Beyond the Lamppost

XXIX. Farewell

Chapter Twenty-nine:

X

Farewell

After the event, a small celebration is held and I have met a few people before we decided to leave the Great Hall.

Mave had said that they will depart today. As much as I want to stop them, I can't. They've been here for a long time and they had been gone there for quite some time too.

Miss Hoggins had been fully healed with her wounds as well as the rest. That afternoon, we spend the remaining time just sitting by the lawn of the castle.

In a round table, six people were seated including me as tea is being served by the castle maids.

"Thank you," I said as one castle maid poured tea on my teapot. She bowed before she went to Mave, who is beside me, to serve him as well.

"I never thought that I'll visit this place again," Mr. Hester said and we all look at him. Mr. Bell also nodded in agreement. "Many things had changed. Though we came here in an unpleasant welcome, now, we will leave with a successful mission," he looked at me and smiled.

"Indeed," Mister Bell said. "I haven't visited the town where I came from but I have met a few familiar faces in the crowd earlier."

"What town did you came from, Mr. Bell?" I asked after I took a sip of my tea.

"Artyl," he paused. "That's the third town from here. Mister Hester here came from the town after ours, in Ghrym. One of the ministers is also from that town. Most of their people have an Intellectual talent that had run for generations. While recreational talents are mostly found in our town." I stare at him while he explains things and I came back to my first impression about him.

I found him weird at that time but now, my impression had completely changed.

"Fred," Mister Hester called out. "Have you met Mauritius?"

"Oh, I have. He lends me some of his books and he gave me a few of the herbs he brought. He is such a wonderful person." Fred said. I saw and felt genuine happiness inside him in his eyes and heart as he speaks.

"Dear, are you alright? You seem quiet," Miss Hoggins asked worriedly.

"I'm all right, Miss Hoggins. I'm just sad that I won't be able to visit you for a longer time," I smiled genuinely while looking at their faces. "I had always wanted to live in a place like Greenwoods and now, it had been granted. But those two things have differences."

"I can totally understand, dear," she places her hand above mine. "You've been too so much in either place and I have seen your struggles. You may not have told me but I can see your sad eyes every time someone will look at you differently on the other side."

"In this world, you may feel pressured because of your position but on the positive side, people here won't judge you. You'll have someone beside you to guide you in ruling the kingdom. You will never be alone in facing people's gazes, whatever it may depict."

I sigh. Yes, she's true.

This place may test me to so many challenges, at least I have lots of companions here to help me in every step of the way.

"I'm sure you can achieve more goals to help other people. You have a wonderful talent, dear. You will make good judgments with your talent."

"I do my very best, Miss Hoggins," I smile back at them.

I will surely miss them.

"We will visit you here if we can," Mave had finally spoken up and basing from his words, he may have a look into my mind again.