Kaelrin had woken early, as always. With his broad shoulders and muscular arms, he swung his sword once more, and the sound of the steel cutting the air echoed throughout the garden.
Sunlight struck his chestnut-brown hair, leaving a golden shimmer on his wheat-colored skin, glistening with sweat.
Kaelrin's sharp features, his jaw clenched in determination, and the focused expression in his eyes showed why he was the warrior everyone looked up to.
A short distance away, two siblings sat on a stone wall, watching him: Auren and Lysera.
Auren's eyes were as if mesmerized.
His silver-grey hair shone almost white in the morning light; his green eyes sparkled with admiration every time he looked at his older brother.
He carefully followed Kaelrin's every move, the turn of the sword, the rhythm between his steps; sometimes he pretended to swing an invisible sword in the air with his own hands.
Lysera laughed and shook her head.
She was the most balanced of the three in appearance—her light copper hair, falling to her shoulders, waved gently in the morning breeze, and her hazel eyes revealed both wisdom and a deep love for her brothers.
With her delicate features and graceful posture, she represented tranquility within a family of warriors.
"If you keep staring," Lysera said in a soft voice, "the sword will mesmerize you too."
Auren replied without looking away:
"I wish I could be like him… Kaelrin never gets tired. It's like the sword speaks to him."
Lysera smiled.
"He is at the age our father worked the hardest. Your time will come too."
Then she ruffled her brother's hair and added:
"But first, stop looking so serious. Or your face will stay that way."
Auren let out a laugh, then waved to get Kaelrin's attention.
Kaelrin paused for a moment, looked at them, and smiled, raising his sword.
"Are you two still here? Lysera, make him practice a little! Or he'll always remain a spectator."
Lysera put her hands on her hips.
"Me? He loves daydreaming more than training."
Auren pouted and retorted:
"Maybe one day I'll even beat you, sister!"
All three of them laughed.
In that moment, time seemed to stand still—a moment of peace, untouched by war, curses, and betrayal.
As the morning light slowly rose, the sound of the sword echoing in the training ground suddenly stopped.
Kaelrin rested his sword on his knee and took a deep breath.
Auren and Lysera turned their heads at the same time—because the rhythmic sound of armor approaching from the distance had begun to fill the quiet morning air.
A group of soldiers in white armor with silver embroidery was approaching on the stone path.
The sun emblem on their armor was the insignia of the Luxaris Guards—a symbol of discipline and faith.
The figure walking in the midst of the soldiers was even more striking than them.
Commander Darven Solmar.
The head of the Luxaris Guards, one of the Valerium Empire's youngest commanders. He was the right-hand man of Rrnaun, the commander-in-chief of Luxaris.
Darven was tall; his blackish-silver hair was tied back at the nape of his neck, and his cold black eyes carried a measured power and an unusual wisdom.
A few old scars on his face silently told of years of experience.
But what truly set him apart was the aura of restrained power he emanated—the air almost vibrated invisibly, and even the soldiers made a point to walk a few steps behind him.
When the soldiers stopped, Darven's steps echoed.
He smiled, removed his helmet, and walked towards the siblings.
"Kaelrin," he said, his voice deep but friendly. "Every time I see you, I remember your father in his youth."
His eyes briefly flickered to Lysera and Auren.
"And you two… you've grown. Time truly passes quickly."
Lysera bowed respectfully.
"Commander Darven, it is an honor to see you here."
Darven nodded.
"The honor is mine, Lysera. You've become quite an elegant lady. Auren… I almost didn't recognize you. Your silver hair reminds me more of your mother than your father."
Auren smiled with a surprised but happy expression.
"My mother's hair was like this too, wasn't it?"
"Yes," said Darven. "And that light in your eyes… just like your father's. Stubborn, but pure."
Respect and admiration were visible in the siblings' eyes.
Kaelrin sheathed his sword and approached.
"How is my father?" he asked. "I haven't seen him in a long time. His letters are delayed."
Darven was silent for a moment; the friendly expression in his eyes deepened.
"He is well," he said finally. "But he misses you. Because the time has come, Kaelrin."
Kaelrin furrowed his brow slightly.
"The time has come?"
Darven smiled.
"The Luxaris Guards have chosen you. You will go to Valerium, the capital—to the heart of the empire.
There, you will stand shoulder to shoulder with true warriors. If you do well in the trials and are deemed worthy of selection, you will officially join the Luxaris Guards."
There was a silence.
The wind gently blew Kaelrin's hair.
Auren's eyes widened; his heart filled with both pride and sorrow.
Lysera touched her brother's shoulder—her face held both joy and worry.
Kaelrin bowed his head, then looked into Darven's eyes.
"I am ready to be among them," he said with determination.
Darven stepped forward and placed his hand on Kaelrin's shoulder.
