That was a shocking view for me that I had never stepped out of the village.

Going through the woods just outside the village for a while, the ground was suddenly missing.

The place was at the top of a cliff that cut off and allowed us to look down on the lower boundaries that stretched far beyond. I had no idea, but apparently my village was at a pretty high altitude. Is it the middle of the mountain?

Looking down at the view from the cliff, on the right is the depressed and lush forest. Meadows like everywhere on the left.

Beyond it stands the steep mountains, and you can even see the sea around the horizon.

And against those backgrounds, your brother stood alone.

"Logna"

When your mother speaks gently, your little, shoulder-bouncing brother looks back in horror.

Besides loneliness and hindsight, that look also seemed to be mixed with some relief.

My brother, who swelled his eyes slightly, hugged his father's book to his chest.

"I was worried, Logna. We've been looking all over the village."

Your mother says so and walks over and hugs your brother with me in her arms.

I was so sorry to see a tear in my brother's eyes when he held me.

"Oh, I'm sorry, honey."

As I apologized as I grabbed the hem of your brother's clothes, your brother opened his eyes a little surprised,

"... No, I'm the one who's embarrassed.... Sorry."

My brother stroked my head softly, wrapped in a wet cloth.

Then your brother gently gave me the book he held dear.

"... oh dear?

"Seriously, if you don't, you have to go to war. Do you understand that?

To the abrupt question your brother had thrown at me, I thought, albeit a bit of an indulgence.

Now they say people and demons are at total war.

Then naturally, a magician who can handle magic must be a formidable force of war.

There's no way the Empire won't speak up to the sorcerer because it's enough to collect adult men with no particular handle in conscription.

Inevitably, your brother wants to say that if you become a magician, you will be driven to war.

... But I wonder if you'll be conscripted one day for not being a magician about anything.

"Oh, this is it, so we have to do it."

"Yeah, but that's when you're fifteen."

"Huh?"

"But you can't be a child."

I wasn't sure what your brother was trying to say and I was confused.

It doesn't matter to me like that, your brother groans with distant eyes that put his thoughts to old memories.

"And, honey, I was just saying it when I came back a little while ago. When we grow up, the war is over."

Right next to me, your mother breathed.

I don't even know about this, it sounds like it's just about your father and your brother.

"That's why - until you come back - you told me to protect everyone... I fucked it up"

Before we grow up, does that mean ending the war within another decade?

War can end in years or last decades. Whether the period of ten years is long or short is indescribable.

But as a father with young children, you should want to avoid anything that would make your child go to a dead place.

That's why I must have expressed that readiness to your brother.

I've never even seen your father's face... but my father seems like a very fine man and I'm happy.

At the same time, it warmed my heart to know that my unfathomable brother had always thought of that for me.

I mean, if the fathers who are fighting now can end the war within a decade, then neither your brother nor I will have to be conscripted.

But if I become a magician without waiting ten years, I might be driven out by war.

I guess that means your brother didn't want you to do it and took your father's book from me......

When she heard your brother's confession, her mother put even more effort into the arms where she was holding her brother.

"Dad and you promised that...... thanks, Logna"

"... yeah"

"But don't hold me in there alone anymore. I'm family...... from now on, let's all support each other. Right?"

To the voice of a merciful mother, your brother said nothing and nodded quietly.

And your brother turns his arm around my back and hugs me,

"If there's anything serious... I'll protect you, Sephi."

"... thank you, oh dear"

I replied that way...... sorry brother.

After all, your mother, your brother, then your father, everyone in the village.

Guys, I'll take care of it.