A magical Journey [Leaving BR]

Aethers time within Black Rose was coming to a close. He knew he couldn’t remain in one place for too long but after what happened with Kakuma suddenly disappearing and Black Rose’s guild hall exploding due its malfunctioning protector, he wished he could stay for just a little longer. He had done a lot of things during his time with them however, stopping a slave trade, breaking up some wedding crashers, infiltrating a desert fortress and causing an overgrown dire bird to crash into the ground. He had witnessed and experience death, rebirth, sorrow, happiness, cruelty and he had learned his place within this world.

His thirst for knowledge brought him to the island nation after many years spent in isolation traveling the continent, finally bringing him to a place where even he felt that he could belong. He had found a place that he could call home, and he still does. But now he felt he had learned all he could at Black Rose, his quest to learn new things from various sources, the thrill of exploring the unexplored had kicked back up within his mind.

So just as unnoticed as he became part of the band of outcast monster hunters, he slipped into the shadows. His room and lab lay barren showing no trace that he was there other than a few scorch marks on the walls, all his furniture and equipment had been safely stored within his shadow, along with an uncountable number of books he had copied from Black Roses expansive library that he had found interesting. The only person that would know of his departure from the guild would be the only one in their guild who knew of his true fate, a sealed enveloped placed upon the guild masters desk with the necessary paperwork completed for his official release from Black Rose along with a small note wrapped around a thin bone thanking Iza for not cutting his head off in a blind rage when he had attempted to protect a member from her, and that if she ever needed a doctor all she had to do was snap the bone and he would come.


“Aether come on we gotta get on the road before the sun rises!” a voice cried out from down the road, slowly getting softer as Umbra kept walking. Aether stood there at the front of the guild hall, taking in that he was actually leaving them to continue his selfish desire for knowledge. Shaking the thought aside he turned to face the red-headed girl, her hands on her hips with an annoyed look on her face. “You’re the one that said you wanted to go on this journey, it’s too late to turn back now.” “You’re right.” Aether walked past her, prompting her to turn and follow after him. “So where to first?”

Naturally, the one to monitor the paperwork of Black Rose was none other than the small hybrid Youkai herself, Seika, her guild master's companion. She was much more adept at working out the logic and reading the often complicated terminology, and actually understanding it, unlike Izayuki. Nevertheless, the Bakedanuki still had her fair share of work to do, and she was the one to find the envelope lying on her desk as she woke up and lumbered sleepily into her office. Ten in the morning was far too early to be up, honestly, yet Seika had forced her awake and told her to get the overdue legal papers completely right that morning.

With a sigh, Izayuki plopped down at the desk, drowsily gazing at the stacks of paperwork... just like she left them the day before... only...
It was not coffee needed to wake the nocturnal Ayakashi up completely, but the scent of light-infused bone and new paperwork. Curiously, the guild master lifted the letter and widened her eyes in slight surprise as she realized what they were. Guild release paperwork from none other than Aether Lepan... the skeleton. She vividly remembered being told to proctor his exam by Kakuma, and doing so in a rather uncertain manner as she recalled the time she lashed out at Suzuran when she came to join the guild. For good reason too, but nevertheless, nobody knew that then, and Aether had been one of the ones who attempted to stop her in her rage.

She could once again feel the regret over both situations- almost attacking him, and later on sending him into danger, only for his companion to be killed saving him...
And now he was gone, without saying goodbye. The guilt began to swell within the Black Rose guild master as she recall the negativity of their past few encounters. Still, despite the past, he left a bone for her to snap if he was ever needed. Was he still angry with her about back then, or had he even been angry? Was the bone left behind as a parting gift... or out of a trace of loyalty? It was hard to discern amidst her guilt, and very tempting to just snap the bone right then and there to bring him back to work things out. Unfortunately, that was likely not what he wanted...

"You know, then?" Seika asked, making Izayuki glance up from the letter to the human-formed Youkai leaning against the doorframe. The Bakedanuki nodded, allowing Seika to continue. "I saw him leave this morning with one of his companions. Don't worry or blame yourself... he was always a quietly curious type, right? He'll just see the world, and fulfill his goals," she said gently, walking over towards the guild master at her desk.

All Izayuki could do was set down the letter and hold onto the bone as she breathed out a sigh, almost of relief. "I see... how do you know this?"

"Observation. If you sit back a bit, you'll find you don't miss as much," Seika replied with a casual shrug. "Just hold onto that bone. If we're ever in trouble, I'm sure he'll be right back here promptly, ready to help.... now, onto another topic... get going on that paperwork."