The monk continued, ¨Until he returns, you must stay on the monastery grounds. All of your things must be packed by Friday, and your books must be returned.¨ Then, with a sigh, the monk excused him. Keldur closed the door slowly. As the latch clicked in place the sound echoed with a frightening finality. Somehow, he knew it was coming. Like the shadows had whispered warnings in the silence. But now that it had actually happened, he didn't know what to do. 

He stood at a fork in the cobblestone path. A line of elders shoved past him, their dark robes swishing behind. He stared at their backs. This order, the one he had grown up in, the only thing he knew, suddenly felt empty. Dark clouds rolled out, covering the sun. The bells rang, as they always did at the end of the hour, but this time there was no life in it. The buildings rose and fell around him, each stone bleak and bare. Everyone he had ever known was here. _But why? _When the answer didn't come he was left feeling confused. Though he knew the monastery grounds like the back of his hand, he felt lost. 

He glared at the roll in his hand, a paper filled with a list of his wrongdoings. His failures. After thirteen years of endless lessons and meaningless work, this paper was all he had to show for it. The page crumpled in his grip. In an instant his sorrow turned to anger. He moved with sudden purpose. He could stay until Friday, but why wait? _If they want me gone, then so be it. _He thought, darting down an ally. His worn sandals whispered over the path. He didn't care about anything enough to head back for. His room only held stacks of books, paperwork, and a robe that now meant nothing to him. 

As he reached the end of the main city he took a left, towards the cliffs. He never had wanted to become a monk. He had never wanted to have that title, or responsibility. But now that it was gone, he felt weak and exposed. There was a certain comfort to being so highly regarded. It was like a cushion between him and the outside world. 

His feet came to a halt before the rocky edge. The salty wind blew his dark hair around his face as seagulls shrieked from the water below. Waves crashed against the lonely shore, spraying mist all around. He threw off his robe, unable to bear the sight of it any longer. _A storm is coming, _he thought, peering at the dark clouds rolling in. That would make things difficult.

 Keldur breathed deeply, trying to clear his head. Though his purpose blurred, he had a fire in his eyes. For a moment he stood there, staring at the waves as he so often had before. He cracked his neck, _I guess I'm finally going to see what's out there. _With that, he turned on his heel and took a final look at the city. The only place he had ever known, and he was just going to throw it all away. Keldur scowled at the spires, resenting every moment he had been forced to spend among them. Then, without a second thought, he started down the narrow stair leading to the levels below. And with that, he left behind his old life. _Now for a plan,_ He thought, carefully walking down the steps. As tiny drops of freezing drops of water began to hit his head, he figured out his first course of action. _I need warm clothes if I´m to survive the upcoming winter. Which means I'll have to stop in the merchants quarter. _