The journey back to the northern winter lands was a blur of gray horizons.

When they docked back on the freezing shores of Tsutsumi, the air felt heavier than Eiji remembered. His brother was waiting with a hug that felt desperate.

“You’re back! You’re finally back!”

Fuyuki ran and hugged his brother tightly.

“I missed you so much!”

“I missed you too. Very much.”

Eiji tightly hugged his brother back.

“By the way, I bought something for you.”

Eiji reached into his pocket and handed over the keychain that he and Rowan bought together.

It was a crystal carving of a gourd.

“Wow, this looks pretty! Thanks, Eiji!”

Fuyuki took the little gift and began marveling at the beautifully crafted crystal.

Eiji smiled.

But the joy was short-lived.

A hush fell over the docks as the general of Yaiba-Tsutsumi approached.

While the general's gaze swept over the crew, as if the air couldn't get colder, the winds shifted. Eiji felt like he had seen this scene before, and he realized something heavy was about to unfold.

Inside the walls of the general's residence, the truth was laid bare:

"I know this is too sudden, Eiji, but I want you to become a blade of Tsutsumi."

General Hyosei spoke with the voice of a father, saddened by his own request.

"I realized what you need to sacrifice for my selfish request, but I want you to know that this is not about—"

Hyosei's words were cut short by Eiji's quick reply.

"I am honored to follow your footsteps, Father. I accept your invitation to be part of the Yaiba-Tsutsumi."

Eiji bowed, hiding his tears from his foster father as he grieved right then and there for the life that he had only lived for a short time.

Silence followed.

Eiji did not protest; he did not refuse.

Hyosei realized that any words from him would not ease the pain he inflicted only a second ago.

Eiji left the room without once meeting his father's eyes.

Hyosei knew he had just betrayed his child's dream. But in his mind, he had no choice but to fulfill a promise he had once sworn a long time ago.

He looked outside the window and into the far side of the tall village walls.

“Did I do the right thing, brother?”

…

That night, lying in the dark, Eiji stared at his wristband, the ache of his lost freedom gnawing at him and with it, the quiet, sinking realization that he might never see Rowan again.

"I'm home!" Fuyuki announced as he took off his footwear by the entrance.

"Welcome home," Eiji responded, seemingly down.

Fuyuki noticed the change in his brother's demeanor. He walked to Eiji's room and knocked softly on the open door.

"Can I come in?" He peeked.

Eiji sat down in his bed and gestured at his brother to sit with him.

"So, what's wrong? Did father scold you or something?" Fuyuki asked as he snuggled on Eiji's arms.

"No... but he asked me to join the troops... I'll be training as a samurai a month from now," Eiji answered, sounding defeated.

Shocked, Fuyuki let go of his brother's embrace and looked at Eiji with a scowling face.

"He can't do that!? He knows you wanted to be a voyager so bad! How can he—"

Fuyuki stopped when Eiji spoke,

"It's okay. Deep down, I've always known that becoming a samurai is the only way for me to pay him back." Eiji continued.

"But... what about your dream? The places you wanted to explore?"

"I guess I'll have to let them go,"

Eiji replied and hugged his brother tightly.