"You are leaving? Why so soon?" Geoffrey, Allan's landlord, with his hyena-like eyes, accustomed to securing every advantage, pleaded now with a surprising desperation "I can reduce the rent if you want, or maybe allow you the bigger house in Pier estate." For the last three years, Allan had been a good tenant—a rare find, and Geoffrey wasn't willing to let him go.
"Geoffrey, I appreciate your offer, but that isn't the point," Allan replied, sipping wine from a glass he had been served. "I've been in South West for three years, selling my paintings. I've collected a lot of gold coins here, I must admit, but it's high time I left and tried somewhere else, somewhere bigger."
A despondent expression settled on Geoffrey's silky face. Though in his mid-fifties, he had the unlined face of a young child, a testament to his wealth and meticulous self-care. He'd bought more than one of Allan's paintings himself, each piece resonating with a value far beyond mere paint on canvas. What Allan truly did with them had long been a fascinating mystery, evolving from curiosity to an irresistible urge, pulling Geoffrey to Allan's house daily, their interactions forging a bond so strong people often mistook Allan for his son. With this news, he wasn't just a landlord losing a tenant; it was a friend losing a part of himself.
"Where will you go? You haven't found the girl you told me you were looking for." Geoffrey knew he was losing his beloved friend, he nonetheless clutched at straws.
"Do you truly believe there's hope of finding her here, Geoffrey?" Allan's gaze softened, though distant and forlorn. "She aside, even her hosts moved ages ago, no one knows where. South West isn't big enough to hide someone for this long. I'm going to Saniya."
"Old Province is several leagues from here. It may take you a month or more on foot. Are you sure you want to do this?" Geoffrey's concern was palpable.
"If it helps me find her, no time is too long. Besides," Allan offered a small, knowing smile, "I can afford a horse now."
Geoffrey's own smile returned, a glint of shrewd understanding in his eyes. "You may claim it's for a bigger market, Allan, but Lulu is the real reason, isn't she? It's written all over you." He sighed, a sound of resignation. "Nothing I say will stop you, I know that, after all, your mind is made up. All I can do is wish you luck." With that, he pressed a heavy pouch into Allan's hand.
"I cannot accept this, Geoffrey. I don't deserve it…"
"You deserve more, Allan. Consider it a parting gift, and please, do not forget all that I have taught you."
"I will not." Allan promised, securing the pouch at his waist. He saw the unshed tears in Geoffrey's eyes, feeling the profound affection that bound them. He then nodded in gratitude, "Thank you, Geoffrey."
"When do you leave?"
"Tomorrow, at first cockcrow."
As he took his supper in a house he knew he would never be in again, Allan couldn't help but feel a little sad. Three years in South West had made him fond of the place. Geoffrey, while his landlord, had been more than a father to him. With him around, Allan had refined his skill to a level he knew he wouldn't have reached alone.
Geoffrey was a mogul whose experience of the world far surpassed what ordinary people knew. He had taught Allan the nature of man and how vital that knowledge was to business. As a spirit painter, at the crux of what he did was interaction with the soul of people. In their distress, he brought joy; in their pain, he brought pleasure; and in their darkness, he brought light. In the past, when a problem was brought to him, he'd dive into painting without digging deep into the client's true issue. While his customers were satisfied, after meeting Geoffrey, he learned there were things he'd been missing, insights that would have sent his clients home with even more, had he used them from the start.
Now that he was leaving, he didn't know what he would do without that man. The thought of navigating the world without Geoffrey's guidance was daunting, yet the pull of Saniya, the capital of Mega, was undeniable. He believed it held extraordinary individuals, perhaps even more than Geoffrey. And of course, there was Lulu.
He couldn't stop himself from feeling a little sad nonetheless. Geoffrey, he knew, only had daughters for children. In his pursuit of a son, he'd ended up with five girls, none being a boy. While he loved them dearly, he still wished for a son. When Allan came into his life, after they had shared a few months, Geoffrey had come to love Allan as his own son. When they parted that evening, Allan had seen something in Geoffrey leave with him. He knew no one was going to replace him.
"It is time to seek happiness, my happiness. Lulu, I will find you."
Supper finished, he packed his leather backpack, every item ready for the dawn. As he snuffed the candle, darkness enveloped him, but sleep remained elusive. He was too anxious, too ready for the next day, for the start of his true quest.