The scent of roasting meat and spiced drinks filled the air as Kalem and his friends gathered in his rented forge. The place was modest but spacious, the lingering scent of metal and oil mixing with the warmth of the small feast they had prepared. Luggage and travel packs were stacked against the walls, a silent reminder that their time together was drawing to a close.
Tonight, though, there was no rush.
Tonight was for celebration.
Jhaeros sat cross-legged on a crate, lazily flicking a small knife between his fingers. Nara leaned against the workbench, already three drinks in, laughing at some crude joke Garrick had just told. Isolde sat beside Kalem, taking small bites of her food, listening intently to the conversation. Lyra, ever composed, sipped at her drink while observing the group, while Garrick kept the mood light with his usual antics.
"Not bad for a bunch of first-years, huh?" Nara grinned, raising her cup.
"Technically, we're graduates now," Isolde corrected with a smirk.
"Doesn't feel like it," Kalem muttered.
"That's because the academy was just the beginning," Lyra said. "The real test starts now."
A beat of silence followed her words as the truth sank in. They weren't just students anymore.
They were adults stepping into an uncertain world.
The conversation drifted from topic to topic—old memories, embarrassing training mishaps, and near-disasters in alchemy class. Eventually, though, it settled on a more immediate concern.
Recruiters.
"I swear, if one more guild rep tries to 'generously offer' me a contract, I'm going to deck them," Nara grumbled, crossing her arms.
"You're not alone," Isolde sighed. "It's the same for me and Kalem. They keep circling us like vultures."
Lyra tilted her head. "Not surprising. You three don't have official backers, and your talents are obvious."
Jhaeros chuckled, shaking his head. "Meanwhile, Garrick and I are left alone."
"Not valuable enough?" Garrick asked dryly, pretending to wipe a tear from his eye.
"Not as easily controlled," Lyra corrected. "You're both too unpredictable. Recruiters prefer people they can mold."
Kalem set down his fork. "And you?" he asked, glancing at her.
Lyra scoffed. "I'm already claimed. The Everwood name ensures that."
The room quieted for a moment before Jhaeros leaned forward. "Speaking of futures… we haven't actually talked about what's next."
The shift in conversation was subtle, but the weight of it settled over them.
This was it—the last night before they went their separate ways.
Jhaeros was the first to speak.
"I'm heading out to document creatures in different parts of the world," he said, a spark of excitement in his eyes. "There's too much we don't know. The world's changing, and I want to see how it affects the beasts."
Isolde nodded. "Sounds like a fitting path for you."
"And you?" Kalem asked her.
She leaned back, stretching. "I'm heading north to reunite with my father. I have some tasks to complete for the Bank along the way as part of my sponsorship contract."
Kalem raised an eyebrow. "So they're already using you?"
"It's a fair trade," Isolde said. "They paid for my education. I pay them back with work."
Nara cracked her knuckles. "I'm heading home—to the Ash Desert."
Jhaeros frowned. "Even after getting an elemental crystal?"
"Yeah." Nara's voice was firm. "The Heart of Flame is still out there. If I can find it, I'll have something stronger than any crystal."
Kalem tapped his fingers against the table. "That's a dangerous journey."
Nara smirked. "I know. That's why I'm excited."
Garrick leaned back with a satisfied grin. "I'm taking up a historian's path. Going to be an independent recorder, traveling and collecting information for the historical network."
"Using that totem you got?" Isolde asked.
He nodded. "Yup. All history totems are connected to a centralized magic network. I'll be able to record and share everything I find."
"A noble pursuit," Lyra mused.
Kalem glanced at her. "And you?"
She sighed, swirling her drink. "Back to the Everwood estate. My father expects me to train and take my rightful place in the Western Alchemical Council. With access to rarer ingredients, I can refine my alchemy further."
No one was surprised by her answer. Lyra had always been bound by her legacy.
Finally, the conversation turned to Kalem.
He leaned back, arms crossed. "I'm going to Gehenna."
The room fell silent.
Even Nara, usually reckless, looked surprised. "You're serious?"
Kalem nodded.
Jhaeros exhaled. "Of all places, why there?"
Kalem's expression remained unreadable. "There's something I need to do."
No one pressed further. They knew Kalem well enough to recognize when he wouldn't elaborate.
Still, the name Gehenna carried weight. It wasn't a place one went lightly.
The night continued, the weight of their decisions lingering over them.
They laughed, they drank, and they made peace with the fact that this was the last time they would be together like this.
The Next Morning
The sun had barely risen when they gathered outside the forge, their packs slung over their shoulders.
No words were needed at first.
They knew this was the end of an era.
Jhaeros adjusted his satchel. "Well… I guess this is it."
Isolde smirked. "Try not to get eaten by some rare beast."
He grinned. "No promises."
Nara punched Kalem's shoulder. "You better not die in Gehenna."
"I'll do my best," he replied dryly.
Garrick gave a lazy salute. "I'll write down all your names in my records. If you end up famous, I'll make sure history remembers you properly."
Lyra took a step forward, looking at them one by one. "We'll meet again."
Kalem nodded.
They stood there for a moment longer before, one by one, they turned to their paths.
No lingering goodbyes.
No drawn-out farewells.
Just understanding—
And the knowledge that the world awaited.