《The Brothers' Umbra》


 Chapter One: Eruption

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    My sixteenth birthday was supposed to be a quiet, simple day, to enjoy with my twin brother, Sacer, and my father in the safety of our little home on the outskirts of nowhere. But instead, I found myself standing in the heart of the capital, surrounded by crowds that buzzed like bees. The air was thick with cooked meat, baked goods, and way too many people.


    ¡°Can you believe this, Luca?¡± Sacer said, his golden eyes wide with wonder as he took in the city. His white hair was practically glowing because of the sun. Honestly, he always looked like he belonged in a painting. Next to him, with my messy black hair and piercing red eyes, I might as well have been an accidental smudge on that canvas.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a city,¡± I muttered. I continuously kept getting bumped into by those around, and I had to fight the urge not to shove people away. ¡°Loud, crowded, and smells worse than Father¡¯s stew.¡±


    My Father clapped a hand on my shoulder, his grip steady and reassuring. ¡®Relax, Luca. It¡¯s a celebration. Try to enjoy yourself.¡±


    ¡°Right.¡± I said, forcing a smile.


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    After weaving through the city, we finally reached the center square, a vast open space surrounded by statues and towering buildings. At its heart was a raised platform, and in the middle of it stood a stone pedestal. My breath caught when I saw what was embedded in it.


    A sword.


    It was longer than I could have ever expected, its hilt wrapped in weathered leather, the blade shimmering with a faint golden glow that seemed to pulse in time with my heartbeat. Runes were etched along its edge, symbols that I couldn''t read but felt in my bones. My feet moved forward on their own, carrying me closer to the platform, my eyes locked on the blade.


    "That''s the Mirage Sword," Father said from behind me, his voice full of awe. "The weapon Gabriel used to defeat Damon, the Demon King."


    I felt a wave of cold run through me at the name, like it was sinking into my skin. I''d heard the stories a hundred times, read about Gabriel''s battles and the final fight that ended Damon''s reign. But seeing the sword itself felt different, like something was pressing down on me, urging me forward. I stared at the blade, and a strange feeling twisted in my chest- fear.


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    Beside me, Sacer was just as captivated, his gold eyes wide as he gazed at the blade. I could feel him tensing beside me, his fingers twitching, almost as if he wanted to reach out. I glanced at him, but he didn''t meet my eyes. He looked lost, caught in his own spell.


    I took another step forward, and then another, drawn to the sword by an invisible force. It wasn''t until I heard the whispers in the crowd that I realized people were watching. I glanced around, noticing the glances that darted between me and my brother. Murmurs drifted through the crowd, quiet but sharp, the words digging into my skin.


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    "Look at his eyes," one woman whispered, her gaze darting away as I looked at her. "They''re... red."


    "It can''t be..."


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    "I heard the last one with red eyes was..." A man''s voice trailed off, his words swallowed by the crowd.


    "Did you see that other boy''s hair? White as snow."


    The crowd pressed in closer, their eyes narrowing as they took in every detail-my dark hair and strange eyes, Sacer''s bright gold gaze and hair that seemed almost to glow in the sunlight. I could feel the weight of their stares, their suspicion filling the air like a heavy mist.


    I wanted to turn away, to pull Sacer with me and disappear, but I was rooted to the spot. The blade pulsed, the glow around it intensifying, and I couldn''t shake the feeling that it was looking right at me.


    Sacer shifted beside me, his expression mirroring my own unease. He glanced back at Father, but he was just confused, glancing between us and the crowd around.


    Then, without warning, a sharp, searing pain tore through my body.


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    I gasped, doubling over as fire burst from my skin, spreading up my arms in black, twisting flames. The pain was overwhelming, raw and consuming, like I was being burned alive from the inside out. I stumbled back, barely aware of the crowd around me, of the screams and the horrified faces staring at me.


    "Please," I choked, reaching out, desperate for something to hold onto. I fell to my knees, the ground beneath me scorching over.


    "Father! Sacer!" I gasped, my voice breaking. I looked around, searching for them, but my vision was blurring, swallowed by the darkness that twisted around me, binding me in shadows that pulsed with a life of their own. The flames wrapped tighter, growing hotter, until I could barely breathe.


    Sacer stood a few feet away, his face pale, his eyes wide with horror. He took a step back, shaking his head, and I saw his hand twitch like he wanted to reach out-but he didn''t. He just stared at me, his gold eyes full of something that looked like... pity.


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    "Luca..." he whispered, his voice barely audible over the roar of the flames.


    "Help me!" I screamed, my voice cracking.


    "Luca, what''s happening to you?" My Father cried out, his voice full of disbelief. He looked between me and Sacer, like he was seeing us both for the first time, and the confusion in his eyes only made the pain worse.


    "I don''t know!" I choked, my voice raw. I felt the fire clawing deeper, pulling at something buried inside me, memories that weren''t mine flashing through my mind-faces, battles, blood spilled on cold stone. I clutched my head, fighting to hold onto myself, to push back against the darkness that felt ancient and endless.


    Then, from somewhere deep within the flames, I heard a voice, cold and echoing, whispering a name.


    Damon.


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    The darkness surged, growing thicker, hotter, wrapping around me until I could barely feel my own heartbeat. I looked at Sacer one last time, desperate, pleading. I needed him to see me, to know I was still his brother. But in his eyes, I saw something else-something that felt like betrayal.


    "Sacer... please... don''t leave me..." I whispered, my voice breaking. But he just stared at me, his face filled with a terrible understanding, as if he''d known something about me all along.

 Chapter Two: Fracture

    The world drifted in and out of focus. Everything around me was muffled, like I was underwater. I caught fragments of voices¡ªpeople calling my name, frantic and scared, but they felt distant, like echoes from a place I''d already left behind.


    ...


    ..


    .


    Then, all at once, I slammed back into myself. My eyes snapped open, and I gasped, lungs burning as if I''d been holding my breath for hours. The light was blinding, harsh against my face, and every inch of my body felt... wrong.


    I tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness hit me, forcing me back to the warm stone beneath me. I was lying in the middle of the city square, the once lively sounds of Valtara replaced by a thick, unnerving silence.


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    My limbs trembled as I lifted my hands, and the sight of them filled me with a new kind of terror¡ªblackened, as if I''d been burned alive. Wisps of dark smoke curled from my skin, fading into the air.


    I heard gasps from all around me and looked up to see the crowd. Dozens of people stood just beyond the edge of the square, staring down at me with faces full of fear, horror, disgust. They watched me as though I were a monster, something out of a nightmare that had crossed into their world.


    I struggled to my feet, my knees shaking as I fought to keep my balance. My head was still throbbing, images flashing before my eyes¡ª fire, screams, blood splattering. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn''t make sense of them. The memories felt foreign, like someone else''s life forced into my mind.


    Then, through the crowd, I found Sacer. He was standing apart from the others, his gold eyes wide with something I didn''t understand. Fear, maybe. Pity.


    "Sacer," I whispered, my voice hoarse. "What... what happened?"


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    He didn''t answer. He just stared at me, his gaze as unreadable as it was unyielding. And then he did something that shattered whatever hope I had left¡ªhe took a step back. I felt my heart stutter, my pulse going cold. He looked away, his face hardening, as though he couldn''t bear to see me.


    "What did you do?" a voice snarled, breaking the silence.


    I turned, confused, and saw a man standing near the edge of the crowd, his face twisted in anger. He pointed a trembling finger at me, his eyes blazing. "I saw it¡ªthe flames, the darkness! You... you''re him, aren''t you?"


    One of them. The words sank into my skin like ice. More voices joined in, murmuring accusations, casting fearful glances at my blackened hands, my still-smoldering skin.


    "No, I didn''t... I don''t know what happened," I stammered, my hands shaking as I looked around, desperate to explain, though I didn''t even know what I was explaining. "Please... I didn''t mean to..."


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    I searched for my father, hoping he would tell everyone it was a mistake, that I was just his son, not some monster. But when I found him, his face was pale, his eyes wide with shock. He looked at me like he didn''t know me, like he was seeing a stranger where his son used to be.


    "Father," I tried, stepping toward him. "Please, I¡ªI didn''t mean to..."


    He shook his head, stepping back. "Luca... what were those flames?" he whispered, his voice barely audible. "What did you do?"


    "I don''t know!" The words broke out of me, half-scream, half-sob. "I didn''t do anything¡ªit just happened!"


    The crowd''s whispers turned into an uproar, fear and panic spreading like wildfire. People edged away from me, clutching their children, casting wary glances at Sacer as well.


    Someone in the crowd shouted, "The Demon King has returned!" and the words hit me like a punch to the gut. They were looking at me like I was some kind of creature, something dangerous, something that needed to be stopped.


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    Sacer''s gaze was was focused on me again, his face full of pain and a terrible, reluctant understanding. I could see it in his eyes¡ªhe knew something I didn''t, and whatever it was, it made him afraid. Afraid of me.


    "You should run," he whispered, so quietly that only I could hear. "Luca... you need to leave."


    I stared at him, feeling my heart break. Looking into his eyes, I realized he was terrified¡ªof me. And I knew that in that moment, he saw me not as his brother, but as something he''d been told all his life was evil.


    "Luca!" he urged, his voice strained. "Go!"


    Anger bubbled up inside me, raw and wild, a dark heat that felt like it was clawing its way out. Why was he doing this? Why was he casting me aside like I was some sort of monster?


    As my anger grew, I felt that same dark whisper in my mind, coaxing me to lash out, to release the flames again, to show them all what I was capable of.


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    With one last, desperate look at Sacer, I turned and ran. The crowd parted in front of me, their fearful whispers filling my ears as I pushed past them, sprinting through the winding streets. My mind was a haze, a chaotic swirl of confusion, fear, and betrayal.


    I didn''t know where I was going¡ªall I knew was that I had to get away, had to leave the square, the city, before whatever was inside me took over completely. I ran until the voices faded, until the streets around me grew quiet and empty. Only then did I stop, leaning against a wall as I tried to catch my breath.


    The city stretched out in front of me, unfamiliar and vast. I had no idea where to go, or who to turn to. All I had were questions, questions that burned just as fiercely as the flames that had consumed me.


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    What was I? Why did this happen to me? And why... Why had Sacer looked at me like I was the enemy?


    My hands trembled as I slid down the wall, my head falling into my hands. I was lost, alone, with no idea of who¡ªor what¡ªI was supposed to be.


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    But as the silence closed in around me, a single thought rose above the chaos, chilling and absolute.


    Who am I?


    ¡ª


    I don''t know how long I sat there, my mind spinning, my body exhausted, but at some point, I forced myself to get up. Staying in the city was a risk I couldn''t take. The echoes of "Demon King" still rang in my ears, and every shadow seemed to press down on me, whispering the same name.


    I was Damon. But I was also Luca, wasn''t I?


    The thought twisted in my mind like a snare. How could I be both? The streets were quiet now, the last of the market noise fading as people settled into their homes. I had nowhere to go and no plan¡ªjust an overwhelming need to escape before someone decided to find me.


    I moved through the back alleys, keeping close to the walls, away from the torchlight flickering in the main streets. My whole body felt heavy, like I was walking through mud. I didn''t know how to fight this darkness, this... other side of me. Part of me wanted to collapse, to sink back down into that quiet alley and just disappear. But another part, deeper, almost primal, was urging me on.


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    I made it to the edge of the city before I stopped again, my chest heaving, my body rebelling against every step. The forest loomed just beyond the gates, its dense trees casting long, dark shadows under the moonlight. It looked forbidding, but it was better than being out in the open.


    Taking a deep breath, I slipped into the trees, my footsteps muffled by the thick layer of leaves underfoot. I didn''t look back at Valtara. Right now, I wasn''t sure I''d ever see it again.


    After a few minutes of running, I found a clearing, a small patch of grass under the open sky, and I collapsed onto it, the damp earth cool against my skin. The forest was silent except for the soft rustling of leaves or the occasional hoot of an owl. For the first time since the square, I felt like I could breathe.


    But then the memories flooded back.


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    I closed my eyes, and flashes of the square seared into my mind: the crowd''s fearful faces, Father''s horrified gaze, Sacer''s look of quiet, resigned betrayal. I''d never seen him look at me like that. It was as if he knew something he hadn''t told me, like he''d been waiting for this moment, the moment he realized I was... different.


    A wave of bitterness rose in my throat.


    My hands clenched into fists, and I felt that strange, dark heat pulsing beneath my skin again, whispering, tempting me to let it out, to surrender to whatever lay inside me. I could feel it burning in my chest, filling me with a power that felt both familiar and foreign. But I didn''t want to give in¡ªI didn''t want to lose myself to something I didn''t understand.


    But then, a thought crept in, cold and insidious. What if there was no other way? What if I couldn''t escape this? What if I was destined to be exactly what they feared?


    I tried to push the thought away, but it lingered, gnawing at the edges of my mind. There was a part of me that didn''t want to fight it.


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    As I lay there, staring up at the stars, I realized that I had two choices: I could run, keep hiding, try to bury this darkness deep inside me and hope it never surfaced again. Or... I could embrace it. I could try to understand it, to harness it. Maybe then, I could find out who I really was.


    ¡ª


    The hours stretched on as I lay in the clearing, I must have drifted off at some point, because the next thing I knew, the first light of dawn was breaking through the trees.


    I sat up, my muscles stiff, my mind clouded with exhaustion. But I knew one thing for certain: I couldn''t stay here.


    There was a village a day''s walk from Valtara, near the edge of the forest, where travelers stopped for supplies before heading into the mountains. If I could make it there, maybe I could blend in, find a way to hide, to escape whatever fate was chasing me.


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    Pushing myself to my feet, I set off into the trees, my footsteps crunching softly over the underbrush. I kept moving, forcing myself to focus on each step, anything to keep the overbearing fear at bay.


    But as I walked, a new sound reached my ears¡ªthe crunch of footsteps on leaves, somewhere behind me. I froze, my heart pounding, as I strained to listen.


    The footsteps grew closer, deliberate and slow, like whoever was following me knew exactly where I was. Panic surged through me, and I ducked behind a tree, pressing myself against the bark. My breath was shallow, my hands trembling as I peered around the trunk, hoping, praying that whoever it was would pass me by.


    But then I saw him.


    Sacer.


    He was moving quietly through the trees, his gaze fixed on the ground, his expression focused and unyielding. His white hair caught the early morning light, making him look almost ethereal, like a ghost.


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    A surge of anger mixed with relief twisted inside me. I wanted to call out to him, to demand an explanation, to ask him why he''d looked at me like that, why he''d told me to run. But part of me was afraid of what he might say, of the truth he might reveal.


    Instead, I stayed silent, watching as he moved closer, his gaze still on the ground. I wonder what he was thinking, what he was planning to do if he found me.


    But then, as if sensing my gaze, he stopped, lifting his head to look directly at me. Our eyes met, and for a moment, everything else faded away. It was just the two of us, twin brothers.


    "Luca," he said softly, his voice carrying through the quiet forest. "I had a feeling you''d be here."


    I didn''t respond, my body tense as I watched him, waiting for him to make the first move. I could see the pain in his eyes, the struggle he was fighting to keep hidden. But I could also see the determination, the resolve that had always made Sacer who he was.


    "What do you want?" I managed, my voice rough and wary.


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    Sacer took a slow step forward, his gaze never leaving mine.


    I shook my head, the anger and confusion boiling over. "You knew, Sacer. You knew something was wrong, didn''t you? That''s why you told me to run. You knew, and you didn''t tell me!"


    He flinched, but he didn''t look away. "I didn''t know, Luca. Not really. I... I had a feeling, maybe, but I didn''t know it would be like this." He paused, his hands opening and closing at his sides. "But now that I''ve seen it... I can''t ignore it."


    My chest began to tighten, the reality of his words sinking in. "So, what now?" I spat.


    His expression softened, and he took another step closer, his gaze intense. "I need to know, Luca. Do you feel it? Do you feel it inside you?"


    His question hung in the air, heavy and daunting. I wanted to deny it, to tell him he was out of his mind, that I was still just Luca, his brother. But the memory of the flames, of the darkness that had consumed me in the square, was too fresh, too real. I couldn''t lie to him¡ªnot about this.


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    "Yes," I whispered, the admission tearing at me. "I feel it, Sacer. And it scares me. I don''t... I don''t want to be,¡± I raised my shaking, blackened hands in front of my face. Studying them. ¡°...This."


    Sacer''s expression softened, and for a moment, I thought I saw the brother I''d grown up with, the boy who''d often come to me in the dead of night due to bad dreams. But then his eyes hardened.


    "I don''t want you to be this either," he said softly. "But if you are, if you''re really him... then I have to do what''s right."


    The words cut through me, cold and final. Anger began to surge through me, but really, all I was feeling was sadness. "I don''t know who, or what I am, Sacer," I said, my voice breaking. "But if you''re going to treat me like an enemy... maybe I don''t have a choice."


    With one last look, I turned and walked away, leaving him standing there in the clearing. I didn''t look back. I couldn''t. Because if I did, I knew I''d see the same thing in his eyes that I¡¯d scene at the square.


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    Duty.


    And as much as I hated it, I knew that sooner or later, we would have to face each other again¡ªnot as brothers, but as enemies.

 Chapter Three: His Flames

    The quiet of the forest pressed in on me. My footsteps were the only sound, crunching softly over the thick carpet of leaves and twigs. It had been two days since I''d fled Valtara, two days since I''d watched my own brother''s face harden as he declared me an enemy.


    I kept moving, muscles aching and my mind clouded with exhaustion. Rest wasn''t an option; every time I closed my eyes, I''d see the dreams that weren¡¯t mine. Images of war and bloodshed. What does it all mean? Am I not...?


    No.


    I am Luca Umbra, just Luca.


    Right?


    I stumbled into a clearing, a wide stretch of land where the trees broke open to reveal a darkened sky. The air was cool, the smell of damp earth mixing with the faint scent of smoke from a distant village. I let out a shaky breath, leaning against a tree as I looked up at the sky. The stars glittered coldly above, distant and unreachable. I wonder if Sacer is out there somewhere, staring up at the same stars.


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    I let myself sink down onto the ground, my back against the rough bark, and tried to breathe, to push down the twisting dread in my stomach. But the silence brought with it the voice I dreaded, the voice I''d been trying so hard to ignore.


    You''re wasting your strength, Damon''s voice echoed in my mind, cold and unyielding. You''ll never be able to outrun your destiny.


    "I don''t want to hear it," I muttered, clenching my fists. I''d fought so hard to keep him buried, to drown him out with every thought and every step, but he was always there, waiting.


    Ignoring me won''t change the truth, Damon continued, his voice soft and coaxing, threading through my mind like smoke. You''re running from your power, Luca. But you can''t run forever.


    "I don''t want it!" I hissed. "I don''t want to be anything like you."


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    There was a long, heavy silence, broken only by the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze. But I could feel Damon''s presence lingering.


    You can''t fight it forever, he whispered. One day, you''ll understand. You''ll accept who you are. Who you''re meant to be.


    I took a shaky breath, and pressed my hands into the dirt, grounding myself in the cold, solid reality of the forest. I wasn''t Damon. I was Luca. And no matter what he said, no matter how loud his voice grew, I wouldn''t give in. I wouldn''t let him turn me into the monster everyone thought I was.


    But even as I clung to that thought, a nagging doubt wormed its way into my mind. What if he was right? What if I was only delaying the inevitable, refusing to accept the truth that was woven into my very blood?


    No. I couldn''t think like that. I couldn''t let him win.


    And with that thought, sleep took me.


    -


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    I hadn''t made it far from the clearing when the sound of distant cries reached my ears, faint but desperate. I stopped, straining to listen, my heart pounding as the cries grew louder, more frantic. Damon''s presence stirred, as though the sound had drawn him out of his slumber.


    Curious, he murmured, his voice curling through my mind, sharp with interest. Why don''t we see what''s causing all this commotion?


    I wanted to ignore him, to keep walking, to pretend I hadn''t heard anything. But the cries grew louder, more desperate, and against my better judgment, I found myself moving toward them. The forest opened up into a small road, and there, huddled by a tree, were two people- a mother and her child, their faces pale, and clothes ragged and dirty. They were surrounded by three dark shapes- bandits, judging by the tattered armor and the sharp, twisted smiles on their faces.


    My stomach twisted as I watched, frozen in place, Damon''s voice whispering in my mind, urging me forward.


    You could help them, he said softly, his voice almost gentle. You have the power. You could end this with a single thought.


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    "No," I whispered, my fists clenching. That power was a curse, a darkness that would only bring pain. But as I watched, one of the bandits stepped forward, his knife glinting in the dim light, and the child let out a terrified sob, clutching at his mother''s arm.


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    My heart pounded, my breath coming faster as I took a step forward, then another, until I was standing at the edge of the clearing, hidden by the shadows. I could feel the power stirring within me, waiting, watching, like a dark, hungry beast that had finally caught the scent of its prey.


    The bandits hadn''t noticed me yet, too focused on their victims to see me standing there. But I couldn''t look away, couldn''t ignore the fear in their eyes, the quiet, desperate pleas they murmured, begging these animals for mercy.


    "Please," the mother whispered, her voice trembling. "We don''t have anything left... just let us go."


    One of the bandits laughed, a cruel, twisted sound. "Oh, we''re not here for gold, darling. Just looking for a bit of fun, that''s all."


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    I felt a surge of raw, animalistic anger filling my chest with a heat that burned hotter than anything I''d ever felt before. My hands clenched, my nails digging into my palms. I could feel the flames stirring, the dark fire pulsing beneath my skin, begging to be released.


    Do it, Damon whispered, his voice soft and insistent. You know you want to. They deserve it, don''t they? You have the power to make them pay.


    "No," I muttered, fighting to keep the fire down, to hold it back. But as I watched the bandit reach for the woman, a dark, cold certainty settled over me. They wouldn''t stop. They wouldn''t listen to reason. They wouldn''t leave these people alone- not unless someone made them. Not unless I made them.


    I took a deep breath, feeling the fire rise within me, filling every corner of my mind, every inch of my body with a terrible, unstoppable power. And before I could even think about stopping myself, the flames surged to the surface, swirling around my hands, dark and fierce, casting an eerie glow across the clearing.


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    The bandits froze, their eyes widening as they took in the sight of me, standing at the edge of the woods, wreathed in black, demonic fire.


    For a moment, no one moved, the air thick with shock and fear. Then, one of the bandits let out a low, nervous laugh.


    "Looks like we''ve got ourselves a little magician," he sneered, though I could see the fear in his eyes. "You think you can scare us, boy?"


    The flames flared, twisting around my hands, and I took a step forward, the ground beneath me scorching as the fire spilled out, leaving charred marks in my wake. The bandits flinched, their bravado fading, replaced by a fear that filled me with a strange, almost dark satisfaction.


    "You don''t want to do this," I said, my voice low, the words carrying an edge I hadn''t intended. "Leave them alone. Now."


    The bandits exchanged nervous glances, their eyes darting from me to the flames that licked at my hands, flickering with a dark, hungry light. One of them lunged, his knife gleaming as he charged toward me, a snarl twisting his face.


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    I reacted without thinking, my hand shot out, the flames surging forward in a dark, searing wave. The bandit let out a scream, stumbling back as the fire wrapped around him, consuming him in seconds. The smell of burnt cloth and flesh filled the air, sharp and sickening, and the other bandits froze, their faces pale with terror.


    I shuddered, the dark satisfaction fading, replaced by a sickening dread as I looked down at the charred remains of the man at my feet. This isn''t what I''d wanted. This isn''t what I''d meant to do.


    But Damon''s voice filled my mind, like a cat purring after a meal. See? Isn''t it better this way?


    The remaining bandits backed away, their faces twisted with horror, and I could see the fear in their eyes, the same fear I''d seen in Valtara, in Sacer''s gaze, in my father''s horrified stare. They looked at me as though I were something unholy, a monster brought to life.


    "Leave," I said, my voice shaking, though I did my best to keep it steady. "Leave, or I won''t stop."


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    They didn''t need any more convincing. They turned tail and ran, disappearing into the trees, their footsteps fading into the silence. I stood there, the flames flickering around me, casting eerie shadows over the clearing, as the family huddled by the tree, their eyes wide with terror.


    I forced the fire down, clenching my fists as I willed it to disappear. Slowly, the flames faded, leaving only a faint warmth, a lingering reminder of the otherworldly power I''d unleashed.


    The mother looked up at me, her eyes filled with gratitude and fear, and I felt a pang of guilt twist in my chest. She opened her mouth, as if to thank me, but I quickly held up a hand to stop her.


    "Don''t," I said, my voice hollow. "Just... don''t."


    I turned, forcing myself to walk away, each step heavier than the last. I could feel their eyes on my back, the weight of their gratitude and their fear pressing down on me like a shroud. And as I walked, Damon''s voice filled my mind.


    You saved them, he murmured. You used your power for good. Isn''t that what you wanted?


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    But it didn''t feel good. The image of the charred bandit lingered in my mind, haunting me, filling me with a sickening dread.


    "You did that," I whispered, my voice trembling. "Not me."


    But Damon only laughed, his voice a low, mocking echo in my mind. Oh, Luca, he purred, his voice curling around me like smoke. You can tell yourself that all you want. But we both know the truth.


    I kept walking, the darkness pressing in around me, Damon''s voice filling my mind, his presence growing stronger with every step. I wanted to scream, to tell him to leave, to tear him out of my mind and banish him back to whatever dark corner he''d come from.


    But he was everywhere, filling every thought, every corner of my mind, blurring the line between us until I couldn''t tell where he ended and I began. I could feel his power, dark and cold, pulsing beneath my skin, waiting, watching, like a shadow lurking at the edge of my mind.

 Chapter Four: Hope

    As I left the clearing, each step felt heavier than the last, my mind clouded with exhaustion and guilt. The face of the bandit I''d burned haunted me, a charred and twisted memory that lingered, filling me with a sickening dread.


    I wanted to tell myself that he''d deserved it, that I''d saved those people, that I''d done something good. But the truth was, I hadn''t felt like a savior in that moment. I''d felt powerful, unstoppable, and the flames had answered me, devouring everything in their path.


    You see, Luca? Damon''s voice echoed through my mind, soft and insidious, wrapping around my thoughts like smoke. The flames are a part of you. They want to be used, to serve their purpose.


    "Your purpose, maybe," I muttered, clenching my fists. "But not mine."


    But Damon only laughed, his voice a low, mocking sound that filled me with a dark, simmering anger. I kept walking, pushing him back with everything I had, focusing on the quiet crunch of leaves beneath my feet, the cool morning air filling my lungs.


    <div>


    The forest path wound on, twisting and turning until it opened up into a small, quiet village nestled between the trees. It was peaceful, almost hidden, with cottages clustered together and gardens spilling over with wildflowers. A well sat at the center of the village, its water reflecting the soft pink light of dawn. I hesitated at the edge, watching as a few villagers began to stir, moving about their morning routines, oblivious to the darkness that had followed me here.


    I could keep moving, put more distance between myself and Valtara, between myself and Sacer. But the ache in my legs and the burning hunger gnawing at my stomach reminded me that I needed rest, food, something to keep me going.


    Taking a deep breath, I pulled my hood up, keeping my face hidden as I stepped into the village. I passed by a few villagers, their gazes lingering on me for only a moment before they returned to their tasks. They hadn''t seen the flames, hadn''t witnessed the power I''d unleashed. To them, I was just another traveler, a stranger passing through.


    <div>


    But as I approached the well, a woman''s voice called out to me, soft and cautious. "Excuse me, stranger. Are you all right?"


    I turned, my heart pounding, and saw a girl standing a few feet away, her eyes bright and curious. She was around my age, with dark hair pulled back in a messy braid and a simple tunic that looked worn from use. Her gaze was sharp, assessing, as though she were trying to see past the hood, to the person hiding beneath it.


    "I''m fine," I said quickly, keeping my voice low. "Just... passing through."


    She didn''t look convinced. "You look like you''ve been on the road a while. We don''t get many travelers here¡ªespecially ones who look like they''re running from something."


    I felt a prickle of unease at her words, but I forced a calm smile. "Just tired. Nothing to worry about."


    <div>


    The girl tilted her head, her gaze unwavering. "You can come to the tavern, get some food. They don''t charge much." She hesitated, then added, "But if you''re looking for work, there''s always something that needs doing around here. Name''s Marei, by the way."


    I almost declined, the urge to keep moving pressing down on me, but my stomach growled, reminding me that I didn''t have the luxury of pride right now. "Luca," I said finally, giving her a nod. "Thanks for the offer."


    She turned, leading the way through the village, and I followed, keeping my gaze down as I walked. I didn''t want anyone here to see my face, didn''t want to risk them recognizing the red eyes that had condemned me back in Valtara. But Marei didn''t seem to notice¡ªor if she did, she didn''t care. She moved with a quiet confidence, her steps sure and steady, as though she were familiar with every corner of this village.


    She led me to a small, cozy tavern near the edge of the village, its wooden sign swinging gently in the breeze. Inside, the smell of freshly baked bread and roasted meat filled the air, and my stomach twisted with hunger. Marei nodded to the tavern keeper, a large man with a kind face, and he set a plate of food in front of me without a word, giving me a nod as he moved back to the bar.


    <div>


    I ate quickly, the warm food easing some of the tension in my chest, and Marei watched me, her gaze curious and unyielding. I could feel her questions pressing down on me, and I knew she was waiting for me to say something, to explain why I was here, why I looked like I''d been dragged through the forest.


    "So," she said finally, leaning forward, her voice low. "What are you running from?"


    I tensed, the memories flashing through my mind¡ªthe flames, the crowd''s terrified faces, Sacer''s look of quiet resolve. "It''s... complicated," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I just need to keep moving."


    Marei didn''t look surprised, as though she''d expected my answer. "We get a lot of people like that here," she said quietly, her gaze drifting to the window. "People looking for a fresh start. A place to hide."


    <div>


    Her words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken meaning, and I wondered how much she knew, how much she could see. She looked at me again, her eyes sharp and knowing, and for a moment, I felt like she could see right through me, past the hood and the layers of fear and doubt.


    "Everyone here has something to hide," she said softly. "So don''t worry. Your secrets are safe with me."


    I let out a breath I hadn''t realized I''d been holding, a faint sense of relief filling me. But even as I relaxed, I could feel Damon''s presence stirring, his voice a quiet murmur in my mind, mocking, amused.


    Secrets won''t save you, Luca, he whispered, his voice filled with dark amusement. You can try to hide, but the truth will find you eventually.


    I clenched my fists, fighting to keep his voice down, to drown him out. But he was everywhere, filling every corner of my mind, a dark, insidious presence that refused to leave.


    <div>


    Marei must have noticed the change in my expression, because she placed a hand on my arm, her touch gentle but grounding. "Hey," she said, her voice soft. "You''re safe here. Whatever you''re running from... it can''t hurt you here."


    Her words were kind, and I wanted to believe them, I wanted to let myself trust her, if only for a moment. But I knew better. Damon was with me, a shadow that would follow me no matter how far I ran, no matter where I tried to hide.


    But Marei didn''t pull away. She watched me with a quiet understanding, as though she could sense the battle raging within me, the fear and the darkness that threatened to consume me. And in that moment, I felt a strange kinship with her, a connection that was both comforting and unsettling.


    "Thank you," I said finally, my voice barely a whisper. "But I don''t think I''m safe anywhere."


    Marei''s gaze lingered on me for a moment, her dark eyes searching mine as if she was trying to piece together a puzzle. She didn''t press further, and I was grateful for that. Instead, she leaned back in her chair and gave a faint, almost sad smile.


    <div>


    "Nobody''s truly safe," she said, her voice low. "But sometimes, you find places that feel safe enough for a while. This village... it''s one of those places." She glanced out the window, watching as a pair of children chased each other around the well, their laughter carrying through the quiet morning air. "At least, it is for now."


    Her words struck me, an uneasy reminder that peace was fleeting. But for these people, for Marei, it was something they fought to hold onto. And here I was, a walking storm, threatening to shatter it just by being here.


    The thought made my stomach twist, the guilt creeping back in. "I don''t want to bring trouble here," I said, my voice firmer this time. "If staying puts the village at risk, I''ll leave."


    Marei''s smile widened slightly, though it didn''t quite reach her eyes. "You sound like a lot of people who''ve come through here. But the thing about trouble is, it usually finds us anyway, whether we''re ready for it or not." She leaned forward again, her tone more serious now. "What matters is how we face it. And something tells me you''ve faced your fair share."


    <div>


    I wanted to deny it, to tell her she was wrong. But the weight of Damon''s voice in my mind, the memories of the flames, the faces of those I''d hurt¡ªit was all too much to deny. I nodded once, unable to meet her gaze.


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    She didn''t push further. Instead, she stood, brushing her hands off on her tunic. "Well, if you''re set on leaving soon, you should at least rest while you can. There''s a spare bed in the back. I''ll talk to the tavern keeper. He won''t mind."


    I opened my mouth to protest, but the exhaustion weighed me down too much to argue. "Thank you," I said, the words feeling strange on my tongue.


    Marei shrugged as if it were no big deal. "It''s what we do here¡ªhelp each other out. Just don''t burn the place down while you''re resting, okay?"


    <div>


    Her tone was light, almost teasing, but I froze, my breath catching in my throat. Did she know? I searched her face for any hint of suspicion, but all I saw was a playful smirk. She didn''t know. She couldn''t know.


    I forced a weak laugh, nodding as I stood. "I''ll try to keep that in mind."


    As I made my way to the back room, the sounds of the tavern faded behind me. The small room Marei had mentioned was plain but clean, with a simple bed pushed against one wall and a small window that let in the soft morning light. I sat on the edge of the bed, my shoulders slumping as the weight of the past few days pressed down on me.


    For a moment, I let myself close my eyes, hoping for a brief reprieve. But Damon''s voice returned, sharper now, his laughter echoing through my thoughts.


    She''s kind, isn''t she? he mused, his tone dripping with mockery. The kind ones are always the easiest to hurt, Luca. You should know that.


    <div>


    I gritted my teeth, pressing my palms against my temples as if I could physically push him out. "Get out of my head," I hissed, my voice trembling.


    You can''t escape me, Luca, Damon whispered, his voice a sinister caress. I am you. And no matter how far you run, no matter how hard you fight... you''ll always come back to the flames.


    I slammed my fist into the wall, the pain grounding me, if only for a moment. The room fell silent again, save for the soft rustling of the wind outside. I took a deep, shaky breath, trying to steady myself.


    Marei''s words echoed in my mind: You''re safe here.


    And with those words, I finally felt something that had been completely absent from my mind for the past few days.


    It was hope.


    ¡ª


    The morning came slowly, the first rays of sunlight spilling through the small window and warming the wooden floorboards of the room. I stirred, my body aching from the tension I hadn''t fully released even in sleep. My dreams had been merciless¡ªa haze of flames, screams, and Damon''s voice weaving through it all. But for once, I woke up with no immediate danger at my heels.


    <div>


    I sat up, rubbing my eyes and running a hand through my hair, still damp with sweat. For a moment, I let myself take in the quiet around me: the faint hum of villagers starting their day, the clinking of dishes in the tavern beyond the door, and the soft breeze whispering through the trees outside.


    This was peace. At least, as close as I could get to it.


    Enjoy it while it lasts, Luca, he murmured, his tone almost bored. You know it won''t.


    I ignored him, pushing myself off the bed and splashing some water on my face from the small basin by the window. The cold water was refreshing, helping me ground myself. I needed to focus¡ªif I stayed here too long, it would only be a matter of time before my presence attracted the wrong kind of attention.


    <div>


    But as I stepped into the main room of the tavern, Marei was already waiting for me. She leaned against the bar, a small loaf of bread and a wedge of cheese wrapped in cloth in her hands. When she saw me, she smiled¡ªgenuine, warm. The kind of smile I didn''t deserve.


    "Thought you might need this," she said, holding out the bundle. "It''s not much, but it''ll keep you going."


    I hesitated, guilt twisting in my chest. "I... I can''t¡ª"


    "Take it," she said firmly, cutting me off. "We''ve got plenty to spare. Besides, I already told you¡ªwe help each other out here."


    I took the bundle, the warmth of her kindness almost unbearable. "Thank you," I said quietly, the words feeling too small for what I owed her.


    She nodded, crossing her arms as she studied me. "So, what''s your plan? You said you''re moving on, but... if you''re not in a hurry, there''s a market in the village square today. You could use the crowd as cover, maybe barter for a few supplies."


