Farewell.

When Vallen heard and saw his mother, he completely changed, he was not at all like he was on ordinary days, as if he had been fully restored.

How long are you going to stand there, my little boy?"

"I was just admiring your wonderful flower garden." He smiled.

"Those are all weeds." Her eyes showed every sign of worry.

As Vallen stepped inside, a wave of childhood memories flooded over him. Everything was just as it had been in his youth. The handcrafted pottery hanging on the wall, and the scent that always reminded him of the past.

They sat in silence on the couch, a quiet that only hinted at concern.

"Listen—" He looked up, but the tears streaming down his mother's face prevented her from uttering a single word, despite a small smile.

"You know, when you left years ago, I saw in you the child I had raised, the one who looked at me with wonder in his eyes every day and who played outside with his younger brother. I didn't understand why such a child had to go away to a war fought by adults, a child who hadn't even experienced true love yet. But I let you leave, which was the greatest mistake I made in my life, letting you and Rafael go.

As she spoke, she looked up at him, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"When the officer appeared with his sword and folded flag, all I could think about was what might be happening to you. the one whose best friend in life was his brother. I waited and waited for you to come back, knowing well that you would not be the same cheerful boy I let go. But I didn't even recognize you when you showed up. I saw a broken soul who had experienced horrors, a stranger to me.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.

"You promised at your brother's grave that you wouldn't leave again.You promised him that you wouldn't leave me alone anymore, and yet here you are. You are all I have left in this world, and I don't want to see you in a casket. You're leaving, aren't you?" She began to cry even harder.

"I got promoted to general and probably going to get the Imperial Seal soon. So in a few months, yes I will leave."

"I wish things could be different," she whispered into his shoulder, her voice muffled. "I wish you could stay with me, like when you were young."

He closed his eyes, wishing he could erase the distance created by war, by duty, by the weight of expectation. "I wish that too."

"Promise me." She said, her voice steadying but still filled with emotion. "Promise me that you'll come home, no matter what."

"I promise." He replied, his voice firm. 

She nodded, accepting his words, but he could see the flicker of doubt in her eyes. "You have to take care of yourself out there. You're still my little boy, even if you're a general."

Vallen chuckled softly.

"Do you remember the summer we spent at the lake?" She asked suddenly, her tone shifting to a more nostalgic one. "You and your brother used to race to see who could catch the most fish."

A smile crossed his lips. "I remember. I lost every time."

Her laughter rang out, a sound that warmed his heart, pushing away the shadows that had settled in the corners of the room.

"You'd be out there, splashing around, thinking you could scare the fish into the net."

He laughed, recalling those simpler days when joy was found in the smallest things.

"I can't believe you remember that. It feels like a lifetime ago."

"It was." She said, her smile fading slightly as she looked back at him with concern. "But those memories are what keep me going. I wish I could hold onto them forever. I wish I could hold onto you forever."

Vallen reached out and wiped a tear from her cheek, feeling a swell of emotion within him. "I'm still here, mom. You can always hold onto me, even when I'm far away."

"When you're out there, remember who you are. Remember where you came from. Don't lose yourself in the darkness of war." She said, her voice trembling slightly

"I won't forget." He assured her, though doubt lingered in the back of his mind. "I promise to carry you with me. Every step of the way."

They sat together, wrapped in the warmth of their memories, the love that had shaped him into the man he had become. As it started to rain, he knew that no matter where the battlefield took him, he would carry this moment in his heart, a reminder of home, of love, and of the promise he made to return. 

With a final squeeze of her hand, Vallen stood "I should go" he said, the weight of those words hanging heavily in the air. 

"Take care of yourself, Vallen." She whispered, her voice trembling again. "And know that I will always be here, waiting for you." 

"I love you." He said, as he turned to leave, each step feeling heavier than the last. 

"I love you too, my little boy." 

Just as he reached the door, his mother's voice "Vallen, wait!"

She approached him slowly, her hands trembling as she showed a sword.

"This was his." She said softly, her eyes brimming with tears. "I want you to have it."

Vallen took the sword reverently, feeling the weight of his brother's legacy in his hands.

 "I can't—"

"You can and you must. He always wanted to be a leader, an officer. Carry this with you as a reminder of who you are fighting for." Her voice cracked with emotion, but her gaze was steady, urging him to understand.

Tears streamed down Vallen's face as he held the sword tightly

She stepped closer, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Whenever you look at this sword, remember that you're not just fighting for duty; you're fighting for family, for love. Bring him back with you, Vallen."

With a nod, he promised her silently that he would carry his brother's spirit into battle, the weight of the sword now resting not just on his shoulders but in his heart.