Akira and Arthur sat atop the same rock they had always returned to, their quiet refuge overlooking the fields beyond the village. The wind brushed softly past them as both boys sank into their thoughts about what lay ahead.
They did not have much time left.
Tomorrow, Arthur would turn eighteen.
The day after that, it would be Akira's turn.
Akira let out a long sigh, his voice heavy with worry.
"What are we going to do…? Time is running out, and I keep getting the same answer."
Arthur replied calmly, as if the problem meant little to him.
"We won't do anything."
Akira turned to him sharply, anger flashing in his eyes.
"What do you mean we won't do anything? You're turning eighteen tomorrow! You'll probably disappear just like everyone else does. What do you expect me to do if you leave me behind?"
Arthur smiled, an amused glint in his eyes.
"You'll probably wander around crying, spending the whole day mourning me."
He paused, still smiling.
"But don't worry. As long as I'm alive, I won't leave you alone. Even if they ask me to go work, I'll wait until you turn eighteen so we can go together."
Then he stood up and stretched.
"But that's not what we should be worrying about right now. The study sessions will start soon… so let's enjoy ourselves while we still can."
The study sessions were lessons held by parents in their own homes. There, they taught their children how to read and write, along with bits of history and other knowledge. The teachings came from old books and manuscripts that had been passed down through generations.
Akira and Arthur spent the remaining hours laughing and playing, trying to forget the unease that lingered in their hearts.
Eventually, night fell and darkness draped the village in silence. It was time for the lessons to begin.
The two boys parted ways and headed toward their homes.
When Akira arrived, he found his five siblings already seated for the lesson. They had begun without him.
He immediately realized he would likely be scolded again by his father.
Quietly, he slipped into his place among them.
But this time, his father did not reprimand him for being late.
Aside from the five siblings, Akira lived with his father Marcus and his mother Clara. At first glance, Marcus seemed like a stern and intimidating man, but in truth he deeply loved his children and treated them with kindness. Clara, on the other hand, was a gentle and caring mother who adored her children and devoted herself to raising them well.