    <div>


    The idea was sound, but the thought of lingering¡ªof exposing myself to more people¡ªmade my stomach churn. I shifted uncomfortably, glancing toward the door. "I''ll think about it," I said, evading her gaze. "I should probably get going before¡ª"


    Before what? Before I burned this village to the ground? Before Sacer found me? Before Damon whispered something I couldn''t ignore?


    Marei''s expression softened, as if she could sense the storm in my mind. "You don''t have to tell me everything," she said gently. "But if you need help, if you need someone to talk to... I''m here."


    Her words caught me off guard, and for a moment, I didn''t know how to respond. She didn''t pity me¡ªthere was no condescension in her tone, no prying. Just understanding. And that scared me more than anything.


    "Thanks," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "But I''m fine."


    She didn''t push, only nodded. "Well, if you change your mind, you know where to find me."


    <div>


    I left the tavern a few minutes later, the bundle of food tucked under my arm and my hood pulled low. The village was alive now, the square bustling with activity as merchants set up their stalls and villagers exchanged greetings. The air was thick with the smell of freshly baked bread, ripe fruit, and earthy herbs.


    I kept to the edges, avoiding eye contact and staying out of sight as much as possible. But even as I moved, I couldn''t shake the feeling of eyes on me. My paranoia clawed at me, every sound and shadow feeling like a threat.


    And then I saw him.


    A figure at the edge of the square, cloaked and hooded like me, but unmistakable. His stance was too familiar, his movements too deliberate. My heart stopped as I caught a glimpse of white hair beneath the hood, and the memories came rushing back¡ªthe flames, the sword, his voice calling my name.


    Sacer.


    <div>


    Panic surged through me, but I forced myself to stay calm, ducking behind a stall and slipping into the narrow alleyway between two cottages. My mind raced, every instinct screaming at me to run, to put as much distance between us as possible.


    But Damon''s voice was calm, almost amused. He''s found you, Luca. You knew this would happen.


    "No," I whispered, my breath coming in short gasps. "He can''t be here."


    Oh, but he is, Damon said, his tone dark and velvety. And you know what he wants.


    I pressed myself against the wall, my heart hammering in my chest. Marei''s words echoed in my mind: You''re safe here. But she''d been wrong. Nowhere was safe¡ªnot for me, not for the people around me. And if Sacer was here¡­


    I clenched my fists, the heat of the flames stirring just beneath my skin. I couldn''t let them out. Not here. Not now. But if it came down to it¡­


    No.


    <div>


    The thought of facing him again was unbearable. But deep down, I knew there was no escaping him forever. Sacer wouldn''t stop. And neither would Damon.


    The sound of hurried footsteps broke through my panic, and I turned to see Marei slipping into the alley. Her sharp eyes locked on mine, her expression calm but urgent.


    "You''re pale as a ghost," she said, keeping her voice low. "Who is it?"


    I hesitated, my words catching in my throat. If I told her the truth¡ªif I told her it was my brother, the so-called Hero sent to kill me¡ªshe''d throw me out. Or worse, turn me over to him. But something in her gaze made me falter. She hadn''t pried before, hadn''t judged me, even when she could have.


    "A...someone I can''t let find me," I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper.


    She studied me for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then she nodded. "Come on."


    <div>


    Without waiting for me to argue, she grabbed my wrist and led me deeper into the alley. We weaved through narrow paths, slipping past fences and behind buildings until we reached the back of a small storage shed tucked at the edge of the village. She pushed the door open and gestured for me to step inside.


    "Stay here," she said firmly, her voice leaving no room for argument. "Don''t make a sound, and don''t leave until I come back. Got it?"


    I swallowed hard, nodding. "Why are you helping me?"


    Marei paused, her hand on the doorframe. For the first time, her confident facade cracked, and I caught a glimpse of something raw and vulnerable in her expression. "Because I know what it''s like to need help and not have anyone to turn to. Now stay put."


    Before I could respond, she slipped out, closing the door behind her. The room was dark, the faint scent of dried herbs and wood filling the air. I crouched low, my heart pounding in my chest as I strained to hear what was happening outside.


    <div>


    Minutes felt like hours as I waited, every creak of the shed and distant voice outside setting my nerves on edge. Finally, the door creaked open again, and Marei slipped inside, her face tight with worry but her steps calm and measured.


    "He''s gone," she said softly, leaning against the wall and letting out a breath. "Your friend¡ªor whoever he is¡ªwas asking about a traveler matching your description. I told him you passed through yesterday, heading west."


    Relief and guilt warred within me. "He''s not my friend," I said, my voice hoarse. "And if he comes back¡ª"


    "He won''t," she interrupted, her tone firm. "Not for a while, at least. But you''re not going anywhere just yet."


    "What?" I stared at her, confused. "I have to leave. If he''s looking for me¡ª"


    "And what happens when he finds you again?" she countered, crossing her arms. "You''re exhausted, Luca. You''re starving, and you''re running yourself into the ground. If you keep this up, you won''t last another week."


    <div>


    I opened my mouth to argue, but the words died in my throat. She wasn''t wrong. The past week had been a blur of running, hiding, and barely surviving. Every day felt like a battle just to keep moving.


    "I can''t stay," I said finally, the weight of the truth settling over me. "I''ll put the village in danger."


    "You didn''t hear me the first time, did you?" Marei said, her gaze sharp. "Trouble finds us whether we want it or not. You''re not the first person to bring it here, and you won''t be the last. But if you leave like this, you''re just giving him exactly what he wants¡ªa weak, tired target. Stay, rest, and figure out your next move. Then leave when you''re ready."


    Her words struck something deep in me, an ache I hadn''t realized I''d been carrying. The idea of staying¡ªof letting myself rest¡ªfelt both terrifying and tempting. But could I really afford to trust her? Could I afford not to?


    <div>


    I looked away, my fists clenching at my sides. "Why do you care so much?"


    Marei''s expression softened, and she crouched in front of me, her voice quiet but steady. "Because I see someone who''s hurting, someone who''s running from something they can''t face alone. And I''m not going to let you throw yourself to the wolves because you think you have to do it all on your own."


    The silence between us stretched, her words hanging in the air like a lifeline. Finally, I nodded, the fight draining out of me. "Okay," I said softly. "I''ll stay. For now."


    Marei smiled, the tension in her shoulders easing. "Good. Come on. Let''s get you somewhere better than this shed."

 Chapter Five: Marei of Draemoor

    The days passed quietly, a stark contrast to the chaos that had marked my life just two weeks ago. The village nestled between the forest and the hills felt like a world apart from the burdens I carried. I threw myself into the rhythm of daily life, avoiding questions and deflecting curiosity with a simple, "I''m just passing through." Marei¡ªas observant and sharp as she was¡ªdidn''t pry, but I could see the questions in her eyes. Questions I wasn''t ready to answer.


    The villagers accepted me cautiously at first. My hood stayed low, my words brief, but slowly, the quiet acts of help I offered seemed to soften their suspicions. I fixed broken fences, helped patch roofs, and carried heavy loads for those who couldn''t. Marei insisted I was overdoing it, but the truth was, I needed to keep busy. When my hands were still, my mind wandered¡ªand Damon''s voice was quick to fill the silence.


    You''re wasting your time here, he would whisper, his tone a mixture of amusement and derision. Helping these people won''t change what you are.


    I ignored him. Most days, I was good at it. Some days, not so much.


    ¡ª


    One particular morning, Marei and I found ourselves at the village''s small riverbank, hauling stones to reinforce the bridge after a recent flood. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and pine, and the sunlight dappled through the leaves above us. Marei worked with an efficiency that put me to shame, her sharp gaze flicking toward me every so often.


    <div>


    "You know," she said after a while, straightening up and wiping her forehead with the back of her hand, "you''re pretty good at this whole manual labor thing. Ever think about sticking around?"


    I paused, a large stone balanced precariously in my hands. "Sticking around?"


    She shrugged, leaning against a nearby tree. "Yeah. The village could use someone like you. You''re handy, quiet, and you don''t ask for much. Plus," she added with a smirk, "you don''t seem like the type to complain."


    I set the stone down carefully, brushing dirt from my hands. "I don''t think it''s that simple."


    "Why not?" Marei asked, crossing her arms. "What''s so complicated about finding a place to call home?"


    Her words caught me off guard, striking a chord I hadn''t realized was still raw. I looked away, focusing on the steady flow of the river. "I just don''t think it''s something I can have anymore."


    <div>


    Marei didn''t push. She rarely did, but her silence was always deliberate, as if she were giving me space to fill it. When I didn''t, she sighed and went back to work, her movements purposeful and unbothered.


    By the time we returned to the village, the sky had turned a soft orange, and the scent of cooking fires filled the air. The evening bustle was a comfort I hadn''t expected to feel. Villagers chatted over shared meals, children played games near the well, and the air hummed with the kind of life I''d always felt separate from.


    "Luca!" a young boy, Marc, called out as Marei and I passed. I turned to see him waving, his grin wide and infectious. "Did you fix the cart?"


    I nodded. "Good as new. Just try not to overload it this time."


    He gave a mock-salute before darting back to his friends as Marei gave me a sidelong glance. "You''re good with kids too. What''s next, baking pies?"


    "Don''t push your luck," I muttered, though I couldn''t help the small smile tugging at my lips.


    We reached the tavern shortly after, the familiar warmth of its interior a welcome reprieve from the cooling evening air. Marei motioned for me to sit as she fetched two bowls of stew from Roderick, the tavern keeper. When she returned, she set one in front of me and sat down across the table, her expression unusually serious.


    <div>


    "You''ve been here a week now," she said, stirring her stew idly. "And I''m starting to think you''re either the world''s most boring traveler or you''re hiding something big."


    I froze, the spoon halfway to my mouth. Marei''s sharp gaze pinned me in place, and for a moment, I considered telling her. Not everything, but enough. Enough to explain why I couldn''t stay, why I couldn''t let myself get comfortable here.


    Instead, I set the spoon down and met her gaze. "Maybe I just don''t like talking about myself."


    Her lips twitched into a faint smile. "Fair enough. But for what it''s worth, you don''t have to keep everything to yourself. We¡¯re a family here."


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    Family. The word hit harder than it should have. I forced a nod, hoping she wouldn''t press further. Thankfully, she didn''t.


    ¡ª


    The days in Draemoor began to blur together, each one marked by the same quiet routines. Yet, beneath the surface of that calm, I felt the growing weight of my own presence here. It was only a matter of time before the past I had buried would claw its way back into the light. For now, though, I focused on the tasks at hand.


    <div>


    Morning came with a crisp chill in the air, the kind that made your breath visible and the fields glisten with dew. I had agreed to help Johan repair his barn today. The structure had seen better days, its roof sagging under years of weather and neglect. By the time I arrived, Marei was already there, sleeves rolled up and her hair tied back in a messy braid.


    "You''re late," she teased as I approached, hands on her hips. "Starting to lose your touch, farmhand."


    I rolled my eyes, brushing past her to inspect the tools laid out. "You''ve been here long enough to get started without me. What''s your excuse?"


    Marei''s grin widened. "Thought I''d wait and see if you''d actually show up. Johan bet you''d skip out."


    "Glad to know I''m inspiring so much faith," I muttered, grabbing a hammer. Marei''s laugh followed me as we got to work.


    The barn''s repairs were straightforward, though tedious. As we worked, Marei filled the silence with stories of her childhood, the kind of light-hearted memories I''d long since forgotten how to share. Her laughter was infectious, and I found myself smiling more often than I expected.


    "You ever think about what you''d do if you weren''t traveling?" Marei asked suddenly, breaking the rhythm of our hammering. She was perched on a ladder, holding a plank in place while I secured it.


    <div>


    I paused, considering her question. "Not really. I''ve only been moving for a few weeks, so it''s still all new to me."


    Marei''s gaze lingered on me, sharp and curious. "That''s not an answer."


    "It''s the best I''ve got," I said, avoiding her eyes. The truth was, I didn''t let myself think about the future. The weight of everything I carried left little room for dreams or plans.


    Marei didn''t press, though her silence spoke volumes. She climbed down from the ladder, dusting her hands off and giving me a look I couldn''t quite decipher.


    By midday, the barn''s roof was patched, and the sunlight streamed through the gaps we hadn''t gotten to yet. Johan brought out a pitcher of water and some bread, his gruff demeanor softening as he muttered a gruff, "Thanks for the help."


    Marei grinned, leaning against a beam. "You''re welcome. Don''t forget to mention who did most of the work."


    Johan huffed, though there was a hint of a smile beneath his grumbling. I finished the last of the water and straightened, stretching my arms. "Anything else you need while we''re here?"


    "Not today," Johan said, shaking his head. "You two have done more than enough."


    <div>


    Marei gave him a mock salute, and we made our way back toward the village square. As we reached the edge of the square, Marei stopped abruptly, turning to face me.


    "You know," she began, her tone serious for once, "people here really do trust you. Even Johan, and he''s about as friendly as a bear in winter."


    "Not sure why," I said, my voice low. "I''m just a stranger."


    Marei''s eyes narrowed slightly, as if she were trying to read something written on my face. "You''re more than that, Luca. Maybe you don''t see it, but they do. I do."


    Her words caught me off guard, and I didn''t know how to respond. Before I could say anything, she waved me off, her grin returning. "Anyway, don''t let it go to your head. Come on, let''s grab something to eat."


    I followed her to the tavern, her words lingering in my mind.


    ¡ª


    The sun hung low in the sky as Draemoor settled into its usual evening rhythm. Villagers packed away their tools and gathered near the square, chatting over the day''s work. Marei and I had spent most of the day helping Johan haul grain sacks from the mill. My arms ached from the effort, and I longed for the quiet of my room. But Marei had other plans.


    <div>


    "Come on," she said, nudging my shoulder as we walked back toward the tavern. "We''ve earned a little time to relax. Let''s sit by the river for a bit."


    "I''m fine," I muttered, pulling my hood tighter. The fabric felt like a second layer of skin by this point. The only time I ever removed it was in the comfort of my room at the Tavern.


    "Luca," Marei said, exasperation lacing her voice. "You''ve been hiding in the shadows since you got here. A little fresh air won''t kill you. Come on."


    Before I could argue, she grabbed my arm and steered me toward the edge of the village. The path to the river was quiet, lined with tall grass that swayed in the evening breeze. The sound of running water grew louder as we walked, mingling with the faint chirping of crickets. By the time we reached the bank, the sun had dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple.


    Marei plopped down on a smooth rock near the water''s edge, motioning for me to sit beside her. Reluctantly, I did, keeping my hood firmly in place. She leaned back on her hands, her gaze fixed on the rippling water.


    "You know," she began, her tone softer now, "I don''t get you. You''re helpful, hardworking, and the kids in the village practically idolize you. But it''s like you''re carrying this invisible weight, and you won''t let anyone help you with it."


    <div>


    I didn''t respond, my eyes focused on the river. The current reminded me of the flames that had erupted from my body in Valtara¡ªrelentless, consuming, unstoppable.


    "Luca," Marei said after a moment, her voice gentle but insistent. "Why do you hide your face?"


    The question hung in the air, heavy and unavoidable. I felt her eyes on me, searching for an answer I wasn''t ready to give. "It''s better this way," I said finally, my voice low.


    "Better for who?" she pressed. "The villagers already trust you. You''ve done nothing but help since you got here. What are you so afraid of?"


    The words caught in my throat. If she knew¡ªif any of them knew¡ªwhat I really was, or what I carried inside me, that trust would vanish in an instant. They''d look at me the way the masses in Valtara had: with fear and hatred.


    "It doesn''t matter," I said, rising to my feet. "I should go."


    Marei stood quickly, grabbing my arm before I could turn away. "Wait. I didn''t mean to..." Her voice faltered, and she let out a frustrated sigh. "I just want to understand you, Luca."


    The earnestness in her voice stopped me. I looked down at her, her dark eyes pleading with me. And then, before I could stop her, she reached for my hood.


    <div>


    "Don''t¡ª" I began, but it was too late. The fabric slipped back, and the cool evening air brushed against my face. Marei froze, her gaze locking onto mine.


    Her eyes widened as they took in the bright red irises that marked me as something demonic. I expected her to flinch, to recoil in fear or disgust. But... she didn''t.


    "Your eyes," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "They''re... beautiful."


    The words startled me. Of all the things I''d expected, that wasn''t one of them. "You don''t... you''re not afraid?" I asked, my voice trembling.


    Marei''s expression softened, and she shook her head. "Why would I be? They''re just eyes, Luca. They don''t change who you are."


    "You don''t understand," I said, taking a step back. "If people knew what these eyes meant... what I am..."


    "Then you''ll tell me when you''re ready," she said firmly, cutting me off. "But whatever it is, it doesn''t change the fact that you''ve been kind and selfless since the moment you came here. That''s who you are, Luca. Not whatever you think these eyes mean."


    Her words hit me like a wave, breaking through the walls I''d worked so hard to put up. Tears began to well up in my eyes. "Thank you," I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. It wasn''t enough to express the gratitude that had built up in my chest, but it was all I could manage.


    <div>


    Marei smiled, a warm, genuine smile that made my tears begin to fall. "Anytime, farmhand."


    We stood there for a moment longer, the river''s gentle song filling the silence between us.

 Chapter Six: Heros Light

    -Sacer-


    The days dragged on, an eternity packed into the two weeks since that disastrous birthday. The capital was still reeling from the eruption of black flames¡ªand from Luca''s disappearance. But for me, there had been no time to grieve, no time to wallow in the loss of the brother I''d thought I knew.


    My resolve wouldn''t allow it.


    Father had practically aged overnight. The man who had raised us, who had made our tiny home feel like a sanctuary, now looked like a hollow version of himself. His shoulders slumped as though the weight of the world had settled onto them, his once-strong hands trembling as he fiddled with a half-finished carving at the kitchen table. He hadn''t touched his tools in years, but now he carved endlessly, as if each chip of wood would whittle away his guilt.


    I didn''t have the heart to tell him it wouldn''t work.


    "Sacer," he said one evening, his voice hoarse and uneven. "He''s not gone. I know my boy wouldn''t..." His words faltered, leaving an aching silence between us.


    I clenched my fists beneath the table, nails digging into my palms. I wanted to tell him he was wrong. That I''d seen the truth. That Luca hadn''t just lost control¡ªhe''d become something else. Something that could destroy everything if left unchecked.


    But I didn''t.


    Because, as much as I wanted to believe that the brother I''d grown up with was still in there, I knew better. I''d seen it in his eyes when he turned to me that day, the crimson burning like a wildfire. Whatever Luca had become, it wasn''t my brother anymore. And that left me with one job: to put an end to it. To him.


    I excused myself from the table, ignoring Father''s pleading gaze. I couldn''t let his hope infect me, couldn''t let it weaken my resolve. Outside, the cool night air hit like a slap, sharp and bracing. I welcomed it, letting the chill settle into my bones as I leaned against the porch railing. Above, the stars blinked indifferently, their light pale against the inky darkness of the sky.


    "You''re out late."


    The voice startled me, and I turned to see Sir Alden approaching from the path. The old knight moved with a purposeful stride, his armor polished even in the moonlight. He''d been tasked by the crown to oversee me, the so-called Hero destined to save the world. To save it from my own brother.


    "Couldn''t sleep," I replied tersely.


    Alden nodded, stepping closer. He leaned his hands on the railing beside me, his expression unreadable. "Rest will be hard to come by in the days ahead," he said. "You''ve been training well, but..." He hesitated, choosing his next words carefully. "Hesitation could cost you, Sacer. You need to be certain of your resolve."


    "I''m certain," I said, the words coming out harder than I''d intended.


    Alden raised an eyebrow but didn''t challenge me. "Certainty is good," he said after a moment. "But conviction comes from more than words. When the moment comes, will you hesitate?"


    I thought of Luca, of the way we''d raced through the woods as kids, laughing and daring each other to climb higher, run faster. Of the late nights whispering secrets under a blanket of stars. Of the way his face had twisted with fear and pain in the plaza before the flames erupted.


    "No," I said firmly, forcing the memories aside. "I won''t hesitate."


    Alden studied me for a long moment, his piercing gaze like a blade slicing through my defenses. Then he nodded, as if satisfied. "Good. Because hesitation isn''t just a risk to you. It''s a risk to everyone who''s counting on you to stop him."


    Stop him. That was all anyone said. Not save, not help. Stop. As if Luca was already gone, replaced entirely by the monster that shared his face. But I couldn''t stop the small, traitorous voice in the back of my mind that whispered: What if he isn''t?


    Alden''s voice broke through my thoughts. "Your father believes there''s hope."


    "He''s wrong," I said quickly, my tone sharper than I''d intended.


    Alden''s expression didn''t change. "Perhaps. Or perhaps he knows something we don''t. Either way, hope is dangerous if it blinds you to what must be done."


    I nodded, though the words felt like ash in my mouth. Hope was dangerous. It was a weakness I couldn''t afford, not when the fate of so many rested on my shoulders.


    ¡ª


    I woke before the sun, the air still heavy with the chill of the night. The faint glow of dawn painted the horizon as I began my morning run, a ritual I''d clung to since the truth about who I was had been revealed.


    Gabriel. The Hero. The reincarnation of a legend.


    It hadn''t come as a sudden revelation, nor had it been a secret my entire life. The dreams had started when I was thirteen: vivid, fragmented memories of battles fought in a time long past. At first, I''d dismissed them as nightmares¡ªthe kind that came from reading too many old stories before bed. But they grew sharper, more persistent, until the memories bled into my waking moments. Flashes of a golden sword slicing through shadowy foes, a voice calling my name that wasn''t mine, and an overwhelming sense of duty that felt as old as the earth itself.


    By the time I was fifteen, I knew. Gabriel came to me in the dead of night, his spectral form glowing faintly as he stood at the foot of my bed. I''d bolted upright, heart pounding, and stared at the figure who looked so much like me¡ªwhite hair, golden eyes¡ªbut with an aura of strength I couldn''t even imagine.


    "It is time," he''d said, his voice resonant and calm. "You carry my legacy. My strength. My burden. Prepare yourself, Sacer Umbra. The world will call on you soon."


    He didn''t explain what that meant, not fully. Gabriel''s visits were infrequent and cryptic, more flashes of guidance than a steady presence. But the knowledge he left me with was enough to change everything. My magic¡ªwhich I''d barely understood before¡ªbegan to stir in earnest. It wasn''t like Luca''s flames or the elemental magic some villagers dabbled in. Mine was light itself, a golden energy that hummed beneath my skin, waiting to be shaped.


    At first, it was exhilarating. I could summon small orbs of light to guide me through the dark, heal minor injuries, and even deflect objects hurled my way during sparring matches. But the more I trained, the more I realized its true nature: my magic wasn''t just light. It was divine, destructive even.


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    I''d kept it a secret from Luca and Father. Not out of shame, but because I hadn''t known how to explain it. How do you tell your family that you''re not just their son or brother, but the reincarnation of a hero who''s meant to save the world? I''d planned to tell them eventually, once I understood it all myself. But then our birthday happened, and there was no time left for explanations.


    Now, every day was a balancing act¡ªbetween training, planning, and trying not to drown in the weight of everything I''d lost. After breakfast, I''d meet Sir Alden in the training yard. The knight wasn''t one for small talk, and I appreciated that. He''d taken it upon himself to prepare me, as Gabriel''s successor, for the battles ahead. Our sessions were brutal. Swordsmanship, tactics, endurance. He pushed me until my muscles screamed and my thoughts blurred, and even then, he demanded more.


    "Again," he barked as I parried a heavy blow. My arms trembled under the weight of the broadsword, sweat dripping into my eyes.


    "You''re holding back," he growled, stepping back and lowering his blade. "Why?"


    I wiped my brow with the back of my hand, glaring at him. "I''m not."


    "You are," Alden said, his azure eyes narrowing.


    I flinched. He wasn''t wrong. The light that surged through me felt pure and righteous, but it also felt other. Like it didn''t belong to me entirely. Sometimes, I worried that if I relied on it too much, I''d lose myself to it.


    "Sacer," Alden said, his tone softer now. "You can''t afford to hold back."


    I nodded, tightening my grip on the sword. "Again," I said, stepping forward.


    This time, I didn''t hold back. The golden light flared around me, and for a moment, it felt like I was watching someone else move¡ªsomeone faster, stronger, and more certain. My sword met Alden''s with a deafening clang, the force of the impact sending a shockwave through the yard. He smiled grimly, nodding in approval.


    "Better," he said.


    The rest of the day passed in a blur of training and preparation. By the time evening fell, I was exhausted, but I couldn''t stop. Not yet. As the others settled into the quiet rhythm of the night, I found myself on the outskirts of the village, staring up at the stars. They always seemed brighter here, away from the noise and light of the capital.


    Gabriel''s voice echoed in my mind. "You carry my legacy. My strength. My burden."


    I didn''t ask for any of this. I hadn''t asked to be a hero, to be the one tasked with stopping the person I cared about most. But the world didn''t care what I wanted. It only cared that I was Gabriel, and Gabriel''s duty was clear.


    Stop Damon.


    ¡ª


    The training grounds stretched across the eastern edge of the village, a wide, open expanse bordered by dense woods. The rising sun painted the field in hues of gold and crimson, casting long shadows that danced with every movement of the knights sparring there. Some knights wielded fire or ice, their magic clashing in bursts of energy, while others used barriers of earth or shields of shimmering light to enhance their defenses. Today, I wouldn''t train alone.


    Sir Alden stood at the center of the grounds, his sharp voice carrying over the clang of steel meeting steel. Around him, other knights sparred, practiced formations, and exchanged techniques. One knight summoned a blade of pure flame, while another conjured whips of water that cracked against their opponent''s shield. A third knight, stationed at the edge of the grounds, hurled glowing projectiles of energy that exploded like small fireworks on impact. They were a motley group¡ªsome seasoned warriors with scars that told their stories, others younger, with the fire of ambition burning in their eyes. They were here for one purpose: to fight alongside the Hero.


    To fight alongside me.


    "Sacer," Alden called as I approached. His blue eyes flicked to the broadsword strapped to my back. "Ready to prove yourself?"


    I nodded, tightening the straps on my bracers. My muscles still ached from yesterday''s session, but I couldn''t afford to show weakness. Not here.


    "Good." Alden gestured to a tall woman standing nearby. She had close-cropped dark hair, a jagged scar running from her temple to her jaw, and an air of authority that rivaled Alden''s. "This is Captain Lysara. She''ll be joining us when the time comes. You''d do well to learn from her."


    Lysara''s eyes appraised me, sharp and calculating. Her sword glowed faintly as she infused it with her own magic. "You''ve got Gabriel''s power," she said, her voice low and steady. "Let''s see if you''ve got his skill."


    I took my place opposite her, the other knights forming a loose circle around us. Their eyes bore into me, filled with curiosity and skepticism.


    "Begin!" Alden barked.


    Lysara moved first, her blade a blur of motion as she aimed a strike at my shoulder. I deflected it, the force reverberating up my arm, and stepped back to avoid her follow-up thrust. She was fast, faster than anyone I''d sparred with before. But I couldn''t let her overwhelm me.


    I shifted my stance, channeling the golden energy that hummed beneath my skin. It flowed into my sword, the blade glowing faintly as I brought it up to meet her next strike. The clash sent a ripple of light outward, drawing murmurs from the watching knights.


    "Impressive," Lysara said, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "But light shows won''t win battles."


    She pressed the attack, her strikes coming faster and harder. I parried, dodged, and countered, my movements guided by the energy coursing through me. Each swing of my sword left a trail of light in its wake, the magic enhancing my speed and precision. For the first time, I felt like I wasn''t just reacting; I was anticipating, controlling the flow of the fight.


    To the side, one of the younger knights¡ªEdric¡ªgrinned as he watched. "Looks like the Hero''s got some tricks," he quipped to his sparring partner.


    "Enough!" Alden called after what felt like an eternity. Lysara stepped back, lowering her blade and nodding in approval.


    "You''ve got potential," she said, her tone grudgingly respectful. "But potential won''t save you in the field. Keep training."


    I nodded, breathing hard as the circle of knights broke apart. Some clapped me on the back, offering words of encouragement or critique. Others simply watched, their expressions unreadable.


    "You''re not done yet," Alden said, his voice cutting through the chatter. "Sacer, you''re with Edric."


    Edric stepped forward, his longsword crackling with sparks of electricity. "Let''s see what the Hero''s made of," he said, his tone light but challenging.


    I didn''t respond, taking my position opposite him. The energy in my chest burned brighter, urging me to prove myself again. Alden gave the signal, and Edric lunged.


    This time, I didn''t hold back. The golden light flared around me as I met his attack, our swords clashing with a resounding crack. Edric''s strikes were precise, his footwork impeccable, but my magic gave me an edge. My blade moved faster, the light guiding my hand as I forced him back.


    He adjusted quickly, switching to a defensive stance and looking for an opening. However, I didn''t give him one. Channeling the energy into my legs, I surged forward, feinting high before sweeping low. My blade stopped just short of his side, signaling my victory.


    Edric grinned, stepping away and lowering his sword. "Alright, I guess you win this round."


    I nodded, my breathing steady despite the exertion. Around us, the knights murmured their approval, even Alden looked faintly pleased.


    "That''s enough sparring for today," he belted. "Gather around."


    The knights formed a loose semicircle as Alden addressed us. "You''ve seen what Sacer can do," he began, his voice carrying authority. "He''s not just the Hero by title. He''s earned his place here. But make no mistake¡ªthere''s still work to be done. For all of us."


    His gaze swept over the group, lingering on me for a moment before continuing. "When the time comes, we''ll stand together. As knights. As warriors. As a shield against the darkness. Train hard, fight harder, and remember: we fight for each other. Always."


    A chorus of affirmations followed, the weight of Alden''s words settling over us. As the knights dispersed, Lysara approached me, her expression unreadable.


    "You did well today," she said. "But don''t let it go to your head. There''s a difference between sparring and war. Out there, there are no do-overs."


    "I know," I said quietly.


    She studied me for a moment longer before nodding. "Good. Keep that in mind."


    As she walked away, I turned back to the field, the faint glow of the golden light still flickering at my fingertips. I''d proven myself today.

 Chapter Seven: Walking Cataclysm

    Another week had passed since I made my ¡®temporary¡¯ stay in Draemoor. Four and a half weeks in total since my entire world had flipped upside down.


    The sun''s rays beat down on me as I pulled weeds from the Tavern garden. It was hot and the hood wasn¡¯t helping anything.


    ¡°You¡­ are dripping.¡±


    I turned my head to see Marei to my left, her dark hair tied back into a tight bun and her once white tunic now stained green and brown from the undesirable vegetation. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°Mhm.¡± She remarked, flicking some dirt at me. ¡°Look, just take the hood off! You¡¯ll have a heat stroke.¡±


    With a groan I pulled back from the weeds, sitting on my knees. ¡°If people see my eyes-¡°


    Marei flicked dirt at me again, stopping me before I could finish my argument. ¡°You¡¯re gonna be staring down at weeds for most of the time. No one will see your eyes.¡±


    I shook my head, staring down at the ground as my fingers dug into my thighs. ¡°I.. I don¡¯t know..¡±


    Marei grabbed the back of my cloak between her fingers. ¡°I¡¯ll keep an eye out for people.¡± and before I could offer another rebuttal, she yanked the final metaphorical shield off of me. ¡°There, much better.¡±


    Unsurprisingly, I immediately began to cool off, with a small smile forming on my face. ¡°t..anks..¡± I muttered.


    Marei broke out in a broad grin. ¡°Hmmm? What was that, Mr. Farmhand?¡±


    ¡°I- never mind.¡± I immediately went back to weeding. Thanks to Marei, these last few weeks made me actually feel some normalcy. I continued to tell her that I was just traveling through, but... Why hadn¡¯t I left this place yet? I honestly couldn¡¯t force myself to leave, I was just... content? No, that¡¯s not right. Am I happy?


    And with that thought came the voice that I dreaded. You¡¯re getting accustomed to this, aren¡¯t you, Luca? Damon purred. A King shouldn¡¯t be doing manual labor, you know.


    A King also shouldn¡¯t be losing a battle for control with a 16 year old boy. I shot back at him.


    This earned me a cackle from him, and then he went silent. Conversing with Damon had become a normal part of my life now. It was getting harder to keep him at bay and I only wonder how much longer I-


    ¡°Luca?¡±


    My name being called snapped me out of my train of thought and I turned to face her. ¡°I- uh, yes, Marei?¡±


    She was standing now, brushing off her legs. ¡°Johan needs me to go with him to Oppi. He needs to pick up some more grain, buuut he¡¯s not so good at haggling.¡±


    ¡°Oppi?¡±


    ¡°Oh, right. Oppi is a neighboring village, about a day''s ride away by cart.¡± She knelt down and grabbed my hands, pulling me up to her level. ¡°Think you can survive two days without me bossing you around?¡±


    I gave a slight nod before wrapping my hood back around my body. ¡°I think I can manage.¡±


    And with that, Marei gave a fist bump to my chest before heading off to help Johan with preparing their cart.


    ¡ª


    I was still standing at the village gates as the cart pulled out of Draemoor. It was midday, the smell of cooked meat and fresh bread filling the air.


    ¡°Boy!¡± A gruff voice called out.


    It was Geralt, the owner of the bakery. I hurried over to him, half-way expecting for him to need me to haul something. ¡°Yes sir? How can I-¡°


    ¡°No, no. Do you really think I¡¯d only call you over to do something for me?¡± He crossed his broad arms, his index finger rhythmically tapping as he stared down at me.


    I went red from embarrassment, eternally thankful for my hood. ¡°I, er, no of course not.¡±


    The man huffed as he pushed a basket of bread into my arms. ¡°As thanks, for everything you do around here.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t take all this! Especially not for free!¡± I argued.


    ¡°We haven¡¯t exactly paid you for all your work have we?¡± Chimed in Roderick from behind me, making his way over from the Tavern. ¡°You¡¯re family to everyone in this village, Luca. We appreciate you.¡±


    There was that word again. Family. Marei had mentioned it more times than not. Was I really safe? Could I really leave Damon and my unwanted fate behind and just live out my days here? Hiding?


    I smiled, my grip on the basket tightening. ¡°Thank you guys, really.¡±


    With bread in tow, I made my way back to the Tavern for the night. I was happy. First mistake.


    ¡ª


    How can you be so calm?


    ¡°I¡¯m safe.¡± I stared up at the ceiling of my room, individually counting each board, as my inner voice spoke. Damon was louder and louder as time went on.


    Hm. Safe? Have you forgotten who¡¯s hunting you? Damon taunted.


    ¡°Sacer has already searched here once, he has no reason to do it again.¡±


    Gabriel and I are connected. The instant he senses my power, he will make his way here. I admit you¡¯ve held me at bay longer than I thought you would but-


    ¡°But nothing. All you are is a voice in my head.¡±


    ---


    The sun was beginning to set over Draemoor, casting the village in hues of gold and amber. The day had been lively, as it often was in a place where everyone knew everyone else. Geralt wiped his brow and leaned against the wooden post outside his bakery, his laughter booming as children chased each other down the cobblestone paths.


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    ¡°You¡¯d better run faster, Marc!¡± he called after the smallest boy, who squealed with delight as his older sister pretended to give chase. The sight warmed Geralt¡¯s heart.


    In the market square, Mara tightened her shawl around her shoulders, the evening chill settling in. Her stall was almost empty, the day¡¯s produce nearly sold out. She spotted Luca, the quiet boy, slipping through the crowd. He had a loaf of bread tucked under one arm and his hood drawn low.


    ¡°That boy needs a good meal,¡± she muttered to herself. She¡¯d offered him apples before, but he¡¯d always declined with a polite smile.


    ¡°Mara, you¡¯re staring again,¡± called Yelena, the merchant who ran the stall beside hers. ¡°Leave the poor lad alone.¡±


    Mara sighed and turned back to her wares, but she couldn¡¯t help the way her thoughts lingered on him. He was just a boy, but he carried himself like the world was on his shoulders.


    Near the edge of the village, the old couple who ran the tavern were locking up for the night. Roderick clapped his wife, Hilda, on the shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ll check on the barrels in the back. You go on to bed.¡±


    Hilda smiled at him. ¡°Don¡¯t stay up too late. You¡¯re not as young as you think you are.¡±


    Roderick laughed, the sound carrying through the quieting streets. Draemoor was at peace, as it always was at this hour.


    But there was a shift in the air. Subtle at first, like the faintest vibration underfoot. Geralt frowned, straightening from his post. ¡°What in the...¡± he murmured.


