Sitting in silence, Caution and his siblings sat around a wooden table at the adventurer student house.

Yolga and Lilly frowned. Caution did too but for different reasons. He slurped from a bowl of soup as he wondered what type of fighter Vidal was, the contestant who currently ranked number one. He was starting to think about the leaderboard more each day and it was hard not to when the game seemed to finally be gaining momentum.

Eventually, he looked up at the twins and as he did so, he was reminded of something he forgot every so often. They were still kids. "So you're saying it's too much?"

"We thought being an adventurer would be fun," Lilly said. "but we didn't expect so much..."

"Death," Yolga finished bluntly. "I can't see myself risking my life like that on a daily basis. Reuben died horribly. Two days pass and everyone carries on like nothing happened. Do you know why? Adventurers die all the time. I don't want to go out like that."

The fear in Yolga's voice stirred something inside Caution. The hidden parent inside him had finally woken up. They were both 14 and after a relatively fun and peaceful life in their home town, they had seen their new friend brutally killed by a spider monster.

Caution leaned back in his chair and sighed as he reflected back over the years. "I'm sorry. I've been a lousy big brother. You guys are always there to help me when I need it, but I've been too selfish." He stood up and stretched his arms wide. "Come on, both of you. Bring it in."

There was an awkward silence.

"This is a one time offer. Hugs are rare for me. Don't leave me standing like this."

"You're acting out of character and it's freaking me out," Lilly said.

"Physical contact concerning you tends to be the violent kind," Yolga said. "Is this a test or something?"

"What? No!" Jeez. Have I really been that cold?

Yolga and Lilly stood up and took turns to hug their brother, both with sheepish smiles.

"No one's stopping you from returning home," Caution said as they sat back down. "However, something tells me you'll both regret making that decision. Don't let the fear paralyse you. Accept it, acknowledge it, but don't let it stop you achieving your goals. What happened in the Adventurer Dungeon was unfortunate but you can both use it as an opportunity to grow."

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"I guess..." Lilly said, avoiding eye contact.

"Easier said than done," Yolga mumbled.

"You wanted to become adventurers because it seemed fun, right?" Caution rubbed his forehead. "Maybe you need something stronger to push you forward. Outside Asna, safety from monsters aren't so certain, but adventurers do their best to help by taking on numerous quests. They risk their lives to help others and make the world better. Don't you think that's pretty damn awesome?"

Lilly's eyes lit up as she grinned. Yolga nodded several times.

"Is that why you want to become an adventurer?" Lilly asked.

Caution paused for too long. "Yes."

"You're lying."

"I'm not," Caution said.

Lilly turned to Yolga. "He's lying."

"I know. From the beginning, he's always thought we're goofy. I can't stand it."

Lilly shook her head. "He's problematic. We'll have to deal with him soon once we become top adventurers."

"Of course. I'll be an extremely competent healer by then so when he inevitably takes you out, I can revive you instantly."

"You fool," Lilly said. "My master spells would have been mastered once we're adventurers. I'll obliterate him easily."

Caution raised both eyebrows. "Obliterate?"

"Your master spells suck!" Yolga boomed. "They don't work. We can't win against him with your silly clown routine!

Lilly recoiled in her seat like she'd been slapped. "Don't you dare disgrace my artistry like that! My babies just need time to..."

Caution froze. The world faded away as two hearts thumped simultaneously, perfectly in sync.

"Manny, it's me. How are you feeling today? You seem distressed. It's just me today, unfortunately. When you wake up, let's go on holiday. It's long overdue and summer's coming up so the kids won't have school. I know you loved your work but deep down, even though you never said it, I know you wanted peace.

Caution closed his eyes. The words were crystal clear, shining at the forefront of his mind. They were serene, reminiscent of the whooshing sounds sung by the ocean. Very briefly, he was 100% Manny, the champ stuck in the coma.

He couldn't move an inch as his wife cried quietly.

"There was always beauty in your struggles, Manny. I loved to see you face adversity and become victorious. That's why I fell in love with you, and I need you to do that again. For the kids, for me, and yourself. Wake up. I miss you so much. This past week has been agony without you."

Caution opened his eyes. Yolga and Lilly stared at him, eyes filled with curiosity.

"Are you okay?" Yolga asked.

Caution stood up abruptly. "You need to have each others backs. Always support each other. Be prepared to sacrifice for each other. If one of you goes down a dark path, the other needs to drag the other out of it. You're family. The same blood runs through your veins. Never forget that."

"Um, okay," Yolga said. "Sure."

"Okay," Lilly said.

"I know you can both be great adventurers. Keep training and you'll get there. Try not to view fear as a bad thing. Overcoming it helps us grow. It's been great to be your big brother."

Yolga chuckled. "I didn't think you could be so melodramatic. Corny as hell."

Lilly smiled. "I know right? Why does it sound like he's saying goodbye?"

The twins laughed and snorted while Caution quickly turned his back, successfully hiding tears.

Because I'm not going to be in this world for long and before I leave it, you're probably not going to see me as family.