Under the radiant sun of a cloudless day, the warmth embraced the vast barren land as the twins---Rudeus and Julian Greyrat lounged atop the swaying carriage, their senses caressed by the rhythmic clopping of hooves and the fragrance of fresh hay.
Julian, the younger of the two, lay sprawled across the golden mound of hay, his chest rising and falling with each peaceful breath. The sun's brilliant rays danced on his tousled hair, turning it into a cascade of coppery waves.
Beads of sweat glistened on his now subtly tanned complexion---a visual proof to the scorching day's heat. He had surrendered to the lullaby of the carriage's gentle motion, surrendering to a midday nap.
Beside him, Rudeus, the older brother, kept watch over their journey. His clear green eyes scanned the horizon, shielding his face from the sun's relentless assault with a wide-brimmed hat.
His one hand rested idly on his knees and the other held his staff, never quite letting his guard down even in the tranquility of this sun-soaked afternoon.
A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he observed the rolling fields and distant trees. The serenity of the countryside was a stark contrast to the adventures and battles they had faced, a peaceful respite they cherished.
The horses pulled the carriage with measured determination, their breath forming warm, rhythmic puffs of steam. The clattering of hooves and the creaking of the wooden wheels provided a soothing backdrop to the tranquil scene.
Birds chirped merrily in the distance.
As the miles passed, Rudeus couldn't help but admire the vastness of the world around them and his luck that he survived all that had happened in past few days. He had faced the Dragon God and at the same time was putting enough strength to keep his allies at bay, so they won't get close enough to force Orsted into using his mana.
He just felt happy to be alive after all that. He had lost his limbs, had a crushed arm and lost the armour he had used so much imagination into making along with Zanoba. All he wanted now was to go back to his family.
Reunite the broken shards and be in time for the birth of his kid.
The fields of swaying grass stretched endlessly, seemingly infinite under the expansive blue canvas of the sky.
Fluffy white clouds drifted lazily overhead, casting fleeting shadows on the brothers below. It was a day to savor the simple pleasures of life, far removed from the complexities of their usual adventures.
Rudeus glanced at Julian, who was still peacefully slumbering. He felt a deep bond with his brother. Despite being almost killed once by him, he was the one who gave him an accurate direction to direct his life into.
The sun continued its ascent, and as the hours passed, Rudeus took a moment to close his eyes, allowing the warmth of the day to wash over him. The scent of the hay, the rhythmic sounds of nature, and the soft sway of the carriage all lulled him into a sense of calm.
Rudeus looked down at Julian who was sleeping like a log. Extending his finger, he poked his cheek. "He really looks like mother sometimes." Rudeus commented to himself as he saw him curl up in a ball, his golden strands shining with an even brighter hue.
After Julian had used his Mind's Blade and Rudeus used his God Rank Spell that gathered every speck of mana in the air followed by the space tearing rift that Julian opened by collapsing space itself, the teleportation circles and multiple mana artefacts became completely unusable.
The mana in the air became so chaotic that anything with in thousands of miles that used mana to function stopped working and the magical circles went into a dormant state. No amount of mana could cure the damage.
Julian had the power to use Void Step and whisk himself away to their destination in the blink of an eye. It would have been the quickest way to transport himself, and he wouldn't even have to endure the scorching heat of the sun. However, he couldn't leave Rudeus behind.
Julian knew that attempting to carry Rudeus through Void Step was risky. The teleportation magic could be jarring and unpredictable, especially for someone unaccustomed to it. There was a real danger of Rudeus sustaining injuries during the process.
Not just minor injuries but rather loss of limbs or two...or all of them.
"All right lads, we are almost here!" The man in charge of the horses spoke up with a laugh, removing the huge pot of rum from his lips as he burped out loud.
"Ah, thanks. I will wake him up." Rudeus replied with a bow, respectfully, his voice soft.
"Hoooh, would you look at that mate! It changed again." The man cried out, the rum splashing everywhere as the carriage juddered marginally off the edge of a gargantuan rock nestled in the middle of the road.
"Ehh, what change----the fuck!" Rudeus' eyes widened as he looked at the thing the dirver was directing towards.
It was the huge marble that updated automatically whenever the World Rankings changed.
