Northern thought more about Ryan, and about the fact that they seemed to share the same name.
However, the pronunciation was very different. Northern's name, his mother had pronounced as R-e-a-n.
Ryan's name was pronounced R-a-ya-n.
If the empire let them freely use the name despite having claimed an exclusive right on the use of a certain letter, then it must mean the Johnson family was a big deal.
Which left Northern with a bugging question.
'Why did he refuse to go back home?'
Northern spent a few minutes on that thought alone, his mind running through all possible vindications for his refusal to go back home.
He was strong, had gotten stronger than five percent of people in the dark continent. If he returned home, he would be the heart and joy of his family. And he was still refusing.
'Or did he not know this? Is he the kind that is unaware of how strong he has become?'