"So... I'll try training now... do you want to come with me?" Razin looked toward Verina and Tark, speaking with seriousness and a calm tone.
"No problem." — "Alright." Tark and Verina both agreed. They stood up from the chairs in the garden and all headed toward the dormitory building.
They entered the building through its large main door. They were on the first floor—this floor didn't have any dorm rooms, but instead contained entertainment and dining spaces. On their right was a small restaurant; on their left, a simple games room. But their goal was the fourth floor, where Razin's dorm room was located.
The floor beneath them had some glassy parts that reflected their images faintly and distorted.
They kept climbing until they reached the fourth floor and walked until they arrived at Room 74—Razin's room.
Razin opened the door and invited his friends inside.
There was nothing strange about the room for Razin and Verina. The dorms were all designed almost identically, so Razin's looked just like theirs. Besides, this wasn't the first time they had entered his room.
Razin sat on his bed after allowing them to sit wherever they liked. Tark took the chair, while Verina sat on the bed, a little distance away from Razin.
"So... will you start?" Tark asked as he placed his hands on the edges of the chair.
Razin took a deep breath to think. "Yes... I'll start." Both of them watched him with curiosity as he began.
After a while, Razin grew frustrated... he had failed again. "Huff... as always... the voices ruin it for me," Razin said sadly, staring at the floor.
Tark looked disappointed that Razin had failed. But—
Verina was astonished. She was amazed by something Tark didn't realize, and Razin himself, confused, hadn't noticed. Her mouth hung open in shock as she stared at him.
"Razin..." Verina muttered.
"...What? Are you going to make fun of me or something?" Razin replied in a sad voice, clutching his pants tightly in frustration.
"You're such a fool... a fool to an indescribable degree. Idiot." Verina said with complete seriousness, her eyes wide open.
Tark was baffled by Verina's words and expression. He had no idea what she meant.
"No..." Razin replied without motivation, lifting his eyes slightly to look at her.
"You don't realize how well you did this time, do you?"
Tark's expression immediately shifted upon hearing those words—he understood now. But Razin's face didn't change. "What do you mean?" Razin asked quietly.
"Based on my observation of your training... you lasted a long time this time! That means you resisted extremely well and got so close to passing the stage. Don't you realize that?!" Verina's voice rose.
"But I didn't succeed," Razin replied. Suddenly, he felt a light tap on his shoulder.
"Are you stupid or something? Don't tell me you always reach this point, then just sink into depression when you fail." Verina scolded him, angry.
"Yes, I guess so... but I always fail, so what's the point?" Razin muttered.
"Can't you be more optimistic, you negative, gloomy boy?! Why are all your answers negative?" Verina snapped at him again. "Despite the insane distortion in your mind, you still reached this stage."
Tark supported her words, upset that he hadn't noticed this himself. But he backed Verina completely as she scolded Razin.
Razin lifted his head slightly as Verina kept speaking. Her words were muddled in his mind, because he was thinking:
"Verina is right... I've become so negative lately. It's not like I control my reactions or the words that come out of my mouth. My thoughts are just generally negative... I say the words, and only afterward do I realize how negative they were. So yes, I really am negative... but honestly... I'm also tired. So tired."
"Razin! Focus on me," Verina said firmly. "Understand. Think. Realize. You're not doing badly, idiot... you're doing excellently for your condition! Don't you truly see that? You were just seconds away from passing!"
Meanwhile, Razin was still sinking into thought...
"I think she's right... my negative thoughts drowned out the positives. Maybe what I really needed was someone to watch me while I trained—to notice what I couldn't. Yes... I think I do have some positives."
Razin's expression shifted into a smile as he looked at Verina.
"Thank you... I never noticed that. You really helped me a lot, Verina."
Verina smiled, and Tark was happy too—that Razin had acknowledged his strengths.
"That's what I wanted to see. You did really well for your situation... you'll succeed, believe me," Verina said passionately, clenching her fists with determination.
