Chapter 217: Garry’s Absence
"Why is there no one here?"
Ash thought as he looked around inside the rundown forge. The place felt lifeless. There were no weapons displayed, no tools lying on the workbenches, and everything was in disarray, as though someone had left in a hurry without even bothering to lock the door. Dust clung faintly to the shelves, and the faint smell of burnt metal still lingered in the air, making the silence feel even heavier.
He was currently standing inside Garry’s forge, the very place where his Soul Sword had been made. Ash had come here thinking of asking Garry to make a few more things for him, since they already knew each other. But when he arrived, there was no sign of the old blacksmith.
Sigh... looks like I’ll have to ask those dwarfs to make my things instead...
To be honest, Ash really didn’t want to ask a dwarf for anything. First of all, dwarves were hard to deal with. Once they got to know you, they were overly friendly, loud, and heavy drinkers. And their laughter...
"Damn, just thinking about it gives me chills..."
Ash never drank alcohol, and he was not the kind to suddenly become overly friendly with strangers. So dealing with them was going to be troublesome for him. And that was only if they considered him a friend. If they didn’t... then things became dangerous. Dwarves were more united than any other race — if even one of them was wronged, the entire race would take up their hammers and march to split the skull of the offender.
Even if it meant their entire race would get wiped out in the process. They were a stubborn and tenacious bunch. And the main thing... they hated beautiful people.
Yes, that was one of the reasons Ash had come here. He wanted to get something that could suppress his charm. Otherwise, he would have to hide his face all the time, and that would only make him look suspicious.
Closing the forge door behind him, Ash stepped out into the streets. The sun was dipping lower, casting a soft orange glow across the slum streets. He ran a hand through his hair, already thinking ahead.
If Garry wasn’t around, then there was no point wasting more time here. The sooner he left for the dwarven lands, the sooner he could get what he needed — and maybe deal with a few other matters along the way.
The thought carried him straight toward the teleportation point in the city. Of course, it wasn’t possible to teleport directly into the dwarven stronghold, but he could travel to the far northern edge of the human continent. From there, he could use Transcendent Step to reach their lands.
Technically, he could have used Transcendent Step from here and traveled instantly, but the mana consumption for such a distance would be ridiculous. And why waste his strength when there was a perfectly good facility available? He already had plenty of money — if not now, then when would he spend it?
As he moved closer to the teleportation district, the air grew louder, richer with scents and sounds.
It wasn’t long before the bustling heart of the market surrounded him. The smell of roasted meat, freshly baked bread, and exotic spices mixed with the metallic tang of enchanted trinkets being sold at nearby stalls.
Merchants called out their wares with practiced enthusiasm, haggling voices rising and falling in waves.
Among the crowd, Ash saw couples walking hand in hand, their faces lit up with warmth and laughter, as if nothing in the world could trouble them.
And, almost naturally, his thoughts wandered to Elysia.
Before coming here, when he had informed her about his departure... her reaction had been a little surprising.
"You are leaving on an errand? And it’s a task given by the principal through which you can get privileges?" Elysia asked... or perhaps muttered, though her eyes seemed a little vacant, as if her mind was drifting somewhere far away.
"Yes..!!"
The words hung between them as they walked slowly down the academy’s stone pathways. The rain had stopped not long ago, and the ground still glistened under the soft light breaking through the clouds. Every step they took sent a faint echo through the damp air, and the scent of wet stone and earth lingered around them. It was the kind of weather that made the world feel quieter... softer... yet Ash felt a faint weight in his chest, a quiet worry he couldn’t quite hide.
He had prepared himself for pushback, for an argument maybe... but her reaction was calmer than he had expected, almost too calm.
"When will you return?"
"Umm... one week minimum."
"Will you be able to talk with me?"
"Yeah... if we use a communication artifact, it’s possible."
"Then I am fine with it."
She stopped and turned toward him, her hand resting gently on his shoulder. Her voice was soft but firm as she said, "Just be safe... and return."
Keep him. Don’t let him go. Bind him. He will leave you alone... don’t let him go!!!
