Jaylen and Lilith stood before an imposing set of doors, seamlessly crafted from solitude wood—a rare material known for its ability to trap sound and silence the world beyond.
Engraved on the doors was a sun being overtaken by the moon, forming a crescent. It represented the Shadowfell Domain.
"So we're here," Lilith said as she lightly tapped the dark wooden door. Only the sound of her flesh hitting the door lightly rang out.
"Good we've delayed enough let's head in and get this over with," Reaching out to the handle Jaylen felt His heart pounding, each beat echoing loudly in his ears.
"Jaylen wait!"
Completely halting, Jaylen looked at her with a raised brow, and his nervousness vanished without a trace. "What is it?"
"I just wanted to say, no matter what emotions you feel, try to keep them in control." She spoke calmly, her voice measured and thoughtful.
"There's no point in wasting them here. Save them and use them for motivation." She added gently, her tone carrying a hint of encouragement.
"I don't need a reminder on controlling my emotions," Jaylen retorted, his tone clipped, pushing her advice aside.
She threw him a sarcastic glance, rolling her eyes in playful disbelief. "Your ability to control your emotions is like a Dragon trying to control its pride"
"You honestly believe that?" He glanced away, a slight frown tugging at his features.
"Ah wow, would you look at the time I think we've been keeping them waiting too long," Lilith remarked casually, trying to shift the conversation.
Rushing forward She grabbed hold of the handle pushing the door open before he could protest, revealing the spacious interior of the main hall.
The hall was cavernous, vast enough to hold over 500 people with ease. The walls soared skyward, reaching heights that even the most determined leap couldn't touch
Taking a deep breath, Jaylen stepped into the hall. Once again, he adopted a look of indifference, but this time his eyes were as cold as ice, with not a single trace of the warmth that had existed.
His footsteps were silenced by the red carpet that stretched down the center aisle, rows of empty benches were placed evenly on either side.
Placed at the end of the rows of benches were 8 chairs four placed on either side of the aisle. Lilith had already taken her seat in the chair farthest to the right.
But it was strange Lilith was the only one there, normally the other branch heads would also be in their seats but they were absent.
He realized that the benches, normally occupied by elders and other key figures, were conspicuously empty. A sense of unease crept over Jaylen, as if a shadow loomed over the proceedings, signaling that something was terribly wrong
The absence of such key individuals made Jaylen uneasy like something bad was about to happen. He almost wanted to turn around and walk back out but it was too late he was already in the line of sight of his parents and siblings.
Directly in front of him across from where the branch heads sat were the seats of the family head and vice head, seated there were his parents.
His father, Victor Orpheus, commanded attention without a word. Broad shoulders and a muscular frame spoke of a lifetime of strength, while the indigo hue of his eyes shimmered with quiet intensity. His midnight-black hair fell in unruly waves, untouched by the demands of his title.
His nickname was the Shadow Berserker.
Beside him sat Jaylen's mother, Anna Orpheus. Her beauty was said to be unmatched, yet it was her skill as a magic swordsman that truly set her apart—a result of the rigorous training she endured as the daughter of the previous head.
Her nickname was the Rose of Darkness
Seeing his parent Jaylen didn't feel as angry as he thought he would instead of the simmering rage he normally had it was replaced by a feeling of foreboding.
He didn't focus on this feeling he believed that it wasn't important and that it would fade but if he had just paid more attention to his parents and this feeling then just maybe…
Taking a glance at his parents, Jaylen walked to the left of the hall, in between where the family heads' seats and the seats for everyone else up against the wall were the seats for the current children of the main family heads.
Males would sit on the same side as the vice-head while females would sit on the side of the family head. This was to show members that any gender could be the family's leader.
As in other families like the Astros family where only males could lead the family, the male descendants would sit closer to the head of the family.
Jaylen's seat was in between his two brothers Adam his older brother and Subaru his younger brother, Jaylen preferred to be around his sisters more but even then he was still really close to his older brother.
His brother Adam was the spitting image of their father but less muscular and more handsome, Adam preferred the pursuit of knowledge instead of strength from a young age.
On the other hand, Jaylen hated his younger brother. Subaru had the worst traits; spoiled, arrogant, wasteful, and pervert, but even still for some reason, his parents decided to make Subaru the heir.
It was a complete upset. They skipped him entirely—no questions, no discussion—naming Subaru the heir. Jaylen's older siblings didn't want to lead, and when it was his turn, they passed him by. He would never forgive his parents for that. As much as he wanted to leave and forge his own path, he couldn't—not for two more years.
"Now that you are all here let's begin today's meeting" Victor stated, His tone commanding. His flickered gaze to everyone in the hall never resting on anyone too long.
"Father Wait" Adam called out before Victor could continue.
Victor's gaze rested on Adam as he waited for Adam to speak, his finger rhythmically tapping on the arm of his chair.
"How come no one else is here but us, what about the other branch heads" Adam questioned his voice steady and focused.
"They won't be needed for today's discussion," He said crisply, ready to move forward with the rest of today's topics
He continued "For the first topic, this had been discussed privately with the previous head, the elders, and branch heads' except Lilith and it came to our notice that.."
He paused and though only for a short moment it was more than enough time for everyone to tense up, they all knew whatever he says could change the way they've lived up till now.
The room was filled with anticipation as everyone wondered whether the outcome would be favorable or not, and who stood to benefit or lose.
"It's come to our attention that one member of the family has not only failed to do their duty as a member of this family but even has done an act that would bring shame to the family." Victor's eyes hopped from one person to the next resting on them for no longer than a second.
Each time his gaze landed on someone he would pay close attention to their response, Lilith who was the first his gaze landed on didn't dare look into his eyes but she continued to look forward.
It then went to Emily, Jaylen's older sister who looked like a perfect blend of his mother and father, She looked into his eyes before looking away.
A small smile played on Victor's face before he turned his gaze to Adam skipping the youngest child Eleanor.
Adam too met his gaze before looking away earning a similar response.
Things were different, though, when his gaze landed on Jaylen. Not wanting to show weakness and prove to his parents he didn't need them, he glared back, eyes ablaze with fiery intensity.
The moment their gazes clashed, an unseen force slammed into Jaylen's chest, driving the air from his lungs. It felt like the atmosphere itself had condensed, crushing down on him with the weight of a tidal wave.
His muscles tensed, locking him in place as his heart raced against the sudden pressure. "Kek," he gasped, the sound escaping involuntarily as he fought to stay upright.
But even then he didn't let his gaze falter, he remained locked onto his fathers refusing to back down.
Victor showed no visible response before he turned his gaze away to Subaru who immediately shrank back.
It was only after Victor's gaze was no longer on Jaylen that he realized his back was completely drenched in sweat, His breath was heavy and labored.
He was in such a pathetic state just from staring for a short amount of time, he hated it why was he so damn weak just why.
He trained every day, he worked harder than anyone else no matter what it was he even hunted for his own food at times so why? But what made it even worse was no one recognized his efforts, it was like everyone already expected so it didn't matter.
His father's indifferent gaze lingered in his mind, gnawing at him. Jaylen's jaw clenched, fists tightening as he fought against the growing storm within.
Unknown to anyone there deep within Jaylen a small black seed had formed what this seed would do would only be revealed later.
"Subaru," Victor said in a clipped tone.
"Yes, Father," Subaru answered. His voice was steady and calm, but his body betrayed him as he gripped the chair tightly, knuckles white with tension.
From this day forth, you are no longer the heir of the Orpheus family," Victor declared, his voice cutting through the air like a blade, each word laced with chilling finality."