"There shouldn't be any demons here..." Zarria muttered.
Demons were on a whole another level from wild beasts. They were intelligent and they possessed a different power unique to demonkind. As strong as she was, fighting such enemies was out of Zarria's scope of abilities.
With fear in her eyes, she quickly turned to Dhein. "We should ru-"
Before she could finish, a deafening screech filled the air. When they looked below, one of the demons was already looking at them. And then another one spotted them. And then another. Until the whole camp was looking their way.
'Damn it!'
Dhein's mind was overloaded with fear, fear, and fear. When the horned ones started climbing the towers and running towards them to kill them, only Dhein, who had always been stuck in deadly situations, reacted quickly and grabbed his sister.
His intention was to protect her. But as the meteor that fell from the sky struck the encampment and wiped the demons out, the shockwave blew the two away. Zarria's stronger body hit the trees, the rocks, and then the ground, shielding Dhein from deadly impacts.
***
Dhein woke up first in the middle of rubble and burnt tree trunks. In his arms was his unconscious sister with minor wounds and scratches on her arms and back. Her expensive dress was also ragged and half burnt.
But knowing her, this would never be enough to seriously harm her. She was breathing steadily as though merely sleeping.
He got up, carrying Zarria in his arms. As he looked upon where the demon encampment used to be, what remained was smoking magma and destroyed weaponry. The tough bones of the demons were also visible in the ruins.
'Did a meteor just hit the encampment?!' Dhein asked in his mind.
He could never be thankful enough that the rock from space didn't veer just a couple of inches closer to them. That certainly would have killed them too!
As the sun was about to set, Dhein carried his sister back home.
They arrived at the gates of the manor. The moment the butlers saw them, they immediately took Zarria inside and performed the most advanced medical treatment to the sleeping child.
"Unbelievable..." the chief guard mumbled, staring at Dhein after hearing about what had happened.
"For months, we've been trying to track down that encampment! According to the investigations, they were developing weapons of mass destruction. They move to different places so quickly that we were never able to find them, but the young master had dealt with it in a single day!?"
The younger guards butted in:
"He defeated all of them and emerged unscathed!?"
"If you think about it, this whole thing isn't really all that surprising. We're talking about the boy who has slain a powerful dragon and took its mana core, solving the famine crisis in the whole empire."
There was indeed a time when Dhein brought home a dragon's core. He was but a toddler back then, Zarria wasn't even born yet, and so he couldn't remember clearly what had happened. But he was quite sure the dragon was already dead, pulverized even, when he'd found the core.
"Truly a generational prodigy.. How formidable.."
Dhein opened his mouth, the guards listened carefully.
"I really didn't do anything."
He never meant to tell the whole world that he was powerless. Those words were just begging to come out for the sake of his own conscience.
'All that, and he says he didn't even lift a finger?!!!' the guards thought.
The boy walked inside the mansion, leaving the folks bewildered, amazed, and terrified all at the same time. If he was capable of these unimaginable feats at such a young age, what kind of more ridiculous things could he achieve when he grows up?
Dhein pushed the double doors to the healing chamber and saw Zarria soundly sleeping. When his footsteps drew nearer, her eyes opened up slowly, instantly landing on Dhein.
"Zarria!" he ran to her bedside. "How are you feeling?! Does anywhere hurt?"
She sat up and shook her head.
"No, I'm perfectly fine. I don't even know why I lost consciousness in the first place. But it must be because of your raw power."
Dhein stared at her in disbelief, but he saw nothing but pure and genuine awe.
"Raw... power?"
Zarria continued.
"Yes. You used your full powers to save me from those demons, didn't you?"
'I didn't! A meteor just happened to hit their spot, and we almost died, too!'
She really was severely delusional. Did she not see with her sharp vision what had happened? Was the only conclusion really just Dhein defeating those demons?
"For a second there, I doubted your strength. I should have known that even demons don't stand a chance against you."
After pondering about it, he figured that this was no longer a harmless lie.
