A/N: Another update! Things are getting more intense. This chapter reveals a lot more to the story! So get ready for a revelation.

The first thing I think to do is see the Old Man. I know very well how early it is and that he might not be awake, but I'm growing anxious. Right now, I don't know if I can handle seeing him, but I want to be there soon, as soon as I can.

But the morning sun tells me I should wait a while longer. He needs his rest. He also promised he would be alright with that confident tone. I just have to believe and hold out, like he has.

So I end up strolling down the morning market, searching for a bite to eat. I already miss having breakfast with him as well as those from the mansion. It makes me realize how painfully attached I am to them and that I shouldn't be. I was the one who decided to leave, to part and not turn back. Yet a bit of me had also been left behind, hoping I would turn around and run back to that beloved circle.

It won't happen, I can't let it. The part of me that has yet to leave will eventually catch up to the current me. That's what I have decided.

I shake away my thoughts trying to renew my resolve. If I can't handle even this, how do I expect to survive my journey?

The streets are cold and unpleasant, still dark and incomplete.

Hurry up already, Sun. The cold keeps gnawing deeper.

"I didn't expect to see you so soon."

I turn around to follow the voice, finding Yun a few feet away carrying a few bags.

"Oh, it's you."

"That's not the right way to greet someone. Well, it doesn't matter. Are you here to buy supplies? The trip will be a long one if you haven't figured."

I shake my head. "No, just getting something to eat. I can make a valid guess as to why you are here, but it's still quite early. What are you gonna do next?"

With his arms crossed, he shrugs nonchalantly.

"I've already made arrangements for the departure. I was going to give you a visit at around noon to see if you were ready to go, but I'll just talk with you now. When can we leave?"

"Noon at the earliest. I still have to pay one last visit. My grandfather is in the hospital. I'm just waiting for him to get up."

He looks shocked for a brief second, but is soon replaced by his cool exterior.

"If you don't mind, I can tag along and collect some info while we wait."

I can tell he did not intend to get any further involved. We set off throughout the rest of the market until the Sun nearly reached it's peak. By now, Grandfather should be up.

When we reached the hospital, Yun left to gather more intel. I think he actually left to give me time to speak alone. He's a weird mana.

I knock on Grandfather's door and enter. He is sitting upright and joking away with the young nurse from yesterday. I could hardly believe that just yesterday he was at death's door.

"Grandfather," I address, gaining his attention.

"Roze, what took you so long?" He smiles and beckons me over.

I throw him an annoyed look. "I wanted to make sure you had plenty of rest, but it looks like you're fixed like new."

I don't really mean it. I was being childish and sarcastic because I had been truly worried.

"Haha, you're upset. Sorry for being a fool of an old man."

"You're not just a fool of an old man," I begin to berate him but instead I say, "...you're my grandfather."

I feel gross. He definitely heard me.

"Take a seat. We've got a lot to say right?"

"That's right," I cross my arms, "but you should rest a bit more. You honestly look like shit."

He responds with more laughter.

"No, we have to talk now. I can't postpone it any longer."

The drop in his voice alerted me and I grew suspicious.

The nurse excuses herself and leaves the room. A moment later, Grandfather speaks up.

"Roze, I need you to tell me all that you can remember. I know it's only been a short time since you woke up, but it's dire that you do."

The serious look in his eyes told me that jokes were over. He knew something no one else did and it may have something to do with my lost memories.

I begin by telling him what happened when I woke up and the events that happened afterward. Then I revealed the changes and new found information from the latest dream.

"...I decided that no matter what, I have to find her."

"No matter what..." he repeats.

"Ah." A feeling stronger than my attachment to those I loved had already begun to pull me away into a direction filled with secrets.

"You've really grown Roze," he praises gently.

I don't say anything.

"Seeing you now, I'm very proud of you."

I snort. I'm not being polite, but with him, I feel like I don't have to, that it's always been like this.

"Why? There isn't much to be proud of. I can barely hold out on my own when I think I might lose you. That and you already know that I am leaving you today of all days when I should be here helping you recover."

He smiles just like he always does and speaks in that jolly manner.

"I would have liked for you to stay longer, but anymore and I'll regret it. I should have let you leave before you saw me in this sorry state, but I couldn't help but want my one and only grandson at my side."

And the guilt is back. It's as painful as I remembered when I left the mansion.

