For three days, HQ buzzed with the usual post-battle cleanup: reports compiled, tactical analysis debated, and Clareo's borders secured. But amidst the business-as-usual atmosphere, there was an ongoing saga that had every soldier, operator, and even the janitorial staff deeply invested.
Valens Bellator, feared ARM user and savior of Clareo, had been playing an elaborate game of hide-and-seek. His opponent? His own brother, Ember, whose wrath seemed to burn hotter with each passing day.
Day One: A Close Call in the Mess Hall
Val had successfully avoided Ember for the first twelve hours by sticking to obscure corners of HQ—unused storage rooms, maintenance tunnels, and even a defunct ventilation shaft. But hunger eventually got the better of him, and against his better judgment, he ventured into the mess hall during a quieter time.
Disguised in a standard soldier's uniform (which barely fit his frame), Val kept his head down, hoping to grab a quick meal unnoticed.
"Pasta," he muttered to himself, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible. "Pasta's safe. No one gets mad over pasta."
As he scooped a serving onto his tray, the unmistakable weight of someone's gaze settled on him. Slowly, almost painfully, he turned his head to the doorway.
There stood Ember, his fiery presence lighting up the dull mess hall like a miniature sun. His arms were crossed, and now without the mask, Val could feel the seething rage radiating from his older brother.
"VALENS!" Ember's roar echoed across the room, causing every soldier present to freeze mid-bite.
Val didn't hesitate. Tossing the tray into the air, he bolted for the emergency exit. Ember was on him in an instant, but Val's Void-enhanced reflexes gave him the edge. Shadows coiled around his feet as he teleported just as Ember lunged.
Ember's momentum sent him crashing into the pasta counter, bowls of spaghetti flying everywhere. A soldier, frozen in place with a forkful of noodles halfway to his mouth, whispered in awe, "I didn't know he could miss."
"I WON'T MISS NEXT TIME!" Ember bellowed, slamming his fists on the counter.
Day Two: A Tactical Retreat
Val spent most of Day Two tucked away in a rarely used section of the HQ archives, poring over old mission logs as a cover. The quiet, dimly lit room seemed the perfect hiding spot, and for hours, he let his guard down, even daring to stretch his legs.
But peace never lasted long when it came to Ember.
Around noon, Val noticed a faint smell of smoke—an ominous sign. He froze, listening intently.
"Think, Val," he muttered to himself. "He doesn't know you're here. He couldn't possibly—"
The door to the archives burst open, Ember striding in with all the subtlety of an erupting volcano.
"I KNOW YOU'RE IN HERE!" Ember bellowed, Purple Fire igniting around his hands. "YOU CAN'T HIDE FOREVER!"
Val barely had time to grab a random stack of files before slipping into the shadows, teleporting to the other side of the room. Ember, unrelenting, began tearing through the shelves, his flames singeing the edges of old mission logs.
"Val, I swear, if you make me burn down this room, you'll regret it!"
From his new vantage point, Val stifled a laugh. "Pretty sure HQ would regret it first," he whispered to himself.
Unfortunately, his brief chuckle gave him away. Ember's head snapped toward the sound, and in an instant, flames roared toward Val's hiding spot. Val forgot that Ember has always had very sharp hearing.
When he saw Ember looking towards his direction, he teleported again, this time landing just outside the archives, and sprinted down the hallway.
Behind him, Ember's voice echoed, his frustration boiling over. "STOP RUNNING, YOU COWARD!"
Day Three: The Final Gambit
By Day Three, Val's nerves were frayed. He hadn't slept properly, his meals were limited to whatever rations he could swipe unnoticed, and every creak of a door or distant shout made his heart race.
In the early hours of the morning, he found temporary solace in the observatory, a quiet space overlooking Clareo's skyline. The stars were faint, but their faint glimmer brought a rare moment of calm.
"Three days," he muttered, leaning against the railing. "Three days of this insanity. I just need to hold out a little longer."
Unfortunately for Val, Ember was not one to give up. And on this third day, Ember finally employed a trick that would catch his younger brother off guard.
The Trap
Val had just begun to relax, leaning back against the railing, when a faint voice came through his comm link.
"Valens," a familiar voice called softly.
It was Exeo.
Val frowned. "Exeo? What is it?"
There was a pause, then Exeo's voice came again, slightly strained. "Can you meet me in the training room? I need to talk."
Val hesitated. Exeo was rarely one to call for private meetings, especially during such a chaotic time. Still, Val trusted his older brother enough to lower his guard slightly.
"All right," Val said cautiously, stepping away from the railing. "I'll be there in a minute."
He teleported directly into the training room, landing in the center of the arena. The room was dimly lit, and for a moment, everything seemed normal.
Then the doors slammed shut.
Val spun around, realizing too late that he'd been lured into a trap. Standing at the edge of the room, arms crossed and flames already igniting around him, was Ember.
"Well, well," Ember said, his tone dangerously calm. "Look who finally decided to stop running."
Val groaned audibly. "Seriously, Exeo? You helped him?"
From the observation deck above, Exeo leaned against the railing, looking entirely unbothered. "I'm tired, Val. This was faster than listening to him yell for another three days."
"You're the worst," Val muttered.
"No," Ember growled, taking a menacing step forward. "You're the worst. Now stand still so I can properly lecture you!"
Val didn't wait to hear more. Shadows coiled at his feet as he prepared to teleport again, but Ember was ready this time. Flames surged across the floor, disrupting Val's Void tendrils and forcing him to dodge instead of vanish.
"Enough tricks!" Ember shouted, launching a wave of fire toward Val.
Val ducked behind a column, sighing deeply. "You really can't let anything go, can you?"
"YOU LEFT US BLEEDING ON THE FRONT LINES WHILE YOU WERE PLAYING VOID OVERLORD!" Ember's voice boomed, his flames flaring brighter.
Val peeked out from behind the column, his eyes narrowing. "I wasn't playing. I saved Clareo!"
"After taking your sweet time getting there!" Ember snapped.
From above, Exeo rubbed his temple. "I don't know what's worse—the battle or listening to this."
"Just let me explain!" Val tried, but Ember cut him off with another burst of flames.
"You can explain after I'm done with you!"
Val groaned, realizing there was no reasoning with his brother in this state. Shadows began coiling around his arms, and he braced himself for another round of dodge-and-escape.
Three days of running had worn him down, but Val was nothing if not resourceful. The only question was whether he'd escape this room before Ember's wrath finally caught up with him.
And so, the battle of brothers continued…