The afternoon sun shone over the farmlands. A young Valak, no older than five, ran through the tall grass with a smile on his face. A small dog chased after him, barking excitedly as the two raced around the field. Valak let out a burst of laughter as the dog caught up. The dog tackled Valak into the ground. Valak was now being licked to death by his best friend. He quickly got back to his feet and continued running, enjoying every moment of their game.
Standing at the edge of the field was Kalak, his short black hair slightly tousled by the breeze. His pointed ears and rugged features gave him a distinctive appearance. His simple farming clothes showed the life he had built for his family. Beside him stood Laena, her long white hair falling behind her shoulders as her red eyes followed their son as he raced through the grass.
"When should we tell him?" Laena asked.
Kalak turned towards her, looking slightly confused. "Tell him what?"
Her smile grew as she placed a hand gently against her stomach. "He is going to be a big brother."
For a second, Kalak simply stared at her, taking a second to comprehend what she had just said. Then his expression changed, and his eyes began to water.
"This better not be a joke, Laena."
She chuckled softly. "The doctor said I'm eight weeks along now."
Kalak's face broke into a wide smile as he pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. "This is amazing!"
They embraced for a moment as both were overwhelmed with happiness. Their family was about to grow, and neither could have been more excited about what the future held. Then, without warning, a violent red explosion erupted from the field. The blast sent a shockwave across the farmland, shaking the ground beneath their feet. Kalak and Laena immediately turned towards the explosion. Their smiles vanished, replaced by expressions of pure horror.
"Valak!" Laena screamed.
The two rushed towards the source of the blast, desperately searching through the smoke and dust. As they approached, they spotted their son sitting in the grass, crying. Strange red energy flickered and twisted around his small body, crackling against the ground beneath him.
"Valak!" Laena called again, rushing towards him.
She dropped to her knees and pulled him into her arms, holding him tightly against her chest. Valak continued crying, clearly frightened by what had just happened. His parents exchanged confused looks, neither understanding what they were witnessing. Kalak noticed something lying a short distance away. Their dog was motionless in the grass.
He stared at it, slowly realising that it was no longer moving. His expression hardened with concern as he looked back towards his son. Laena followed his gaze, and her eyes widened as she saw the lifeless animal. She tightened her embrace around Valak, gently stroking the back of his head.
"Everything will be okay," she whispered.
Kalak stood beside them, his eyes moving between the red energy surrounding his son and the dog lying motionless nearby. He looked towards Laena, concern written across his face. Neither of them knew what had happened, or what the strange power inside their child meant.
Later that night, Kalak and Laena sat together at the kitchen table. Neither had said much since the incident in the field. The silence between them was becoming difficult to bear. They had spent the evening trying to make sense of what happened, but neither could explain the strange red energy that had surrounded their son.
Kalak finally broke the silence. "We need to talk about what happened today."
Laena remained quiet as her gaze was fixed on the table. Her mind was elsewhere, struggling to process everything that had happened. This was supposed to be a happy time for their family. They were expecting another child, yet instead of celebrating, they were now facing the possibility of losing their firstborn.
"Laena, look at me," Kalak said as he reached across the table and gently took her hands. She slowly lifted her head, meeting his eyes as tears began to form in hers.
"They will come for him now," she whispered. "Our baby boy will be taken away."
Kalak leaned closer, trying to reassure her. "There is no guarantee that he is one of them."
Laena shook her head, struggling to hold back her tears. "You heard what they said. The Gods will gift four children with their powers. When they awaken, they are required to go to the Angelic home world."
Kalak tightened his grip around her hands. "Honey, look at me. We will not allow them to take our son."
"But how?" she asked, her voice trembling. "We can't just stop their soldiers."
"We don't have to fight them," Kalak replied. "We can leave. There are worlds in the outer regions, far away from the war and their control. We could take our family somewhere they won't find us."
Laena looked at him for a moment, considering what he had said. She knew how dangerous such a decision would be, but the thought of losing Valak was something she couldn't bear. After a moment, she slowly nodded.
"Then we leave tonight," Kalak said. "Get your things ready. We'll take only what we need."
They released each other's hands and stood from the table. Neither wasted another moment as they began gathering their belongings. Laena went into Valak's room to wake him up. Valak opened his tired eyes up to the gentle sound of his mothers voice.
