My body was screaming. Every damn muscle, every joint—it all felt like it was on fire as I forced myself to stand and put on a brave face for Ray. "It was nothing, big brother. You were more amazing than I could ever be."
But God, I was falling apart inside. My muscles burned like hell, and it felt like every bone in my body was about to snap. I wasn't just tired from today's sparring this was the toll of everything. A whole year on the streets, barely eating, barely surviving. Going from sitting still in our quiet forest home to suddenly throwing myself into all this physical stuff? Yeah, my body wasn't having it. Every single movement felt wrong, like I was fighting against myself.
Can't I just call it quits for today? I thought desperately. I'm so tired. Everything hurts so much right now but I couldn't let that show. Not yet. So I hid it all behind what I hoped looked like a genuine smile.
Ray's laughter cut through the moment. "Trying to comfort me, huh?" he teased. "Your big brother's tougher than that."
Before I could say anything back, the sound of slow clapping drifted over from somewhere behind us. I turned, and my breath caught.
This guy just... appeared. Like he'd stepped out of some dream. Even from a distance, there was something unsettling about him this coldness that seemed to radiate outward. His eyes were this crazy shade of green, like diamonds, and when they locked onto me, I swear it felt like he was looking straight through to my soul.
He was beautiful in that otherworldly way that makes you uncomfortable. The sunlight hit his pale skin just right, and with each step he took, it was like the ground itself was bending to his will. There was something magnetic about him, sure, but also deeply unnerving.
As he got closer, Ray just said, "Vidar."
Not a greeting. Not even really an acknowledgment. Just... his name. Like that said everything.
Vidar's gaze settled on me, and his voice was soft but somehow penetrating. "Who is this boy?" It wasn't a casual question but there was weight behind it, like he was searching for something specific.
I felt exposed under his stare, like he was reading me like an open book. I shifted uncomfortably but tried to hold my ground. Then he said something that made my skin crawl "You are like me, but not the same, at the same time."
It was weird as hell, but I knew what he meant. That disconnect from normal society, that feeling of being an outsider I'd sensed it in him the moment I saw him those words he spoke were accurate.
Ray stepped in before things could get weirder. "He's my third brother."
Vidar's expression shifted slightly making his eyes wide, like he was processing this information. "He's the hot topic of your kingdom these days," he said, sounding curious but detached.
The silence that followed after that was thick enough to cut like a knife. Then after a while of enduring that silent vidar explained that his father had sent him here for the First Key Ceremony, specifically to train under Eryndra's greatest warrior Raven, the "Soul Cutter."
My thoughts raced with excitement and dought " A Soul Cutter? " Now i think about this i think i remember it hearing this name in the streets many times , but i needed to act innocent, playing the part i had crafted for myself "The Soul Cutter?" i asked, feigning surprise with a hints of question in my voice.
Vidar looked genuinely surprised. "You don't know about him?" Ishook my head saying "No."
"Where the hell did you come from?" he asked instantly, and I could hear the curiosity in his voice but before I could answer, Vidar started explaining. "His first Key can cut through anything even souls "
That's not all right now he is a wanderer of
" Seeker " rank But there are rumours that he on the verge of reaching the rank of " Horizon "
The words hung in the air like a threat but it all felt like a baby eating a meat of me i couldn't understand whatever the rank seeker or horizon was before i could dreft into my thoughts ray cut in with his calm voice "He's new."
Those two words seemed to explain everything to Vidar. He looked me over again, taking in my obviously beaten-down state. "He doesn't look too good either. You should get him to a room."
Ray nodded, and both brothers moved to help me up. But Vidar wasn't done. "I'm going to practice," he said, his eyes shifting to Ray. "You don't look so hot yourself. It seems your abilities have dropped quite a bit."
Ray smiled, and there was something ironic about it. "If you don't mind, we could train here for a while. Like ahha a spar a bit."
I understood what Ray was really saying, so I looked up and forced another smile. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me. I want to watch you guys spar."
It wasn't just curiosity but something told me I needed to learn more, to observe. I wasn't ready to die yet, and knowledge might be the only thing keeping me alive.
As Ray and Vidar prepared to fight, Riven glanced at the pale newcomer. "He's a good guy," he said quietly.
I nodded, though my attention was fixed on the two fighters. "He seems strong."
Riven's expression softened. "He is the same age as ray honest and talented ray considers him as a rival.."
That said everything. If Ray saw Vidar as a rival, this was going to be something fun and else entirely.
And it was. When they started sparring, their swords moved so fast they were just blurs. The air around them seemed to thicken with the intensity. Vidar moved like a ghost, his sword cutting through space with inhuman precision. Ray was strong, but he was being pushed hard. Every clash of their blades sounded like thunder.
The ground actually trembled beneath them. This wasn't just a sparring match it was like watching two forces of nature trying to destroy each other.
When they finally stopped, both were breathing hard. They stood facing each other, swords lowered but eyes still locked in some kind of silent understanding.
Vidar broke the silence, and his voice was sharp with irritation. "What happened to you? You seem weaker than three years ago. Why didn't you end it in one move?"
Ray tilted his head slightly, that enigmatic smile playing at his lips. "I can't be like that. You don't even have a key right now. Shouldn't I play fair?"
The air between them seemed to get heavier. Vidar's face darkened.
"Fair?" The word came out like a curse. "If you really wanted to play fair, you would have used it. That thing. The power you carry inside you."
His voice rose with frustration. "If I'm sparring with someone physically weaker than me, should I dial back my power just to make it feel fair? Hell no. It only becomes fair when you go all out. If you hold back, you're just creating fake fairness but what happens when that person finds a way to beat you? What then?"
Ray's expression softened, though his eyes stayed distant. He gave a quiet chuckle that had no humor in it. "I appreciate the concern, Vidar. But that's not why I held back."
Vidar's piercing stare demanded an answer, and Ray hesitated before continuing. "That power 'it' puts too much strain on my body. You know why. I never went through the Key Ceremony."
As the words left his mouth, Ray's whole demeanor changed. The smile vanished, leaving behind something hollow and broken.
Riven, who'd been watching silently, noticed the shift in Ray's presence. He gestured for Vidar to step aside. "Come here for a second."
I watched them move away, my eyes lingering on Ray's face. There was something haunting about the way he carried himself now. A sadness, a burden that seemed to weigh him down. I could feel it this deep emptiness radiating from him.
As the silence stretched between us, I decided to break it. "I'm hungry."
Ray's face softened with a small smile. "Let's go eat something."
We headed to the dining area, and after a while, Riven and Vidar joined us. After we finished eating, I excused myself. "I'll head to my room." My body was aching in ways that made me desperate for the quiet of my bed.
In my room, I collapsed onto the mattress, exhaustion washing over me like a wave. My hand rested on the blade at my side, but something felt off about it.
*Holding this blade feels... uncomfortable,* I thought. It wasn't that the weapon itself was wrong—it was like something was missing. *It's not the blade that's bothering me. It's the emptiness in my other hand. I want to hold another blade.*
As my thoughts swirled around this realization, something clicked. Can I dance with two blades?
With that thought, I closed my eyes, and for the first time in a long while, I felt a sense of clarity settle over me. Something deep inside was stirring, waking up.