    Mara, still packing up her stall, felt it too. A prickling at the back of her neck, as though someone were watching her. She turned, her gaze sweeping the empty market square. ¡°Yelena?¡± she called, but her voice fell on empty ears. The other merchant was gone.


    Near the tavern, Roderick heard the faintest whisper, like a voice carried on the wind. He paused, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. ¡°Hilda?¡± he called, stepping back toward the door. But when he turned, the fire inside had gone out, leaving the tavern shrouded in darkness.


    And then it came.


    A roar split the night, deep and guttural, shaking the very ground beneath their feet. Geralt stumbled, his hands flying to his ears. Across the square, Mara screamed as the shadows coalesced into a figure, tall and wreathed in black flames. The air grew thick with heat and smoke as the flames spread, consuming everything in their path.


    And at the center of it all was Luca.


    His body moved rigidly, the flames clinging to him like a second skin. His head tilted unnaturally to the side, and from his lips came a sound that sent ice down the villagers¡¯ spines¡ªhysterical laughter, wild and unhinged. It echoed throughout the village, a twisted symphony of chaos.


    ¡°Run!¡± someone shouted, but it was already too late. The black flames moved with a will of their own, cutting off escape routes and swallowing homes whole. Luca¡¯s laughter grew louder, almost gleeful, as he burned down the feeling villagers.


    ¡°Ahhh... Safe, were you Luca?¡± he mused. He raised a hand, and a wave of fire erupted, engulfing a group of villagers who had barely made it to the edge of the square. Their screams abruptly ending as they were snuffed out.


    ¡°What fun,¡± He cooed, crouching low as his eyes scanned for movement, like a animal hunting for prey. He lunged toward a family huddled behind an overturned cart, his flames twisting and lashing out like whips. ¡°Shall we play another game, Marc?¡± He sneered.


    Mara grabbed the arm of a child who had tripped and fallen, pulling him close as she turned toward the edge of the village. ¡°This way!¡± she cried, but the fire was faster. It swam toward them, and she barely had time to shield the boy with her body before the heat engulfed them.


    Geralt tried to reach the bakery, where his wife had been closing up. ¡°Amelia!¡± he called, his voice breaking as he fought through the smoke. He could see her silhouette in the doorway, reaching out to him, but the flames surged between them, cutting her off. Her scream was the last thing he heard before the fire consumed the building.


    Roderick and Hilda clung to each other in the tavern¡¯s cellar, the heavy door shut tight above them. ¡°It¡¯s not natural,¡± Hilda whispered, her voice trembling. ¡°This is no ordinary fire.¡±


    ¡°Whatever it is, we¡¯ll survive it,¡± Roderick said, though his voice held no conviction. The heat was seeping through the floorboards, and the air was growing thin.


    Luca¡¯s body twisted unnaturally as he stalked through the carnage, his laughter morphing into an animalistic growl. He grabbed a fleeing villager by the throat, lifting them effortlessly. ¡°You call this living?¡± he hissed, his red eyes glowing like embers. The villager choked, clawing at his hand, but Luca only laughed again before allowing the fire to consume him.


    ¡°Stop it!¡± Luca screamed, raw and desperate. ¡°Please, stop!¡±


    But Damon¡¯s grip was unrelenting. ¡°Oh, Luca,¡± he purred mockingly, his voice resonating within their shared body. ¡°Why stop now? You said this was home right? That you could live out your days here? THIS is how a King lives!¡±


    The night stretched on, the village reduced to ash and ruin. By the time the flames finally subsided, Draemoor was no more. The hysterical laughter had faded, leaving only silence. At the center of the devastation, Luca fell to his knees, unconscious, as the black flames receded into his body.


    ¡ª


    I awoke with a gasp, my chest heaving as my lungs greedily drank in the cold air. I pushed myself upright, my limbs trembling under the weight of an unbearable truth I could already feel.


    I was in a crater. Blackened flames still flickered at the edges, stubborn and unnatural, refusing to extinguish even as the chill of the night descended. A sob caught in my throat as I turned my head, my heart sinking into my stomach.


    Draemoor was gone.


    The village that had once been my sanctuary. The houses were nothing but smoldering husks of wood and stone. The streets where children had played and merchants had made their living were buried beneath debris and scorch marks. And the people...


    My gaze landed on the first body. Geralt. He had given me bread the night before, laughing as he waved away payment. Now, Geralt lay motionless, his face frozen in terror, his body charred beyond recognition.


    ¡°No...¡± The word escaped my lips as a whisper, trembling and frail.


    I crawled forward, my body refusing to fully cooperate. Every movement sent jolts of pain through me, but I didn¡¯t care. I had to see, had to understand, what I¡¯d truly done.


    More bodies. A woman clutching a child, shielding them even in death. An elderly couple crushed beneath the weight of their own roof. The merchant who had laughed when I struggled to haggle. The children who had run past me just hours ago, giggling as they played tag. Their faces, once so full of life, now marred by my flames.


    My breathing quickened, each inhale sharp and ragged. My hands clawed at the ground, nails breaking as I clutched at the dirt. ¡°No, no, no!¡± I cried, my voice full of sorrow.


    I collapsed onto my hands and knees, pressing my forehead into the scorched earth. My tears fell freely, mixing with the ash and soot that stained my face. ¡°This can¡¯t be real...¡± I whispered, my voice barely audible over the faint crackle of lingering flames. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me... I didn¡¯t...¡±


    But the truth clawed its way to the front of my mind, no matter how desperately I tried to deny it. It had been me. I could still feel the echoes of Damon¡¯s laughter reverberating through my skull, playing on loop. I could still see flashes of it in my mind¡ªthe black flames spreading, consuming.


    ¡°Stop it!¡± I screamed, clutching my head as if I could tear the memories away. ¡°Get out of my head!¡±


    But Damon was silent. No taunts, no jeers. Just the heavy, oppressive weight of what I¡¯d done.


    My screams turned into sobs, my body wracked with uncontrollable shaking. I pounded my bloodied fists against the ground, the pain a small reprieve from the overwhelming guilt crushing my chest. ¡°Why?¡± I choked out. ¡°Why couldn¡¯t I stop him?¡±


    I had tried. I¡¯d fought tooth and nail against Damon¡¯s influence, clawing at every shred of control I could find. But it hadn¡¯t been enough. I wasn¡¯t strong enough.


    ¡°They trusted me...¡± I whispered, my voice raw. ¡°They trusted me, and I... I killed them.¡±


    I curled in on myself, clutching my knees to my chest as if I could make myself small enough to disappear. I didn¡¯t deserve to exist, not after this. Not after what I had done.


    A faint movement caught my eye, and I turned my head sharply. For a brief, fleeting moment, hope surged in my chest. Someone was alive. Someone had survived. I scrambled toward the source of the movement, my heart pounding in desperation.


    It was a girl. She couldn¡¯t have been more than eight years old, her small frame half-buried under debris. Her eyes fluttered open as I reached her, and for a moment, we locked gazes. She opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out.


    ¡°No, no, no,¡± I muttered, frantically pulling away the debris that pinned her down. My hands were clumsy, trembling too much to work effectively. ¡°You¡¯re going to be okay. I¡¯ll save you. I promise.¡±


    But even as I spoke, I knew I was lying. The girl¡¯s eyes were dulling, her life slipping away. I pressed my hands against her wounds, willing my flames to heal, but they refused to obey.


    The girl¡¯s lips moved again, and this time I heard it, faint and broken. ¡°Why...?¡±


    Her eyes closed, and she was gone.


    I froze, my hands still pressed against her lifeless body. Her question echoed in my mind, louder than anything Damon had ever said. Why?


    A raw, guttural scream tore from my throat, reverberating through the empty wasteland that had once been Draemoor. I screamed until my voice gave out, until there was nothing left but silence and the quiet crackle of those damned black flames.


    And then I wept.

 Chapter Eight: Family Spat

    The weight of the silence pressed down on me, broken only by the faint crackle of flames. My sobs had stopped, now replaced by the hollow, numbing void of despair. A sudden sound, faint footsteps, pulled me from my dread. My body tensed, the hairs on my neck rising. He was here.


    I turned slowly, my tear-streaked face meeting the piercing golden gaze of my brother.


    He stood at the edge of the village, his white hair gleaming like a beacon in the darkness. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes... they burned with something I couldn¡¯t discern.


    ¡°Luca,¡± His voice was low, but it carried an edge sharp enough to cut through the suffocating air. ¡°...What did you do?¡±


    Slowly, I picked myself up off the ground, my body aching with exhaustion. ¡°Sacer, I.. I didn¡¯t..¡±


    ¡°What did you do?!¡± he roared, his voice echoing throughout the village.


    Before I could respond, my brother tackled me back to the ground, his hands keeping a death grip on my wrists. ¡°Sacer- I-¡°


    ¡°You killed all of these people!¡±


    No. I-


    It was Damon. I couldn¡¯t stop him!


    ...No.


    I met my brothers gaze, his eyes full of rage and contempt. ¡°Yes, I did.¡± I managed to choke out.


    His eyes softened, and he released my wrists. ¡°How could you?¡± He rose off of me, surveying the land where Draemoor once stood before landing on the lifeless child next to us. ¡°Why?¡±


    I couldn¡¯t meet his eyes. Not again. I perched myself up on the scorched ground, staring down at my hands. Why? The question had become a mantra in my head, constantly playing on loop. ¡°I tried to stop him.¡±


    ¡°Did you?¡± His words were like a blade, striking me at my very core. ¡°Or did you just let him take over because it was easier than fighting?¡±


    ¡°No!¡± I rose to my feet, stumbling as my legs shook. ¡°Do you think I really wanted to do this? You know me! I¡¯m your brother!¡±


    His right hand found its way to the hilt of his sword, preparing to draw. ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter. You did this.¡±


    Heat began to build up inside as my anger boiled to the surface, mixing with the guilt that pulled at my heart. ¡°You don¡¯t understand! He¡¯s constantly there in my head! Taunting me! Fighting me for control!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare!¡± Sacer spat, hand still gripping his sword tight. ¡°Don¡¯t you DARE act like you¡¯re the only one suffering! Look around you, Luca! This-¡° With his free hand, he gestured to the wasteland around us, the charred corpses littering the land ¡°-this is what your ¡®suffering¡¯ has done. You¡¯ve killed people!¡±


    ¡°You think I don¡¯t know that?¡± I screamed out, my voice cracking. ¡°You think what happened isn¡¯t replaying in my head?¡±


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    ¡°Then stop making excuses, and face what you are!¡±


    ¡°What I am...¡± I muttered, the words felt like poison. I stepped back slowly, shaking my head. ¡°I didn¡¯t choose this,¡± I said, tightening my fists. ¡°I didn¡¯t choose to be-¡°


    ¡°Yeah, well neither did I.¡± He drew his sword, golden light shimmering off it like the sun.


    I froze. It felt like I could hear my heart beating through my chest. He was serious. Sacer, my twin brother, actually meant to kill me. Before I could even think of a response, he charged, his sword a streak of gold as it sliced through the air.


    I barely had time to react, a pillar of black flames shooting up between us as a last-ditched effort to protect myself. ¡°Sacer, I don¡¯t want to fight you!¡±


    ¡°Too late for that.¡± he shot back, his blade carving through the flames as he pressed on.


    The battle was brutal. Sacer was precise with his movements and attacks, whereas I was moving on pure instinct and the desperation to survive. Our magic clashed repeatedly, sending shockwaves throughout the wasteland.


    ¡°Why¡¯re you doing this?!¡± I cried out, dodging a strike that would probably have split me in two.


    ¡°Because I can¡¯t let this happen again!¡± He roared, his voice breaking with emotion.


    ¡°You think I don¡¯t hate myself for this? These people took me in!¡± I screamed, unleashing a wave of black fire that consumed him.


    Sacer charged through the flames, his body enveloped in a golden glow, his sword raised high. As if by instinct, or Damon¡¯s influence, I coated my forearms in the demonic flames and raised both of them overhead to stop the blade in it¡¯s tracks.


    The clash sent us both reeling, knocking us apart. Despite the warning signs my body was giving me, I managed to stay standing.


    Sacer¡¯s eyes locked onto mine, his chest heaving. ¡°This has to end, Luca,¡± he said, his voice heavy with sorrow. ¡°One way or another.¡±


    I stared at him. He was my brother, the boy I grew up with and shared all my memories with, and that made the weight of his words all the more heavier. Could I actually make myself fight him, even though I knew he was right?


    ¡°Please.¡± I whispered, my voice breaking.


    But Sacer¡¯s eyes hardened, and I knew he wouldn¡¯t stop. And so, the fight raged on.


    Each clash of our magic tore apart what little remained of what I once called home. Sacer moved with purpose, each strike with his broadsword meant to disarm me, or kill me. But my black flames acted on their own accord, fueled by my fear and my anger.


    I hated it.


    Every second of it.


    Sacer lunged, his sword gleaming as it slashed through the air. I barely managed to dodge, the blade grazing my side. Searing pain spread across my ribs, and I staggered, squeezing the wound tight as blood seeped through my fingers.


    His blade swung toward my shoulder, and I raised my arm to protect myself, cloaking it in black fire. The magic-infused edge struck it, shattering my defense and throwing me off balance. I slammed my foot down to stabilize myself, and Sacer took advantage of that.


    He swung again, this time catching my thigh. I cried out as pain flared, my knee buckling. I moved on instinct, thrusting my hand forward. A torrent of black flames surged and my brother had barely any time to react, the fire licking at his arm and shoulder.


    His chest heaved, his golden light flickering, fading, as blood dripped down his arm. ¡°Luca,¡± he said, using his good hand to wipe a bead of sweat from his eyes. ¡°You haven¡¯t changed. You fight just like a kid. No training or thought behind your moves to speak of.¡±


    And then he charged again.


    This time, I wasn¡¯t fast enough to protect myself. His blade pierced my shoulder. The force of the blow sent me crashing to the ground, blood pooling beneath me as I struggled to gasp for air.


    Sacer stood over me, his broadsword aimed directly at my heart, trembling. Our eyes met and we stayed there for what felt like an eternity before he pulled back and turned away from me, his sword clattering to the ground.


    ¡°Sa...cer..?¡± I gasped out, forcing myself off my back and onto my butt. He was silent, his fists hanging at his sides, trembling.


    ¡°Go.¡± He finally managed to choke out.


    ¡°...Wha..?¡± I croaked, managing to bring myself to my feet, my right hand gripping the wound on my side tightly.


    Sacer turned to look at me, his eyes which were hard and resolute not five minutes go, were now wet with tears, his heroic persona breaking. ¡°Go!¡± he yelled.


    ¡°Sacer, why? I don¡¯t-¡° I took a heavy step towards him, arm outstretched.


    ¡°GO!¡±


    Whatever was going through his head, I just had to accept. He was letting me live. I turned away from the scene, hobbling away. Ignoring every single sign my body was giving me to stop, to rest, I made my way out of the ruins of Draemoor.

 Chapter Nine: Response

    -Sacer-


    The Valtarian throne room was decorated with portraits of past kings and heroes, each one sporting snow-white hair and piercing golden eyes.


    ¡°Two survivors?¡± King Calor asked, chin in hand as he pondered what he was hearing. His expression was stoic, but his eyes showed his disbelief. ¡°How is that even possible?¡±


    ¡°They weren¡¯t in Draemoor at the time,¡± I responded, glancing back at the duo behind me, an older man beyond his years, and the woman who had lied to me about Luca¡¯s whereabouts. She stared at me, her eye¡¯s practically burning with contempt. ¡°they were in a neighboring village. Oppi.¡±


    His Majesty¡¯s fingers drummed a slow rhythm against the armrest of the throne, his sharp gaze narrowing as he processed my words. ¡°Oppi,¡± He repeated, the name dripping with skepticism. ¡°How fortunate the boy''s carnage only stopped at Draemoor.¡±


    Before I could respond, the woman behind me took a step forward. Her eyes locked onto the king¡¯s, full of defiance. ¡°It''s not Luca¡¯s fault.¡±


    ¡°Luca?¡± He said, leaning forward slightly, his voice carrying an edge. ¡°The boy you lied about? The one you swore was nowhere to be found? That he just passed through?¡±


    She flinched, but her attitude remained unyielding. ¡°Yes, because if I hadn¡¯t, your Hero here would have dragged him back in chains- or worse.¡± She said, jutting a thumb in my direction.


    I glanced back at her, caught off guard by the amount of conviction in her voice. She had lied to me, misled me about my brother, and now she was standing here defending the man who burned her village to the ground.


    ¡°You think you understand him, Your Majesty?¡± She continued, voice rising. ¡°You think you know what he is, what he¡¯s capable of. But you don¡¯t. None of you do. He didn¡¯t ask for this- he¡¯s not some monster you can pin your failures on. He¡¯s just a kid.¡±


    Calor¡¯s expression darkened, his fingers tightening on the throne. ¡°You dare question my understanding of the threat that boy brings?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m questioning your understanding of humanity,¡± she snapped. ¡°You sit here, safe in your castle, painting Luca as the villain because it¡¯s easier than admitting the truth. That you¡¯re scared of him.¡±


    The room fell into stunned silence, the guards exchanging nervous looks. My stomach churned as I watched the tension rise.


    Calor rose from his throne, his imposing figure towering above us. ¡°You speak boldly for someone who lied to protect this demon,¡± he said, his voice low. ¡°be very careful with your next words, woman.¡±


    But she didn¡¯t falter. She stepped closer, her gaze unrelenting. ¡°You call him a demon because you fear him. But Luca is more than whatever¡¯s inside of him. He¡¯s more than the Demon King¡¯s shadow. He¡¯s more human than any of you.¡±


    I stared at her, my thoughts spinning. Her words ringing in my ears. ¡°Enough,¡± I said, my voice cutting through the tense air. I stepped forward, placing myself between her and the king. ¡°You don¡¯t know him.¡±


    She turned her burning gaze to me, her contempt now directed fully at my interruption. ¡°And you do? You? The one hunting him down like an animal? The brother who dreams of nothing but ending his twins life?¡±


    My chest tightened, her words striking deep at the memories of my battle against Luca. Letting him go. ¡°I¡¯m doing what I have to,¡± I said, my voice low. ¡°You think I want this? To...¡± I stopped, my fists tightening. ¡°To kill him?¡±


    Her defiance wavered for the first time, speaking quietly, ¡°If you know him, hero, then you know he¡¯s not the monster you¡¯re all making him out to be. You¡¯d know he¡¯s still your brother.¡±


    I opened my mouth to respond, but King Calor¡¯s voice thundered through the room, stopping me in my tracks.


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    ¡°Enough of this!¡± He descended the dais, his eyes blazing with authority. ¡°You speak as though the boy is blameless, as though he is not Damon¡¯s vessel. Do you forget what that means? What he did to your home?!¡±


    She stood her ground as she spoke, her voice laced with venom, ¡°I forget nothing, Your Majesty. But I can¡¯t believe you¡¯ve forgotten who¡¯s responsible for Damon. Who made him into the monster he was.¡±


    The tension in the room was suffocating, the weight of her accusation hanging heavy. King Calor stopped a mere pace from her, mana crackling in his hands.


    ¡°You are bold,¡± he said, his voice a low growl. ¡°But you tread on dangerous territory. Defending a demon is treason. Perhaps I should end this farce and have you executed alongside your precious Luca.¡±


    ¡°Try it.¡± she countered.


    Calor¡¯s jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. For a moment, I thought he might strike her. Instead, he turned to me, his golden eyes boring into mine.


    ¡°Sacer,¡± He commanded. ¡°You say you do what must be done. Then do it. Find your brother. Bring him here. Alive, if possible. But if not...¡± He let the words hang, their meaning clear.


    I nodded stiffly, my throat dry. ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±


    ---


    The heavy doors of the throne room groaned shut behind me, leaving an oppressive silence. My boots echoed against the marble floors as I made my way down the corridor, my thoughts swirling in the wake of her accusations.


    Her voice clung to me like a bug. I hated how the words struck so deep, how they stirred the doubts I worked so hard to ignore.


    ¡°Wow, you look like someone just slapped you.¡±


    I glanced up to see Edric leaning lazily against the wall, arms crossed and a smirk plastered on his face. His auburn hair was slightly tousled, and his jacket hung open in a way that gave off the idea he cared more about appearance than his title.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± I asked, my voice sharper than intended.


    He pushed off the pillar and made his way over, offering me a drink like he hadn¡¯t just insulted me. ¡°What, a guy can¡¯t check on his favorite knight in shining armor?¡± He paused, looking me up and down. ¡°Though, that ¡®shining¡¯ part is a bit too generous.¡±


    I rolled my eyes but took the drink from him anyway. ¡°What do you want, Edric?¡±


    Edric grinned, unfazed by my tone. ¡°Oh, you know, just making sure you didn¡¯t get turned into a Calor-shaped punching bag. You just got that look, you know? The one that just screams, ¡®Someone just said something I didn¡¯t want to hear, and now I¡¯m questioning all my life choices.¡¯¡±


    I glared at him, but this only made his smile widen. ¡°Am I wrong?¡±


    Sighing, I pinching the bridge of my nose. ¡°She defended him,¡± I muttered.


    Edric blinked. ¡®Who? That girl from Draemoor? What¡¯d she do, throw a shoe at Calor or something?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± I replied, but I couldn¡¯t help a small smirk at the mental image. ¡°She... she called us cowards, basically. Said Luca was more human than Calor. More human than me.¡±


    He let out a whistle, then clapped me on the shoulder. ¡°Yowch, that¡¯s definitely gotta sting.¡±


    I shrugged him off, but he wasn¡¯t done. ¡°Honestly though? She¡¯s got guts. Calling out King Golden Eyes in his own throne room? I like her already. She¡¯s got spunk.¡±


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t know what she¡¯s talking about,¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t she?¡± Edric countered, his tone annoyingly playful. ¡°I mean, I get it- Luca¡¯s the big bad Demon King or whatever. But you two grew up together didn¡¯t you? You can¡¯t tell me the kid who used to steal snacks from the pantry and blame it on you is some big irredeemable monster.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not the point!¡± I snapped, stopping in my tracks to face him. ¡°Luca¡¯s dangerous. Whether it¡¯s his fault or not, he¡¯s the sole reason Draemoor burned. People are dead because of him.¡±


    His grin faded, and for a moment I thought he was going to say something serious. But then he shrugged, his usual levity returning. ¡°Well, if he¡¯s that dangerous, you¡¯d better find him before Alden or Lysara do. That way, you can do that ¡®big brother thing¡¯ where you knock some sense into him. Y¡¯know, preferably without the sword.¡±


    I shook my head, but I couldn¡¯t stop myself from smiling due to his optimism. ¡°You make it sound so simple.¡±


    ¡°Life¡¯s not simple,¡± Edric said, throwing an arm around my shoulders. ¡°But hey, ya got me, and I¡¯m basically the definition of ¡®lucky charm.¡¯ Between my brains, your ¡®chosen one¡¯-ness, and I don¡¯t know, sheer dumb luck, we¡¯ll figure it out.¡±


    I sighed, but I didn¡¯t shrug him off. ¡°His Majesty is letting those two stay in the palace,¡± I said, changing the subject.


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s good.¡± He said. ¡°I mean, it¡¯s definitely just to keep an eye on them, but still- nice digs. Think they¡¯ll let me crash with them if I say I¡¯m part of the royal ¡®find Luca¡¯ squad?¡±


    ¡°Not a chance,¡± I responded flatly.


    ¡°Worth a shot.¡±


    As we made our way into the courtyard, Edric¡¯s teasing words stayed with me. I didn¡¯t know if his optimism was naive or exactly what I needed, but at least I didn¡¯t have to face this alone.

 Chapter Ten: Three Months Later

    Three months had passed since that day in the throne room, but the weight of that girl''s words still lingered in my mind like an infected wound. Every time I closed my eyes, I could hear her: The brother who dreams of nothing but ending his twins life.


    I hadn¡¯t spoken to her since, but the words never left me.


    The field around me was scarred and smoking, evidence of another long day of drills. Edric was lounging a short distance away, casually tossing a dagger in the air, while Alden and Lysara watched me with matching looks of quiet concern.


    ¡°You¡¯re pushing yourself too hard,¡± Alden said, his tone steady. His grey hair was tied back, while his sharp blue eyes held a kind of calm authority.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± I muttered, brushing past him as I made my way towards our camp.


    Lysara stepped into my path. ¡°He¡¯s right, you know. You¡¯re strong, but you¡¯re no use to anyone if you¡¯re burned out.¡±


    I clenched my jaw but said nothing. Lysara was always quick to remind me of my limits, but I wasn¡¯t sure if she understood just how high my personal stakes were.


    ¡°Let ¡®em stew,¡± Edric said, his voice light as he joined us. He threw an arm around Alden¡¯s shoulders, ignoring the older man¡¯s exasperated sigh. ¡°You know Sacer. He¡¯s got the whole ¡®hero¡¯ shtick down to an art form.¡±


    Lysara shot him a sharp look. ¡°This isn¡¯t a joke, Edric.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± He replied, his tone softening. ¡°But someone¡¯s gotta keep things light around here.¡±


    Alden shook his head but didn¡¯t argue. Instead, he turned to me. ¡°We¡¯ve made progress,¡± he said. ¡°The reports from the outlying villages suggest we¡¯re narrowing the search. It¡¯s only a matter of time before we find this dragon, and that means we¡¯ll have found Luca.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not good enough!¡± I spat. ¡°Every day that passes, we¡¯re losing him. And every day, the damage he can do gets worse and worse.¡±


    Edric, sensing the tension, stepped up with a bright grin. ¡°Alllll right, everyone, let¡¯s not turn this into another lecture. We¡¯ve had enough of those to last a life time, eh?¡± As he said this, Edric nudged my side with his elbow. ¡°How about we get some food before we start biting each other¡¯s heads off?¡±


    Without waiting for a response, he slung his arm around Lysara¡¯s shoulders and started to lead her toward the campfire. She gave me one last glance before allowing herself to be dragged away.


    Alden lingered for a moment more, placing his hand on my shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re not alone in this, Sacer, don¡¯t forget that.¡±


    All I could do was nod.


    As the camp settled for the night, I stared into the distance. Somewhere out there, Luca was waiting. I could feel it in my bones.


    Edric appeared at my side, holding out a bowl of stew. ¡°You should eat,¡± he said, his tone unusually serious. ¡°You need your strength.¡±


    I took the bowl without a word, and for a moment, the silence between us felt almost comfortable. Then he smirked, the teasing glint returning to his eyes.


    ¡°You know, for someone destined to save the world, you¡¯re really bad at taking care of yourself. Maybe I should start carrying you around like a princess.¡±


    Despite myself, I let out a small huff of laughter. ¡°I¡¯d like to see you try.¡±


    ¡°Challenge accepted,¡± he said.


    And just like that, the tension in my bones eased, if only for the moment.


    ¡ª


    ¡°Wow.¡± I said as I stood at the charred remains of a forest, staring at claw marks that could only belong to a dragon.


    ¡°You¡¯re sure this is the right trail?¡± Lysara asked, crouching beside the deep gouges in the earth.


    Edric knelt beside her, running his fingers across the marks. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s a dragon all right. A big one, too, judging by how big these are.¡± He looked up at me with a grin. ¡°I¡¯d say we¡¯re on the right track.¡±


    I crossed my arms, my gaze fixed on the horizon where smoke rose in thin, grey columns. ¡°And you think this is connected to Luca?¡±


    Alden stood nearby, his expression unreadable as he looked across the landscape. ¡°The reports match the destruction in Draemoor,¡± he said. ¡°Entire villages burned to the ground, survivors claiming to see black flames. It could be him.¡±


    Edric straightened, brushing dirt off his hands. ¡°Well, if we¡¯re going after a dragon, I hope someone brought some sort of a plan. Or at least some dragon-killing style weapons.¡±


    Alden let out an amused chuckle. ¡°Let¡¯s move. If we keep following the smoke we might catchup before nightfall.¡±


    The four of us set off. The air grew warmer as we approached the source of the smoke, and the landscape became increasingly desolate. Trees stood like skeletons against the sky, and the ground was littered with the scorched remains of what might once have been homes.


    ¡°This place feels... wrong.¡± Lysara muttered, her hand resting on the hilt of her broadsword.


    I couldn¡¯t argue with her. There WAS an unnatural stillness to the air, broken only by the distant crackle of fire.


    Edric paused, tilting his head as if listening for something. ¡°Do you hear that?¡± he asked, his voice unusually serious.


    I strained my ears, and then I heard it: a low, guttural growl that sent a shiver down my spine.


    ¡°Looks like we¡¯re closer than we thought,¡± Alden said, his tone calm but his hand hovered near his blade.


    Ahead of us, the smoke thickened, and a massive shape emerged from the haze. The dragon was a towering monster of black scales, its eyes glowing crimson. Its massive wings outstretched as it rose into the sky.


    We froze.


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    Edric broke the silence with a low whistle. ¡°Well, that¡¯s definitely not something you see every day.¡±


    ¡°Stay focused,¡± Lysara snapped, her sword already drawn.


    The dragon raised its head, nostrils flaring as it caught our scent. Its eyes burned with an intelligence that sent a chill shuddering through my bones. This dragon wasn¡¯t mindless. It was dangerous.


    ¡°We should move slowly,¡± Alden whispered, ¡°No sudden movements.¡±


    ¡°Move slowly?¡± Edric let out a low, nervous laugh. ¡°That thing could fry us at any second!¡±


    ¡°Then don¡¯t give it a reason to, you idiot!¡± Lysara hissed.


    It¡¯s gaze swept over us, lingering on me for a second longer than I was comfortable with.


    ¡°What¡¯s it¡­ waiting for?¡± Edric murmured, taking an unconscious step behind Alden.


    The dragon landed down on the scorched earth, its massive claws digging in. It let out a deafening roar, the force of it nearly knocking us off our feet.


    ¡°Get ready!¡± I shouted, drawing my sword.


    In an instant, the dragon lunged forward, flames erupting from its mouth in a wave of black fire. The inferno barreled toward us, heat washing over my skin like a wave.


    ¡°Scatter!¡± Alden bellowed.


    I dove to the side as the ground where we once stood was consumed in a blazing inferno. The dragon¡¯s flames burned unnaturally hot. Like his.


    Edrick wasted no time, lightning coating his sword as he drew it from the scabbard.¡±Hey ugly!¡± He shouted, taking a run towards the dragon. Its eyes flicked over to him, growling. ¡°Got its attention now!¡± he called, his tone too gleeful for the situation he was in.


    Lysara moved with precision, darting behind the dragon. Her sword glowed with a silvery light as she slashed at the beast¡¯s hind legs, each clash returning with a resounding clang. ¡°Its scales are too thick!¡± She shouted, frustration evident in her voice.


    Alden extended a hand toward the sky. The air around him crackled, and moments later, a bolt of lightning came down onto the dragon¡¯s back. It roared in pain, its tail lashing out in fury.


    The massive appendage crashed through the remains of the forest. I barely managed to duck in time, the force of the wind from the strike sending me stumbling.


    The beast turned its burning crimson eyes on me, and for a moment, I felt fear. Then it lunged, its jaws snapping with deadly accuracy. I rolled to the side, slashing at its face as I passed. My blade skittered off its scales, leaving little more than a scratch.


    ¡°Not good enough!¡± I hissed, cursing myself. Edric appeared at my side, his chest heaving, his smile never fading despite the sweat dripping down his face.


    Lysara leapt onto the dragon¡¯s back, her blade glowed brighter as she drove it in the softer flesh beneath one of its scales. The beast bellowed in pain, bucking wildly in an attempt to throw her off.


    Alden stepped forward, his hands crackling with mana. ¡°Lysara, move!¡± he warned. As soon as she jumped clear, he called down a barrage of lightning strikes. The bolts dancing across the dragon¡¯s body. It roared, smoke rising from where the electricity seared its flesh.


    We grouped up again with the opportunity Alden presented us. ¡°We can¡¯t keep this up,¡± Lysara said, breathing heavily.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have a choice,¡± I replied, glaring at the dragon as it shook off its pain.


    Edric, as always, grinned. ¡°Hey, at least it¡¯s not boring!¡±


    ¡°Focus, Edric!¡± Alden snapped.


    The dragon roared, its wings beating furiously as it prepared to strike. Alden raised his hand to the skys, summoning another storm of lightning. But even as the dragon faltered, the beast''s eyes burned with fury.


    It broke through the barrage of lightning strikes, lunging toward my mentor. I didn¡¯t think- I just moved. My sword clashed with its claws, the force of the impact rattling my entire body.


    ¡°Back off!¡± I growled, forcing more and more magic into my sword, pushing against the beast with everything I had.


    The dragon lashed out again, sending me rolling into the dirt. Its tail slammed into Alden, sending him crashing into a tree with a sickening thud. Lysara and Edric were thrown back by another swipe of its claws, her sword clattering to the ground as she hit the earth hard. Edric let out a groan of pain as he hit the ground, his flesh littered with wounds from the claws.


    My arm was broken, shattered from the clash with the beast''s claws. The dragon let out a stream of fire, surging toward Edric. I tried to move to his aid but my injuries held me in place.


    ¡°Edric!¡± I cried, panic rising as I realized I couldn¡¯t heal myself fast enough to save him.


    A sudden torrent of black flames erupted from the treeline, colliding with the dragon¡¯s fire and driving it back. The new fire burned hotter and fiercer, consuming the dragon¡¯s attack.


    From within the inferno stepped out Luca, his red eyes blazing like embers, his figure wreathed in flames. He strode forward, his expression unyielding, as the dragon turned its rage on him.


    ¡°Leave.¡± Luca commanded, his voice low and dangerous. With a swipe of his hand, the inferno around him danced forward, enveloping the dragon in a firestorm.


    The dragon recoiled, thrashing wildly as it tried to escape the searing heat. Luca¡¯s flames were darker and hotter than they had been three months ago, they seemed to consume the very air around them.


    His hair now fell past his shoulders, tied back into a loose ponytail that still left a few strands framing his face. Scars criss crossed his arms and neck, there was another running along his chin. But his armor was what caught my attention the most. It was dark, made of matte black steel reinforced with leather straps, and the cloak draped over his back swayed faintly with the lingering heat. He looked less like the brother I knew and more like a figure out of legend- a force of nature.


    ¡°Edric!¡± I choked out, dragging myself toward where my friend lay crumpled on the ground. His breathing was shallow, his face pale. I tried to summon my magic again, but my body refused to cooperate. The fight had drained me completely.


    Luca¡¯s eyes flicked toward me, and for a moment, I thought I saw a glimmer of concern. He knelt beside Edric, the flames around him dimming slightly as he extended a hand over my fallen friend.


    ¡°You¡¯re lucky I got here in time,¡± he muttered, his voice calm but edged with something- anger? Resentment? ¡°Imagine its shape¡­ Control it¡­¡± he said to himself as black flames flowed from his hand, swirling around Edric in a controlled cocoon. The fire didn¡¯t harm; instead, it seemed to seep into Edric¡¯s wounds, cauterizing the torn and burned flesh.


    I stared, stunned. Luca¡¯s flames were powerful, destructive. But now they were healing?


    Edric stirred, blinking up at Luca in confusion. ¡°Are you¡­ the devil?¡± he croaked.


    ¡°Barely.¡± my brother replied, standing and turning his attention back to the black dragon. Its massive body smoldering from the firestorm Luca had unleashed, crimson eyes burning with hatred as it locked onto him.


    Alden groaned from where he¡¯d been thrown, and Lysara struggled to her feet, leaning on her sword for support. ¡°Luca Umbra?¡± she rasped, her expression a mix of fear and disbelief. ¡°How-¡±


    ¡°Later,¡± Luca cut her off, his gaze never leaving the dragon. ¡°This isn¡¯t your fight anymore.¡±


    ¡®What are you talking about?¡± I demanded, forcing myself to stand despite my body screaming at me. ¡°That thing is yours, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    He looked at me, his eyes wide in genuine disbelief. ¡°You think I own a dragon?¡±


    Before I could argue, the dragon roared and lunged at Luca, its claws tearing through the air with terrifying speed. He didn¡¯t flinch. With a flick of his wrist, the fire surrounding him erupted into a towering inferno, forming a barrier the dragon¡¯s claws couldn¡¯t penetrate.