"Your father said the same thing when he left for his first mission.
Strength must not only be in the sword, but also in the heart, Kaelrin. Do not forget."
Then he stepped back and turned to his soldiers.
"We leave in three days. Complete your preparations."
As the commander and his guards moved away, the morning light once again fell on the training ground.
But this time the air was different—it carried the scent of a farewell.
Auren whispered quietly as he watched his brother:
"One day… I will go there too."
Lysera held her brother's hand.
"And the fate that awaits you there will be much greater than this town, little brother."
When Commander Darven and his guards left the town, the three siblings looked at each other.
There was a moment of silence—then Lysera's laugh broke it.
"Kaelrin! To the Luxaris Guards… can you believe it?"
Auren enthusiastically hugged his brother's arm. "You'll be there! With real warriors!"
Kaelrin tried to smile, but his face showed both pride and astonishment.
"I can't believe it yet… but yes, it's real."
The three of them headed down the sloping stone path to Thalos's smithy.
The door was left ajar; the sounds of a hammer echoed from within.
Thalos looked up, saw them, and smiled slightly.
"Your voices can be heard from the other end of town. What happened?"
Lysera couldn't hold back and gave the news immediately:
"Kaelrin has been summoned to the Luxaris Guards!"
Thalos's hammer hung in the air, then he set it on the table.
A tired but proud smile appeared on his face.
"So finally… Yes, it's not surprising they chose you, Kaelrin."
Auren smiled.
"Did you know, Thalos?"
"Sometimes, iron reveals the light within it even before it shines," Thalos said with a mysterious expression.
They left the smithy together and walked towards their home.
The orange light of the sunset streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow on the stone streets.
When they arrived home, the wonderful smell of food wafted from inside.
Sira was standing by the stove, stirring the soup boiling in a large pot.
Her face lit up when she saw the siblings.
"Who could be making so much noise…?" she said, then added with a smile.
"You're not going to pass by without telling me, are you?"
Lysera jumped in immediately:
"Kaelrin is going to the capital! He's going to join the Luxaris Guards!"
Sira slowly put down the spoon in her hand.
She paused for a moment—then smiled, walked over to Kaelrin, and placed her hands on his shoulders.
"Your father would be proud," she said softly.
Then she turned to Auren:
"And you, little light… one day you will walk in his footsteps."
Auren nodded; his eyes were shining.
Joy, the smell of food, and warmth mingled inside the house.
That night, a peace that none of them were aware of filled the walls of the home for the last time.
Three days passed quickly.
The town morning was quiet; a thin mist rose slowly over the valley.
As the horses' hooves echoed on the stone path, Kaelrin, dressed in his armor, was busy adjusting his saddle.
He wore a blue cape embroidered with the Luxaris crest—it billowed in the morning wind.
Auren's hands were trembling as he helped carry Kaelrin's things.
"Write as soon as you get there, okay?" he said; his voice was a little choked.
Kaelrin bent down and touched his brother's shoulder.
"I promise, little light."
Lysera tried to smile.
"Take care of yourself, okay? Not everyone in Luxaris may be as kind as you."
Kaelrin bowed his head and placed a brief kiss on his sister's forehead.
"With a sister like you, who else could give me courage?"
A little further away, Thalos and Sira were watching them.
Thalos's hands were still covered in iron dust, but his eyes were soft.
"The time has come, boy," he said. "Everyone who wants to see the world must one day set out."
Kaelrin bowed his head in a respectful farewell.
"Thank you for everything, Master Thalos."
Sira came to his side, adjusting the collar of his armor.
"And remember this," she said gently, "don't let even the cold of Luxaris freeze your heart."
Kaelrin looked at the three of them one last time; in his eyes, there was a drop of sadness along with determination.
Then he mounted his horse, rode to the hill at the end of the road, and turned to wave.
As Auren and Lysera waved back, Kaelrin's silhouette slowly disappeared into the morning mist.
Auren stared at that hill for a while, biting his lip.
Sira, standing next to him, took his hand.
"His road will be long, Auren. But your road will also begin one day."
Thalos nodded silently.
"This family… has always been strong," he said in a deep voice. "When your mother passed, you were the youngest.
Your father was constantly away on duty at the port garrison; silence reigned in the house.
If it weren't for Sira… who knows how this house would have survived."
Sira smiled, her eyes welling up.
"Perhaps I was like a mother to them… but sometimes, this house made me feel like it belonged to me, too.
And it would have been impossible with my efforts alone, don't be unfair to yourself, Thalos."
Auren squeezed Sira's hand a little tighter.
Lysera silently hugged her brother.
Auren took a deep breath as he watched the hill where Kaelrin's horse had disappeared.
His eyes stared into the mist, his heart pounding with both pride and longing.