"I feel better now... much better than before. Maybe... I can really do it. Maybe all I need is just one more push of positivity," Razin said with a smile.
"That'll be easy for you. I believe you'll make it, Razin," Tark said encouragingly.
"Yes!" Razin replied with a serious, confident tone.
Hours passed as they talked positively. Verina was the happiest and most delighted of them all. For the first time in a long while, she saw Razin smile... and it felt genuine. That made her so happy.
---
"Excuse me, could you tell me where Razin Alethiar's room is?" Oravien asked the school worker.
"One moment, please." She pulled out a file of papers from her desk drawer.
She flipped through until she found Razin's name. "It's on the fourth floor of the dormitory building, Room 74."
"Thank you, ma'am," Oravien replied.
"You'll find the dormitory if you just keep walking straight down this hall."
Oravien and Alietra entered the school and began walking.
"Do you think Razin has gotten used to life here?" Alietra asked.
"I really don't know... this is his first social experience. It might have been difficult for him at first. I wonder if he managed to make any friends," Oravien answered.
"Yes... I'm so eager to see him again. I missed him... my little boy." She smiled. They both continued toward the dorm building.
"This building is as huge and wonderful as always," Oravien remarked, looking around.
"It's changed a little since our time," Alietra replied.
"Yes."
They went on and climbed to the fourth floor, where Razin's room was. They walked through the hall until they stood before Door 74.
They paused for a moment before knocking.
"So... do you think Razin will recognize you? You're in disguise," Alietra asked lightly.
"I think so, yes... he saw me once before in the Elikear disguise, so he should recognize me."
"Ah... I see."
Inside the room, Razin and his friends were chatting—ordinary things, nothing important. In the middle of their conversation, a knock at the door interrupted them.
"Who's there?" Razin asked.
Silence for a moment. Then the words that shocked him came through:
"Your father and mother."
Razin, Tark, and Verina were all stunned—especially Razin. He immediately ran to the door.
He opened it, and when he looked up... he saw his mother... and his father—though his father was in disguise.
"Hello, Razin..." Oravien began, but before he could continue, Razin hugged him tightly.
"Dad... Mom... I missed you so much."
Both parents smiled at his reaction. They entered the room and closed the door. Oravien was so absorbed in his son that he didn't even glance around the room.
"Dad... why are you wearing that strange outfit again?" Razin asked, still hugging him tightly.
Oravien patted his head. "I'll explain later..." he said calmly.
"Razin," his mother called to him with her gentle, tender voice. Immediately, Razin let go of his father and ran to embrace her.
"Mom... I missed you so much," Razin said, tears of joy welling in his eyes.
She stroked his hair. "Calm down, boy... there's no need for all this," Alietra said softly. But her expression betrayed her words—tears were streaming down her face too. She had missed her son terribly. She had never been ready to part from him, even for a few days.
"Have you been a good boy at school?" Alietra asked sweetly.
"Yes, I've been trying hard!" Razin replied earnestly. Then his tone shifted, barely audible. "But... I made a few mistakes... I'm sorry."
"That's alright. We all make mistakes sometimes... don't worry." She gently patted his head to calm him.
Meanwhile, something else was about to happen in the room.
"S-S... Sir Eli...kear?"
---
—Verina's Perspective—
I was chatting with my two friends. I was so happy... Razin was finally speaking with energy and wearing a genuine smile after so many days. I was truly glad for him. His mood was lifted so high... would he really be able to succeed? I believed in him—he was in the best state he'd been in for a long time.
And it all happened because of just a few words from me... I never expected they would affect him this much, but they did. Good. I'm glad.
"So, would you both like to go out with me in the city tomorrow?" I asked them, waiting for their answers.
"Yes... no problem," Razin replied.
"I don't know if I'll be able to... but I'll try," Tark said.
So they were both agreeing to my suggestion... but why couldn't Tark? Was he busy with something? Strange... I didn't know, and he didn't tell me. But anyway, it wasn't a big deal. The important thing was that we were all doing well now.
