Victor was quiet for a long time before he spoke again in Kalle's head.

  "Which continent are we in?" Repeated Victor, his voice did not reveal anything.

  "Agapea, and what do you mean which? There is only one," Kalle, now looking confused, replied.

  "In my time there used to be seven continents. Are you telling me that now there is only one?" Victor asked.

  "Well, one that is habitable at least. The rest of the smaller ones are filled with monsters," Kalle explained.

  "Why? What happened to the other continents?" Victor asked.

  "No one knows, but there is this legend where Agapea used to be multiple continents. However due to war and the population of monsters growing, the greatest magic users at that time needed to combined all the land masses that were not infested by the monsters, allowing Agapea to be the sole continent where humans reside," Kalle paused.

  "It was also the same reason why taking care of magical creatures was prohibited," Kalle thoroughly explained.

  "Of course, those were just legends and were never confirmed, but if what you said was true, then it seems the legend is also true," Kalle sighed as he looked at his window. It's almost dawn, the idea that he would get any more sleep now sounds unrealistic.

  "Wait, what about your technology? How did it progress over time?"

  "Technology?" Kalle asked. He had never even heard of the term.

  In an inn not far from Kalle's location, a woman lay stretched on her bed, deep in her thoughts. The woman had curly hair, black eyes, and was very beautiful. The woman brooded over the necklace. The woman thought about Kalle Thyllos, She wondered if Kalle was trustworthy. She would also eventually need to retrieve the necklace from him. The woman believed it would be easy.

  She could find anyone if she wanted.

  The problem is those guys are still probably searching for her. She needed to hide for now.

  As she lay in her bed, she started thinking. She didn't sleep; instead, she thought of one thing.

  Vengeance.

  "..."

  Victor didn't know what to say. He never expected a future without technology; he always thought that magic and technology would be able to work together.

  "Those are the tools or equipment that we use in our time that is completely independent of magic," Victor explained.

  "So there really was an era without magic?" Kalle asked.

  "Yes, although I never thought there would have been an era without technology," Victor pointed out.

  After a short while, Victor spoke again.

  "I also didn't expect an era with magic."

  Kalle now grew more confused.

  "What? But I thought this book was the source of all magic?" Kalle asked, sounding tired.

  "Yes, I promised to explain that part, right? The thing is, every time I learned a spell from this book, the contents were removed automatically, turning the pages blank," Victor paused.

  "However, I am unable to share or teach the spell to anyone else," Victor continued.

  Then how did magic spread? Kalle thought. He now looked even more dumbfounded. His head was now filled with questions that he didn't know who could answer. He was also sure that Victor felt the same.

  Kalle and Victor spent another couple of hours exchanging information, talking about various things, and hypothesizing possible answers to their questions. When they were done, Kalle was visibly tired.

  'You should sleep' Victor said sympathetically after noticing Kalle's tiredness.

  Kalle looked outside the window. It's already morning, He didn't care.

  With that thought, Kalle lay on his bed.

  When he closed his eyes and he immediately fallen asleep.

  Kalle was deep in his sleep when he saw a woman, one with unique clothing, the type of clothes he had never seen. The woman wore a black polo shirt with buttons that were mainly covered by a lab coat. Kalle tried to look at the woman's face, but he couldn't see it. He could only notice her black wavy hair that was around shoulder length. Kalle didn't know why, but he wanted to get closer to the woman.

  He slowly tried to move towards the woman. However, the woman seemed to go only farther away. He felt that he have seen the woman somewhere, yet he also felt that he never meet her.

  He stretched out his hand until suddenly he heard a loud banging noise.

  The noise made Kalle sit upright. He could hear his own breathing. It took him a while to calm his nerves. He held his temple with his hand as he looked at the window. It's already noon. When he tried to stand from his bed, he realized that the sleep wasn't long enough.

  Slowly, he moved downstairs. He saw Gabriel slumping at the table, seemingly asleep. There was still an empty tankard beside him. A woman seemed to be waking Gabriel up. When Kalle looked closer, he realized that it's Lyra. They usually open the tavern at noon, and since both Kalle and Gabriel overslept, there was no one to open the tavern.