    His flames coiled around the dragon¡¯s limbs like living chains, dragging the beast to the ground with a force that shook the earth. The monster thrashed and roared, but Luca¡¯s control was absolute.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡± he muttered to himself, his voice barely audible over the roar of flames and the dragon¡¯s cries. ¡°Who sent you?¡±


    The dragon seemed to sense its defeat, its movements growing more desperate as Luca approached. For a moment, I thought he might finish it off, but instead, he paused, his eyes narrowing as he studied the creature.


    ¡°Luca, what¡¯re you doing?¡± I called, my voice hoarse.


    ¡°Something¡¯s wrong,¡± he replied. ¡°There¡¯s something off about this guy. It¡¯s too focused, too¡­ deliberate.¡± He tilted his head, thinking out loud. ¡°It¡¯s almost like its-¡±


    The dragon let out a deafening roar, cutting him off. With a final, desperate surge of energy, it broke free from Luca¡¯s flames, its wings snapping open as it took to the sky. Luca¡¯s fire lashed out in response, but the dragon was already gone.


    Silence fell over the battlefield, the crackle of dying flames and the ragged breathing of my party being the only noise that filled the void. Luca stood motionless, staring after the dragon with an unreadable expression.

 Chapter Eleven: Heart-To-Heart

    Luca stood there, flames still licking at his heels as he stared off in the direction of the dragon. My heart pounded in my chest, but it wasn¡¯t from exertion¡­ it was fear. I was scared of my brother.


    ¡°Explain,¡± Alden said, his hoarse voice cutting through the quiet. He picked himself up off the ground, wincing in pain. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you kill it?¡±


    Luca turned his head slightly, his eyes landing on me for a moment before moving to my mentor. ¡°It escaped,¡± he said.


    ¡°Escaped?¡± The older man¡¯s voice rose in a mixture of disbelief and anger. ¡°You¡¯re telling me, with that show of power you just gave¡­ it just escaped?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t owe you an explanation,¡± Luca shot back.


    I stepped forward, my broken arm throbbing as I cradled it. ¡°You can¡¯t just expect us to take your word for it,¡± I said, strained. ¡°That dragon¡¯s fire- it looked like yours, Luca. Exactly like yours.¡±


    His gaze shifted to me, hands clenching at his sides. ¡°I¡¯m not responsible for that thing,¡±


    ¡°You think that¡¯s enough?¡± Lysara barked. ¡°We¡¯re supposed to believe that you just happened to be in the same village this dragon was attacking, and that you had nothing to do with it?¡±


    Luca took a deep breath before speaking, ¡°You don¡¯t have to believe me, but it¡¯s the truth.¡± As he spoke, he studied one of his hands. ¡°I think there¡¯s someone out there- the same person controlling this dragon, I think. They¡¯re posing as me, maybe.¡±


    ¡°You expect us to believe that nonsense?¡± Lysara spat, shaking her head. ¡°You want us to believe that there is someone else out there capable of producing black flames?¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡± I snapped, my voice breaking from the strain. Everyone turned to me. I met Luca¡¯s gaze, ignoring the orders Gabriel was pushing into the forefront of my mind. ¡°Why would someone pose as you?¡±


    Luca hesitated, his gaze softening. ¡°To spread fear, maybe. Or to see the world burn? I don¡¯t know who or why, but¡­ I have to find them and stop them.¡±


    ¡°How noble of you,¡± Alden muttered, though his voice lacked the fire and conviction it sported earlier.


    Luca ignored him, turning to leave.


    ¡°Wait,¡± I said, stepping forward again. The pain in my arm flared, but I forced myself to keep moving. ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°To find them, like I said.¡± He stated, continuing to walk towards the tree line.


    ¡°I¡¯m not letting you leave!¡± I cried out.


    This stopped him in his tracks, and he turned to look at me, a playful smirk on his face. ¡°Your arm is broken, Sacer. How would you stop me?¡±


    I stopped a few paces behind him, pumping as much of my magic into my arm as I could in an attempt to heal myself. ¡°It¡¯s my responsibility to-¡±


    ¡°To what?¡± He cut me off, the smirk leaving his face. ¡°To kill me? Forget the broken arm, Sacer, do you really think you could take me in a fight right now?¡±


    I hesitated for a moment, glancing down at my arm and then to my comrades. Alden was leaning on Lysara, his body hurt from being thrown into the tree. Edric was in the worst shape, but, thanks to Luca¡­


    ¡°I¡¯m going with you.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± he asked, dumbfounded.


    ¡°I''m going with you.¡± I repeated, my voice steady.


    A short laugh erupted from Luca as he shook his head. ¡°No.. haha, no you¡¯re not.¡±


    ¡°I am.¡± I stepped forward, ignoring the sharp pulse of pain in my arm. ¡°You said it- someone is out there using magic just like yours. They¡¯re attacking villages and hurting people. It¡¯s my duty as Gabriel to stop them.¡±


    Luca¡¯s red eyes darkened. ¡°Gabriel huh? And what comes after we stop them? I¡¯m finally executed?¡±


    Before I could respond, Alden scoffed. ¡°Sacer has a point. If you¡¯re telling the truth, this imposter is dangerous.¡±


    ¡°Why are we trusting him?¡± Lysara spat. ¡°We¡¯re just gonna let this monster play hero?¡±


    Luca quickly shot her a glare. ¡°I never said I was playing hero. My life already sucks, I don¡¯t need someone else¡¯s crimes pinned on me too.¡±


    I swallowed hard. ¡°Then let me help you bring them down, Luca.¡±


    Silence.


    Lysara shook her head. ¡°Look at this, I mean, seriously- In these past three months, two villages have burned to the ground. Just like Draemoor did. And you expect me to trust you? Sorry, but I¡¯m not as stupid as Edric.¡±


    ¡°Hey,¡± Edric muttered weakly.


    Luca didn¡¯t respond right away. Instead, he studied his hands. Thinking. When he finally spoke, he met my gaze directly. ¡°Fine.¡±


    Before I could say anything, Edric, still laid out, groaned and pushed himself up onto his elbows. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m going too.¡±


    Alden turned to him, his eyes wide. ¡°Edric, you can barely sit up.¡±


    Edric grinned wide. ¡°What? Nah, I¡¯m in perfect condition.¡± With a cough, he turned to Luca. ¡°You saved me back there, that¡¯s gotta mean something.¡±


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    My brother rolled his eyes. ¡°It doesn¡¯t.¡±


    Ignoring him, Edric forced himself upright with a grimace. ¡°Well, too bad for you, I¡¯m stuck to our Hero here like a tick.¡±


    Luca scoffed. ¡°Sacer? Fine, sure, I can stomach him around me. But you? You think you can keep up?¡±


    ¡°Bet on it.¡±


    Alden let out a laugh. ¡°And what, I¡¯m just supposed to let you two run off with the Demon King? King Calor ordered for you to bring him in, Sacer. Dead or Alive.¡±


    I turned to Alden, my voice firm. ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to trust Luca. I need you to trust me.¡±


    My teacher¡¯s jaw tightened. He glanced at Lysara for support, but she seemed just as wary.


    She crossed her arms. ¡°You¡¯re making a mistake, Sacer.¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± I sighed. ¡°But it¡¯s my mistake to make.¡±


    Luca glanced between the four of us before finally pinching the bridge of his nose, a groan escaping his lips. ¡°Don¡¯t slow me down.¡±


    A small, satisfied smile crossed my lips, and with that we turned and headed into the treeline.


    ¡ª


    As we walked through the forest, Edric trudged along beside me, his usual energy dulled by exhaustion. Luca walked a few paces ahead, silent.


    Edric groaned, rubbing his ribs. ¡°You¡¯d think the guy who saved my life would give me a piggyback ride¡­¡±


    Luca snorted. ¡°Not a chance.¡±


    He huffed but didn''t argue. Edric took a few more steps before his legs wobbled. Luca barely caught him before he hit the ground.


    ¡°Alright that¡¯s enough!¡± I said, watching as Luca placed him against a fallen log.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Edric muttered.


    ¡°No you¡¯re not,¡± I countered.


    Luca crouched nearby, picking up a twig. In an instant, the kindling erupted into black flames, the fire casting an eerie glow over the clearing. ¡°You can sleep here,¡± he said. ¡°Sacer and I will keep watch.¡±


    Edric didn¡¯t argue, just grunted and folded his arms behind his head. Within minutes he was snoring.


    I sighed and took a seat on a rock nearby. The silence between my brother and I was thick and unnerving. Surprisingly, he was the one who broke it.


    ¡°How¡¯s dad?¡± He asked, staring into the fire.


    I hesitated. ¡°He.. uh, left. Three months ago.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    I exhaled sharply. ¡°He didn¡¯t tell me much, just left a note. It said he was looking for you.¡±


    ¡°He shouldn¡¯t have done that,¡± Luca muttered.


    ¡°Can you blame him?¡± I asked, leaning forward slightly. ¡°Ever since that day, he regretted how he pushed you away.¡±


    ¡°Like you?¡±


    I tensed, a frown forming.


    Before I could respond, Luca turned to me. His arm outstretched, aimed directly at my still broken arm. Just like before, with Edric, flames flowed from his fingertips and wrapped around my limb like a chrysalis. At first, the heat was unbearable, but then it became warm, almost gentle.


    Thankful for both the subject change, and the reprieve from pain, I spoke up. ¡°Okay, how¡¯re you doing that?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    I leaned back against the tree behind me, staring up at the canopy above. ¡°All of it. You showed up out of nowhere, controlling your magic like never before. You¡¯re capable of healing with it now too?¡± I let out a long, dissatisfied sigh. ¡°I really don¡¯t understand how magic works. I¡¯ve just been¡­ using it.¡±


    Luca huffed a small, amused sound. Almost a snicker. ¡°You¡¯re telling me the great Hero doesn¡¯t know how magic works?¡±


    I shot him a look. ¡°How do you?¡±


    He reached down, grabbing a small stone from the dirt and began tossing it in his palm. ¡°After Draemoor, Damon has been silent for the most part. But his memories are more vivid than ever. I can see¡­ everything. His life, his battles, et cetera. How much do you know?¡±


    ¡°Well, not much,¡± I admitted. ¡°I know we¡¯re born with a mana-producing organ. A Taika, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Most people are born with an affinity,¡± he said. ¡°Fire, water, earth. Basic elements. Although, there are some rarer ones,¡± he jutted a thumb towards Edrics sleeping body. ¡°this dunce and that old man have a lightning affinity. You''re using your magic as if it''s just a way to boost your physical capabilities, but it can do more. Mana is like an extension of your body, it''s more muscle than anything. The more you use it, the stronger it gets.¡±


    ¡°What about me? Light magic?¡± I asked, my eyebrow raised.


    ¡°Light magic is divine. It¡¯s different, not really an element.¡± He said simply.


    I shifted on the rock slightly. ¡°What about you?¡±


    Luca¡¯s gaze returned to the fire, he looked almost solemn. ¡°Then there¡¯s demonic magic,¡± he said quietly. ¡°Magic that shouldn¡¯t be here. Powerful, and wild. Wrong.¡±


    Silence again. The fire crackled.


    Finally, I spoke up. ¡°Do you hate it?¡±


    Luca turned to me, and for a moment, I saw the little boy I grew up with. Then his expression hardened.


    ¡°With every breath I take.¡±


    His voice was quiet, but I felt the weight of it.


    ¡°Then why do you keep using it? If you just came with me to Valtara and spoke to King Calor, I¡¯m sure we could figure something out. Maybe even be able to separate Damon from you. Maybe.¡±


    Luca scoffed, running a hand through his hair. ¡°I don¡¯t trust the royal family at all.¡± He glanced at me. ¡°I¡¯ll prove I¡¯m not Damon. My own way. And that starts with finding whoever is controlling a dragon and burning villages down.¡±


    "What happened to you these past three months?" I asked bluntly.


    Luca hesitated, looking down at his hands. "I... hm. Nothing, really. I decided to stop running from the memories in my head, and instead learned from them." With a solemn smile, he looked up at the stars peaking through the canopy. "I protected travelers from bandits as practice. Mostly because what you said stuck with me; that I was ''just a kid.''"


    I looked down, contemplating how to respond, then forced a smirk. ¡°You know, that girl defended you.¡±


    Luca, taken aback by the subject switch, blinked. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Marei, I think her name was. they returned to Draemoor shortly after our¡­ fight, and I brought them back to the capital with me. Frankly, she didn¡¯t like the way King Calor spoke about you,¡± I said. ¡°She stood up for you. Called him a coward.¡±


    Something in his face softened, like hearing that eased some fears. ¡°Marei¡­ did that?¡±


    ¡°She your girlfriend or something?¡±


    ¡°I-¡± Luca turned away from me. ¡°No way. We¡¯re just friends.¡±


    I grinned. ¡°Right.¡± I nudged his shoulder. ¡°Calm down. Remember when we used to sneak out at night?¡±


    Luca laughed softly. ¡°You mean when you tried sneaking out and I had to cover for you?¡±


    I rolled my eyes. ¡°I got better at it.¡±


    My brother hummed. ¡°Mmm, sure. That¡¯s why Father caught you every time.¡±


    I laughed, shaking my head. ¡°I¡¯m starting to regret asking you to let us come with you.¡±


    ¡°No, you¡¯re not.¡±


    I sighed. ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡±


    The fire crackled in the moonlight, burning low. The night stretched on, and for the first time in months, we sat together. Not as enemies, not as Gabriel and Damon, but as Luca and Sacer.


    As brothers.

 Chapter Twelve: Like Me

    -Luca-


    The morning came slowly, the forest bathed in mist as the sun struggled to pierce through the thick canopy of leaves above. Dew clung to them, the air damp and chilling. The remnants of our fire crackled faintly, thin tendrils of smoke curling into the air. Sacer¡¯s friend, Edric I think his name was, remained asleep, curled up on his side with one arm draped over his stomach. The injuries he¡¯d sustained in the battle against that dragon had worn him down more than he wanted to admit, but at least he was breathing steadily.


    I stood at the edge of the clearing where we made camp, staring into the trees as I let the quiet settle over me.


    Footsteps crunched over leaves behind me, and I knew who it was before he spoke. ¡°Didn¡¯t sleep?¡±


    I shook my head, not taking my eyes off the trees. ¡°Didn¡¯t need to.¡±


    Sacer yawned, stretching his arms into the air. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not part owl?¡±


    A small snort escaped me. ¡°If I was, maybe you wouldn¡¯t catch me so easily.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± he said. ¡°I mean, even when we were kids, you were terrible at sneaking.¡±


    I glanced at him. ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    ¡°Oh, come on. You have to remember,¡± he said, leaning against a tree. ¡°You were always tripping over something- roots, rocks, yourself. And then you¡¯d get mad at me as if I did it.¡±


    ¡°You did put them there.¡±


    He shrugged, barely holding back a smirk. ¡°That sounds like a theory.¡±


    ¡°That sounds like you admitting it.¡±


    A groggy voice mumbled, ¡°You two are so loud.¡±


    Edric sat up, rubbing his face. ¡°Morning, sunshine,¡± Sacer said, ¡°Sleep well?¡±


    He stretched with a wince. ¡°I¡¯d sleep better if I didn¡¯t feel like I got trampled by a horse.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because you got trampled by a dragon,¡± I said dryly.


    Edric blinked. ¡°Oh. Right.¡±


    By midday, we reached the outskirts of another village. It wasn¡¯t large, by any means, but it was bustling with enough people that we wouldn¡¯t immediately stand out. That was good. We needed information without drawing too much attention to ourselves.


    ¡°We split up,¡± I said. ¡°Ask around, but don¡¯t be obvious. We¡¯re looking for anyone who¡¯s seen someone that looks like me.¡±


    ¡°Right, because a guy with black hair and red eyes wouldn¡¯t stand out at all,¡± Edric said with a smirk. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t be hard.¡±


    Sacer rolled his eyes. ¡°Just don¡¯t get yourself into trouble.¡±


    ¡°Me? Trouble?¡± Edric grinned, feigning innocence. ¡°Never.¡±


    We fanned out, each of us moving through the village, keeping our ears open for any mention of someone resembling me. I overheard a merchant speaking about unusual travelers but nothing concrete. Sacer returned with little more than shrugged shoulders. Edric, on the other hand¡­


    We heard the commotion before we saw it- raised voices, the scrape of boots against dirt. Rounding the corner, we spotted a group of thugs harassing an elderly woman near the village market. She clutched a small bundle of goods, her face tight with worry and fear.


    ¡°I told you, I don¡¯t have anything else..¡± she said, voice shaking.


    One of the thugs sneered. ¡°That¡¯s funny, because I think you do.¡±


    Edric sighed dramatically. ¡°Oh no, looks like some lowlives are being lowlives again. Guess I better save the day.¡±


    Sacer quickly chimed in, ¡°Wait, Edric we can all-¡±


    Too late, Edric was already striding forward, his easy going grin firmly in place. ¡°Now, now, gentlemen. Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being a little too¡­ forceful?¡±


    One of the thugs turned to him, sizing up his five-seven, lean frame. ¡°Walk away, soldier.¡±


    Edric tilted his head. ¡°You know, I would, but you¡¯re standing in the way of me being a decent person. So, no can do.¡±


    The thug moved to grab him, but before his hand could even get close, lightning arced from Edric¡¯s fingers, slamming into the ground at their feet with a loud snap of electricity.


    The men quickly jumped back. ¡®What the-¡±


    Edric laughed. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry. That was just the warning shot.¡± He twirled a small spark between his fingers, looking entirely too pleased with himself. ¡°Unless, of course, you want me to try again. The next one won¡¯t miss, I promise.¡±


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    The thugs exchanged uneasy glances. One scowled. ¡°Tch. Not worth it,¡± They turned and retreated down the street, yelling obscenities at Edric as they went.


    The old woman let out a relieved sigh, placing a piece of bread in Edric¡¯s hands. ¡°Thank you, young man.¡±


    He gave her a bright smile. ¡°Anytime, ma¡¯am. It¡¯s all part of the job.¡±


    As the tension eased, a strange feeling began to prickle at the back of my neck. Eyes- someone was watching me.


    I turned sharply, looking for the source of my discomfort. There, in an alley across the way, two piercing red eyes stared at me. Just as I caught sight of them, the figure disappeared into the shadows.


    Without a word, I darted after them. ¡®Luca-¡± I heard Sacer call, but I didn¡¯t stop. My boots pounded against the dirt as I sprinted into the narrow passage, twisting through the labyrinth of alleyways.


    ¡°Wait!¡± I called. ¡°I just want to talk!¡±


    I ran. Then- fire. A burst of black flames shot toward me. I barely had time to dodge, feeling the heat graze my arm. My pulse quickened.


    They¡¯re like me.


    I pressed forward, determined. Another flame shot toward me, but I veered left, pushing off the alley wall to propel myself forward. The gap between us shrank as I closed the distance. Another turn- another burst of fire. I leapt over a stack of crates, landing hard but not slowing.


    He was fast, but not fast enough. My footfalls echoed against the stone as I reached out. Just as he was about to turn another corner, I lunged, my hand clamping onto his shoulder. He flinched, struggling violently as I spun him around.


    A boy, not much younger than me, maybe thirteen, stared at me with wide, terrified eyes. He trembled, his breath coming in short, panicked bursts.


    ¡°Please,¡± he whispered. ¡°Don¡¯t hurt me.¡±


    The boy trembled beneath my grip, his chest rising and falling with quick, shallow breaths. Up close I could see the soot smudged across his cheek, his black hair tangled as if he¡¯d been running for far longer than just now. But it was his crimson eyes that held me in place.


    He swallowed hard, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. ¡°Please,¡± he whispered again, barely above a breath. ¡°I don¡¯t want to die.¡±


    I released his shoulder, taking a slow step back. ¡°I.. I¡¯m not going to hurt you.¡±


    The boy hesitated, his gaze flicking between me and the alley¡¯s exit behind me, as if he was calculating his chances at escape.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± I asked. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    The boy licked his lips but said nothing. He was still tense, his hands twitching like he was ready to summon fire at any second. I didn¡¯t want to push him too hard, not when he already looked ready to bolt.


    ¡°Look, I don¡¯t know what you¡¯ve been through, but I just want to talk. I have a few questions.¡± I said, keeping my tone soft. ¡°You have those eyes. You know what that means right?¡±


    He hesitated, his expression wavering- fear giving way to something else. Understanding, maybe. ¡°Damian.¡± He finally said.


    ¡°Damian,¡± I repeated. ¡°I¡¯m Luca.¡±


    He flinched at the sound of my name. He knew it. Maybe not my face, but my name? Definitely. I couldn¡¯t be sure if that was a good thing or not.


    I took a step back, giving him space. ¡°I¡¯m not your enemy.¡±


    Damian let out a shaky breath, some of the tension in his shoulders easing. He looked me up and down, then finally muttered, ¡°If that¡¯s true, then you should run.¡±


    My brows furrowed in suspicion. ¡°Why?¡±


    The boy took another half-step back, glancing toward the rooftops. ¡°Because they¡¯re hunting me. And if they see you with me, they¡¯re hunting you too.¡±


    Before I could press him further, a figure materialized out of thin air to my left, his broadsword swinging directly at Damian¡¯s head. I didn¡¯t have time to think, I just moved- I kicked Damian¡¯s feet out from under him, knocking him to the ground.


    The sword whistled through the air, missing Damian¡¯s head by inches. The attacker staggered, momentarily thrown off balance, and I took the opening. My first connected with his ribs, or at least where they should be. My knuckles instead met metal- armor. He was a knight.


    Damian hit the ground with a grunt, rolling into the wall just as the soldier turned his focus on me. In the dim light of the alleyway I got a better look at our assailant. He was lean, not too muscular, but not scrawny either. The definition of a soldier. He disappeared again.


    ¡°How-¡± I quickly jumped back, the sound of a blade striking the ground where I just stood reverberating off the walls, sparks flying off the ground.


    Damian scrambled to his feet and took off towards the alley exit.


    A shadow shifted on the rooftop above us. My stomach churned. There were more?


    With a deep breath, I let out a torrent of flames from my body. They latched onto the invisible attacker, wrenching a pained cry from him as he flickered into view. Now that I had him marked, I didn¡¯t hesitate- I drove my fist into his face, sending him to the ground.


    ¡°Whoo..¡± I shook out my hand, the pain still lingering. My gaze snapped to the rooftops- empty. The figure was gone, he must have taken off after Damian. Wasting no time, I turned and sprinted toward the alley¡¯s exit.


    The village square was a mess of scattered market stalls and panicked civilians fleeing the scene. In the middle of it all stood Damian, surrounded by three armor-clad soldiers. Black fire licked at his fingertips as looked up at them in fear.


    ¡°Friends of yours?¡± Edric called from behind as Sacer and he caught up.


    My brother, ever the practical one, spoke up. ¡°That symbol¡­¡± On the soldiers'' backs rested two swords and a sun. The Valtarian Royal Crest. ¡°By my name as Gabriel, I order you three to leave that boy alone!¡± He barked.


    The knights didn¡¯t even spare Sacer a look. Their focus remained on Damian, their swords unsheathed but held at ease- no urgency, no fear. One of them, a woman, stepped forward.


    ¡°With all due respect, Hero,¡± she said, her tone firm, ¡°this is royal business. I suggest you stay out of it.¡±


    Sacer¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°And what does this boy have to do with the Royal Family?¡±


    The middle knight, a man with broad shoulders and a voice like gravel, scoffed. ¡°Last I checked, you weren¡¯t king.¡± His grip on his sword tightened. ¡°Leave this monster to us.¡±


    Damian flinched, his black flames flickering wildly, uncontrolled. ¡°I-I didn¡¯t do anything wrong!¡±


    The third knight, a younger man, spoke, ¡°You attacked your caretakers.¡±


    Sacer took a step forward, placing himself right behind the three soldiers. He placed a hand on the middle¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I demand an explanation.¡±


    He shrugged him off, summoning a wall of ice around the three of them and Damian. Sacer cursed under his breath. The knights weren¡¯t going to listen. They didn¡¯t care about his title or his birthright.


    Edric sighed, electricity crackling in his hands. ¡°Guess we¡¯re doing this the hard way.¡±


    Sacer didn¡¯t reply. His sword was already drawn.

 Chapter Thirteen: Break

    ¡°Luca,¡± Sacer called without looking away from the wall of ice. ¡°Can you burn through this?¡±


    I pressed my hand against the barrier, heat already rolling off me in waves. The ice hissed and cracked, but it didn¡¯t immediately give. ¡°Not fast enough.¡±


    Sacer let out a deep breath. ¡°Then we go through it.¡± After taking a step back, he braced himself before swinging his sword with all his strength. The impact sent a sharp clang! throughout the square, cracks spider webbing across the ice. ¡°Edric-¡±


    ¡°On it,¡± Edric cut in, his grin wide. He raised his hands, lightning arcing between his palms before slamming them against the weakened ice. The force of his magic sent a ripple through the wall, and with a resounding crack, the ice began to crumble.


    Sacer didn¡¯t wait. The moment an opening showed itself, he moved- his sword a streak of gold as he surged through the breach.


    ¡°Luca, keep pressure on the ice- don¡¯t let him reinforce the wall!¡± he barked. ¡°Edric, take the other guy- don¡¯t give him time to think.¡±


    Black flames roared to life in my hands as I hurled them at the middle knight. He barely managed to raise a shield of frost before my heat slammed into it, sending steam hissing into the air.


    In a flash of lightning, Edric¡¯s blade clashed against the youngest knight¡¯s broadsword. Sparks flew as their weapons met.


    The man sneered. ¡°Fast, but sloppy.¡± He twisted his broadsword, pushing Edric back with sheer strength. ¡°You fight like any old thug.¡±


    ¡°Yeah? Well you fight like you got a stick up your ass.¡±


    His face twisted in aggravation, but he kept a ready stance. With a lunge, he slashed horizontally, aiming for Edric¡¯s midsection.


    Edric backstepped, pivoting on his heel. He darted in, sword flicking out like a snake¡¯s strike, cutting across the knight¡¯s exposed shoulder.


    The knight gritted his teeth and lashed out with a boot to Edric¡¯s ribs. He barely managed to roll with the impact, skidding across the ice.


    The knight smirked. ¡°Like I said, a thug.¡±


    Edric wiped his mouth, still grinning. ¡°Thug, huh?¡± He rose to his feet, twirling his sword, electricity crackling along the edge. ¡°You¡¯re gonna love this.¡±


    The knight charged, his broadsword raised for an overhead strike.


    Edric sprinted to meet him, dodging at the last second. The knight¡¯s blade slammed into the ice, sending cracks splintering outward. Before he could recover, Edric leaped up, planting a foot on the soldiers back to send him higher.


    Mid-air, he twisted his sword in a tight arc. Lightning streaked down, the blade acting as a lightning rod. With instantaneous speed, Edric redirected it straight into the knight.


    The crackling bolt struck him square in the back, lighting up his armor like a beacon. He convulsed violently before collapsing to his knees, his sword slipping from numb fingers.


    Edric landed lightly on his feet, smirking. ¡°Thug, one. Hardass, zero.¡±


    The knight tried to stand, only for Edric to place his boot on the man''s back. His grin fading. ¡°Yield.¡±


    The female knight, the one in command, intercepted Sacer, their blades meeting with a resounding screech. ¡°Stay out of this, Hero. This is Royal business¡±


    Sacer ignored her. He feinted left, then pivoted, swinging low. She barely parried in time, and he pressed the advantage, forcing her onto defense.


    For a moment, it looked like he was in control of the fight. Then-


    The wind shifted.


    A sudden gust slammed into him like a hammer, throwing him off balance. Before he could recover, another burst sent him tumbling across the ice. He barely managed to plant his sword in the ground to stop himself before the knight was on him again, moving with an effortless grace.


    She raised a hand high, and a blade of air shot toward him. He dodged, barely, the fabric covering his chest being cut open, revealing his chainmail.


    The knight smirked. She held her sword at the ready, wind curling around the blade as if it were a living thing.


    ¡°You¡¯re strong. Well trained.¡± she admitted. ¡°But you don¡¯t use your magic. Why is that?¡±


    Sacer pulled himself up, gripping his sword tighter. I could tell by the way his expression shifted that he was thinking. Calculating.


    She moved first, sending another razor-sharp gust toward him. Sacer dodged again, but the moment his feet hit the ground, another gust of wind slammed into his side, knocking him off his feet.


    She was controlling the battlefield, not letting Sacer do anything.


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    But then, my brother did something unexpected.


    He exhaled sharply, letting the wind take him.


    Instead of fighting against it, he angled his body midair, twisting with the current. The moment his feet touched ground, he used the momentum to launch himself forward, so fast the knight had barely any time to react.


    Their blades met once more, but this time Sacer didn¡¯t brute force it. He forced her to move her own strike, using the wind still lingering around them to slide around her guard.


    A flash of golden light erupted from his sword.


    The knight flinched at the sudden burst, her grip faltering for a split second, and that second was all Sacer needed.


    He kicked her square in the chest. She staggered back, but before she could recover, Sacer was already moving.


    He got on top of her, pinning her beneath him with his knee pressed into her chest.


    ¡°Yield,¡± he said, voice firm.


    Her jaw tightened. A muscle twitched in her cheek. Then, with a slow exhale, she let her hands fall limp at her sides. ¡°...I yield.¡±


    A ragged breath behind me sent a shiver down my spine. I turned just in time to see Damian, his back against the wall of ice. His eyes were wide, unfocused, and his hands were shaking at his sides. Flickers of fire sputtering uselessly in his palms.


    The ice knight stepped forward, a cruel smirk plastered on his face. ¡°You¡¯re not getting away this time.¡± He raised his hand, and ice surged forward, creeping up Damian¡¯s legs, locking him in place.


    ¡°No- I- No, no, no-¡± The boy''s breaths came out in short, ragged gasps. His hands flew to his head, fingers digging into his scalp as his body shook violently.


    ¡°Pathetic,¡± the old knight sneered, He lifted his sword, his eyes gleaming with pleasure.


    Something snapped inside me.


    ¡°Damian!¡± I shouted, surging forward.


    He didn¡¯t respond.


    I reached him just as the soldier''s blade came down. Fire erupted from my palms, crashing into the frozen steel. The force of my flames sent the knight stumbling back.


    I grabbed Damian by the shoulders, shaking him. ¡°Listen to me,¡± I said, forcing my voice to steady. ¡°I know you¡¯re scared. But you have to move.¡±


    His head jerked, breath still coming in frantic gasps. ¡°I- I can¡¯t-¡±


    ¡°You can.¡± I said, producing enough heat to melt the ice holding him in place.


    For a second, he didn¡¯t move. Then, his breathing slowed- just a little.


    The ice knight recovered, stepping toward us once again. He prepared his sword, eyes dark with rage.


    In an instant, Damian was on the knight.


    The older man barely had time to react before Damian¡¯s flames lashed out, knocking him off his feet. He slammed against the ice wall with a grunt, steam hissing where fire met frost.


    The boy didn¡¯t let up.


    He grabbed the knight¡¯s wrists before he could swing his sword, his small fingers glowing red-hot against the metal. The smell of burning leather filled the air as Damian wrenched his arm, twisting until-


    SNAP.


    The knight howled. His sword clattered uselessly to the ground.


    Damian breathed hard through his nose, his shoulders shaking. ¡°I know you.¡±


    The soldier gasped, writhing in pain. ¡°M-monster-¡±


    The boy''s red-hot fists slammed into his ribs, knocking the air from his lungs.


    ¡°You were there.¡± Another punch. ¡°In the dark.¡±


    The soldier wheezed, scrambling against the ice.


    Damian¡¯s voice shook, but not from fear. ¡°You¡­ you picked who got to eat.¡± His breathing turned shallow. ¡°Who got to sleep.¡± Both of his hands grasped tightly around the man''s throat. ¡°Who got to die.¡±


    The man choked.


    Damian leaned in close, a breath of fire licking at the knight¡¯s face. ¡°You said I was just a rat.¡±


    The flames in his hands burned hotter.


    ¡°You laughed when they cut me open.¡±


    The knight¡¯s eyes widened in terror.


    Damian¡¯s voice dropped to a whisper. ¡°You laughed.¡±


    Flames roared to life, engulfing the knight in a searing black blaze. The heat was unbearable- I had to take a step back as the fire swallowed everything. Armor melted. Flesh sizzled. By the time it was over, there was nothing left but charred scraps and a pool of steaming water where the wall of ice had melted.


    Silence.


    Sacer and Edric watched, but neither of them moved.


    Edric swallowed, rubbing the back of his neck. ¡°...Shit.¡±


    Damian stood there, swaying slightly in a daze, staring at his hands. His shoulders trembled.


    At first, I thought he was in shock.


    Then his lips curled upward.


    ¡°I killed him.¡± His voice was small, almost childlike. A whisper of disbelief, then, a giggle. ¡°I really did.¡± His smile widened, bright and happy- like he¡¯d just won a game.


    My hair stood on end.


    Sacer took a step forward. ¡°Kid-¡±


    ¡°I win,¡± Damian whispered, still staring at his hands. His fingers curled in, opening and closing like he was testing if they were real. ¡°I win.¡±


    His shoulders shook. Another giggle. But it came out too sharp, too breathy, almost like he couldn¡¯t catch his breath.


    But before I could say anything, Damian¡¯s body seized. His breathing hitched. His fingers twitched as if he was trying to shake something off. Then suddenly, he gasped like he was drowning.


    His knees buckled. His hands clawed at his chest, his throat, his arms- as if he could feel something there, holding him down, cutting him open.


    ¡°I-¡± his voice cracked. ¡°I can¡¯t-¡±


    I caught him before he collapsed. ¡°Breathe.¡±


    His eyes were wide and unfocused, darting frantically like he didn¡¯t know where he was.


    ¡°You¡¯re here. You¡¯re safe.¡± I said firmly.


    His head snapped toward me. His pupils blown wide, his breath coming in quick, panicked gasps. But then, slowly, his breathing evened out.


    Sacer crouched next to me, his voice gentle. ¡°Count with me. One¡­¡±


    Damian¡¯s lips trembled.


    ¡°Two,¡± Sacer said.


    The boy let out a shaky breath. ¡°...Three.¡±


    His small fingers curled into my cloak, gripping tight. His shoulders sagged.


    And then- a tiny breathless giggle.


    ¡°I did it,¡± he whispered. His voice was hoarse, but the grin returned. "I really did it.¡±


    No one said anything.


    What the hell were we supposed to say?

 Chapter Fourteen: Introspection

    ¡°This kid isn¡¯t light, y¡¯know¡­¡± Edric grumbled, readjusting the sleeping Damian on his back.


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who insisted on carrying him,¡± I pointed out as I stepped over a thick tree root. ¡°You could¡¯ve let Sacer or I do it,¡±


    ¡°Yeah, well¡­ I figured you¡¯d rather not, considering how badly he tore up that old guy.¡± Edric huffed, shifting his grip on the boy''s legs. ¡°That¡¯s not even mentioning that Sacer looks like he¡¯s one wrong word away from snapping someone¡¯s neck¡±


    Sacer didn¡¯t respond. He walked a few paces ahead, his back rigid. He hadn¡¯t said much since we fled the village, but the tension oozing off of him was enough to keep even Edric¡¯s teasing mostly at bay.


    ¡°I just want answers,¡± he muttered finally. ¡°Those guys knew something, and refused to tell me.¡±


    ¡°Of course they did,¡± I stated flatly. ¡°I said it before, I don¡¯t trust the Royal¡¯s as far as I can throw them.¡±


    Silence.


    The only sounds were our footsteps and the occasional rustle of wind through the trees. I looked at Damian¡¯s face, his features calm in sleep, completely different from how he had looked earlier.


    I turned back to my brother and reached out, touching his arm. ¡°Sacer,¡±


    He exhaled sharply, shaking me off. ¡°Not now.¡±


    Eventually, we found a clearing and set up camp for the night. Edric sat Damian down against a log, rolling his shoulders with a groan. ¡°If I wake up with a sore back, I¡¯m blaming both of you.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± I said dryly before kneeling beside Damian. Now that I was seeing him up close in the firelight, I noticed just how frail the boy really was beneath the baggy rags he was wearing. His sleeves were pushed up slightly, and what I saw made my stomach twist.


    Scars.


    Deliberate, cruel scars. Incisions running along his forearms, raised lines of old wounds that had never been properly treated. I hesitated before pulling the fabric of his shirt up slightly, my breath catching at the sight of his torso.


