The conversation between Mom and my uncle is tense. I'm not even in the room—they left me "sleeping" (heh) in my crib—but I can hear their muffled voices through the slightly ajar door. I catch fragments: "…untenable situation…", "…raids growing bolder…", "…we need someone to inspire the troops, sister…" Mom's voice is firm, yet laced with worry: "…he already did his part, Valerius…", "…our place is here now…."
Then Dad's deep, calm voice joins in. I don't catch every word, but the tone shifts. There's a pause, and my uncle's reply sounds almost… relieved.
A little later, the door opens. Dad steps in, followed by Mom and my uncle. Borin, Lyra, and Kael are standing in the doorway, all looking serious but expectant. The gentle giant kneels beside my crib to get down to my level. His face carries a determination I haven't seen since I was born—a shadow of the "Ash Fang" they all whisper about.
"Lexo, little champ," he says quietly, his enormous hand stroking my head. "Dad has to go away for a while. There are people near the border who need help, so that trouble doesn't reach here, doesn't reach our home." His eyes search mine, as if he truly expects me to understand. And I do. "Better to stop the sparks before they turn into a fire, right?" He gives me a gentle tap on the forehead, then glances toward his friends. After receiving their nods, he continues, "Borin, Lyra, and Kael are coming with me. I'll be back soon, I promise, son."
As if everything had been choreographed, after Dad departs with his comrades, Uncle Valerius steps closer.
"Your father is a true hero, Lexo. The Kingdom owes him a debt, and I'm proud he's agreed to lend his strength once more." Satisfied, nodding to himself, he pulls something from his armor—a small, silver pocket watch with intricate engravings. He carefully wipes it on the back of his cape and gently places it in my chubby hand. "A little gift from your uncle—so you can count the minutes until he returns." The metal is cool and heavy, but now it feels warm—like the gesture itself. He seems like a good guy.
Mom takes me into her arms; I can feel the dampness of her tears on my back. Her hug is tight, protective. She accepts Dad's decision, even though I sense the worry in the tense set of her delicate features. She knows, better than anyone, the dangers he's faced before—and that even with all his strength and experience, fate can be pretty fickle.
Dad turns back one last time, already clad in his copper armor and ready to leave. He looks at me with a mix of pride, love, and a sadness he's trying to hide. And in that moment, with every bit of strength my tiny lungs and adult mind can muster, I say it. My first clear, unmistakable word.
"Papa!"
Time seems to stop. Garen's face crumbles. The tears he shed when I took my first steps are nothing compared to this. He kneels again, hugs me tight but carefully, his face buried in my side. I feel his tears soaking my baby clothes. "Yes! I'm Papa!" he sobs with a choked laugh. "I am! And I'll come back, Lexo! I swear, I'll come back!"
As I melt into his embrace, I feel a sudden, powerful surge inside me. That little hot marble in my chest—my 50% core—ignites! It's as if the emotional intensity of the moment, my father's love, and my will expressed in that single word act as an unexpected catalyst. I feel the remaining energy fragments, the ones still scattered, being violently sucked toward the center. WHOOSH! The sensation is overwhelming but not painful—like filling a long-empty void.
When Dad finally pulls himself together and stands, wiping away his tears, I feel different inside. More complete. More solid. The blue screen doesn't appear, but I know with absolute certainty that something fundamental has changed. My core… has taken a giant leap. It's not 50% anymore. It feels… almost complete. Eighty percent? Maybe more? It's a surge of latent power far greater than before.
Dad says goodbye to Mom with a deep kiss laden with silent promises. Then he and his friends—now a small but formidable combat group—exit the house, meet up with Valerius's soldiers, and march out of the village. I watch them go from the window, held in Mom's arms, clutching the now-cool pocket watch in my hand.
The house suddenly feels very quiet. It's just Mom and me. And my core, vibrating with this newly discovered energy, is nearly complete—far sooner than expected.