After bidding farewell to his friends, Gavriel found himself alone in his room. Suddenly, a gentle knock echoed through the doorframe, capturing his attention. "Come in," he called out, curious about the visitor. The door creaked open, revealing none other than his loyal butler, who announced with a bow, "My lord, Sir Tristan has arrived." Gavriel nodded and reciprocated the gesture, replying, "Tell him to enter."
With another bow, the butler withdrew and closed the door behind him. A moment later, the door swung open once again, presenting Sir Tristan. "Good afternoon, my lord," he greeted with a respectful bow.
Letting out a deep sigh, Gavriel rose from his seat and made his way to a towering bookshelf, carefully selecting a voluminous book from his vast collection. He approached Tristan, his eyes fixed on the book, and spoke with a firm tone, "I issued an order, did I not?"
Sir Tristan raised his head, visibly taken aback, and after a brief pause, he nodded solemnly. "Yes, of course, my Lord. But there were... unforeseen complications. The knights were fatigued, hence I delay..." Tristan hesitated for a moment before continuing, "I apologize, and I am willing to bear the responsibility."
"I'm still your master, aren't I?" Gavriel asked, his voice filled with authority and superiority. Without even turning around or bothering to look at him, Gavriel demanded an answer. Tristan remained silent, his head slowly nodding in acknowledgment.
Suddenly, Gavriel stepped forward and confronted Tristan face-to-face. His anger boiled over as he bellowed, "How dare you defile me?" He menacingly raised the book he held in his hands, ready to strike Tristan with it. However, Tristan's quick reflexes saved him from the impending blow as he managed to block Gavriel's attack in the nick of time.
"I told you never to show off. You lack true power. If you were truly powerful, you wouldn't have allowed my father to perish on the battlefield," Gavriel retorted, his voice tinged with a mixture of defiance and sorrow.
He then snarled, a wicked smile curling on his lips. The confrontation intensified, and Tristan couldn't help but flinch in the face of Gavriel's malevolence. However, he held his ground, refusing to yield. "My lord," he replied, his voice trembling ever so slightly.
Gavriel's chuckle carried a dark tone, permeating the air around them. "No, you're not strong enough. You will never stand against me," Gavriel proclaimed, his expression transforming into one of intense determination. Tristan's eyes widened slightly as he registered the intensity in his master's gaze.
With an air of superiority, Gavriel's voice grew louder. "You should be grateful that I spared your life instead of ending it," his voice echoing through the chamber, locking eyes with Tristan's.
"You should be grateful that I chose to keep you by my side, and that you continue to serve me with great purpose."
Tristan's chest heaved rapidly, his grip on Gavriel's arm weakening as his hand slowly lowered. The echoes of battle and his father's anguished cries reverberated in Tristan's mind, haunting his thoughts. He desperately tried to shake off the vivid images, but they persisted, flashing mercilessly through his memory.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I didn't mean to..." Tristan's voice trembled as he struggled to regain control of his breath, gasping for air.
Gavriel scoffed, closing the distance between them, his face mere inches from Sir Tristan's. In a low, menacing tone, he whispered, "An apology means nothing, my dear brother."
A wicked smirk curved across Gavriel's lips as he continued, his voice still lowered, "Remember your place. Don't forget who holds the reins of power here." The smirk grew wider, and with a sudden burst of rage, he raised the heavy book high above his head, bellowing, "Do you understand?!"
The weight of the book crashed down upon Tristan's skull with an unsettling force. He crumpled to the ground, his body twitching involuntarily as consciousness slipped away.
Gavriel's maniacal grin adorned his face as he observed Tristan's motionless form. Slowly, he stepped back, allowing the hefty book to fall unceremoniously to the ground, a cruel testament to his ruthless authority.
*Flashback*
The animosity between the two brothers had its roots in a fateful event that took place eight years ago. Lord Cassius Thornblade, still grieving the loss of his wife and unborn child, brought an orphaned boy named Tristan into the Thornblade household, welcoming him as his adopted son.
Cassius' decision to adopt Tristan was driven by multiple factors. Firstly, his deep-seated grief and longing for family compelled him to seek solace and companionship through adoption. Secondly, he recognized exceptional potential in Tristan's swordsmanship skills, discerning an extraordinary aura about him. Lastly, there was an undeniable instinctive connection that seemed to bind Cassius to the young boy.
In the elegant living room of Thornblade Manor, Tristan and Gavriel faced each other as Cassius formally introduced them. "Gavriel, this is your brother Tristan," Cassius declared with a touch of hope in his voice.
Tristan nodded courteously at Gavriel, while Gavriel's gaze flickered with a mix of skepticism and curiosity directed at Cassius. After a moment, his eyes shifted to Tristan, scanning his appearance. With an air of cautiousness, Gavriel spoke, "Nice to meet you. I'm Gavriel, twelve years old, and my favorite pastime is horseback riding."
Tristan's eyes sparkled with excitement at Gavriel's words. "Really? That's amazing! I apologize for my exuberance, but it's because we're the same age," Tristan replied earnestly, hoping to establish a connection with his newfound brother.
Gavriel cast a final glance at his father, then shifted his gaze to Tristan, a small smile playing on his lips. "No need to be so formal with me, brother," he said.
Tristan's eyes widened in surprise, a faint flush coloring his cheeks as he glanced between Gavriel and Cassius.
"Thank you," Tristan replied, his voice filled with gratitude. "It means a lot that you see me as family." A shy smile tugged at his lips as he and Gavriel shared a brief moment of laughter.
Cassius smiled warmly at both of them. "I'll leave you two be," he chimed in before turning around and making his way out.
Gavriel watched Cassius retreat, then turned his attention back to Tristan. "Come on," he said, his voice filled with excitement. "I'll teach you how to ride a horse."
Tristan's eyes lit up with anticipation as he eagerly followed Gavriel out of the manor and towards the stables, ready for an adventure on horseback.
Their friendship blossomed over time, eventually transforming into a deep brotherhood within just a month. However, as Tristan's extraordinary skill in swordwielding became more apparent, it caused Gavriel to feel insecure and envious.
Desperate to regain control and make Tristan feel inferior, Gavriel attempted various methods, but Tristan remained unwavering. Fate took an unexpected turn in the fifth year of Tristan's stay in the Thornblade household when the war between Sabres kingdom and Acrania kingdom erupted.
Both Gavriel and Tristan, alongside Lord Cassius, were enlisted as soldiers in the kingdom's Imperial Army, known as the Crimson Blade, to aid in the defeat of Acrania's army. Uninterested in participating, Gavriel opted out, leaving only Tristan and Cassius to embark on this perilous journey.
Sabre kingdom won the war and out of the men chosen from the Thornblade household, Tristan emerged as the sole survivor. He was unable to save their father despite his incredible strength. The haunting memory of his failure haunted him. Seizing this vulnerability, Gavriel cunningly seized control over Tristan's mind.
Upon reaching the legal age to claim the title of Duke and assume control of the dukedom, Gavriel took advantage of his newfound power. He stripped Tristan of his Thornblade surname and bestowed upon him the name Ironhart, uttering coldly, "Since you couldn't save my father, you do not deserve to be called a Thornblade. I want you gone within a day."
With a dismissive shove, Gavriel left Tristan's room, leaving him to grapple with his shattered identity and uncertain future.