Oravien: "Here... I've been exiled from Moraief."
Filmore: "Oh Elikear... I'd like to reward you with the Alethiar family name for this heroic deed."
Oravien: "Thank you, sir."
Filmore handed Oravien his reward.
Oravien: "Filmore gave me 40 gold coins, and I took 30 from the kidnapper... plus the 5 coins I gathered on the first day. My goal was to collect 15 coins to register Razin, but luck was on my side... I gathered several times that amount. Good, now I can return home."
Oravien: "I think I should go now."
Filmore: "Wait a moment, Elikear... I'll walk you to the exit."
Oravien: "...Alright."
They began walking down the corridor.
Filmore: "You know, Elikear... you remind me a bit of... my brother."
Oravien said "...? Why?"
Filmore: "He's a brother I haven't seen in a long time... but there's something about you that reminds me of him. Maybe it's your voice... or the way you speak... even your aura... it all reminds me of him."
Filmore: "Perhaps the only difference between you and him... is that my brother wouldn't save a little girl on the street just because he saw her with a kidnapper." laughs "Or... at least, that's what I thought."
Oravien: "What do you mean?"
Filmore: "I used to think my brother was a coward... someone completely unreliable."
Oravien: "Why did your opinion change?"
Filmore: "Some time ago... I reconsidered the incident... and what my brother might've been thinking. I realized... maybe at that moment, it wasn't the Alethiar warrior who showed up... but a future husband... and father."
Oravien: "...Can you explain more?"
Filmore: "Six years ago... we were in a resource war with another family... my brother was afraid... not because he was a disgrace to the family... but because he wanted to live long enough to see his son. And when I thought about it without bias... I realized I had been too harsh on him. I treated him in the worst way... because I only saw it from one perspective."
Filmore: "We were up against a powerful person... and everyone has the right to fear... especially if that person... is going to become a father."
Filmore: "I'm not saying what my brother did was right."
Oravien: "...?..."
Filmore: "I no longer see him as scum... but I also don't see him as the best person either... I just see him as... a good man."
Oravien: "That's really sad... I hope you two are reunited someday."
Filmore: "I don't think that'll happen... I don't expect him to ever return here..."
Oravien: "..."
They exited the palace.
Oravien: "Well then... thank you for your hospitality... goodbye."
He requested a carriage.
Oravien: "This time I have the money... I'll pay, of course."
The carriage arrived, and Oravien began his journey home.
---
Elsewhere
Razin: "Mom... how long do you think dad will be gone?"
Mother: "It won't be long, Raz... he's almost back... I promise."
Sound of a heartbeat
Razin: "I'm so excited... I'm going to become strong."
Razin: "I'm really curious about these techniques... I feel like I've only seen a glimpse of what's possible... but... how do they work? Why do I need to go to school to learn them? It really fascinates me."
Time passed, and Oravien approached his home.
Razin looked at his hand: "Hmm..."
Suddenly, the door burst open.
Oravien: "I'm back!"
Razin heard this and ran toward his father to hug him: "Dad!! You were late!"
Oravien: "How are you, Raz? Honestly... my trip was very successful."
Alietra: "You're back sooner than I expected... come in and sit down."
Oravien: "Of course..."
Oravien entered, and they all sat together.
Oravien: "In the end, I left and came back without anyone discovering me."
Razin: "You're amazing, dad! You saved a little girl with courage!"
Oravien: "Yes, yes."
Alietra: "So the disguise plan worked..."
Oravien: "Perfectly. Even my brother didn't recognize me. It seems his opinion of me has shifted a bit..."
Oravien: "But the important thing now... I collected way more than we needed. This amount will last us for a while. I gathered 75 gold coins. Fifteen will go to Razin's school, and the rest will support us for some time. Plus... now, if I must, I can go to the city using my real identity."
Razin: "Dad... what about me? If I tell them at school that my name is Razin Alethiar, will something happen?"
Oravien: "Don't worry... you're not wanted or anything... usually, no one will recognize you. They'll assume you're from the palace. But if someone from Alethiar happens to be around... it might be a bit tricky since they won't recognize you. Still, it's not a big deal. Even if they find out you're my son... I'm the one who was exiled... not you. The punishment was only on me."
Alietra: "Raz... your departure is coming soon... can I trust you to manage things on your own?"
Razin: "Trust me? ...? ...Yes, of course!" smiles
Oravien: "Your school starts in a week... during this time, before we go to the city again for your registration... I'll prepare everything for you."
Razin: "A week?! That's so far away!"
Alietra: "Don't you want to stay with us a bit longer, Raz?"
Razin: "What? Of course I do... but... the idea of school is so exciting... and also... I'll make friends... I want to experience that feeling."
Alietra smiled.
Alietra: "...You're special, my son... I can see the excitement in your eyes."
Razin: "Of course!"
---
The day passed.
Oravien began teaching Razin some basic social skills, as it would be his first social experience.
Oravien: "Raz... I'll put my trust in you... don't let me down... act like a man... don't cause trouble... don't be rude to anyone... especially girls... and... never be arrogant... everyone has flaws."
Razin: "Of course, dad! Don't worry."
Oravien: "Don't befriend just anyone... only those you feel comfortable with. Keep your relationships shallow with everyone at first... and if you feel like someone is trustworthy after a while, then you can truly befriend them. I know this sounds selfish... but... trust me."
Razin: "Yes!"
Oravien: "You're very talented, Raz... and most likely... on your first day, you'll be the center of attention."
Razin: "...Really? Why? How?"
Oravien: "You'll find out soon enough."
Oravien: "Also... focus in all your classes... even if they seem boring at first... because lessons are more important than talent. If you're not serious in class... you won't benefit from your gifts."
Razin: "Got it! I will, don't worry."
Oravien patted his head: "...Well done, son."
Razin smiled.
Oravien: "If you follow my advice... believe me... you'll be at my level of strength in just a few years..."
Razin: "That really excites me!"
Oravien: "Don't disappoint me, Raz."
Oravien: "But I already see the determination in your eyes. I know you won't let me down."
---
Only one day remained before school started. Oravien and Razin began their journey to the city, to arrive the next day.
Razin hugged his mother.
Razin: "I'll miss you so much, Mom."
Mother: "Me too, Raz... if you want to make me proud... do your best at school."
Razin: "Okay!"
Alietra: "Don't worry... we won't be apart for long... we'll see each other from time to time."
Razin: "Yes!"
---
Razin and his father began their journey to the city.
— After a full day —
Oravien: "...There it is... your new city, Raz."
Razin: "Ohhh... it's so, so beautiful!"
Oravien: "Yes... come on, let's go register you at the school..."
They went to the school.
-"Seventy?!... That's impossible!"