Since Evan had just returned from the Academy after being away for so long, he decided to take his sister to the lake where they used to play as children. It was calm and quiet here. If one paddled a boat out to the center—like they were doing now—the silence would deepen, as though they had entered another world.
The trees around the lake, with their green leaves, vibrant fruits, and colorful flowers, added to the peaceful and beautiful atmosphere. Evan wished he could stay in this moment forever, but he knew it was impossible.
He had to begin his journey.
"You've just graduated and only just come home. Are you sure?" his sister, Freya, asked anxiously. "Isn't there another way?"
The young man with dark red hair, who had been staring into the clear water, turned his face away. Freya sat at the other end of the boat, dipping one hand into the water up to her wrist, her chin resting on the boat's hard edge. Her gaze was fixed on the distant horizon.
As the wind blew, her long red hair swayed gently. It was then that Evan finally responded. "Yes, I'm sure. What does graduating from the academy have to do with going on an adventure?"
"You studied at the Blesiya Academy, didn't you, to become a renowned general?"
"What good is being a leader in war if I abandon our mother?"
Silence descended suddenly.
They both drifted into thought for a long time. They shared the same dark red hair, and as the afternoon light touched it, their hair seemed to burn brighter, as if on fire.
That morning, Evan had been forced to rush home right after the Grand Master awarded him the title of top student in his class. This was because Freya had hurried in with bad news.
"Mother's condition is getting worse," she had said.
Their mother had been suffering from some strange illness for several years. The Haryon family's physician had tried everything he could, but over time, he had started showing signs of giving up. He said the illness might have been caused by some form of magic that no one noticed. Their only hope now was the Philosopher's Stone, a legendary artifact said to heal any illness, though it could not make the old young again or bring the dead back to life.
Evan had made up his mind to find the stone.
"When you returned to the library earlier, what did you find?" Freya's soft, gentle voice broke the silence.
"A lot of things," Evan replied quietly. "But they were all just stories."
"Tell me, what were those stories about?"
Evan took a deep breath, looking up at the orange afternoon sky, which under other circumstances, would have looked far more beautiful.
Even now, Evan still couldn't fully believe he was about to search for a legendary stone from an old myth. He had always been skeptical about the existence of magic and everything related to it. But reality had forced his hand.
"About the Ancient Creatures, Star Creatures, magic, and the Philosopher's Stone. I didn't even know the Blesiya Academy's library held such books."
"It's not that surprising. The Blesiya Academy library is considered the center of all knowledge in the Kingdom of Emberlyn," Freya said, once again resting her chin on the edge of the boat, her hand idly moving through the water. "So, where is the Philosopher's Stone?"
The young man lowered his head. "Honestly, I'm not sure."
"What we do know is that without that mythical object, mother won't survive." Freya glanced at her brother out of the corner of her eye. "Just tell me the story. I won't laugh at you."
If he had a choice, Evan would have preferred to call a great physician, no matter the cost. From any logical perspective, his decision to seek the Philosopher's Stone seemed utterly irrational. Anyone who heard about it would surely laugh and think he had lost his mind.
Especially when combined with the talk of magic, Ancient Creatures, and Star Creatures—those were all just the bedtime stories they had heard as children.
"The book I read mentioned that the Philosopher's Stone is located somewhere. But even the author wasn't too sure." Evan started to explain, recalling the contents of the book. "It also said that the Philosopher's Stone is bright red, as if glowing from within. It's a magical stone capable of curing any disease."
Freya listened intently. "And what about the stories of the Ancient Creatures and Star Creatures?"
"That's not something you need to worry about," Evan turned his face away. He didn't want to tell her because he knew it would only make her more anxious. "It's almost nightfall. We should head back now."
***
Saying goodbye to their mother was much easier than saying goodbye to Freya. Evan knew his sister well—she was stubborn. Once she said no, it meant no forever.
But last night, Evan had prayed over and over that by morning, Freya's heart would soften enough to let him go. Perhaps luck was on his side.
Their mother only gave him a couple of familiar messages. She also handed Evan a dagger that she said she used to carry. Evan wasn't surprised; according to their father, their mother had once been someone who loved adventure.
"Promise me you'll come back." That was the only message from his father, who was fighting hard to hold back tears. He couldn't even bring himself to see Evan off at the gate, afraid that his son would see the two teardrops running down his cheeks.
Only Freya accompanied him to the gate. Her face was slightly pale, her eyelids dark. Evan knew that she had cried into her pillow, muffling her sobs, but he pretended not to notice.
"You're only going away for a while, right?" Freya asked, watching her brother as he prepared his horse's saddle with the help of a servant.
For a moment, Evan paused. Then he smiled gently. "Yes, just for a while. Do you really think I wouldn't come back?"
Freya twisted the fabric of her long orange skirt, which was patterned with sunflowers, in both hands. She lowered her gaze, staring at the slightly damp ground beneath her feet. "I believe you'll come back," Freya whispered, biting her lower lip before continuing in a soft voice. "If you're still alive."
Evan froze. That last remark couldn't be ignored.
His mind raced back to everything he had read in the library the day before. Would he return safely? What if he encountered an Ancient Creature—those creatures hundreds of years old who could wield magic?
The more he thought about it, the heavier his heart felt. He wasn't afraid of dying; he was afraid of the sadness and disappointment his family might feel if they placed their hope in him and he failed.
Moved by this thought, Evan stepped toward Freya and hugged her tightly. "If I survive, I promise I'll come back."
"And if—"
"You're not praying for my death, are you?"
Freya said nothing, but after a moment, he heard her soft sobs, and she returned his embrace.
"I'm leaving to find something, not to die," Evan said, gently stroking her hair. "Why are you so worried? You don't even know what I'll be facing out there."
"That's exactly why I'm scared." Freya's sobs grew louder. "I'm afraid something bad will happen to you."
"That's my fate. A knight is trained never to retreat."
At that moment, the servant had finished saddling the horse. Evan released the hug and wiped Freya's face. "Wait for me here and welcome me when I return with good news."
Freya bit her lip again, but this time, she nodded.