“Yes... but do you remember how I said the story ended?” Diana asked.

  “You buried my father and went to live with Uncle William. He was an old friend and helped you,” Karim answered.

  Diana took a deep breath and looked down at the ground.“Yes... but that’s not what really happened.”

  Karim frowned.

  Diana continued.“After bringing you here… I went back to find your father.”She paused for a moment. Her breath trembled. Finally, with effort, she spoke:“They had cut off his head and were parading it in the town square, Karim.”

  The words sliced the air like a blade.The silence that followed was heavy.

  Tears welled in Diana’s eyes, but she fought hard not to cry.

  “Your father died because of Bahlor’s king.While we were working for him, he betrayed us.He did everything in his power to have us killed.And he still rules Bahlor today.”

  Karim found it hard to breathe.

  “I tried to raise you both to be soldiers.Yes, I admit it.Because I knew I could never take revenge on my own.But you two... maybe you could.You just needed training, Karim.”

  She looked directly into her son’s eyes.

  “The plan was simple.You’d complete your education, get stronger...then we’d make a plan to kill the king.And after that, we’d finally live in peace.”

  “Dust of a drifter”—that phrase was only used for the children of those who had retired or escaped from the Academy, Karim."

  Diana turned her eyes to the distance and continued:“Your father and I met there.Fell in love there.We lived together for the first time... there.

  But it wasn’t easy.And I can never go back. I’m a drifter.”

  Karim stood frozen in place.He felt something crack inside.

  When he turned his head to Junya,he realized she already knew.

  Maybe Diana had told her everything after Karim left—to help her keep hope alive for the Academy.

  “So… I’m supposed to avenge my father?”

  Karim’s voice was barely a whisper.His anger had vanished.Now, only emptiness remained.

  Diana watched her son’s reaction and said softly,“I know you can’t be a hunter like your father, Karim.”“But you can be like me.You—and your sister.”

  Karim turned to his mother and swallowed hard.“What if I don’t want to?”

  That caught Diana off guard.She faltered for a moment.

  She’d never considered that.What if her children didn’t want revenge?What if they couldn’t go through with it?

  Would she really force them to become soldiers—and send them to die?

  Even in her own mind,she didn’t have a clear answer.

  “Then I’ll do it myself,” Diana said quietly but firmly.“Either with your sister… or alone.”

  “I won’t force you anymore, Karim.You’re not just my child now.You’re a soldier of the Academy.”

  Karim hugged his mother tightly and took a deep breath.Despite the whirlwind inside him,knowing this wasn’t a forced destiny… brought a bit of peace.

  “At least… can I think about it until I finish the Academy?” he whispered.

  Diana held him tighter, rested her head on his chest, and whispered back,“Of course, my son.”

  Karim lifted his head, looked at her, and asked curiously,“What’s a hunter?”

  Diana smiled gently.“You’ll learn that in the Academy… when the time is right,” she said with a cryptic expression.

  Then she leaned slightly to the side and whistled with two fingers.

  Soon, William and Luca emerged from the forest.

  The fading red of the sunset filtered through the trees—and the whole forest was wrapped in a heavy silence.

  Karim turned to his mother.“We’ll leave at first light, Mom.”

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Diana stroked his hair and replied,“Alright, sweetheart.”

  As night fell, they sat around the fire.While the flames flickered, Karim and Luca talked about life in the Academy,and Junya listened with wide-eyed excitement.

  Once everyone went to bed,Diana and William stayed by the fire.

  Diana held a stick into the flames, took a deep breath, and asked thoughtfully,“Do you think it was wise to tell him everything?”

  William kept his eyes on the fire and replied,“You would’ve told him eventually—when his training was done.Maybe it’s better that he learned now.”

  Diana stared into the glowing embers.“I’ve never seen him so angry…I can’t believe he killed someone—and didn’t tell me.”

  William nodded slightly.“I told you… they’re still children.They’re not ready for this.

  How effective can a fifteen-year-old soldier really be?Can he even lift a sword strong enough for war?”

  Diana whispered,“He killed two people…I still can’t believe he was able to do it.”

  William shrugged.“They’ve been trained since the moment they could walk, Diana.Even if they’re kids, they were raised like soldiers.

  Karim’s always been more calculated than Junya.And now he’s getting real training at the Academy.

  But what I’m really wondering is… how will Junya turn out?”

  Diana squinted into the fire and sighed deeply.“I don’t know,” she said softly.“But I believe… she’ll be just as capable as Karim.”

