The previous images from past memories slowly turned into sparkling dust. And now the scene shifted again to other memories.

* * * *

It was the day when Sir Alvard attended Alexey's school graduation. Sir Alvard smiled proudly at Alexey's academic achievements. He had always been a smart and hardworking child, and he had done well in school. He was always the top of his class, and he had gotten a lot of recognition for his skills.

He graduated from school with the highest marks and even got a 'distinction' mark in music. A child prodigy. It had been a proudest moment.

However, the young Alexey was also rebellious at the same time. He had always been a strong-willed child, and he had a tendency to do things his own way. He would sometimes disobey Alvard and go against his wishes.

There was a time when Alvard had to scold him and talk him out of trouble. Alvard had been a strict guardian, but he had always loved him like a brother, and he had done everything to protect him.

* * * *
The scene played when Alvard scolded young Alexey because he was involved in a fight

"It wasn't me who started the fight!!" young Alexey snapped.

Alvard looked at him sternly, his arms crossed over his chest.
"I don't care who started the fight," he said firmly. "You shouldn't have been involved in it in the first place. You know better than that."
He gave Alexey a pointed look, his expression stern.
"Dear Alexey, You need to learn to control your temper. You can't just go around starting fights without thinking about the consequences."

"So I have to just stay still when they hit me to death?! Is defending myself wrong?!" Alexey yelled furiously.

Alvard's expression softened slightly at the sight of his brother's anger.
"Alex, listen, you don't have to stay still," he said. "But you can't just go around to find them and fighting back. There are other ways to handle situations like that. You need to learn to control your emotions and your anger,"
He sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"I know it's hard for you, but you need to learn to think before you act, how to defend yourself without resorting to violence."

Young Alexey opened his mouth to speak,
"Without violence? What am I supposed to do?! I don't understand! They were the ones who dragged me into this violence in the first place!"

"That is enough, young man." Alvard raised his hand. "Don't raise your voice at me. You're the one who decided to fight back."

"You don't understand me!!" Alexey left. "You don't know the whole situation!!"

Alvard watched as Alexey stormed out of the room, feeling a pang of frustration.
He let out a sigh and wiped his face, trying to calm himself down.

Alvard knew that Alexey was just angry and frustrated, and he couldn't blame him. But he also knew that he had to teach him how to control his emotions and temper.

Alvard got up and followed him, making his way to the backyard.
"Alex, my dear, wait..." Alvard called.

But before he reached the backyard, the scene quickly dissipated and changed to another memories...

* * *

The memories shifted further to where Alexey was a teenager.

Alexey walked to Alvard's study.
"Sorry I took the test without your knowledge." Alexey said, "I came out as the top-ranked candidate. Highest points. Here is... the acceptance letter of Ephemeris Military Academy. And other documents you need to sign."

He decided to go to a boarding military academy, which he knew that Alvard most probably wouldn't agree.

Alvard looked at the letter in disbelief. He had never wanted Alexey to go to the military academy. Alvard had always been against the idea of him being in such a dangerous and violent environment.

"No," he said firmly. "Absolutely not! You're not going to that academy."
He took the letter from Alexey by force, his grip tightening around it. He also took the document and briefly examined it. Alvard noticed that Alexey was a genius, with all of that scores of writing exam and physical test. All perfect. But Alvard quickly closed it and refused to give a sign.

"I won't let you put yourself in danger like that! I've been working hard all this time, keeping you away from military life, but then you, yourself, want to go there! Ridiculous!"
Alvard was furious. This was the first time he lost temper against his younger brother.

Alexey's expression remained stoic. He didn't even flinch or show any sign of surprise. Instead, he calmly took back the letter in Alvard's hand, folded it neatly before he put it inside his pocket.
"You can't stop me." He simply stated. "Brother. I made my decision. This is my calling."

Alvard's expression hardened even more at his words. He didn't want to hear any excuses.
"No, it's not your true calling!" he said. "I don't care if you made your decision or not. You're not going to that academy. End of conversation!"

"This is MY life! I decided!" Alexey answered.

Alvard's anger was growing. He couldn't believe that Alexey was being so stubborn and reckless. He stepped closer to him, his voice growing louder, echoing through the main hall.

"No, it's not just about your life!!" he snapped. "You don't know what you're getting yourself into! You absolutely had no idea of what kind of danger you could be in. You don't know what kind of environment you'll be in, what the things that will happen there, what kind of people you'll be surrounded by. It's dangerous, Alexey! And I don't want you to take that risk!"

"So you're controlling me, now?" Alexey stared deadly at his eyes.

Alvard's expression hardened even more at his words. He didn't like the implication that he was controlling him.
"No, I'm not controlling you," he said firmly. "I'm trying to protect you. I'm trying to keep you safe. You can't just go off and join them!"

Alvard felt a pang of guilt at his words. He knew that he was being too strict and hard-headed, but he couldn't help it. He didn't want to lose Alexey.

Alvard took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.
"I just don't want you to get hurt. That's all. Please, understand, Alexey! At least, listen to me this time!" he looked at him, his eyes filled with concern and worry.

"Brother! This is final. I'm answering my call. I'm following my heart. That's it!" Alexey replied determinedly.

Alvard clenched his fists tightly, feeling helpless.
"Your heart is leading you to a dangerous place, young man," he said, with a shaky voice, trying so hard not to burst out even more. "It's not worth it! You don't need to prove anything!"

