Now that Orion had turned eighteen, the shadow of departure hung heavily over the household.
Soon, he would have to leave for the academy, and later, as tradition and duty demanded, serve in the army. The thought lingered in everyone's minds like a storm cloud.
No one knew if, once he stepped onto the battlefield, they would ever see him again.
Grandpa broke the silence first, his tone steady yet tinged with sorrow.
"One day, you too will have to leave for the academy, Neil—when you turn eighteen.
Even though you've awakened your ability early, the academy will train you properly.
There, you'll be given resources you cannot obtain here. Mana crystals harvested from dead monsters, for instance.
They can expand a person's mana capacity and strengthen their elemental affinity far quicker. The more mana one has, the stronger the magic they can wield."
He paused, then gave a faint smile. "Just like me and your grandmother. My affinity is wind, and hers is fire. With training, both of us grew stronger than we ever could have alone."
Neil sat still, his fists curled on his lap. Hearing this made the weight of the situation sink deeper.
For the first time, he realized the reason for the constant worry etched into the adults' faces whenever Orion's future was mentioned. This wasn't some far-off tale—it was happening now. Orion would have to leave this year.
Neil's chest felt tight. He didn't want anyone to leave him. Not now, not ever.
His mother, noticing the way his shoulders trembled, leaned down and stroked his hair softly. "Neil, don't worry so much. You're still only ten years old."
"But Mother," Neil's voice cracked as he looked up, "what about Orion?"
The simple question stole away her words. Maya's lips parted, but nothing came. Orion was not her son by blood, yet she had raised him with love no less than her own children. The thought of him leaving left her throat tight and her heart aching.
The silence in the room grew heavier with every breath. Everyone seemed lost in their own worries until Neil suddenly blurted out, almost like a promise, "Okay! If Orion leaves, then I'll leave with him!"
The adults startled.
Seraphina was the first to speak, shaking her head firmly. "No, Neil, you can't! Don't say such nonsense."
Neil straightened his back, stubborn determination flashing in his eyes. "Please, just listen first! What I mean is… if he has to go to the academy, then we should all move closer to it. That way, Orion can still join, but we won't be apart. We can still be a family."
For a moment, the adults exchanged glances. Then, suddenly, Grandpa let out a booming laugh that filled the room. "Haha! Neil, Neil… who told you we were worried about him going to the academy?"
"Huh?" Neil froze, staring at his grandfather as though he had just spoken in riddles. The other children, equally confused, leaned forward.
Grandpa rubbed his beard, shaking his head. "We're not worried about the academy, children. What we truly fear is what comes after. Once Orion graduates, he'll be required to serve in the army. He will have to fight monsters on the battlefield."
The words sank into the children's hearts like stones dropped into a still pond. The room grew cold with their unspoken fears.
Lyra was the first to break the silence, her voice small but urgent. "But Grandpa… doesn't Orion have to stay at the academy while studying? Won't that take him away from us?"
Grandpa chuckled softly at her worried expression. "The academy is not far. At most, two hours away. And if we can find a mount for him, the journey will be even shorter. He can come home whenever he wishes."
Neil's jaw dropped. Just moments ago, he had been so worried his brother as if he would vanish forever. Now they told him it was only two hours away? His heart felt Cheated .
as though he had been cruelly tricked.
Still frowning, he asked, "Then why have I never seen anyone else? If the refugee camp and academy are so near, why doesn't anyone come and go?"
Before Grandma Linnea could respond to appease the children , his father spoke, his voice calm but firm. "Neil, you've never stepped beyond the boundary of our village .
That so-called village border you made yourself. It's merely the edge of our home. We told you children it was the village boundary only so you wouldn't wander too far."
Neil's eyes went wide.
His father continued, "In truth, the village extends a full kilometer in every direction, with our home at its center. The farthest you've ever gone is Rock Mountain, and that's barely five hundred meters. You haven't even reached the edge of the real village boundary."
The revelation landed like a hammer. Neil stared at his father, speechless.
Lyra's face turned red with anger. She shot up from her seat and pointed at the adults. "So after making us all so worried, you tell us that Orion could have just come home from the academy every day?! You're all terrible! I don't want to talk to any of you anymore!"
Her voice cracked as she turned on her heel and stormed off, slamming her door behind her.
The adults exchanged glances, some amused, others sighing.
But Seraphina couldn't resist poking fun. She leaned toward Neil with a teasing grin. "So, our little Neil was afraid of being left behind by big brother Orion?"
Heat surged to Neil's cheeks. Embarrassment burned like fire. "Big Sister Lyra is right—you're all bad people!" he shouted.
Grandpa stretched his arms wide, his grin playful. "Oh, Neil, come to Grandpa. A big hug will make you feel better."
"You're a bad Grandpa!" Neil yelled, his face red as he darted off after Lyra.
Seeing Neil bolt, Orion and Caspian exchanged indignant looks, puffing their cheeks in mock outrage before stomping away themselves.
The adults couldn't hold back their laughter any longer. Their chuckles filled the room, chasing away the earlier tension.
"Oh, Neil was so adorable," Maya said between laughs. "He really said he would leave with Orion."
"Yes," Seraphina agreed, wiping a tear from her eye. "That was precious."
Even Kael, who usually kept a straight face, chuckled softly.
But Grandma Linnea raised her hand, trying to calm them. Her smile lingered, but her tone was thoughtful. "Enough laughter, everyone. We should decide how to make up with them. Otherwise, those little ones won't forgive us so easily."
Kael leaned back with a relaxed grin. "Don't worry, Mother. By the time dinner's ready, they'll have forgotten all about this. Children's anger never lasts long."
Grandma didn't argue, though she still looked toward the closed door where Lyra and Neil had run, her eyes softened with affection.