We left Kibbles to rest for a while and then went to see Ki as Ren and I had just been told that she had woken up. We walked from my residence to one that was close by. Ki was in a room that was rather similar to mine but it was a lot less furnished. There was just a bed and a side table.

Ki was laying down on the bed, her chest and stomach wrapped in a bandage. Ren leaned on the table while I crouched down on the side of the bed. Ki was looking away from us and had not spoken since we walked in.

“ Ki, I am really glad to see you awake, are you feeling okay,” I said as gently as I could.

Ki turned her head to look at me a complicated expression on her face. She, Ren and I said nothing for a while before she finally spoke.

“ Young master... I am sure you have realised that I have hidden some things from you…” She said as her voice became quieter and quieter towards the end.

“ Like the fact that you are a one-woman army? “ I said in response bluntly.

Ren who was still leaning on the table stifled a laugh.

Ki then looked at Ren and shot him a death glare before looking back at me.

“ I guess you could say that “ she laughed nervously.

“ Are you angry?” She said after a moment.

[ Angry? That is what she was worried about? ]

“ Ki, I am sure you had your reasons. I am young and I don’t need to know everything yet. I am sure when you are ready you will tell me.” I responded.

She looked at me with a strange expression before laughing a little and patting my head.

[ I guess being this mature in a ten-year-olds body probably seems weird ]

“ Plus who can say they have a famous mercenary that serves them breakfast. I.. am really lucky to have you Ki” I said honestly.

“ Young master! “ the look on her face beamed to her usual high spirited self. She then nodded before a stern look came across her face.

“ Now that you know, no more running off and playing hero okay! If you dare do something so stupid again I will tell Ishi to make you some more porridge, you got it?” She said before she paused.

“ You may think that you have learned a lot but you were just lucky this time! Worse comes to worse, I will give up my life so that you can live. Your family is responsible for the safety of the entire country, remember that!” She huffed angrily

Her words hit me like a tonne of bricks and my stomach sank. I sat there pondering the responsibility that I had been born into, the soldiers that admired my family and what Delta and Kelt said about Vance.

Here my family are considered heroes that had saved our country from destruction during the war. In Vance, however, my family are the equivalent of monsters that ruined the livelihoods of many. I put my head down.

“ It is sad to say young master but there will always be more mercenaries like me and more soldiers like Ren but there is only one Aikyo family!” She continued.

“ YOU ARE WRONG!” I lifted my head and snapped.

Ki had looked at me tilting her head to the side in confusion.

[ Nobody’s life is so cheap! ]

“ There may be many soldiers and mercenaries but there will never be another Ren and there will never be another you,” I said as my voice broke.

“ You are my precious friends!” I looked at her and said determinedly.

“ I.. may not understand war.. I may not understand what happened in Vance but I do know that you and everyone else around me are irreplaceable! Don’t think you can be thrown away!” I said as my hands turned into fists at my side.

There was at that moment, the hand of a male, that landed on my head and ruffled my hair.

“ Haha, well said!” A stern voice said. I turned around and saw someone who had almost the same face as me, stern eyes and red hair.

“ Father?!” I said in shock not having noticed he entered.

“ Master!” Ki said and saluted as best she could in bed. Her face seemed just as shocked as mine did.

My father picked me up and held me in his arms. He was at least twice my size so it was very comforting.

“ I heard you had a bit of trouble in Tama forest so I came as quickly as I could. I am glad Ki and Ren were able to keep you safe! I was soo angry and worried! Seeing you now, I’m relieved!” Father said as he held me tighter.

“ I can..t brea..th” I managed to say as my chest felt heavy.

“ haha sorry, Yu Yu! I forget how small you are!” Tamna said smiling.

[ I am not short! I am just right for my bodies age! ]

“ I will shoot past you in no time father!” I said with my cheeks puffed.

Ren, Ki, my father and I all sat around and caught up. Father told me he had rushed here on our house’s finest transport animal. He had also gotten some of our men to collect the cockatrice from the stables back near the forest entrance and look through the area for clues.

Since Ki and Ren were too injured for transport we all decided to rest here the night. It wasn’t too long before Rain came in.

Rain looked at my father like a person back on Earth would look at their favourite idol. Ki, Ren, my father and Rain started talking about military tactics and how this base operated. I understood the general idea but the rest of it made my head spin.

After an incense stick of time father then called for me and we excused ourselves. He took me to a quiet part of the barracks before he knelt down and looked at me. Everything from the tip of my head to the bottoms of my shoes.

“ Can I trust you with a secret?” He said as he raised an eyebrow.

I looked at him seriously and nodded.

“ You have grown up to be a fine kid! “ he nodded a few times to himself.

[ Ahhh! ]

“ I was so worried when you stopped speaking and now look at you going on your own little adventures and making friends with your subordinates. You had to take a life to protect one... It must have been very hard on you.” he said as he looked out into the distance.

“ You know, being in charge of people isn’t all about just bossing them around” he followed with.

He then found a stick nearby and drew a circle around me.

“ Think of this circle as everything a person will protect and be responsible for in their lifetime. Some people have a circle just around them and that is okay. It is very hard to live.” He said before he drew another circle around me.

The second circle was bigger than the first one and engulfed the first one dwarfing it. He then placed some rocks he found nearby inside it.

“ This circle is what most people have. These rocks you can think of as family and friends,” He said again before pausing and drawing an even bigger circle around me and adding grass to it.

“ This is what people like the nobles have, they look after themselves, their family and friends and the people under them. Our family we have the burden and honour of protecting..” Father said before he drew another circle.

The circle encompassed all the ones before it. He then placed more grass, inside it.

“ Everyone. Every single person in Tama. You may be too young to understand now but if you keep getting better, maybe in future you will stand in my shoes.” He said as he walked towards me taking a step in each circle.

“ What you said to Ki inside was important. Remember, no matter how many people follow you, they will never be disposable. It will make you a fine person. If it gets too much for you.. Just remember those people who serve by your side will always be there for you!” he said smiling.

[ I don’t know what to say…]

He noticed that I had taken in everything he said and started to digest it. My father started laughing.

“ Haha don’t worry son, you will understand when you are older!” he said holding his belly.

“ Do you think Riku could add war strategies to my education?” I said seriously.

“ Haha when this old man has the time, he will teach you himself! Good lad, Good lad!” Father said as his eyes lit up.

“Now go get some rest, we will be heading back tomorrow bright and early. I am glad we had this talk!” father said as he scruffed my hair.

It was the first time that I think I had ever had a proper one on one talk with father. His charisma and caring attitude for his subordinates could be seen from a mile away. I had seen him just as I would my own father.. But this man is actually really here for me and not just in the background.

I was honestly really grateful.

I walked back to my residence and thought about the words he said.

[ Just how many people could I protect as I am now? Can I even protect myself?]

I clenched my fist.