6. Remembrance of the past

[...]

Steering away from these thoughts, when my ears catch my father's velvety voice.

"Son, you're not an impostor, don't ever say that again. What happened wasn't your fault, and you're doing a great job fulfilling the promise you made to your brother. He would be very proud of you."

"Yeah, bro, Dad's right. Stop dwelling on it," Herman approaches, followed closely by Astrid. Before we know it, we're all intertwined in a warm and lingering embrace.

"Alright, let Tobias go up to his room and rest. He's tired from the journey. My son, take a good shower, rests. It's one o'clock now, get some sleep. The event will start at six in the evening."

Mom, I received Sophie, who fusses until she reluctantly agrees to go to her lap, or rather, she was coerced. I felt bad about it, but I'm really exhausted and need a few hours of sleep.

***

I wake up two hours before the event, peek through the window and see a glittering garden with lights pointing the way to t