A black-haired man awoke abruptly, cold sweat cascading down his brow. His heartbeat fluttered like the wings of a butterfly. "Ahh, my head."

The man stood. "What happened? The last thing I remember was…"

A knock on the door broke the man out of his stupor. "Master Bran, breakfast is ready. The lady would like to see you down in ten minutes."

Closing his eyes, Bran took a deep, emotional breath. "It seems the Gods didn't lie. I'm really back."

A bark echoed from the man's bed as a light brown puppy jumped from the sheats. Its bright blue, playful eyes shone in purity as the man's breath left him.

With wide eyes, the man bent down to pick up the dog. Bran's loving eyes spread warmth throughout the colder, dreary wooden box. "How's it goin' Rag?" Tears cascaded down his face like rivers. "It's been an awfully long while."

Rag tilted his head to the side, and with a "roof" licked his owner's face. With that one act, Bran's breath was rendered dead. He stood there in that moment, trying to truly cherish what would later become his most treasured ally.

With a small chuckle, Bran set the dog down and strutted to the door before stopping abruptly and turning his head to the heavens. "I won't make the same mistakes again. I'll never let that outcome come to fruition!"

A shout came from the other side of the tall, black door. "Oi, big bro, shut it! I don't want to deal with your weirdness first thing in the morning!"

A large grin overtook Bran's face as he hurled the door open with all his might…Only a large, cracking thud rang through the hallway as silence crept from the previous boisterous hallway. Not even a snail moved as the tension built, waiting to spill over to cut the atmosphere in half.

Exiting the room with a fast-beating heart and worry plastered on his face, Bran flung the door closed, leaving his best friend locked in the shadows of the abyss, and kneeled, taking the girl's soft, warm hands in his own. "Kara! Are you alright?!"

The girl tore her hands from his as a vein protruded from her bright red forehead. Her body morphed into that of a devil as her face began to swirl with maddening shadows. "What did I just say? Ugh, this is why I hate mornings."

Bran began to try to help the girl, Kara, up without a word, only to get a deathly, evil glare from her. "If you just stopped rushing things and got rid of your morning excitement, this would never happen. This is, what? The tenth time this week?! Gods, I swear." An embarrassed chuckle escaped Bran's overly worried gaze. "Well, it's safe to say: Some things never change."

With the tension cut in half and squished to the ground, Bran took in his younger, ferocious sister. She wore a silver embroidered dress that expended an air of pure elegance, ironicly contrasting her platinum blonde hair perfectly with deep blue, tired eyes.

Irritation set in the girl as she turned with a snap, almost blowing the building off the ground with her speed. "If you'd stop looking at me like that, we could go see Mother for breakfast, you big oaf."

A bright, beaming grin leaped onto Bran's face as he lifted his sister, throwing her to the heavens. "Haha, this is the best day of my life! Nothing could get better than this!"

Another large ringing thud tore through the atmosphere as Kara's eyes morphed into piercing malevolent vestiges of a devil. "I swear if you do something like this again, not even Gilfia can save you!"

Before another word could be spoken, footsteps echoed from deep within the hall like the ringing of a demon taking its first steps out of the abyss. "Kara, your crass use of words is, frankly, a disappointment. If you're to curse someone, put more effort into it. It pains my old heart to see you not use my teachings."

Kara's face turned deathly pale as she spun her head toward the voice with such gusto that it mimicked that of an owl. "U-uncle Dave, I was just so taken aback by the pain," she grabbed her head, exaggerating a fall backward, "I couldn't think straight."

The man chuckled as his aura turned sharper than the edge of a sword. "Is it that, or have you just been slacking while I train you to take over the head of the house?"

Kara's gulp reverberated through the darkening hall before she took off, pushing her legs as fast as a train. "You'll never catch me alive!"

A malevolent smile crept onto the man's face. "Run all you want, it won't stop my remedial lessons!"

The running could be heard throughout the house, almost breaking the floorboards as they went, yet with a mixture of odd giggling and evil cackling, a warm aroma spread through the otherwise bland halls.

Bran stood there with a faraway look, his smile slowly growing. "I've really missed this."

A soft yell snapped Bran out of his blissful state. "Kids, breakfast! I made y'all's favorite: pancakes."

Bran's grin came back doubled as he rushed down the flight of stairs, practically flying. "Mom!"

A red-haired woman emerged as Bran tackled her to the floor, dirtying her light pink dress that extended down to her rosy ankles. Red heels adorned her feet, and a green bonnet obscured her forehead, keeping hair out of her dark blue eyes.

Bran hoisted his mother into the air as he spun her. "How's it goin' ma? It's been a while."

Confusion blinking onto the woman's eyes, she smacked him on the head with a ladle, forcing him to let her down. "I don't know what's gotten into you, but you're acting like a hoodlum."

Bran scratched his neck, his cheeks growing pink, and grabbed a plate, filling it with warm food. "It's just that I had a really bad dream." His mother raised an arched eyebrow, "Don't worry too much about it. Anyways, when is my Awakening?"

Bran's mother sighed as she struck a thieving hand reaching to kidnap more food. "Save some for your sister!" She blew a strand of hair from her face. "Your Awakening, huh? I thought you didn't want to "go through that arduous process"."

