Ethan wore the clothes prepared for him by the maid. There were three selections to choose from, and he picked a blue top and pants designed with tiny stones and jewels.

The door opened before Ethan was finished and a maid came in, bowed her head, and spoke, "The Queen is calling for you, she's in the dining room"

"Alright," Ethan replied, and the maid stepped out.

After a minute, he pulled the door open and stepped outside. He already knew his way to the dining room and went there straight.

A maid was in front of the room and opened the door as he stepped inside.

The Queen was seated with Anna beside her, and Ethan bowed his head as he approached the table, then sat down in front of them.

"Since it's been decided that you're leaving, I'm sure Maria told you, when are you leaving?" The Queen asked.

"I'm thinking about leaving today" Ethan replied.

"Today! I thought you were going to stay the week?" Anna asked.

"I'm going back to the academy first before leaving, so it makes sense to leave today, and I already told Miss Maria, the month would be over before you know it, and I'll be back...once I'm back, I'll visit you before returning to the academy," Ethan replied.

"It's not like he's going away forever," The Queen turned to Anna as she spoke.

"Fine, I'll miss you" Anna mumbled with a sad face.

"I'll miss you too," Ethan smiled softly.

The Queen gave a small nod, "Make sure to stay safe, Ethan. The world outside isn't as kind as the walls of this kingdom, you'll be sent with a mage and that is non-negotiable"

"Sent with a mage, to follow me around?" Ethan asked.

"Not to follow you around, to protect you...I can't risk something happening to you, even though you want to go there. It was ultimately my decision to send you there. The mage would join the other, but would go with you in case you want to go outside the village," The Queen replied.

To Ethan, it made sense, even though he was powerful and he had shown it to the Queen, there was nothing wrong in having someone follow him around; he had nothing to hide.

Except for the flame salamander, which still hasn't hatched.

Anna stretched her hands, signalling one of the maids, and the maid prepared a plate for Ethan, and he joined them to eat.

The rest of the meal went by quickly. They talked a little, mostly Anna asking questions and Ethan answering with patience, but soon the meal was done and it was time to go.

The Queen left first, leaving Anna and Ethan alone at the table while she returned to her room.

"You really have to leave today?" Anna asked again, her eyes dropping to the table.

"Yes," Ethan said gently, "but remember what I told you, I'll be back before you realize it."

Anna gave a small nod, not fully convinced but trying to be strong. She was really going to miss Ethan. Even though she was already pregnant, she was still going to continue having sex with him, but now he was leaving.

.

.

.

After the meal, Ethan talked with Anna for a while before he was ready to leave, Anna followed him to see him off as he left.

Ethan walked out to where the carriage was already waiting. The door to the carriage was open, and he could see a box inside.

Things were already packed for him, it was most likely clothes packed inside.

He turned around and walked back to where Anna was, and stood in front of her. Neither of them said a word for a moment, and then Ethan pulled forward and kissed her lips.

Anna kissed his back before Ethan stepped back, "Do you remember how shy you were when we met?" Ethan asked.

"I wasn't shy...I was just reserved, I didn't like talking much" Anna spoke back with a smile.

"I'm sure you didn't, bye"

"Bye," Anna replied as Ethan walked towards the carriage and then stopped before he entered. He turned towards Anna, who was still there watching.

She stood in front of the carriage, her hands clutched together, looking both shy and sad.

The rider bowed, and the carriage door was already open. Ethan gave Anna one last smile, then stepped inside.

As the door closed and the carriage began to move, Anna stayed where she was, watching until the carriage reached the gates and passed through.

(So you're going to meet with the girls again before leaving, you know what's going to happen before you leave right)

'As long as I'm not leaving for the village today then it's fine, now that I'm going to see them, I've really missed them, especially Isabella'

(I'm sure, she's you're number 1 after all...also don't you think you'll have an issue with a mage following you around when you want to go hunting?)

'That isn't a problem, I'll let her follow me around for a while but if I discover something good, or want to go into a dungeon, I'll just bang her and then leave, she would be able to follow me' Ethan mumbled in his head as his lip curled into a smirk.

(Ohh, I see you've thought ahead...but to be more serious, before you'll have a chance of beating Vala, you'll need to train like crazy, she's too strong for even Maria to beat alone, meaning you'll be stronger than Maria)

'The problem remains I don't know when she's going to strike, she won't be able to do anything during this mating season, but after the season is over, she might strike anytime or day'

(So you only have the mating season to train, and you'll be able to obtain points for new spells...I just hope there are powerful beasts for you to take down)

'Look at you helping me, I thought you only cared about sex?'

(Where you're going, you have no choice but to have sex so I don't have to think about it, and I also want you to survive and live long, so you'll keep having sex until you're 90 years old)