Late at night, Ember sat in his office, flipping through the documents Nox had given him. His frown deepened as he read, interrupted only by a knock on the door. Exeo stepped in, closing it behind him.
"Nox said you needed me. What's the issue?" Exeo asked, walking over to the couch.
Ember handed him the stack of papers. "I've been going through these records and cross-checking them with our parents' files. Something isn't right."
Exeo took the documents, skimming through them. "What do you mean?"
Ember leaned forward, pointing to a page. "This record says Valens was left with a couple on the outskirts of Sula on March 12, 2075. But look at this—" He picked up a photo. "This was taken in May of the same year, showing Mother holding Valens as a baby. How does that add up?"
Exeo's brow furrowed. "So, he was supposedly left at the orphanage in March, but this photo proves he was with our mother in May." He glanced at Ember, the realization dawning. "It doesn't make sense unless someone deliberately altered the dates."
Ember nodded slowly. "I think our parents changed the records—maybe to protect him or to mislead anyone looking for him. If that's true, it explains the contradictions."
Exeo set the documents down and stood. "There's only one way to be sure. Father's personal files are in the basement. If anyone had the answers, it was him."
The brothers made their way to the basement, their footsteps echoing in the dim hallway. At the end stood an ornate oak door. Exeo pulled a key from around his neck, unlocking it with a soft click.
Inside, the room was untouched, as if frozen in time. Dust covered the antique furniture, but the shelves were packed with books and papers. Ember whistled softly. "So this was Father's study... I didn't think it would be so—intact."
Exeo nodded. "Nox told me Father instructed him not to clean it after he passed."
Ember moved to the desk and spotted a folder labeled "Confidential." He opened it and quickly flipped through the pages until something caught his eye. "Exeo, look at this!" he said, holding up the photo.
Exeo leaned in, and both stared at the picture of their mother, smiling serenely, holding baby Valens. On the back, the words read: "Valens Bellator, 2 months old, May 5, 2075."
The brothers exchanged a glance, the weight of their discovery sinking in. Exeo spoke first, his voice steady. "This confirms it. Our parents were covering something up—changing dates to protect Valens. But from what—or who?"
Ember sighed, sitting down. "We need to keep digging. Whatever they were hiding, it's tied to Valens's past—and his future."
The two brothers pored over the documents in silence, determined to uncover the truth. After a while, both let out a heavy sigh, the mystery far from solved but one step closer to understanding.
Here's the simplified version with dialogue replacing narrative lines:
Ember skimmed through the next set of documents, his hands trembling as he read. "Exeo," he said, his voice shaking. "It's written here—Valens's second ability isn't just the Purple Fire. He has the same ability as Reinhart Bellator... the ARM user."
Exeo frowned, leaning closer. "Reinhart? The one who could wipe out a country? Father wrote about that?"
Ember nodded, his face pale with anger. "And there's more. Reinhart's death—it wasn't from sickness. It was a setup. A traitor killed him." He slammed the paper down, his hands clenched into fists.
Exeo's jaw tightened as he read through the rest. "So, that's why they left Valens with a couple in Sula... or thought they did. They tampered with the records to protect him, even giving him that ruby necklace to record everything and hide our existence."
Ember's expression darkened. "But the couple sold him to an orphanage and kept taking Father's support money without him knowing."
Exeo's grip on the papers tightened, veins bulging on his forehead. "They betrayed our parents and sold our brother like he was nothing." His voice was low but filled with rage.
Unknown to them, Valens already knew the truth—the necklace had shown him Reinhart's last moments, revealing the betrayal that ended his life.
Ember exhaled sharply, his anger simmering. "We can't let these documents fall into the wrong hands. If anyone finds out about this, Valens will be in even more danger."
Exeo nodded, his tone firm. "Keep these hidden, Ember. Not even Nox can know about this."
Ember silently agreed, tucking the papers away. Both brothers knew the weight of their discovery—and the lengths they would go to protect Valens from the same fate.
Later that night, Exeo and Ember decided to stay in Exeo's study, discussing the revelations from the documents. When Nox informed them that Valens was awake, they immediately made their way to his bedroom.
The soft creak of the door opening caught Valens's attention. He turned his head weakly, a faint smile appearing on his pale face as he saw his brothers enter.
