Alexey found himself in a blur world.

He was traveling back to the past.

To the horrifying day where he had to witnessed his hometown raided by soldiers of Westermind, led by Duke Vosselmoor.

How everything had fallen apart so spectacularly when the city of the most northern part of Northundra hadn't even been attacked at all. But that day, the world turned upside down.

Alexey Vasilliev had never felt so helpless. His father, Wolfram, died instantly right before his eyes. Hundreds of people couldn't escape the massacre of the Westermind soldiers. That was the moment when his world ended forever.

But by pretending to be dead among the corpses, he and his mother crawled to safety from there. They managed to escape. However, the shock and trauma affected his mother greatly. She went into deep depression that led to misscarriage. And after that she was sent to the asylum, leaving Alexey barely surviving on his own.

Alexey stood there, watching his-9-years old-self, live a miserable life. His heart clenched at the sight,

"That's... that's me?" the adult-Alexey asked, unable to believe what he saw.
"Is this my past?" Alexey asked himself as his past life flashed before his eyes.

In a blink of an eye, all the scenes shifted to other memories.

* * *

It was another years..., when his uncle, Sergey, finally found him in a refugee camp. Sergey was a commander in the fleet. But right before Alexey was about to be taken away, then here came someone. A young man, a very distant relative, who also found him. It was Alvard. He came from a land far away. It was not clear how Alvard learned about Alexey's situation. But he seemed to know a lot.

The scenario shifted again.

* * *

Now 12-years old-Alexey found himself in the middle of the court. Sitting in one corner. Confused and scared.

Alvard went against Sergey, trying to win custody over Alexey.

Sergey was talking to the judge,
"Your majesty! This young man is only 21st years old! And not even married yet, what does he know about raising a child?" Sergey said while glancing at Alvard, "moreover, it's true that he may be our family, but he's a very distant relative! I am the boy's uncle! I have every right to take care of him!"

Alvard stood before the court, his expression calm and determined. He had been preparing for this moment for months, and he knew what he had to say. He took a deep breath, his eyes locked on the judge.

"I am only 21st, yes. I understand that I am younger," he said firmly. "But, Your majesty, I have experience in caring for children. I've been a mentor for years, and have been patronizing some children at the orphanage. So, I am confident that I can take better care of Alexey than this man."

"Better?!" Sergey glared at Alvard and growled in frustration, before turning back to the judge "Your majesty! This man came from nowhere. He's a distant relative, anyway! We don't know his true motive as to why he is so insisting on bringing Alexey with him! What if this man had an evil motive? What if Alexey ends up in a slave trading?"

Everyone gasped and murmured at the possibility.

"Silence!" The judge knocked the hammer to bring silence back into the room. He looked at Alvard with narrowed eyes and said sternly,

"Mr. Alvard Shielder, what is your true motive? Here in this papers..." the judge flipped over some documents, "...you are saying that you go against this battle to keep the child away from the military life. Is this your true intention?"

Alvard's expression hardened as the judge asked that question. He knew that he was risking a lot by going against his close relative's wishes.

"Yes, your majesty," he said, his voice firm. "I am going against this battle to keep the child safe. I don't want him to end up in the military, where he'll be in danger and fighting against people who don't care about him."

Alvard took a deep breath, knowing that he was walking a fine line. Then he spoke again,

"I want him to have a normal life. Away from all the violence and danger. Away from the horrors of war," he said firmly.

Alvard's mind was filled with memories as he turned his head at Alexey and their eyes met. He remembered the day he found him, all alone and scared. The memory of the loneliness and pain in the child's eyes still haunts him to this day.

However, the trial didn't meet any conclusion.

The trial was held more than once.
It was the long nights he spent trying to convince the court to let him adopt Alexey. Sleepless days spent fighting for custody.

Until the final trial held again the next week. After hours of debating and arguing, the judge turned to Alexey.

"Son, let me ask you. Decide, who will you choose?" the judge asked.

Alexey gulped, confused, he stared at Alvard for a moment.
The boy actually hesitated and didn't trust any of them. Alvard was just a stranger to him. Meanwhile, Sergey.. his uncle was indeed, his close relative, but not the better option either. In fact, he made Alexey scared.

"I... I will.." the boy stared back and forth between Alvard and Sergey.

Alvard's heart clenched as he saw the fear and confusion in Alexey's eyes. He knew that this was a difficult decision for him, but he also knew that he had to do everything in his power to protect him. With a gentle smile, his eyes locked on Alexey's.

"Son," Alvard said softly. "It's okay... I will honor your decision. Whatever you decide."

"Alexey. You will choose me, right? I'm your uncle. Never once have I hurted you. We were always close to each other, why are you hesitant now?" Sergey tried to reason with the boy, but Alexey shook his head, his expression turning more distraught.

The little Alexey took a deep breath and braced himself. He clenched his fist until his knuckles turned white. Then he slowly rose to his feet, staring straight at Alvard.

"Mr. Shielder. I'll go with you." Alexey said firmly. "Please,take me with you!"

Alvard's heart filled with relief as Brilliant made his choice. He knew that he had won him over.

"Thank you," Alvard smiled warmly, his voice thick with emotion. "I promise, I'll take good care of you. You'll be safe with me."

Alexey's answer was not enough. But after some more arguments, Alvard finally won the custody battle and became Alexey's legal guardian. The judge's decision was met with some resistance from the other family members, but eventually, they agreed to let Alvard take the boy.

After it was all over, people were dismissed from the courtroom.

Alvard approached the boy, looking at him with eyes filled with love and relief.

"Come on," he said gently. "Let's go home."

"Home?" The little Alexey sobbed and suddenly embraced him tight. Alvard was slightly taken aback but he quickly returned the hug, holding him close and burying his face in the boy's hair. Inhaled the mixed scent of sweets and dust in it.

"I'm so glad you chose me, little one," Alvard said softly. "I promise, I'll never let anything bad happen to you. You're safe. You're my responsibility now. Starting from this day, consider me as your older brother, okay? Come on... We're going home."

As the memories played before his eyes, the grown-up Alexey watched with mixed emotions and amazement in his eyes. Tears threatened to fall as he stared at the images of younger Alvard and his child-self walking away from the court hall.

* * *
"Yes... that's what happened... I remember it now..." Alexey whispered as the memories started to blur into white void

* * *