Lately, Razin's mood had been very unstable—happy for a moment, sad the next. It shifted instantly. For example, I'd tell him encouraging words and he'd brighten up... but minutes later, I'd see his negative thoughts covering him again. That had been Razin's state recently. That's why I hoped he'd stay happy this time.
Suddenly, a knock on the door. I was a bit surprised, though not too much. Razin answered it:
"Who's there?"
After a few seconds of silence, the caller responded:
"Your father and mother."
When I heard those words, I froze. I don't even know why... Razin had told me they were supposed to visit him around these days, but still—I was shocked. Because for a moment, I thought it wouldn't happen.
In the middle of my thoughts, Razin ran to the door and opened it.
My expression changed completely—I was stunned beyond description. My eyes opened wide, staring at Razin's parents.
The man standing there was... Sir Elikear.
In the middle of my thoughts, Razin hugged his father... and at that moment, I was certain—Mr. Elikear was Razin's father.
But why?.. Mr. Elikear... he wasn't Alethiar. Then, after looking at the lady standing to his right... this was Razin's mother... but she wasn't Alethiar either. Then why?..
I remembered... Razin once told me that his mother wasn't Alethiar, but his father was. But... why... What was this shocking revelation... The man who saved me... was Razin's father. I couldn't believe it. This was such a great coincidence.
But why didn't he look Alethiar? I was repeating that word in my head when Razin's words cut through my thoughts and shattered them:
"Dad... why are you wearing those strange clothes again?" That's what Razin said.
Wait a second... what's happening here? What does Razin mean... Is his father in disguise or something? That was the only logical explanation for why he didn't look Alethiar. Yes... but why would he disguise himself in the first place?.. I started taking small steps forward.
I couldn't comprehend... This was too big of a shock for me to handle. The man who saved me before... I was seeing him right in front of me now. And at the same time... it turned out this man had been in disguise all along. And not only that—he was also my friend's father!! This was too much!
I watched as Razin moved into his mother's embrace while I was still standing there with a stunned expression. Did this mean... Elikear had entered his home? When I brought him to Alethiar's palace... had he known everything inside the palace? Had he even known my father? And still, he disguised himself...
I don't understand... why would he hide being Alethiar? And why was he living outside the city in the first place?.. Did...
My face froze, my expression changing completely when I suddenly remembered something. Once, when I was a younger. my father told me a story... the story of his traitorous brother who had been exiled from Moraief. At the time, I hadn't understood it much... I was too young. So I couldn't grasp it clearly, and over the years I had forgotten most of the story—except for some small fragments.
But... could this mean... Razin's father was the traitor my father spoke of? Father hated him when he mentioned him. Yes... that made sense. Now I understood why Razin was Alethiar but didn't live in Moraief or in one of the smaller surrounding towns.
This was too much... I couldn't bear it. I dont understand... I dont understand... What should I do? Should I hate Razin's father because he was a traitor? Or love him because he saved me?..
I truly didn't know... I couldn't make sense of it... I couldn't carry the weight of this. No... I have to talk. I want to talk to him. I dont care if he was a traitor—he saved me! When he came with me to my home, he behaved so well that even my father and mother admired him... That meant he had changed, right? Right?!... I am not lying to myself just to like him now, am I?! He deserves respect... He saved me!! Yes... yes... he had changed and become a good person. My father's story didn't matter. I have to respect him!
After all that ran through my mind, I took a step closer to him. When I looked at him again, I saw his expression—shocked... he had realized too, that the girl he saved was his son's friend.
I spoke, my voice trembling in shock as I looked at him. We were both stunned. Tark was the least affected, since none of this involved him directly... though his own view of parents probably wasn't in the best shape either.
"Mr... E-Elikear?.."
---
Everyone in the room was astonished by what had just happened. Razin lifted his head and looked between Verina and his father. Oravien was stunned. Alietra was stunned. Tark was shocked by everything.
"You... you're Razin's friend? Verina Alethiar?" Oravien asked, shifting his gaze between Razin and Verina.
