Ahiro's sincere words cut through the layers of June's heart, resonating with a truth that couldn't be denied. She couldn't dismiss the validity of his observations, for they echoed the very struggles that haunted her every waking moment.
The Snow family, a name that bore both the weight of tradition and the harshness of the unforgiving lands they called home—Norcia. A patriarchal lineage that spanned centuries, where the word of the patriarch stood as the unyielding law.
Survival in the cold and desolate landscapes of Norcia was a formidable challenge. After Establishing dominion over the land, the Snow family leader at that time established a Patriarchal society and along with other men of his family rules over the lands of the Norcia.
In the unforgiving expanse of Norcia, a land marked by its desolation and harsh conditions, the females were deemed burdensome due to their perceived physiological weakness. The narrative of their existence unfolded against the backdrop of a patriarchal society, where survival was intricately tied to the dominance and strength of the males. Even after centuries of the Snow family establishing their dominion and transforming the land into a semblance of home, the patriarchal norms persisted, casting a shadow over the lives of the women who called Norcia their home.
The societal structure dictated that women, with their inherent physical limits, had to rely on the dominant and robust males for their survival. The very fabric of their existence was woven with threads of discrimination and subjugation, as the rules passed down through generations reinforced a hierarchy that favoured men into the genes of everyone who followed them.
June, navigating this harsh reality, bore witness to the continued oppression faced by women in Norcia. The patriarchal system loomed over them, suppressing any aspirations they might harbor. The struggle for equality was not just a contemporary battle but a timeless one, persisting across the ages. Even in a land that had transformed from a hellish landscape to a semblance of home, women remained marginalized and restricted by societal norms.
Her great-grandmother emerged as a beacon of change, the first female awakened in the Snow family. Possessing a formidable B-Rank power, she challenged the established norms and wielded influence in family matters. Anyone who dared to oppose her faced the consequences of her wrath. During the time she was alive she allowed the women to live more freely and allowed them to see the world that offered them equal opportunity and freedom.
The ripple effect of her great-grandmother's defiance allowed June to stand where she was, defying the constraints that history had imposed on the women of Norcia. The hope kindled by that momentous shift allowed June the opportunity to explore a world beyond the confines of Norcia.
However, as her life ebbed away, the male members of the family, who had temporarily restrained themselves due to her formidable powers, resumed their opposition to such rebellious actions.
But the current patriarch, June's father, respected his grandmother's dying wish - which was to let June go out of Norsia and see the world beyond. And fulfilling that wish her father sent his son and daughter to an external kingdom for training or so she thought. Initially overjoyed at the prospect of escaping the oppressive environment, June soon realized, that her father was no different, that it was merely a calculated political maneuver. Her delight transformed into disillusionment as the true nature of her situation unfolded.
The patriarch saw this move as a strategic alliance that could benefit him politically. By sending his children away, he could establish connections and strengthen the family's position in the larger scheme of things. June's initial excitement about the prospect of freedom was shattered when she grasped the underlying motives.
The reality dawned on her – once the façade of training and education abroad was lifted, she would return to the stifling constraints of the patriarchal society within Norcia. The fleeting taste of liberty was nothing more than an illusion, a momentary reprieve from the predetermined fate that awaited her.
Her destiny was etched in the traditions that dictated her role in the family. The prospect of returning home brought with it the inevitable return to a life of subjugation and oppression. The weight of societal expectations pressed heavily on her shoulders, leaving her with little agency over her own life.
In the face of such stark realities, June found herself trapped in a narrative where choices were made for her, and her aspirations were secondary to the political machinations of the patriarch. The freedom she sought remained elusive, overshadowed by the patriarchal forces that sought to confine her to a predetermined path – one of marriage, submission, and the perpetuation of patriarchal traditions. In a world where her destiny seemed already written, June grappled with a sense of resignation, questioning whether she had any agency in shaping her own life.
But the boy standing before her was also like her when she came to know he was an orphan she felt sorry for the boy, but that boy was always smiling. When she saw him struggling with the spear, it reminded her of her younger days when she struggled with the sword and her great-grandmother used to show her way. But he had no one to rely on and yet he smiled.
When she saw how he struggled until his last breath to win the matches, she thought how weak he was, weaker than her. But he still remains determined. How can he be so determined she often thought and how can he smile so brightly?
Battling against oppressive forces, June recognized the shared darkness they both harboured. The weight of societal expectations and familial constraints cast a shadow on their lives. But where June felt herself succumbing to the darkness, the boy stood firm. His bright smile in the face of adversity puzzled her. How could he maintain such determination and optimism?
The boy's spirit, undaunted by the shadows that engulfed him, tugged at something within June. Despite the preordained team decided by her brother, chosen for its alignment with her royal status and perceived easy victories, a part of her yearned to accept the outstretched hand of the boy with the unwavering flame in his eyes.
However, the reality of societal norms and familial expectations weighed heavily on her. Her brother had already charted the course for her, aligning her with teammates that suited her status. The flame within the boy screamed at her to rebel against her brother, against her father, against the stifling society that sought to dictate her path. But a lingering doubt persisted – "Can I? Am I even capable of stepping out from the shadow cast by her brother, father society"
The words escaped her lips, breaking the silence that had enveloped her for far too long. Ahiro felt a mix of relief and anxiety, unsure of whether he had overstepped. But June's response didn't berate him; instead, it confirmed what he had sensed. He smiled as he once again stretched his hand forward saying "yes you can"