A slight breeze blew across the vast forest, tree branches rustling freely, acting as though they desired to be taken away with the wind. Petals from the blossoms fell soundly, showcasing the signs of spring in the air. The trees covered almost the entire canopy of the grand forest, fighting against one another as they attempted to absorb the last of the Sun's brilliant rays. With the sky gleaming of gold and not a cloud in sight, today was the perfect time for them to thrive.
The tranquil sounds of nature could be heard echoing throughout the forest: signs of small animals scurrying through the rich green grass, zipping across the dirt paths and into the nearby bushes as they desperately avoided their common predators; On the other hand, larger animals took time to bask in the luscious green environments, nibbling at the surrounding foliage.
This forest was a true haven, long since invaded by humanoid beings.
At the centre of the forest stood Selon Anora: a towering, ancient ruin known to be a remnant of Xaphire's early years.
It's singular glass dome tower rose high over the surrounding trees, giving off the impression that it was the centre of attention. When examined in close detail, its crystallized platinum walls were shown to be corroded, cracked, and battered – assumedly scars from the plethora of events that occurred during its prime.
Regardless, it held tall and proud to this very day, proving that it was an undoubtable force to be reckoned with.
Shifting to the west sector of the forest sat a mystifying lagoon, giving an otherworldly aspect with its oceanic-blue aura and its clear-as-glass water. Surrounded by various rocks and embedded with untouched sand, the lagoon was entirely secluded from the world – just like the forest itself. It sat close by the ocean, overlooking the never-ending horizon as if flaunting its perfection.
One could only imagine standing on its magnificent shore.
Finally, towards the east of the forest situated a cliff of momentous proportion, observing the entirety of the vast forest as if it was a deity assigned to protect its many inhabitants. The view from its overhanging peak was breath-taking, reaching out for miles without so much as a definitive endpoint.
This cliff was a popular landmark amongst the local community, visitors basking in its luscious scenery and tranquil atmosphere on the regular.
The cliff's name: Grand Falcon's Peak.
During this current time, a lone soul could be seen perched on its edge, enjoying the rare solitude his surroundings had to offer.
A Dragoon boy, 16 years of age, had his legs dangling freely off the edge with no care in the world. His bright-green eyes gazed out towards the vast horizon as if in a daydream, unfazed by his surroundings. He took in the refreshing breeze, feeling it brush freely through his jet-black layered hair and on his fair skin.
He was of average height and well-built for his age, seemingly proficient in fitness and physical activity.
He took the opportunity to stretch out his large Dragoon wings, both cloaked in a veil of luminescent sapphire scales.
Light and sharp in appearance, these scales rivalled the durability of any feather or even the toughest of armour. Additionally, a large, deadly-looking talon broke thought the peak joint of each wing, giving the impression that it could easily rip through most materials and latch onto any tough surface where required.
Although he had stretched and exercised his shoulder-joints, the Dragoon boy had no intention of taking flight for now. Instead, the boy gave out a loud, tired yawn, allowing his body to fall back on rich green grass behind him with a cushioning Thump!
The Dragoon boy was usually one for casual attire. Specifically, he was normally seen wearing a jet black, cotton-based jacket that fell roughly to hip length. Albeit not the tidiest in terms of appearance, it was his pride and joy. This jacket had barely ever left his person, seemingly considered a preferred 'image' for him when the weather conditions are considered suitable.
Aside from this, the boy's garb was simple: consisting of a pair of strong, durable tawny-coloured trousers; lightweight, breathable red T-shirt with simple, pattern logo design; and tough, resistant boots able to withstand excessive outward-bound use.
However, amongst all of this, the most notable aspect of his attire was a unique pendant resting around his neck, holding a glistening emerald jewel at the end of a weaving leather necklace. The pendant had seen generations of events and battles to would last several lifetimes, deemed irreplaceable and priceless if ever attained by the avid collector.
To the Dragoon boy, this pendant was a family heirloom … one that he would treasure to the end of his days.
With his wings spread out across the bed of grass, the Dragoon boy casually placed his hands behind his head, resting himself behind a makeshift pillow. He gazed up towards the never-ending clear sky, taking in the sights as he listened to the music that played through his ear-engulfing headphones.
At this point, he was happily immersed in a dream-like state, free from the burdens and inconveniences of the real world.
