That evening, Erend sat together with his mother and Arty at the dinner table. The atmosphere had been peaceful, filled with the comforting familiarity of home.
The aroma of freshly cooked food filled the room while the three of them exchanged light conversation at the start, enjoying a rare moment together after Erend's return.
Unfortunately, Erend knew he could not delay the inevitable any longer.
"I have to leave again," he finally said.
The words immediately silenced the room.
The warm atmosphere that had filled the dinner table only moments ago disappeared almost instantly. Neither his mother nor Arty spoke. They simply looked at him, and although neither of them voiced any objections, their disappointment was painfully obvious.
Neither of them liked hearing those words.
But what could they possibly do? The responsibilities resting on Erend's shoulders had long since grown beyond the concerns of a single family or even a single world.