  Kalle took a chair near Gabriel and took a seat. It took a few minutes before Gabriel woke up; his eyes dreary, he stared at Kalle. Apparently, Gabriel noticed something on Kalle's arm, which he asked about.

  "What is that? Did you steal again?" Gabriel sounded like he needed more sleep.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  Kalle noticed that Gabriel was talking about the bracelet he was wearing. It had a silver chain and a yellow crystal for a pendant. It was the same necklace that he had found in the alley last night.

  Both he and Victor agreed that a group of people would be looking for the necklace and decided it would be better to turn it into a bracelet. "It isn't much, but that would probably help," he remembered Victor saying.

  "Don't worry, I didn't," as Kalle said this, Lyra saw him and nodded, going towards the kitchen.

  Gabriel didn't argue with Kalle. Despite picking up the habit of stealing things, he knew Kalle doesn't lie, so instead of talking, he once again slumped his head on the table.

  Kalle thought about the events that happened last night: the dream, the woman dropping the necklace, Victor. For a moment, he thought that maybe that could also be a dream.

  'How was your sleep?' Victor asked as if sensing his thoughts.

  "Not good enough," Kalle managed a laugh. Here he was, thinking the events could have been a dream.

  Gabriel moved his head up, looking at Kalle, who just realized that he had spoken out loud.

  "Don't think about it. I'm just talking to myself," Kalle explained, trying to dismiss Gabriel's thoughts.

  Victor laughed. Kalle had the feeling this wouldn't be the first time he would make such a mistake.

  Gabriel looked at Kalle with doubt before slumping at the table again. He himself was too tired to inquire.

  When Lyra returned, she was carrying a tray with three coffees, which she skillfully distributed at the table.

  "Just what happened to the two of you? Both of you look like a mess," Lyra said after taking one coffee for herself.

  Kalle took the coffee and spoke, "I just have a lot going on in my mind," he said as he took a sip of coffee.

  Gabriel also took his coffee, his eyes still dreary.

  "It's the same for me," he said hoarsely.

  Lyra looked at the two with her hands crossed. "What about the tavern? We haven't opened it, and even if we did, you two won't be any help," Lyra said.

  She was right, of course, Kalle thought. He had been up almost all night. He wondered about the reason for Gabriel staying up all night.

  "You're right. We will just open tomorrow. For now, we'll have to rest," Gabriel said as he took a sip of coffee. He was now sounding better.

  Lyra accepted. She also took a sip of the coffee.

  "So what will the two of you do now?" Lyra asked as she drank her own coffee.

  "Rest," Gabriel answered. "Also, Kalle would need to prepare," he continued.

  Kalle raised his brow.

  "Prepare for what?" Kalle asked Gabriel.

  Gabriel looked at Kalle before speaking.

  "You're going to Altair Magic Academy," Gabriel declared.

  Kalle looked at him, wide-eyed. He half-expected the statement to be caused by Gabriel's hangover. But when Kalle heard those words, he knew Gabriel was sober. Kalle could even feel a hint of pain in Gabriel's voice.

  "But I don't have magic, and even if I did," Kalle's voice trailed off. Him not having magic was not a lie but neither was it the truth. Last night, when Kalle and Victor talked, Kalle remembered Victor saying that he did not actually learned all the spells in the book and that he actually left one.

  When Kalle looked at the spell at that time, he was flustered, and yet he could understand why Victor didn't learn it. He even considered not learning it.

  In the end, he decided to learn the spell anyway, thinking that it would be useful in the future.

  "I know, but I already handled that," Gabriel's voice made Kalle notice his surroundings again.

  "I have talked to your... father's friend. He said they would accept you despite not having magic since your lineage has prominent magic users, and it's still possible to awaken magic. Also, it's not like students who are yet to awaken magic are not common there," Gabriel said.

  Kalle noticed him slightly pausing at the word "father."

  "Gabriel, I don't want to go," Kalle said defiantly.

  "I know," Gabriel said softly. Kalle realized why Gabriel was up all night. He had been thinking about this.

  Kalle didn't want to go. He did not want to leave his life here, and more so, he didn't want to return to his previous life.

  Kalle knew the decision must also be hard for Gabriel. He thought of convincing or maybe even arguing with Gabriel but thought otherwise. He knew Gabriel wouldn't change his mind.

