~The Gremory Home – Caleb and Noah's Bedroom, Hackett Town~
"The Junsui Hunters saved the town by destroying the monsters, and then they all lived happily ever after." Maggie's voice is soft and soothing as she closes the worn, illustrated book and places it gently on the nightstand beside Noah's bed. The dim light from the bedside lamp casts a warm, comforting glow over the room, creating a safe haven in the cool night. "Time for this little soldier to sleep now, go on," she encourages, her tone filled with the tender authority of a mother who has long mastered the art of bedtime routines.
Noah, nestled snugly under his blankets, wiggles further into his bed, his eyes wide and shining with excitement. As his mother tucks him in, smoothing the covers and stroking his hair, he asks eagerly, "Mom, do you think I could be a Junsui Hunter? I mean, I have powers and stuff, so it could happen, right?" His young face is alight with the thrill of possibility, and his voice carries the innocent hope of a child who believes the world is full of endless opportunities.
Maggie's heart aches at the sight of her son's earnest expression. She smiles gently, brushing a lock of hair away from his forehead. "You can be anything you want to be, Noah," she says, her voice laced with both love and caution. "But I don't want you going after any monsters. I know the idea of having powers is exciting, but in reality, it's impossible." She tries to temper his enthusiasm, knowing the dangers that lie beyond the fantasies of childhood.
Noah frowns, a pout forming on his lips as he protests, "No, it's not! I did it, I swear I made the pot and stuff float. Caleb saw it too, didn't you, Caleb? Tell her." His voice is insistent, and he turns to his older brother, who is lounging on the floor nearby, engrossed in his handheld game.
Caleb barely looks up from his game, his fingers still moving rapidly over the buttons. "I'm not really sure what I saw, honestly," he mutters, his voice distracted. "It was so fast."
Noah's pout deepens, frustration bubbling up inside him. "You're totally lying, Caleb. You know you saw it. You even said that I could be a Junsui," he accuses, his voice tinged with hurt.
Caleb finally looks up, meeting his mother's disapproving gaze. He sighs and shrugs, trying to play it off. "I was just joking, idiot," he says, his tone dismissive as he quickly returns his attention to his game.
Noah turns away, clearly annoyed by Caleb's dismissiveness. He mumbles under his breath, barely audible, "I really did do it, though."
Maggie, sensing her younger son's disappointment, reaches out and strokes his cheek with a tender hand. "Don't be so down, sweetheart," she says, her voice filled with compassion. "Even if you don't have powers, that doesn't mean you can't be a hero. There are many things you could do to save people. You could become a doctor or even an enforcer like your brother wants to do. There are endless possibilities."
Noah listens to his mother's words, his pout slowly fading as he considers what she's said. But then, a spark of realization lights up his eyes, and he sits up slightly. "So then, I could become a Junsui Hunter if I wanted to, right? I remember one day at school, a scientist who came to talk to my class once said that there have been some normal humans who became hunters just by wielding cursed weapons of the fallen Junsui. So if I could wield one of those weapons, I could fight with the hunters!" His excitement returns, fueled by the idea of wielding such power.
Caleb suddenly bursts out laughing, the sound sharp in the quiet room. "No, you couldn't, doofus," he says, his tone mocking but with a hint of brotherly affection. "I remember getting that speaker back in second year of middle school too, and he said only humans with an affinity for the weapons could wield them. They'd basically have to be humans who had demonic potential inside of them and could handle the curse of the weapons. Only a select few can do it. In fact, I've only heard of one man from Wakaba who could do it. I forget his name, though."
Maggie's smile fades slightly as she listens to Caleb, her thoughts turning to the grim reality of what her sons are discussing. She sighs softly before speaking, her voice gentle but firm. "Those are just myths they tell to excite you kids and make you think you can achieve anything. In reality, they'd never let normal humans like us get anywhere near cursed weapons or the academy for that matter. The only ones allowed to enter the academy are the marked children and the officials of the academy council. No humans outside the council have ever been allowed to step foot inside."
She pauses, her eyes softening as she looks at Noah, who is listening intently. "I know the idea of the Junsui Hunters seems very enticing, but you must understand, Noah, that's not an occupation they choose, and by no means is it exciting. When the marked Junsui children are born, they only have two fates: they will become hunters, or they will fall to their corruption. Once their fate has been determined, they are cursed to battle endlessly with the corrupted who were exiled to the wilderness and attempt to attack humans. There is nothing fun or honorable about it at all. I wouldn't want that for you, Noah. I like you just as the angel you are now."
Noah, who had been so animated just moments before, now looks down in disappointment. His mother's words weigh heavily on him, but he can tell she's only trying to protect him. After a moment, he takes a deep breath and forces a smile. "I guess I didn't think of it like that," he admits, his voice quieter now. "I understand, Mom. I won't say those things anymore."
Maggie's heart warms at his words, and she leans down to kiss his forehead. "Thank you, sweetheart," she whispers, her voice full of love and relief. "Now, get on to bed." She stands and walks over to Caleb, who is still absorbed in his game. She leans down and kisses his cheek, smiling as he scrunches up his face in mock annoyance. She knows he actually doesn't mind it, even if he pretends to.
With a final glance at her boys, Maggie shuts off the light, plunging the room into a soft darkness. As she closes the door, she pauses to say, "Sweet dreams,. I love you both very much."
"Love you too, Mom," Noah calls out sleepily, already snuggling deeper into his blankets.
"Yeah, night, Mom," Caleb adds, his voice muffled as he pulls his own blanket over his head.
Maggie smiles to herself as she closes the door quietly. But as she walks down the hall, her heart feels heavy with a worry she can't quite shake. She knows she's done her best to protect her sons, to keep them safe in a world that is far more dangerous than they realize. But she also knows that the world outside their cozy home is full of unknowns—mysteries that she can't control.
As she heads toward her own bedroom, she whispers a silent prayer that her boys will remain safe, that the darkness of the world will never touch them. But deep down, she knows that she can't keep them shielded forever. For now, though, she is content to let them dream, to let them hold on to the innocence of childhood for just a little while longer.