The farewell to our father and Norn... it had been bittersweet. I knew it would hurt, that I'd see her crying and begging me not to go. But even so, I couldn't stay any longer.
Norn looked paler than usual, clutching the sword she had named "Swordiki"—a tribute to my name and the fact that I was a swordsman.
I couldn't just leave without a word. "Listen, Norn... your big brother has to leave now."
She clung to my leg, looking up at me with watery eyes. "Why do you have to go? Was I a bad girl?"
I stroked her hair and lifted her into my arms. "No. You've been the best sister I could ask for. Sure, you wouldn't let me sleep sometimes, but even then, I was happy. I'm going to miss you so much, little sister."
"B-but... why do you have to leave? It's because of that girl, isn't it? Are you leaving me for her?"
I smoothed her hair gently. "In a way, yes... It's also for her; someone needs to look after her."
"I heard that!" Eris barked, stepping down from the carriage. She had insisted on buying some pillows for the trip—a request I gladly granted, paying for them myself.
I turned back to my sister. "Your big brother has to go rescue the princess from the castle. Will you wait for me?"
"P-princess?"
I wiped away her tears with my thumb, with the same tenderness I always showed whenever she had nightmares about that incident.
"Yes. I'm going to find Mother... and I'll rescue her from the great dragon!"
Her eyes went wide with wonder. "Really? Like in the stories Emilia tells?"
I nodded. "Exactly like the stories. Your big brother and his squire—we promise to bring her back."
Eris stepped forward. "And a female squire! Don't you forget about me!"
At the sound of her voice, Norn climbed down from my arms.
"Pretty squire..." Norn whispered, suddenly throwing her arms around Eris. Eris froze and turned a bright shade of red, clearly caught off guard by the affection.
"Looks like she's taken a liking to you..." I whispered.
But then... Norn tightened her grip. "If you do anything to my big brother, there won't be anywhere on earth you can hide!"
She sounded exactly like Mom whenever Paul came home late from a shift. Even Eris felt the weight of that threat.
"Well… the little one turned out to be quite something" Eris huffed. "But don't you worry. That's why I'm going with him—to keep him from doing anything too stupid."
"Thank you, Lady Eris…" Norn looked at her one last time as Eris climbed back into the carriage.
"Son... my sons, come here for a moment," Paul said. We both stepped toward him.
"Daiki... thank you for giving me back my humanity. Thank you for not letting me fall apart, and... and... thank you for being born," he said, his voice thick with tears. "Forgive me if I ever doubted you, or if I ever made you feel like you weren't enough..."
I had to cut him off before he broke down completely.
"...That doesn't matter anymore. You've always been a good father, and I promise to honor your name and your legacy as a swordsman. Thank you for... for making me strong. For never hesitating to train me, even when Mother got angry."
"Shh," he hushed me instantly. "Stop right there, or I'll start bawling."
He then turned to Rudeus. "Rudy... my second son. So different from your brother, but just as special. Looking at you now, nearly twelve years old, I can say you're a much better man than I was at your age. I was a total bastard, but here you are, leaving "home" to find your mother even though you don't know where she is. Thank you for being born, Rudy."
"Father..." Rudeus swallowed hard. "Thank you for trusting me. Those were the only words I needed to hear."
Paul opened his arms wide. "Well? Aren't you going to give your old man one last hug?"
We stepped into his embrace. Norn, still crying, ran over to join us.
"Dammit... I said I wasn't going to cry..." Paul laughed through his tears. "Listen, both of you. No matter what happens out there, remember this: you are brothers. Look out for one another. And when you find Zenith..."
He looked at us one last time. "...tell her I love her. That I never stopped. Understood?"
"We will, Father!" we said in unison.
Paul wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. "I love you both... more than I could ever say."
"We love you too, Dad," I replied.
Norn squeezed us tight. "I love you guys too! Come back soon!"
"We will, little sister," Rudeus said, patting her head.
I knelt to her level. "When I get back, I'll teach you the sword properly, okay? But you have to promise me one thing."
"What is it, big brother?"
I stroked her hair. "Take care of Dad, okay? He tends to be a bit... well, clumsy. And you're the smart one," I whispered. "Don't tell him I said that, though."
"I heard that, son!" Paul laughed, clearly having expected the jab.
Norn giggled, hiding her mouth behind her tiny hands. "Daddy is clumsy! Daiki is right!"
"Hey! You're supposed to be on my side!" Paul scooped her up, tickling her. "You little traitor!"
"Stop, stop!" she squealed, breathless with laughter.
Part of me was heavy with the sadness of leaving, but the other part... I was just happy to see Norn like this. I would protect that smile with my life if I had to.
