Time didn't wait for tomorrow, neither did Divinity. Since the event's conclusion, Divinity returned home and began preparing everything needed for the next day.
Inside the Coros home, Ether quickly but neatly put their trainee armor sets inside a large bag. Once he was done, he fastened the bag to Jakery's back.
"You're good to go. Remember," Ether rubbed Jakery's hair. "Ask for a polish and repair."
Jakery's back bent under the weight of the bag. "Okay. See ya."
With that, the two siblings parted. Leaving Ether alone with Demon. Realizing everything was unusually quiet, Ether stood still.
He kept in place, waiting to hear any hints that his younger brother was in the house with him. Until he heard a faint thump.
Outside, Demon twirled a throwing knife in his right hand while feeling the weight of several others in his other hand. His eyes narrowed, focused on the painted red dots across their backyard.
Ether watched through a window. Knife tip between the thumb and index finger, handle pointed at a dot. Before Demon hurled it as hard as he could. The weapon effortlessly dug itself into the red paint.
"How many times do we need to have this conversation..?" Ether murmured. "At least you're good at it."
Demon learned nothing from their previous discussions. While his older brother claimed ranged weapons didn't suit their family name, Demon argued it was time to expand beyond what was normal.
Regardless, Ether always bothered Demon about it. Urging him to practice more with the short-sword or perhaps educate himself in the Code of the Faceless.
Wanting to stop the practices, Ether opened the nearby door. He quietly exited, closing the door behind him. Until a whizzing noise caught his attention and the struggle to move his head came to focus.
"Did I get it first try?!?" Demon excitedly opened his eyes, before stepping back in horror. "Dammit, dammit. Ether, are you okay?!?"
In response, Ether kept his eyes on the knife. It dug itself into his hair, pinning him against the door. "You're lucky we have puffy hair."
Ashamed, Demon turned away. Placing his hand over his face while trying to cover his emotions. Not wanting to let the world see how his ignorance nearly costed him his brother's life.
Realizing the obvious signs, Ether reached up and forced the weapon off. He held the cold blade in his hand, studying how it felt as his body slowly moved to match his steps.
"You never listen, huh?" He used his other hand to bring his younger brother closer. "I almost got seriously hurt."
Demon accepted the gesture, he quickly opened his arms and wrapped Ether's torso in a shameful hug. "I know, I know. It's that I want to be special someway."
"You're one of the newest Coros, also half Yonie, also first ever in our lineage to have mastered a Thawed's song, also the first in our lineage to speak some Kenekuor without being a Feral," Ether listed.
Hearing those slight nods to his achievements brightened his mind. Going from an apologetic hug to a genuine hug. Showing his appreciation.
"Yevi steterey? (Do you forgive me?)" Demon changed the conversation to Icitru.
Ether stepped aside, letting go of his younger brother. "Get inside, we can look over our weapons while Jakery comes back."
***
The sun lowered itself over the horizon. Marking the start of the day's end. Gracing the region of Imbushko below in an orange world.
Satisfied with how the armory repaired their gear, Jakery cheerfully walked outside. He turned his gaze to the skies above, smiling at the majestic display of strength.
Not wanting to keep his siblings waiting, he began walking home. Step after step, he realized how nice the sound of pebbles and dirt being squished by his boots was.
Eventually, he couldn't hold back. In his mind, he was listening to a soothing beat. The type of music Threshers would make whenever the males got frightened.
He began bopping his head to the melody. Enjoying his personal show. Variants hurried past him, wondering what the little Zesher found so nice.
Not wanting to disturb him, everyone allowed Jakery to go whichever direction he wanted to. Which included an area that the siblings promised never to go through.
Active life didn't exist on the street he stepped on. Insects playing their sleeping rhythms ceased, wind stopped flowing, and the ground felt different.
"Hmm..?" Jakery wondered.
He opened his eyes and instantly recognized where he was. The weight of the bag crushed him, as if it was a punishment.
Breath ran cold as he realized the home they were afraid of, was to his left. Which unsettled him. Not just because it reminded him of a Distorted, but also because he was hearing things.
