The doorknob twisted, alerting the siblings someone was at the door. Demon quickly got up from his seat beside Jakery. While his older brother was preparing for the worst, Jakery dug himself into the corner of the room.
His heart began racing. Senseless pounding echoed in his ears. Pump after pump. He felt himself losing control of his mind.
Just as Ether opened the door, Demon thrust his short-sword into him. After the whole deed was done, Demon stepped back in relief. Ether kept his eyes where the blade was, right over his head.
"Ah, thank the Nine you're back!" Demon awkwardly commented. "We thought you'd be back a little later."
In response, Ether frantically laughed. "T - twice in one day..! TWICE! You nearly killed me, two times, Demon. That's more than one!"
Hearing his brother's response made him feel guilty. "I'm sorry. It's that I get cocky here and then. But I promise I won't do it again, yeah?"
"Tamusta, yah, (Yeah, okay,)" Ether replied.
Demon got out of his way, allowing him to walk inside. Instantly, he took out his dagger and threw it onto the couch. His legs felt numb from all the running he did, causing him to collapse beside his weapon.
Jakery crawled up to Ether, head tilted down as if he was showing no resistance. "Well? What did Sherpa say?"
Instantly, Ether sighed before turning his head to the roof. "Sunset."
Understanding it was the most logical thing to do, Demon nodded once before sprinting towards his room. Hard thumping followed his feet as he darted across their home.
"I never thought this day would come. What do I do?" Jakery's soft voice asked.
Ether leaned forward, his hair flowed down over his eyes. "Hide whats yours where no one can see. If it can be burnt, burn it. If it can't, bury it."
A mixture of confusion and nervousness escaped his body on his next exhale. 'Sunset,' his mind echoed. Telling young Jakery it was time to begin their departure.
Not wanting to waste more time, he got up and went to his room as well. Leaving Ether alone in the room. Faint crackling rung in his ears, singing him a gentle lullaby. Until his eyes caught something.
They caught a vision, a memory, in fact. Of a weapon his father held in his hands. A weapon that was designed for his father's father, and for that father's father as well. And the one before.
A weapon meant for the Coros lineage, the embodiment of legacy. Generation after generation, the weapon became different. Not because of its wielder. But because the weapon always took one thing from its hosts.
With that one thing, it would decorate itself. And it was time for Ether to allow the weapon to choose what it wants to dawn as its newest suit.
Metal blade scraping leathery sheathe rung in his ears. The weapon was somewhere in their home, he just needed to find out where.
***
The three moons that stood over Imbushko like a sentinel drifted towards each other. Stopping abruptly as night turned to dawn, and dawn turned to morning.
Not once during that chilly night they felt remotely cold. Because the fireplace burned bright from their clothes, books, old toys, and anything that has touched their hands.
Just like Ether instructed, what they couldn't burn had to be hidden. Some small items found a small grave in their backyard to rest until someone discovered them.
While the bigger belongings were either shattered to tiny bits then buried or destroyed entirely. Not to mark down their emotions, but to display the true meaning of a sunset.
Allies change, foes rarely do. What some views as friends can quickly devolve into their biggest enemy. To display a new era in their life, Variants used the term to show the night and following day.
Gentle footsteps paced the living room. Everything was still and quiet, including most of the brothers. Demon walked over to check on his younger sibling, who was resting under a big grey rug.
"Psst," Demon whispered while gently poking Jakery. "Shashara narvito, Shojoro. (Good morning, Jakery)."
Feeling the world waking him up, Jakery slowly opened his eyes. He first studied the cold fireplace, where the ashes of everything they threw inside slept. Then his brother's slight smile.
"Why am I under a rug?" Jakery asked in a drowsy voice.
"You fell asleep on my shoulder while I was trying to calm you down with some theories I have. Ether needed my help so I had to go assist. Because I wanted you to be warm, I put it over you," Demon answered.
Hoping to make it up to his younger brother, Demon pulled off the rug. Then he picked him up. Jakery watched the slight expressions in his sibling's face.
Noticing he didn't see any challenge in his eyes while he picked him up. Which made Jakery wonder, if he weighed so much already, how long until he was as strong as his older brothers?