"Val... Val... We are going to go on holiday. I need you to pack some clothes quickly," she gently said.
Valak was still trying to wake up and process what was happening. His mother left his room in a hurry. Valak slowly got out of bed and wiped his eyes before pulling out his bag. He started to place some of his clothes and toys into his bag. In the next moment, he was exiting his room to see his mom and dad standing there all packed and ready.
Kalak looked down at his son, who was still holding his packed bag. Despite the late hour, Valak seemed excited about the adventure his parents had promised him.
"Ready to go on an adventure?" Kalak asked with a smile.
Valak's face lit up. "Let's go!"
Kalak opened the front door, but before they could step outside, a blinding light flooded the entrance. Valak squinted as he looked towards the sky, where an enormous spaceship hovered above their farmhouse. Its powerful lights illuminated the surrounding fields, while dozens of Angelic soldiers stood below, surrounding the property.
Kalak immediately stepped forward, placing himself between the soldiers and his family. A figure dressed in white armor approached them, carrying a sword at his side. He appeared to be the leader of the group, and his expression showed little interest in conversation.
"We have come for the boy," he announced.
Kalak looked at him, keeping his voice calm. "I'm sorry, what do you mean by that?"
"Your boy has awakened one of the Gods' powers. Under Angelic law, he is required to come with us to the home world, where he will be trained to become a vital figure in the war for peace."
Kalak glanced briefly towards Valak before looking back at the soldier. "I'm sorry, but you must be mistaken. Our son is just a regular Alvari."
The leader's expression began to harden. "You can either hand the boy over and come with us willingly, or we will take him by force. The choice is yours."
"Our boy is not a weapon for you to use!" Laena shouted.
The leader gave a small motion with his hand, signaling his soldiers to move in. Kalak immediately dropped the bags and stepped forward, catching the first soldier with a punch to the face. The Angelic stumbled backwards and fell to the ground.
"You will not take our son!" Kalak yelled.
Two more soldiers moved towards him, but he refused to back down. He turned towards Laena, knowing they had very little time.
"Take Val and run! I'll hold them off!" he yelled.
Laena stared at him, struggling to accept what he was asking her to do.
"Go!" Kalak shouted. "I love you, all three of you, very much."
He charged forward, tackling one of the soldiers to the ground before repeatedly punching him. Laena grabbed Valak and hurried back through the house, carrying him away from the fighting.
More soldiers surrounded Kalak, attempting to restrain him. He fought them off as best he could, refusing to let them get past him. However, the leader approached from behind and struck him across the head with the hilt of his sword.
Kalak staggered before collapsing onto the ground, dazed and struggling to lift himself. The leader stood over him, looking down with a faint smile.
"It's a shame your boy won't remember you," he said.
Before Kalak could react, the leader drove his sword through his back.
"DAD!!!"
Valak had turned towards the open front door just in time to see his father fall. His little voice carried across the farmhouse as he screamed, desperately trying to reach him. Laena's eyes filled with tears. She knew there was no time to stop, so she tightened her grip around Valak and continued running. Reaching the back of the house, she kicked the door open and rushed outside, hoping to escape through the fields.
But two soldiers were already waiting for them. One stepped forward and struck Laena across the face, sending her crashing to the ground. Valak slipped from her arms, but before she could reach him, the second soldier grabbed the boy and lifted him away.
"Mom! Mom!" Valak screamed, reaching desperately towards her.
Laena struggled to lift herself from the ground. Her face was bruised, and tears streamed down her cheeks as she looked at her son. She knew what was about to happen, but she wanted him to hear one last thing from her.
"Mommy loves you, Val. So does your sister."
Valak stared at her, still reaching out with both hands. The soldier holding him raised his sword. In the next moment, the blade came down, and Laena's head was severed from her body. Valak stopped screaming.
His eyes remained fixed on his mother as his expression slowly changed. He no longer understood what was happening around him. He could only stare, frozen in horror, as the soldiers held him in place.
The soldiers dragged Valak away from the farmhouse, carrying him towards the waiting spaceship. He barely reacted as they moved him, his eyes fixed on the home he had once known. Behind him, the leader turned towards the remaining soldiers.
"Burn everything. Leave nothing behind."
