“Tell me,” a small voice whispered to the wind. The man turned his head to the boy who reminded too much of himself. Yet also so much of the love of his life that has touched his heart in a way that he would have never thought before. She, who has gone, leaving him, his son, and the baby who he was holding to the mercy of the world.

“Tell me what’s beyond this. Beyond this land that has everlasting snow. What’s on the other side of this small little world,”

The boy’s emerald eyes glittered with wonder, that man could not help to look away from. It reminded him of her, and ate away his heart every time. That determined face reminded of the boy’s grandfather, who he also lost as a young man. 

“Was it suffering? Or despair? Somehow I felt like there would be more than that,” he continued, stepping closer to his father and his little brother. 

The way the boy tailed over the man, stayed forever in his heart. Knowing that one day it will come, the day that he would walk in front of him. Leaving him to chase over his own son, wanting their safety in this world. 

“Father, I’m sure you know what I meant. You have a gift of foresight after all,” 

Yes, a gift that used to crush him. Knowing how the world would unfold, he felt his life could not be his own again as he felt responsible for all the knowledge he knew. He lived for the world, and only the world until he met her. He learned that it was okay to think of himself for once. 

“You never said what you meant, because you think that I’ll know the answer already,” the man's deep voice lingered on the air. It made his son stop poking at the baby’s red cheek. 

“Which was right.  Though what you have not said, reached me not by foresight, rather from my understanding of you,” 

He always understood his son’s temperament and deep inside he knew that the boy needed it. It didn’t make it less hard. He saw how his son would be hailed a hero in one of his sights. That alone would make him proud, despite the suffering and trials he saw his son would have to go through, without his father. But it would be better than him rotting in this place, never truly feeling alive. 

“Go. I can take care of your little brother alone,” the man took a step back, inquiring his son to go. He watched his son’s back as he turned another way, before having to brace himself for an unexpected hug he would get. They’re not known for being comfortable with physical touch except for head pats and maybe some side shoulder hug. 

The three of them would always remember the warmth of that night. Even where they’re very much apart years later.