[ it is a true statement, their ties to the moon have been all but burned. should either of them return to leith, to the manor where they were raised, they would not be welcome. they have no claim to it, or the land it sits upon, despite being raised there. despite it holding the last memories of them all together as a family, along with the last memories of his mother. sion is like her, in a way. though she had been kind, gentle, had not known hardship or suffering until the end. sion had experienced hardship, has chosen a path for himself that is not kind.

it is said on leith, that it brings shame on a family for their sons and daughters to have calloused hands. to do the jobs of the poor, like offering themselves to the military. even though they are both sons of leith, carry the blood of the nine, both of them now have calloused hands. and sion, sion had volunteered himself for something that ravus would have never chose for him. would have put a stop to if he could. he knows that sion has been… altered. had offered himself for more than just military training, but. even now, he only sees his brother, and nothing of what has been done to him.

a boy instead of a weapon, his brother instead of a monster.

he takes a slow drink of his coffee, considering his next words. how to respond. he could lie of course, say that if he were in ever of need for it, he would summon sion to him. but that would be a lie. with his last breath, he would not request sion’s presence, even if it meant dying alone. ]

That I cannot promise you. [ said plainly. ] To do so would be a disservice to the trust we have. I would not lie to what family I have left.

If I should fall, you must be left standing. To carry on our name, and to see to Lunafreya. That is your duty, do not forget it.