~Two years later

I clench my fist and force the nearby rock away from me. It flies into the nearby tree trunk and smashes into a billion pieces by a loud glass breaking sound. I do not flinch or move at all as the pieces fly up into the air in a cloud around the tree. The pieces tumble all at once into the grass and puffs of rock dust flutter around the tree, slowly settling around the scene.

I breath heavily like I was just lifting heavy weights for hours as I drop my balled fist to my side. It is early morning and no one is awake yet. I could not sleep and my anger was threatening to take control from me, so I came out to the practice field to release my emotion into the night before the sun rises. Thoughts of Mama's words still haunt me every night, taunting me.

I'm sorry.

A tear suddenly falls down my face as I recall the pain on her face. No. I'm sorry Mama. I know you do not wish for this to happen. But just knowing what Papa Greil means when he sends you all to battle, what all of this training means, it tears me apart inside. The meaning of war... now I understand that word.

It means death.

More tears fall down my face as I feel my emotion flow freely through my arm.

And I hate it.

I flick my hand up once more, point to my left, and a larger rock flies away from me, forcing my cape to flap around me as I keep my gaze down on the ground before me. My hood blocks the rising sun rays from hitting my face and the light morning breeze blows my hair in my vision.

I just recently turned twelve. I have mastered my magic to the point where I lift rocks with ease for fun and I hardly ever feel my emotion tugging for control. I sometimes come out for practice and toss rocks around for fun instead of meditation. Tossing rocks is how I control my emotion now. My walk to the cliff's edge is full of lifting rocks around me and building a path for me to walk through, just for erupting them from the ground later when I leave to head back, tossing them in all directions at once.

Just for fun.

I flick my hand to the right and another rock flies away from me in the other direction. I slowly turn my gaze towards where the rock hits the tree and watch the remains of the rock tumble to the ground, narrowing my gaze.

I know Mama swears herself to the King she told me about, but why is this kingdom in this war anyway? Mama told me this kingdom used to be peaceful...

I slowly turn and face the shattered rocks scattered around the trees lining the field. I scan them as I lower my hand to my side, no more emotion to release. The tears have dried on my cheeks and there are no more to fall. I slide my gaze between all the trees that were victim to my aim. Each one scarred from the impact with the shattered pieces scattered all around their trunks.

Today's training will not be subtle to notice this morning.

After another moment of staring at the shattered rocks, I slowly sink to the ground, my cape surrounding me slowly as it falls into place around me. Thoughts flood my mind and swallow me up once again.

I know we don't live in the world where Mama is from, that is why we have to travel through a portal to visit Ma and Pa, so that means Mama is not a princess in this world. She is just a sell sword like Papa and the others... and me.

I slide my gaze away from the trees and to the ground in front of me. But this world is so similar to the one where Ma and Pa are. Why is there war here and not there too? If Lucina is the princess here... then who is the King?

My thoughts are broken as sounds begin to fill the practice field. I turn my head and lift my gaze up to find Oscar and Boyd entering my view, preparing for their morning practice. They are already holding their wooden weapons as they immediately take swings at each other before they even fully reach the area they always use. I watch them for a moment while they dance around the field, swinging their wooden weapons towards each other.

After another moment, I see Papa enter the field through my peripheral vision, followed by my brother happily chasing after him. I slide my gaze over to them without moving my head. Papa glances over at me before kneeling in front of my brother. He tells him many things that get many different reactions out of him, then stands up when Papa Greil enters the field. Papa follows him out of the field and back into the keep. Then my brother spins around and looks directly at me from across the field.

It has been a while since he has looked at me with fear in his eyes, but I am not sure if he still feels it or not. He has not really spoken to me before as I have been staying away from him training alone by the cliff's edge. This war thing has me angered and feeling weak. Mama never lets me do anything but worry about them when they leave, now that I understand what they do when they go. I just feel dread and helpless when Papa Greil commands them to leave and prepare for battle.

Battle. He means go kill and risk being killed. Don't you, Papa Greil? That's what all of this means... and you expect me to just sit around and do nothing... don't you...?