"How are you feeling?" Exeo asked, pulling a chair close to the bedside. His voice was calm but tinged with concern.
"I'm... better," Valens replied hoarsely, his voice dry and cracked from the strain of the past few days. He hesitated, glancing down at the ruby pendant resting on his chest. "I don't know if I was dreaming, but... the necklace showed me things—things that have happened to me."
He stopped short of revealing what he had seen of their ancestor's final moments. Instead, he looked up at his brothers, tears welling in his eyes. His voice trembled as he asked, "I saw Father and Mother, but... why weren't you there?" His expression was a mix of sadness and confusion.
Exeo sighed deeply, leaning back slightly in his chair. "For your safety," he explained, his tone steady but laced with regret. "Father and Mother decided not to involve us. They thought it was the best way to protect you."
Exeo reached for the documents they had discovered earlier, handing them to Valens. "Here. These will explain more."
Valens hesitated before taking the papers, his trembling hands struggling to hold them steady. As he flipped through the pages, his eyes widened with shock. He looked up at his brothers, then back down at the words before him.
"W-what... h-how is this possible?!" he stammered, his voice barely rising above a whisper. "D-does this mean I had already manifested my second ability... as a baby?!" His disbelief was palpable.
"It's possible," Ember replied, his expression serious. "Father wrote that your ability is the same as our ancestor's. It might have been dormant, but still present."
Valens frowned, flipping through the pages again, his eyes scanning the text desperately. There was no mention of what the ability actually was. His thoughts churned, but he kept one to himself. Good thing I haven't revealed that I saw Reinhart Bellator's death.
He closed the documents, resting them on his lap, and opened his mouth to speak. But before a word could escape, a sudden and loud thump echoed from within his chest.
Badump!
Badump!
His hand flew to his chest as he leaned forward, gasping for air. "Ugh—!" The sound of his ragged breaths filled the room.
Exeo and Ember sprang to their feet, panic etched on their faces. "Valens! What's wrong?!" Exeo barked, stepping closer, his voice sharp with urgency.
Valens didn't respond. His head snapped up suddenly, his eyes wide in silent shock. His hand remained clutching his chest, his mouth slightly open, but no sound came out.
Then, blood began trickling from his left eye, a crimson tear that streaked down his cheek like a haunting cry. The sight froze both brothers in place.
"Valens! Valens, talk to us!" Ember shouted, his voice cracking as he grabbed his brother's shoulder.
But Valens couldn't hear them. He was lost, trapped in an invisible storm of pain, his body trembling as though it were fighting something beyond their understanding.
Valens stared blankly at the ceiling, his head tilted back, his body still. But inside his mind, an entirely different scene played out.
A figure stood atop a towering building, his back facing Valens. The man wore a black cloak that billowed dramatically as a strong gust of wind swept through. Long red hair, reaching down to his waist, danced in the wind alongside the fluttering cloak.
Valens's breath hitched, a sharp, involuntary gasp. Those clothes... I know those clothes.
The figure wore black military attire trimmed with gold embroidery, a design Valens recognized instantly. His gaze shifted to the man's ear, where chained earrings glinted in the light. At the end of one chain, a ruby pendant dangled, catching Valens's attention like a magnet. There was no doubt—this was the same man he had seen before.
The man turned around slowly, his piercing gaze locking onto Valens. A jolt shot through Valens's body. "U-uhh..." he stammered, stepping back instinctively. The man's lips moved, forming words Valens couldn't hear. The scene felt muted, like a distant memory shrouded in silence.
"Wh-what are you saying?!" Valens whispered, squinting to read the man's lips, but it was no use.
The man extended a hand toward him, only to stop halfway. His expression softened, and he smiled—a hauntingly calm smile that sent a chill down Valens's spine. Then, with a deliberate motion, the man opened his palm, summoning a crackling purple flame. Valens's voice trembled as he whispered, almost inaudibly, "Rein...hart Bellator?"
The man didn't respond. Instead, he raised his other hand, where a black sphere materialized, swirling ominously with energy. Valens could feel its pull, its immense power, even from where he stood.
