Theo continued, "The Empire should be promoting peace and unity, not massacring other groups. I've always felt that there are other ways to resolve conflicts, without having to sacrifice so many lives."
Theo was silent for a moment, then he bowed his head.
"I'm sorry Eran, I hope you'll forgive me.
"You don't need to apologize, you're innocent, it's already part of history, after all it's already a destiny that I have to carry in my life."
"Really?"
"Never mind, rather than discussing that, tell me why you chose your path now. Even though you are one of the strongest clan members today. Damn lucky, you make me jealous."
Theo smiled wryly at Eran then looked up at the moon.
"Lucky huh?" Theo exhaled his breath in exasperation.
"If I could choose, I'd rather be born in another clan or even a mediocre clan, it would allow me to savor every breath."
Eran was slightly transfixed by Theo's words.
"You know Eran, as a child I dreamed of becoming a Sinners."
Eran was surprised to hear Theo's statement.
"Huh!? Are you not wrong? You know how everyone on this continent views the Sinners clan."
Theo shook his head. "No, I don't care what other people think. All I know from my own two eyes is that they are a warm and friendly clan."
Eran was again surprised at the golden-haired man's statement.
Theo recalled his childhood. "When I was a child, I greatly admired the heroic stories about someone in the Sinners clan. Many heroes in the Eroth Empire came from the Sinners, but there was one person who impressed me. He was a legendary imperial hero. The stories of his courage, his determination, and his devotion to justice have always fascinated me. I want to be like him, to be a warrior who is brave and holds on to virtue."
Eran listened carefully, in his heart he felt a strong vibration, Eran was proud that there were still those who looked at his clan from a different perspective.
Theo smiled gently, then he continued, "They are my truly of inspiration. Through their stories, I learned about courage, devotion, and determination to protect my loved ones and this kingdom," Theo said proudly.
Theo smiled nostalgically. "You know Eran, as a child I would always chase after those heroes during the victory parade. I always wanted to talk to them, even if only for a moment. They always gave me wise and inspiring messages."
Eran was intrigued. "What did they say that made you so crazy?"
Theo perked up and replied, "They always reminded us that being a hero is not about physical strength but about courage, honesty, and an indomitable spirit. They taught me the meaning of devotion and the importance of protecting the weak. One of my favorite messages was, 'A hero is not fearless, but one who faces fear bravely.'"
Eran paused to listen to Theo's words, he felt very familiar with that advice. Then Eran grabbed Theo's shirt and asked, "What was the hero's name?"
Theo was a little surprised by Eran's behavior, "The hero is, Olaf the Hero."
Eran was silent when he learned that the name of the person Theo admired was his father. Mixed feelings surrounded his heart; happy because his father was so respected by Theo, but also sad because Theo did not realize that the figure he admired was the same person who had left him for so long.
Theo saw Eran's reaction and felt that something had come over him. "Is something wrong, Eran? You look surprised."
Eran tried to smile, trying to hide his feelings. "No, it's okay. I'm just a little surprised by her choice."
Theo nodded, accepting Eran's answer without suspicion. "Olaf the Hero is a great hero, and his story has inspired many people including myself. I admire him very much."
Eran averted his eyes, feeling his heart grow heavy. He wanted to tell Theo that Olaf the Hero was his father, but he hesitated to do so. What if Theo felt burdened by that fact? What if Theo lost his respect and trust for him?
Carefully, Theo asked, "Wasn't he the leader of your Clan back then, he was very cool Eran."
Eran nodded slowly. "Yes, unfortunately, he often left his town for imperial duties, until his town became a mess. But I didn't know how much of an influence he had on many people, including you."
Theo smiled. "He was a great figure. I want to be like him, a hero who stands up for truth and justice. I would think like you if I became a citizen, but that's also because of the Emperor's duty."
Eran smiled bitterly. He wanted to tell Theo that he was the son of such an admired figure.
"You must also want to be a hero, right?" asked Theo, realizing that Eran was also silent and looked worried.
Eran nodded, trying to smile wider this time. "Yes, of course. I want to be a hero too, but I think I'd rather be an ordinary person."
Theo placed his hand on Eran's shoulder warmly. "It's okay, Eran. We can be heroes in many ways, in our way. We don't need to be like others to be great."
Eran was touched by Theo's words. He felt like he had a huge burden that he kept to himself. He wanted to be honest with Theo, but his worries kept getting in the way.
"I believe you have an amazing story of your own ahead of you, Eran," Theo said with conviction. "And I believe you have great potential to be a hero in your way."
Eran was touched by Theo's encouragement. He felt lucky, Eran had never felt this way, he asked himself. Is it this good to have friends? It was taboo for Eran to join a group, let alone have friends, but with Theo, he felt different. Eran felt attracted to Theo.
As the night progressed, they continued their missed party at the tavern the band had planned. Eran had refused, but Theo begged for an introduction to Eran who was a new member of the band.
***