Ryan didn't know what to say.
His mother's voice came from the crystal, as warm as he remembered, but he felt a strange weight in his chest. He hadn't spoken to her since leaving home. Two months. Two whole months without hearing her voice, without checking on her.
And he hadn't called. Not a single message.
Not because he didn't love her. On the contrary, he loved his mother very much. Perhaps more than he could express. But he had never been that son who spoke freely, who opened up to his mother easily. He wasn't open with any of his family, except Eri, and even with her, his reserve was there.
So he stood there, looking at the crystal in Eri's hand, his mouth still closed.
Eri, noticing his silence, looked at him and then said to their mother:
"Mother, Ryan is with me."
The mother's voice came through, slightly excited.
"Ryan?,Dear, are you alright?"
Ryan sighed inwardly. Then he took a step toward the crystal.
"I'm fine, Mother. How are you? How's Father?"
His question was brief, a little dry, but sincere. He truly wanted to know.
the mother replied.
"We're fine, Your father is busy as usual, but he asks about you constantly. Was your journey safe? Did you reach the academy without problems?"
Ryan remembered the journey. It hadn't been entirely easy. There had been some bandits on the road, some beasts in the forest and many things happened. But he didn't want her to worry.
he said quietly.
"Everything went well,The journey was long, but it ended safely."
"Thank God," the mother say. Then she paused for a moment, as if searching for the next words.
A brief silence followed.
Eri sat on the bed, glancing between the crystal and her brother. She knew Ryan wasn't much of a talker, but she also knew he loved their mother.
Then the mother asked, "Have you met your sister Mira?"
At the sound of the name, Ryan froze slightly.
Mira. His older sister. The one he had adored when he was young, but things had changed and know in the Academia a big fight had happened between them. No, not just a fight. He had been rude to her. He had said harsh words he didn't want to remember now.
And since that day, he hadn't spoken to her.
He seen Mira from afar more than once, but never approached her. Never apologised. Never said a word.
He answered in a voice that showed little: "Yes, I've seen her."
The mother asked cautiously.
The mother asked cautiously.
"Did you two talk a lot?".
His mother didn't know about their fight, but she knew he was a man of few words, so she asked him this question.
Ryan sighed. "Not much."
His mother replied
"Alright,The important thing is that you're both fine"
Eri suddenly interjected: "Mother, Ryan was amazing in the training battle! Everyone is talking about him."
Ryan closed his eyes for a moment.
"Eri, not now."
She looked at him with innocent eyes.
"Why?,You should have seen it, Mother. He took out two members of the opposing team by himself!"
The mother laughed softly. "Really? My son the hero?"
Ryan felt embarrassed. "I didn't do anything special. It was just a training battle."
the mother said
"Don't be too modest,I'm proud of you, whether you're a hero or not. Just stay safe. That's all I ask."
Ryan smiled a small smile, but it didn't last long.
He remembered Lyana's words, Kai's words. Their accusations of selfishness.
he started, then stopped.
"Mother…"
"Yes, dear?"
He paused for a moment. He was about to say something, to complain, to tell her how he felt. But he swallowed the words.
"Nothing. Just… I miss you."
Those words were sincere, but he said them in a faint voice, as if he didn't even want to hear them himself.
The mother was silent for a moment. Then she said in a warm voice:
"We miss you too, dear. Don't ever forget that you're not alone there."
Eri reached out and placed her hand on Ryan's.
"I'm here with him, Mother. I'll take care of him."
Ryan shook his head with a forced smile.
"Who takes care of whom?You're the one who keeps getting lost in the hallways."
Eri protested, but she blushed slightly.
"That's not true!,and also, who told you that?"
Ryan did not answer her.
The mother laughed warmly. "Take care of each other. That's what family does."
Then she sighed. "Well, I have to go now. There's work at home. But call me again soon, alright? Don't make me wait another two months."
Ryan promised in a faint voice: "I'll call."
"I love you, my son."
"I love you too, Mother."
The call ended. The room returned to its silence.
Eri closed the crystal and put it back in her pocket. She looked at Ryan, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, his eyes fixed on the floor.
Then she said quietly, "You didn't tell her about Mira."
Ryan replied without looking up.
"There's nothing to tell,"
Eri didn't stay quiet. "You could apologise to her. Mira isn't angry. Just… sad."
Ryan raised his eyes toward her. There was curiosity in his gaze, but also caution.
Ryan asked suddenly.
"How do you know about our fight?,I didn't tell you. Did mira tell you?."
Eri smiled widely. "Brother, nothing is hidden between sisters."
She laughed lightly, as if telling a joke.
Ryan didn't laugh, but he didn't seem angry either.
Eri stood up from the bed and straightened her small dress.
"Alright, I'm going now. I think you want to be alone."
she headed for the door. Then she paused for a moment, turned her head toward her brother. "Good night, Ryan."
"Good night, Eri."
She left the room and closed the door quietly behind her.
Ryan remained sitting there, staring at the closed door. The silence in the room now felt heavier than before. But he felt something strange. Not quite sadness, not quite happiness either.
Perhaps just the feeling that he wasn't completely alone in this place.
He lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling, and closed his eyes.