"Heroes don't need to smile. But brothers do."
— Aeyra Vordrakar, Age 9
Scene 1: A Morning Too Peaceful
Kaien woke to a strange feeling.
Silence.
No explosions. No alarms. No prophecies bleeding ink.
Just… the sound of Aren snoring into a pillow and Aeyra humming in the hallway.
"They're up to something," Kaien muttered.
Valenya, sipping tea at the kitchen counter:
"Of course they are. It's quiet."
Kaien: "That's what I mean."
Scene 2: Aeyra's Attack (ft. Paint)
As Kaien stepped out of his room, Aeyra leapt from a curtain rod like a tiny gremlin warlord —
And slammed a glowing rune-paint stamp onto his forehead.
"Tag! You're now 'Emperor of Brooding!'"
Kaien blinked.
"You're getting bold."
Aeyra: "I trained for this. You sleep like a statue."
Kaien: "That's because I am one inside."
Aeyra: "That's sad. I'm painting your cloak next."
Scene 3: Aren's New Device: The "Sibling Sorter 9000"
At breakfast, Aren rolled in a floating platform covered in dials, wires, and probably regret.
"Behold: the Sibling Sorter! It scans brainwaves and ranks who's the best sibling!"
Kaien: "Burn it."
Aren: "Too late! You're in last place."
Aeyra (giggling): "I'm in first!"
Valenya (without looking up): "I destroyed your last invention, remember?"
Aren: "…Valenya wins."
Kaien: "I demand a recount."
Aren: "Denied."
Scene 4: Light Sparring, Light Chaos
Valenya offered Kaien a sparring match.
He accepted.
Five minutes later, Aeyra sat refereeing in a lawn chair with a sparkly judge's staff.
Aeyra: "Valenya gets points for elegance. Kaien gets half a point for effort."
Kaien: "Half?"
Aeyra: "You grunted. That counts."
Aren launched confetti after every dodge.
No one knew why.
No one stopped him.
Scene 5: Emotional Undercurrent
Later that night, after the chaos and the laughter…
Kaien found Aeyra asleep in the hallway, curled up with one of his old coats.
He didn't wake her.
He just sat beside her, back against the wall.
Valenya passed by, paused, and whispered:
"You don't always have to protect us."
"I know," Kaien replied.
"…But I want to."
She smiled faintly and walked on.
Final Scene: The Family Dinner
Candles. Laughter.
Olivia joined quietly. Vaeyra brought a strange fruit no one could pronounce.
They passed dishes. Told jokes. Compared scars.
Kaien didn't say much.
But his shoulders were relaxed.
His gaze softened.
And when Aeyra leaned against him during dessert, he didn't move away.