InIn a room which smelled faintly of herbs and smoke, a boy with black hair and a few silver streaks, golden eyes, a handsome but slightly malnourished face alongside a lean build in black clothes sat on a bed, watching the shallow rise and fall of his grandmother's chest.
Her once sharp eyes were dim now, but when they turned to him, there was still fire buried deep in them.
"Jason", she whispered, her voice soft but steady, "you must go to your uncle in Wheatshed city and claim your birthright. The Blackwoods are not beggers, we are proud nobles and do not belong in these slums". She spoke softly as her voice trembled with anger apparent in her eyes.
Her weak hands trembled as she reached for a pendant on her neck with a gemstone that shimmered faintly as if it were lit by some inner flame.
Removing it she passed the pendant slowly to Jason due to her failing strength and pressed it into his palm, curling his fingers around it.
"This is my last will... she paused and weakly coughed, then forced the remaining words alongside her last breath.
"Survive...and conquer all".
After that her eyes lost light and her hands limply fell to the bed, Jason gasped as her body broke into countless motes of light like scattered stars, drifted upwards then dissloved into nothing.
"Grandma.. "Jason chocked with tears streaming from his eyes as he gazed at the roof emptyly, tightly clutching the pendant against his chest refusing to let go as his shoulders shook sobbing in loneliness.
After crying for a few hours, Jason looked at the moon through the window with his now swollen eyes, with new found goals and objectives he stood up and began looking for anything valuable around he could take before leaving for the capital Wheatshed city of the Valis Kingdom.
Selling his grandmother's house for money would be a good idea since he won't return to Kaon city again but unfortunately no rich or noble will be interested in a house located near the slums and poor people might not be able to afford it but it wasn't over.
He had a simple solution in mind.
After searching for a few minutes he had gathered the all valuables which excludes furniture in the house, these includes;
° Two D- rank space pouches
° One D- rank dagger
°One gold coin and fifteen silver coins
°Some dried rations and three loaves of bread
It wasn't much but it was all he had, he packed the things along with some clothes in one pouch then tires both around his waist.
He did so because sealing a space inventory item in another will result in a very violent catastrophic explosion that will completely erase him.
After his preparation he locked the house and left a new journey awaits him.
The market was lively, shouts of merchants and clattering carts a sharp contrast to the stillness of his grandmother's last moment even though it was night time.
Walking through the crowd, he looked around till his eyes fell on a familiar face Mr. Mu, a caravan driver and a very successful merchant who was also a friend of his grandmother.
Jason approached Mr. Mu steadily with a small smile plastered on his face even though his eyes were dim from sorrow.
" Mr. Mu will you be heading back to Wheatshed city soon"
"Ahh Jason, yes I will in fact I set off this dawn" the old merchant said with an uncontrollable smirk and raised eyebrows.
"Okay Mr.Mu, I'll like to by a spot and travel with you back to Wheatshed city" Jason replied quiet happy he wouldn't have to wait for long before they leave.
"Huh!, a spot is five gold coins and you'll have to provide your own food, wait did that old vixen approve this?"
Mr. Mu eyes frowned as he asked.
" She passed away this afternoon"Jason replied as his eyes began to tear up again.
"What impossible!, she is a ..... Mr. Mu eyes widen greatly shaken from what he heard he began to mumble something Jason couldn't completely make out.
"I am so sorry to hear that you have my condolences"
"Thank you very much Mr. Mu I was also wondering if you could help me sell the house"
" That's going to be hard but not impossible, sure kiddo since you are going to Wheatshed city drop by my stalls from time to time for feedback". Mr. Mu said with a weird expression on his face.
"Thank you very much I really appreciate". He thanked the old merchant greatfuly and then paid his fare and also handed the house key to Mr. Mu, then headed towards the caravan.
Before entering the caravan he looked back at the city one last time.
"Survive..., conquer all"
His grandmother's last words echoed in his mind as he retrieved the pendant from the space pouch and wore it.
The journey had only begun.