Take it all, what else do I have anyway?

Her eyes widened but she couldn't give up, "I'm sure they can manage without you, it can't make much difference without a single man..." The words caught in her throat as Caedmon's face and voice darkened.

"We need every man, Luna!"

Tears threatened to fall, and she loathed them. Her father measured her with solemn eyes, then his demeanour softened again and he came up beside her and hugged her with an arm, pressing her face against the cold armour that covered his chest. She felt so small.

"No one can make promises in war, my sweet little Moon, but I will endeavour to return to you victorious and safe, as I always do."

 "A war where if you don't go, you don't know who will survive," her words came out slurred as she spoke with her cheek pressed against his armor, "what is it this time?" She was so used to having these questions answered vaguely that she didn't even know why she bothered. So her father's answer came as a surprise.

 "The Atholians and Tovarans have joined forces with the Rovarthians and are attacking our lands."

 Luna pulled away from the embrace so she could look into his rugged face with eyes that watched her protectively.

 "Three kingdoms attacking one, but what have we done wrong?"

 "We have what everyone is looking for, rich land."

Luna felt her throat tight, "Why so many things change lately?"

He put his hands on her shoulders, looked at her with his piercing green eyes, kissed her on the top of her head and said, "Because you're growing up."

 ─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆ *.☽ .* ☆｡ﾟ･ ───

Despite the cheerful and open welcome from the first evening, Luna had learned that Uncle Jef was a quiet and reserved man. This was why Luna seemed to gravitate more toward him and opened up bit by bit as she spent more time in their home. After a day's work, he would enjoy lighting a fire in the courtyard, and they sat on sturdy wooden chairs with blankets on their legs. Sometimes, he'd bring corn to roast in the flame, and Aria would bring tea. Even though it was summer, the evenings here were cooler than she was used to.

Uncle's silence sometimes made Luna more talkative. One evening, without consciously thinking about it, she found herself saying out of the blue:

'If we didn't have all the tech we have today, what would doctors or medicine be able to do for us?'

Luna asked this while sitting by the fire in the courtyard, with her chin resting on her knees and her hands wrapped around her legs, looking into the fire. Yesterday, after her father had left, she happened to witness in Ether one of the blacksmiths injuring himself with a hot iron. Helplessly, she had watched as they couldn't offer much help; in fact, they had anointed him with ointments and dressed his wound. But Luna felt there was little they could do. How do they manage on the battlefield with so few medical resources?

Uncle Jef's eyebrows raised slightly and a smile played at the corners of his mouth, but he gave her a serious answer, "What a lovel' question! Well, surely not as much as we can do today. An' if all th' technology were t' suddenly disappear, there'd still be plenty o' resources we could use."

Luna gazed thoughtfully at the flames, and Jef after studying her face added, "But say a disaster left us without all we got today but still with the know-how, well, that'd be tough for a society grown mostly in comfort 'n things taken for granted, yet, there's still plenty doctors could do, ya know? Basic medical care 'n sterile techniques, as well as first aid. Even without fancy high-tech machines, doctors could trust their diagnostic skills to spot 'n handle diseases through check-ups."

Seeing her face light up at the direction the conversation took, he continued, "A lot'll help if they focus on education 'n training along with preventive health care."

Luna nodded slightly deep concentration on her face.

"Was that wha' ya wanted to know? Or ya wanna talk 'bout it from a diff'rent angle?"

"No, no, this is quite good enough."

Two weeks later, Luna mustered the courage to announce, "I've been thinking a lot, and… I've decided I want to become a doctor."

"Med'cine's always a great choice." replied Jef at the same time Aria said, "Luna I think you over work yourself, you are trying to many fields…"

Jef turned to his wife, "If she wanna start on that, we'll make sure to prioritize subjects. Whatcha think, sweethart?"

Luna's sat up and clasped her hands. "Really?" 

Uncle Jef's words weren't empty promises. True to his word, starting the next day, he broth her age-appropriate books filled with medical knowledge. They made a habit of staying in the evenings together , turning pages as if diving into thrilling stories.

With each passing day, they discussed the chapters they'd read, engaging in lively conversations about medical breakthroughs, famous doctors throughout history, and the impact of medicine on society. Their shared exploration of the medical world became a fun and bonding experience, turning seemingly daunting subjects into fascinating tales that Luna could quickly grasp and enjoy.

Throughout the day, Luna engaged in various tasks. Jef taught Luna a lot about gardening, and she began the day by working in the garden with him, discussing better ways to care for plants and promote sustainability. Later, in the kitchen, Aria patiently taught Luna how to cook, generously sharing family recipes and culinary wisdom. In the afternoons, they focused on tailoring, exploring different fabrics, sewing techniques, and designing simple garments. Three times a week, Aria drove her to sewing classes in the afternoon.

At night, she reviewed her lessons and contemplated her caring aunt. Why had she never known about her? Could Ira not get along with such a person? Actually... she could. Luna sighed.

Despite her packed days, she felt a newfound sense of liberation. Being here made her feel like she was experiencing a modern version of Ether with her mother. Through Aria's excellent guidance, Luna began to see the potential impact of her education and development here if applied in Ether.

It was a lovely day in Ailopin, exactly ten days before her vacation ended and only one week before she could return to the Timeless City. Luna woke up early after spending a full day engrossed in her new project from Ether and went to bed there, earlier than usual. 

It was quite hot, leaning a little toward a heatwave. Carrying a basket of freshly picked carrots from the garden, she entered the house, eager to excitedly show her aunt the rich harvest she had worked on all summer.

Spotting Aunt Aria in the kitchen, Luna was surprised to see her aunt on the phone, an unusual thing at that hour. Aria took the phone away from her ear and placed it on the table. She looked at Luna with a serious expression and eyes full of pity, as if she had just seen a sacrificed animal.

 "I need to tell you something difficult, but I want you to know we're in this together."