He stared at that little hand for a long time, deep in thought with a resigned expression.
The hand of a king … uh …
– Oh! She is restless again … look …
The beautiful woman next to him took possession of that palm and transferred it directly to a bulging belly. There he could feel through his fingers the impatient swings of who would historically be his first sister.
Although he had become accustomed to this reality, it was still something extremely extraordinary and incomprehensible to his warlike spirit. Many things had changed, and many were to change.
In that weak condition, the beat of time seemed to pass especially slowly, but he continued to fulfill his eternal mission. Minutes stacked in hours, and hours in days, and days in hundreds.
In that uninterrupted process, soon a hand even smaller than his was actively demanding his attention. It was a small bun with coppery hair and deep sapphire eyes.
It was difficult for that beautiful girl to look less like his own appearance, which was painfully common to the point of wondering if someone would mistake them for siblings.
– Wa …
It was a strange and adorable entity that had appropriated the home. Unfortunately, not everything was as lively as that little girl. Although she was trying to hide it, in those times her mother began to show slight but progressive signs of weakness, of incomprehensible deterioration.
The clock faces did not stop, for better or for worse. Again his hands were taken, now calloused and not so small. The hands of a 14-year-old little man and a beautiful 7-year-old girl joined on her mother’s lap. It may not have been the first time, but it certainly would be the last.
What was the meaning of this?
Indomitable fury resided hidden in the depths of his brown eyes. Wasn’t taking away his life and powers enough? Was this a kind of punishment, or the mere mockery of a whim of fate?
With a long announced and seemingly inevitable end, preparations for their futures were long under way. A few weeks later they left their town in the direction of the provincial capital.
In a simple and shared car, the siblings began their journey in the casual company of a young girl with blond hair with a pure and gentle expression.
The evening light filtered through the window and Bran spread a palm out in the sun with her hand. Several seconds passed as he held a lost look.
– Quin …
– Mmm? … – a voice murmured next to him, while playing with a small wooden horse.
– If you knew a king … What would his hands be like? … – he asked suddenly.
– Emm. Big … big hands … – she babbled without interrupting her game.
– Naturally …
– Why would a king have small hands? …
– That’s what I’m talking about … – he agreed, as he looked at his jovial hands, trying to contain the rays of light in front of him.
How could these be the hands of a king?
– Without them he couldn’t give me a big cake. A king who cannot offer me at least that …
She did not complete the sentence, but shake his head disappointedly.
Bran made a curious gesture and looked at the young woman in front, who was laughing softly at the occurrences of his sister.
– And a princess … must have a beautiful pair of wings … – she added out of nowhere, with a dreamy smile.
Wings again …?
He shook his head, used to that strange wandering. It was a regular component of his sister’s charm.
Although unable to absorb the minimum of cosmic energy to cultivate, Quin’s intelligence far exceeded the average. Something easy to overlook given her wild personality.
– Waa … Wooooh! Hee … great … run, run little …
Late in the afternoon an excited voice was heard incessantly from the window. Lakes, rivers, forests, small mountains, large grasslands, agricultural fields, wild animals, spiritual beasts … she reacted to everything that happened before her eyes.
Bran’s expression showed some relief when he saw her animated and coping well with this new period.
– Look sister, we will soon reach the forest I told you about. – pointing out the window.
– Ohhh … Is that the one about magic things?
– Mhm … they say that you can find all kinds of strange and fantastic things … mystical fruits, treasures …
He adorned his story a little, knowing his taste for fantasy.
– How beautiful, it looks so bright …
– Kuhum … Little Quin?
– Yes? … – turning to the call.
The young woman in her twenties smiled at her significantly as she opened a container next to her.
– I was wondering if you wanted some …
– Cake!…
The small tiger leaped from the seat toward its prey and mercilessly attacked the first offer.
– Mmmm … ~ Eat cake, eat cake, dont take a break ~ …
Hearing her hum an impromptu song, the young Airy couldn’t help but chuckle. A cheerful and peaceful atmosphere reigned around everyone.
This was especially the case with Bran. While his two companions got along very easily, he turned his head and faced his reflection in one of the windows.
There, a young man with short dark hair and brown eyes was waiting for him, transmitting the pure essence of normality. It was true that for a villager his achievements in cultivation would qualify as outstanding, but he was painfully aware of how limited his starting point was.
– What about this body? … – He complained openly.
– Young Bran?
– Airy … leave it. Brother is talking to himself again …
He grinned wryly. The insinuation of his “lack of sanity” was understandable, but said by his sister it made him think that he couldn’t fall any lower.
The lush trees could already be seen through the glass beyond their reflection. The path through the forest would soon lead them to the mountain town, where they would make the first and only stop on the journey. A new life awaited them in the capital city.
– Stop!
The sudden demand echoed from the front, and the car stopped abruptly.
– Hmm? … – Bran raised an eyebrow.
– This … What’s going on?
– Brother?…
Outside, two voices confronted the driver’s claims, and soon there was silence again.
~ Clank
The door burst open and two similarly dressed men appeared behind.
– Routine inspection. The faster you respond, the faster you continue …
– Huh?
Airy was confused as she instinctively took Quin by the hand, as Bran’s eyes narrowed slightly. This was a really unexpected interruption.
Without further introduction or care, the first man began to ask some questions about the reasons for his trip, while the second began to quickly check bags and luggage.
– Hey! What is the meaning of this?
– Silence woman … we just follow orders. Unless you have something to hide … – he threatened coldly – And you … take that look away and also show what you carry with you.
Bran’s expression had turned involuntarily cold at that blatant harassment. He was able to sense that they were probably at his second cultivation foundation, and all he could do was obey silently.
– Wow … this is what I call some interesting savings … – rummaging through Bran’s purse, who clenched his teeth and avoided answering – Boy … you don’t seem very cooperative … maybe I should …
– Kuhum …
A subtle call from his partner interrupted his actions. Turning in response, he could see what was holding a small reddish metal emblem, with the symbol of a beast engraved on it.
– This…
He tried to hide it, but it was clearly not something he expected to find. He looked away from Airy for a moment, then back to Bran. He rummaged around one last time and dropped the bag next to him.
– Well … there is nothing suspicious here. We will wait for the next-
~ Bumb
An unexpected phenomenon cut his words short. From some unknown location, a strange pulse ran through the forest affecting those sensitive to cosmic energy.
– There it is again … – muttered the man turning towards the door.
– Ahhg!
That sudden shriek did not belong to any of the women, who were ignorant of what had happened, but to Bran himself, who suddenly took his head in great pain.
– Brother?!
– Young Bran! …
– Hey! … boy … What …
– Ahhhhhg!
Bran’s mind at the time was in chaos. As soon as he felt the pulse, something inside him exploded like trying to open him in two. Unexplained pain beyond the physical invaded him making it difficult to think clearly.
– Hey! … answer … – he ordered, grabbing his arm. However, a second later he released him violently – huh? What the hell…?
Glancing in surprise at his hand, he found imperceptible traces of a dark aura. It was ephemeral but it gave a sinister sensation, forcing him to instinctively back away.
– Is he! – He suddenly shouted – Quick! … come on …
Plunged into brutal confusion, Bran was barely aware of how his body was taken and the distant screams of his little sister. However, there was one thing he could hear quite clearly. Those were words that echoed directly in his head.
(( …et… m… out… ))
