With the coming of the sickness, blackened and dead vegetation surrounded the village and infected everything. The trees were dying, the grass was dying, and even the straw on the rooves of the houses was starting to wither away. And with it, the population of the village. Knowing they wouldn't be able to outrun it and knowing many of them would fall victim to one of the swamps' many dangers, the villagers had chosen to stay and die along with their homes. Many had already succumbed to the sickness and passed on into the next life, but some still lived. One of which was Ajenna, Floris' Grandmother, and the only family he had left.
Knowing her fate and understanding Floris wouldn't be able to save her this time, Ajenna lay in her bed with Floris sitting next to her, holding her hand tightly. She had already been infected and it was only a matter of time before she passed on. Floris tried his hardest to fight back his tears but despite his efforts, his tears fell like waterfalls from his eyes as he watched his Grandmother lay on her death bed, just waiting for her to close her eyes for the final time. They had many disagreements with each other over the years, and they rarely saw eye to eye, but losing the only person you could call family was hitting hard and he couldn't help but feel like an utter failure because he couldn't save her. So, he sat there, sobbing quietly, knowing there was nothing he could do.
Some time passed and Alvis walked into the room with tears running down his own face. Floris didn't even turn to face him. There was no one else but the three of them...soon to be the two of them. How the two of them had yet to be infected was a mystery to Floris, but he was at the point that he couldn't care less. If anyone were to ask, he'd assume it was due to him and Alvis having a stronger resistance to it due to their young age, but he couldn't be certain.
"So...your Grandfather is...?" Floris asked, not even turning to look at his friend.
Alvis only nodded, then wiped the tears from his eyes before staring silently at Ajenna, then looking at Floris.
"I see. She doesn't have much time left, either. Less than thirty minutes, I'd say." Floris said quietly, his voice a little bumpy with emotion.
The two waited quietly and patiently, not so much as saying a single word to one another. Seconds felt like hours and minutes felt like days, and just as Floris was leaning down to grab his backpack, Ajenna slowly opened her eyes.
"Fl..or...is?"
Floris snapped his head up to see his Grandmother staring at the ceiling, and instantly grabbed her hand and held it tightly, "I'm...I'm here, Grandmother." He said, trying to hide the emotion in his voice.
"Is...is Alvis...here...too?" Ajenna asked. Her voice was weak and it was evident she was using the last of her strength to speak to them.
"I am," Alvis said as he stepped forward.
"Good." Ajenna paused for a moment, then rolled her eyes to look at the two of them, "I want you two to listen to me. These are my final words to the both of you. I've wanted to say this for a long time, but I just couldn't bear the thought of sending my only Grandson away." She smiled weakly, but lovingly at Floris, who was now beside himself with emotion, then continued on, "I should have done this long ago when the two of you grew to be the proper age. You've both become such fine young men and it's time to face what was always coming. The two of you have no future here; you never did, so heed the words of a dying old woman and do as I tell you one last time. I want you to leave the swamp and join the Mages Guild." She smiled at Floris again, "Floris...your skills will prove to be invaluable to the outside world. I believe that in time you will become the best alchemist the world has ever seen. I never told you this before, but your parents were both mages, and I suspect that power resonates inside of you as well."
Floris nodded and gripped Ajenna's hand even tighter as she turned her attention to Alvis, "As for you, Alvis, I am uncertain if your family ever possessed such power. Your bloodline has always been a mystery to me and the others. If not, I'm sure you'll find your path. But for now, I want you to go with Floris and see what waits for you beyond the swamp. There's a whole world out there just waiting for the two of you to explore it and I envy you both of your youth. You both have so much potential and it will only come to waste if you stay here. This is my final wish for the two of you. Leave the lives you know behind and become who you are truly meant to be. Find some nice girls and build families of your own. I have many regrets in my life but having the two of you stay here for so long is my biggest regret, but then I suppose you wouldn't be the strong capable lads who stand beside me on my death bed. I wish you both luck in your futures. Th...i...s ...i...s...goo...d...b...y...e..."
Floris and Alvis both watched as Ajenna's eyes closed for the last time, both of them sobbing with tears falling down their faces uncontrollably. They waited silently, saying their goodbyes. Then, Floris stood up and walked past Alvis without saying a single word and went to his room where he picked up his backpack and what supplies he had managed to grab. He had written down the recipes for his most powerful potions and poisons in two journals and carried his most basic alchemy supplies in his pack as well. He had set his animals free to give them a chance to survive the sickness. The rest of his room was
being left mostly untouched. The papers still covered his walls, his chests still sat where they always had. So many years of research and studying had taken place in this room and it was hard to leave it all behind.
Alvis waited outside, his supplies already collected in the backpack he carried on his back. He watched as Floris slowly approached him, dragging his fingers along the walls and taking one long last look at every room. However, when he reached Ajenna's room, he stared at his Grandmothers' body for several long seconds, then quietly whispered, "Goodbye, Grandma." He slowly closed the door to her room, staring at her face for as long as he could until she disappeared behind the door. He made sure it was locked then slowly walked towards Alvis, who was waiting patiently.
Without saying a word to each other, they both made their way to the bridge that served as the only exit point for the village, then turned around for one last look at the lives they were leaving behind. Their home and the only place they knew was gone. The lives they knew were over and at the age of only fourteen, they knew they had a long journey ahead of them.
"Do you know where the nearest guild is, Floris?" Alvis asked, finally breaking the silence.
Floris slowly nodded, "The trader told me the closest one is in a town called Mist City on the Eastern side of Misty Lake. However, I don't know the way there."
Alvis sighed heavily and adjusted his backpack over his shoulder as he turned around and started walking, "Well, I guess we'd better get a move-on, then."
Floris nodded but stood in place a little longer. A flashback of when he was younger rushed to his mind and he remembered his old mentor who first taught him the basics of alchemy. Even though he was leaving, he would always call this place his true home and silently vowed he would return one day when he was older. He continued looking at the village for another few moments, said his final goodbyes, then turned to follow Alvis, officially leaving the past behind.