Sitting next to the fireplace, Gauss let out a long sigh.
"Despite my best efforts to provide you with holy water and blessed meat, it seems you never truly needed it," Gauss muttered to himself.
"Is that... a new type of meat?" Baro inquired, curious.
"No," Gauss replied. "You see, people typically need these blessings to maintain their connection to the goddesses, but I've never heard you mention anything about them. I'm beginning to think you never required any of that blessed food."
"What goddesses?" Baro asked, confused.
"There are three goddesses in this world," Gauss explained. "It used to be just two, until Lef ascended to godhood. The other two are Za and Q."
"So, they have god-like powers?" Baro asked, intrigued.
"Yes. Q can manipulate probability, Za can control perspective, and Lef, having only recently gained her powers, still remains a bit of a mystery. But people in this town revere her. These goddesses bless others, granting them a fraction of their abilities, making them 'blessed'."
"So, I'm not blessed?" Baro asked, a bit uncertain.
"You are not," Gauss confirmed. "You are not a servant of any god. I've taught you everything I know, and I believe you are finally ready, Baro."
"What does all of this mean?"
"You see, it's impossible for you to stay in any town or city, because you lack the most important resource in this world, faith, anyone would just announce you as an outcast and kick you out or even do unimaginable things to you." he continued "We're going out, I can't keep you here anymore".
"Is this a goodbye?" Baro asked, genuinely puzzled.
"Though you have grown into a man, and I am proud of who you've become, there is still much for you to learn. You must seek wisdom from all corners of the world."
"How would I even do that?"
"Everyone can be a teacher. Seek the best in people, Baro. If you only focus on their faults, you'll never see their strengths." Gauss paused before continuing. "Now, enough talk. Work hard, study well, eat and sleep properly, and forget everything else for now. Tomorrow, we leave."
Baro, exhausted after years of confinement in the cabin, nodded. "I see. Thank you, Gauss."
"Hah, don't mention it," Gauss laughed, though a deep conflict stirred within him. Za had instructed him to dispose of the outcast. I'm sorry, child. It's the best I can do to keep you from being experimented on. The one thing a woman can't understand is why a man won't simply listen to her.
That night, Gauss and Baro crept past the town's walls and into the forest.
"This is as far as I can go. The rest is up to you, Baro," Gauss said, his voice low.
"Thank you for the shelter, the food, and most importantly, for being such a great teacher," Baro replied, his voice full of gratitude. "I will never forget you."
Gauss's heart tightened as he heard those words. It felt as though he were abandoning his own son. "Don't mention it. You will achieve great things."
"Sometimes the hardest thing is following your heart, but it's the only way to truly achieve greatness," Baro said thoughtfully, scratching his head.
"Where did you hear that?" Gauss asked, his curiosity piqued.
"You said it in your sleep years ago. I just remembered."
I guess the more you try to avoid something, the more it will chase you down, Gauss thought. I wonder if she will ever forgive me.
"Goodbye, teacher!" Baro called over his shoulder, not looking back as he walked away. Gauss stood still, contemplating deeply.
"Now, I have enough spices to make a good meal," Baro mused, "I wonder what kinds of meats the outside world has to offer. Gauss taught me everything there is to know about cooking over a fire."
As Baro walked through the forest, he spotted a squirrel peacefully sleeping in its nest high in a tree. His lips curled into a hungry smile as he threw his spear, piercing the nest and sending the squirrel tumbling to the ground. He retrieved the spear, preparing to make a fire, his voice soft as he chanted, "Meat, be delicious."