  Kalle also thought about the events that happened last night. He hadn't told Gabriel about the woman who was being chased and also the necklace that she had dropped. He thought about telling it now, but if he did, he knew Gabriel would send him away this very moment.

  "Why?" Kalle finally asked, breaking the silence.

  "Is it because of Cedric? Do you plan on hiding me?" Kalle made a sarcastic laugh. He knew that was one of Gabriel's reasons. He hated being protected. Ironically, he seemed to be constantly needing protection; Cedric is one of the most skilled magic users of THAT person. Kalle knew he wouldn't stand a chance.

  He looked at the bracelet; he thought maybe he could do something.

  "That's one of the reasons. I also wanted you to get a new environment. You know that you don't belong here," Gabriel spoke.

  Lyra felt the situation tense, so she stood up, excused herself, and said that she would get breakfast... or maybe lunch.

  'We call it brunch,' Victor interrupted.

  Kalle ignored Victor's remarks. He looked at his coffee, still deep in his thoughts. He wondered maybe he could do something now, maybe things could go differently now. He also thought that maybe he could use THAT in the academy. Kalle felt a small lump of hope.

  "Okay, I'll go. What do I need?" Kalle said, surprisingly calm.

  Gabriel raised his brow. He never expected Kalle to accept it. He had already planned a long, stretched argument with Kalle, but it seemed that wouldn't be necessary.

  Gabriel was silent for a long time.

  "What? Why are you so quiet?" It was Kalle who spoke.

  "I just didn't expect you to accept it so easily," Gabriel said, his voice filled with disbelief.

  "I think you're right. I might need a new surrounding, and a change of things would be nice," Kalle spoke as he took the last sip of his coffee and set it down on the table.

  Gabriel looked at Kalle. He was sure that Kalle was planning something, and whatever it was made Gabriel worry.

  Kalle recognized the look on Gabriel's face.

  "Don't worry, I'll be fine, and I won't look for trouble," Kalle said sincerely.

  Gabriel looked down. He knew Kalle spoke the truth, but he was still scared that it would be trouble that would come looking for Kalle.

  "So what should I prepare? And when will I be leaving?" Kalle asked, breaking Gabriel's train of thoughts.

  "Altair is far from here. As you know, it's a different duchy, so it would be a long travel, probably a week or less. So, of course, you would need rations. Also, it would be ideal to find a horse you could rent," Gabriel explained, finishing his coffee.

  "You also need to leave tomorrow," Gabriel followed.

  Kalle's eyes widened. For a moment, he regretted agreeing.

  "What? That early?" Kalle asked, surprised by the urgency.

  "Ten days from now, the academy will start a new academic year. Since the travel could take a week, it would be best to leave early," Gabriel explained himself.

  "What about my work? Also, where would I stay there?" Kalle asked, remembering that he had a job at the docks. He was a navigator on a ship there, and for some reason, he was extremely good at navigating. He decided that he would miss the work.

  "That's already handled. You would have lodging at the academy. They have dorms for those that are not locals, and as for your job, I'll talk to them about it," Gabriel explained.

  "Are you saying I would get to live there and study for free despite not having magic?" Kalle asked, having a hard time believing what Gabriel just told him.

  "Yes, I talked to someone with a high position who was willing to offer these to you. Of course, it's not because of me that he offered; it was because he is your father's friend," Gabriel explained.

  As he said this, they heard footsteps coming close to the table. They turned their heads and saw Lyra coming out of the kitchen with another tray in hand. This time, the tray contained plates with salted fish, bread, and porridge.

  As the meal went on, the three of them discussed the departure of Kalle. When the meal was done, Kalle arranged his plate and excused himself.

  "I will be preparing the things I will need. I might also go to the market," Kalle said, now standing up while looking at Gabriel.

  "Go home early. It's best that you get enough sleep for tomorrow," Gabriel reminded.

  Kalle reached door and waved his hand while not looking back. He slowly pushed the door and got out of the tavern.

  "You think he will be fine?" It was Lyra who asked. All this time, she had been quiet, not wanting to interrupt the conversation of the two.

  Gabriel looked at the door through which Kalle had just left. He didn't answer. Truth to be told, he didn't know the answer.