"Y-yes... Razin is my closest friend," Verina answered softly.
Alietra was staring at her son and Verina. "So, you befriended an Alethiarian, Razin," Oravien said.
"Hm... And how do you know who Verina is, father?" Razin asked with confusion, moving to stand beside Verina.
They all entered the room and sat on the bed and chairs.
"Do you remember the little girl I told you about... the one I saved?" Oravien asked as he looked at Razin. Verina's expression was strange as she listened, still under the weight of shock.
"Uh... yes... I think so," Razin answered quietly before realizing, then his face changed to shock. "What?!.. Verina is the girl you saved?!" Razin looked at Verina in astonishment. "Verina... you know my father?" Razin asked, bewildered.
"Yes... Mr. Elikear was the one who saved me before. I'm still very grateful to him. Thank you so much, Mr. Elikear," Verina replied.
"No need, no need... How are you, are you well, Verina?" Oravien asked with a touch of nervousness. Oravien thought to himself: What a disaster... Razin went and befriended an Alethiarian. This will cause serious misunderstanding and contradiction... His thoughts were cut off by Verina's words:
"Mr. Elikear... are you... disguising your identity?" Verina asked, looking up at him.
"What?" Oravien said, startled and uneasy. "Why would you think that?" he continued.
"Razin told me about you... about his father. He said you were Alethiar. But you don't look Alethiar to me... Are you disguising yourself, Mr. Elikear?" Verina asked seriously.
Hearing those words, Oravien glanced at Razin with slight annoyance... but he didn't blame him. He sighed before speaking:
"Well, if Razin has already told you..."
He removed the wig he was wearing, revealing his blond hair and true face.
"There you are," oravien said , and Razin said, laughing. "Finally, you're your true self again, Dad!" Razin added.
"Mr. Elikear... so you are Alethiar," Verina said with a bright smile, before continuing, "Thank you so much for saving me that day, sir. I don't know how to ever repay you."
"It's fine... I was only doing my duty," Oravien replied.
He continued, "You're Alethiarian, so of course you'd find me strange. You never saw me in the palace before, right?" Oravien sighed.
"My father once told me about his brother... At the time, I didn't understand, but I think I do now. His brother was you, wasn't it, Mr. Elikear?" Verina asked with a small smile.
Oravien sighed again, this time with regret. "So, you know my story... my wretched story... how unfortunate." He spoke with bitterness, then looked at Razin with sorrow. Maybe I've ruined your friendship with her, Razin... I'm sorry.
He continued, "And also... my real name is Oravien."
"What's going on... I don't understand a thing," Tark said in shock.
"You're Razin's friend too, aren't you?" Alietra asked Tark, who was sitting beside her.
"Yes..." Tark answered quietly.
"Don't worry, it seems this is a matter between them," Alietra replied.
Razin stepped back, standing beside his mother and his friend. "Even I don't understand anything," he said to Tark, and both of them laughed.
Verina spoke: "You're truly an amazing person, Mr. Oravien. You risked your life to save me... You're truly incredible!"
Oravien's expression shifted to shock after hearing those words. Despite the story I told her... this girl... she's smart. I thought I had ruined her relationship with Razin when she realized who I was... but she ignored the past and judged me based on my present. How was she able to analyze all this and reach such a conclusion? It seems Razin truly chose a brilliant friend... Ah, yes... I forgot—we are in this school. The children here do not think like children.
Oravien patted Verina on the head.
"You are a kind girl... Was Razin a good friend to you?" Oravien asked in a gentle, cheerful voice.
"Of course I am!" Razin shouted from the background.
"Yes... Razin is a wonderful friend! Although he's idiot sometimes..." Verina laughed.
"I am not an idiot!" Razin yelled from the background.
Razin was reunited with his family... Verina with her savior... and Tark was a witness to it all. These were wonderful moments for everyone. Everyone laughed and joked... Razin was overjoyed to see his father and mother again. What a beautiful day it was.