    Surgical scars criss crossed his chest and stomach. While some were neat, the others were jagged, as if they¡¯d been opened and closed again a multitude of times. A long, thin line ran from his collarbone down to his hip.


    Sacer knelt next to me, his expression solemn. He reached out, pressing the back of his hands gently against the boy''s forehead. ¡°He¡¯s running a fever.¡±


    I swallowed hard, my fingers curling into fists at my sides. ¡°How the hell could someone do this to him?¡±


    Sacer didn¡¯t answer right away. His golden eyes were sharp, scanning Damian¡¯s face for any sign of consciousness. ¡°First priority should be to bring his fever down,¡± he said instead. ¡°If it gets worse-¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± I muttered. I stood, shrugging off my cloak and draping it over Damian¡¯s sleeping body. The firelight flickered across his pale, malnourished body, and my stomach began to twist. Whoever had done this had done more than just torture. They were experimenting on him.


    Edric, breaking the tension in the air, ran a hand through his hair and let out a slow breath. ¡°I¡¯ll uh, go get more firewood,¡± he said, stepping away from the camp.


    Sacer pressed his lips together. ¡°He needs water, too. I think we passed a stream-¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± I turned on my heel before he could argue. I needed air. I needed to clear my head.


    The forest was eerily quiet as I made my way toward the water. No rustling of leaves. No chirping of insects. Just the sound of my own breathing.


    I crouched at the water''s edge, taking in a deep breath as I pulled a waterskin from my pockets. While my hands happened to be steady, my thoughts weren¡¯t. The scars on his body, the way he killed that knight in the village, the weight of whatever the hell happened to him¡­ it stuck to me. Festering like a wound.


    You pity him.


    The voice slithered through my mind like a snake. Slow. Methodical. Why?


    I froze, my fingers gripping tightly onto the waterskin. I hadn¡¯t heard his voice since Draemoor. Three months of silence, of praying- hoping, that maybe, just maybe, he was gone.


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    I swallowed down the instinctive panic forming in my throat. You¡¯re talking again.


    Did you think I wouldn¡¯t? His tone was almost amused. Did you miss me?


    No.


    Liar.


    My grip on the waterskin was so tight I thought it might burst. I forced myself to breathe, dunking it under the water. What do you want?


    Damon hummed in the back of my mind, as if considering the question. I could ask you the same thing. You¡¯re the one helping a damaged boy. Why? Because he reminds you of yourself? Because you hope he can be fixed?


    I shut my eyes, pressing my knuckles against my forehead as if that would drive him out. He was inside me, woven into my very being.


    A chuckle rang throughout my skull. Hope is a dangerous thing, you know? It¡¯s what got you in this whole mess in the first place, isn¡¯t it?


    I gritted my teeth. Quiet.


    Damon sighed. You know, Luca, what I really want is for you to just accept the truth.


    I¡¯m nothing like you!


    Oh? He hummed. Then tell me, Luca, how many burned in Draemoor?


    My heart stopped. Shut up.


    That many, huh? Damon purred. I wonder how long they screamed.


    I said shut up.


    Did they beg? His voice turned almost gentle. Did they plead for mercy? Hoping for someone to save them?


    I slammed my fists into the ground. ¡°Shut up!¡± I heaved, my eyes shut tight as my fingers curled into my fists. My fingers bit into my palms, grounding me, tethering me to this world.


    Draemoor was an accident. I know that. Sacer said Marei even knows that. It was just a loss of control. I hadn¡¯t meant to kill anyone. I didn¡¯t want to kill anyone.


    Damon let the silence stretch before he spoke again, his voice a slow, dark whisper. It felt good, didn¡¯t it?


    I forced my breathing to steady, forcing the thoughts to be quiet, the guilt back where I buried it. I am not you.


    No response.


    For a split second, I thought he was gone, but then he spoke- quieter, colder. Keep telling yourself that.


    I filled the waterskin, capped it, and stood. The water rippled, causing my reflection to distort in the moonlight. Red eyes stared back at me.


    Mine.


    Not his.


    As I returned back to camp, I knew something was wrong before I even saw it. Sacer was kneeling beside Damian, his brows furrowed as he tried to heal the boy. But Damian-


    Damian was awake.


    Terrified.


    His wide, red eyes darted frantically between Sacer and I, his frail body shaking underneath the cloak I¡¯d covered him with.


    Sacer lifted his hands slightly, palms open. ¡°Hey,¡± he said, voice steady. ¡°You¡¯re safe.¡±


    He jerked away from Sacer, scrambling backward in the dirt. He barely made it a few feet before collapsing onto his behind. ¡®D-d-don¡¯t-¡± His voice cracked.


    My brother frowned. ¡°I¡¯m not going to hurt you.¡±


    Damian¡¯s gaze flicked to me, desperate and begging for help.


    Then it hit me.


    He was scared of Sacer. I felt my stomach drop. Of course. The white hair and golden eyes- he recognized them. Knew what they meant.


    Knew who Sacer was, or at least who he thought he was.


    I stepped forward slowly, hands raising. ¡°No one¡¯s going to hurt you, Damian.¡±


    Behind me, Sacer shifted back to give us space. ¡°Does he think I¡¯m-¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± I said before he could finish.


    Sacer sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. ¡°Of course he does.¡±


    I crouched, getting down to Damian¡¯s eye level. ¡°Sacer isn¡¯t like the one¡¯s you know. I know what you¡¯re thinking, but he¡¯s not here to hurt you.¡±


    His gaze flicked between us, his hands shaking at his sides. ¡°He¡¯s.. he¡¯s the H-hero¡­¡±


    The word was so quiet, yet the weight it carried was groundbreaking.


    Sacer stayed silent.


    I held Damian¡¯s gaze. ¡®He is, but he¡¯s also my brother. He¡¯s here because he wants to help you.¡±


    The boy didn¡¯t move, didn¡¯t respond. His body was tense, every muscle twitching as if he was waiting- waiting for us to pounce.


    ¡°Look, I know you have no reason to trust us. I won¡¯t ask you to. But at least give us a chance.¡±


    Damian gave a small nod.


    I exhaled, only now realizing how tight I¡¯d been wound. ¡°Okay, that¡¯s good.¡±


    Edric returned from getting firewood, his usual easy going grin plastered on his face.


    ¡°Damian,¡± Sacer said, his voice calm. ¡°Can you tell us what exactly happened to you?¡±


    Damian tensed, his fingers curling against the fabric of my cloak.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to!¡± I said quickly. ¡°If you¡¯re not ready-¡±


    He took a shaky breath. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know where to start.¡±


    Edric sat down beside him, crossing his arms over his knees. ¡°How about the beginning?¡±


    Damian swallowed. His fingers clenched tighter. I honestly thought he¡¯d shut down again.


    Then, finally, he spoke. The story he told was something I never could have prepared for.

 Chapter Fifteen: Hell

    -Damian-


    ¡°Wake up, rat.¡±


    A boot slammed into my ribs. I opened my eyes to the same stone floor, the same moist air thick with the stench of blood and human excrement. The same four walls of my home. And the same golden-eyed devil standing over me.


    The caretaker crouched down and grabbed my arm, his grip bruising my skin. ¡°Get up. Your turn.¡±


    I pushed myself up on unsteady legs. My body ached from yesterday¡¯s ¡®activities¡¯¡ªthey never called it what it really was. The man dragged me forward through the dim corridors of my home. I could never tell if it was day or night.


    As we walked past the other cells, I heard my siblings and cousins whispering and whimpering amongst themselves. The clattering of chains caught my attention and I looked up¡ªmy stomach twisting.


    My parents were being forced back into their room, their bodies weak and faces hollow. My mom¡¯s wrists were raw from her shackles, while my dad¡¯s back was bent from his daily beatings. I locked eyes with them for a split second before a caretaker shoved my mom into her room. My father tried to step toward me, but another caretaker drove a fist into his gut.


    My friend walking with me spoke, his voice cold, ¡°keep walking, rat.¡±


    We reached the main chamber. The cold metal table stood in the centre of it, tools laid out beside it. And waiting for me, in all his glory, was Mr. Calor.


    ¡°Good morning, Damian,¡± he said smoothly, as if he didn¡¯t remember what he had done to me the day before. ¡°Are you ready?¡±


    I gave him a slight nod. What else could I do?


    They strapped me down, the leather biting into my wrists and ankles. Too tight. It was always too tight. My breathing quickened, and I bit my bottom lip to stop myself.


    Calor picked up a knife. He twirled it between his fingers, smiling. ¡°I think today we¡¯ll test pain thresholds and how your healing factor responds to it,¡± he said, looking down at my body. ¡°If you scream, we¡¯ll restart the process.¡±


    I swallowed hard.


    The first cut that grazed my skin was shallow, tracing a line along my forearm. Blood welled up. This was nothing. They¡¯d done worse to me before.


    The second cut, however, was deeper. A whine escaped my lips before I could stop it.


    Calor tsked, pulling the blade away and wiping it clean with a cloth. ¡°What did I say?¡± The knife pressed against my ribs and he dragged it upward slowly, his gold eyes watching intently.


    The heat inside of me boiled. My vision blurred.


    Calor pulled back with a satisfied smirk. ¡°Good boy. Much better than your mother.¡± He placed the knife down on the table, his hands dangling above the other tools like he was a spider stalking a fly. He grabbed his favorite toy, an iron rod. It glowed a bright red color as he poured his mana into it, heating it up.


    He pressed it into my shoulder and I inhaled sharply. Flesh sizzled, and my body struggled against the restraints as I attempted to pull away. I bit into my lip so hard I could taste my own blood.


    Calor leaned in closely, his voice gentle. ¡°You know we only do this because you carry his blood. But, we¡¯ll fix that.¡±


    As the pain settled into a dull, searing throb, I heard the door I had entered from open. Footsteps followed the figure that entered my line of sight. A woman I knew too well. Empress¡ª she made me call her.


    Calor glanced at her, a soft smirk forming on his face. ¡°I think you should continue his education tonight.¡±


    Empress laughed softly as she reached down toward me, her sharp nail dragging along my chin. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have it any other way.¡±


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    I squeezed my eyes shut, bile rising in my throat.


    ¡ª


    The door to my room slammed shut with a groan as I laid on the cold stone in a daze. Empress¡¯s footfalls could be heard echoing on the floor as she left. I curled in on myself, my fingers digging into my ribs. This was a nightly occurrence. Education meant to put me in my place. Education to prove to me that I was nothing more than a rat.


    They¡¯re right. It¡¯s my fault for being born. It¡¯s my fault for carrying the Demon Kings blood. My parents are scum who gave birth to me. They should know better.


    I sat up on the floor, looking down at my forearms. The wounds had already started to scar over, all thanks to the evil power that ran through my veins.


    I tightened my fists, and without thinking, drove them into my face. ¡°Just die already!¡± I cried out as my fists repeatedly collided with my jawline. I reeled in pain but didn¡¯t stop.


    ¡°You¡¯re worthless!¡± A tooth shot out from my mouth, clattering to the floor.


    ¡°Be grateful!¡± Blood spurted out from my nose, running down my chin.


    ¡°Rat!¡± Another punch sent me stumbling backwards, my jaw and face throbbed in pain.


    My hands grasped around my throat. Squeezing. Choking. Trying desperately to snuff out the light in my head.


    I dropped to my knees, my chest heaving as I stared down at my bloodied knuckles. Blood flowed from my broken nose and mouth onto the floor.


    Drip.


    Drip.


    Drip.


    I reached for the small puddle that began to form and drew a half-hearted smiling face onto the stone floor. I still wasn¡¯t dead. Why? Why can¡¯t I die? I don¡¯t deserve to live. None of us do.


    I let my body go limp, falling on my back.


    Since death couldn¡¯t take me, sleep did.


    I awoke to a scalpel tracing another line down my side. I was strapped to that cold table again. My body jerked involuntarily in response to the pain.


    Mr. Calor was gone, meeting with his precious Hero, but his scientists remained. Their hands moved over my body like I was a table of food, deciding which part they wanted first.


    ¡°He¡¯s healing at a much slower rate today,¡± one of them noted, setting down the blade. ¡°Perhaps it actually has a limit.¡±


    ¡°We must test further, don¡¯t make assumptions,¡± another responded, dragging another scalpel along my wrist.


    I barely felt it, my focus was instead on the woman standing in the corner. Empress. Her smile brought back all my memories from the previous night.


    Her using her entire weight to hold me down.


    Her hitting me if I cried.


    Her leaving me on the cold floor.


    She took a step closer, her fingers dancing along my chest. ¡°You did so well last night, sweetie,¡± she purred, her nails digging into my skin, drawing blood. ¡°If you behave well for these gentlemen, I¡¯m sure His Majesty will reward you.¡±


    My whole body went rigid, and my breathing quickened. She leaned in, whispering against my ear. ¡°And, of course, you¡¯ll get my attention as well.¡±


    My eyes went wide. My heart pounded. No more. Please. No more.


    The moment her fingers found their way to my face, something inside me gave way. My body seized, fire bursting out of me in a torrent of blackened flame.


    The restraints holding me in place melted away, curling like dying snakes.The scientists reeled back, their bodies catching fire in an instant. Empress shrieked as the flames licked up her arms, her beautiful face twisting in agony before she collapsed into a smoldering heap.


    I stumbled off the table, my legs weak but desperate.


    I took one last look at Empress; part of me wanted to try and help her. But I couldn¡¯t let that part of me win.


    I had to run.


    I didn¡¯t know where my parents were. Or my siblings. My cousins. The only thing that mattered was me.


    ¡ª


    I took in a deep breath, staring up at the trio. Luca¡¯s face was tight with worry, his eyebrows furrowed. The devil¡ª Sacer, was gripping his knees tight, biting down on his lip hard, and the auburn haired man next to me looked like he wanted to hug me, but wasn¡¯t sure how to ask.


    ¡°Then, I heard something,¡± I met Luca¡¯s gaze directly. ¡°Your name.¡±


    ¡°My name?¡±


    I gripped the cloak draped around me tightly, my nails digging into the fabric. ¡°I was surprised to find out there was one of us living out here. Living a normal life.¡±


    His breath caught and he looked down at the ground. ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t know.¡± The devil cut in, coming to his brother''s aid.


    I forced a smile, nodding. ¡°I know, you couldn''t have.¡±


    The auburn haired man¡ª Edric, I remembered now¡ª placed a hand on my shoulder, gripping softly. ¡°So¡­ what happens now?¡±


    The answer should have been simple. Should have been clear. But it wasn¡¯t.


    Luca spoke before I could, ¡°you don¡¯t have to decide anything right now,¡± he said, his voice quieter than before.


    This made me laugh¡ª a short, bitter laugh. ¡°Thank you. But there is¡­ something.¡±


    The devil straightened, glancing between Luca and myself. ¡°What do you have in mind?¡±


    ¡°I want to see Mr. Calor.¡±

 Chapter Sixteen: My Brother

    -Luca-


    ¡°Are you insane?¡± Edric asked, tentatively pulling his hand away from Damian¡¯s shoulder. ¡°After what King Golden Eyes did to you, you wanna see him?¡±


    The boy nodded. ¡°He¡¯s not all bad.¡± His voice was small, defensive. ¡°He always said he was just trying to help us. To get rid of the blood we carried.¡±


    I clenched my jaw. ¡°Damian, he tortured you.¡±


    ¡°No, no he¡­ he taught me. Yeah, sometimes it hurt, but that''s just part of learning right? If it wasn¡¯t for him and Empress I wouldn¡¯t have learned how to use my magic.¡± He smiled, but it didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes.


    ¡°Kid, he treated you like cattle. Not just you, your family too.¡± Edric said.


    I looked over at Sacer, his face tight in frustration. ¡°Why would His Majesty¡­¡± He muttered, more to himself than anyone else.


    Damian¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°You don¡¯t know anything about him.¡±


    The fire between us crackled. I glanced at Sacer, his white hair hid his eyes, expression unreadable, then back at Damian, whose eyes were focused on the flames.


    ¡°We¡¯re a month away from the capital,¡± Sacer said. ¡°Even if we wanted to take you there, it¡¯s not exactly a short trip.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind waiting.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°You¡¯re really that determined to see him again?¡±


    The boy nodded, frowning. ¡°I just¡­ I need to.¡±


    The look in his eyes were telling me a different story. I recognized it, from the looks I received in the capital.


    Sacer sighed. ¡°We should get some rest. We¡¯ll figure out what to do in the morning.¡±


    As we settled in for the night, I kept my eye on Damian. Even when his breathing evened out and sleep took him, his body remained tense, like he was bracing for a hand to strike.


    The forest was still damp with morning dew when Edric and I left to refill our water supply. Edric was quiet at first, which wasn¡¯t like him.


    ¡°So,¡± he started, kicking a rock down the path. ¡°About that look-a-like of yours,¡±


    I raised an eyebrow. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You know, the one you¡¯re sure is burning down villages and controlling that dragon?¡±


    ¡°What about him?¡± I frowned.


    Edric shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck. ¡°Just that, well¡­ you think there¡¯s any chance it could be Damian?¡±


    I stopped walking. ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous.¡±


    Edric held up his hands defensively. ¡°Hey, hey, come on, I¡¯m just saying. Kid¡¯s got a whole lot of baggage. He¡¯s got magic like yours. What if-¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s thirteen, Edric.¡± I cut him off, my voice firm. ¡°Damian¡¯s just a kid.¡±


    Edric watched me for a moment, then sighed. ¡°Alright, alright. Just¡­ he¡¯s only a couple years younger than you.¡±


    I shook my head and kept walking. What was he thinking? That¡¯s crazy.


    As we reached the stream, Edric took my waterskin and knelt down, dunking it into the clear water.


    ¡°I am curious about another thing though,¡± He said.


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    ¡°You and Sacer are brothers. Twins, obviously,¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s usually how twins work.¡± I responded flatly, tilting my head.


    ¡°And you¡¯re the Demon King¡¯s reincarnation, whereas Sacer is the Hero¡¯s.¡± He capped the waterskin and placed it aside on the ground, dunking another under the water.


    ¡°Damon and Gabriel, yes.¡±


    ¡°And-¡±


    ¡°Edric, ask your damn question.¡± I cut him off, exasperated.


    He let out a laugh and sat back on the dirt, staring at the water as it flowed. ¡°Sorry, sorry,¡± He picked up a small stone, rubbing it with his thumb. ¡°Sacer doesn¡¯t like talking about this stuff, so I¡¯m hoping you¡¯ll be open about it.¡±


    Slightly concerned about what could possibly be running through his head, I took a seat next to him on the ground. ¡°Ask away.¡±


    ¡°How does your dad fit into everything? Is he related to Gabriel and Damon? He had to know what you two¡¯s hair and eye colors meant, so why didn¡¯t he¡­ I don¡¯t know, bring you two to the capital sooner?¡± He turned to look at me, his face deathly serious.


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    Without thinking, I let out a snort. ¡°That¡¯s what you want to know?¡± I shook my head with a soft chuckle. ¡°Sacer and I are adopted; someone left us on his doorstep when we were babies.¡±


    ¡°Adopted¡­¡± Edric muttered, brows furrowing slightly


    ¡°And, as for the other thing, I actually don¡¯t know,¡± I leaned forward slightly, catching my reflection in the water. ¡°Frankly, until that birthday, I didn¡¯t know there was something off about us.¡±


    ¡°Do you,¡± he started, standing up and putting the waterskins in his pockets. ¡°Do you hate Sacer and your father for how they reacted? For how they treated you?¡± Edric held a hand out down to me.


    ¡°Hate them?¡± I repeated, taking his hand as he helped me to my feet. ¡°No, of course not. But, I¡¯d be lying if I said I at least didn¡¯t want a ¡®sorry¡¯ from Sacer.¡±


    As we made our way back to camp, Sacer was perched on a rock, methodically sharpening his broadsword. The sun was glistening off his hair, giving him that ethereal glow he always seemed to have. Damian sat stiffly, his eyes locked onto Sacer¡¯s every movement, his fingers twitching at his sides.


    Edric forced a cough, a little louder than necessary, breaking the strange silence. ¡°Y¡¯all ready? It¡¯s a long trip so we should try to reach the nearest village before nightfall.¡±


    ¡ª


    It was midday by the time we reached the nearest village, well, city is probably a better term. Towering stone walls loomed ahead, worn with age but still standing strong. A massive wooden gate marked the entrance, flanked by guards who barely gave us a second glance.


    Above the gate, an iron sign read: Fatalis.


    I pulled my hood up, then reached over to do the same for Damian. He flinched at the touch, tensing under my hand, but didn¡¯t say anything.


    Sacer gave the soldiers a nod as we passed through, and the second we stepped inside, my senses became overwhelmed.


    The air was thick with the scent of roasting meat and fresh bread, mixing with the iron tang of a nearby forge. Merchants shouted over one another, their colorful stalls packed with everything from spices to jewelry. A musician played something fast and lively from his instrument, and laughter spilled out for a tavern down the road.


    It was a lot.


    I pulled my hood down more. ¡°We should find an inn.¡±


    ¡°Or-¡± Sacer suddenly stopped in his tracks, his head snapping toward a side street.


    I followed his gaze. At the end of a wide stone path stood a massive building with stained-glass windows. Its heavy oak doors were lined with gilded lettering that gleamed in the midday sun.


    Edric squinted. ¡°What, that big fancy building?¡±


    Sacer¡¯s eyes practically glowed. "Are you stupid? That¡¯s The Grand Archive of Fatalis!¡±


    I frowned. "And that means¡­?"


    ¡°It¡¯s only the most important library in all of Valtara,¡± he said, already walking toward it. ¡°The texts they have are potentially older than the kingdom itself! Some of the first records of magic, of the wars, of Gabriel and Damon¡ªeverything.¡±


    I looked at Edric. He just shrugged and said, ¡°Guess we¡¯re going to a library.¡±


    Damian lingered behind. I had a feeling this wasn¡¯t his kind of place either, but he followed anyway.


    I sighed and stepped after them. If Sacer was this excited, we were going to be here a while.


    I probably couldn¡¯t appreciate it as much as my brother, but the place was impressive. It was massive. Towering shelves that stretched endlessly into the dimly lit space, crammed with books and scrolls so old they looked like they might crumble if you so much as breathed too hard near them.


    Sacer moved ahead of us, his golden eyes flicking over the rows of books. Meanwhile, the three of us stood near the entrance, unsure what we were supposed to do.


    ¡°Huh¡­¡± Edric muttered, arms crossed as he watched Sacer disappear into the labyrinth of books.


    ¡°What?¡± I asked, turning my head slightly. ¡°Never seen this side of Sacer?¡±


    He laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. ¡°He¡¯s usually wound so tight. It¡¯s nice to see him actually relax somewhat.¡±


    ¡°He reads,¡± I pointed out. ¡°A lot.¡± I glanced back at my brother. He was focused, running his fingers along the spines of books, flipping through the occasional page before moving on. It was almost like the weight of who he was wasn¡¯t bearing on him for once.


    Edric nudged me. ¡°So, should we be worried?¡±


    ¡°About?¡± I raised a brow.


    ¡°Sacer. He¡¯s acting suspiciously happy. What if this is a sign of the end times?¡±


    I snorted. ¡°I think we already passed that threshold on our birthday.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but that was normal end-times stuff. This? This is weird.¡±


    I shoved him lightly, shaking my head as he laughed.


    Damian was keeping his distance. He hung back a few steps, his arms folded, gaze flicking over the books.


    ¡°You alright?¡± I asked him.


    He blinked, like he¡¯d been pulled from some deep thought. ¡°Yeah. Just¡­ thinking.¡±


    Edric shot me a look, but I just shrugged.


    We kept following Sacer as he wove through the endless rows of books. He wasn¡¯t just browsing anymore. There was a purpose to his madness, like something was pulling him forward.


    ¡°What exactly are you looking for?¡± I finally asked.


    ¡°Just browsing.¡± Sacer said without stopping.


    I rolled my eyes. ¡°Great. That¡¯s helpful.¡±


    He ignored me, taking another turn, moving deeper into the archives. The further we delved, the older the books looked. Some had bindings so cracked they barely held together, others were stacked haphazardly and were caked in dust.


    Sacer stopped. In front of him stood a bookcase unlike the others. It was taller, made of dark polished wood, its glass doors locked shut with a strange symbol glowing faintly in the dim light. I had no idea what the symbol meant, but the second Sacer reached out to touch it, it reacted. It pulsed, the same warm glow as his magic.


    A soft click echoed as the lock unlatched.


    ¡°Well,¡± Edric said, stepping back slightly. ¡°That totally isn¡¯t ominous.¡±


    Sacer pulled the doors open, and inside, resting alone on a shelf, was a single book. Like it had been waiting. He reached out, lifting it carefully. His fingers brushed over the embossed emblem on the front¡ªa sword. The sword. The Mirage Sword.


    ¡°What is it?¡± I asked, stepping closer.


    Slowly, he opened the cover. The ink on the first page had faded slightly to time, but the words were still clear.


    ¡°For my children.¡±

 Chapter Seventeen: Parents Lament

    Sacer stood frozen, the journal gripping in his hands as if it might slip through his fingers if he let up even the tiniest bit. His eyes flicked across the page, reading, rereading, and reading some more. He was hesitating, like he couldn¡¯t believe what he was reading.


    The room was quiet, the kind of quiet that made you start hearing things- your own breath, the distant flicker of torchlight, the slight scuff of a boot shifting on stone. I was about to speak up, ask the question weighing down on my mind, when Edric broke the silence first.


    ¡°Well,¡± he said, shifting his weight, ¡°if we¡¯re just gonna stand here in dramatic silence all night, I¡¯d like to sit down first.¡±


    Sacer ignored him.


    Edric sighed. ¡°Come on, hero. You¡¯re the one who opened the bookcase like some kind of chosen one. Might as well read to the class.¡±


    Sacer let out a deep breath, slow and measured. Then, finally, he started reading.


    ¡°To my precious boys, Luca and Sacer,


    If you¡¯re reading this, then I have failed. I couldn¡¯t protect myself, and above-all-else, I couldn¡¯t protect your mother. I don¡¯t know how much time has passed, nor do I have any idea if you know about me, the past, or even who you two really are. But, what I need you two to always remember, is this: Even though you don¡¯t know me, I love you. Both of you.¡±


    My breath caught in my throat and I gripped my fists, my nails digging into my palms. What are the odds of this? What are the odds that this mysterious man who claims to be our birth father would leave something that only Sacer could open in this random city? But also, why do I believe it¡¯s all true?


    ¡°My name is Rayn. I am, well used to be, a knight of the Royal Guard. I am a descendant of Gabriel, a lineage responsible for carrying the weight of his legacy. We were told constantly we were the chosen ones, the shields against the dark. I believed it. I was proud of it.¡±


    Sacer paused. Barely a second, but I caught it. Then he squared his shoulders and read on.


    ¡°But then I met Lucille. Your mother.


    She wasn¡¯t supposed to be born.¡±


    Something inside me went still and my eyes flicked over to Damian. His face was calm, eyes staring down at the floor. Did¡­ did our mother go through the same sort of inhumane garbage he did? Are we related to Damian?


    ¡°Lucille was born in, what we called, a Garden. A prison where those cursed with Damon¡¯s blood were forced to live out their days. From the moment she took her first breath, she was condemned. But despite what they all said, she was not a monster. Your mother was kind. She had the most gentle soul in the world. But, she suffered more than I could ever imagine.


    I was young. I should have turned away. I should have done the duty that was left on me by our ancestor. Instead, I listened and I learned. I came to realize that the stories we were told didn''t carry the whole truth.


    Damon wasn¡¯t born a monster, and in that same vein, Gabriel wasn¡¯t a picture-perfect Hero.¡±


    Sacer stopped.


    No one spoke for a couple seconds.


    Edric frowned. ¡°Uh- yeah, no. What does that mean? Keep going.¡±


    Sacer let out a breath through his nose. Then, without another word, he shut the book. ¡°That¡¯s where it ends.¡±


    I stared at him. ¡°You¡¯re actually kidding.¡±


    He shook his head.


    Edric threw up his hands. ¡°Are you serious? That was just about to-¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Sacer said, voice flat. ¡°That¡¯s all there is.¡±


    Liar.


    I knew he was lying. I could see it! The way his shoulders were just a little too stiff, the way his fingers were still gripping the journal as if he wasn¡¯t ready to let go.


    Damian, who had been quiet the whole time, finally spoke. ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡±


    Sacer¡¯s gaze snapped to him, sharp as a blade, his body tense.


    ¡°Sacer,¡± I said carefully, ¡°what else did it say?¡±


    His jaw clenched. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡±


    ¡°The hell it doesn¡¯t.¡± I grabbed onto his wrist, forcing him to meet my eyes.


    He just held my stare for a moment, then yanked his arm away. He turned on his heel and walked out.


    Edric let out an incredulous laugh, rubbing a hand down his face. ¡°Are you kidding me? That¡¯s it? He just leaves.¡±


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    Edric turned to me. ¡°You know he¡¯s hiding something.¡±


    ¡°Obviously,¡± I sighed.


    ¡ª


    I found my brother sitting alone on a bench near the edge of the marketplace. His posture was relaxed. One foot planted on the ground, the other pulled up on the bench, an arm draped over his knee. The journal sat beside him.


    For a second, I just stood off to the side and watched him.


    All my life, Sacer was usually the happier of the two of us. But, ever since three months ago in the capital, he¡¯d been different. For obvious reasons, but still, it was hard to see him like this: tense, on edge, carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. He just looked¡­ tired.


    I walked over and sat down next to him, letting the silence fill the void between us.


    Sacer sighed, running a hand through his hair. ¡°You¡¯re not gonna let this go, are you?¡±


    ¡°You know me better than that, doofus.¡±


    He let out a small huff of laughter. ¡°Unfortunately.¡±


    I leaned back, stretching out my legs, my brown boots leaving a trail in the gravel. ¡°So. You gonna tell me what was actually in the journal, or are we gonna have to fight over it?¡±


    He shot me a glare. ¡°You¡¯d try.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d win.¡±


    Sacer shook his head, but his lips gave a little twitch as if he wanted to smile. Instead, he picked up the journal, running his fingers across the embossed emblem on the front. ¡°It¡¯s Gabriel.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°Go on.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s the reason Damon¡¯s descendants are treated the way they are.¡±


    I blinked. Of all the things Sacer could have said, that wasn¡¯t one I expected.


    Sacer bit into his lip, staring down at the journal like it might catch fire. ¡°Gabriel made the decision. He was the one who said they should be locked away, forgotten to time.¡± His voice was tight, like the words were painful to say. ¡°He did this.¡±


    I genuinely didn¡¯t know what to say to that.


    Sacer had been trying to live up to his role as Gabriel. Had been trying to be the hero the world deserved. But now, he was sitting here, his world falling in on itself.


    It must have felt like the ground was caving underneath him.


    But, he wasn¡¯t done.


    ¡°Damon retaliated for this. He cursed them both.¡±


    I turned to him. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°The moment their bloodlines mixed, their souls would be reborn into this world as twins.¡±


    I went still, my blood ran cold.


    ¡°That¡¯s why we were born, Luca. Not fate. Not some grand plan. A stupid curse.¡±


    Huh. A curse.


    I should have laughed it off. Called it ridiculous. Told him that was the dumbest thing he¡¯d ever said.


    But¡­ I couldn¡¯t.


    Because it made way too much sense.


    ¡°So what,¡± I muttered, ¡°we were doomed from the start?¡±


    Sacer hesitated. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    That one statement scared me more than anything.


    Sacer. My smart, ever-intelligent, brother Sacer was just as lost as I was.


    I let out a breath and leaned back against the bench, staring up at the clouds. ¡°...Huh.¡±


    Sacer turned his head toward me. ¡°That¡¯s all you¡¯ve got to say?¡±


    ¡°What do you want me to say? We just found a letter from our birth dad, of all people. You just told me we were literally cursed before we were even born. You think I have some kind of wise, world-changing response to that?¡±


    He scoffed. ¡°You always have something to say.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, well, this one got me.¡±


    For a while, we just sat there. The noise of the market filling the space between us. It was nice, in a weird way. Just sitting next to my twin, letting the weight of everything we just learned settle in without forcing a solution. But, there wasn¡¯t a solution. Just¡­ truth.


    Then, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Edric.


    I nudged Sacer. ¡°Look at this idiot.¡±


    Sacer followed my gaze, and sure enough, Edric was standing near a merchant stall, all charm and easy confidence, talking up a pair of women who were clearly entertained by whatever ridiculous story he was spinning.


    The past part though? Damian was next to him, looking like he wanted to die.


    We watched as Edric slung an over over Damian¡¯s shoulder, flashing the women a grin. ¡°Oh yeah- and this guy? This is my little brother Damian. See the hood? Real mysterious type. But I promise, he¡¯s got a heart of gold.¡±


    Damian immediately shoved Edric¡¯s arm off with a huff. ¡°I will kill you.¡±


    The women giggled.


    Edric just laughed, completely unfazed. ¡°Oh you kidder, you.¡±


    Damian glared. I think Edric completely forgot about what happened the day before. But, he couldn¡¯t be that stupid.


    Could he?


    Edric sighed dramatically. ¡°Hopeless.¡±


    I shook my head, exhaling sharply through my nose. ¡°He¡¯s an idiot.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Sacer sighed, a smirk tugging at his lips. ¡°But he¡¯s my idiot.¡±


    I watched as Edric kept trying to get any kind of reaction out of Damian. Nudging him, tossing a few winks at the women, clearly having the time of his life. Damian, on the other hand, was probably plotting his second murder of the week.


    Sacer¡¯s shoulders had loosened just a little, the weight on his face easing.


    I shot him a glance. ¡°You good?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he said. ¡°Just¡­ Rayn and Lucille, huh?¡±


    I nodded, looking back up at the sky. ¡°We¡¯re definitely gonna blow Dad¡¯s mind when we see him again,¡±


    ¡°Wherever he is,¡± Sacer added.


    ¡°So, do you think our good looks come from Mom or Dad?¡± I asked curiously.


    Sacer pondered the question for a moment. ¡°You definitely look like a girl with that ponytail.¡±


    ¡°That- okay, one: we have the same face, idiot. Two: does that mean if I cut the ponytail off I look more masculine?¡±


    Sacer snickered, a genuine smile on his lips. ¡°If you¡¯re not careful and keep growing it out, Edric might hit on you.¡±


    I groaned dramatically, running a hand through my hair. ¡°Great. Just what I need- Edric looking at me like I¡¯m one of his flings.¡±


    Sacer smirked. ¡°He does have a thing for long-haired beauties.¡±


    I shot him a glare. ¡°I hate you,¡±


    He just laughed.


    Neither of us needed to say it, but we both knew this wouldn¡¯t be the end of uncovered secrets. Not by a long shot. But, for now, it was enough to just sit here and joke about horrible hairstyles and Edric¡¯s flirting.

 Chapter Eighteen: Its Him

    The room was small, a little cramped, but warm. After the kind of day we¡¯d had, that was perfectly fine. We had four beds¡ªone for each of us¡ªbut I already knew Edric was going to snore loud enough to make it feel like we were all sharing one.


    The innkeeper had sent up food¡ªnot the worst meal I¡¯d ever had, but definitely better than father¡¯s food. Some kind of stew, bread, and a chuck of meat that I was better off not questioning. I¡¯d eaten worse on the road these past few months.


    I leaned back against the wall, picking at my bread while the others settled in. Sacer was on his bed, legs crossed, flipping through the journal again. Edric, as anyone would have guessed, was tearing through his food like he hadn¡¯t eaten in days. Damian sat on the farthest bed, quiet as ever, eating slow, deliberate bites.


    The silence stretched on until Edric finally broke it. ¡°So, Luca,¡± he said, smirking at me between bites. ¡°When you cutting your hair? Or are you just committing to the long-haired look?¡±


    I groaned. ¡°I can¡¯t- not you too.¡±


    Sacer hummed without looking up, turning a page in the journal. ¡°I told you, Edric has a type.¡±


    ¡°Anything that moves?¡±


    Edric grinned, tossing a bread crumb at me. ¡°I¡¯m just saying, I think it suits you. You could keep it long, maybe braid it¡ª¡±


    ¡°I will set you on fire.¡±


    Sacer rolled his eyes. ¡°Can we go one night without Edric flirting with someone¡ª¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Edric said immediately.


    I sighed, shaking my head. ¡°This is why no one takes you seriously.¡±


    ¡°Hey, I take me seriously.¡±


    Sacer actually laughed at that¡ªreally laughed, not the dry, flat sound he usually made. Even Damian looked mildly amused, though¡­ he didn¡¯t say anything.