The soldiers immediately began setting fire to the farmhouse. Flames spread across the wooden structure, quickly consuming the walls and roof. Before long, the bodies of Kalak and Laena were carried inside and thrown into the burning house. The Angelics intended to make it appear as though the family had perished in a tragic fire, leaving no evidence of what had actually happened.
Valak watched from the soldiers' arms as the flames grew larger. His home, his parents and the life he had known were disappearing before his eyes. He didn't understand why any of this was happening. He only knew that he would never see his mother or father again.
The soldiers carried him aboard the spaceship, and the entrance closed behind them. The farmhouse continued burning in the distance as the ship prepared to depart.
Inside, the leader approached another group of soldiers. "Take the boy to the Memory Room. Prepare the equipment."
They acknowledged the order and carried Valak through the corridors of the ship. He remained silent throughout the journey, his expression empty as he stared ahead. Eventually, they entered a medical chamber containing a specialised bed and several pieces of unfamiliar equipment.
The soldiers placed Valak on the bed and secured his arms and legs with restraints. One of them brought over a mechanical device and carefully positioned it over his head. Several cables connected the device to a nearby control station, where the energy levels could be monitored and adjusted. Valak barely moved as they prepared the equipment.
The leader approached the side of the bed and looked down at him. "When this is all over, you will never remember what happened."
Valak closed his eyes. Somewhere beneath the shock and fear, he held onto the only thing he could think about. His parents were gone, and his little sister would never get the chance to be born. He couldn't let himself forget them.
"I will avenge my mom," he whispered. "I will avenge my dad. I will avenge my sister."
He repeated the words quietly, holding onto them as tightly as he could. The first surge of energy passed through the device. Valak's entire body jolted as the energy flooded his mind. His muscles tightened against the restraints, and a sharp scream escaped his mouth. The equipment began targeting the memories stored within his mind, overwhelming his brain with a controlled energy that was designed to erase everything connected to his previous life.
The first surge eventually stopped. Valak lay trembling on the medical bed, struggling to catch his breath. His eyes slowly opened, and despite the pain, he continued repeating the words that had kept him fighting.
"I will avenge my mom. I will avenge my dad. I will avenge my sister."
The leader watched him for a moment before turning towards the control station. "Increase the output. Begin again."
The soldiers adjusted the equipment, and another surge of energy flooded through Valak's mind. His screams echoed throughout the spaceship as he struggled against the restraints. The procedure continued, wave after wave, each one targeting more of the memories he was desperately trying to protect. For hours, the process continued.
Eventually, Valak could no longer fight against the energy. His body fell still against the medical bed, and the words he had repeated for so long finally stopped. The memories of Kalak, Laena and the sister he had never met were gone. The Angelics had taken everything from him, and now they had taken away the memories that would have allowed him to remember it.
Valak's eyes opened. He stared at the ceiling for a while, blinking against the light coming through the windows. His head throbbed. When he tried to sit up, a dull ache spread across his temples. It forced him to pause with one hand pressed against his forehead.
Where was he?
He pushed the covers aside and looked around. The room was unfamiliar. A neatly made bed, a wardrobe, a small table beside the window. Everything was clean and orderly, but none of it belonged to him. He searched his mind for some clue as to how he'd ended up there. However, nothing.
A low rumble drew his attention. Valak turned towards the window just as several vehicles swept past the building, their engines fading into the distance. He climbed out of bed and approached the glass. The sight stopped him.
A vast city stretched beneath the morning sky. Towering buildings rose above the streets, connected by elevated walkways and glowing airways. Vehicles moved between them in organised streams, while crowds of Angelic beings filled the roads below. Some walked between shops and buildings, others gathered in small groups, going about their day as though this was the most ordinary place in the world.
Valak placed a hand against the glass. He had never seen anything like it. A knock sounded behind him. He turned as the door opened, revealing a young Angelic woman. She stepped inside with a cheerful smile, carrying herself with the ease of someone who had visited this room countless times before.
"Master Valak, how are we feeling this morning?" she asked.
"I'm fine. Who are you?" Valak questioned.
The woman stopped. For a second, she seemed to study him before letting out a small laugh. "Oh, Master Valak, you're too funny. It's me, Jetley."
Valak said nothing as her smile faltered slightly.
"Your caretaker," she added.
"My caretaker?" he questioned.