Kaelrin… He had always watched his strength, his determination, with admiration. Like their father in his youth, he too seemed to speak with his sword, telling a story with every blow.
Lysera… His sister was not just his sibling, but his silent guide, his pathfinder. She always treated him patiently, nurturing Auren's courage and talent with her own gentle strength. Lysera's presence represented the warmth and balance of the home.
And… the second older sister who always stayed in her room… Auren had seen her very rarely, but her presence was always felt. Her silence, her shadow behind her room, filled Auren's heart with both curiosity and a sense of protection. She was a part of this house, but she lived in her own little world. She never went out, never even got out of bed; either Lysera or Sira always took care of her.
His father… He was constantly on duty at a port garrison controlled by the Luxaris guards; silence mostly reigned at home.
His mother… Although he only knew of her existence from old memories and stories told, she always remained as a warm void in Auren's heart.
But the real heroes of the house were the two lights by their side: Thalos and Sira.
Thalos… He was a silent, strong master who rarely showed his affection. He was the name behind the discipline and perfection Kaelrin acquired in his morning training. He was the one who trained Kaelrin and taught him to push his limits with every blow, every hammer strike. Auren always looked at him with admiration; not only Kaelrin's, but in his own eyes, Thalos's strength and wisdom were captivating. But Thalos was gentle and understanding towards Auren; he hid a tenderness behind his harsh exterior, and Auren always sensed it.
Sira, on the other hand, had been like a mother, like a light, beside them. She was a presence who warmed the heart of the home with her meals, her words, her small touches, completing the missing love. She was a guide who wiped away tears in Kaelrin's absence, gave courage to Lysera, and instilled faith in Auren. Sira was like a light that nurtured not only the warmth of the home but also the souls of the three siblings. Auren had always approached her as a mother, trusted her, and etched her love into his heart.
Auren shook his head slightly, his eyes full.
"What would we have done without them?" he thought.
And he understood that Thalos and Sira were not just protectors, but the true heroes who kept the family bonds alive and strengthened their hearts. Even though his mother and father were not with them, Auren saw them as his mother and father; the townspeople did not know Thalos and Sira were siblings and had already accepted them as the parents of that house.
It had already been a week since Kaelrin left. A slight silence dominated the dinner table. Steam rose from the bowls of hot soup on the table, and candlelight cast a flickering glow in the corners of the room. Lysera silently stirred her soup, her eyes occasionally drifting to the evening light in the street outside the window. Sira watched them with a sweet smile, while Thalos silently cleared his plates, keeping an eye on Auren.
"Kaelrin went to the capital… I still can't believe it," Lysera said quietly, her voice both curious and slightly worried. "I wonder… how he is doing there?"
Auren stirred the soup in his bowl, his brow furrowed slightly, and he pouted. He mumbled in a childish tone:
"I hope… he's not too scared… and makes new friends… But… he will come back here, right?"
Sira, stroking Auren's hair, smiled gently.
"Of course, little light. Wherever Kaelrin goes, our heart will always be here."
Thalos remained silent; he took a deep breath and watched Auren's curious gaze out of the corner of his eye. "He is a strong warrior… but those who stay in our home are protected by a light like you," he muttered to himself.
Just then, the door suddenly knocked. A single knock changed the entire atmosphere of the house. Auren took a step back, shivering slightly:
"Who could that be…?"
Lysera immediately moved closer to him, her eyes filled with curiosity. She headed for the door, and when she saw the person on the other side through the crack, her eyes widened. The clothes, the white armor with silver embroidery and the cape, were an insignia of the Luxaris Guards—Lysera had recognized it immediately.
"Luxaris… but why at our door?" she whispered to herself, her voice a mix of curiosity and caution.
Auren had also drawn back a bit, looking curiously at the door. Sira and Thalos were instantly on alert; Thalos looked at the door, his hands still on his plate but his attention fully focused.
When she opened the door, the person standing there was a familiar but frightening face: Rrnaun.
His face was thin and bony; his skin was pale, like a candle that hadn't seen the sun in a long time. What was most striking were his eyes—like two embers burning in a coal-like darkness. His gaze was piercing, giving the feeling that he could read the soul of the person in front of him. There was a thin scar at the corner of his mouth; when he spoke, his lips barely moved, but his voice was cold and commanding enough to make the walls of the room tremble.
Rrnaun looked at Lysera and spoke slowly:
"Ah… are your mother and father home? I have some things to discuss with them."
Sira and Thalos immediately looked at each other; a serious tension appeared on their faces.
Lysera stepped forward, asking in a curious but cautious tone:
"Rrnaun… are you… a Luxaris Guard? But why… at our house?"
Rrnaun's eyes gleamed slightly, and a thin, unsettling smile appeared.
"You are curious… a nice trait. Yes, I am a Luxaris Guard," Rrnaun said with a smile on his face.