    The banter carried us through dinner. Eventually, Edric flopped onto his back with a dramatic groan. ¡°Alright. I¡¯m done. Wake me up when the world stops being terrible.¡±


    I nudged his mattress with my foot. ¡°So never?¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    Sacer closed his journal and set it aside. ¡°We should actually get some sleep. We¡¯ll figure out where to go next in the morning.¡±


    No arguments there. One by one, we settled in, the room dimming into quiet. The distant noise from the tavern below faded into nothingness as I drifted off.


    I woke up suddenly.


    Not to  noise, not to movement, but to something else. A feeling.


    I blinked in the darkness, my brain still foggy with sleep, and turned my head¡ª


    Damian was standing beside Sacer¡¯s bed.


    Just standing there.


    Watching him.


    The room was still, the only light coming from the moon outside through the window, castling long shadows across the floor. Damian¡¯s face was unreadable.


    I sat up slowly, trying carefully not to startle him. ¡°Damian?¡±


    He didn¡¯t flinch, didn¡¯t startle like someone who was just caught doing something they shouldn¡¯t have. Instead he just turned his head to me, our red eyes meeting.


    ¡°...What are you doing?¡± I asked, keeping my tone light. Like I wasn¡¯t completely weirded out.


    He was quiet for what felt like forever, then he said, ¡°Making sure he¡¯s okay.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s¡­ he¡¯s fine. We all are. Get some sleep.¡±


    Damian didn¡¯t move. The way he was looking at me¡ªit wasn¡¯t threatening, but, it wasn¡¯t normal either.


    After another long pause, he gave a small nod and climbed back into his bed, pulled the blanket up, and shut his eyes like nothing had happened.


    I stayed awake for a while, staring up at the ceiling. Eventually I forced myself to sleep again.


    ¡ª


    When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was the silence. No bickering, no Edric cracking a joke, no Sacer sighing in exasperation. I sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. Their beds were empty, blankets crumpled on the floor. I hadn¡¯t heard them leave. Maybe I was more tired than I thought.


    For a couple minutes, I just sat there, letting myself appreciate the quiet. It was sorta nice, I guess, but also a bit off. But I wasn¡¯t going to just sit here all morning.


    I swung my legs over the side of my bed and stood, stretching out the stiffness from days of travel. Then, I got dressed¡ªthe same as always: matte black armor, its surface dull and worn from battles against bandits. A brown tunic underneath, comfortable but practical. Black pants tucked into my well-worn brown boots. And finally, brown gloves. I flexed my fingers against the worn leather.


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    Last, I pulled my cloak over my shoulders and tugged the hood up. With one last glance at the empty room, I stepped outside into the morning light.


    The town was bursting at the seams with life. Merchants set up their stalls and people bustled past, already caught up in their routines.


    I moved through the crown, scanning for any sign of my companions. It wasn¡¯t surprising that they left early¡ªSacer was, quite frankly, a nerd and liked exploring new places. And Edric¡­ Well, he was probably off doing whatever it is that Edric¡¯s do.


    ¡°Mornin¡¯, trav¡¯ler,¡± an older man grunted, hauling a heavy wooden crate onto a cart.


    ¡°Good morning.¡±


    He moved to grab another box, but his back stiffened, and he winced. Without thinking, I stepped forward, grabbing onto it. ¡°Let me help.¡±


    He blinked at me, startled, but stepped aside as I lifted the next crate, setting it down onto his cart. It wasn¡¯t heavy in the slightest, but I could see why he was struggling¡ªhis hands with rough with age and calluses.


    ¡°¡®Preciate it,¡± he said, rolling his shoulders with a wince. ¡°Damn back ain¡¯t wha it used to be.¡±


    I placed another crate down for him. ¡°You selling something?¡±


    ¡°Apples,¡± he said, lifting a lid on one of the crates. ¡°Best ¡®round.¡±


    I picked one up, rolling it between my palms. ¡°You ever met a farmer who didn¡¯t think their apples are the best?¡±


    He let out a wheezy chuckle. ¡°Awrigh¡¯, fair point.¡±


    I dig a few coins from my pocket and hand them over. ¡°I¡¯ll take one.¡±


    He gave me a toothy grin and closed my fingers on the coins. ¡°Consider it thanks for tha ¡®elp.¡±


    I didn¡¯t argue, just nodded and took a bite as I walked. Wow¡ªhe might actually be right. It was probably the most crisp apple I¡¯d ever tasted.


    Further down the road, a group of kids ran past, nearly colliding with my legs. One of them stopped short, staring up at me.


    ¡°Whoa.¡± The boy squinted. ¡°You¡¯re scary looking.¡±


    I raised an eyebrow. ¡°Or maybe you¡¯re just judging,¡±


    The other kids giggled, and the boy frowned. ¡°Nuh-uh! Who wears all black?!¡±


    I crouched, a slight smirk forming. ¡°People who know it looks cool.¡±


    Before they could say more, a woman called out, ¡°Get over here before you cause trouble!¡±


    The kids groaned but scampered off, waving behind them. ¡°Bye, weird guy!¡±


    I sighed. ¡°Weird guy?¡±


    A merchant woman nearby smiled as she arranged flowers in baskets. ¡°Not many travelers take the time to talk to the little ones.¡±


    I shrugged. ¡°Don¡¯t see the harm.¡±


    ¡°Good heart,¡± she mused. I wasn¡¯t sure about that, but I just nodded before continuing on.


    I found them near a small bookstore wedged between a tailor¡¯s stall and a street vendor selling roasted chestnuts. It shouldn¡¯t be hard to guess where Sacer would be¡ªhe stood in front of a wooden display, holding two books, his brows furrowed in concentration.


    Edric, predictably, was making it worse. ¡°Just pick one already,¡± he groaned, leaning lazily against the bookshelf. ¡°Or, just hear me out, you get both and spare us the agony.¡±


    Sacer didn¡¯t spare him any mind.


    ¡°What are they about?¡± I asked, coming up beside them.


    Sacer sighed like I¡¯d just made his decision harder. ¡°One¡¯s a historical account of early magic usage,¡± he muttered, flipping through the thicker book. ¡°The other is a collection of war tactics from Camelot¡¯s late imperial era¡ªwhich is a rare find in Valtara.¡±


    Edric made a face. ¡°Oh, so they¡¯re both boring.¡±


    Sacer shot him a glare. ¡°Not all of us choose books based on how ridiculous the title is.¡±


    ¡°How dare you. Ezer¡¯s Lustful Adventures is a work of art.


    I snorted. ¡°You¡¯ve got problems.¡±


    Before Edric had a chance to defend his taste in literature, something pricked at the back of my neck. As if Damon was saying pay attention. I scanned the street until my eyes landed on Damian.


    He stood off to the side near a vendor selling old trinkets and antiques. At first, he looked normal¡ªquiet, and hands stuffed in his pockets. But then I saw the way his shoulders had gone rigid.


    Then I saw why.


    The same kids from before surrounded him, pointing at his face with open curiosity.


    ¡°Your eyes are weird,¡± one of them said bluntly.


    Another boy squinted at him. ¡°Are you sick or something?¡±


    A girl tilted her head. ¡°They kinda look like fire. Are you a magician?¡±


    Damian didn¡¯t answer. He barely moved, but his silence was loud.


    Merchants and villagers had started to turn their heads, their conversations trailing off. The air shifted, thickening with something cold. I recognized that look¡ªthe unease, the hesitation, the fear.


    It was the capital all over again.


    ¡°Hey,¡± one of the older kids said, stepping forward. ¡°Are you stupid or something? We¡¯re talking to you.¡±


    Damian¡¯s jaw clenched but he didn¡¯t say anything.


    The kid smirked like he¡¯d won something. ¡°What, are you too good to talk to us?¡±


    Another snickered. ¡°Maybe he doesn¡¯t know how to talk.¡±


    The girl giggled. ¡°Maybe he¡¯s a freak.¡±


    I took a step forward, but before I could reach him, the older kid shoved Daian. He stumbled back, barely catching himself.


    The kids laughed, encouraged by his silence.


    ¡°Freak,¡± one of them repeated, shoving him again.


    Damian¡¯s breath came fast, shallow and uneven. His fists trembled.


    The third shove knocked him to the ground.


    I moved to intervene-


    -but then the ground trembled.


    Damian¡¯s small frame shook. His fingers twitched violently. His breathing turned ragged. Then, a low guttural growl rumbled from his chest.


    The laughter stopped.


    The kids stepped back, eyes wide.


    Damian''s body twisted. His limbs jerked unnaturally, like something was fighting to break free from his skin. Black veins spiderwebbed across his arms. His fingers curled, claws erupting from his hands, pieces of skin fluttering to the ground.


    I barely heard the gasps and murmurs from the gathered villagers because all I could focus on was him. His small frame distorted, dark scales creeping up his arms, his neck, his face. His eyes burned brighter, shifting and slitting into something inhuman.


    Self-realization hit like a club to the head.


    The dragon¡ªthat intelligent dragon from the village.


    It¡¯s Damian.


    I opened my mouth, but the words never made it out. Everything went black.

 Chapter Nineteen: Walking Cataclysm

    Pain. So much pain.


    My body ached like I''d been trampled by some wild horses. Something heavy pinned me down, and the air was thick with dust and the distant crackling of flames.


    I blinked, my vision swimming as I tried to make sense of the wreckage around me. My ears were still ringing, but in the haze, I caught flashes of movement¡ªblades clashing, golden light flickering, the smell of burnt ozone in the air.


    What¡­ happened?


    Then I saw them. Sacer and Edric were fighting for their lives.


    Sacer moved with sharp, deliberate strikes, his broadsword glowing with his magic. His eyes burned with determination as he clashed against something¡ªDamian?


    At least, it looked like Damian.


    His body had become something else entirely. Black scales covered his arms and neck, his fingers curled into claws, and his once-too-large cloak now stretched against his distorted frame. His red eyes glowed brighter than before.


    He caught Edric¡¯s sword mid-swing, claws scraping against the steel. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he sent Edric flying¡ªlightning sparking uselessly as he crashed through a broken wall.


    Sacer tried to push forward, but the boy was faster. He ducked under a strike, grabbed Sacer by the front of his shirt, and threw him. My brother barely had time to react before he slammed into the ground.


    Move, Luca. Move!


    I tried to push myself up, trying desperately to move to their aid. My limbs felt sluggish, my head heavy. Everything blurred at the edges, black spots creeped into my vision¡ª


    I woke to the same weight, but it wasn¡¯t crushing me anymore. My whole body ached as I forced my arms to move, shoving at the debris trapping me. Fingers scrapped against rough stone, and with one final push, I managed to roll onto my back, gasping for air.


    The sky above was dark with smoke, fires still burning in the distance. I sat up slowly, my movements stiff. And then, I saw it.


    Buildings reduced to rubble. The marketplace, once lively, now nothing more than charred remains. People huddled in the wreckage, whispering, crying, too afraid to move.


    My chest tightened. My throat felt like it was closing.


    Not again.


    I pushed myself to my feet, swaying slightly. I scanned the wreckage until I found them¡ªSacer and Edric, unconscious but still breathing. Relief washed over me.


    I dropped to my knees beside Sacer first, shaking his shoulder. ¡°Come on, wake up.¡±


    He groaned, eyelids fluttering before he turned towards me. He looked like he wasn¡¯t completely sure where he was.


    I moved to Edric next, slapping his cheek lightly. ¡°Wake up.¡±


    ¡°Mmm... five more minutes¡­¡± he mumbled, shifting.


    ¡°Now.¡±


    That got him moving. I helped him sit up. He winced, rubbing his side. ¡°Okay, that sucked.¡±


    Sacer groaned as he pushed himself up. His gold eyes flickered over the destruction, and for a moment, neither of us spoke. We didn¡¯t have to.


    He clenched his jaw, hands curling into fists.


    ¡°We need to evacuate the city,¡± I said, standing. ¡°Get the people out of here. I¡¯ll talk to Damian.¡±


    Sacer snapped his head toward me. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious.¡±


    ¡°I am.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s too dangerous.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the only one who has any idea what he¡¯s going through.¡± I took another glance at the frightened villagers, the wounded, the people still trapped under rubble. ¡°We don¡¯t have time to argue, Sacer. You and Edric are much faster than me¡ªI need you guys to get these people out.¡±


    Edric let out a long breath, pushing himself to his feet. ¡°I hate this plan.¡±


    ¡°Same,¡± I muttered.


    Sacer looked like he wanted to argue more, but he swallowed it down and gave a sharp nod.


    I turned away before either of them could say anything else, my gaze locking onto the figure in the distance.


    Damian stood in the middle of the ruined marketplace, his posture relaxed, like he had all the time in the world. His body had shrunk down to something more human, but the black scales still clung to him. His claws flexed at his sides, and his eyes glowed in the smoky haze.


    I exhaled and stepped forward. ¡°Damian.¡±


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    He tilted his head. ¡°You¡¯re still standing.¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t you.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Luca,¡± he sighed, shaking his head. ¡°You¡¯re thinking about this the wrong way. This isn¡¯t some sort of possession. This isn¡¯t some dark force controlling me.¡± He spread his arms, almost like he was proud of what he¡¯d become. ¡°This is entirely just me.¡±


    I stared at him, my heart hammering in my chest. ¡°You¡ª¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t planning on revealing my true intentions this early,¡± he admitted. ¡°But, eh¡­ What can you do?¡±


    ¡°Damian, you don¡¯t have to do this.¡±


    His grin twitched. ¡°That so?¡±


    I nodded, taking a step forward. ¡°What happened with Calor¡ªwhat he did to you¡ªit wasn¡¯t fair. None of it was. But this?¡± I gestured to the destruction around us, to the people still trying to claw their way out of the rubble. ¡°This isn¡¯t justice. This is proving them right.¡±


    His jaw tensed.


    I pushed harder. ¡°All your life, you were told you weren¡¯t meant to exist. That you were wrong because you carried his blood. They never saw you. And now, after everything, you¡¯re just¡­ letting them be right?¡±


    For a long moment, he just stared at me. His expression was unreadable, but I swear I saw something shift¡ªhesitation, doubt, something.


    Then, he exhaled sharply and shook his head. ¡°You really are predictable.¡±


    ¡°What does that mean?¡±


    ¡°It means you always do this.¡± He let out a chuckle, tilting his head. ¡°The pleading, the whining, the running from the inevitable.  You did it with yourself, didn¡¯t you? All that time spent trying to prove to the world that you¡¯re not Damon.¡±


    I clenched my fists.


    ¡°And where did that get you?¡± he continued. ¡°You¡¯re still the same coward you¡¯ve always been. The world still sees you as a monster. No matter what you do, they¡¯ll never forget what¡¯s inside you. They¡¯ll always be afraid of the demon who burned Draemoore to the ground.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t lie, his words struck deep. ¡°I don¡¯t care what the world thinks of me anymore,¡± I said. ¡°I just don¡¯t want you to become what they say you are.¡±


    Instead of responding, he took a step forward, his body flickering at the edges like a shadow caught in the wind.


    ¡°Damian,¡± I tried again. ¡°Please, it doesn¡¯t have to be this way. Don¡¯t be what they say you are.¡±


    ¡®¡°What they said I am?¡± he repeated, shaking his head. ¡°Luca, I¡¯m exactly that.¡±


    I opened my mouth, but I didn¡¯t get the chance to respond.


    Because in the next second, Damian moved.


    I barely had time to react. His claws sliced through the air, and I threw myself back just in the knick of time, his strike missing my throat by inches. The wind from the force of it whipped past me, cold and sharp. I had to stay light on my feet. Any hesitation and he¡¯d tear me apart.


    He lunged again and I barely managed to twist out of the way, but even then, his claws grazed my side, tearing through the fabric of my tunic. Pain flared hot, but I couldn¡¯t stop.


    I retaliated with a burst of black fire, aiming straight for his chest. He dodged so fast it was like he saw it coming before I even released it. Before I could blink, he was in my face.


    I threw up my arms in a desperate block, but it didn¡¯t matter. His strength sent me flying, my back slamming into the remains of a cart. The air rushed from my lungs in a pained gasp.


    No time to think.


    I rolled, just in time for his claws to bury themselves in the wood where my head had just been. With all the force I could muster, I kicked upward, aiming for his jaw. He jerked back just in time, my foot barely grazing him, but it gave me the second I needed to scramble back to my feet.


    Damian wasn¡¯t just strong¡ªhe was fast. Way too fast. He came at me again, wilder this time. I ducked under his swipe and reared my arm back, bringing my fist¡ªcoated in fire¡ªstraight into his ribs. The impact sent a shockwave through my arm, but I felt his body shift from the impact.


    Then his foot lashed out, way faster than I could react.


    The kick caught me in the ribs, and I swore I heard something crack. Pain exploded through my side as I crashed into the dirt.


    I barely had time to think before his hand wrapped around my throat and lifted me into the air like I weighed nothing.


    I choked, clawing at his grip, my legs kicking uselessly beneath me. My vision blurred at the edges as I struggled, my lungs desperately screaming for air. His claws dug in deeper.


    I had seconds.


    I did the only thing I could¡ªI pumped mana into my hands, my fingers burning red hot around his scales.


    Damian¡¯s grip loosened slightly, and that was all I needed.


    I let my fire explode outward in a violent burst. He let go immediately, leaping back. I hit the ground on my hands and knees, coughing, my throat burning¡ªbut I forced myself to push through.


    I spun, black fire roaring to life around me, and sent another blast at him.


    This time, it hit.


    The force sent Damian skidding back, smoke curling from where the fire had scorched him. His scales dark like burnt steel.


    He rushed me, faster than before, and I barely managed to bring my arm up before his claws raked against my forearm.


    I bit down on a cry as blood seeped through the torn leather of my glove, staining my sleeve.


    But Damian didn¡¯t stop.


    A kick to my stomach. A punch to my jaw. A swipe across my shoulder.


    I felt everything. Every hit, every impact, felt like I was being crushed under a landslide. I staggered, barely standing on my feet. He was relentless. He wanted to break me.


    One last hit. I slammed into the ground, my body screamed at me to stop moving.


    Damian loomed over me, his body still shifting, he barely looked human anymore. ¡°It¡¯s over,¡± he said simply.


    I slowly forced myself to my feet, blood pouring from my face onto the ground. ¡°I..¡± I rasped, raising my fists. ¡°I¡¯m still standing.¡±


    Damian moved so fast I barely comprehended it. One second, I was standing. The next, his claws were buried deep in my gut. I gasped, the air leaving my lungs in a sharp, silent cry. My body seized up, pain detonating outward from the point of impact.


    I barely registered his expression as he twisted his claws inside me, carving through flesh. My vision blurred, black at the edges, my knees buckling.


    He said something, but I couldn''t hear him.


    My legs gave out and I hit the ground hard, my mind drowning in a haze of pain and exhaustion.


    Above me, Damian shuddered, his form distorting even further. With a sickening crack, massive wings burst from his back, unfurling into the air like a shadow blotting out stars.


    The wind howled as he took to the sky.


    I tried to move. Tried to call out. But the pain dragged me down, and before I could fight it¡ª

 Chapter Twenty: Im So Sorry

    -Sacer-


    Day One


    Luca hasn¡¯t woken up.


    The village healers say he¡¯s stable, but what does that even mean? He¡¯s not awake. Stable isn¡¯t Luca making some sarcastic remark or rolling his eyes. Stable just means he¡¯s not dead.


    That¡¯s not good enough.


    I sat beside his bed, watching his chest rise and fall with each one of his shallow breaths, almost like his body was afraid of breaking more than it already had. His face was pale, the dark bruises on his jaw and cheekbone stark against his skin. His hands laid limp against the sheets.


    I hate this.


    Why can¡¯t I do anything?


    I don¡¯t sleep. I don¡¯t eat. I just sit here, waiting.


    Waiting for him to wake up. Waiting for him to tell me that I¡¯m overreacting. Waiting for him to tell me that I can stop looking at him as if I¡¯d already lost him.


    But, I¡¯m waiting for something that doesn¡¯t come.


    Day Two


    Edric keeps trying to get me to eat. Tray, after tray, of food gets set on the nightstand next to me like it¡¯ll make a difference. ¡°Come on, dude. Just a few bites.¡±


    I ignore him.


    He sighs, rubbing a hand down his face. ¡°You know, he¡¯s not gonna wake up any faster just because you¡¯re starving yourself.¡±


    I know that. Obviously I know that. But that doesn¡¯t matter. Nothing matters right now except him.


    Edric, thankfully, doesn¡¯t push it. He just sits in the chair across from me, arms crossed, staring at Luca like he¡¯s expecting him to wake up at any second.


    Like this was all some bad dream. Like the kid we saved hadn¡¯t turned into some sort of dragon-man and tried to kill us all. Hadn¡¯t almost killed Luca.


    But Luca doesn¡¯t wake up.


    Day Three


    As I sleep, I dream about our sixteenth birthday. About the city square. About how those damned black flames erupted from his body.


    I could still hear his screams in my head.


    ¡°Sacer!¡±


    ¡°Help me!¡±


    ¡°Please don¡¯t leave me!¡±


    I dream about how I hesitated.


    I dream about how I pushed him away.


    I wake up to the sound of my own ragged breathing, my chest tight, a cold sweat clinging to my skin. I have to take a second just to remember where I am. I have to remind myself that I¡¯m not in the capital, that I¡¯m not standing in the ruins of Draemoor.


    I turn to Luca, but nothing¡¯s changed.


    He¡¯s still lying there. Still not waking up.WHY?!


    I sink back into my chair and drop my head into my hands.


    Day Four


    Finally.


    Finally the healers gave me an answer.


    His Taika was damaged beyond repair. The words hit me like a punch to the gut, knocking the air right out of me.


    They go on and on about what that means: that even though he¡¯s alive, he might never use magic again. That his body is still recovering, and they don¡¯t know what¡¯ll happen when he wakes up.


    If he wakes up.


    I barely heard the rest. I barely heard anything over the sound of my heartbeat hammering in my ears.


    What could I even say?


    Edric clenched his fists but he stayed quiet. I think he knows that if either of us opened our mouths right now, it wouldn¡¯t do anything but make this worse.


    After the healers leave, I sit back down and continue to stare at Luca.


    This isn¡¯t fair. He¡¯s been fighting against what people think he is, against himself, against me. And now this?


    He doesn¡¯t deserve this.


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    ¡°Come on, Luca,¡± I whisper under my breath.


    But he doesn¡¯t move.


    Day Five


    I try to pray.


    To who? Gabriel? Myself? I don¡¯t even know why.


    I was never really the praying type. But please.


    To whoever¡¯s listening.


    Please don¡¯t take my brother from me.


    Day Six


    The weight in my chest continues to get heavier. It feels like it¡¯s pressing down on my ribs, making it impossible to breathe.


    I can¡¯t stop the thoughts from racing through my head. I can¡¯t stop replaying everything that¡¯s happened since our birthday.


    Every single choice. Every single fucking mistake. Every second I could have been there for him, and wasn¡¯t.


    I¡¯m the great Hero. I have to be strong. This is my duty.


    But what kind of Hero lets his own brother end up like this on death''s door?


    What kind of Hero tries to kill the person he grew up with.


    My throat tightens, my vision blurring as tears welled up.


    I grip Luca¡¯s limp hand in mine and press my forehead against the edge of the bed.


    I¡¯m sorry.


    I¡¯m so sorry.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I whisper, ¡°I should have said it sooner. I should have said it so many times. I had so many opportunities. I should have¡ª¡± My voice cracks, and I swallow hard.


    I should have been there for you.


    I should have told you that I was wrong. That I know now. That I finally, finally understand.


    But I never did.


    And now, I might never get the chance.


    ¡°Please. Don¡¯t leave me alone, Luca.¡±


    Day Seven


    ¡°Sacer, enough.¡±


    I barely react when he storms into the room, looking more frustrated than I¡¯ve ever seen him.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been sitting here for a week. You haven¡¯t eaten, you haven¡¯t slept, and you sure as hell haven¡¯t done anything but wallow.¡±


    I glare at Edric, jaw clenched. ¡°What else am I supposed to do, huh?¡±


    ¡°Live, you idiot.¡± he said, exasperated. ¡°Do something other than torture yourself. Don¡¯t forget that you¡¯re not the one lying in that bed, Sacer.¡±


    I look back at Luca.


    At the brother who I¡¯d spent months chasing down.


    At the brother who still came back for me anyway.


    I let out a slow breath.


    Maybe Edric was right. Maybe I can¡¯t just sit here, waiting for something to change.


    ¡ª


    I pulled the strap on my arm guard tighter, flexing my fingers to make sure it wasn¡¯t too stiff. It bit into my skin, but I welcomed the feeling¡ªit kept me grounded. It was something real. Everything else felt like a dream I still hadn¡¯t woken up from.


    I glanced over at Edric, who was adjusting his belt, checking his sword, going through the usual motions. Normally, he¡¯d be cracking jokes, making some ridiculous comment to fill the silence. Today, though, he was quiet. We both were.


    We didn¡¯t talk much as we made our way outside.


    The air was still heavy, the stench of smoke still filled the air. The streets weren¡¯t empty¡ªpeople were out, focused on rebuilding, but something was different. The usual buzz of morning chatter was subdued, the usual foot traffic slower. As if they were waiting for something.


    Turns out they were.


    The book shopkeeper stood near his stall, watching us. ¡°You¡¯re heading out?¡±


    I nodded, adjusting the strap of my sheathe. ¡°Yeah.¡±


    His gaze flickered toward the infirmary, and I could already tell what he was going to ask.


    ¡°And your brother?¡±


    ¡°Still resting.¡±


    A woman stepped forward from the small crowd, her expression warm despite the exhaustion in her eyes. ¡°We owe you our lives,¡± she said, looking between me and Edric. ¡°Especially your fire magician brother.¡±


    I didn¡¯t know how to respond to that.


    Did they know? Did they know how I treated him? How I failed him? How I¡ª


    I slapped my cheeks hard, grounding myself and my thoughts.


    An older man stepped forward, clearing his throat. He was tall, back stiff with age, but his gaze was sharp. ¡°This town will ¡®member what you did fo¡¯ us,¡± he said, his voice steady. Then he met my eyes. ¡°And when your brother wakes, we¡¯ll tell ¡®em the same.¡±


    I forced myself to breathe.


    Edric, thankfully, spoke before I had to. ¡°Please do,¡± he said, his voice softer than usual.


    Silence stretched between us for a moment before the old man finally gestured toward the stable behind him. ¡°We ¡®ave somethin¡¯ for you.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°What?¡±


    A small motion, and suddenly I noticed them¡ªtwo strong horses standing saddled and ready.


    ¡°We can¡¯t accept¡ª¡±


    ¡°You can and you will,¡± another man interrupted, leaving no room for argument. ¡°You saved this town. It¡¯s the least we can do.¡±


    We brought the person that almost destroyed it.


    Edric let out a low whistle, walking toward the horses. ¡°Well, who are we to refuse a gift?¡±


    I hesitated, staring at them.


    Edric patted his on the side. ¡°I¡¯m calling mine Bolt.¡±


    ¡°Because of¡ª¡±


    ¡°Because of the lightning magic,¡± he confirmed with a grin. ¡°What about yours?¡±


    I looked at mine. A dark brown mare with a black mane. She huffed softly, shifting her weight as if she was waiting for me. Her fur reminded me of Luca¡¯s hair.


    ¡°Sable,¡± I said finally.


    Edric hummed. ¡°Nice. Very dark.¡±


    I rolled my eyes but didn¡¯t argue.


    The villagers stood together as we mounted up, their gratitude thick in the air. I took a slow breath, letting it settle in my chest.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I said. And I meant every word of it.


    There were a hundred things I wished I could change, but at least¡­ At least we helped them.


    With a light kick, I urged Sable forward, Edric and Bolt keeping pace beside me.


    We left Fatalis behind.


    The road to the capital stretched ahead, and we¡¯d need to make good time if we wanted to get there before Damian. He already had a week-long headstart.

 Chapter Twenty-One: Acceptance

    -Luca-


    I woke up gasping for air, my hand outstretched towards the sky.


    My chest heaved, my lungs burned, and for a brief, agonizing second, I swore I still felt Damian¡¯s claw tearing through my gut. I reached down instinctively, half-way expecting to feel warm blood pooling beneath my fingers, but¡ªnothing. No wound. No pain.


    Just smooth, perfectly normal skin.


    Huh?


    I blinked, my breath still raspy, my mind trying to catch up with my body. Something felt off.


    The air smelled different than before. It was clean, like fresh linen. Not blood, and definitely not smoke. The light was softer, bright, pouring in through a window that shouldn¡¯t have been there.


    Slowly, I pushed myself upright. The blanket slipped off my shoulders¡ªsoft, familiar. I gripped onto it, my fingers sinking into the well-loved fabric. I knew this blanket. I recognized the faded stitching, and the way it bunched at the edges.


    I could hear my heart pounding in my ears as I finally took in my surroundings.


    I sat on a small wooden bed. A hand-carved dresser sat in the corner. A pair of too-big black boots tucked neatly by the door.


    I¡­ I knew this room.


    I grew up in this room.


    No. No way. This couldn¡¯t be right. The last thing I remembered¡ªFatalis, the fight against Damian, his claws tearing into me¡ªthis wasn¡¯t where I was supposed to be.


    My legs trembled as I swung them over the side of the bed, my feet hitting the wooden floor with a soft thud. The room felt¡­ much bigger than I remembered. Or maybe¡ªmaybe I was smaller.


    I held my hands up in front of me.


    Small.


    Super thin fingers. No callouses from fighting, no scars marking my knuckles. My sleeves pooled at my wrists, the fabric swallowing my hands.


    Without hesitation, I scrambled to my dresser, my heart hammering as I caught sight of the old mirror hanging above it.


    A child stared back at me. Pitch black hair. Wide red eyes. Round cheeks.


    I stumbled back, my pulse thundering in my ears. This wasn¡¯t real. It couldn''t be.


    I clutched my head, trying to steady myself, trying to force my mind through the haze of panic settling in my chest.


    A sudden knock at the door made me jump. The sound was gentle but firm, a rhythm I recognized immediately.


    I turned toward the door, then the handle turned, and he stepped inside.


    My father.


    The sight of him stole the air from my lungs.


    He looked exactly like I remembered him. Tall, strong, with dark hair and warm brown eyes that always held quiet kindness. He wore his usual worn-out tunic, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, as if he¡¯d just finished chopping wood outside. His hands were rough with years of labor, but I knew they were gentle.


    He smiled when he saw me. ¡°Mornin, bud. You¡¯re up early.¡±


    It really was my dad. It was Michael Umbra.


    A choked sound left my throat. My knees trembled, and before I even realized it, I ran to him, tackling his waist.


    He jumped back slightly in surprise, but then he let out a soft chuckle, his large hand coming to rest on the back of my head. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Bad dreams again?¡±


    I gripped his tunic tightly, my small fingers twisting into the fabric. My whole body trembled against him, and I couldn¡¯t stop it.


    I squeezed my eyes shut. ¡°I missed you,¡± I croaked.


    My father stilled, his hand pausing mid-motion against my hair. ¡°What are you talking about, kiddo?¡± He pulled back just enough to look at me, his brows furrowed in concern. ¡°I never left.¡±


    He¡¯s right.


    I did. I ran after he and Sacer pushed me away.


    I didn¡¯t know how or why I was here, standing in his arms again as a kid, but I didn¡¯t care.


    Tears burned hot trails down my cheeks as I buried my face into his torso, my breath hitching on my sobs. ¡°I missed you,¡± I repeated, my voice breaking. ¡°I- I thought-¡±


    I couldn¡¯t get the words out. I didn¡¯t even know what I was trying to say.


    My father sighed softly, and then, he wrapped both arms around me, holding me tightly against him. ¡°Hey now,¡± he murmured, rubbing slow circles against my back. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯m right here, Luca.¡±


    I clung to him, afraid that if I let go, he would disappear. Afraid that if I blinked, I would wake up and he¡¯d be gone.


    My father held me for a while, never rushing me, but eventually his hand gave my shoulder a light squeeze. ¡°Come on, kiddo. Let¡¯s get some food in you.¡±


    I hesitated, my grip tightening before I forced myself to let go. My legs felt unsteady when I finally stepped back, like I was having to remind myself how to stand on my own.


    ¡°There we go,¡± he gave me a gentle smile, reaching down to ruffle my hair.


    I took a shaky breath, wiped my face with my sleeve, and trailed after him.


    The moment we stepped into the main room, the familiar scent of something warm and savory hit me, wrapping around me like a blanket. The wooden table in the center of the room was already set with bowls of stew.


    And sitting at that table, nose buried deep in a book, was Sacer.


    He was hunched over the pages, his white hair falling into his eyes as he read, completely enthralled. A piece of bread sat untouched on his plate, long forgotten in favor of whatever story he was lost in.


    For a moment, I just stared at my brother. He was younger. Smaller. Just a boy. Like I was.


    I opened my mouth, wanting to say something, but no words came. My father let out a good-natured sigh and walked over, plucking the book right out of Sacer¡¯s hands.


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    Sacer scowled up at him. ¡°Hey¡ª!¡±


    ¡°Finish eating,¡± my father said, setting the book down on the table. ¡°Then you can go back to living in whatever world you¡¯re stuck in.¡±


    Sacer grumbled under his breath, grabbing his bread and taking a bite with all the enthusiasm of someone suffering heartbreak.


    My father turned to me, nodding toward the empty seat beside my brother.


    I hesitated, but my feet carried me forward before I could think too much about it. I slid into the chair, the wood creaking slightly beneath me.


    My father sat across from us, already dipping his bread into the stew. ¡°I was up early making all this, so you two better eat every bite.¡±


    Sacer made a vague noise of agreement, already flipping his book open again with one hand while the other lazily reached for more food.


    I stared at my plate. Everything felt so real. The sounds. The smells. The soft scratch of Sacer¡¯s pages turning. But I remembered something else. I remembered blood. Fire. Pain.


    I remembered Damian¡¯s claws cutting me open-


    I squeezed my eyes shut, my breathing quickening.


    ¡°Luca?¡± My father spoke up.


    My head snapped up. He was looking at me, concern flickering in his brown eyes. Sacer had even glanced up from his book, watching me with furrowed brows. I licked my lips, my throat suddenly dry.


    ¡°...It¡¯s nothing,¡± I mumbled. Even though my hands were shaking, I picked up my spoon and took a bite. I forced myself to chew, it tasted good, but it didn¡¯t sit right.


    Sacer, lost in his book again, barely looked up as he grabbed another piece of bread. My father, though, continued watching me, his sharp eyes tracking each movement, as if he was studying me.


    ¡°You¡¯re awfully quiet,¡± he said, placing a spoonful in his mouth. ¡°You okay?¡±


    I forced a nod. ¡°Yeah. Just, uh¡­ just tired.¡±


    He hummed, unconvinced, but didn¡¯t push. Instead, he turned his attention to Sacer. ¡°You gonna do anything today other than reading?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m busy.¡±


    ¡°With what?¡±


    ¡°Learning.¡±


    My father chuckled. ¡°You¡¯d learn a lot more if you got your nose out of books every once in a while.¡±


    Sacer just made a nose and flipped a page.


    I probably would have laughed at their banter if I didn¡¯t feel like something was crawling all over me.


    ¡°Luca.¡±


    I jumped slightly, looking up at my father.


    His voice was calm, casual even, as he asked, ¡°How are you coping with it?¡±


    I blinked. ¡°Coping with what?¡±


    ¡°The killing.¡±


    I dropped my spoon on the table. My stomach twisted. ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t¡ª¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve taken lives, Luca.¡± His voice remained eerily steady, like this was just any old conversation between us. ¡°I know you, son. You wouldn¡¯t let something like that sit easily on your mind.¡± He said.¡±You did what you had to do, but it still replays in your head, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    I stared at him, my heart racing. Yes. yes, it did. Every face, every body, every scream. I remembered them all. I remembered what it felt like to lose control to Damon. To burn people alive. To hear them beg for mercy, only for my flames to consume them anyway.


    I gripped the edge of the table, my knuckles white. ¡°Why are you asking me this?¡±


    ¡°Because it matters.¡±


    Sacer shut his book with a thud. I turned to him, he looked¡­ disappointed?


    ¡°You never said sorry,¡± he muttered.