Jetley looked at him for another moment, then shook her head with a playful smile. "We don't have time for this. Today is your big day!"
Valak glanced towards the window, then back at her. "Big day?"
"Yes!" she replied enthusiastically. "You're moving in with a new family."
He looked down at his hands. A new family? He didn't even know where he was, let alone who these people were. Yet Jetley spoke as though everything had already been explained. Suddenly his shoulders felt heavy. What was this weight he felt, why was it drowning him.
"Why do I feel sad?" he asked.
The question seemed to catch her off guard. Her cheerful expression softened, and she crossed the room towards him.
"Valak, my dear, it's okay." She rested a hand on his shoulder. He looked at it, then up at her. "Losing your father to the war and your mother during childbirth will always make you sad. But I promise you, they were very proud of you. They would want you to help save others from suffering the same fate."
Valak tried to picture them. A father. A mother. He searched for a face, a voice, anything that might tell him who they had been. But his mind offered nothing. He couldn't even remember their names. The only thing he had was the sadness, sitting somewhere deep inside him, with no memory to explain where it had come from.
"Did they really?" he asked quietly.
"Of course they did," she replied.
Jetley gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. She seemed certain. Certain enough that Valak found himself nodding, even though the answer hadn't made the feeling go away.
She stepped towards the door and glanced back at him. "Now, let's get going. They're waiting for you."
Valak exited his room and approached the stairs. He held onto the railing as he descended, glancing towards the unfamiliar voices coming from the room below.
"Here is the young boy now," Jetley announced.
At the bottom of the stairs stood a man and a woman. Beside them was a young boy, around the same age as Valak. All three turned towards him.
Valak stopped on the final step. He wasn't sure what to say or where to stand. His fingers tightened around the railing as he looked between the unfamiliar faces. The man gave him a friendly smile, while the woman watched him with a warmth that made him feel a little less uneasy.
Then the young boy stepped forward. He had bright blue eyes and a huge smile on his face. Without a hint of hesitation, he approached Valak and held out his hand.
"Hi, I'm Renku. It's nice to meet you!" he said.
Valak looked at the hand, then up at Renku. There was something about him that made it easier to breathe. His smile was so genuine that Valak found himself returning it, even if only slightly. He slowly raised his own hand and shook Renku's.
"I'm... Valak," he answered.
Jetley stepped forward, gesturing towards the two adults. "Valak, this is Master Renku's parents, Varen and Elira. You will be living with them."
Elira approached and lowered herself to Valak's level. Her white hair fell over her shoulders as she smiled at him. "We are so happy to have you join our family."
Valak stared at her. Something about that smile...
His eyes began to water. He didn't understand why. He had only just met this woman, yet the warmth in her expression stirred something deep inside him. It reminded him of a feeling he couldn't quite reach, something that seemed to belong to another time.
Elira gently reached out and placed a hand against his cheek. "Welcome home, Valak."
Varen stepped forward, offering his hand. "Why don't we go home, son?"
That was enough. Tears rolled down Valak's cheeks, but a smile slowly spread across his face. He took Varen's hand, trying to wipe his eyes with his free arm.
Renku slipped an arm around his shoulders and laughed. "Wait till you see all our toys!"
Valak looked at him, still smiling. "Yeah?"
"Yeah! I always wanted a brother!" Renku said, excitement radiating from him.
Renku gave him another excited grin before turning towards the door. With Varen and Elira waiting for them, the two boys headed outside together. For the first time since waking up, Valak wasn't afraid of what came next.
The next days were unlike anything Valak had experienced before. Renku wasted no time in making him feel at home. Almost every morning, he would burst into Valak's room before he had even woken up properly, eager to show him something new.
"Come on! You have to see this!" he would say.
On one occasion, Renku dragged him into the playroom and began showing him the collection of toys he had gathered over the years. There were miniature spaceships, model soldiers and all kinds of strange mechanical creations.
"That one's my favorite," Renku said, pointing towards a small blue spacecraft. "Dad got it for me."
Valak picked it up, turning it over in his hands. "Can I play with it?"
"Of course! It's yours too now," Renku stated.
Renku had already moved on to the next toy before Valak could thank him. It didn't take long for the two boys to become inseparable. Wherever Renku went, Valak usually followed. They raced through the corridors, played in the gardens and spent hours building things that rarely stayed standing for very long. Varen often found himself repairing whatever the boys had managed to break.
