Mom:
By the time you receive this letter, the gifts I asked Betty to take home should also have arrived.
I'm afraid I can't come back to celebrate your birthday this year. The work here at the army is just too much, and I can't take a holiday.
However, rest assured. We are pretty far from the front line, so we are quite safe. The Supreme Guardian herself has also been here commanding the troops for the past few months. Everyone is working at their posts, so I can't really sneak off on my own.
Mom, I'm dreaming a lot about when I was just a child. I remember how I complained you always came off work so late and didn't pay any attention to our family. What did you say to me then? You said "It is my responsibility," but I didn't understand it. Now, Belobog is facing a crisis that is growing more and more dire, and I finally understood the responsibility an "Architect" should carry. As the war worsened, I actually join an unannounced big project recently. Sorry, Mom, I can't tell you what it is even though you work for the design institute. I can only say it involves the most majestic creation of the Architects that I have ever seen. I'm lucky as it is to be a part of the team. Wow, I never thought there'd be a day when I'd feel so proud of my job...
I wish you could see it in action. I swear any enemy would be stricken by paralyzing fear by the mere sight of it. However, the Supreme Guardian said this creation would only be activated if Belobog stands at the brink of destruction. In that case, I wish you never get to know what we're making.
Anyways, let's talk about something else — The command center was completed last month and our goods were gradually being moved in. I put a pot of solarflower on my desk and it's growing pretty well. Every time I looked at it, I'd think about the flowers in our living room. How are they doing? You also liked to knit while sitting next to the window. Do you still do that, now the Eternal Freeze is getting worse? The gift I asked Betty take back is to protect your knees. You always said your knees hurt in cold weather. I know a few Silvermanes here who just got back from their mission, and they got some wolf manes made into a knee pad. Please remember to use them.
Lastly, this might be a bit late, but I still want to say — Happy Birthday, Mom.