OMG this is idiotic, his dream is to become a freaking soldier, if he becomes a freaking soldier he has no choice but to get involved! You either kill his dream or toss him into the fire THERE IS NO MIDDLE GROUND!
Also, you want the boy to actually have confidence and understand just how freaking strong he really is? You should've let him kill the boy so he would actually get a sense that he is freaking weak!