    ¡°What?¡±


    Sacer leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on the table. ¡°You killed people, Luca. You burned an entire village to the ground. And you haven¡¯t said sorry once.¡±


    ¡°That''s not fair,¡± I forced out. ¡°You know what happened. You know I tried to stop Damon.¡±


    ¡°But it still happened.¡± My father stated, his voice steady.


    I pushed back my chair, standing so fast it scraped against the floor and fell backwards. ¡°Why are you saying this?¡± My chest heaved with each breath. ¡°You- you¡¯re supposed to understand. You¡¯re supposed to¡ª¡±


    ¡°Understand what?¡± Sacer interrupted. His eyes locked onto mine, sharp and cold. ¡°That it wasn¡¯t your fault? Because it was, Luca.¡±


    ¡°That''s not true.¡± My voice was barely above a whisper.


    ¡°You¡¯re a monster,¡± my father said simply.


    I took a shaky step back. Then another. Then¡ªI ran. I shoved away from the table and bolted for the door. It flew open with a bang, and I stumbled outside¡ªonly to be met with hell.


    Black flames enveloped everything around me. Buildings stood charred and crumbling. The air was thick with the stench of burning flesh. And bodies¡­


    So many bodies. They were strewn across the ground, burned beyond recognition. My chest ached.


    Sitting atop a throne of corpses, draped in tattered black, was me.


    Not the kid I was right now. Not the young man who was starting to move on.


    But the me from Draemoor.


    He was covered in soot and dried blood. His red eyes burned like embers, and his lips curled into something that resembled a frown.


    ¡°Hello, Luca,¡± he said.


    I couldn¡¯t move. I could only stare. This¡ªthis was me. This was who the people in Draemoor saw as they died.


    The Demon King.


    ¡°No,¡± I whispered.


    He tilted his head. ¡°No?¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t me. I- I didn¡¯t want this!¡±


    ¡°But it still happened.¡±


    I swallowed, my hands trembling at my sides. ¡°I¡¯m not like you.¡±


    He chuckled softly. ¡°You keep saying that.¡±


    ¡°I¡ª¡± I hesitated. ¡°I tried. I tried to stop him.¡±


    ¡°And yet, here we are.¡±


    The flames crackled around us. The corpses beneath him shifted, as if still writhing in their last moments.


    ¡°I hate you,¡± I whispered.


    ¡°Then you hate yourself.¡±


    I shook my head violently, stepping back. ¡°No. No. NO! You let it happen.¡± My voice cracked, my throat burning. ¡°You could have stopped him!¡±


    His expression shifted, a bit more solemn. ¡°Could I have?¡±


    I clenched my fists. ¡°Yes! You were strong enough! If you had just fought harder¡ªif you hadn¡¯t let him take over¡ª none of this would have happened! Draemoor would still be standing! People wouldn¡¯t have died! You! Could have! Stopped it!¡±


    The other Luca didn¡¯t move. Didn¡¯t even blink. He just sat there, watching me. Then, finally, he sighed. ¡°You really think that, huh?¡±


    ¡°Of course I do!¡± I cried out, my chest aching. ¡°You could have fought harder! But you gave up! You let him win!¡±


    He finally stood and descended from his throne, his boots crunching over the ash and bones. ¡°You don¡¯t get it, do you?¡± he muttered.


    I stiffened as he came close. His frown had completely vanished. He looked exhausted. ¡°You think I let him take over?¡± His voice was quieter now. ¡°Like I just gave in? Like I wanted it to happen?¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t stop it,¡± I shot back.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t stop it,¡± he snapped.


    Other-Luca exhaled, shaking his head. ¡°You act like I had a choice. Like I wasn¡¯t fighting with every last fibre of my being. Do you think I wanted to slaughter those people? To watch through my own eyes as Damon used my body like a puppet?¡± His voice wavered for the first time. ¡°I fought, Luca. I fought until I couldn¡¯t anymore. And I lost.¡±


    ¡°But you were strong enough¡ª¡±


    ¡°Were we?¡± He cut me off. ¡°Do you really believe that?¡±


    I hesitated.


    ¡°You blame me,¡± Other-Luca said, his voice softer. ¡°And I get it. I do. But you¡¯re just screaming at a reflection and hoping it¡¯ll change something.¡±


    I took another step back.


    ¡°You can hate me all you want,¡± he continued. ¡°Blame me. Curse me. But it won¡¯t bring them back.¡±


    The flames crackled. The throne behind him crumbled further, breaking apart into nothing but soot.


    I hated him.


    I hated him.


    No.


    I am him. I hate myself.


    I squeezed my eyes shut, my whole body trembling. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to move forward.¡±


    He was silent for a moment, then, ¡°you do.¡±


    The flames flickered, shrinking, growing quieter. For the first time in what felt like forever¡ª


    The fire died. My mind was quiet. Calm.


    Other-Luca exhaled, a soft smile meeting his lips as he faded into nothingness. ¡°It¡¯s time to be better.¡±


    The words settled deep into my chest. I took a shaky breath¡­


    And woke up.

 Chapter Twenty-Two: Turning Point Pt. One

    -Damian-


    The heat felt so good against my skin.


    The capital streets, once so pristine and bustling with laughter and love, were now choked with smoke and the sheer stench of death. Buildings crumbled under the weight of flames licking at their walls, their rooftops collapsing as fire chewed through the wooden beams. The acrid stench of charred flesh filled my lungs, thick and heavy, settling in my chest like a second heart.


    I loved it.


    A soldier groaned at my feet, his face was practically half-melted from the flames I¡¯d thrown at him. His fingers twitched toward the sword lying just inches from his grasp.


    Just give up already.


    I stepped on his wrist, grinding my heel down until I heard the bones snap. He wailed in pain, his voice a garbled mess.


    ¡°Stay down,¡± I muttered. He wasn¡¯t worth the effort required to kill.


    The city guards had been the first to fall. They were weak, fragile things, their swords trembling in their hands as they stood against me. No surprise that they didn¡¯t last long.


    The soldiers though? They at least tried to put up a fight. A group of them had set up a barricade just ahead, using overturned carts and fallen debris as cover. They were barking orders at each other, armor clanking as they shifted their positions.


    I sighed and flexed my fingers, my bones cracked and my flesh twisted. My right arm bulged unnaturally, the skin splitting apart in jagged, uneven lines. Scales pushed up through the openings and my fingers stretched into razor-sharp talons.


    The moment the knights saw me, they launched their attack. Arrows whistled through the air, aimed for my heart, my head, my throat. The moment they neared, my flames roared to life around me, burning them to ash.


    Then, they screamed and charged, swords gleaming in the firelight. The first one swung for my side¡ªI caught his blade between my claws, metal shrieking as I crushed the steel like it was nothing more than glass. Before he could react, I drove my knee straight into his gut, feeling the crunch of his ribs. He spat blood and I grabbed him by the throat, lifting him for all to see.


    His comrades stopped in their tracks, hesitating, waiting, as they gripped their weapons tighter.


    ¡°Really?¡± I asked. ¡°Just gonna let him die?¡±


    None of them moved.


    I sighed. ¡°Cowards.¡±


    I clenched my fist, his neck gave way with a sickening crack. I tossed him aside like Empress had often done me. I lunged forward, my flames trailing behind me like a black cloak. My claws tore through steel and flesh alike, I felt bones snap under my grip, I heard the wet gurgle of men drowning in their own blood.


    My left leg cracked, muscle reconfiguring as scales crawled up my thigh, burning through the fabric of my pants. I moved faster now, the dragon¡¯s power fueling every step. A knight screamed and swung his greatsword in a wide, desperate arc. I caught it mid-swing and pulled the knight right into my hungry claws.


    I rammed my talons through his stomach and lifted him off the ground, watching as blood bubbled up from his mouth. Our eyes met, his almost looked desperate. Pleading.


    With a twitch of my hand, he split apart. The rest of them were already scattering, dropping their weapons as they sprinted for safety.


    I took in a deep breath, and then exhaled, fire pouring from my lips in a black inferno. Their screams cut through the night before fading into silence.


    The palace was waiting for me ahead, it was untouched by my destruction, its golden spires glinting under the light of my fire that raged below. The great marble steps leading to its entrance were slick with blood, bodies of fallen guards and devils strewn across them.


    I climbed, step by step, not bothering to avoid the corpses beneath me. The throne room doors stood before me, tall and imposing; I raised my right arm and pulled my first back, the scales pulsed with my power as I drove my fist into the oak.


    The doors exploded inward, wood and steel shattering as they were sent flying across the room. The crash echoed through the vast chamber, dust and debris swirling in the air.


    Sitting atop the throne as if I hadn¡¯t barged my way in here. As if the city outside wasn¡¯t burning. As if he hadn¡¯t started all this.


    A slow grin curled my lips. ¡°I¡¯m home, Mr. Calor.¡±


    ¡°Damian!¡± he said, voice warm. ¡°It¡¯s been far too long.¡±


    I kept walking, slow and steady, my feet echoing against the floor. How could he be so calm?


    ¡°I must say,¡± he continued, ¡°you¡¯ve made quite the entrance. The whole city is lit up like a festival gone wrong. But I suppose I shouldn¡¯t have expected anything less from my favorite rat.¡± His gaze lingered on my shifting body. ¡°Or, I¡¯m sorry, my favorite dragon. Good to know those experiments worked.¡±


    I stopped. The heat in my chest twisted in fury.


    ¡°You think you have control don¡¯t you?¡± My voice was quiet.


    Calor sighed, as if I were a child throwing a tantrum. ¡°I don¡¯t wish to fight you, Damian.¡± He drummed his fingers slowly against his armrest. ¡°I¡¯d rather welcome you home with open arms.¡±


    I lunged, flames exploding behind me as I shot forward, claws aimed for his throat.


    He moved just as fast. A golden shield of pure light flared to life, and I slammed into it. I barely had time to brace myself before I was thrown backward, skidding across the marble floor. My feet caught the ground and I dug my claws in, stopping myself.


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    So he just wasn¡¯t gonna sit and die, huh? Good. Now I can vent out some frustrations.


    Calor rose to his feet, light flickering in his palms. His golden robes billowed as power radiated from him. ¡°I don¡¯t want to kill you, Damian,¡± he said, voice firm. ¡°But I will if I must.¡±


    I growled and lunged again.


    In an instant, a sword formed in his hand¡ªpure energy shaped into a gleaming blade. He swung, aiming for my throat. I ducked under it, twisting my body at an impossible angle before kicking myself off the ground, my claws aiming for his ribs.


    A burst of light erupted from his free palm, blasting me back mid-air. I hit the ground hard, rolling to my feet just in time to block his next strike. His sword met my claws in a shower of sparks.


    I pushed back. He slid a few inches across the floor but quickly recovered, twisting his sword in a tight arc. It nearly caught my side, but I managed to dodge in time, fire bursting from my heels to propel me away.


    A flicker of light, a sudden rush of air, and then Calor was behind me, his blade buried deep in my shoulder.


    I twisted, slashing at him. He dodged, but this time, I followed, my shoulder driving into his chest¡ªsending him crashing into his throne.


    The devil groaned but didn¡¯t stay down. He pushed himself to his feet, blood dripping from his lip. ¡°I¡¯m so proud of you,¡±


    My eye twitched in aggravation and I finally let go.


    Horns sprouted from my skull, wings tore free from my back in a burst of blood, skin, and heat. I surged forward, much faster than before. Calor barely had any time to react before my claws wrapped around his throat, lifting him off his feet and slamming him into the ground so hard the marble shattered beneath us. He choked, his magic flaring wildly as he tried to break free.


    ¡°Look at me.¡± My voice was hoarse, ragged, filled with venom.


    Calor clawed at my wrist, trembling. ¡°Damian, please-¡±


    ¡°Look what you turned me into!¡± I slammed my free fist into his face, blood and teeth spattered across the floor.


    ¡°You made her do those things to me!¡± My voice broke as I screamed, claws digging into his skin.


    ¡°You did this!¡± Another punch to his face, his nose crunched. ¡°This is all your fault!¡±


    Calor wheezed, trying desperately to call upon his light, but I crushed his wrist under my foot.


    ¡°P-please,¡± he cried. ¡°I.. I was only doing what I was taught to do!¡±


    ¡°Just following orders?¡± I mocked, eyes wild. ¡°Did you tell yourself that when you let her have her way with me?¡±


    His lips parted but no words came.


    I let go of his throat, my hand moving to grip onto his blood-stained white hair. I raised my other hand, my claws glinting in the firelight.


    ¡°You will reap everything you¡¯ve sewn.¡± I drove my hand forward, claws cutting cleanly through his skin, muscles, and bone.


    Blood sprayed like a fountain, drenching my arms and my chest. Calor¡¯s body twitched for a couple minutes before finally going still.


    I let out a breath I didn¡¯t even realize I¡¯d been holding. I lifted his severed head, his golden eyes were still open.


    I couldn¡¯t help it, I laughed.


    I turned, stepping over the ruins of the room, moving toward a shattered window. Below, survivors had gathered in the streets, staring up at the palace in horror. I held up the devil¡¯s head for them all to see.


    This was my moment. Luca, you¡¯re not living up to your name, so¡­


    ¡°I, am Damon. The Demon King reborn!¡±


    The moment my declaration echoed through the capital, the sky split open with a deafening crack! Lightning surged through the air, illuminating the night in a blinding flash.


    Something unstoppable slammed into my chest like a righteous hammer. I barely had time to register it before I was soaring through the shattered remains of the throne room, my body tearing through stone and steel as if it were paper.


    My body slammed into the hard stone of the city square, cracking the ground beneath me. Dust and rubble exploded into the air as my body carved a crater into the earth. I coughed, blood dripping down my chin, my ribs throbbing from the sheer force of the attack. I pulled myself up from the ground, shaking off chunks of shattered stone. My chest still burned from the impact, but the pain was dulling.


    Who the hell was this guy?


    Above me, standing on the ruined remains of the castle wall, the knight stood firm, his blade still humming with residual electricity. His silver white hair was tied back, streaked with age, but his posture was steady. He wasn¡¯t some idiot trembling in fear, no, this was a warrior who battled monsters and lived to tell the tale. And right now he was looking at me like I was one of those monsters.


    But the bastard didn¡¯t charge me. Didn¡¯t leap down to deal a killing blow. Instead¡­ he turned his back on me.


    With swift, practiced movements, the old knight made his way down from the rubble, grabbing the hand of a woman struggling to stand amidst the wreckage. ¡°Go. Now. Stay low, get to the eastern gate. Captain Lysara is waiting for survivors there.¡±


    A young boy was wailing, too scared to move. The knight lifted him with one arm, placing him into the arms of another fleeing civilian. ¡°Take him, and keep moving!¡±


    Then the knight turned back to me, his blue eyes flicking in the firelight. ¡°Looks like I sent you flying a little too hard, boy!¡± he called down, his voice carrying across the square. ¡°You almost killed some innocent people on your way down. Guess reckless destruction really does run in the Demon King¡¯s blood, huh?¡±


    There it was. The inevitable speech. He wanted to taunt me? Fine. I could play that game too.


    ¡°Reckless destruction?¡± I echoed, dragging a clawed hand across my chin to wipe away the last trace of blood. ¡°Funny, coming from the guy who just sent me flying.¡± I spread my arms wide, a grin plastered on my face. ¡°But I get it! You¡¯re the good guy, right? Savior of the weak, protector of the innocent. Well, where the hell were you when I needed saving?¡±


    The old man¡¯s gaze darkened, but he didn¡¯t take the bait. He leapt down into the crater with the ease of a man half his age, landing a good distance from me. His sword, still sparking, was held loosely at his side, but he didn¡¯t charge me just yet.


    ¡°I¡¯m here now,¡± he said simply. ¡°That¡¯s all that matters.¡±


    ¡°Took your damn time,¡± I scoffed, shaking my head.


    The knight studied me for a moment, his brow furrowing slightly, as if he were piecing something together. Then, to my absolute irritation, he let out a low chuckle.


    ¡°You¡¯re just a kid.¡±


    I froze, my teeth grinding.


    ¡°Don¡¯t patronize me, old man.¡± I took a step forward and the ground beneath me cracked, heat rippling through the air. ¡°You don¡¯t get to act like you know a damn thing about me.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have to know you,¡± he said. ¡°I know what I¡¯m looking at.¡± He was watching me. Assessing me. Like he was a predator, and I, his prey, waiting to see how much of a fight I could put up.


    I hated that look.


    ¡°I know what rage looks like,¡± he continued. ¡°I know what it does to a man. And I know what happens when you let it burn everything in its path.¡± His gaze flickered toward the ruined castle behind him before focusing back on me. ¡°Tell me something, boy. When you killed him¡­ did it make you feel better?¡±


    I did feel better. Didn¡¯t I?


    The knight took a step forward, the shadows casted on his face from the firelight showed his deep lines of age, of experience. ¡°I¡¯m gonna take your silence as your tantrum being over.¡±


    My vision blurred with red as I lunged for him. ¡°You don¡¯t know a damn thing about me old man!¡±

 Chapter Twenty-Three: Turning Point Pt. Two

    The moment I lunged, he was already gone. A blur of silver and crackling blue. Then, CRACK!


    A fist slammed into my ribs, the force ripping the air from my lungs. Before I could even process what was happening, I was flying sideways, skidding across the shattered stone like I was a pebble on water. The force of the hit rattled through my body, pain bursting through my bones like wildfire.


    I groaned, pushing myself up on shaking arms. The second I lifted my head, CRACK!


    Another hit straight to my dome. My head snapped downward, vision flashing white as an iron-like taste flooded my mouth. Then something heavy landed on my back, forcing me down onto the ground.


    ¡°You¡¯re slow,¡± the knight said, his voice irritatingly calm. ¡°You¡¯ve definitely got power, but, you lack control. No real fight in you.¡±


    I snarled, twisting and struggling under his foot as I swiped up, fast and brutal¡ªNothing.


    A streak of lightning flicked through the dust cloud as he reappeared a few feet away, standing at ease with his sword resting against his shoulder. Like this was some kind of dumb game.


    I gritted my teeth, growling as my claws dug into the shattered stone beneath me. My whole body was shifting now, more scales spreading across my arms, a tail erupting from my lower spine, my wings twitching. ¡°You talk like you¡¯re winning this,¡± I spat, saliva running down my chin. ¡°But all I see is a dumb old man who won¡¯t fight me head on!¡±


    The knight arched a brow. ¡°Fight you head on?¡± He shook his head, sighing. ¡°Boy, you don¡¯t even know how to fight. You think strength is everything. That¡¯s why you lost as soon as I arrived.¡±


    I cried out and launched myself, fire propelling me forward. Lightning flashed before the flat of his sword smacked against my gut. I was airborne before I even comprehended the pain.


    A heartbeat later, I crashed through a building, stone and wood splintering around me. I hit the ground with a thud, debris raining down, dust choking the air. I coughed. My ears rang, my ribs cried out in pain, but I was already healing. I always healed. That wasn''t the problem.


    The problem was I couldn¡¯t touch this fossil.


    I went to move, but a boot stopped me¡ªSlamming into my side, sending me rolling across the square.


    ¡°You react too much,¡± he called, voice still calm. ¡°You don¡¯t think. You¡¯re letting your instincts do all the work, even though that won¡¯t save you.¡±


    I dug my claws into the stone, grinding to a stop. I could feel my blood boiling, my heartbeat pounding in my ears. ¡°You talk too much,¡± I snarled.


    ¡°And you don¡¯t listen.¡±


    My wings snapped open. The stone cracked beneath me as I launched forward, faster this time. My claws curved to tear flesh from his body.


    Another hit, an elbow to the ribs, right in that same spot as before. I forced myself to ignore the pain, but a fist slammed into my back. The impact sent me hurtling downward.


    ¡°You¡¯re getting angrier,¡± his voice rang out from above me. ¡°That¡¯s good. But anger isn¡¯t enough. You don¡¯t know how to use it properly.¡±


    ¡°Shut. Up.¡± I hissed, my voice laced with venom.


    ¡°You¡¯re making me repeat myself.¡± He stepped closer, boots crunching against the broken stone. ¡°You¡¯re not listening to what I¡¯m telling you.¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± I lunged¡ªMy wings snapped forward, I was on him in an instant, claws aiming for his throat.


    I barely saw his knee coming before it drove into my stomach.


    The air left my lungs in a violent wheeze. I doubled over, gasping, but his hand was already gripping one of my horns. He pulled my head up, forcing me to meet his gaze.


    ¡°You¡¯ve lost. End this tantrum.¡± He commanded.


    I roared in his face, flames erupting from my mouth.


    He twisted his head out of the way before yanking me forward straight into his kneecap. Pain exploded through my skull. I stumbled back, the world spinning around me.


    ¡°This is just sad,¡± he continued, circling around me now. ¡°An old man in his fifties giving a beatdown to such a young pup.¡±


    Something inside me gave way. I threw myself toward him. He dodged, but I was already moving after him. My tail lashed out and he barely ducked in time. A flap of my wings sent a shockwave through the square, forcing him back. He steadied himself, raising his sword.


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    My first crashed into his side.


    For the first time, he grunted in pain, boots dragging against the cracked ground.


    I exhaled hard, a slight giggle escaping my lips.


    Finally. I finally hit him.


    He straightened, giving his side a tender rub. ¡°Very good.¡±


    I bared my teeth, the claws of my feet digging into the ground. ¡°I¡¯m just warming up.¡±


    A smirk flicked across his face. Lightning crashed again, streaking across the battlefield. He reappeared behind me, sword flashing¡ª


    I spun just in time, raising my arm. Metal met scale in a burst of sparks, and I grimaced as I slid back from the force of his blow.


    ¡°You¡¯re learning!¡±


    I swiped at him. He ducked, moving with that same effortless speed, dodging every strike like he had no issues whatsoever.


    I hated it.


    I hated him.


    ¡°Drop dead already!¡± I spat, letting another torrent of fire leave my lips.


    ¡°Old age is not how I plan on going out,¡± he said simply, sidestepping the flames. Lightning flickered, and I barely caught the blur of movement before pain exploded through my back. I crashed forward, rolling but I forced myself to my feet, chest heaving.


    His sword was everywhere at once, electricity trailing behind each strike. I blocked some, dodged others, but he was relentless. I ducked another strike, twisting on my heel. My tail whipped forward, catching him in the ribs. He staggered. I roared, driving my claws into his side. I felt something wet. Warm. Blood. His blood.


    That slowed him down. His sword trembled ever so slightly in his grasp. I pressed forward with every ability I had in my arsenal, claws swinging, tail whipping at his legs to strike him off balance, wings attempting to wrap around him, bursts of fire. He barely managed to block, his sword scraping against my scales as I drove him Back.


    I only needed to get one more hit on him. I could finish this! I could win!


    Then lightning flashed from across the square. A thunderclap shook the battlefield, and suddenly, something slammed into my side with bone-breaking force. Laughter echoed around me.


    I roared in fury as I was thrown back off my feet, crashing through the remains of a stone archway. My back hit the ground hard, and I barely had time to react before a second strike came. A flash of steel and a jolt of raw electricity.


    I dug my claws into the ground and flipped myself back onto my feet. A smug idiot stood beside the old man, casually rolling his shoulders. His auburn hair was damp with sweat and his smirk was as insufferable as ever.


    ¡°Need help, old man?¡± Edric asked, eyes never leaving me.


    Alden shot forward, his sword a blur of silver, forcing me on the defensive. Edric was right behind him. A burst of electricity struck my ribs, sending another jolt of pain through my body. My muscles seized for a second, and they took advantage of that.


    The old man went for my neck.


    I barely managed to duck in time, the tip of my left horn being cut off. I retaliated with a blast of fire, but Edric moved behind me in the blink of an eye, attempting to drive his sword into my back.


    A swipe of my tail sent Edric stumbling backward, but they didn¡¯t let up. The two of them moved like twin snakes, striking in perfect coordination. The older man striked, his blade flashing in a deadly arc, forcing me to block with my claws. The second we connected, Edric was already sliding behind me, slashing at my legs.


    I roared and leapt backward, wings flaring as I twisted mid-air, flipping over them both and landing with a crash.


    They were on me like gnats.


    He struck high, Edric aimed low¡ªforcing me to weave between their attacks. My claws scraped against the old man¡¯s armor, leaving deep gouges, but he twisted away before I could deal any real damage.


    Why won¡¯t they just die already?!


    ¡°You¡¯re getting slow, old man!¡± Edric taunted as he ducked under a tail swipe, his sword cutting into my side.


    He exhaled, adjusting his stance. ¡°And you¡¯re getting too cocky, boy. Keep flapping your gums, and this brat will end you.¡±


    ¡°Brat?¡± I snapped, barring my fangs. ¡°I¡¯ll eat your heart, you old sack of¡ª¡±


    The man lunged without warning, his sword swinging towards my head. I deflected it with a claw, only for Edric to slide underneath me, his electrified blade stabbing at my exposed ribs.


    I cried in agony as lightning surged through me, locking up my muscles for half a second.


    ¡°Still standing?¡± Edric whistled, twirling his sword in his hand. ¡°I thought that woulda¡¯ clenched it.¡±


    ¡°I barely felt that,¡± I lied, grinning through the pain.


    ¡°Oh yeah?¡± he smirked. ¡°Then why do you look like you¡¯re about to puke?¡±


    The old man shook his head. ¡°Focus, boy. This isn¡¯t the time to play games.¡±


    ¡°I dunno, Alden, he¡¯s really fun to joke around with.¡±


    I charged at the duo, a stream of fire leaving my lips. They moved, but I swung my tail at the old man. He grunted, stumbling back. Edric moved to cover him, thrusting his sword at my chest, but I sidestepped, grabbing onto his wrist and squeezing until I heard bones crack. He cried out, his sword falling from his hands. I tossed him aside like the trash he was.


    Alden¡¯s hands crackled with mana as he raised his hand to the sky, preparing to launch an attack. With a quick flap of my wings, I dove at the man¡ªmy teeth sank into the outstretched arm, tearing through flesh and bone.


    He staggered back, clutching the stump where his arm had been. Blood gushed between his fingers. To my disappointment, he didn¡¯t scream. He just stared at me.


    I threw his arm off to the side as I stalked up to him, raising my hand for the final blow.


    Light flooded my vision.


    A golden barrier slammed down between us, stopping my claws mid-swing. The force of the collision sent me skidding backwards.


    The worst devil of them all stood there, his golden eyes blazing with fury.


    Sacer Umbra.

 Chapter Twenty-Four: Turning Point Pt. Three

    -Sacer-


    ¡°Took you long enough, hero.¡± Edric teased, grinning as if he wasn¡¯t holding his own broken wrist.


    But I didn¡¯t respond to his banter. I couldn¡¯t. My rage was burning like an incessant wildfire. My mentor¡¯s hand was gone, the capital was in ruins, and I could only assume King Calor was dead.


    I barely had time to block before Damian was on me. His claws scraped against my golden shield, sparks flying as magic and shadow clashed. His red eyes burned, sharp with amusement.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, devil?¡± He grinned, fangs glinting in the fire light. ¡°Don¡¯t want a repeat of Fatalis, do you?.¡±


    I shoved him back and threw up another shield, but he barely slowed down. He smashed through it like it was nothing, shards of gold scattering in the air. I swung my sword, but he ducked, already striking as his tail lashed out, and I had to twist away before it could take my legs out.


    Too fast. Too damn fast.


    I threw up another shield, reinforcing it with everything I had. Damian lunged, but the second he made contact, I let it explode outward in a pulse of golden light. The blast sent him skidding back, rubble flying in every direction.


    He landed in a crouch, red eyes narrowed as he wiped dust from his face.


    ¡°Cute trick,¡± he said, tilting his head. ¡°Think that¡¯s enough though?¡±


    I didn¡¯t answer. I slammed my hand into the ground, sending golden light rippling out in every direction. Barriers shot up around us¡ªdozens of them, weaving into a maze of glowing walls.


    Damian¡¯s gaze flicked around, tracking the shifting shields.


    Then he laughed. ¡°You really think this will stop me?¡±


    He moved like a shadow, slipping between the barriers, claws slicing through them like they were nothing. But that was fine.


    I wasn¡¯t trying to stop him.


    I was leading him on.


    The second he was where I wanted, I forced every single shield to detonate at once in a ripple of golden light. The force slammed into him, knocking him off balance, and I lunged. My blade caught him across the chest.


    Damian let out a sharp hiss, stumbling back.


    I didn¡¯t stop. I pressed forward, golden light crackling around me, filling my body with heat, with power. I raised my free hand, summoning another barrier just in time to catch his next attack. His claws scraped uselessly against the glowing shield.


    I twisted around him, dismissing the shield as I brought my sword down again. He barely dodged, but I kept moving, kept attacking, light sparking with every strike.


    For a second, I had him.


    For a second, he wasn¡¯t grinning anymore.


    Then, just as I went for another swing, he shifted.


    His tail snapped out¡ªnot for my chest, not for my sword, but for my leg.


    Pain screamed through my entire body as he made contact.


    I barely had time to process it before Damian¡¯s hand closed around my throat.


    The world tilted as he lifted me clean off the ground, claws digging into my skin. I gasped, struggling to breathe, but the pain in my leg sent my vision flashing white.


    ¡°Gotcha.¡±


    Then he threw me.


    I crashed through stone. Everything blurred¡ªdust, light, pain. My skull rattled, my lungs emptied. I tumbled through rubble before slamming into the ground, hard.


    I groaned, my whole body screaming. I tried to move, but the pain in my leg was blinding.


    Through the haze, I saw the pedestal.


    The Mirage Sword.


    The blade that started everything, literally and metaphorically.


    A shadow passed over me. Damian stood on the broken wall, watching me like a cat playing with its food.


    ¡°Wow,¡± he purred. ¡°That looked like it hurt.¡±


    I clenched my fists, golden light flickering weakly in my palm.


    I wasn¡¯t done yet.


    I groaned, my vision swimming as I attempted to push myself up. My whole body ached, but the sharp, unbearable pain in my leg was impossible to ignore. Oh yeah. Broken. Definitely broken.


    Gritting my teeth, I forced my hands forward, summoning a shield between Damian and myself. I reacted just in time, blocking a wave of black fire.


    ¡°You¡¯re really dragging this out,¡± Damian sighed. ¡°Come on, Sace. Get up and fight me.¡±


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    His voice was practically muffled to me. My focus was entirely on my leg, on the magic pooling in my hands as I pressed them to the injury, willing it to heal. I wasn¡¯t as good at this as others, hell I wasn¡¯t even decent at it, but I had to at least try.


    Get up.


    There was a voice I hadn¡¯t heard in a while.


    This isn¡¯t over.


    ¡°No thanks to you,¡± I muttered, closing my eyes to concentrate.


    Stand up, Sacer.


    ¡°Oh, shut up!¡± My voice was hoarse, shaking. ¡°This is all your fault. You made the world believe that Damon¡¯s blood was evil from the get-go. You hid them away. You turned me against my own brother.¡±


    And yet, here you are. Still fighting for what¡¯s right.


    I barked out a bitter laugh. ¡°You don¡¯t get to decide what¡¯s right. Not after everything you did.¡±


    There was a brief second of silence before he spoke again. Then stop trying to be the next me, Sacer. Be you. Be the Hero: Sacer Umbra.


    Be me, huh?


    I let out a breath, shaky but steady, as I rose to my feet. I bit down on my lip to hold in a groan as I put weight on my injured leg. It was weak, but it could hold my weight. It had to.


    Damian was waiting patiently, tapping his claws rhythmically against the golden shield. He grinned when he saw me stand. ¡°Finally, I was getting bored over here.¡±


    I didn¡¯t answer. I limped over to the pedestal beside me, wrapping my fingers around the leather-clad handle. I could feel the sword pulse, as if it was urging me to free it from its prison.


    I yanked the Mirage Sword free. It shimmered, catching the firelight and reflecting the ruined city back at me. It felt surprisingly light, but I could feel this raw, buzzing power humming through it. My leg, though? That felt like someone had taken a hammer to it. Every step was a fresh wave of agony.


    "Think that''ll help?" Damian sneered, his red eyes practically glowing in the dark. "It''s just a shiny toy."


    "A toy that can cut you down," I gritted out, my voice rough.


    We squared off, the air thick with tension. I took a wobbly step, leaning on the sword for support. Damian lunged, a blur of shadow and claws. I barely got the Mirage Sword up in time.


    The impact vibrated up my arm, sending a jolt of pain shooting through my leg. The sword held, thankfully, but I stumbled, almost going down. Every movement was a fight against the pain.


    We traded blows, a chaotic mess of steel and shadow. The Mirage Sword sang, a high, thin note, as it sliced through the air. I tried to ignore the throbbing in my leg, focusing on keeping Damian at bay. Every shift in weight was a fresh wave of fire.


    He was fast, impossibly fast. And I was limping. He knew it, too. He kept targeting my leg, forcing me to move in ways that made me want to scream. I blocked a swipe, the force making me stumble, and a choked-off groan escaped me.


    Damian¡¯s grin widened. "Awww tired already, hewo?" He mocked. ¡°Maybe you should just die already.¡±


    He threw a wave of black fire at me, a wall of heat that forced me back. I raised the Mirage Sword, the golden light flickering, deflecting the worst of it, but the heat still singed my skin. I almost went down, my leg buckling.


    "Don''t push it," I gasped, each breath ragged. "Or you''ll find out what this ''toy'' can do."


    He roared, a sound of pure fury, and unleashed another blast of fire, even stronger than before. I braced myself, the Mirage Sword glowing, pushing back the flames. I lunged, ignoring the scream of my leg, aiming for his chest.


    He tried to dodge, but I anticipated him, the sword moving almost on its own. It sliced across his side, drawing a dark, oily blood. He hissed, stumbling back.


    "This isn''t just a toy," I said, my voice strained. "It''s a weapon." The sword pulsed, the golden light washing over me, and for a moment, the pain in my leg eased, just enough to give me a second wind.


    We clashed again, the sword meeting his claws in a shower of sparks. The Mirage Sword was powerful, but Damian was a master of shadows, his movements unpredictable. He countered my attacks with a speed that made my head spin.


    The fight dragged on, a brutal, exhausting dance.


    My leg screamed with every step, but I refused to yield. I had to end this.


    Damian lunged, his claws aimed at my throat. I parried, meeting his attack. I twisted, using his momentum against him, and brought the sword down in a wide arc.


    He tried to block, but the Mirage Sword sliced through his defenses, catching him across the chest. He roared, a sound of pure rage, and stumbled back, clutching his wound.


    I didn¡¯t give him a chance to recover. I pressed forward, the Mirage Sword a blur of golden light. I attacked with a ferocity I didn¡¯t know I possessed, every strike fueled by rage and desperation. Damian was reeling, his movements becoming sluggish. He was still fast, still dangerous, but he was wounded, and he was losing.


    I saw my chance. I feinted to the left, then lunged to the right, the Mirage Sword aimed at his chest. He tried to block, but I was too fast. The blade plunged into his side, sinking deep. He gasped, his eyes widening in shock. I twisted the sword, and he let out a guttural scream.


    I yanked the Mirage Sword free, and Damian staggered back, his dark blood staining the ruined stone. He swayed, his red eyes filled with a mix of rage and disbelief.


    "This... this isn''t over," he snarled, his voice weak.


    "Yes," I said, my voice cold. "It is." I raised the Mirage Sword, the golden light pulsing, and brought it down in a final, decisive strike.


    Damian let out a final, choked gasp as the blade connected. The force of the blow sent him flying, his body slamming into the rubble where Edric and Alden lay wounded. He landed with a sickening thud, his body limp and still.


    The Mirage Sword hummed in my hand, the golden light fading as the battle ended. I stood there, breathing heavily, my body aching, my leg throbbing. The ruined city stretched out around me, a testament to the destruction Damian had done.


    I limped over to where Edric and Alden lay, my vision swimming. Damian was a dark, still shape next to them.


    Edric groaned, his eyes fluttering open. He looked up at me, a weak grin spreading across his face. "Well, that was... something," he said, his voice hoarse. "Took you long enough to actually land a good hit."


    Alden¡¯s eyes were open, and he was staring at the sky. He didn¡¯t look at me or Edric. "Be serious, Edric." He said, his voice flat.


    A wave of exhaustion washed over me, but a shaky laugh escaped my lips as I sank onto a large, jagged stone.


    I¡¯d done it. I¡¯d actually won¡ª


    A low, guttural rumble vibrated through the square, cutting my victory short. My eyes snapped to Damian¡¯s body, and a cold dread gripped me. He was rising, his movements slow and deliberate, stalking towards us like a predator refusing to be denied its kill.