"Don't make that face, my boy. This day would have eventually come. I knew, but I tried hard to keep you as long as I could from the day you first arrived. In a way, this fall is my punishment for keeping you to myself."

"What senile things are you blabbing now, Old Man?" Shit, I can't bare to look at him anymore. I know he isn't okay and that he is merely pretending to look strong. For my sake.

"Look at me, Roze. This is not your fault!" He grabs me strongly by the collar and hoists me closer.

"The journey that you must partake is a long and dangerous one. I've always known that this is the life meant for you. Since you were eighteen, no- since the moment you were born! I have always known that—that!" I look at grandfather to see his painful expression. Tears squirm out between his closed eyes and his fist shakes desperately trying to hold on. No...he's trying to let go.

"Grandfather..." I murmur.

"Listen to me, Roze. I have a lot of things to tell you including the reason I haven't told you until now."

I hesitate. That part of me that doesn't want to know is here right now. I shouldn't have to sacrifice anything and stay with him instead. I can still avoid it, this damnable lifestyle.

"You need to rest-"

"Are you running away? Didn't you decide already?"

My eyes widen.

'...I'm so sorry...'

It's always her voice I hear most clearly. Always...so much more powerful than my own. And I'm always trying to reach out to her shadow...always hoping...

...Why now? Why does it have to be me? Why do I have to choose between her and my loved ones?

"Are you feeling guilty now? You should...but I can't blame you. You were never to blame."

Grandfather lets go of my collar, allowing the tension to ease.

"Roze, when you were born, I always knew you were special. I knew you would be talented with the sword so I taught you the ways of swordsmanship. I later came to regret it and tried to hide you away by sending you to the Valendorf's. But you kept growing stronger and stronger until I realized, I could not contain you...anywhere..."

"...What do you mean by that...?" I just don't understand. My life puzzle just keeps getting bigger.

"On the day you were born, I met a boy. He was a genius with a blade. I could hardly comprehend his power. The boy was pure and talented, I praised him, but deep down inside me, I knew that his purity could be tainted, twisted. I tried to warn him about such power, but he was at an age where he could not comprehend such a thing."

"But what does he have to do with me?"

"...The ring on your right hand. It was once mine...It disappeared that day when I met the boy, the moment you were also born."

Could I really believe such a thing? It may just be a coincidence.

"When I arrived at your parent's to see Rosalia carrying you in her arms, I was overjoyed. I ran over to her and swiped you into my arms. I felt it then, the power of that ring. Somehow, it had transferred to you. I had it for years, there was no way for me to mistake it."

I could hardly follow his story, but somehow I knew that this may be the clue I need. The clue to finding that girl and ending all this sorrow.

"When I injured myself back then, it was because of that boy. He had grown immensely strong and I can only imagine just how much stronger he has become. He continues to crave for power and wants nothing more to fight with all that he has. Right now, you can't defeat him."

"Wait, why would I need to fight him?" I look at Grandfather with a ludicrous face. If the man was so powerful, the obvious decision would be to avoid such a confrontation.

"The girl you are looking for...you have her amulet, correct?"

Ah, that's right...at that time in my room, it was hidden between my shoulder plates.

I pull it out of my pocket, forgetting I had left it in my coat for days.

"You mean this? I don't know if it is her's, but it resonated with the ring."

That's right, why didn't I make the connection sooner? Was I so lost in my own frivolous world that I strayed away from the truth?

"You understand now, right? That resonance, although I'm not quite sure what caused it, materialized the ring that disappeared years ago. The ring is a pair and the other one belongs to the man I mentioned before. It is inevitable that you will meet. You have to meet him...fight him...if you ever want to find her. I have no doubt in my mind that they two of them are connected somehow."

"Nothing is ever going to be that easy, is it?" How I want to just punch a hole into the wall right now.

...Grandfather...do you know who they are? Or where I should look?"

"Ah, yes. The man you are looking for...his name is Reicher Wallach. As for the girl—ngh!"

"Grandfather?" I look at him startled. He suddenly clings to his head and his breathing becomes labored.

"Nghh—ugh...ack! She is-" His pain becomes tenfold and his screams become stronger.

"Nurse!" I call out. My heart beats rapidly, thumping harder and harder at each passing second.

"Get the doctor, hurry!"

I feel him grab at my hand.

"Grandfather!"

"Roze! That girl! She is-" What? What are you trying to tell me?

".Ngk! -ow...I—know!"

