An H.S. Church original.

Kart had met Yuri every day so far. He really loved this girl. This was something new to him, because he had stayed at his own home or in the forest; far away from the rest of the world. This is where he was now; sitting on a branch of a medium-sized tree, staring into space, wandering his own thoughts and feelings…

He heard a branch crack and he look down from the oak. He noticed Barc wandering the forest with his dog.

'Ahoy,' called Kart.

Barc kept looking forward. 'Hallo? Who's there?'

'It's Kart.'

'Ah, hallo,' answered the wizard. 'What goes on?'

'Jest… waiting for someone,' said the shepherd.

The wizard merely nodded. 'I've begun thinking about leaving again. I feel a sense of emptiness. Like I'm hollow when I'm home again. Going blind and releasing the Deamon's Eye on the world may have an effect on Bistos. I'm thinking of leaving for the outlaws' country again; where I fealt… welcome.'

'When do you plan on leaving?' asked the shepherd, half choked up.

'I gess, maybe tomorrow?' answered Barc.

Kart was shocked by the sudden news. His best friend was leaving his own country, and Kart had only a day to spend with the wizard. 'Why don't you head home, and I'll meet you there in a half-hour.'

'Okay,' said the wizard, and he began heading westward again.

Not much long later, Yuri showed up, and Kart greeted her.

'Hello, Kart. How are you doing this morning?' asked Yuri.

'Not so well,' answered the shepherd.

'Why is that?'

'My best friend, the wizard, is departing tomorrow; for good.'

'Why's that?' she asked.

'He never really fealt a sense of welcome or comfort since the day he returned home. I was going to spend the rest of the day with him alone, unless…'

'Would you like me to go with you?' asked Yuri.

'That would be great.' Kart managed a smile, and so did Yuri. 'I told him I'd meet with him at his house in a half-hour, so we should begin walking.' They headed off, hand-in-hand.

When they reached Barc's house, there was a not attatched to his door. It read: 'And thus ends the great legacy of Barc, Torn's son. My new mailing address is enclosed in an envelope underneath the mat.' The signature was faded, due to a lack of ink. Yuri looked under the mat and found the envelope, with a piece of paper with his new home address.

'I can't believe he's already gone… So many adventures, wasted..' His voice trailed off, and he sat on the front step. A tear ran down his cheek. Yuri sat down beside him, and she tried to cheer him up. 'I'm not sure I can handle this..'

'It'll be okay,' said Yuri. 'We can still write to him.'

'It's jest not the same, though.. There were so many other adventures to finish…' He trailed off again. He began to cry. Yuri leaned over and kissed him softly on the cheek to comfort him.

Kart stood up and said weakly 'Let's go home.'