The purple fire vanished, and the man's left eye began to glow. A complex magical symbol appeared over it, burning brightly like an otherworldly mark. Then, without warning, the entire scene began to warp. The surroundings twisted and collapsed, sucked into the void created by the man's power.
"Ugh—!" Valens gasped as he felt himself yanked forcefully, the scene dissolving into nothingness.
His body jerked forward, snapping him back to reality. His breaths were ragged, blood dripping from his left eye onto the bed sheets. "Uh... ughhh..." he groaned, clutching his chest as sweat trickled down his temples, his mind swirling with confusion and fear.
He blinked rapidly, trying to anchor himself. Slowly, he realized where he was—back in his bed, his two elder brothers standing close, their worried faces blurred by the haze of his vision.
"Ahhh..." Valens whispered hoarsely, his chest heaving. His hands trembled as he tried to make sense of what had just happened.
'Reinhart Bellator... what did you want to show me?'
Valens looked up at his brothers, his breathing gradually calming.
His gaze dropped as he stared at nothing in particular, his mind racing to figure out how to explain what he'd just experienced.
When Ember and Exeo saw his face, their eyes widened in shock.
On Valens's left eye, where blood had trickled earlier, a faint magical symbol now glowed. Valens, unaware of their reactions, turned to fully face them.
Unable to hold back, Ember blurted, "What happened?"
"Re-Reinhart," Valens stammered, his voice shaky as he met their gazes, his crimson eyes reflecting both fear and confusion.
Exeo's expression hardened in understanding. "I see," he said, pointing to Valens's left eye. "You've got something there."
Valens blinked in surprise, his hand instinctively reaching toward his face. "What...?" He scanned the room and spotted a mirror near the sofa. Without hesitation, he stood and walked over to it. His brothers stayed quiet, watching him closely.
When Valens saw his reflection, his body froze. A sharp gasp escaped him, followed by a shout. "Aaaaah! WHAT HAPPENED TO MY FACE?!" He wiped his cheek with his palm, as if trying to remove the mark, then spun around to face them, his expression panicked.
Ember held up his hands defensively. "Whoa, calm down! Don't blame us. You were gasping for air earlier, and then—well, that happened."
Valens's eyes narrowed, searching their faces for answers. "Wait... so, it's true? All of it?"
The brothers nodded gravely. Valens let out a sharp breath, trying to piece it all together. "So, people are after me, our parents hid me, but I got sold off without you knowing. Then you found me, the necklace awakened my abilities, and now—this!" he said, pointing to his eye with frustration.
Both Exeo and Ember sweatdropped, thinking the same thing: 'This has really shaken him.' They said nothing, letting him vent. Valens sighed heavily and made his way back to the bed, sinking onto the mattress.
Looking up at his brothers, he asked, "So... what's the plan?"
Ember chuckled, shaking his head. "Honestly, I'm surprised you're taking this so well. I thought you'd be moping for the next few days, begging me to keep you company."
Valens raised an eyebrow at him, unimpressed. Exeo and Ember exchanged glances before bursting into laughter.
Valens frowned, clearly offended. "What's so funny?!" he demanded, pouting as he turned away from them, lying on his side with his back facing them. Muttering under his breath, he grumbled things only he could hear.
Ember's laughter faded, and he reached out to ruffle Valens's hair. "Relax, Val. We were laughing at your reaction to what I said, that's all. No offense intended."
Exeo leaned forward slightly. "So, Val, what do you plan to do now?"
Valens turned back to face them, still lying down. "I want to train," he said softly. A faint blush crept onto his cheeks as he added, "I want to help you both. I want to protect you."
The room fell quiet. Neither Exeo nor Ember laughed this time. Instead, their gazes softened at his earnestness.
"Of course, we'll let you train," Exeo said gently. "But it's not the right time for you to appear publicly. Rumors about our youngest brother are already spreading, and we need to be cautious."
"Hm," Valens replied with a small nod, acknowledging the explanation.
Ember grinned and patted Valens's shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll be here with you every step of the way."
Exeo nodded in agreement. "Yes, Ember will train you, and we'll make sure you're ready when the time comes."
"Okay," Valens replied, his voice calm but determined.
Satisfied, Exeo stood and left the room, leaving Ember to stay with Valens. The brothers decided to call it a night, knowing they would continue their discussions the following day.