Aberdeen City, 16 years ago
The fourteen-year-old Garan just came back from training, and his body hurt like hell.
"You're finally back?" Howard, who had been having a late-night tea time with his wife, greeted him. Garan nodded politely at his nominal parents.
Alicia looked at him with a gentle smile. "Have you eaten?"
"Yes, mother," Garan said, looking around. "Is Althea still awake?"
"She should be in bed," Mother said, "But you should see. It's been a month since you returned, she missed you very much."
The teenage Garan nodded and said goodnight to his parents, his feet immediately bringing him to Althea's room.
When he opened the door, he saw her soft peaceful figure on her large bed, softly snoring, like a little angel.
Then he could see from the corner of his eyes an eyesore sleeping on the floor mattress.
This brat seemed to have attached himself to his angel. It was to the point he cried when Althea was too far. In distress, the parents had no choice but to allow him to be so clingy until he was a bit older. Fortunately, they didn't allow him to sleep on her bed or Garan would definitely beat him up.
He rudely stepped over the boy's sleeping body and sat on the bed to look closer at Althea. She was still so cute and soft and all his tiredness was swept away at the sight of her.
When her eyebrows furrowed he hurriedly let go, but soon realized it wasn't because of him.
She was frowning deeply and humming as if in pain. He frowned and gently tapped her shoulders to wake her up.
Her eyes slowly opened, her long eyelashes fluttering. For a while, they were still narrowed from the lethargy, but the sleepiness was wiped away when their eyes met.
"Garan?" Her small voice sounded, melting his heart. "You're home?"
The nine-year-old girl habitually scooted to wrap her arms around him and he laid down beside her, making her feel comfortable.
Thankfully, he took a good bath before leaving the training camp, otherwise, her cute face would be scrunched up in the smell.
He patted her back and she snuggled closer to him. "Tell me a bedtime story…" she said and he smiled, agreeing. Before he could start though, he heard a rustle near them. Garan knew that Ansel should have also woken up.
"Story…" she said, as if reminding him, and he couldn't help but chuckle.
Garan rummaged his head for said bedtime story, and recalled the children's book he read when he was working in a small bookstore years ago.
"Well, let me tell you a story…" He said, combing her hair back. "About an ancient hero named Altera."
He remembered the story because the cover was so colorful, and its palette just to Althea's liking.
He had saved up money to buy it for her. Unfortunately, it was sold out by the time he had enough.
The story started with how the country was plagued by wars and the suffering of the people. A commoner man rose up to the challenge, used his strength and charisma to affect the hearts of the people, and used strength to stop the wars.
It took him five decades, but it set off an era of peace that lasted for centuries.
"Altera was the hero of his people." He told her, "The name came to signify beauty, pride, and strength in their country."
"He's amazing," she mumbled, already half asleep. "That's a beautiful name…
"Hmm…" he told her with a smile. His voice was already in the lower timbers, and it comforted Althea very much.
Soon, she dozed off. After a while, all he could hear was soft snoring (Ansel's included), making him smile even more.
Garan also closed his eyes, soul listening to her soft breathing.
As he lay, he felt peace that he had not felt for weeks, falling into slumber shortly after.
He was finally home.
_____
Ferrol Town, Present
Just over a day after the bloody incident, all the soldiers had recovered significantly. Most of them were already resuming their training regimes.
If anything, they worked even harder. It was hard not to—not after feeling their weaknesses so starkly.
For one, the Mercenary team's training field was filled with people, and even their own captain was sparring with someone.
Garan held the attacker's arm and twisted it, making him fall on his back.
Bang!
Followed by a cough, and Garan stopped attacking, waiting for his sparring partner to get up by himself. Sadly, he wasn't getting up and just stayed like that for some time.
Garan looked at Gian who was sobbing bitterly, looking very ugly. The snot coming out of his nose solidified the dust from the ground he was thrown to, making it even more unsightly.
The younger man could only punch the ground, probably thinking it was his face, and sobbed loudly.
"Why!" He yelled, filled with resentment because he didn't kill the big guy. "If you had aimed to kill from the start, if you'd aimed at his head, he'd have been killed!"
"Maybe." He said and Gian just glared at him. Garan sighed but did not beat him up anymore.
"But that also meant a lot of lives in exchange."
Gian gritted his teeth at this, yet no intelligible answer came.
"If you want revenge, then be strong enough to deal with the consequences. Even Luis, who had been out for a month, is catching up to you." He said, and Gian stared at him, eyes filled with sadness and bitterness.
"But Johnny—He died for nothing!"
"I know. But the world is not fair—especially not this one.
"Remember: Revenge begets revenge. If you want to get back at them, be strong enough to be able to protect those you hold important."
What was the point of revenge if you'd just lose more and more in the process?
He sighed, looking at the sky. "Doing otherwise is… simply foolish."
They still had a home to get back to, after all.