"No Lucas, I won't let you go, no matter how..."

Bla, bla, bla. I can't believe she keeps talking, why she is even trying to restrain me here. I just came to let her know that I was leaving, not to accept suggestions. Whatever, I should just leave it's getting late and the letter says that tomorrow is the last day they will accept more people.

Suddenly I feel a poke in my cheek that snaps me out of my thoughts and got me back to reality. "Are you even listening!" she asks in a voice that could easily break my ears.

"I already told you Kuma, I must go... I'm tired of waiting another miracle to happen," I tell her expecting comprehension from her, which is rather stupid.

"You know very well that the Magypsies are finding a way to get you to him,"

"They have already helped me; it's my turn to do something." I huff, we both know I'm right, she just doesn't want to acknowledge it "Just tell them I say thanks that's all, I have to leave now,"

"What I have to do to make you stay?" she acquires, albeit the real question is what I had to do to you do so she let me go.

"There's nothing to do, but thanks for the concern. Don't worry I'll back as soon as I can." Those are my last words before I get up from the chair and walk my way out of the Osohe Castle.

"I hope." She also gets up and walks up to me to give one last hug before leaving. I personally prefer that over her I-must-win-this-argue side. "Please take care, Lucas."

I nod to not make this chat longer and exit the castle walking over the downed gates that forms a small bridge along the river waving one last time in her direction.

Now the hardest part is coming, my dad, our link and determination have taken us to a strong father-son relation. How he is going to take the news that I am leaving for undetermined time, it is my question.

I stand a minute outside my home pondering my words one more time, take a deep breath and open the door.

There is my dad in the couch taking turns between watching some old photos and reading a book.

"Lucas, you finally came; it was about time, the dinner is ready," he tells me.

"How has been your day?" I ask him opening the discussion.

"I just arrived like an hour ago," Dad starts. "I went to visit Wes and…" He makes a stop to sigh "received bad news from Duster,"

Bad news from Duster? It looks like he has already informed my dad about the situation. After all it was not a bad idea to let Duster know I was leaving, he finished helping me with dad.

"Those 'bad' news have to do with me, right?" I emphasize the word 'bad'.

"Yes, Duster told me you wanted to leave,"

"He told you why?"

"He said that there were some details that would be better that you show them to me,"

I nod and run upstairs to where my room is, and start rummaging under my bed where I keep a letter, which is actually an invitation. When I find it I get up quickly and return to the kitchen where my dad is waiting for me.

I sit in my chair and slide the letter through the table into my dad's reach. He looks at it and then takes it. By the expression on his face I can tell that he is reading the remittent who I remember is from a person that's called "Master Hand"…funny, the letter was in a formal writing and this person writes some kind of alias.

"A fighting tournament…pretty interesting," he says with a hint of humor, I let him take his time to read the letter, when he finishes he simply slide it back to me. "Assuming this is not some kind of joke…" I hate when people do that, if it's uncommon for them, they instantly label it as a joke, fake or stupid. "Besides, what is that of 'another planet'? Don't you see this is just a joke from someone; probably Fuel."

Fuel… Yeah, as if my best friend were to write this letter in such formal way. I'm glad I didn't tell dad I got other letters, where it explained me about the location and some other facts of the fighting tournament. "Trust me, it's hard to explain, but this–" I point at the letter in his hands "–is legit.

"And what about the fighting part, it may be dangerous."

"First, yeah maybe, but it's a tournament only, not a death match, and second do you even remember what I did a couple of years ago: the Needles," I said. There are no more words for my dad to say. He will acknowledge I am right for sure.

"Yeah the Needles… but you're forgetting that at the very end you failed. Isn't what you always say?" Such words… he is right, I failed, everyone's hope was into me but I failed them. I huff and glare at him. Even if what he is saying is true he is still my dad, he knows very well those words, those memories are forbidden to talk about.

"Wow, what a way to hit a nerve!" I exclaim trying to hide my angriness however my face pretty much express it for me. "Still, I won't disappoint anyone this time; this is the opportunity I was waiting for. Anyway, you know me and you know how important this could be. I'll leave whether you like it or not…sorry," I whisper the last part.

He suddenly gets up from his chair and start walking toward me, his face is now serious. He stands in front of me emotionless, I frown at this sudden reaction but before I can say anything he get me in an embrace whispering something, "If you think this is necessary to do, I understand. I just don't want to see another member of this 'family' leaving… It's hard… But I still count on you. Take care," he finishes, his voice with a hint of sorrow.

I smile at him, "It is important, not just for me, though, for everyone. You too take care." Before I go to prepare my stuff, he asks me about my brother. I tell him everything is okay… and with that he says goodbye to… the both of us, per say.

Now it is all set; tomorrow as soon as the soon rises I'm leaving.

Now, what should I take? I grab a small suitcase that has always been forgotten in the corner of my room, "This is your moment to shine," I tell the suitcase.

I decide to pack some of my striped shirts, my beloved denim shorts and some other miscellaneous stuff.

"It looks like this is okay," I tell to myself, but a metal case in the corner of my eye tells me I'm wrong. I walk up to the case and open it then sigh, my brother, Claus' weapon: the thunder sword. I have used it a couple times since then.

I will take it.

"Besides you may need right with it?" I asked to myself… and I don't have to wait to get an answer.

'Yeah, for sure I will.'

Hearing the voice of Claus (well, mental voice) always make me cheer. I can see why he didn't talk in the whole day, normally when I'm stressed I don't like to get distracted or talked too much.

I'm now in my bed. I have always enjoyed sleeping; the calm of the room and how I can enter into a world where everything is good again, my family is always in there. However, there's not time to dream, since tomorrow will be a long day.