Later that evening, Alex's father returned home.
The moment he stepped inside the house, he noticed something strange.
Everyone was sitting at the dining table.
His wife.
His daughter.
And Alex.
But the atmosphere was… strange.
Alex's sister was staring at him with sharp eyes, almost like she wanted to burn a hole
through his head.
Alex avoided her gaze and kept quietly eating his food.
Their father sat down at the table and began eating as well.
After a few moments he looked around.
"Did something happen?"
No one answered.
He looked toward his wife.
"You didn't tell me anything."
Before she could speak, their daughter interrupted.
"No, Dad."
"We didn't tell you anything."
"If you find out, you might beat him."
She pointed at Alex.
Their father raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"So the talented son of this house has done something again?"
"What did he do?"
His daughter sighed.
"Forget it."
"What's the point of talking about it?"
Their father shook his head slightly.
"Alright then."
He looked at Alex.
"So tell me something."
"School is finished now."
"What's your plan?"
"Which college are you planning to go to?"
Then he smiled slightly.
"And you once said you had a girlfriend."
"We are not against that."
"But you must understand something."
"First build your career."
"Then think about girlfriends."
Alex quietly lifted his head.
"I want to become a warrior."
The entire room froze.
Silence filled the dining room.
His father blinked slowly.
"I think I didn't hear that properly."
"You mean the army… right?"
"You can join the army."
"That is respectable."
Alex shook his head.
"No."
"I want to become a warrior."
His father slowly placed his spoon down.
"Son…"
"Do you even know what warriors do?"
"We don't even know where they are used."
"We only know that warriors hold very high ranks."
He continued eating calmly while speaking.
"Armies guard borders."
"They get leave every few months."
"They call their families."
He paused.
"But I have a colleague."
"His son is a warrior."
He looked directly at Alex.
"For six months… he has not called his father."
"Do you know what that means?"
Alex stayed silent.
"There are only two possibilities."
"Either he is alive…"
"…or he is dead."
The room became quiet again.
"I cannot send my son to a place where his life and death depend on a single phone call."
"Do you understand?"
Alex clenched his fists.
"It's not like that, father."
"Then what is it like?"
"I asked some people about warriors."
"They talked about synchronization genes."
"Yes… Synchro Genes."
"One warrior had a synchronization rate of twenty-one."
"Another had thirty-one."
"And both disappeared."
"Six months."
"No information."
"Nothing."
"You can ask the government."
"But the government simply says—"
'We cannot provide information about warriors.'
He looked firmly at Alex.
"So you think you will become a warrior…"
"And everything will remain normal?"
"No."
"You are not becoming a warrior."
Alex slowly pushed his chair back.
"But father…"
"This is my dream."
His father sighed.
"Listen."
"I have given you everything you ever asked for."
"Since childhood."
"But if becoming a warrior means losing my son…"
"Then I don't care about warriors."
"I care about my son."
Alex stood up.
"But warriors stand above the government!"
"They are respected!"
His father shook his head.
"Respect doesn't fill your stomach."
"Money does."
"And to earn money…"
"You must stay alive."
"Think about those six months."
"Where life and death hang in the balance."
"I have made my decision."
Alex's voice became firm.
"I have made mine."
"I will become a warrior."
"No matter what."
His father frowned.
"We'll see about that."
Alex left the table and walked toward his room.
The door closed behind him.
Back at the Dining Table
Alex's mother's eyes were slightly wet.
She loved her son.
But she also understood her husband's fear.
"Maybe… we should let him try."
She said softly.
Her husband shook his head.
"You think I don't trust my son?"
"That's not the problem."
"My colleague…"
"He had only one son."
"Six months."
"No news."
"No body."
"Nothing."
"If something like that happens to our son…"
"Do you think we have the power to question the government?"
"Will the government answer us?"
Silence filled the table again.
Then Alex's sister spoke.
"Father."
"I think we should let him try."
Her father looked at her.
"Why?"
She leaned forward.
"You know Alex."
"Once he decides something…"
"He does it."
"No matter what."
"He has always been the best in everything."
"Studies."
"Skills."
"Even the weapon design course he secretly learned."
"He always comes first."
"So we must support his dream."
Her father sighed.
"You think I am being too strict?"
She nodded.
"Maybe a little."
He picked up his phone.
"Wait."
"I'll call my colleague."
He dialed.
The call rang.
No answer.
He called again.
Still nothing.
The third time—
The call connected.
"Hello?"
His colleague sounded extremely excited.
"Brother!"
"What happened?"
"My son came back today!"
"What?"
"Yes!"
"The same son who didn't answer calls for six months!"
"He came back today!"
"You know what?"
"He became a warrior!"
Alex's father frowned.
"And?"
"The government gave us a lot of money!"
His father sighed.
"That's not important."
"My son came back alive."
"That's what matters."
Then his colleague spoke again.
"Warriors are important."
"I cannot explain everything."
"But if your son has the chance…"
"Let him try."
The call ended.
Alex's father slowly sat back down.
He still hadn't decided.
Alex's sister smiled slightly.
"See?"
"His son returned."
"Maybe something good happened."
"Maybe we should trust Alex."
She leaned back.
"And if we stop him now…"
"He might run away."
"Wouldn't it be better if he tells us and leaves openly?"
Her father sighed deeply.
"I'll talk to him tonight."
Later That Night
Half an hour later, Alex's father stood outside his son's room.
He knocked.
"Knock knock."
"Alex."
"Open the door."
Alex opened the door quietly.
His father entered and sat on the edge of the bed.
"So…"
"Is this truly your dream?"
"To become a warrior?"
Alex nodded.
"But when did this dream begin?"
Alex thought for a moment.
"This morning."
He explained everything.
The blocked road.
The warrior incident.
The injured student.
The teacher's explanation.
"And that student…"
"He might die."
Alex's fists clenched.
"I want to become strong."
"So that no one can do that to my family."
"So that if someone touches my sister…"
"I can break their hand."
His father looked at him silently.
Then suddenly—
He pulled Alex into a tight hug.
"My son…"
"I was afraid."
"Not because I doubt you."
"But because I love you."
He slowly released him.
"If this is truly your reason…"
"Then become strong."
"Become stronger than all of them."
"And come back alive."
Alex nodded firmly.
"I will."
And that night—
For the first time—
Alex's dream truly began.