What if I do not wish to fight? What if I don't really want to be a sell sword? I don't wish to live my life fighting like this. But what choice do I have. I want to be with Mama and Papa. I want to protect my brother. I have to learn to fight or my brother is in danger.

I try not to show my emotions to my brother as he watches me. I just push aside my thoughts and stare back, wondering what he is going to do. He does not look like he is going to run away. He, actually, looks like he wants to approach me.

Why would he talk to me? And about what? We never really talk. I don't know what to say really. When he was younger, he would always run from me. Now he just smiles at me and stays with Papa or Mama. But then again, I never really let him approach me before. I was too worried about scaring him to let him. But he doesn't look afraid anymore.

I slowly turn myself towards him, still sitting on the ground, and continue to watch him calmly. After a short moment, he smiles at me and starts to approach me. Well, here goes nothing, I guess.

He stops when he gets five feet from me and we watch each other for a moment. He raises his hands up in front of him and intertwines them together while his expression morphs into what appears to be concern, maybe?

He slides his gaze down to the ground, "Um, brother Merric?" His voice gets softer, "I wish you would smile more..."

My eyes widen slightly. I did not expect him to say that to me. I feel almost dumbfounded and confused, "W—wait. Y—You're not scared of me?"

He gives me an expression like he is shocked I would ask him such a thing. Does he not remember much from when he was really young? "What? Scared of you? Why would you think that?"

If you do not remember, then I do not wish to answer that, brother...

When he sees I do not answer him right away, he continues, "You never really let me approach you, anyway, brother. Why?"

I let my fears keep my brother away from me...

I feel angry at myself when I see the pained expression he gives me just now with his sudden question. He approaches me further and sits near me, across from me and studies me; probably waiting for my response.

I decide to be truthful without bringing up my fears, keeping my voice low, "Mama and Papa wish for me to practice a lot... and I practice alone, brother,"

He keeps his gaze on me as I slide my gaze away slightly, "I... understand," He replies, softly.

"Papa..." His pauses for a moment, "Papa says you don't talk much to anyone... and I just wanted to talk to you. Um... i—is that okay, brother Merric?"

I slide my gaze up to his. At first, I am unsure of what to say but deep down I have actually wanted to talk more to my brother too. I ignore my default reaction to push myself away, "Y—yes,"

I pause, hoping to choose the correct words to say what I want him to know, "I am glad you approached me, brother... brother Lance. You can approach me whenever you want to. It is hard to explain but, Papa is only partially correct. I do not speak much to anyone, but that does not mean I will not,"

He smiles back at me when I give him a half smile, unsure of what to say next, "Thank you for talking to me, brother Merric,"

He slides his gaze around behind me for a bit before finding mine again. He probably has noticed the markings on the trees I left while training earlier, "Training again this morning?"

The smile fades as I slide my gaze over to the crumbled rock pieces beside me, "Everything okay, brother Merric?"

I fight away the tear that is threatening to fall, "Y—yeah... just feeling weak because Mama and Papa don't let me do anything when they leave with Papa Greil,"

I feel the silence fall in around us for that moment. It feels cold and harsh like my brother understands the feeling too. It surrounds me like it wants to make sure I am aware of its presence, like a blanket of snow falling over me suddenly.

Even though he is seven, that does not mean he also does not understand what I mean. He may not know what battle means yet, but he has to know the feeling of worrying about them and wondering what they even leave for.

"Do you know where they go, brother Merric?"

I slide my gaze back up to his swiftly. I'm sorry, brother. But I cannot tell you that yet.

I shake my head slowly, "No,"

"Oh. I hope it's nothing serious,"

I hope they stay safe.

Silence fills around us for a moment. Then I see Mama enter the field and scan around before noticing us sitting over here on the far side. I smile, "There's Mama. I think she wants us to go greet her, brother Lance,"

He smiles back and nods, "Thank you for talking to me, brother Merric. Let's go speak to Mama,"

I nod in return, "Okay,"

The very first real brother bonding moment! <3

If anyone can get Merric to open up, Lance can.