AUTHOR'S POV
Stellan didn't really wanted to speak with Evandrus, for he have nothing to say. He just wanted to uncover the dangerous schemes his brother is hiding that may take toll on Helena. In the past, Stellan did yearned for his brother. Evandrus' room that has been empty for so long haunts him with the ghost of their bonding. However, that feeling is long gone now. He didn't wish to breath the same air with Evandrus. He feels suffocated seeing him up close. And so, Stellan decided to walk away and avoid uneccessary squabbles.
"Where are you going? Aren't we finished catching up yet? Like what you and Haelan did last night?", Evandrus continued to hack Stellan off. He found contentment in the scowls that Stellan make.
"What do you want Evandrus!?", Stellan growled at his brother controling his anger.
"What's the deal with you and Haelan? I can't imagine, you and man like him? You should have seen your horrendous face drooling over Haelan", Evandrus gave him a scornful laugh. He knew that Stellan had no idea that Haelan is indeed a woman, and the two share a similar connection that's too obvious to ignore. "I thought you were a badass kind of knight, straight and honorable. The rebels fear ya, you know? Yet here you are, you are no different from me. You are you're own kind of rebel. What do you think would the palace say if you are very cutesy with a soul traveler?", Evandrus stepped one foot on a sprawled root and leaned his elbow on his knee as he smirk at Stellan.
"I said, what do you want?", Stellan want to cut the conversation short and get straight to the point.
"I want Haelan", Evandrus demanded without thinking twice.
"This conversation is over", Stellan made it clear that Helena is going nowhere near Evandrus.
"Accept it brother. Haelan should be with someone like him. You pretty much know what I really am right?", Evandrus gets his desires for Helena heightened given that together, he can be a great fighter like what he have always dreamt of.
Stellan never confronted what kind of certain being Evandrus is. Despite his personal intuitions, he still looked at him as his brother without any judgment or discrimination at all. "Haelan deserves to be with the people who won't take advantage of her", Stellan said.
"Whatever you say brother! Whether you like it or not, Haelan is coming with me. He needs me", Evandrus insisted like it was already a done deal.
It suddenly made Stellan realize that Evandrus is not taking Helena to Caluso at all. "Now look who's overly obsessed with a man? You aren't that charitable to serve someone with decency. That's what you are", Stellan didn't batted an eye.
"Oh yea? What else do you know about me brother?", Evandrus lifted his brows as he dare Stellan.
"I know you're a liar", Stellan hardened his jaw as he keep his calm. "That memory of the boy in the cabinet? The punishments and the bloody trainings.. Those were my torture to bear. We both know which son was pampered from head to toe, who had more rests and less trainings, served with the best organic tea, tailored with fine silk encrusted with gold and jewels, and slept in the warm cozy bed", Stellan continued that softened Evandrus' face.
"We're stealing memories now? I can't believe you're are to engage that low, Stellan", Evandrus forced a smile.
"More like stealing lives, because that's what you're expert with. If only I don't have a soul traveler of a brother, I would be telling a lie",
"All along, I thought you saw me as a brother, like how you were in my eyes, even after I realized that you're that maid's son. I buried myself in my own personal guilt for your disappearance. I suffered your loss and take the blame that I had to let myself be called by the name that's isn't mine…. And everytime I hear it, I keep being reminded how mindless of me to put you in danger. Now that I understand everything from your own mouth that you left with your own decision… I'm finally free from that burden. I don't want to be your brother anymore", Stellan never felt so light after saying those words. He felt like a bird freed from its cage after a long time of captivity.
"Touchè, Stellan. You don't how it feels to be unloved. I was getting all the attention yet, I never received one single loving glance from mother. My room was always filled with servants, maidens, and knights, but not even the shadow of Hesam's beloved Duchess to drop by and say hello or bid good night. What's more? The son whom she got an eye on became a paladin, while I remained as a nobody - just a doll displayed on balls and tea parties. When I received the crest and learned soul traveling, I pitied myself even more for having such a pathetic ability. A soul traveler at a time where the kingdom abhors such kind?", Evandrus breathe shakily as he open up his scarred wounds to Stellan. "What's more devastating is, I can never gain the love of the Duchess after realizing she isn't my mother at all. So that's right, I left Hesam and found a home in the rebel clan. It is where I felt useful and in control of my destiny. I hated Hesam and all its greatness and power! I hate that delusional bitch Evangeline for opening my eyes that I will never be a paladin no matter how hard I try. I hate Father for entangling our lives with so much complexities. And I hate you for being a paladin knight.", Evandrus fumed as his eyes turn red from the pain and anger he's holding in.
"You can hate me all you want, but you can never take Haelan away from me", Stellan said as he empty the space in his heart that he gave to his brother. As he was about to leave, a loud scream interrupted the two.
"Helena", Evandrus whispered.
"If anything happens to Haelan, you're dead", Stellan knew at the back of his mind that the foolishness of his brother would lure something dangerous and worse, put Helena's life on the line.