The snow cloud slowly grew closer. Vined and Duke Sant stepped forward with small, careful steps.
Both n had soft smiles on their faces, but their eyes stayed fixed on the white shape moving through the falling snow.
The cloud ca nearer and nearer. Now they could see it was not just snow.
A white horse was running fast toward them.
The horse’s coat was so white that it mixed perfectly with the snow all around.
Because of this, it looked even faster, like a flash of light cutting through the storm.
Vined watched without blinking. His lips moved a little.
"He has grown..." he muttered in a low voice.
A sharp pain of regret appeared in his eyes. He looked down for a mont, then quickly looked up again.
Duke Sant noticed. He put a warm hand on Vined’s back and patted it gently.
"What did you expect?" he said in a kind voice.
"Ti does not wait." He gave one more pat, then both n stood still and waited.
The horse ca closer. Its hooves made soft thuds on the snowy ground.
Now they could see a man sitting tall on the horse.
He wore a thick white hooded robe that covered him from head to almost feet.
Snowflakes stuck to the robe and sparkled like tiny stars.
The horse slowed down.
It stopped right in front of the two n, breathing hard. White clouds ca out of its nose with every breath.
Neighhhh!!! The horse gave a loud, strong cry that echoed in the cold air.
The man jumped down from the saddle in one smooth move.
His boots landed softly in the snow. He reached up with both hands and pulled back the white hood.
It was Vivian.
His face looked older now, stronger jaw, sharper eyes, but the sa warm smile was still there.
Snow rested on his dark hair like white flowers. He looked straight at Vined.
Vivian took two quick steps forward. His arms opened wide.
"It’s been a while, Father," he said. His voice was clear but soft. "I missed you."
Vined’s eyes beca wet. He took a slow, deep breath.
For a second he could not move.
Then he stepped forward too. His arms opened. He wrapped them tightly around his son.
"I missed you too, son," Vined said. His voice shook just a little. He held Vivian close for a long ti.
One hand rested on the back of Vivian’s head, like he used to do when Vivian was small.
Duke Sant stood a step behind them. He smiled quietly and looked away for a mont to give them space.
Snow kept falling gently around the three n and the white horse, covering everything in soft silence.
After a while, Vined pulled back just enough to look at Vivian’s face.
He touched his son’s cheek with cold fingers.
"You are taller now," he said. A small, real smile ca to his lips. "And stronger."
Vivian laughed softly. "I had to be," he answered.
The snow kept falling softly as Vivian let go of his father.
Then he turned and walked the few steps toward Duke Sant.
His arms opened again. He wrapped them around the older man in a warm hug.
"I missed you too, Grandpa," Vivian said. His voice was quiet but full of feeling.
Duke Sant let out a deep, happy chuckle. "Haha, you did?" he said.
His big hands patted Vivian’s back twice. His eyes shone bright with pride.
For a mont he held his grandson tight, like he never wanted to let go. Then he slowly released him.
After a short pause, Duke Sant looked at Vivian’s face.
"How is Elena doing?" he asked. His voice was soft, full of care.
"She is doing fine," Vivian answered with a gentle smile.
"Everyone is well." He started to tell them what had happened back ho.
They had already received a letter, but it was much easier to hear it from Vivian’s own mouth.
He spoke clearly, pausing now and then to make sure they understood.
Vined listened quietly, arms crossed. Duke Sant nodded from ti to ti.
"Ohh, Aron is also there?" Duke Sant said suddenly.
His eyes lit up even more. A look of longing appeared on his face.
It had been too long since the family had all been together at ho.
He wanted to see them, really see them.
Vined, who had been standing still and listening, stepped forward.
"Okay," he said in a calm voice. "Let us return to the camp. You should get so rest, Vivian."
He walked over to the white horse. He took the reins in his hand and gave the horse’s neck a light pat.
"Okay!" Vivian gave a short nod. He turned back to Duke Sant as they started walking.
"You know, Grandpa, that idiot brother of mine cut off his left pinky because of that."
"Really?" Duke Sant chuckled again. A big grin spread across his face.
"He is really an idiot." Both of them laughed softly as they walked side by side.
Their boots left deep footprints in the fresh snow.
Vined followed a step behind, leading the horse.
The smile on Vined’s face never faded. It stayed there, quiet and real.
After walking for a little while, they reached the camp.
Small fires burned here and there.
The light from the flas danced on the snow.
The warriors on guard duty saw the group coming.
Right away they stood up straight. Every one of them bowed low and spoke together.
"Welco back, Generals."
As Vivian stepped into the camp, soft whispers started to spread from tent to tent.
"So he is the new Grandmaster?"