  At dawn, while William readied the horses,Diana handed Karim a small pouch of money.

  “I’m sorry, my son,” she said gently.“This is for your friend—and also… for pushing you so hard.”

  Karim looked at the money for a moment, then pushed it gently back into his mother’s hands.“You need it more than I do. I’ve saved a bit back at the Academy,” he said with determination.

  Diana smiled faintly and shook her head.“So… you’re still planning to buy us a house, huh?”She pulled him into a hug.Then she stepped back, gave him one last long look—and watched as the three of them rode away.

  As they galloped forward, Luca leaned in behind him.“You know this is our last day, right? If we don’t make it back in time, we’re getting punished.”

  Karim kept his eyes on the path ahead.“I know. That’s why we’re not stopping. No matter what.”

  Their goal was to reach the Academy before sunset—but with the distance and their exhaustion, it was nearly impossible.Still, they didn’t slow down.

  By the time they arrived, the sun was already dipping below the horizon.Their legs ached from the long ride.After submitting Junya’s application for admission,they were told, unsurprisingly, that she’d have to wait until morning.

  They settled her into the guest quarters,then Karim and Luca ran off to report to their instructors.As expected, they couldn’t escape punishment.

  They were assigned to repair training weapons for the rest of the week—though at least they were relieved it wasn’t extended combat drills all night.

  The next morning, Junya, without waiting for her brother or Luca,signed herself up for the entrance trial.

  The moment she stepped into the Academy, a teacher approached her.He whispered a few words and summoned a ring of fire around them.

  The rules were simple:If Junya fell three times or stepped out of the circle, she would lose.If she managed to knock the teacher down once, she would pass.

  The trial began on the teacher’s signal.

  For Junya, this was her second chance at the place she had dreamed of for a year.

  Meanwhile, when Karim woke up and checked the guest room,he panicked—Junya was gone.

  He bolted out, fearing she had gotten lost or pulled too deep into the Academy alone.

  But scanning the area, he saw the trial already underway.

  And what he witnessed stunned him.

  Junya was no longer fighting like a desperate girl.She moved like a trained warrior.

  She dodged every blow with fluid precision,striking back with sharp counters—tiring her opponent out with calculated hits.

  Then, she slipped past another attack,smashed her palm under the teacher’s chin to stagger him,followed by a punch to the chestand a powerful kick to the shoulder—knocking him to the ground.

  Karim stood frozen.His little sister moved as if she had been training for a decade.

  The teacher rose slightly, looked at Junya,said a few words—then reached out his hand.

  Junya took it, gripping it firmly.

  Karim rushed over.“What happened? You made it in, didn’t you?” he asked, breathless.

  Junya’s eyes sparkled.“Yes!” she yelled, wrapping her arms around her brother.

  As they laughed together,Karim felt something he hadn’t in a long time: peace.His sister was finally here—safe and part of his world now.

  He spent the rest of the day showing her around.He took her everywhere she needed to know, explained the rules,and warned her what to watch out for.

  Later, he brought her to the hilltop with Luca.

  “This place is special to us,” Karim said, gesturing around.“It’s where we talk about our dreams, our choices… our future.”

  Junya stood by the tree in awe,listening as Karim and Luca shared the memories they had made there.

  The next day, as Junya left for her first lesson,Karim and Luca were unexpectedly summoned by their instructor.

  With a stern look, he said,“Start preparing.You’ll be moving with the army soon.”

  Karim’s joy faded in an instant.He had just begun enjoying his sister’s presence—and now, they’d be separated again.

  By evening, Karim found Junya and told her about the mission.“When I return… I want to train with you,” he said.

  Junya nodded eagerly.She had already made a new friend: Linda.“She’s just like me,” she said, eyes wide with excitement.“We joined on the same day. We’re training together too.”

  At dawn, attendants woke Karim, Luca, and the other assigned trainees,instructing them to gather outside the central building.

  As they approached, the distant rumble of hooves echoed from the upper path.

  “They’re coming!” Luca said, wide-eyed.

  As the army neared, the sound of horseshoes and metal armorrang louder and clearer through the morning mist.Civilians cheered as the soldiers prepared to depart.

  When the army stopped by the central building,officers moved forward and helped the waiting students into light armor.

  Finally, the first destination was announced.

  Karim took a deep breath,feeling a mix of excitement and uncertainty as he tightened his armor straps.

  This was it—his and Luca’s first real mission as soldiers.