Person: Sir… the treatment will cost one gold coin. It might take a full day for your arm to fully recover.
Oravien: Alright… here you go.
He handed her the coin.
He then walked down one of Moraief's streets, leaving the clinic where a woman had treated him.
Oravien (to himself): In the end, I ended up paying three times what I was trying to avoid paying the carriage driver… how naive. If I were just a little stronger, maybe I wouldn't have needed to pay anything.
Oravien: But… a broken arm isn't the worst thing. I should be grateful.
He looked at his hand.
Oravien: What a disappointment… I hope Raz truly surpasses me… I believe in him. He's my son....—...no..he is talented because of himself .. I don't deserve to claim any of that credit.
Suddenly, he bumped into someone on the street.
Stranger (annoyed): Hey! Watch where you're going, idiot!
Oravien didn't say a word. He simply kept walking.
Oravien (to himself): Why didn't I apologize? I don't know… I just didn't want to.
The man stopped him.
Man: Hey! If you don't know… I'm from the Alithear family! You should apologize when you bump into someone! Even I—despite being of higher status—would apologize if I made a mistake!
Oravien looked at the man's face and was stunned.
Oravien (in his thoughts): T-That's… Fillmore!!
---
Razin: …Mom?
Alietra: Yes, Raz? (smiles)
Razin: Why is life so boring? There's nothing to do…
Alietra was surprised. She hadn't expected a question like that from him.
Alietra: Why do you think it's boring, Raz? Come here, let's sit and talk for a bit, okay?
Razin: Okay.
He walked over and sat beside her.
Razin: I don't know… it's boring because I'm not having fun. There's nothing exciting happening.
Alietra: Really? I get what you mean, Raz… but don't worry. Soon, life will be much more exciting—trust me. (smiles)
Razin: But… how can it be fun when I'll be away from you?
That hurt her deeply, though she hid it behind a gentle smile.
Alietra: Raz, you'll enjoy school. You'll make friends… and you'll enjoy what you learn, I promise. You'll be special there too.
Razin: …Friends? Will they really make things more fun?
Alietra: Of course, Raz. Friends are the most important thing after family. They're the ones who make life joyful.
Razin: But… will I find someone I really bond with? Someone who'll want to be my friend?
She was caught off guard. Those weren't words you usually heard from a six-year-old.
Alietra: Of course you will. Why do you think people wouldn't want to be your friend?
Razin: Hmm… maybe I won't have much to talk about with them… I don't know much yet.
Alietra: That's not true at all. At some point during your time in school, everyone will want to be your friend. Trust me.
Razin (innocently): Hmm… (smiles) Okay! I trust you, Mom!
She patted his head.
Alietra: Good boy, Raz.
Alietra: I know you feel like your life is boring right now, Raz… but let me tell you something.
Razin: What is it?
Alietra: Always try to enjoy the things you already have. Maybe they seem disappointing to you… but to someone else, they could be a dream.
Razin (innocently): Hmm… I don't get it, Mom. (smiles)
She smiled warmly, realizing she may have gotten a bit too deep for a six-year-old… but his unusual questions made her speak that way. Her thoughts were interrupted by Razin again.
Razin: I want to be strong like Dad. I hope I can… he's amazing. I want to be amazing like him!
Alietra (smiling): Of course you will… You've got what it takes, Raz.
Razin: By the way… are you good at the stuff they'll teach me in school? Are you amazing like Dad?
Alietra: It's called "techniques," Raz… Want to see something cool?
Razin (excited): Yes! Yes!
She took his hand and led him outside.
Alietra: Look… want to see a water pond appear?
Razin: Ooh! How? How? Show me!
She smiled.
Alietra extended her hand toward the ground.
Razin watched closely.
The wind began swirling around her palm… gathering stronger and stronger…
Razin: Whoa! That's awesome, Mom!
Alietra: Watch.
Suddenly, she released the wind, blasting the ground and creating a small hole.
Razin: Ooooh!
But she wasn't done yet. She faced her palm toward the sky. A few silent moments passed—and then a floating ball of water appeared above her hand.
Razin: Whoa!! That's so cool! Where did the water come from?
She released the water into the hole.
Alietra: From above.
Razin (looking up): Huh? There's nothing up there… Are you teasing me, Mom?
She chuckled.
Alietra: Hmm… maybe.
As Razin looked back toward the ground… he noticed one of his pet dogs yelping in pain—its leg had been broken by the blast of wind.
He ran toward it immediately, clearly scared.
His mother followed.
Razin (teary): Mom… you broke his leg with your technique… Why did this happen? What did he do wrong?
Alietra: Calm down, Raz, it's okay. He'll be alright.
Razin (shouting): No he's not! His leg is broken!
She gently placed her hand over the dog's injured leg… a soft glow surrounded it… and within seconds, the leg returned to normal.
Razin's face lit up.
Razin: How did you do that?!
Alietra: Don't rush, Raz… Just focus on your studies, and I promise—you'll learn all of this one day.
Razin: Okay!
---
Elsewhere… in the city of Moraief…
Oravien: Fillmore… that bastard—no… it wasn't his fault, it was mine. But still, he hasn't changed. He's the same arrogant man as before.
---
—Back in time, to the moment they bumped into each other—
Man: Hey! If you don't know—I'm from the Alithear family! You apologize when you mess up! Even I, as someone higher than you, would apologize if I did something wrong!
Oravien: …I'm sorry.
He walked away, saying nothing more.
---
A bit later…
Oravien: Fillmore… that bastard—no… it wasn't his fault, it was mine. But he's still the same. He hasn't changed.
He looked around the city.
Oravien: This place… it brings back memories. Not all of them good, of course… but still, it's my childhood.
Oravien: My goal now isn't to reflect on how beautiful or painful my childhood was… but to make sure my son's childhood is beautiful.
Oravien: I'll spend today walking around the city and getting to know it again… And tomorrow, I'll look for anyone who might need help. I'll start working tomorrow. I can't waste time. I need to earn money fast—for my son and my wife.
He looked slightly to the right… and saw it.
Oravien: The Alithear mansion… Still looks the same as the last time I saw it…
---
Meanwhile… back at home…
Razin sat near the house, staring at his small hand.
Razin: Please hurry back, Dad… I don't want to be alone anymore. I want to learn how to be amazing—just like you!