(Planet Ixtal, Inside Soron's Castle, Amanda's POV)

The interior of Soron's stone castle was warmer than Amanda expected, lit gently by floating mana lamps that cast a soft, amber glow across the corridors as she followed the old God through the ancient halls, her sons walking quietly at her side while Su Pei and Dumpy trailed behind her like silent guardians.

The scent of aged stone mixed with the faint aroma of herbs drifted from deeper within the castle, as the corridor eventually opened into a broad courtyard behind the structure, where a large open space stretched beneath the sky, surrounded by low stone walls and tall trees that rustled whenever the wind swept by.

"Is that a training courtyard?"

Su Pei asked Dumpy, as it was Soron who turned to answer instead.

"Yes…"

The old God said, as he led the group towards that courtyard.

The ground within the training courtyard was packed with soil that was softened from years of footsteps.

While several wooden racks stood near the wall, holding carved stick spears, dull-edged wooden swords, battered shields, and a handful of round doll-like training dummies with painted faces long faded by sun and rain.

It looked old, lived in, familiar—like a place filled with memories that had been left untouched for far too long.

"You may let the children play," Soron suggested, pausing near the edge of the courtyard, his gaze drifting toward the long row of wooden training weapons placed neatly along the racks.

"These were ours," he added quietly. "Mine and Kaelith's. We used to train here when we were about their age."

He shared, as Amanda looked at the open space, then at her children, whose eyes had already lit up in innocent curiosity.

"Go on…"

She said gently, as immediately the duo released their grip on her hands, their little feet pattering across the courtyard as they hurried toward the wooden racks.

"Stay within sight," Amanda reminded gently, as the boys nodded eagerly, already examining the oversized sticks that seemed almost comically tall when held next to their tiny bodies.

Meanwhile, Soron moved toward a shaded seating area beneath a stone archway that overlooked the courtyard, where a small table awaited them.

*Snap*

Snapping his fingers, he retrieved a pot of herbal tea and four cups from his storage ring, as he gestured for the guests to take a seat.

"Please…."

He said, as Amanda sat across him with a grateful exhale, while Su Pei settled beside her with composed silence.

"These seats are too small for me."

Dumpy said, as despite having the ability to shrink to a smaller size if he wished, he chose to sit on the ground instead, as he tacitly put himself between Soron and the kids.

*Pouring sounds*

Soron poured himself a cup first, before then doing the same for others, as he watched the children explore the courtyard with wide eyed excitement.

Caleb reached for a wooden spear at first, touching its length with awe, but his attention soon shifted to the twin wooden daggers resting on a lower rack.

Mairon mirrored him a moment later, hopping from one foot to the other as he grabbed a dull wooden stick that vaguely resembled a hunting knife.

As both boys seemed drawn irresistibly to the daggers rather than the swords, spears or shields, as Soron chuckled softly looking at their behaviour.

"It appears the bloodline carries instinct," he remarked, his voice gentle for once as he took the first sip of tea.

*Slurp*

Across the courtyard, Mairon raised his dagger and puffed out his chest proudly.

"Brother look, I am a warrior like father now," He declared, his tiny voice filled with earnest pride as he swung the wooden blade with both hands.

*Swoosh*

*Swoosh*

However, despite his eagerness, Caleb only disappointedly shook his head in response, his face serious as he said—

"No, father fights with two daggers. If you want to be like father, you need one in each hand,"

He instructed, as he rummaged through the weapon rack with clumsy determination, before soon finding another dagger like knife for Mairon to pick.

"Ooo, okay!"

The little one said, as he grabbed the second wooden dagger with joy, before then raising both above his head triumphantly.

"Arrrr—!" he shouted, letting out the most adorable battle cry the courtyard had probably heard in centuries, as Caleb burst into laughter beside him.

"Hahaha, children"

Soron said with a smile, the corners of his eyes softening as he watched the boys run and swing their daggers at the harmless dummies, their movements wild and uncontrolled yet full of life.

"This is why I continue fighting…." Soron began, his tone lowering into something somber as he set down his cup and rested his elbows on his knees.

Amanda glanced toward him, sensing the shift in his mood.

"I fight so that our future can enjoy their childhoods in peace. So that children remain children for as long as possible, before society forces them to harden into warriors," Soron continued, his gaze never leaving the two small figures practicing clumsy attacks on the wooden dummies.

Su Pei nodded slowly, his expression reflective.

While Amanda nodded as well, her heart softening at the sincerity in Soron's words, as she held her teacup with both hands, allowing the warmth to seep into her palms.

"I used to play just like this with my older brother Kaelith," he said, his eyes distant as memories pulled him backward through time.

"My father sat right here in this very spot, drinking tea, watching us with tired patience."

He reminisced, as Amanda could almost picture it—

Two young boys racing barefoot across the courtyard, swinging wooden swords under the sun.

"However, we were never this peaceful," Soron admitted, a faint smirk appearing on his lips.

"There were so many practice dolls available, yet we preferred attacking each other.

But since Kaelith was older and stronger, I always lost."

He shook his head lightly, the memory almost fond.

"It took me years to beat him. And when I finally did… I think that was one of the happiest moments of my youth," Soron finished, as Amanda and Su Pei exchanged small understanding smiles.

Dumpy remained silent throughout the monologue, sipping the tea with slow enjoyment, though Amanda could tell he was listening closely.

Soron's gaze drifted back to the boys once more.

"I hope these children stay together for life and never turn on one another," he continued softly.

"They are destined to become great warriors if they do not fall too soon."

He praised, as Amanda stiffened subtly at his words.

Up until now, she had never truly imagined her sons becoming fighters, following Leo's dangerous path.

The idea filled her with both pride and dread, tangled into an emotion she could not name.

"If they stick together, they will be unstoppable," Soron concluded, his voice mellow yet firm.

"There is nothing brothers cannot conquer when their bond remains unbroken."

He leaned back as the wind rustled the courtyard trees, carrying the laughter of the boys toward them.

"However, more often than not, they do not stick together…."

He said grimly, as Dumpy finally intervened with a decisive nod.

"They will be fine," Dumpy said, his tone filled with quiet certainty.

"I do not know who your father was,"

"But I know their father. And because I know him, I know they will be fine."

He said, as Soron snorted at his words.

*Snort*

"You know, if I were younger, I would wrestle you right here, frog," Soron muttered, shaking his head.

"But I am at a stage of life where I am beyond that nonsense."

He said, as Dumpy clicked his tongue lightly and reached into his storage ring, as he pulled out a small folded letter sealed in old wax.

"Here, this is something I have been safekeeping for you."

He said, sliding the letter across the table toward Soron, who picked it up with cautious curiosity.

"What is this?"

Soron asked, turning the envelope over to examine the seal.

"The smoking man gave it to me many years ago, before he died," Dumpy explained, folding his arms as he leaned back.

"He said I must hand it over to you personally. So I have been holding onto it ever since."

He shared, as Soron felt his heart tighten unexpectedly as he stared at the letter.

'Charles left me a message before he died…?' he wondered, the weight of old memories swelling in his chest, as the courtyard suddenly felt quieter, the world narrowing around the piece of paper in his hand.

As with slow, careful fingers, Soron broke the seal.

And began to read.

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