"Brother..."
As Isabella watched the hot tears slide down Alan's cheeks, dripping silently to the ground, her voice caught in her throat.
"Brother... I know you've always done everything for me. I know you'd stake your life just to keep me safe."
"But... have you ever thought—is that really what I want to see?"
"Just like you don't want me to suffer, as your sister, do you think I'm not terrified every time you go off to fight? Every night, I kneel beside the bed and pray... pray to some god I've never seen, never touched... begging them to protect you and bring you back safely..."
"So please... let me go, Brother. I don't want to keep dragging you down, or be used by bad people as leverage against you."
"I want to become the strongest mage—strong enough to make every mage in the world fear me. That way, no one will dare bully me again, and no one will ever come after you."