The intrusive whisper in her mind clawed at her thoughts, but she pushed it away with practiced will, forcing her lips into a warm smile. "And don’t forget to bring me something as a souvenir from there. I would prefer if it was a blade... you are going to the Land of Forge after all."
Ash’s smile brightened, a spark of mischief in his eyes as he puffed out his chest in mock pride. "I was already planning to get one, even if you didn’t tell me to."
A small chuckle escaped her lips as she turned and walked ahead of him. "Now go before I change my mind. I also need to get strong..."
Before she could finish, Ash was suddenly appeared in front of her, wrapping his arms around her in a firm embrace. For a brief second, Elysia froze... then her hands slowly came up to return the hug. His warmth seeped into her, but at the same time, it stirred a deep ache inside her chest. Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes, threatening to fall.
I will get strong... I need to get strong so that you can take me with you on your travels. I will get stronger...
I need to get strong..
Don’t let Ash go. He will not return. You know how he is... don’t let him go.
Shut up. Don’t mess with my mind.
Before her thoughts could spiral again, Ash’s quiet voice brushed against her ears, low enough that it felt like it was meant only for her.
"Don’t worry about me. I’ll tell you a secret... I can’t die even if my head or heart is destroyed. So don’t worry about me."
The moment his words sank in, her skill told her — he wasn’t lying. That faint, instinctive certainty settled deep inside her, and with it came an almost dizzying sense of relief. The heavy weight she had been carrying in silence seemed to lift from her heart, her shoulders loosening as if a knot she didn’t know existed had finally been untied.
She didn’t ask how. She didn’t ask why. She didn’t even let greed or curiosity flicker in her mind. None of that mattered. She was simply... happy. Happy that Ash was safe. Happy that she could believe he would return to her. Her hands tightened slightly around his back, holding him as if to anchor the warmth she felt in that moment.
Of course, Ash had not told her everything. What he said was true... he could not die through physical means. But if someone were to strike at his very soul... that was another matter entirely.
**
Reaching the teleportation checkpoint, Ash paid the money and waited for his turn. The teleportation point was nothing grand or overly mystical at first glance, rather it felt almost like an airport waiting area back on Earth.
Rows of benches were filled with travelers, some quietly talking, some staring at the floor in thought, while others looked half-asleep. When your name was called, you were expected to step onto the rune-carved circle on the floor, and the teleportation process would begin.
The array functioned on the theory of space folding, a subject Ash had already studied in depth. Speaking of theories, he was never wasting his free time. Whenever he had even a moment outside his daily activities, he would enter his Soul Space and bury himself in books — intricate magical theories, practical spellcraft, and even highly experimental ideas that most people would dismiss as impossible.
Since time in his Soul Space flowed differently, he had already finished most of the books available in Starlight Academy’s library, and even reread a few that had caught his attention. Now, as he sat waiting for his turn, his mind wandered between thoughts of what kinds of spells he could create in the future and what combinations he might need for situations yet to come.
His chain of thought was broken when someone called his name.
"Ash Burn."
He rose and began walking toward the teleportation array. As he made his way through the narrow path between seats, someone in the crowd caught sight of his face.
"Hey, look, he’s so handsome..."
"Oh my god, is he a celebrity? I didn’t even notice before with those clothes on."
"His face is perfect...!!"
The murmur spread quickly, a ripple of attention turning into a small wave of whispers and glances. Ash quickened his steps, lowering his hood so the shadows covered most of his face. He had already chosen his travel attire to avoid this exact situation — a long coat, a wide-brimmed hat, and an overall unremarkable appearance.
Snow, the small white serpent, was curled lazily around his neck, fast asleep. The little creature followed him everywhere like a baby duck would follow its mother. Even when Ash went into his Soul Space, Snow would slither in without needing permission, as though he was simply a natural part of that realm.
Stepping onto the teleportation array, Ash felt the magic beneath his feet stir. The runic symbols etched into the stone began to glow faintly at first, then the violet light grew stronger and stronger, flowing like liquid through each carved line until the entire circle was lit. The air felt heavy for a brief moment, space itself seeming to bend and twist around him.
In the next instant, the glow flared and swallowed his figure whole. The world blinked, and Ash was gone, leaving behind only the faint shimmer of fading light where he once stood.
***
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