"Hang in there!" My pleas become desperate. What the hell is taking them so long?!

The door bursts open and medics scramble to his bedside trying to push me out.

"Hey!" I shout.

"You have to get out, sir!" cries the medic as he pushes me out. I realize that I am no longer holding on to Grandfather.

"Grandfather!" I continue to shout.

"Ugk...don't...I-I don't know who s-she is..."

"Grand-"

"Sir, please move aside!"

And the doors close on me.

I can't see him.

I can't hear him.

I can no longer be at his side...

What do I do?

"How long do you plan to make me wait?"

Huh?

"...Yun?"

"It's three hours pass our scheduled departure, I thought I would check up on you since it shouldn't have taken that long...What are you-?"

For a moment he looked shocked. Am I imagining things? "Nevermind," he says, "take your time."

Three hours he said...have I been here for three hours?

The door icreaks open my attention snaps to the doctor in front of me.

"You're his family, correct!"

"...Ah." I barely respond.

"His condition is stable now and he's finally asleep. We don't know when he will wake up, but we'll be keeping him in the hospital for a while. He will not be returning any time soon."

"...He's alive..." I manage to breathe out.

"Yes, he is a strong man. I should also mention that he has already signed a note allowing us to keep him here, prior to yesterday's visit. It also seems that he has filed paperwork to move into a nursing home when he is released."

"When did he...?"

"I'm sorry. I was asked to tell you in case something were to happen to him."

What is this...? Such a hollow feeling in my chest.

"...He knew?"

"I beg your pardon?"

I shake my head.

Of course he knew. He knew that someday I would leave him, so he prepared himself. That was the right thing to do.

But why do I feel so empty?

I suddenly recall the memories of him from when I was just a boy. I recall the events and outings we had in the past few days.

So that's where the feeling is coming from.

That's right...it's time we parted.

"Are you positive you want to leave like this?" Yun asks in a somewhat concerned manner. He brought over a tiny carriage. Small it may be but it was more than enough to fit two men.

"It's alright. I have to leave now, I can't waste anymore time."

"...I can't stay here anymore."

"If you are sure then I won't stop you. You just can't regret it later."

As hard as it seems, I think I'm...okay.

"I won't. Everything I ever learned was from him. I'll use everything he ever taught me to get by. I...have to find that girl no matter what. That's the most important thing right now and he knows it too. I'm betting...I'm giving up everything I have on this."

"I may be blunt, but your words are bleak."

"Guess that's how it seems."

"E-excuse me..." We turn to see the nurse who had tended to my grandfather. "Before you go...I thought I should tell you what I heard from Mr. Eugene."

"What could it be?" questions Yun.

"B-before he-he fell...asleep, he mentioned you. H-he also said something about going to the three Great Cities of Alm Nekaiah."

"The three cities?" I repeat. "Why?"

"I-I don't know, but he said you must."

"The three Great Cities, huh," ponders Yun. "The first lands to come to power and create our current province. Maleki the Undying Beauty, Talevei the Unending Riches, and Urukai the Unwavering Dream. Why would he want you to go there?"

I take a moment to digest the new information. Indeed, why would I need to visit the three most powerful lands in the region?

"Yun, let's get going."

"You don't find this suspicious even a bit?"

"Suspicious or not, we're going."

I thank the nurse who relayed us the information and enter the carriage, setting off toward the closest city, Maleki.

"You're quest just gets odder and odder, is there anything else I should know."

I realize that I have a lot to fill him in about so I start from the beginning of my awakening.

"This has turned into a crazy mission, just as I suspected, but I'm getting paid plenty for this so I'll go along for now."

"You can still back out," I offer him again.

"It's not something I can't handle, I'm sure of it."

He seems to always be confident. Guess this lifestyle is normal for him.

"It'll only get crazier, I'm sure, but from this point on, there's no turning back." I say.

He nods in agreement and we continue to devise a plan for our journey.

I stare out the window noticing the Sun had already started setting. The day is almost over. It went by so fast that it almost felt like nothing had been accomplished.

That would be a lie though because at least now I have renewed my resolve. I now have a clue. It would also be a lie if I said I didn't damn myself. But I won't waver anymore.

I have to get stronger.

I have to keep going.

There's no more going back.

There's no longer a place for me to return.

End of Chapter 5

A/N: I'm kinda in a rush. Hope you will Read and Review! Bye!