—Hello, brother —Elijah said—. You're a bit late.
He was leaning against the doorway when I walked in, arms crossed. Even so, the faint smile on his face gave him away.
—Yeah… I've been a little busy —I replied, trying to sound casual as I brushed past him.
I avoided looking at him directly.
I couldn't tell him I had been outside the city.
—…You've been beyond the walls, haven't you?
I froze for a moment.
—How did you know?
He let out a soft laugh and shook his head.
—Let's just say I know you well enough to recognize that look.
—It hasn't been that long —I said—. Only fourteen years.
For a moment, we both laughed.
But then, suddenly, he stopped.
His expression didn't harden… but it changed.
—Alright, enough jokes —he said—. You're getting punished.
I tensed slightly.
—…That sounds bad.
—You're making dinner today.
He smiled, clearly amused.
—That's not fair. I made it yesterday too.
—I know —he replied with a chuckle—. That's why it's a punishment.
A while later, I was already in the kitchen.
The house was quiet, wrapped in that familiar warmth that only existed when it was just the two of us. The wooden walls held the heat, and the soft glow of the lamps bathed everything in a calm, golden light.
Or maybe it wasn't the house.
Maybe it was him.
Cooking had become a routine between us. Even if I complained, I didn't really mind. We always ended up talking about anything and everything, and somehow, that made the day worth it.
—Hey… why didn't you scold me more for leaving the city? —I asked while chopping vegetables—. Mira was furious with me… and with Luca too.
Elijah leaned slightly against the counter, watching me with a faint smile.
—Even if I scolded you for hours, you wouldn't stop doing it, would you?
—…Probably not.
He let out a small laugh.
—That's what I thought. You're still a kid, Ren. You need to go out, get into trouble, spend time with your friends.
He paused briefly, his voice softening.
—I was like that too.
I glanced at him from the corner of my eye.
—The only thing that matters —he continued— is that you come back before nightfall. That's enough for me.
I nodded slowly.
Everything my brother said always made sense.
Out there, beyond the walls, danger existed… but it had rules. Demons only attacked at night, and the city's magical barriers protected us from them.
As long as you returned before dark…
You were safe.
I kept cooking with the ease of someone who had done it almost his entire life.
The movements came naturally.
When I finished, Elijah set the plates on the table while I brought the last things over. We sat across from each other, as always, wrapped in that quiet calm that filled the house in moments like these.
The smell of food still lingered in the air.
The moment we settled, I knew I wouldn't get away.
—We train tomorrow —he said casually—. Wake up early. I don't want you oversleeping.
I made a half-hearted complaint, letting my shoulders drop.
But as soon as I looked up and met his gaze… I understood there was no room for argument.
I nodded.
It's not that I hated training. In fact, I liked it.
But lately… Elijah had been taking it too seriously.
—You've been training a lot recently, haven't you? —I asked as we started eating.
—You know why —he replied, brushing it off—. The exam to enter the Royal Court of Mages is coming up.
—But you're not a mage, right? —I joked, trying to provoke him.
Elijah let out a short laugh.
—Says the one who still doesn't even know his affinity.
He was completely right.
I shook my head, half-smiling.
—Besides —he continued, resting his elbow lightly on the table—, the fact that my affinity is sword mastery makes me even better.
I looked at him.
There was something in his tone.
Something between a joke… and certainty.
—I could kill any demon without even blinking.
He said it with a slight smile.
But it didn't entirely sound like a joke.
—When I become a court mage… I'll be recognized across the entire kingdom.
I watched him as he spoke. There was something in his voice. It wasn't just ambition… it was conviction.
—You're already recognized as an important mage in Luminalia —I replied—. That's already an achievement, isn't it?
Elijah smiled faintly.
—It is… but I know I can go further.
He paused for a moment, as if he could already see that future in front of him.
—I'll buy a much bigger house than this one. And we'll live there… eating the finest food.
I couldn't help but laugh.
—And what do we do with this one? Rent it out?
He shook his head immediately.
—No.
His tone changed. More serious. Firmer.
—This house stays exactly as it is.
He looked around for a moment, in silence.
—We built our whole life here… —he added more quietly—. And in a way, it reminds me of Mom and Dad.
The atmosphere shifted.
The air suddenly felt heavier.
I didn't know what to say.
So when I finished my plate, I broke the silence the only way I could.
—Then we'll keep it —I said, standing up.
It wasn't the best answer… but it was enough.
I started walking toward my room.
—I'm going to sleep —I added—. Otherwise, tomorrow you'll scold me for not getting enough rest.
—That's for sure —he replied.
Before I left completely, he slightly raised his sword in my direction, in that familiar gesture of his.
A silent warning.
We were training tomorrow.
I smiled faintly and disappeared down the hallway.
I lay down on my bed.
It was cold at first.
Like always.
I stared at the ceiling in silence, thinking about what my brother had said.
I know he misses Mom and Dad.
And the worst part is… I don't know how to help him.
I… fortunately or unfortunately… don't remember anything about them. I was too young.
But Elijah does.
He remembers everything.
He once told me what happened. How they went out on a mission that day… and never came back.
They were mages too.
I guess that's where everything comes from.
My brother's talent.
The weight he carries.
My thoughts began to slow.
The bed, little by little, stopped feeling cold.
The silence of the house wrapped around me.
And before I realized it…
I fell asleep.
I started to see something.
It didn't feel real.
Everything was… strange. Blurred.
As if the world around me wasn't fully there.
There was a figure in the distance.
Dark.
Motionless.
I couldn't make out its shape clearly, but I knew it was there. Watching.
I had to be dreaming.
I took a step toward it.
And then another.
But the closer I got… the farther away it seemed.
As if the distance between us never changed.
A chill ran down my spine.
Something wasn't right.
The figure took a single step back.
Its movement was slow. Subtle.
Almost… unnatural.
And before I could react—
It stopped.
And turned.