"How did you two manage this?" he asked one afternoon, looking at the pile of scattered pieces in front of him.
Renku pointed towards Valak. "He did it!"
Valak immediately turned towards him. "No, I didn't!"
Varen raised an eyebrow, looking between the two boys before letting out a laugh. "Well, whoever did it can help me fix it."
Neither boy looked particularly pleased with that arrangement. Elira found herself dealing with a different kind of trouble. The two were always getting into something, whether it was muddy footprints across the floor or arguments over whose turn it was to choose what they watched.
But she never treated Valak differently. When she prepared their meals, both boys had a place at the table. When they were sick, she sat beside their beds. Whenever Valak needed something, she was always there.
One evening, Valak woke from a bad dream. He couldn't remember what it had been about, but the feeling stayed with him. He sat quietly on the edge of his bed until Elira noticed the light coming from beneath his door.
She knocked before entering. "Val? Are you alright?"
He nodded, quickly wiping his eyes.
Elira sat beside him and gently brushed his hair away from his forehead. "Bad dream?"
He nodded again.
"Would you like me to stay with you?" she asked.
Valak hesitated before shifting over to make room for her. Elira smiled and pulled the blanket over his legs. She stayed until his eyes grew heavy and his breathing settled. There were moments when Valak would look at her and feel that same strange warmth he had felt when they first met. He never understood why. He simply knew that being around her made him feel safe.
As the years passed, the house became filled with the noise of two growing boys. Their laughter carried through the halls. It was often followed by Varen telling them to quiet down or Elira reminding them that it was time for dinner. Somewhere along the way, Valak stopped feeling like a guest.
One evening, Varen was helping the boys put together a small mechanical model in the workshop. Renku had been struggling with one of the pieces for several minutes, growing increasingly frustrated as it refused to fit.
"You're doing it the wrong way," Valak said.
"Am not!" Renku answered.
"Look," Valak said.
Valak took the piece from him and turned it around, slotting it neatly into place.
Renku stared at it. "Oh."
Varen chuckled. "Perhaps you should listen to your brother."
Renku folded his arms. "I knew that."
Valak laughed, and Varen gave him a proud smile.
"Good work, son," Varen said.
Valak looked up at him. The word didn't feel strange anymore. A few moments later, Elira called them through for dinner.
"Come on, boys! Food's getting cold!" she yelled.
"Coming, Mom!" Renku and Valak shouted.
"Mom, what's for dinner?" Valak asked.
Elira turned from the kitchen, smiling as he approached. "Your favorite."
Valak grinned and took his seat beside Renku. Nobody made a big deal of it. Nobody stopped to correct him or ask why he had said it. It was simply another evening with his family. It was all he wanted. To be accepted and loved.
Several years passed. The two boys were no longer the children who had raced through the house and filled their days with toys. Renku and Valak had grown taller, stronger and more confident. Their days were now filled with lessons and training, preparing them for the responsibilities that came with their awakened powers.
However, some things hadn't changed. The two were still almost always together. One afternoon, after finishing their training, Renku and Valak sat on a raised platform overlooking the Angelic Capital. The city stretched out before them, its enormous buildings catching the light as flying vehicles travelled between the towers.
Renku leaned back on his hands, looking out across the skyline. "Think we'll ever get to travel to other worlds?"
Valak glanced at him. "Probably."
"Which one would you want to visit first?" Renku asked.
"Doesn't matter. As long as there's something interesting to do," Valak answered.
Renku laughed. "You'd get bored after five minutes."
"Would not," Valak replied.
"Would too," Renku said back.
Valak nudged him with his shoulder. Renku pushed him back, and the two began laughing. For a while, neither said anything. They simply sat together, watching the city below.
Renku eventually turned towards him. "Hey, Val?"
"Yeah?" Valak replied.
"I'm glad you're my brother," Renku said, his smile growing even bigger.
Valak looked at him. A smile spread across his face. "Me too."
Renku held out his fist. Valak bumped it with his own. The two remained there until the sun began to set, talking about the places they wanted to see and the things they hoped to do together. For Valak, this was home and Renku was the brother he had always needed.
End of Chapter 34