In 1096 G.E., in a quiet corner of Eventua near the edge of the slums, an orphaned child could be seen hiding near a tree. The air carried the sharp smell of smoke from nearby celebrations, mixed with the shouts of vendors and the noise of the market. He sat and calmly read about Erithea's history. His hair was primarily black with streaks of white, and his face was ordinary. But his eyes stood out. They shone with a golden color that caught the light and made them hard to forget.
"What nonsense am I reading?" Alymur grumbled under his breath. Restless and bored, he had slipped away from the orphanage so that he could study in peace. As he ran his fingers absentmindedly over the book's worn pages, he paused, flipping it open to a random section. The book rambled on about the Golden Era, especially the Gods' Awakening, a tale so well-known that even children could recite it. With a mischievous grin, he mimicked the voice of a grandiose historian, waving his hands dramatically as if addressing an audience, 'And so, the mighty gods returned from their slumber! And Chaos ensued,' he mocked, his voice dripping with fanatical reverence. In his playful act, a scrap of paper, curled into a ball, flew towards him.
"Silence, you ungrateful brat. I spend my time teaching you, and all you do is complain." The words came from an older woman who seemed almost otherworldly. Her long, smooth red hair fell down her back, and her deep red eyes shone like rubies in the sun. She was beautiful, and her skin had a perfect jade color. Even though her words sounded harsh, there was a hint of amusement in her eyes, as if she found Alymur's behavior a little amusing. Mari often hid her real feelings behind a strict and cold attitude. She reached out to gently smooth Alymur's hair, a gesture that betrayed her deep affection, even if her voice didn't.
She was none other than his older sister, Mari, and was one of the few remaining family members he had in this world.
Alymur let out a sigh and glanced at her, a reluctant smile tugging at his lips.
"You really are no fun. Why can't you be more laid-"
Alymur, however, cut himself off as Mari's piercing gaze settled on him.
"Aly, we are not here to have fun; we might be family, but that doesn't mean you can speak to me casually while I'm teaching you," her stern voice rang in his head.
"Anyway, it's time for us to head back. The rest of our family is waiting for us," she said, her eyes lingering on something far beyond their little sanctuary.
Aly quickly stood up, his face gleaming with childish innocence, and dashed toward the orphanage. Mari followed him calmly, her watchful gaze lingering on her younger brother.
'What a careless child'
Unknown to others, beneath her cold exterior, she secretly hid a truly obsessive brother complex. A trait she fiercely kept hidden from prying eyes. She wistfully remembered how she would occasionally sing to him at night just so that he could sleep calmly. Her love for her brother truly knows no bounds. Well, to be precise, everyone in his family was obsessed with each other. They seem to only care for each other and would seemingly kill or die trying to help one another. Aly who is the youngest amongst them all, was arguably the most doted and spoiled one. Aly himself would not deny that his family was rather odd, but he also wouldn't deny that he didn't enjoy the warmth and affection he received from them. After all, in this world, they only had each other.
The two quickly and quietly moved towards the direction of the Orphanage, unbothered by the numerous gazes and comments they received. Upon closer inspection, one might even see that people were actively avoiding them as if they did not want to associate themselves with the two particular individuals.