The current rankings were:
『Rank 1 - Technique God』
『Rank 2 - Dragon God』
『Rank 3 - Void God』
『Rank 4 - Demon God』
『Rank 5 - Magic God』
『Rank 6 - Fighting God』
『Rank 7 - Death God』
"Hmff, are we here?" Julian asked, sitting up as he rubbed his eyes. They were droopy and the pale azure eyes seemed to be floating in a sea of off-white colour with multiple red streaks in them.
"Oh? Yeah. Wait Julian, look at this!" Rudeus pointed out at the huge, polished slate that had updated the rankings.
Groggily, Julian yawned before looking at it.
"Dude, that is crazy."
"Uh, yeah, I guess." Julian's reply was dull.
"Aw man, at least give me a reaction. You're literally third strongest in the world."
"Hm? Oh, the rankings were based on strength in the first place. But ok, if you say so." Julian shrugged and jumped down the carriage. Picking his swords up from the hay, he attached them to his waist.
Rudeus also got down from it, covering the tip of his staff with a huge piece of cloth that covered the bright blue gem on top of it.
"How much?" Rudeus asked the man.
Looking at the tattered clothes of the brothers, the man suddenly felt pity on them.
"One gold would do." He replied. It was a fair charge since they had been travelling with the man for over 4 months.
"Oh, ok, wait." Rudeus reached out for his pocket, taking out some money from it.
"Wait, I'll pay." Julian came forward and took out a few gold coins.
However, before he could give it to the man, Rudeus slapped his hand, "We may be age fellows, but I am the older one. Don't hurt my pride." Rudeus flared his nostrils, exhaling steam from it, like a mad bull.
Julian receded his hand and shrugged his shoulders. Meanwhile Rudeus took out a few gold coins and handed them all to the man. "Here you go. Keep the rest." Rudeus smiled at the man and both brothers turned around.
"So, why are we on the outskirts of Milishon?" Rudeus asked, leaning forward. His hair had a few strands of white, still. After he finished casting the grand spell, he depleted all of his mana since he even gave his own mana to Julian for the final move.
However, his mana was returning slowly.
"There is a teleportation circle here. We can go back to Sharia if we use it. The last time I was here I planted one." Julian replied, stretching his body like a lousy cat.
"Aren't all circles useless now?" Rudeus asked, tilting his head in confusion.
"Milishon has a barrier around it. The mana waves were strong but think of them as radio waves. They simply bounced off the surface of the barrier that keeps monsters away. That's why the circle should be alright." Julian explained as the arrived at the base of a huge, towering tree.
"Ohhh, well that's good." Rudeus replied. He sounded anxious.
"Something's brothering you?" Julian asked, sensing his unease.
"Oh yeah... I didn't tell you because of everything but Sylphy was pregnant. I don't know if I will be in time for the delivery." Rudeus looked a bit disheartened.
"Well, it can't be helped. You know of the situation." Julian just waved it off as it wasn't a very big deal.
"Eh, yeah, but you know, it is my first kid. Sylphy's as well. She needs me there."
"Are you going to pull the baby out?" Julian asked.
"Bruh, how clueless are you? They need the father to be beside them for some emotional support."
"Hm. Sylphy's strong. I think she'll manage."
"And why are we assuming she already gave birth?"
"I don't know. Maybe it would be funny seeing you getting scolded by your wives."
"Aw man, don't remind me. I don't know how to deal with them now that I have been blabbering vile stuff about you to them and Paul all this time only for me to say it was a farce. They're going to kick my ass." Rudeus shivered, his face turning pale.
"Hm. You'll be fine. You underestimate yourself too much." Julian patted his back. "On a side note, does that means I will be an uncle?"
"No shit, genius." Rudeus rolled his eyes, already thinking of ways to get out of the situation of revealing his and Julian's plans to everyone.
"Here it is." Julian spoke up as he removed a huge boulder from a marked place. Then using fire magic, he burnt the foliage covering it that burnt in a light blue flame, instantly disintegrating them.
"Oh! I wanted to ask, how in the name of everything unholy did you make blue flames?"
"Just add more oxygen to it. Come here."
"Wait wha---"
Before he could finish his sentence, Julian pulled Rudeus inside the teleportation circle. A dull thrumming filled the air followed by a bright flash. Their eyes reflected the forest scene and then before they could blink, the sight of Rudeus' new house came into view.