"Yes, he is the son of Duke Zinathara... and the grandson of Duke Sant. That is Vivian D. Zenithara."
The warriors turned their heads. Their eyes followed the three n with open admiration.
So stood a little taller. Others smiled quietly. This family, the Zenitharas, was known as the strongest.
Everyone in the camp felt proud just to see them together.
Vivian noticed the looks but did not say anything.
He just kept walking between his father and grandfather. The horse snorted once behind them, shaking snow from its mane.
They moved toward the biggest tent in the center.
The warmth from inside already reached out to them.
Vined tied the horse near the entrance. Duke Sant put a hand on Vivian’s shoulder.
"Co, boy," he said. "Tell us more by the fire. We have all night."
Vivian nodded as they walked toward the large campfire in the middle of the camp.
The fire pit was dark and cold. No flas yet.
Vivian and Vined bent down together and picked up dry branches and logs from a pile nearby.
They stacked the wood carefully in the center.
Vivian raised his right hand.
A small spark appeared at his fingertips. The spark jumped to the wood.
In a second, bright orange flas grew and crackled.
Warm light spread across their faces.
The three n sat down on thick logs placed around the fire. The heat felt good against the cold night.
Vivian reached into the air with his left hand.
A small ripple appeared, like water in the dark. He pulled out three bottles of dark red drink from his subspace.
He handed one to Vined and one to Duke Sant. The bottles were cold to the touch.
"Thanks, boy," Duke Sant said with a nod. He twisted the cap open and took a small sip.
Vined did the sa. He leaned back a little and looked at his son. "So... where should you begin?" he asked.
Vivian stared into the fire for a mont. He rubbed his chin.
"Hmm..." After thinking quietly, he started to speak.
"Just a few days before I left the estate, Aron ca running to . He was crying hard. His whole face was red. When I asked what happened, he told Edward had beaten him. Because Aron said he wasn’t interested in swords."
Vivian’s voice beca quieter.
"His face was covered in bruises. He kept hiccuping while he talked. He said it was too hard for him."
"But Edward still hit him. Edward told him the gods made a mistake. That Aron should have been born a girl because he cries so much."
Duke Sant listened. He stroked his chin slowly with his thick fingers.
"Well... he isn’t entirely wrong, though," he mumbled.
"Among all my children and grandchildren, Aron is a bit... different. Soft in ways the others aren’t."
He looked up at the dark sky for a second.
"Even your mother was good with swords," he added.
His voice softened when he said her na. A faint smile touched his lips as he rembered his daughter’s face.
Vined nodded. He thought of Elena’s lovely face, her bright eyes, her gentle laugh.
"Well, she is," he said.
But then his mind went to the tis she had chased him around with a wooden stick for being stubborn.
His expression changed. A small, bitter smile ca to his mouth.
’Damn,’ he thought. ’I didn’t think I would miss her beating.’
Vivian noticed and chid in. "She is good at swords. Maybe that’s why both her sons turned out to be such good swordsn."
"Hey," Vined said quickly. He pointed at himself.
"I’m your father. I’m a swordsman too. You inherited that from , you know."
He opened his mouth to say more, but then he stopped. He glanced sideways at Duke Sant from the corner of his eye.
Duke Sant caught the look right away. He puffed out his chest.
"Go on," he said in a loud voice. "You were lucky my daughter chose you! Hmph!" He let out an exaggerated snort and crossed his arms.
Vined’s face turned into a perfect picture of injustice.
His mouth opened in shock. His eyes went wide. Vivian looked at both of them, and then he burst out laughing.
The sound was loud and real. It rolled out into the night.
The three of them kept talking. Laughter ca again and again.
Their voices mixed with the crackle of the fire.
The camp grew quieter around them, but their small circle stayed warm and full of life.
Soon the sky turned completely black. Stars appeared one by one. But their conversation did not slow down.
"Ohh! You went through that road?" Vined said at one point. His eyes opened wider.
He looked impressed. "Not bad, son. Not bad at all."
After a little while, Duke Sant leaned forward. The firelight danced on his face.
"Ahh, I completely forgot," he said. "What about your married life? You didn’t even wait for your old man to return before you got married. No big celebration?"
Vivian gave a smile, but it was not a happy one. It looked tight.
"It is going good," he said. "And I didn’t hold any celebration... exactly because of you two."
He stopped talking. Sothing seed to flash in his mind.
He let out a soft breath. The breath turned into a white cloud in the cold air.
Then he turned to his father. "Father..." He looked at Duke Sant next. "Grandfather..."
Both n went still. They waited.
"Charlotte is pregnant," Vivian said.
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