Forge and Steel

At the top of a snow-covered mountain, the icy wind howled fiercely, carrying away the sound of an uninhibited laugh.

"Haha! It's cold up here, huh, Zein?" shouted a young blonde, his laughter echoing in the frozen void as his eyes sparkled with joy.

Behind him, the boy named Zein trudged along, his steps sinking into the snow. His dark hair fell over his shoulders, and his silver eyes reflected the dull sky that stretched above them. Each of his breaths formed a cloud in the cold air. "Remind me, huff... remind me why I ended up here with you?" he murmured, feeling the weight of fatigue in every word.

The young blonde watched him with an amused smile as he walked toward a large rock outcrop on one of the mountain slopes. Without much difficulty, the boy jumped onto it and sat down. "Because I dragged you here," he replied, settling in with enviable carefreeness as his gaze drifted to the mist-covered horizon. "If you keep up your dreadful routine of work, study, and more study, one day they'll find you dead of exhaustion at some desk."

A silence fell between them. Zein didn't want to respond to his friend's complaint. Instead, with some difficulty, he climbed onto the rock and sprawled out next to the young blonde.

"Isn't it a beautiful view, Zein?" His friend's voice softened, and a nearly tangible peace reflected on his face. He gazed at the landscape with a deep serenity, as if the moment were eternal.

Zein lifted his gaze. Before them, the snowy landscape stretched like a white ocean, and the ancient, majestic mountains lined the distance, silent witnesses to centuries. But for Zein, the true spectacle wasn't in those mountains. It was the infinite sky above them, a vast, clear blanket that stretched farther than the eye could see. It was the kind of sky that seemed to invite flight.

"Now I understand why humans have always wanted to fly... Seeing such a magnificent sky, you feel insignificant," Zein murmured, his voice soft and barely audible, as if speaking only to himself. His gaze lost itself in the vastness of the blue, letting its immensity engulf him. "Maybe... maybe only by soaring in it, can humans have the illusion of having conquered it."

"Haha! Where did that depth come from, my great Socrates? Hahaha!" The young blonde burst into loud laughter, surprised by his friend's philosophical comment, usually so reserved.

"Idiot," Zein retorted, a little embarrassed, while giving him a light tap on the shoulder.

The blonde's laughter rang out for a while longer, but Zein no longer paid attention, his gaze once again lost in the vast sky.

"Haha, that was funny!" the blonde said, wiping away the tears of laughter. Then he regained his calm expression, and just like Zein, he returned to gazing at the horizon.

"Hey, Zein..."

"Mmm? What's up?"

The blonde adjusted himself and turned his gaze toward him, his eyes growing more serious and deep. "Since we're here, I'd like to ask you a question I've been keeping for a while."

Zein, slightly confused by the sudden serious tone of his friend, nodded. "You can ask me anything."

"Zein... what do you really want?" The blonde's eyes sparkled, eager and attentive, waiting for his answer.

Zein felt the cold wind caressing his face as he gazed out at the vast blue expanse. The question caught him off guard, and the silence between them settled once more, though this time it felt laden with meaning.

"Where is that question coming from all of a sudden?" he murmured, still bewildered.

"Well..." The blonde paused, searching for the right words. "You wake up early and go study. You leave the university and head to work. Then you come home and keep studying. You don't go out, you don't interact with anyone... You put in more effort than anyone, but—" He leaned slightly toward him, and in his eyes reflected a deep concern. "I've never seen you have a true interest in the things you do. Neither in your studies, nor your work. Nothing seems to truly motivate you. So tell me, Zein... What is it that you really want?"

Zein fell silent, feeling the weight of his friend's question. He turned his gaze toward the horizon, trying to find an answer in the vast sky, as if the clouds and mist could offer him some clarity.

"Desires, huh...?" he murmured, as the wind whispered around him, filling the emptiness left by his voice. "I don't know... I never stopped to think about it." His words vanished in the cold air, almost as if it was hard for him to admit it.

"Since I can remember... I've always been focused on following a routine. Wake up, wash, eat, read old books, then go back to sleep... And then, when I was old enough to leave the orphanage, I really felt lost, you know?" Zein ran a hand through his hair, letting out a sigh. "I had no idea what I wanted, or what I desired, so I guess... I just set up another routine."

The blonde watched Zein in silence, his expression shifting between understanding and sadness. The sincerity in his friend's words weighed on him, and not knowing what to say, he simply stayed there, sharing the moment in silence.

Zein continued, not looking at his friend, his voice distant, as though he was speaking more to himself than anyone else. "I guess... routines became my refuge. I was afraid to think of something bigger, something I could really want. Because... what if I tried and failed? What if I realized there was nothing I truly cared about?"

His silver eyes wandered again to the vast sky. The icy wind reminded him that he was alive, yet there was something in his chest that always felt numb, as if a part of him could never fully awaken.

"Don't you ever want anything? Have you never longed for something?" Unwilling to give up, the blonde tried once more, hoping to find even a spark of light in the opaque darkness that enveloped his friend.

Zein fell silent. His gaze grew deeper, as if trying to remember something buried deep in his mind, something he might have forgotten long ago. "I..." His voice faltered for a moment, as if the words were hard to speak. "At one point, when I was little... I really wished for something with all my heart."

With a slight pause, Zein raised his arm, extending his hand as if to reach something intangible, placing it before the pale sun. "You know, now that I think about it... I guess I do have a wish..."

The blonde's eyes widened slightly when he noticed the change in Zein's expression. Before, his face had reflected calm detachment, but now, a smile full of longing began to form on his lips, and his eyes, which had once seemed dull, now shone with renewed light.

"I always wished..." Zein whispered, almost as if his words were a revelation he had kept hidden for a long time. "A huge and happy family."

