The next few hours passed by in a blur of preparation. I moved methodically through my workshop, gathering materials and components for the journey ahead. The remains of my war frame, twisted and broken from the battle with Kaldos, needed careful packing. Each auric steel component represented hours of crafting, irreplaceable outside these walls. I would need to repair it during our travels; having a combat-ready chassis might mean the difference between life and death.

I paused, my attention drawn to the mechanical constructs scurrying across workbenches and shelves. Forty-four children, each built by my hands. They darted between tools, climbed walls, and hid beneath fabric scraps. All living their small mechanical lives within the confines of this basement sanctuary.

Rolly, true to form, made another escape attempt when I opened the door. His spherical body rolled with surprising speed before I caught him, gently returning him to the workshop floor.

You never give up, do you? I projected, feeling an unexpected swell of affection.

This storage room had been their entire world since creation. Initially, I'd planned to leave them here. They would be safe, protected by my friends, waiting for a return that might never come. But as I watched them move about, each with their distinct behaviors and quirks, I realized I couldn't abandon them.

When had this happened? When had these mechanical contraptions transformed from mere tools to amplify my power into beings I genuinely cared for?

Children, I called through our connection. Come to me.

They responded immediately, gathering around my feet in a circle of clicking gears and whirring parts. Scout Spider Thirteen climbed my leg to perch on my shoulder, while Rolly bumped repeatedly against my ankle, seemingly eager for whatever came next.

We must leave this place, I explained, my mind-speech simple enough for their limited comprehension. I need to put you to sleep for a while.

Some of the smaller constructs retreated slightly, their mechanical limbs drawing closer to their bodies in what appeared to be apprehension. But none fled. They trusted me completely.

I would not betray that trust.

It won't hurt, I assured them. And when you wake, we'll be somewhere new.

One by one, I began shutting down the mana flow between us, leaving only five scout spiders active to serve as reconnaissance during our journey. As each construct stilled, I carefully stored them in my Depository.

When the last one powered down, I felt a sudden surge of mana within my body, so powerful I had to consciously reduce my absorption rate. I'd forgotten how much energy I'd been channeling to maintain them all. Without them drawing from my reserves, the power flowing through me felt almost overwhelming.

I stood in the center of the basement storeroom, scanning the space for anything essential I might have missed. My gaze fell on my first combat frame tucked in the corner, its once-gleaming surface now dulled by a thick layer of dust. Memories washed over me: fighting Cave Stalkers, battling the Scorn Spider, the first time I'd felt truly powerful since awakening in the Lodrik Hellzone.

We've been through much together, haven't we? I murmured, placing my palm against its cold metal chassis.

This frame had protected me countless times when I was weaker, when the world seemed determined to destroy the anomaly I represented. Without this crude collection of salvaged metal and monster chitin, I would have perished many times over. It had been my shield, my weapon, my means of survival.

But sentiment couldn't override practicality. My Depository, though upgraded to Rank C, still had limited capacity. The platinum dragon remains, my war frame components, weapons, and my mechanical children already strained its dimensional storage. This old frame would consume space needed for essentials during our uncertain journey.

Thank you, I projected, feeling oddly vulnerable expressing gratitude to an inanimate object. But your time has ended.

I turned my attention to the gate I'd crafted at the Hellzone entrance. My fingers traced the intricate locking mechanism, testing its resistance. It needed to hold against any monsters that might try to break through from the other side. Yet it also needed to remain accessible to my friends, who would continue their training here in my absence.

I spent twenty minutes performing maintenance: tightening connections, reinforcing weak points, and adjusting the locking mechanisms. The work was methodical, familiar, allowing my mind to process what leaving truly meant.

This room had been my sanctuary, my laboratory, my private domain where I'd evolved from a broken fragment into something new. Where I'd discovered what I truly was.

I straightened, taking one final inventory of the space. The workbenches where I'd crafted my children. The wall where I'd tested weapons. The floor stained with various fluids from countless repairs.

I will never see this place again, I acknowledged, the certainty settling heavily within me.

With nothing left to say, I turned and walked through the door, closing it firmly behind me. The soft click of the latch felt unexpectedly final.