"Where is Shora? (Ether?)" Jakery asked while stretching his limbs. "It's so still around here without him."
Demon plopped Jakery down beside him. "He went off to find Valentine. Although he didn't specifically say anything."
A small moment of silence lingered between the two, interrupted by Jakery's rumbling stomach. He looked down at it, frowning as he did so.
"Come on, let's put our armor on and eat something. I think we still have more berries somewhere in our ice box," Demon instructed.
Jakery sighed, then walked to the corner of the room beside the hall. A large table decorated it, on it were their armors. Each small plate rested inside the frame of the bigger ones.
He scanned each set until he found the one that was his: the one with a golden Sky Beast talon on the right breast. Quickly, Jakery got to work on getting himself together.
Not long after, he tightened the final strap that tied his gauntlets in place. His head turned to see the foggy world outside. Judging by the even foggier windows, it looked colder than the night before.
Which was odd, autumn had just begun. Making it difficult to believe temperatures were dropping so low already.
Demon tapped on the wall of the other room. Telling Jakery to come over. In response, Jakery tapped back. It was their hidden method of talking to each other.
They exchanged spots. Now, Demon was in the living room preparing while Jakery was in the kitchen eating.
Flavorful juices took his mind off the situation he was in. Calming him down enough to enjoy one last meal inside the Light Legion.
But that calm memory didn't last forever. Shortly after sitting down, the door opened. Ether walked in, armor already on his body.
He ignored everyone else, stopping when he was over the rug Jakery slept under. His hands quickly rolled it up. Which confused Demon, they didn't have to destroy that.
What he failed to understand was Ether had to. Because he brought out a weapon from its hiding spot, where it has been resting since Solice's disappearance.
Once the rug was fully rolled, Ether quickly ran back to the door. He stopped and reached for something that rested beside it. Demon watched, noticing the silver weapon and sheathe.
Just by seeing the weapon, he understood it was not supposed to be there. Not because it was too dangerous or because it was made of unwanted materials. But because it was a lineage exclusive.
So far, the only lineage exclusive weapon the Light Legion has ever seen.
"Is the event starting soon?" Demon asked, trying to make conversation.
Ether quickly walked back over to the rug. "We always show up on time. No doubt about it. But there's fog outside, blanketing the city. It's safer if we move now when no one can see us."
Before he tucked the weapon away, Ether studied its every inch. Making sure there was no dirt or dust on it. Once he was sure of it, he shoved the weapon through the opening of the rug.
In one quick motion, Ether picked it up and brought it outside. Placing it against their door, waiting for Valentine to get there so he could move the rug away.
Jakery poked his head from around the corner. "What is he doing?"
Demon shrugged, showing he was just as clueless.
Ether calmly made his way back inside. His tired eyes caught both of his younger brothers in their sight.
"You guys ready?"
"In all honesty, no and I want to go back to sleep. But I'm forced to say, yes," Demon quickly replied.
Jakery sighed, throwing his eyes into the mostly empty room. He felt saddened to see his childhood home turn into a sunset spot. Where he was aware the higher elites would discover their void home.
"Hey, Jakery," Ether said in a soothing tone. "I know you get stressed out really easily. And you need a lot of emotional support at times. But now, this is the time to show you aren't afraid."
The words of encouragement filled Jakery's ears. "But I'm not strong without you two."
Ether slowly walked closer to him. "That's why we want to make you stronger. So when we have to bend a knee, you'll support us."
Four knocks interrupted their conversation. Stopping Ether in his tracks. Without a moment to think, he rushed over to the door and opened it.
Valentine waved at the siblings, before turning his eyes to Ether. In low whispers, they exchanged words. Confirming things before briefly brushing over some other things one last time.
"I'll see you later. Good luck," Valentine concluded.
He turned his attention to the rug, picking it up with one firm hand. Making sure to hold it tight enough to not allow what was inside to come out.
"This is it. All of us have our armors ready. Now we just have to bring ourselves into the arena. Well, anyone want to say anything to our home before we go?" Ether asked his siblings.
Jakery walked closer to the door. "Bye, bye. I miss my home already."
Demon rubbed Jakery's hair into a mess. "We'll find a new one somewhere else. Right now, this is just a hostile spot pretending to be our home."