A bright smile appeared on his face as he continued, his voice now filled with palpable longing. "It would be great, you know? To come home and be greeted with a warm greeting, then eagerly tell someone everything that happened during the day, and for the other person to listen with genuine interest. It would be so nice, right? To be able to rest your head on someone's shoulder when you're sad and cry like a child, to feel accompanied. It would be... beautiful, you know? To share your deepest dreams without fear of being rejected or despised. Haha! That! That would be so incredible!"

Finishing the last sentence with a loud shout, a beautiful smile adorned Zein's face, and now his eyes shone as brightly as the sun hanging in the sky.

The blonde stared at Zein in silence, his eyes fixed on him, absorbing every word. His face reflected a mixture of surprise and understanding, as if he had finally come to understand something deeper about his friend.

"Haha, your desires are really beautiful," said the blonde with a smile, as he discreetly wiped away the tears escaping from his eyes. His laughter, full of sincerity, was tinged with a hint of melancholy, as if, for a moment, he shared the emotional weight Zein had been carrying.

"And you know what, Zein?" The blonde smiled more softly, but his words were like a balm for his friend's heart. "Maybe... maybe you can get it. If you ever want it as much as you do now, it might not be so far off."

Zein, slightly flushed and still with his heart racing from having shared such personal thoughts, looked at his friend with a mixture of hope and doubt, like a child unsure if he could believe what he had just heard. "Is that so?"

"Of course!" The blonde burst into laughter, his laughter full of energy and confidence, as if he truly believed in the words he had just spoken. He jumped off the rock and extended his fist toward Zein. "And when the time comes, you'll surely cherish your family, right?"

Zein couldn't help but smile when he heard that, feeling a spark of warmth in his chest that, though small, was comforting. Also getting up from the rock, he bumped his fist with his friend's without hesitation.

"Of course! More than anything in the world!" Zein exclaimed firmly, as if the simple act of their fists interlocking sealed a promise that resonated in his heart.

"HAHAHAHA!"

"HAHAHAHA!" Zein joined in, and at that moment, the world seemed to stop for an instant. The cold, foggy mountain, the icy wind, everything was suspended in time. Neither of them knew that this morning would become an unforgettable moment in their memories.

(Well, I hope for your sincere feedback on this memory fragment of my MC. This aims to give Pyrion a bit more depth. Let me know if you liked it or if you don't want me to add something like this again.)

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Orario City, Dian Cecht Familia Residence.

The pale rays of the sun filtered through the window, gently illuminating one of the many rooms. In the center of the room, a comfortable cot rested, upon which lay a man with long hair. His body was wrapped in bandages that carefully covered his chest, while his breathing was calm and deep.

Suddenly, the man's peaceful expression was altered as his eyelids began to tremble slightly. After a short time, the man on the cot opened his eyes with some difficulty, and a gentle look appeared on his face as he awoke.

"Hey... it seems I still have to thank Zald for letting me dream such a beautiful memory."

A soft smile appeared on Pyrion's face as this memory from his past life, which had been gathering dust over time, resurfaced strongly in his heart.

"I miss you, old friend... But I'm sure you'd be pretty happy to see what I've become," Pyrion said with a reluctant smile as he settled back comfortably on the cushioned cot.

Although he didn't know where he was or how his health was, Pyrion didn't give it much thought and focused solely on enjoying his old memory.

SQUEAK

The peaceful moment was suddenly interrupted by the creaking of the door opening. Soon, a small girl with silver hair and purple eyes entered. The girl, carrying fresh bandages on a small tray, walked naturally toward the cot, her gaze lowered, seemingly distracted by something else.

"Hey, I wonder if I'm dead? Or is that why I'm seeing little angels now?" With a playful smile, Pyrion spoke while looking at the small girl walking toward him.

"Huh?" The sudden voice surprised the little girl, who let out a small scream of surprise. She quickly lifted her small head, seeing her patient, who seemed to have woken up.

"Pyrion-niichan! You're awake!" In great surprise, the little girl quickly walked toward the cot. With agility, she placed the tray on a small nightstand and then ran to take Pyrion's hands.

"Hehe, if it isn't little Airmid... I was wondering why I felt so good after receiving such injuries, but now that I see the little angel of Orario, everything makes sense." With a smile, Pyrion used his other free hand to gently stroke Airmid's head.

"Hehe, it's great that you're okay, Pyrion-niichan." With a happy smile, Airmid shook her small body with joy as she felt Pyrion's affection.

"Thank you so much, little angel, sorry for causing you trouble." After finishing petting Airmid's comfortable head, Pyrion laid back down comfortably on his cot.

"Not at all! It's a relief to be able to help my older brother." Shaking her little head, Airmid said there was no problem, and she was happy to take care of her older brother.

"Hey, little angel, tell me, how long have I been unconscious?" While Pyrion received small cut fruits specially prepared by Airmid, he asked with curiosity.

"You've been unconscious for four days, Pyrion-niichan. The injuries you arrived with were pretty serious, and your body used up a lot of energy to keep you alive. That's why it's taking so long for you to recover." Airmid, Orario's medical expert, quickly explained the reason for his long recovery to Pyrion.

"Four days... now I understand why my body feels so stiff." With an ironic smile, Pyrion thought that guy, Zald, had been really cruel.

"Oh, right! I need to tell the others! I'll be right back, Pyrion-niichan!" Suddenly, remembering something, Airmid quickly got off the cot and ran toward the door.

"Hey, you're a small and cute ball of energy." Taken by surprise by Airmid's sudden burst of energy, Pyrion smiled in amusement, looking toward the door and guessing where she was headed. Pyrion prepared for the possible upcoming storm.

...