"Blergh.."
Rudeus retched, taking the support of a nearby tree.
"I swear to god, I can't get used to this."
Julian had a repulsed look on his face as he saw him puke again and again.
"Want me to fix it?"
"Detoxification won't cure it. It's connected to the min---oh, hell nahh. I am fine."
Rudeus shivered as he saw Julian's hand almost touching his head.
"Hm? Oh, sure."
Suddenly, both of them felt the sound of utensils falling on the ground, breaking, grinding...followed by the cacophonous shouts of no one other than Eris.
Shortly after, they could hear Sylphy's voice as well.
"I would've come as well to help but you know how things are right now."
"Nah, you're good." Rudeus replied, his voice urgent yet patient. It was a long time since he talked to his brother like this. "Let's have a drink later."
"Sure."
Waving his hand, Julian watched as Rudeus bolted inside his house. He tossed his staff away and kicked the door open, running in the direction of the room where the noises were coming.
"Hmm. Uncle, huh?" Julian felt amused, thinking his brother's kid calling him an uncle. He turned around, his face serene. "Has a nice ring to it."
However, as he took a few steps forward, he looked up.
*Plop. Plop*
It was raining. Sighing out loud, he started running.
NANAHOSHI SHIZUKA:
The rain poured relentlessly from the heavens, as if the heavens themselves were shedding tears while I sat in the worn-out chair by the window, my gaze fixed on the world outside.
The once-empty containers had now become miniature reservoirs, collecting rainwater to the brim.
The trees in the yard struggled against the force of the downpour, their branches bending and swaying under the weight of the rain.
It was a fierce storm, one of many that had come and gone since they had disappeared.
It had been four long months since Julian and Orsted vanished---Orsted from Sharia and Julian from our lives.
Four months filled with anxiety, doubt, and the persistent feeling of emptiness. Four months since the world had turned upside down.
The memories of that fateful day played like a never-ending loop in my mind.
The mana overload, the deafening roar of energy, and then the sudden silence.
It was as if the world had held its breath and exhaled only when everything went dark.
With the mana overload, the artifacts that relied on mana had become nothing more than lifeless relics.
They were scattered around the house, once essential tools of our daily lives, now reduced to mere decorations.
I tried to repair them, to bring them back to life, but it was futile. The magic was gone, leaving behind a void that seemed impossible to fill.
I couldn't use mana and the others were not adept enough to use it in a way that could remove whatever phenomenon had rendered them useless. Making new ones was impossible as well. After all, it was Julian who made them in the first place.
And Julian...
My heart ached at the mere thought of him.
I missed him... every single day, with a longing that threatened to consume me.
Every night, I cried myself to sleep, wondering if he was safe, if he was alive... if, only if, if he was thinking of me too.
I couldn't help but imagine the worst scenarios.
What if they were trapped somewhere, unable to find their way back?
What if they were injured?
What if they had been captured by some unknown force, taken away from us forever?
The uncertainty gnawed at me, like a relentless predator, clawing at my insides as the anxiety bubbled like an active volcano inside me, threatening to explode, fragment my entire existence along with it.
Yet, despite the darkness that had settled upon our lives, I clung to a fragile thread of hope. A hope as thin as a needle.
Every day, without fail, I sat by the lawn, watching and waiting.
If the sun blazed down mercilessly, I prepared a cool drink, hoping that Julian would return parched and tired.
If the rain poured, just like today, I readied a warm towel, knowing that he would be drenched and cold.
It might seem foolish to some, irrational even, that someone like Julian would be suffering from cold, but I couldn't let go.
I refused to accept that Julian was gone forever.
There were moments when I could almost feel his presence, as if he was standing beside me, his breath gently brushing against my ears. It was as if he was whispering to me, reassuring me that he was out there, somewhere, searching for a way back.
The rain outside showed no signs of relenting.
The world beyond the window blurred, the tears in my eyes mingling with the torrents that fell from the sky.
I pressed my hand against the glass, as if trying to touch the raindrops, as if trying to reach out to Julian.
Out there, maybe somewhere, he can also feel it.
As the hours passed, I felt a deep weariness settle within me. The weight of uncertainty, the agony of waiting—it was exhausting.
But I couldn't stop.
I wouldn't stop.