Zarria saw her brother as a powerful individual when in reality, he was the weakest in the empire. These expectations would certainly bring her harm in the future like what had happened today. She would tag along, thinking that her brother had the power to protect her, but when real danger comes, Dhein, at best, could only shield her with his fragile body. This lie would one day cause them harm, and the thought of Zarria being hurt because of his selfishness was unbearably enraging.
Compared to being exiled from the clan, seeing his sister get hurt was way more undesirable.
Head facing down, Dhein clenched his fists, gripping the bedsheets tightly.
"Zarria, I... have something to tell you."
The girl tilted her head, her usually indifferent eyes sparked with curiosity.
"What is it?"
He took a deep breath.
'It's about time... This lie needs to stop..'
He lifted his head and looked at his sister. He wondered how she would react upon hearing the truth—that her adored brother was actually a weakling who had been pretending to be powerful all along.
'I bet she'd be so disappointed... Maybe she will stop talking to me...'
His chest felt heavy. Using all his courage, he opened his mouth.
"Zarria... Actually, I'm—"
The doors were pushed open and a beautiful woman with blonde hair walked in. Her golden eyes scanned the room before landing on Zarria.
The two turned to her.
"Mother?"
She calmly walked up to them, sat beside Dhein and then spoke.
"I heard what happened. Are you feeling well now, dear?"
Zarria nodded and then replied:
"I wasn't hurt at all in the first place. It's just that Dhein's strength was too much for me to handle so I feinted."
Neral sighed.
"Is that so? Well, Dhein has been getting stronger these days. Train your body and mind to be strong enough to stand beside him."
"Yes, mother."
Neral turned to her son.
"And Dhein, you should try to control your powers more. You wouldn't want to hurt Zarria, would you?"
Dhein stared at his with demented eyes, dumbfounded.
'How... Where are they getting these delusions from?!'
"Very well, it's good to know that you aren't seriously harmed."
Neral stood up and then patted Zarria in the head before continuing, turning to Dhein.
"Dheinyrus, carrying the blood of Axerion Theocheirós, you have become the strongest human in this world. I'm glad that you're using that advantage well, and for the right purposes."
"You are indeed a worthy heir to the clan. Both having strength and compassion, you are destined to be a leader. Your father and I are really glad to have you two."
Though most of those words flew right over his head, Dhein realized his mother didn't often talk about this topic. He clenched his fist and took a deep breath, this might be the only chance he could get to ask:
"Mother, what would have happened if you didn't have a son?"
Neral raised a brow, seemingly intrigued about her son's hypothetical question.
"Well, without you, the famine eight years ago would have likely killed all of us. But in terms of family and political affairs, the clan would have had all sorts of problems."
Dhein swallowed, a drop of sweat rolled over his forehead.
"Like... what?"
"Without a male heir, our family would have been overthrown as clan heads. That might not sound so bad, since we would still be part of the Divinity Clan as members and enjoy the privileges. But..."
Neral intentionally lowered her tone, as though careful not to be heard by unwanted others.
"Your father, one of the five scions of the Divinity Clan, was chosen as the leader for a reason."
"His brothers are..., let's say, not as kind as him. The former clan head knew that full well. They were his sons, after all. If the authority over the clan falls to their hands, it might mean bad news not only for our clan, but to the world itself."
'Shit... that's true.'
His uncles weren't the kindest. They treated other people horribly because they can, and often used their powerful name unfairly for their own gain. In Dhein's opinion, they were tarnishing the clan's reputation. Leading the Divinity Clan was an honor that shouldn't fall to them.
They had sons—Dhein's cousins—who didn't seem as bad. Still, there were rumors about those boys tied to severe bullying. He had a feeling that they were two faced bastards.
'So I'm stuck as the heir, huh...'
In the end, he couldn't pass down his duty.
The lie had to go on.
"So, brother," Zarria spoke.
"What were you about to say? Something about... you were actually what?"
Dhein looked at his sister and then with the smirk that he'd practiced in the mirror countless times, he replied.
"Oh, I was about to say that I was actually holding back. If really used my full power, the entire ecosystem of the continent might be shaken by the sheer destructiveness of my strength."