    I tried to stand, but my leg screamed in protest, a searing reminder of its broken state. I pushed through the pain, forcing myself upright, but my movements were clumsy and unsteady.


    Damian¡¯s form shimmered, coalescing into a menacing shape as he prepared to strike. Just as his claws began to extend, a voice rang out, clear and sharp, a voice that shouldn¡¯t have been there.


    ¡°Sacer! Toss it in the air!¡±


    Luca?

 Chapter Twenty-Five: Turning Point Pt. Four

    -Luca-


    I caught the sword mid-air without thinking. The second my fingers wrapped around the hilt, the golden glow it had when Sacer held it flickered out, it was instead swallowed by black flames.


    Damian barely had time to react before I swung. The blade cut through the air in a searing arc, catching him hard across the side. He let out a sharp, choked cry and staggered back, his claws scrambling for balance against the blood-slicked ground.


    I landed in front of him, the Mirage Sword burning in my grip.


    Damian¡¯s red eyes¡ªeyes just like mine¡ªwere wide with pain. His breath came in fast, uneven gulps. He clutched at his side, fingers slick with blood. His wings twitched like he wanted to run, but they shook too much to lift him.


    Then his face changed.


    The fear in his eyes twisted into something desperate.


    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± His voice cracked. ¡°Don¡¯t kill me.¡±


    I froze.


    Damian took a shaky step back, still gripping his side, his tail dragging behind him. He wasn¡¯t looking at me like an enemy anymore. Not like the monster who burned the capital to the ground. He looked like what he was.


    A kid. A thirteen-year-old kid who had made an irreversible mistake.


    ¡°I-¡± He winced, sucking in a sharp breath. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean for all this to happen.¡± His voice was shaking. ¡°I just¡ªI needed to get back at Mr. Calor.¡± He swallowed, voice cracking. ¡°I wasn¡¯t thinking about anything else. I just wanted-¡± He stopped himself, shaking his head. His wings curled inward, shoulders hunching like he was bracing for a hit. ¡°I just wanted to make him pay.¡±


    I let out a slow breath.


    I didn¡¯t lower the sword, but I didn¡¯t move to strike, either.


    "You¡¯ve killed a lot of people, Damian," I said quietly. "Like you told me back in Fatalis, no one¡¯s ever going to let you forget that."


    Damian¡¯s eyes darted to the blade in my hand, then back up to my face. He looked lost.


    I knew that look all too well. I had worn that look. It was the weight of realizing there was no going back. That no matter what you did from this point on, you would always be the person who had done something unforgivable.


    I exhaled.


    "If you''re serious about being sorry," I hesitated, but forced the words out. "Then I¡¯ll try to help you."


    Damian stared at me. His hands shook at his sides. He opened his mouth, to ask if I meant it, maybe, but before he could, a sharp, bitter laugh cut through the air.


    "You¡¯ll help him?"


    I turned just as Alden¡ªthat was his name, right? I thought I remembered it from before¡ªstaggered forward, his hand clutching the bloody stump where his arm used to be. His face was pale, but his eyes; his eyes burned with disbelief. With rage. With something I couldn¡¯t quite name.


    "You," He sucked in a breath, shaking his head. "You knew, didn¡¯t you?"


    I frowned. "What?"


    "You knew about this," he snapped, voice raw. "You were part of this."


    I stiffened. "That¡¯s not-"


    "Don¡¯t lie to me!" he shouted, voice cracking. "The king is dead. Our people are dead. And the thing that did it-" His voice dropped into something bitter and sharp. "He looks just like you. He has your magic. And I¡¯m supposed to believe that¡¯s just a coincidence?"


    I turned to fully face him, frustration rising. "I didn¡¯t¡ª"


    "Luca isn¡¯t responsible for this," Sacer cut in sharply, stepping between us before I could get another word out.


    Alden scoffed, shaking his head. "Of course, you¡¯re defending him." His voice was venomous. "You always do, don¡¯t you?"


    "You don¡¯t know what the hell you¡¯re talking about," Sacer snapped.


    "Oh, don¡¯t I?" Alden let out a hollow laugh. "He¡¯s the Demon King¡¯s reincarnation. And every single time, you give him a pass. Just like before. Just like¡ª" He let out a harsh breath. "Maybe we should start asking ourselves what side you¡¯re really on, Sacer."


    Sacer moved before I could even process it.


    One second, he was still. The next, he was grabbing Alden by the collar, yanking him close.


    "You do not get to question my loyalty," Sacer said, voice low and seething, "Not after everything I¡¯ve done." His golden eyes burned with something exhausted and furious all at once. "I have given up everything for this kingdom. My home. My father. My own damn brother." His grip tightened. "So if you ever¡ªever¡ªsuggest that I don¡¯t care about this place, I swear on everything, Alden, I will knock  your teeth out."


    Alden wrenched himself back, shoving Sacer away with his remaining hand.


    Edric, who had been watching with an expression somewhere between amused and exasperated, finally sighed. "Alright, everyone, deep breaths."


    "Shut up," Sacer and Alden snapped at the same time.


    Edric rolled his eyes. "Just trying to lighten the mood, damn."


    "This isn¡¯t a joke," Alden seethed. "That kid-" He gestured behind me.


    I turned to look at Damian, then my heart stopped. Damian was gone.


    I looked up sharply, scanning the sky¡­ there. A dark shape in the distance, wings beating furiously as he fled, blood trailing in his wake.


    "He¡¯s going to come back," Alden spat. "And more people are going to die." His gaze flicked back to me, filled with open distrust. "And when that happens, you¡¯ll regret letting him go."


    I held his stare, but didn¡¯t respond.


    ¡ª


    Three days had passed since the battle, and while the fires had finally died out, the smell of smoke still clung to the air, mixing with the scent of dust and blood. The streets were covered in rubble, buildings reduced to little more than broken foundations, and the weight of what had happened here hung over everything.


    But people were moving. Working.


    Soldiers and civilians alike dug through the wreckage, clearing paths, salvaging what they could. Some built makeshift shelters for those who had lost their homes. Others carried the wounded to whatever space could be repurposed into a medical ward.


    And then there was me.


    I wiped the sweat from my forehead, rolling my shoulders before hauling another broken wooden beam onto the growing pile of debris. My muscles ached, my hands stung with raw blisters, but I didn¡¯t stop. I wouldn¡¯t stop.


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    Even if I wanted to, I knew how many eyes were on me.


    Not staring outright but I could hear them.


    "That¡¯s him."


    "The black flames¡­ it was him, wasn¡¯t it?"


    "Why is he still here?"


    "I saw him fighting. He was on our side."


    "Was he? You saw what he did with that sword. He¡¯s just like that other monster."


    I ground my teeth together and tossed another chunk of wreckage onto the pile. I knew what they saw when they looked at me.


    Not Luca the farmhand. Not the kid who grew up in a quiet village with his brother.


    But that¡¯s okay. I¡¯m okay. I¡¯ve made peace with that.


    "You keep frowning like that, people are gonna start thinking you¡¯re as broody as your brother," Edric said, dropping a few splintered planks beside me.


    I huffed. "I am my brother¡¯s brother."


    "Yeah, but at least Sacer gets called the Hero while people look at you like you just kicked their dog." Edric stretched his arms behind his head, tilting his head toward the workers. "Kinda sucks, huh?"


    "You get used to it," I muttered.


    Edric whistled low. "That¡¯s depressing."


    I didn¡¯t respond, just kept moving.


    Sacer was a few feet away, stacking stones into a wheelbarrow. He worked quietly, his jaw set, focused entirely on the task at hand. He hadn¡¯t said much since the fight ended.


    Edric, however, had no problem filling the silence.


    "You know," he mused, "if they¡¯re gonna make you out to be some terrifying demon, you could at least act the part. Maybe glare more. Float a little. Maybe throw in a mwahaha every now and then-"


    I shot him a dry look. "Do you want people to be afraid of me?"


    "Eh." He shrugged. "Might be fun."


    "You¡¯re ridiculous."


    "I¡¯m practical," he corrected. "Look, I¡¯m just saying-"


    "Edric," Sacer cut in, voice flat. "Stop antagonizing my brother."


    Edric gasped. "Antagonizing? I would never."


    Sacer gave him a look.


    Edric just grinned.


    I shook my head, grabbing another beam. The whispers were still there, the tension thick in the air, but for a moment, it felt almost normal.


    Edric let the silence stretch for a moment before sighing and propping his hands on his hips. "Okay, but for real," he said. "Are we gonna talk about it, or are we just gonna pretend we didn¡¯t see you throwing around black fire three days ago like your taika wasn¡¯t supposed to be busted?"


    I stilled.


    Sacer finally looked up.


    I let out a slow breath, setting the beam down and pulling the Mirage Sword from my hip. The golden glow it had when Sacer held it was long gone. Now, it looked like an ordinary silver blade, dull in the afternoon light.


    "I can¡¯t produce fire like I used to," I admitted. "But my mana still flows through my body normally. If I let it run through the sword¡ªlike an extension of my arm¡ªI can use my fire affinity that way. Sort of."


    Edric raised an eyebrow. "So¡­ you just reroute your magic into something else?"


    "Pretty much. Kinda like what you guys do already."


    He let out a low whistle. "Weird. But cool."


    I huffed a quiet laugh. "Thanks."


    Sacer nodded slightly, thoughtful. He looked like he wanted to say something but held back.


    I sheathed the sword and turned back to my work. But then-


    "Farmhand?"


    The voice¡ªfamiliar, impossible¡ªstopped me cold.


    I turned before I could stop myself.


    And there she was.


    Marei.


    She stood just a few paces away, dark hair pulled back, brown eyes wide and bright, full of something I couldn¡¯t quite place. I barely had time to register her expression before she moved. Suddenly, she was there, throwing herself at me, arms tight around my middle.


    For a second, I couldn¡¯t breathe.


    She was real. Solid. Here.


    I was afraid. Afraid this was a dream. Afraid of what I should say. Afraid of what she would say. I had dreamed about this moment so many times, imagining the words, imagining how I¡¯d finally tell her everything I needed to say.


    I swallowed hard. "I¡¯m sor-"


    The slap came before I even saw it.


    My head snapped to the side, the sting burning across my cheek.


    I blinked, stunned.


    "Do not start that!" Marei shouted.


    My cheek was still stinging from the slap, but honestly? I was too stunned to focus on that. Because Marei was furious. Not the kind of anger that burned out in a few minutes. No, this was deeper. The kind that had built up over months. And now that she finally had me in front of her?


    "How could you make me worry like that?!" she yelled, shoving me hard enough that I nearly tripped over a broken piece of rubble.


    "Marei, I-"


    "No!" She jabbed a finger at my chest. "You don''t get to talk yet! You just vanished, Luca! Gone without a word! No note, no message, nothing!" She threw her hands up. "And then I start hearing rumors about some black-flamed demon setting the world on fire, and guess what?! I thought it was you!"


    "I know, I-"


    "Don¡¯t you dare apologize!"


    I flinched. "I wasn¡¯t-"


    "Were you about to say sorry?!"


    "No!" I said quickly. Then, realizing I absolutely was, I backtracked. "I mean, okay, maybe, but-"


    Smack!


    "Marei!" I yelped, stumbling back, holding my cheek. "Will you stop hitting me?!"


    "Then stop being an idiot!" She grabbed my shirt and yanked me closer, her bright brown eyes burning with frustration. "Do you have any idea what it was like not knowing what happened to you?! Not knowing if you were okay?!"


    I opened my mouth, then shut it.


    I risked a glance at Sacer and Edric. They were slowly backing away. Like they were afraid if they moved too fast, she''d notice them. Sacer¡ªthe fearless Hero of the people¡ªactually looked scared. Edric caught my gaze and gave me a helpless shrug, as if saying: You¡¯re on your own, man.


    Traitors.


    "And another thing!" Marei snapped, pulling me back into her fury. "Do you know how many times I imagined seeing you again?! Do you know how many times I thought about what I¡¯d say to you?!"


    I swallowed. "...This?"


    "No!"


    "Oh."


    "I thought I¡¯d say something dramatic!" she went on, throwing her arms in the air. "Like, ¡®You have a lot of nerve showing your face here!¡¯ Or maybe something really cutting like, ¡®I don¡¯t even know you anymore.¡¯" She scoffed. "But no! I see your stupid face, and all I can think about is how much I want to slap you!"


    "Well, mission accomplished¡­" I muttered, rubbing my face.


    "Don¡¯t be a smartass!"


    "I¡¯m trying to keep up!"


    She let out a frustrated groan and shoved me again, though not as hard this time. "I swear, if you ever do something like that again-"


    "I won¡¯t," I said quickly. "I swear."


    Marei clenched her jaw. Her breathing was uneven, her hands shaking slightly at her sides. And then, just like that, all the fire drained out of her. Her shoulders slumped. Her face crumpled. And before I could react, she threw herself forward, wrapping her arms around me.


    I barely had time to catch her.


    For a long moment, neither of us spoke. She buried her face against my shoulder, gripping the back of my shirt like she was afraid I¡¯d disappear again.


    Then, in a small, choked voice, she whispered, "I missed you."


    I squeezed my eyes shut, swallowing the lump in my throat.


    "I missed you too.¡±

 Chapter Twenty-Six: Normalcy

    The plaza still bore the scars of the battle, though it looked less like a warzone now. The worst of the wreckage had been cleared, leaving only half-collapsed buildings and charred cobblestone. It was progress, slow but steady.


    I sat on a piece of broken stone, rolling my shoulders as I watched Sacer and Edric argue over the best way to repair a damaged wall. Marei sat next to me, leaning against my shoulder, arms crossed, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips as she watched them go back and forth.


    "You have no idea what you''re talking about," Sacer huffed, pushing his white hair out of his face. "You just want to hit things with a hammer."


    "Because that''s how you fix things!" Edric shot back, waving a plank of wood for emphasis.


    "You brute-force everything. No wonder your sword¡¯s always chipped."


    Edric placed a hand over his chest like Sacer had personally wounded him. "First of all, that¡¯s rude. Second of all, I¡¯ll have you know my sword only gets chipped because I actually use it. Unlike some people."


    "Oh?" Sacer raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Would you like a demonstration?"


    "Boys," Marei cut in, exasperated. "Are we fixing the city, or are we bickering like children?"


    "Why not both?" I muttered under my breath, picking at the edge of my glove.


    Edric shot me a look. "You¡¯ve been suspiciously quiet, Luca."


    I blinked at him. "I¡¯m just enjoying the show."


    "No," he said, shaking his head. "I don¡¯t trust it. You¡¯re plotting something dastardly."


    "When have I ever plotted anything?"


    Marei scoffed. "Unlike you, he¡¯s actually useful."


    Edric grinned, eyes glinting with mischief. "Oh, I see what this is. Marei¡¯s got a soft spot for her dear Farmhand."


    Before I could react, Marei got in his face so fast he nearly tripped over himself backing away. "Say that again, Edric. I dare you."


    Edric¡¯s face paled. "I was just joking! Please don¡¯t kill me."


    Sacer shook his head, sighing. "Pathetic."


    "I value my life, alright?" Edric muttered, straightening his shirt.


    "Valuing your life doesn''t stop you from being a pest," I chimed in, tossing a small pebble at Edric''s boot. "It just means you''re a pest with a healthy sense of self-preservation. Like a roach"


    Edric glared at me. "You''re all ganging up on me! It''s a conspiracy!"


    "Oh, please," Marei rolled her eyes, pushing herself off my shoulder. "If we were ganging up on you, you''d be tied to that wall, and we''d be using you as a target for rock-throwing practice."


    "That''s... oddly specific," Sacer observed, his brow furrowed.


    Marei shrugged, a sly grin spreading across her face. "A girl''s gotta have hobbies."


    Edric took a cautious step back, eyeing Marei with suspicion. "You''re terrifying, you know that?"


    "And you''re slow on the uptake," I said, leaning back and stretching my arms.


    "Exactly!" Marei said, snapping her fingers. "Someone gets it. Now, about this wall... Sacer, you want to get all fancy and technical with your rebuilding process, right? If it falls, Edric will not let you live it down.¡±


    "And if Edric''s ''brute force'' method collapses," Sacer countered, "I''ll be sure to document it for the historical archives of utter incompetence."


    "Oh, you''re on!" Edric said, grabbing a hammer and a stack of wood planks. "I''ll have this wall standing stronger than ever before you can say ''Edric is the best''!"


    "Edric is the best," Sacer deadpanned.


    I chuckled, watching the show. "You guys are ridiculous. But entertaining."


    "Speak for yourself," Marei said, grabbing a nearby stone and examining it. "I¡¯m just here to see if anyone messes up spectacularly."


    "And to ensure no one gets too hurt," I added, winking at her. "Someone¡¯s gotta keep the peace."


    "Don¡¯t pretend you¡¯re some kind of saint, Luca," Edric grunted, hammering a plank into place with a resounding thwack. "You¡¯re just enjoying the chaos."


    "I prefer to think of it as ''observing my best friends''," I said, feigning a thoughtful expression. "But chaos works too."


    Sacer, meanwhile, had finished his portion of the damaged wall. "There," he said, dusting off his hands. "It''ll survive a siege now."


    Edric scoffed. "A siege? We''re fixing a wall, not building a fortress!"


    "What¡¯s wrong with being prepared," Sacer replied, crossing his arms. "Especially with you around."


    "Alright, alright," Marei interrupted, clapping her hands. "Enough with the ego measuring. I''m gonna go find some more rubble to clear. Luca, wanna help me move some of those bigger pieces?"


    "Sure," I said, standing up and stretching. "Anything to get away from dumb and dumber."


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    As we walked towards the pile of debris, I glanced back at Edric and Sacer, still arguing about the structural integrity of the wall. "They''re never going to change, are they?"


    Marei grinned. "Nope. And that''s why we love them."


    "Love them?" I echoed, raising an eyebrow as we approached a particularly large chunk of shattered archway. "More like ¡®tolerate them.¡¯"


    Marei shrugged, her grin widening. "They''re just passionate." She crouched, testing the weight of the stone. "Okay, this one''s a two-person job. You take that end, I''ll take this one. On three, heave-ho?"


    "Heave-ho," I agreed, grabbing the rough edge of the stone. "One... two... three!" We strained, lifting the heavy piece and shuffling it towards a growing pile of rubble.


    "So," Marei said, as we rested for a moment, catching our breath. "Anything on your mind?"


    "Just... thinking," I replied, avoiding her gaze. "About everything that''s happened. Draemoor, the fight, the... future."


    "Future''s a big word," she said, nodding slowly. "Especially with everything still so uncertain. But we''re here, we''re fixing things. We¡¯re together. That''s something, right?"


    "I know," I said, meeting her eyes. "It''s just... sometimes it feels like we''re putting bandages on a wound that keeps reopening."


    Marei sighed, her expression softening. "I get it. But even bandages help, right? They keep the infection from spreading. And maybe, just maybe, if we keep patching things up, eventually the wound will heal."


    "Maybe," I said, looking out over the ruined plaza. "I hope you''re right."


    "I usually am," she said, her grin returning. "Now, enough inner-turmoil. We have more rubble to move before those two destroy any more of the capital with their construction ¡®techniques¡¯."


    We went back to work, the rhythmic clang of hammer¡¯s filling the air. As we moved the heavy stones, I felt a sense of purpose, a small flicker of hope amidst the destruction.


    "You know," Marei said, after we''d moved another particularly large piece, "I''m glad we''re doing this. It feels... meaningful."


    "Me too," I said, wiping sweat from my brow. "It''s like we''re building something new out of the old."


    "Exactly," she said, her eyes sparkling. "And who knows? Maybe we''ll build something even better than what was here before."


    "That''s a nice thought," I said, a genuine smile spreading across my face.


    We worked in comfortable silence for a while, the weight of the stones a grounding presence in the midst of the chaos. The sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the plaza.


    "Alright," Marei said, straightening up and stretching. "I think that''s enough for today. My arms are starting to feel like they''re made of lead."


    "Mine too," I admitted, flexing my fingers. "Let''s call it a day."


    As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the ruined plaza, we made our way towards the makeshift camp where the survivors had gathered. It was a cluster of tents and temporary shelters, a small haven amidst the devastation. The air was thick with the smell of woodsmoke and cooking food, a comforting contrast to the acrid scent of burnt rubble.


    Edric, ever the pragmatist, immediately began scouting for a suitable spot for our group. "Over here," he called, waving us towards a relatively clear patch of ground. "Plenty of room for us four."


    Marei, however, veered off in a different direction. "I''ll find my own spot," she said, her voice slightly muffled as she disappeared into the maze of tents. "See you all in the morning."


    Edric watched her go, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Well, well, well," he said, turning to me with a raised eyebrow. "Look who''s playing hard to get. Surprised you''re not going with her, Luca. Especially since you two haven''t seen each other in a while."


    My cheeks flushed a warm crimson. "Shut up, Edric," I muttered, shoving him playfully. "She just wants her own space."


    "Sure, sure," he chuckled, dodging my clumsy push. "And I''m just a humble, misunderstood boy. You two are as transparent as glass."


    Sacer, who had been quietly observing the exchange, sighed dramatically. "Can you two give it a rest? We''re in a camp full of displaced people, and you''re acting like children."


    "He started it," Edric protested, pointing at me.


    "I did not," I retorted, crossing my arms.


    "Boys, boys," Sacer said, shaking his head. "Let''s just set up camp and get some rest. We''ve all had a long day."


    We found a relatively flat area and began to unpack our meager belongings. Edric, despite his teasing, was surprisingly efficient at setting up our makeshift shelter, while Sacer lit a small, flickering fire. We fell into a comfortable silence, the crackling fire our only companion. The weight of the day began to settle upon us, and a sense of exhaustion washed over me.


    "I think I''m going to turn in," I said, stifling a yawn. "Goodnight, you two."


    "Night, Luca," they replied in unison.


    I found a relatively comfortable spot on the ground and wrapped myself in my cloak. As I drifted off to sleep, I couldn''t help but think about Marei, alone in her tent. I hoped she was alright.


    I stirred awake, the scent of damp earth filling my nostrils. My head throbbed slightly, a reminder of the week''s exertions. As I sat up, I saw Marei standing over me, a mischievous glint in her eyes.


    "Morning, sleepyhead," she said, her voice a soft whisper. "Wanna get some water with me?"


    I hesitated, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. "Sure, why not?"


    As we walked through the still-sleeping camp, I couldn''t shake the feeling that Marei was watching me intently. I glanced at her, and she quickly looked away, her cheeks dusted with pink.


    "You know," she began, her voice barely a murmur, "I like your hair like this."


    I raised an eyebrow, surprised. "You do?"


    "Yeah," she said, her gaze fixed on the ground. "It suits you. Just gives off ¡®Luca¡¯ vibes."


    I felt a warmth spread through me. "Thanks," I mumbled, feeling a little self-conscious. "I guess I never really thought about it before."


    Marei smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "You''re welcome. And," she added, her voice dropping to a whisper, "I adore the fact that you''re not hiding your face anymore."


    I blushed again, feeling a surge of warmth in my chest. It was true. For the longest time, I''d kept my hood pulled up, my face obscured by shadows. But lately, ever since Fatalis, I''d found myself pulling my hood back more often, letting the sunlight touch my face.


    "Thanks," I said, my voice barely audible. "It feels¡­ good."


    We walked in comfortable silence for a while, the sound of our footsteps crunching on the fallen leaves the only sound breaking the stillness. As we neared the stream, Marei stopped abruptly, her eyes widening.


    "Wow," she breathed, her voice filled with a strange mixture of excitement and melancholy. "This takes me back."


    I looked at her, puzzled. "What do you mean?"


    "The first time I saw your eyes," she said, her gaze fixed on the sparkling water. "It was at a stream just like this."


    I blinked, completely taken aback. "You¡­ you remember?"


    "Of course I remember," she said, a wistful smile playing on her lips. "Your eyes," she murmured, "they were like¡­ like fireflies trapped in amber. I''ve never seen anything like them before."


    I felt a strange tingling sensation in my chest, a mix of embarrassment and¡­ something else. Something I couldn''t quite name.


    "I¡­ I¡¯m surprised. Honestly," I stammered, feeling my face burn.


    Marei laughed, a light, tinkling sound. She reached out and touched my arm, her fingers lingering for a moment. "I could never forget, Luca."


    The air between us crackled with a tension I couldn''t quite understand.


    "We should probably fill our canteens," I said, my voice a little shaky. "Before someone else gets here."


    Marei nodded, her smile fading slightly. "Right. Water."


    We knelt beside the stream, scooping up the cool, clear water with our hands and filling our canteens. The sound of the rushing water was strangely soothing, a balm to the lingering anxieties of the past few days.As we walked back to camp, the sun had risen higher in the sky, casting a warm glow over the shattered landscape. I glanced at Marei, her face bathed in the golden light. And for the first time, I realized that maybe, just maybe, this wasn''t just a simple water-fetching expedition.

 Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Brothers Umbra

    The chisel bites into the stone, carving another name into the surface.


    Marc.


    Geralt.


    Yelena.


    Mara.


    Roderick.


    The rhythm of it has become second nature by now¡ªthe careful strokes, the controlled pressure. This monument, these names, they deserve to be remembered. I step back, wiping dust from my hands as the wind moves through the ruins of Draemoor, whistling through the wasteland.


    It¡¯s been a month. Five since everything changed. Since I changed.


    ¡°I thought I¡¯d find you here.¡± Marei¡¯s voice carries through the empty space, warm and familiar. She steps closer, fingers tracing the freshly carved names. Her dark hair is loose, catching in the breeze as she reads them. ¡°You¡¯ve been at this all day.¡±


    I shrug, leaning my weight against the stone. ¡°They deserve it.¡±


    A pause. Then, softly, ¡°So do you.¡±


    I don¡¯t answer right away. The words settle between us, and I let them. Instead, I reach for my chisel again, pressing it to the stone. ¡°Almost done.¡±


    She doesn¡¯t try to stop me. Marei understands. So she just sits down nearby, pulling her knees up, watching me work. The silence between us is comfortable, filled only with the steady scrape of metal on stone.


    After a while, Marei exhales and stretches her arms over her head. ¡°You know you¡¯re gonna be late, right?¡±


    I don¡¯t look up. ¡°For what?¡±


    She scoffs. ¡°Luca.¡±


    I glance at her, feigning confusion. ¡°No idea what you¡¯re talking about.¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh.¡±


    ¡°Sounds made up.¡±


    ¡°Oh, definitely.¡±


    I finally grin, setting the chisel down with a sigh. ¡°I suppose I should humor him, huh?¡±


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t kill you,¡± she teases. ¡°Probably.¡±


    I dust my hands off and turn to her, tilting my head toward the road. ¡°You coming?¡±


    She raises a brow. ¡°You really think I¡¯d let you go alone?¡±


    ¡°Figured you¡¯d get sick of me eventually.¡±


    She rolls her eyes, but she¡¯s smiling. ¡°Not a chance.¡±


    We make our way back to the horse-drawn cart, the quiet weight left behind us. The sun hangs low in the sky, casting golden light over the road ahead. I take one last look over my shoulder at the monument, the names carved deep into stone, permanent. I hope that¡¯s enough.


    I take my seat, and Marei does the same beside me. She adjusts the reins, but I catch the way her gaze lingers on me, thoughtful, considering.


    ¡°What?¡± I ask, smirking.


    She shakes her head, but there¡¯s amusement in her voice. ¡°Nothing. Just thinking.¡±


    ¡°Dangerous habit.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d know.¡±


    I chuckle. The steady rhythm of hoofbeats fills the air as we ride. The road stretches ahead, winding back toward the capital, toward everything waiting for us there.


    For a while, neither of us spoke. The silence isn¡¯t uncomfortable. It never is with her. But there¡¯s something about today that makes me want to say something. I glance at her, watching the way the fading sunlight catches in her eyes. ¡°You really think I deserve it?¡±


    She doesn¡¯t ask what I mean. She just looks at me, considering. ¡°Yes.¡±


    I exhale, letting my fingers drum against the reins. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll ever believe that.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s okay,¡± she says. ¡°I¡¯ll believe it for you.¡±


    Something tightens in my chest. I don¡¯t know what to say to that, so I don¡¯t. Instead, I focus on the road ahead, on the way home.


    Eventually, Marei breaks the quiet again. ¡°So, this thing we¡¯re headed to. You really gonna pretend you forgot?¡±


    ¡°Pretend?¡± I echo. ¡°You wound me. I genuinely have no idea what you¡¯re talking about.¡±


    She snorts. ¡°Uh-huh. The fancy clothes in your bag say otherwise.¡±


    I sigh, shaking my head. ¡°Damn. Thought I hid those better.¡±


    She grins. ¡°Not from me.¡±


    I narrow my eyes playfully. ¡°You go through my things often?¡±


    ¡°Only when I think you¡¯re hiding something.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    She tilts her head, pretending to consider. ¡°You¡¯re terrible at hiding things.¡±


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    ¡°That is a bold lie, and you know it.¡±


    She laughs, shaking her head. ¡°Sure, Luca.¡±


    I huff, adjusting my hold on the reins. ¡°You¡¯re lucky I like you.¡±


    ¡°I am, actually.¡±


    I blink at that, caught off guard by the honesty in her voice. When I glance over, she¡¯s looking ahead, as if she didn¡¯t just say something that makes my chest feel like it¡¯s caving in.


    The road stretches on, and I should let it go, but I don¡¯t. ¡°Marei?¡±


    ¡°Mm?¡±


    I swallow. ¡°I¡¯m lucky, too.¡±


    She looks at me then, really looks at me, and whatever she sees in my expression makes her smile soften. ¡°I know.¡±


    As we ride, Marei reaches out, fingers brushing against mine. It¡¯s not an accident this time. Neither of us pull away. Instead, I shift my hand, letting my fingers tangle with hers.


    We ride on, together, toward whatever comes next.


    The streets of the capital are alive with movement, the energy of the crowd surging like a tide. Marei and I move with them, weaving through the cacophony as voices rise in anticipation. I can see it in their faces¡ªthe weight of what this day means. A turning point, the start of something new.


    Marei nudges me with her elbow. ¡°Still pretending you have no idea what¡¯s going on?¡±


    I smirk. ¡°What, this? Just a normal day in the capital.¡±


    ¡°Oh, right. The banners, the music, the stage? Totally normal.¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    She rolls her eyes, but she¡¯s smiling. ¡°You are impossible.¡±


    We step into the square, the very place where everything began five months ago. Where my flames first erupted. Where the course of my life, of Sacer¡¯s life, changed forever.


    A stage stands at the far end, draped in deep blues and golds. At its center, Sacer stands tall, his ceremonial armor catching the afternoon light. To his right, Edric shifts on his feet, fidgeting in a way that makes it obvious he hates the formality of the moment. On Sacer¡¯s left stands Alden, his broad frame steady, his remaining arm resting on the hilt of his sword. The empty sleeve where his other arm once was is neatly fastened, a quiet testament to what was lost.


    The noise settles as Sacer steps forward, his golden eyes sweeping over the crowd. When he speaks, his voice carries, steady and sure. ¡°A month ago, everything changed.¡±


    The square is silent, hanging on his every word.


    ¡°With the fall of King Calor, the truth of our past came to light. The betrayals. The injustices committed by those who called themselves ¡®good¡¯.¡± He pauses, letting the words settle. ¡°I know what you want. A new king. A new beginning. But I¡­ I am not that man.¡±


    A murmur runs through the crowd, uncertain.


    ¡°I was born to this bloodline, yes. I am Gabriel, but that does not mean I am the one who should lead. Ruling is more than just birthright. It is wisdom, it is strength, and it is knowing when to step aside.¡±


    He turns then, his gaze landing on Alden. ¡°And there is one among us who has already proven himself.¡±


    Alden stiffens slightly, his brow furrowing. Sacer smiles. ¡°The man who defended this city, who didn¡¯t fight for a throne but for the people who live here. The man who stood when others fell.¡±


    The realization ripples through the crowd. Alden¡¯s eyes widen slightly, his usual composure cracking just for a second before he exhales sharply, shaking his head. ¡°Sacer¡ª¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the leader they need,¡± Sacer says simply. ¡°And you know it.¡±


    The silence stretches, then, like the slow rising of the tide, a chant begins. Alden¡¯s name, carried by the voices of those who fought beside him, those who owe their lives to his strength.


    Marei leans close, her voice a quiet murmur. ¡°Did you see that coming?¡±


    I exhale through my nose, watching as Alden runs a hand over his face, clearly overwhelmed. ¡°For once? No.¡±


    She smirks. ¡°Guess there¡¯s a first time for everything.¡±


    I don¡¯t argue. Because, for the first time in a long time, I don¡¯t feel like the world is pressing down on me. I just watch as Alden takes a slow breath, straightens, and steps forward to meet his fate.


    ¡ª


    The wooden door creaks as I push it open, the familiar scent of aged timber and dried herbs filling my lungs. Dust lingers in the air, swirling in the shafts of light spilling through the windows. Our childhood home is smaller than I remember. The walls, once lively with the scent of cooking and the warmth of a fire, now stand silent, holding nothing but memories.


    Sacer steps in behind me, his boots scuffing against the worn floorboards. He exhales slowly, glancing around. ¡°Feels different.¡±


    I nod. ¡°Feels empty.¡±


    The table is still there, the chairs slightly askew, as if someone had just left. Our father¡¯s old coat hangs by the door, untouched. There are still books stacked beside his favorite chair, open to pages he had once been reading. The sight makes my chest tighten.


    ¡°He really just left everything,¡± Sacer murmurs, running a hand along the back of a chair. ¡°Like he¡¯d be coming right back.¡±


    I swallow past the lump in my throat. ¡°Maybe he thought he would.¡±


    We both know that isn¡¯t true.


    Sacer moves to the small shelf above the fireplace, fingers brushing over the carved wooden figures he and I used to play with. ¡°Remember when he carved these for us?¡± he asks, picking up a knight with a dulled edge.


    I smirk. ¡°You always made yours the hero.¡±


    ¡°Well, I had to. Most fitting role for me.¡±


    ¡°So that automatically makes me the bad guy, huh?¡±


    He snorts. ¡°Sure.¡±


    For a while, we don¡¯t speak. We let the silence settle, filled only by the distant chirping of birds outside. Eventually, Sacer leans against the table, arms crossed. ¡°You ever think about them?¡±


    I don¡¯t have to ask who he means. ¡°Our birth parents?¡±


    He nods.


    ¡°Sometimes,¡± I admit. ¡°But there¡¯s not much to think about. We don¡¯t really know them.¡±


    ¡°Rayn and Lucille,¡± Sacer says, like the names themselves hold weight. His golden eyes meet mine, something unreadable in them. ¡°Do you ever wonder if they would have wanted us?¡±


    I hesitate. ¡°I think so.¡±


    Sacer doesn¡¯t push for more. Maybe because he already knows my answer is more hope than truth.


    He sighs and shakes his head, clearly trying to shift the mood. ¡°Enough brooding.¡± His lips curl into a smirk. ¡°So. You and Marei, huh?¡±


    I roll my eyes. ¡°What about us?¡±


    ¡°When¡¯s the wedding?¡±


    I snort. ¡°Guess that depends. You gonna be my best man?¡±


    He grins. ¡°Of course. But only if I get to make a really embarrassing speech.¡±


    ¡°Only if you keep Edric occupied.¡±


    We laugh, the sound easy and familiar, like the months of distance between us had never happened. It feels good.


    The moment settles into something softer, more thoughtful. The weight of everything unspoken lingers in the quiet, until Sacer finally breaks it.


    ¡°You¡¯re gonna look for him, right?¡±


    I meet his gaze. There¡¯s no need to clarify who ¡®him¡¯ is.


    I nod, a small smile tugging at my lips. ¡°I have to.¡±


    Sacer watches me for a moment before exhaling, nodding in return. ¡°Take Edric with you. He¡¯ll be useful.¡±


    I chuckle. ¡°You just don¡¯t want him getting into trouble here.¡±


    ¡°Maybe.¡±


    We both know that isn¡¯t true either.


    He shifts, rubbing the back of his neck. ¡°Marei¡¯s gonna fight you on this.¡±


    ¡°Of course she is.¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯re still going?¡±


    I smile. ¡°Of course I am.¡±


    He lets out a short laugh, shaking his head. ¡°Figures.¡±


    The capital needs its hero. And I need to find our father.