“Let’s end this.”
What slips out of my mouth is how I actually feel.
I can’t take Ruby’s selfishness anymore.
My body can’t take all the power harassment from my childhood friend, and the bashing from the rest of the world. I don’t care where, I just need to escape this hell as soon as possible.
“End what?”
“Our relationship. I’m tired of being your exclusive mage. And I’m not your boyfriend anymore either.”
“Yes yes, be back by sunset. And I want curry for dinner.”
There’s a distinct gap between how seriously we’re taking this. Ruby never imagined she would be abandoned, so she’s smiling with a mocking expression on her face.
“I don’t think you understand, but I was pretty clear. I’m leaving the atelier. Our relationship is over.”
“Like. I. Said. If you’re going somewhere, go already! You’re always so fussy about little things. You don’t need to go through a formal procedure to break up. What are you doing, canceling a cellphone contract?”
And now that I have Ruby’s consent, I head back to the bedroom to get my things.
“Item Box.”
I call it with magic. Item Box is a container with a length of about one meter, but it can fit a thousand items like materials or equipment.
I have two hundred in it currently, and I’m adding everyday items like clothes.
Current Item Box capacity, 250/100.
I didn’t see her come in, but Ruby is next to me, peeking at the container.
“Pretty standard. I don’t see how an incompetent mage like you is going to live without me though. I hope you can find another nice alchemist like me out there.”
What a joke. I’m done with trash like you.
I glare at Ruby, and she feigns ignorance while throwing a piece of paper in the Item Box.
Current Item Box capacity, 251/100.
“What did you put in there?”
“A reminder to buy Earl Grey on the way back.”
T-this damn girl. Still using me to run errands at this point?
There’s no point in talking anymore. I don’t want to see her again.
And so, I leave the atelier without telling her where I’m going.
“But where am I going? It’d be too awkward to go back to my hometown. If possible, I’d rather go somewhere new, where no one knows me.”
I don’t have a clear destination.
I want to start from scratch, so a borderland where my bad reputation hasn’t spread would be nice.
I sit on a bench in a park with a fountain, and start thinking about my plans going forward.
I let my emotions take over and ran out, but I didn’t plan a single thing. That was pretty childish of me. But I absolutely can’t go back to that atelier now.
After thinking for an hour, I decide to head to Minerva.
I’m picking Minerva for two reasons.
First, it takes about three weeks by wagon to reach that borderland. That means it’s plenty far from the capital. Ruby and I don’t know anyone there, so I won’t have to worry about people finding out I’m Loyd.
Second, there aren’t any ateliers in Minerva, so I won’t have to be reminded of Ruby.
With my destination decided, it’s time to act fast. If I start wasting time, Ruby might change her mind and drag me back to the atelier.
While being careful not to let anyone I know see me, I get on a wagon, to start my journey to Minerva.
My second life begins today.