Bran's eyes shrunk as his eyebrows scrunched. "Well, I realized I was being immature and decided to step up. I may not be the heir, but if I'm to become a knight and not bring down the family, I have to head to the academy."

The red-haired woman vaulted into her son's arms as she squealed. "Finally! I can't wait to brag to all my friends about how mature my son's becoming."

Bran tightened the hold on his mother, a myriad of emotions expanding on his face. "I really haven't stepped up recently, have I?"

The boy's mother broke from his firm grasp. "Haven't stepped up"? "Recently"? Bran, I do hope you know, not once, in your almost 16 years of living, have you "stepped up"."

A light voice interrupted. "Mom's right, you know."

Bran turned to face the voice only to see his sister. She was standing, relaxed, at the entrance to the kitchen, her long, blond hair flowing past her knees down to her calves, the sun's rays perfectly creeping through the open window seal, creating an almost dystopian effect that reflected off the shiny blond hair.

Kara shuffled to the table, the light still reflecting off her hair. "If you had only taken your duties and not pushed them off onto me, I wouldn't have to become the head." A dreamy look sneaked onto her face as her eyes ignited into stars. "I would be able to relax for the rest of my life!"

A ladle smashed into the blond's head. "Don't start thinking bad about the position of family head! Most children can only dream of taking the mantle of a prominent family such as ours, and also, don't drool on my table."

With a slight chuckle, Bran shoved a whole pancake into his mouth. Its texture was fluffy and smooth with no hint of roughness or grain. It had a euphoric effect on any who inhaled its sweet delight, and Bran wasn't an exception.

The ladle, once again, came down upon Bran's head. "Leave some for everyone else, like I said."

A wicked cackle escaped Kara's thoughts. "That's what you get for leaving me as family head."

Like booming thunder, the ladle crashed into the girl's head once more. "Everyone just be nice. How many times will it take me reprimanding you for it to get through your thick skulls?"

While rubbing her head, Kara let out a pout. "It's not my fault. He started it!"

Sending a vicious glare her way, the mother watched as her child dove under the table. "I'm going to check on your father: He spent way too much time in his study last night. Y'all make sure to be good."

While strutting away, a large echo of chaos resonated throughout the house. "Huu, why can't they just get along?"

***

Kara glared at Bran. "You never fail to get me in trouble."

Chuckling, Bran stuck his tongue out. " I'm just that good."

Pushing herself up from the table, Kara began to lightly pepper Bran's arm with punches. "You're so annoying! Why can't you be like Jess' brother? I heard he's nice to her."

Bran shoved another delightful pancake into his mouth. "Because, I'm not Jess' brother, and it wouldn't be me to not antagonize you."

Gritting her teeth, Kara plopped back down. "Tsk, this is why no one likes you. Well, that and you're lazy."

Bran's eyes narrowed. "You call me lazy when you can barely get up in the morning. In fact, it takes Uncle Dave's constant threats to even attempt to wake you."

The girl scoffed with a slight tint to her cheeks. "Like you're any better?! All you do is sit in your room doing Gods knows what with Ragnarok." She snickered. "Is there something you'd like to tell us, oh so great brother?"

Bran smacked her atop the head. "Stop making weird and untactful insinuations. Where'd you even become so crass, anyway?"

Kara raised an eyebrow. "You act as if I don't take daily lessons with Uncle. Anyways," She took a glance down at her plate, "Where did all my food go!"

A content sigh left Bran's mouth. "Man that was to die for. I almost forgot how good mom's cooking was."

Kara's eyebrow twitched. "Why You-! How dare you eat all of my food! Spit it out!"

Bran pulled down an eye while sticking out his tongue. "Make me."

She grabbed ahold of his collar and started to shake him. "How dare you! That was mine; you ate the only good part about my day!"

Eyes spinning, Bran pushed his sister off him. "Stop, I can't see straight." She started to pepper him once again. "Anyway, Kara, why do you care so much? It's not like you eat much. In fact, I don't remember the last time you had a decent meal."

She grit her teeth once again. "Why do I care? Because! Mom's pancakes are the best in the whole kingdom! They are blessed by the divine themselves."

With another hit to the head, Bran held up his plate. "Relax, I didn't eat mine. I was just messing with you. Your reactions are just too funny."

Kara let out an annoyed huff as she gently took the plate. "Don't mess with me. I don't need you being annoying to put even more on my plate, no pun intended."

A small smile grew on Bran's face, and with loving eyes, he embraced his sister in a deep hug. "I may have been a winy brat before, but I won't make the same mistake again. I promise: If it is within my power, I will do anything to lessen the burden I've placed on you and protect you with my life."

Kara broke from his hug, and with a slight blush, hit Bran on the shoulder. "What's gotten into you? Acting cool and all. I don't think it suits you. Go back to being the lovable, annoying brat like you were!"

Bran patted her head as he turned around to face the door. "I'll do anything in this life to protect you."

Kara looked up from her plate, her mouth stuffed with food. "Huh? You say something?"

Bran looked back at her with a smile. "I think you're hearing things. Are you sure you're not an 80-year-old woman?"

Kara threw a spoon at him. "Shut up! It seems nothing's changed and you're still rude!"

Bran turned back and began to walk through the door, entering his new life. This time, he wouldn't make the same mistakes and let his family down. This time, he would rise to the top of the world and show it just how scary a brother's love could be. "This time, I'll destroy "The Calamity"!"