Silent voices spoke to each other. Plotting some kind of grand scheme only they were allowed to know. Which interested Jakery. They didn't know he was there. But he did know they were there.
Out of curiosity, he took a step closer. A voice in his head told him to walk away, slowly feeling a faint sense of dread. So he took a step back. But instead of walking away, Jakery took off the bag.
He quietly plopped it on the ground, before slowly making his way closer. As he sneaked, he could feel his heartbeat increasing. Just like the volume of the voices.
When he got close enough, Jakery got on his knees below a charred window. The burned wood, reminiscent of a raging fire, still smelled fresh of flames.
From there, Jakery could start making out words as they were spoken.
"Tomorrow would be a great opportunity. Since their rival would bring them to their knees."
Silence ensued. Before a feminine voice jumped in.
"Bright burning sons of a legacy that burned like fine flames. Are you sure you're clever enough to pair them against Wave Knocker?" She asked.
The same voice from earlier replied. "They will tire each other out. If it all, then its the eldest. I know that young Gelvesh boy has some heat to ease up with him."
A third voice chuckled. "You pretend to know how they work, eh? I am delighted to work with actors."
"And you think you can do better?" He replied.
"I have hunted and killed so many Variants. Since my forgotten Eldigo days, I have been biting the necks off Zegi, Thawed, Threshers. Even my own people. I know how powerful they can be when enraged."
The second voice interrupted. "Do not be afraid of taking a little risk. Remember, isn't that what Ferals are? Risk-takers. Wild-runners. Savages. Besides, how much rage can a Zesher have that can handle this thing?"
Everyone went silent. Jakery assumed they were looking at something else in the room with them. Before they continued their conversation, the first voice laughed in a raspy tone.
"I reckon that Ether kid can handle his rival. After all, it's in his blood. But fighting this thing is too much for him. He may be fully matured, but he's no war lord. Not yet, at least."
Upon hearing his brother's name, Jakery had enough. He understood what most of it meant. Whoever those inside the building were, they wanted to kill them. Starting with the oldest.
He didn't want to stick around for more information, so he quickly got off and began silently sprinting out of there. Before he left, he picked up the bag. Swiftly throwing it onto his back before running off.
A heavy heartbeat pounded his chest. Sweat formed over his forehead and legs became weaker by the second. He was not ready for these kinds of events.
***
A cool breeze ran through the Legion. Brushing past the shirtless Ether. He stood outside, watching the world go by. While his eyes took apart objects and made small stories inside his mind, his upper body felt the cool evening air.
They washed over him like a good bath. Keeping his mind off the incoming challenges they would have to face in unity the following day.
"My hair..." Ether thought to himself. "I wonder how different it would have been if I was completely Zegus? If it's this puffy now, what if I was completely Yonie?"
He entertained himself with different ideas. Slowly picturing himself as a bigger and stronger order keeper, then a smaller and loving house keeper.
Jakery dropped the bag a few steps away from their home. He ran right past his older brother and straight inside. Which confused Ether, they had no plans for the night and dinner was not ready yet.
Not wanting to stress his youngest brother out more, Ether walked out and picked up the bag. It weighed heavily in his hand, which bruised his soft skin.
Inside, Demon held Jakery in a protective hug. He shielded his younger brother from the outside world, hoping it would make him feel better. But it failed.
"Little Jakery, are you okay?" Ether walked inside. "You look badly shaken up."
Warm tears rolled down his cheeks, then down onto Demon's neck. The uncomfortable drops echoed through Demon's body.
"Yeah, Jakery. You don't look too good," he added.
Jakery looked up at Demon. "We - we're... we are going... I think... I think we are going to..." his soft voice died out.
Ether placed the bag down next to the door, then made his way closer to his crying brother. Seeing him in such a bad state ruined his heart.
He picked Jakery up and gave him a motherly hug. "What happened? Tell us, please."
In response, Jakery's watery green eyes looked up at his brother. "We... we are in danger... serious danger."