I walked through the halls of the War Academy one final time, my pace deliberately slow. The morning light filtered through tall windows, casting long shadows across the stone floors I'd traversed countless times before. Every corridor, every archway, every worn step beneath my feet held memories, both painful and precious.

Students parted before me as I climbed the main staircase. Their voices dropped to hushed whispers as I passed, their eyes following my mechanical form with a mixture of fear, awe, and curiosity.

"She actually fought Kaldos..."

"...becoming a god..."

"...leaving today..."

The fragments of conversation confirmed what I'd suspected, that news traveled quickly within these walls. My defeat of the God of War had transformed me from an oddity to a legend overnight. The same students who once sneered at the "gutter trash" monster now pressed themselves against the walls to give me passage.

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How meaningless their judgment seemed now. How small their prejudices in the face of what I'd become, what I'd always been.

I reached my dormitory door and paused, my hand hovering over the handle. This room had never truly been mine. Unlike my basement sanctuary filled with tools and creations, this space had merely been a necessary facade, a concession to Academy rules that required all students maintain proper quarters.

The door swung open to reveal sparse furnishings. A desk with no papers. Shelves with no books. A bed with perfectly pressed sheets that had never cradled my mechanical form. The window overlooked the eastern courtyard where Genta had practiced spellcasting countless afternoons.

My gaze settled on the wardrobe. Inside hung my widow's attire, the disguise I'd adopted in Weath when I first began my journey to the Academy. The black dress, boots, veil, and cloak had served me well, concealing my true nature from curious eyes.

I removed my Academy uniform with methodical precision. The fabric, once stiff and uncomfortable, had softened with wear. I folded it carefully, my fingers lingering on the Academy crest embroidered on the breast pocket. Despite everything, despite Shawe's cruelty and Reins's fanaticism, I'd found something valuable here. Not in the institution itself, but in the connections I'd forged.

The widow's garments settled over my frame like an old memory. The familiar weight of the black cloak around my shoulders brought me back to those early days where I was frightened, confused, and barely understood what I was. How far I'd come since then.

I placed the folded uniform in the wardrobe, a final gesture of respect to what might have been in another life. With one last glance around the room, I turned to leave.

When I opened the door, I found Konrad Vehger leaning against the opposite wall, arms crossed casually over his chest. His usual easy smile played across his lips.

"I hoped to catch you before you left," he said, pushing himself upright.

How did you know I was leaving? I asked.

He shrugged, his blue eyes twinkling. "I keep my ear close to the ground. Word travels fast when someone kills a god."

I wanted to thank you, I said, the words feeling insufficient. For your help during my time here. Your information and advice proved invaluable.

"Don't mention it." He waved dismissively. "I was just repaying a favor, really."

I tilted my head. A favor? I don't understand.

His smile shifted, becoming something sharper, more knowing. "I had an older brother, you know. A real louse. Committed all manner of crimes that stained our family name. Before justice could catch up to him, he fled to parts unknown, continuing his foul deeds and besmirching the name of Vehger." His eyes locked with mine. "At least, until you stopped him."

I frowned beneath my porcelain mask, searching my memories. Vehger... the name stirred something. Then it clicked: Chanos, the slaver boss at Qordos. The cruel man I'd killed when freeing the prisoners.

Your brother was Chanos?

Konrad nodded. "A bastard in every sense of the word. Father never acknowledged him publicly, but provided enough coin to keep him away from our legitimate family. When reports reached us about his death during a slave uprising, I made inquiries. I received descriptions of a mechanical being with extraordinary abilities."

So you knew all along.

"I suspected. Your confrontation with Lyman confirmed it." He straightened his immaculate uniform. "I wanted to thank you. My brother's actions were... unconscionable. You put an end to his heinous crimes when no one else could."

I didn't know-

"Of course not. But it changes nothing." He extended his hand. "If you ever need help, House Vehger stands ready to provide it. Consider us allies, Widow... or whatever name you choose next."

I took his hand, feeling the strange connection of past and present intertwining.

"Safe travels," he said, releasing my hand and stepping back. "I suspect we'll meet again someday."

With a final nod, he turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing down the corridor as I prepared to leave the Academy behind forever.

I made my way through the Academy's grand entrance hall one final time. The statues of ancient warriors stared down at me, their stone eyes following my progress across the polished marble floor. How different they looked to me now, knowing what I knew about the true history of this world.

