"Oh, what is it?" Ning asked as he walked forward toward the old woman.
She put the final few drops of some liquid and shook it violently.
"Here," she handed it to him.
Ning looked at the slightly golden liquid and asked, "What is it?"
"Drink it," the old woman said.
Ning opened the stopper and downed the vial in one go. As it reached his body, he felt a warm sensation pass through his body. Suddenly, he felt like he wasn't hungry anymore.
"I feel satiated," Ning said.
"Right? With this potion, you will get all the necessary nutrients for your daily life, and it will also numb your stomach so that you don't feel hungry," she said.
"That's not bad," Ning said.
"I know, I have so many more ideas to go through. So many more potions to make," she said.
Ning smiled. "I'm leaving now," he said suddenly.
The old woman stopped. "What?" she asked.
"I'm leaving. Now," Ning said.
"But… but you said you would leave only after…"
"I know," Ning said. "But this world doesn't need me now. Peace has come to the world, and if there is ever a threat, the Tower will handle it."
The old woman stayed silent for a bit. "Have you spoken to Helena?" she asked.
"I'm going to now," Ning said. "Where is she?"
"Underground. Training," the old woman said.
"Okay, I will go meet her then," Ning said. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Mrs. Gaani."
"No-no," the old woman said. "The pleasure was all mine, young man."
Ning smiled and left. He went downstairs to meet Helena who was fighting some puppet she had created herself.
"Not bad," he said.
Helena stopped and looked around. "Teacher? What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Can I not come here now that I have stopped teaching you?" he asked.
"No, no, that's not what I meant," she said.
Helena had grown up in the past 10 years but not by much. At her age, most people in this world would have married by now, but she still looked like a kid thanks to breaking through her Aether ranks very quickly.
"I know what you mean," Ning said with a smile. "I'm here to say my goodbyes."
"Good… bye?" Helena asked. "Are you leaving already?"
"Yes, it's about time I go back to my loved ones," he said.
"You said they are far away, right?" she asked.
"Yes, very far away, and I will likely never return," Ning said.
"How far?" she asked. "Can't you just open a portal and come back?"
"Where I am going, I won't be able to return here. So you will have to take care of yourself okay? And take care of your grandmother," Ning said.
"If you ever need help, go ask Merasi or Alekor," Ning said. "Also, never let anyone know about the ring I gave you."
Helena's eyes were tearing up already, but she nodded still. "Yes, teacher. I understand," she said.
Her sniffling grew loud as Ning patted her head and ruffled her hair.
Helena couldn't stand her tears at all and jumped into a hug. "I- I'm going to miss you, teacher," she said while tears streamed down her cheeks.
Ning felt a bit of tear gather in his eyes as well. "I will miss you too," he said and hugged her back.
After a minute or so of waiting for Helena to stop crying, Ning said a proper goodbye and left.
He had one and final visit to make now.
When Ning reappeared, he was in a garden that was mostly empty aside from some gardeners working on the hedges.
On the swing were two little children, one boy with black hair and one girl with blonde hair, each about 9 years old.
"Uncle Ning!" both of them cried out and ran towards Ning.
"Luke! Leia! Come give uncle a hug," Ning said as he grabbed both of the children and lifted them into the air.
"UP UP!" Leia shouted with glee in her voice.
"Okay!" Ning said and suddenly threw them up. Then, using telekinesis he kept them afloat.
Ever since Ning had done that one day, the kids had started loving it.
"Hey brother Ning," Reever walked from the side along with Lisa.
"You should have come around sooner. These kids love it when you play with them," Lisa said.
"Reever had more talent than me, he should be able to play with his children better than me," Ning said.
"I don't think so. I've tried, but they always ask me to call you," Reever said. "They don't want to play with their dad."
"I'm sure they will," Ning said as his tone got a little sadder. "They will have to. After all, this is the last day they will see me."
"What?" Lisa asked with a serious face.
"I'm leaving," Ning told her.
"Leaving… as in what you told us before?" Reever asked.
"Yes. After I leave today, you won't see me ever again," he said.
Reever had known this day would come, but he hadn't expected it to come so soon.
"Are you… really leaving this planet?" Reever asked slowly. He had been the only person Ning ever told about his plans.
Ning smiled and nodded.
"I will have to go somewhere and gather as much energy as I can before leaving, but yeah. I will be gone after today," Ning said.
"Have you… said your goodbyes to everyone?" Reever asked.
"Yes," Ning said. "You guys were the ones I met first, so I left you for last."
"I see, then let us give you a farewell party," Lisa said.
The party was small. Only the 5 of them were there as the servants brought different types of food.
Ning, who didn't like drinking much, drank to his heart's content. His last day on the southern continent of Vilmore had become nothing but a banger.
Finally, once the party was over, Reever and Lisa gave him a heartfelt farewell amongst countless tears.
And after that, Ning left. Never to return back to the Southern Continent of Vilmore, ever again.