"It's not because I want to prove something!" Alexey tried to reason with him.

Alvard let out a frustrated sigh.
"Then why are you doing this?" he asked. "Why are you so eager to join the military academy? What do you hope to gain from it?

"Nothing." Alexey frowned. He sighed and looked down, then spoke with slightly tremble voice,
"You knew by yourself.. my father... killed in a military raid. My mother lived a miserable life because of that too. How much longer must we let this war happen? For how much longer, Alvard?! I can't stand it anymore.. I'm sick of this war! I want to end this! I want to create peace across the land!" He gulped down his own words.

How ironic! Create peace across the land by training to be a machine of war?

Alvard's expression softened as he heard him speak. He had known that Alexey was angry about the war, but he had never heard him speak so passionately about it before. He took a deep breath, pinching the bridge of his nose, trying to gather his thoughts.

"I understand your anger," he said quietly. "And I share it. But this isn't the way to fight it. Going to the military academy is just going to put you in even more danger. You'll be surrounded by people who are just as determined to win the war as you are. It's not a safe place for you."

"Not just the academy. This land, too... is never a safe place for everyone, brother. Think about it. Think about those who live in the borderline. Who's gonna save them?! Is it fine to just stand and let them die?!" Alexey said, clenching his jaw.

Alvard was silent for a moment, his mind filled with thoughts. He knew that Alexey had a point. He knew that there were people who were suffering and being affected by the war.

"You're right," Alvard said finally. "I know that you're right. There are people out there who need help. People who are being hurt and killed because of this war. And yes, I want to do something about it too. But I can't just send you to the military and expect you to fight in that war. You're too young, too innocent. You shouldn't have to go through that."
Alvard's mind flooded with memories, and he was trying so hard to hold back emotions, his eyes glistened of unshed tears.
"You've grown, Alexey... Years passed since I found you. I won your custody. I raised you and prepared you to become a scholar, not a soldier! Please... please reconsider!"

Alexey sighed, nodding several times in understanding. "Brother... It's not that I'm ungrateful that you took me in. I thank you.. for everything. I owe you my life. I promise I will somehow repay your kindness."

"It's not that I want you to repay everything. No!" Alvard cut him off
"I'm not trying to make you feel ungrateful. I just want you to be safe by my side! You are my family!"

"But.." Alexey looked up to his eyes, "This is my decision. I'm sorry... I've been trying to live a normal life just like you always wished for me. But the fact is... this war is still ongoing for years without a clue when it will end... It hurt me a lot from inside."

Alvard's expression softened even more as he heard him speak. He knew that the war had been going on for too long, and that it was affecting everyone, including Alexey.

He placed a hand in Alexey's arm, looking into his eyes.
He said gently. "But you don't have to do this if it's not what you want. You can stay here with me. We can find a way to help. We can fight this war and create peace from the shadow."

"No. This is what I want," Alexey placed a hand over his, "It seems that now is the time we take a different way. You may help from the background, but I will take the frontline. Someone must do something."

Alvard was silent for a moment, his heart heavy with conflicting emotions. He knew that Alexey was right. He knew that someone had to do something and go to the frontline. He's right that they couldn't just stand by and watch as the war destroyed everything.

"Are you sure about this?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Are you sure you want to do this? It's dangerous. In the time like this, they will send you into battlefield right after you graduated. You could get hurt. You could die out there."

"Yes." he said firmly without hesitation, "I consciously know the risk. Yet I will take it."

Alvard looked back at him, his expression softening further. He knew that Alexey wasn't going to change his mind.

Alvard let out a sigh, his shoulders slumping once again. A heavy feeling weighing his heart.
"I don't want anything bad happen to you.."
Alvard said quietly.

Alexey took Alvard's hand and gave a firm squeeze, "I'll be fine, brother.. I know I will. Because your prayer from afar.. that's what will protect me from harm. I believe that. Please, allow me to go. I can't go without your blessing."

Alvard felt his heart ache as he heard him speak. He looked down at their hands, then up at his face. He saw the determination and belief in Alexey's eyes, and he knew that he couldn't say no.
" I need you to promise me something." Alvard said.

Alexey nodded, waiting for the next thing he wanted to say.

Alvard took a deep breath, trying to gather his thoughts.

"Promise me that you'll be careful," he said. "Promise me that you'll be safe. No matter what happens, I want you to come back home to me. Do you understand?"

"I can't promise to come back safely. There's a high risk that I might not make it. However.." Alexey placed a hand on his chest. "I will do everything in my power to come back to you. This is my home. You are my home. My brother. Forever."

Alvard felt a lump in his throat as he heard that. He couldn't believe that Alexey was saying these kinds of things.

"You don't know what you're saying, Alexey" Alvard said, his voice barely above a whisper. "You don't know what you're promising. You could get hurt, or worse. You could die out there."

"I know.. I'm sorry... I'm so sorry.."

Alvard felt his heart breaking into a hundred pieces. He pulled his brother into a tight embrace. He could feel the steady beat of his heart. He held his brother like he was the most precious thing in the world. He wanted to say more, to tell him how much he cared. But he couldn't find the words. All he could do was hold him close and pray that he would come back to him safely.

"Fine..." with a heavy heart, Alvard said. "You have my blessing."

* * *