When I pushed open the massive oak doors, sunlight spilled across my porcelain mask. Standing at the bottom of the wide stone steps were my friends, all of them. Annes, Genta, Eyarna, Patter, Yulios, Loland, Sven, and Copelan formed a half-circle, with Professors Harmony and Casper standing slightly apart. They'd come to see me off.

Casper nodded solemnly, his greatsword strapped to his back, ready for our journey. Harmony's eyes held a mixture of respect and concern.

I descended the steps slowly, each footfall echoing in the morning quiet. Before I reached the bottom, Annes broke ranks and rushed toward me, her red hair flying behind her.

"You can't just leave without a proper goodbye," she said, throwing her arms around me.

Her embrace triggered an avalanche. Genta barreled into me next, her small goblin form wrapping around my waist, tears streaming down her green cheeks. Eyarna followed, her tall orc frame enveloping us both as she sobbed openly.

"This isn't fair," Genta hiccupped against my cloak. "We were just getting good at being a team."

Patter joined next, her eyes misty despite her attempts to maintain composure. "You'd better write," she said, her voice wavering slightly.

Yulios approached awkwardly, his massive frame hovering uncertainly before he clumsily wrapped his arms around all of us. "The Academy won't be the same without you," he mumbled.

Loland and Sven joined the growing tangle of limbs, the kobold climbing halfway up my back while Sven squeezed in beside Genta.

Only Copelan remained apart, standing with his arms crossed, clearly torn between maintaining his noble dignity and joining this emotional display. I caught his eye over Annes's shoulder, and something in my gaze must have reached him.

"Oh, screw it," he muttered, striding forward and adding himself to our group embrace.

Professor Harmony laughed softly, watching our farewell with a gentle smile. "I never thought I'd see the day when Count Greye's son would participate in a group hug."

We stayed like that for long minutes, a tangle of human, monster, and mechanical parts, bound together by something stronger than blood or species. I felt something in my chest, a tightness that couldn't be explained by any mechanical functions.

Eventually, they released me, stepping back but remaining close.

"I'm going to miss you," Genta said, wiping her nose with her sleeve. "Who's going to help me with fire spells now?"

Don't worry, I'll be back sooner than you think, I told her.

"Don't worry about us," Loland said, his copper scales gleaming in the sunlight. "I'll make sure everyone grows strong enough to join you soon."

Patter poked him in the head. "You need to train too, you know."

"Of course," he replied with a huff. "That goes without saying."

Eyarna adjusted her glasses, her tusks protruding slightly as she attempted a brave smile. "I'll hone my enchanting skills. Perhaps I can create something useful enough that you'll want me to join you."

Like Loland said, it goes without saying that I will always want all of you with me. I patted her arm as she wiped tears from her eyes.

"Please take care of yourself," Sven said, his daggers glinting at his belt. "I won't be there to watch your back anymore."

Don't worry, I replied. I have Casper, as well as my children.

At my words, five scout spiders emerged from various hiding places around the courtyard. They skittered toward us, their mechanical legs clicking against the stone. Chonsey, with its distinctive pink-painted carapace, headed straight for Annes.

She scooped up the mechanical spider, hugging it to her chest. "Be good, Chonsey," she whispered. "Watch over Vardiel for me."

Yulios gathered up the remaining spiders, cradling them gently in his massive hands. "We'll miss you too, little babies," he said, his voice thick with emotion.

Copelan stepped forward, his expression serious. "Are you certain this is the best course of action? The Academy could still protect you."

I'm certain, I responded. With the gods hunting me, I won't be safe anywhere within their reach. I need to travel around, stay on the move, until I'm strong enough to face them and their champions.

He nodded slowly. "Well, at least with you gone, my wallet will finally have a chance to recover."

I laughed, the sound emerging as a series of musical tones from my throat. I'm sure you'll find other ways to spend your fortune, Copelan.

"Take care of our friend, Professor," Annes said to Casper, who nodded solemnly.

"With my life," he promised.

I looked at them one last time: my friends, my family. In just one year, they had taught me more about being human than all the memories I'd inherited from Vardin.

Goodbye for now, I said, turning toward the Academy gates where the next step of my journey would begin.

But not forever.

END. BOOK TWO. WAR ACADEMY.

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