Because for as long as there was a sliver of hope, I would hold on to it with all my strength.
I knew that Julian would return. I had to believe it. And until that day came, I would keep watching, keep waiting, and keep hoping, even if the world around me seemed to crumble.
I was suffering.
I couldn't sit straight for too long.
I sat there, gazing out at the tumultuous scene beyond the shelter's small window.
Before long, I realised that the evening had descended upon the world like a heavy curtain, and I rose from my solitary vigil by the window.
The rain, which had been relentless all day, showed no signs of abating.
I knew it was time to retreat to the comfort of my room, to the sanctuary of solitude where I could hide my tears and fears.
With each step, I could feel the weight of the past four months pressing down on me.
The absence of Julian had left a void. I had nothing else in this world, other than him.
It was as if the world had lost its colors, and I was trapped in a perpetual twilight, yearning for the return of the sun.
For some reason, I could feel the storm outside mirroring the tempest within my heart. Raindrops raced down the windowpane, their incessant drumming a haunting reminder of the uncertainty that shrouded my beloved's fate.
I turned back one last time.
The thunder rumbled in the distance, a deep and mournful sound that resonated with the turmoil in my soul.
The world outside transformed into a flash of brilliant blue, a vibrant hue that seared into my vision.
The entire lawn was bathed in an ethereal light, and for a moment, it seemed as if the heavens themselves had cracked open.
And then, in that ephemeral moment when the world was awash in blue, I saw him.
Tall, very tall, dressed in garments as dark as the night. His hair, like spun gold, gleamed like the midday sun, and his eyes—pale blue, almost ethereal—held a luminescent quality that transcended mortal understanding.
It was Julian, unmistakably him.
His colour was different, but he was known for that.
The despair that clung on to my heart like a hot iron pressing against flesh was suddenly washed away. I almost laughed out loud.
My heart leaped in my chest - an explosion of emotions threatening to overwhelm me.
I wanted to run to him, to embrace him with all the pent-up love and longing that had festered within me. His presence alone was enough to ignite a fire of hope in the darkest corners of my heart.
But then, a memory surfaced, a realisation.
Instead of running, I walked deliberately, almost serenely, toward the door.
I could feel Julian's presence drawing nearer, the aura of his being suffusing the very air around me. It felt heavy, as if something extremely malignant. But I was used to it.
With trembling fingers, I opened the door, and there he stood, just outside, his figure imposing and yet strangely gentle.
He didn't speak, and neither did I, for words seemed inadequate.
We gazed at each other, the weight of our separation and my shared longing filling the space between us.
In that fragile moment of reunion, I found myself ensnared by the depth of Julian's gaze.
His eyes, which had once been pools of darkness, now shone with an intensity that rivaled the clearest spring morning sky.
They were wide, like windows to a world I had never truly glimpsed before.
But Julian remained silent, his lips sealed as if words could not hope to convey the myriad emotions coursing through his being.
He didn't look into my eyes, nor did he avert his gaze; instead, he simply regarded me, as a whole.
The fine mist that escaped his lips mingled with the raindrops, casting a surreal veil around him.
Water clung to his form, drenching him to the bone, and his blonde hair now clung to his face like gossamer threads of spun gold.
With each step, he drew closer, and I mirrored his approach, my heart danced in a symphony of chaos and longing.
The world around me seemed to fade, leaving only the two of us.
As he neared, I extended the warm towel I had prepared, my trembling hands wrapping it gently around his head.
He inclined his head slightly, a silent acknowledgment of my gesture.
His eyes remained downcast, still stunned and breathless.
"I missed you," I whispered, the words a confession of the ache that had gnawed at my heart in his absence.
Julian's response was simple yet that filled me with happiness. It was just the way he was.
He placed a hand on my stomach, the swell of life beneath my touch a testament to the passage of time.
"This?" he inquired; his voice tinged with bewilderment.
I chuckled softly. "Don't ask me," I replied, a smile gracing my lips. "It just happened. Suddenly, I felt everything continue four months ago. When you disappeared." With an excited glee, I raised my hand as well, showing him my fingers. My nails, in particular, growing.
I felt his jaw clench as his finger drew a circle on my inflated stomach. It pained me, but like sand being washed away by the wave, the narrow smile that appeared on his face eroded every thought.
"Welcome back."
"Mhm."
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