***
[ NINE YEARS LATER ]
Seated at the center of the grand chamber was a young man. The empire's most skilled artisans surrounded him, masterfully embroidering details into the luxurious fabric draping his form. Their movements didn't seem as though they were working. In an organized fashion they styled his hair, dusted his face with powder, and polished his shoes as if worshiping a deity.
Reverence and fear—both hung thick in the air. After all, they lay their hands upon the strongest human in history. The only man to tame even the gods.
"Master Dheinyrus," one of the servants spoke, "Please rise and take a look at the final touches."
He stood. As the artists parted, a towering mirror rolled forward, reflecting a striking figure: dark-haired, golden-eyed, his features carved as if by divine chisel, light and shadow bending to his sculpted visage.
Every detail of his suit—obsidian fabric threaded with gold—was flawless. Even the tiniest stars stitched in gilt seemed alive, an illusion that captivated all who glimpsed the garment's celestial design.
And then, as for the final touch, a long, majestic, dark cape was hung on his left shoulder, elegantly cascading to the floor.
The servant asked:
"What do you think, young master?"
He nodded.
"This will do."
Though it flawlessly fitted his body, he couldn't help but feel irritated. The expensive garment wasn't too tight. It didn't feel uncomfortable to wear either. It was the purpose wearing it that made his stomach twist.
The double doors were opened for him and he walked outside of the dressing room. In the hallway, he was met by two beautiful women. One of them was a blonde, middle-aged woman in a simple white dress. With visible sparkle in her eyes, she clasped her hands while eyeing Dhein up and down before speaking.
"Oh.. Dhein, what a wonderful young man you are!"
She turned to the lead designer beside him and added:
"You did a wonderful job!"
The designer lowered her head before replying.
"I am honored, Lady Neral."
Neral turned back to her son. She held him firmly by the shoulders and then continued.
"With this, you're sure to be chosen as the princess' fiance! The other scions will not stand a chance!"
Perhaps that was better left unsaid.
Upon hearing those words, Dhein felt like vomiting on the spot. To fight the urge, he turned his head to the open windows in the hallway to look at the mist-laden mountain peaks, the lush forest below, and the green slopes of the gentle hills not far away. Immediately, the beautiful scenery toned down the sickening fear of dying tomorrow.
Tomorrow, he would attend a grand tournament between the five scions of the five biggest clans in the empire. The winner will be chosen as the princess' fiance, and their bloodline will be the next ruler of the continent. With all the rewards that the clan could gain by winning the tournament, Dhein had no reason not to join. He couldn't make up one.
The light from the window struck his side profile, accentuating his strong jawline and perfect nose. The ladies went silent at the sight of his magnificence, wondering about the deep, meaningful thoughts running inside his mind—
There were none.
The beautiful dark-haired girl beside Neral crossed her arms over her extravagant gown which mirrored Dhein's suit. Glittery stars woven on the fine silk lined the curves of her body, a perfect contrast to her dark gown that highlighted her fair, radiant skin. Her long, dark hair flowed to her shoulders with expensive accessories of diamond and silver hanging on them.
She scoffed and then said:
"Mother, the whole empire already knows that my brother is the obvious choice for the princess. This competition thing between the scions is merely for show to further emphasize the superiority of our clan."
Neral snickered at Zarria's statement.
"But of course."
They traversed the spacious hallway of the grand Theocheirós Manor before reaching the spiraling stairs leading to the great hall. On the ceiling high above, a massive chandelier hung steady in the middle of the giant paintings of celestial beings. The colossal pillars of rare stones had intricate carvings—designed to mimic how angels held up the heavens above the earth. Below was a spotless marble floor, shiny enough to reflect their images. Some parts were covered in pristine, black carpet. Most were left open to boast the maids' diligent work.
This Manor was the legacy that Dheinyrus Theocheirós was to inherit.
Outside, their people waited eagerly under the blue sky. A gentle breeze greeted them, as well as the carriage by the gate.
To others, it was a send off for their master Dheinyrus who was about to compete against the scions of the other clans.
To Dhein, it was a death sentence.
Neral waved good-bye as Zarria and Dhein boarded the carriage. Cheers of joy filled the air, the crowd certain that a member of the Divinity Clan would crown the next emperor.