgot,” Cheron said. “5 gold coins for your stay at the inn.”

“Looks like the scam artist actually makes a profit,” Kizou said with a smirk.

“Shh, not in front of Yui,” Cheron whispered towards Kizou.

“What was that about being a scam artist?” Yui said with her eyes fueled with rage.

“Thank you for everything, everyone,” Kizou said as Yui chased Cheron around. “I’ll see you soon.”

“Bye, big brother!” Kana yelled. Yui and Cheron stopped fighting.

“Six months went by so fast,” Yui said. “I can’t wait to see what he does at my school.”

“Mommy, I still have some red on my hands!” Kana yelled. Yui went to help Kana clean off her hands.

Cheron watched Kizou walk away.

Show me, Cheron thought to himself with a smile. Show me how far a Demon can go in the Kingdom.

Kizou found the road and started walking towards the Kingdom. He wore a black coat with a hood on, a white shirt underneath, Kana’s black bracelet, and black pants. He wore black shoes as well as had both of his swords on his waist.  The green, red, and blue ring were on his fingers.  He looked at the armband that Cheron gave him and put it in his pocket. He turned around as his red ponytail flowed against the wind.

Thanks for everything, Kizou thought to himself.

He turned back around and put on the mask that had holes etched in its eyes to allow the user to see. The rest of the mask showed someone with a bored expression as if they already accomplished everything in the world.