Paul set her down and gave us one last look.
"Alright... enough with the sappy stuff." He cleared his throat. "Eris."
Eris tensed up in the carriage. "Y-yes?"
"Take care of my boys. Especially that hard-headed Daiki."
"I can—" I started to protest.
"I will!" she cut me off. "Even if you hadn't asked... I'd do it anyway."
Paul smiled. "I know. That's why I trust you."
Little Norn looked between Eris and me. "Daddy... are Daiki and the pretty lady going to get married?"
"Well, Norn..." Paul scratched the back of his neck. "That's something..."
"NO!" we both shouted at the same time.
Norn looked confused. "But you talk the same... and you blush the same. Emilia says that means people are in love."
I let out an exaggerated cough. "We should get moving... get a head start."
I finally climbed into the carriage. Eris shifted to make room for me on the cushion. She didn't look at me, but she patted the spot beside her.
"Your family is loud," she muttered.
"I know. Does it bother you?"
She pressed her lips together. "No. It's... nice. I enjoyed this week with them."
The carriage began to roll toward the Western Port. Analyzing the vectors, I managed to calculate our travel time just by looking at the map... No, I'm kidding. This time, I didn't want to think about that. I just wanted to enjoy the ride. Eris kept leaning closer and closer, using the excuse that "the carriage was bumpy." She wasn't being subtle, so I just gave in and offered her my shoulder.
Norn was waving both hands frantically, jumping to stay in view. "COME BACK SOON! I'LL BE WAITING!"
"She's a good sister," Eris said softly.
"The best," I replied, resting my head against hers and letting myself get lost in the moment.
Eris went rigid for a second, like a cat being petted.
I braced myself for a punch, a scream, or the usual "What do you think you're doing?!" I expected her to pull away or cross her arms in a huff...
But it never came. Instead, she relaxed.
"...Thank you, Young Eris."
"Mmm... what are you thanking me for?" she asked, curious.
"For being my support right now. My brother is there too, of course, but you're just as important to me. Don't ever doubt that."
Eris went quiet.
"...Just as important?" she repeated.
"Yes."
"As your brother?"
"I lived with you for three years, and now we'll be together even longer. If I felt any other way, I'd be a liar."
She settled into me. "Three years..." she murmured. "You actually remember how long it's been?"
I nodded, feeling a bit of nervous heat in my chest.
She straightened up suddenly. "...You're important to me too. So... don't go doing anything stupid on this trip."
"Understood."
"And don't die."
"I wasn't planning on it."
"Good." She gripped my arm tight. "Because if you die, I'll kill you."
"That is logically impossible."
"I don't give a damn about logic!"
From the other side of the carriage, Rudeus slowly closed his book.
"You guys realize I can hear everything, right?"
Eris shot him a murderous glare.
"Just saying..." He went back to his book, but he couldn't hide that smirk—the kind of look that says everything without uttering a single word.
***
A few hours had passed since our departure. The horses were fast, and Ruijerd handled them with practiced ease.
'Everything is so good… don't you think, Ayam?'
[…]
'Eh? Are you asleep? No, that would be impossible…'
Now that I think about it, the last time she spoke to me was hours ago, right as we were leaving—just before our father and Norn arrived as a surprise to say their goodbyes.
Ayam—formerly Analysis—became a consciousness after my reincarnation, or perhaps a fragment of my psyche. She used to inhabit my body and could even control it; she was capable of knowing things I didn't. Now, she has shifted into a role of simple storage and "conversation." She was once part of my soul; now, she resides in my frontal lobe, within the cerebral cortex. That is to say, she occupies the region responsible for executive functions—planning, control, decision-making—and, crucially, the regulation of emotions.
Now that I am overwhelmed with emotion—the farewell, being with my brother again, being with Eris, and the hope of finding the rest of my family—she has gone silent. Perhaps my brain is overloaded, but right now, I feel a peace of mind I've never known before. And yet, in a way, I miss her; she was the one who kept me sane during our time in the Great Forest. I can't simply wish her away. But for now, as Eris sleeps on my shoulder in an awkward position that is bound to leave her with a sore neck, I can only sigh and accept the idea that, for the moment, Ayam is not with me.
'Thanks for everything, sister.'
***
Two months have passed, and we have finally arrived at the city of West Port. My brother decided to enter customs with the confidence of a true Greyrat, followed closely by Ruijerd.
I chose not to go in. To be honest, I couldn't care less about diplomacy and red tape; besides, I didn't want to steal the spotlight from my brother, who claimed to be a "master negotiator"—with all the weight that title implied. So, I readily agreed to stay behind, saving myself from unnecessary introductions.
I was in the backyard, practicing a bit with my sword, feeling Ayam's absence more than I probably should. She hasn't spoken to me once in these past months, which might signify something. Even so, I could still feel her presence. It sounds strange, but the sensation is essentially like having someone sitting inside your brain.
Eris walked out, watching me intently while gripping her sword in her right hand.
"That sword… I saw how you looked after it during the trip. Even when you weren't using it, you cleaned it every morning and every night."
"I do it because it was a precious gift. Temphestalis accompanied me through a great part of my journey, and now I will honor what Saorus gave me."
"You know, you're very attentive," she said, her legs kicking frantically from where she sat.
"Come again?"
"Where others would see a simple gift, or even a great one, you look at it as if it were something divine—as if it were an extension of yourself. That says a lot."
"Young Eris… Well, you're right. I won't deny that. In fact, I'll give you this one because you just spoke a fundamental truth… you have a leaf in your hair. A rather large one, if you ask me."
"YOU IDIOT!" she screamed. "COULDN'T YOU HAVE SAID THAT BEFORE I GOT SENTIMENTAL?!"
"It was a relevant visual detail..."
"SHUT UP!"
She pulled out the leaf and lunged at me with a speed she hadn't shown before. During our camps on the road, I had decided to train her so she wouldn't get rusty or grow soft from life in the carriage. In fact, we often ran endurance races alongside the wagon, which helped improve her speed and power. Even so, she still relied mostly on raw instinct.
"Let's see if you're just as attentive now!"
She struck with a lateral slash, and I blocked using "Parry." There was no need to use my full strength; instead, I applied what Roxy had taught me during her lessons in Buena Village. I manifested a water shield and pushed her forward. By the time she realized what was happening, I had already lunged toward her and, in a quick but confusing motion, tapped a finger against her forehead.
"I win," I said simply.
Eris flopped onto the ground, breathing heavily, her brow furrowed and her cheeks slightly flushed. She shot me a glare as if she wanted to protest, but soon turned her eyes away with a huff.
"Tsk… that doesn't count. You were serious from the start."
Even so, a crooked smile escaped her, and her eyes shimmered in that way she only showed in the carriage at night… or after I beat her in combat.
"Next time, I won't make it so easy for you," she added.
I smiled, reaching out my hand to help her up. I expected her to reject it or slap it away as she used to do back at the mansion, but she took it firmly and pulled herself to her feet.
After a few minutes, we decided to rest and catch our breath. Since Eris insisted on continuing the training and I insisted that I needed to go wash up, she turned away with a blush and avoided any further sparring.
"Did your father try to lift your sword?" she asked, hugging her knees.
"Yeah... He tried."
"And could he? If you said he seems to know the family, then he should be able to..."
"He could, though even after I warned him, he just said, 'I'm your father, of course I can lift it, brat.' And when he tried... well, let's just say he fell face-first onto the ground."
Eris let out a loud laugh. "Yeah, that sounds exactly like something he'd do."
After a good while, Rudeus finally emerged, one arm raised, holding four tickets.
"Guess what! I got these completely for free thanks to my—!"
And from behind him stepped… Therese?
"Daiki? Rudeus, you didn't tell me he was here… You should have warned me so I could present myself properly," she said, smoothing her hair as she approached with a smile, clearly excited.
"Daiki, my boy, my handsome nephew! I had no idea you came with your brother! I thought you had stayed…"
She hugged me, as she always did, and refused to let go. I could have broken free, but I chose not to. I felt myself blushing inevitably.
"Auntie, I…" Before I could say another word, she grabbed a bewildered Rudeus by the arm and pressed our heads together.
"Kyaaaaa! Look at you two, you're so cute! So different and yet so alike! You both blush the exact same way!"
After some intense displays of affection—which Eris eventually had to step in to de-escalate—night fell, and our aunt invited us to dinner. The ship was set to sail the next day, so we had to prepare. She gave us advice, told us what to avoid, and, most importantly, provided us with some resources.
Now, the following day, standing before the ship that would take us toward the Central Continent, I adjusted my cloak and stepped aboard.
Therese waved goodbye one last time, and the ship began to move.
"Ready, brother?" Rudeus looked at me with a grin.
"Always ready, Rudy." Then I looked at Eris. "And you? Are you ready?"
"Of course I am, you idiots. I'll be the one looking after you two."
She crossed her arms.
"So don't you dare get distracted or do anything stupid. If something goes wrong, I'll handle it."
The wind caught her hair. She didn't look at me directly, but she took a step closer—just enough so that her shoulder brushed against mine.
"And…" she whispered, "someone has to make sure you two get back alive."
"I look forward to it, Young Eris."
She huffed, but she didn't pull away.