Whack!
"Ow!"
Just then, the boy felt an unexpected jab in the side of his abdomen, causing his entire body to jolt up in shock. His headphones easily slipped from his head, music echoing as it laid next to the quivering boy.
At the same time, a lone shadow loomed over him, watching him in amusement as he proceeded to squirm.
"You're as predictable as ever." A voice murmured in a teasing chuckle, giving out a light sigh. "You could've picked a better spot to take your nap, Zaron."
"Pain … so much pain…"
The boy – Zaron – wheezed out, purposely ignoring the voice as he continued to clench his teeth and clutch his side in agony.
"Oh, come on…" The figure tutted without even a hint of sympathy, "I didn't kick you that hard, numbskull."
"Screw you." Zaron growled back, carefully straightening himself up as he soothed his aching abdomen. "Would it kill you to not be a prick for a day, Denzo?"
Denzo – Zaron's 19-year-old brother and a master at disturbing the peace – stood towering above him with an unapologetically smug expression.
Compared to Zaron, he was somewhat taller and leaner in appearance. However, he was also the epitome of scruffy.
Everything Denzo wore: his ripped, loose jean trousers; his worn out, untied black sneakers; and his hooded, frayed grey top; were in abysmal condition. Even his light-brown hair was unnecessarily long and messy, causing his unkempt fringe to cover most of the upper half of his face in the process. If examined from close-range, it was vaguely possible to identify his half-opened, night-blue eyes through the fringe's narrow gaps.
Moving past the scruffiness, one notable highlight to his attire was the archery-centric additions.
He was seen regularly wearing a leathery bracer on his left forearm; a large, secured holster strapped across his torso, lined up between the shoulder-blades of his back; and a long, tightly woven Dragoon bow, crafted from some of the most durable materials known to the archery profession.
Admittedly, Denzo was never one for close-range combat, always preferring a safe and secured distance from his target during confrontations.
Finally, his large Dragoon wings were of similar shape to his younger brother's – as one would expect regarding general family traits. However, due to his taller frame and a few extra years of growth, both scales and talons were seemingly denser – ultimately giving the wings a bulkier appearance. Additionally, his scales were also a light, silvery-grey colour scheme in comparison to Zaron's more striking sapphire-based wings.
As with every respectable Dragoon, the two brothers considered their wings the most vital aspect to their character. They were the visual epitome of a Dragoon's pride, emulating their individuality amongst the species.
Even amongst siblings, they are rarely the same.
With his arms crossed and head tilted to the side, Denzo acted oblivious to his brother's snarky remark.
"Whatever you say." He then shrugged casually.
After that, he carelessly perched himself next to his brother, his legs folded and back arched forward as he admired the eternal view.
Zaron glared irritably as he watched his brother sit next to him, believing it to be an invasion on his personal space. He awkwardly shuffled from his initial position, keeping his lone bubble intact.
"Do you have to sit so close?" Zaron grumbled with a sneer, refusing to make further eye-contact with his irritating brother.
"Oof…! There's no need to get all defensive on me." Denzo teased with a sad frown, a hinting of snickering underneath his breath. "I'm just simply curious to see why my Baby Brother was sitting here on his lonesome."
Zaron reactively shuddered.
"Why do you have to phrase that in such a lame way…?" He questioned in disgust, wishing Denzo would not refer to him with such a condescending name.
However, Denzo just stared back at him, holding his patience as he waited for an answer.
"...Fine."
With a defeated sigh, Zaron finally decided to answer his brother's obnoxious curiosity.
"If you must know … I like it here." He admitted, gazing out to the distant horizon. "It's silent, peaceful, and it takes my mind off of … things."
"Is that so…?" Denzo pursued with increased intrigue, raising a brow upon hearing the end of Zaron's whimsical statement. "Wait ... isn't your academy assignments due in soon?"
"...Don't remind me."
Zaron was seething at the teeth, resenting the thought of his overdue homework – and Denzo's insistence on reminding him. The thought continued to sit deep in the crevasses of his mind, brewing up unwanted anxiety as he knew he had to tackle the looming burden eventually.
As Zaron sat pondering at the dreaded thought, Denzo continued to satisfy his ever-growing amusement.
"I hate to burst your bubble, but ... you know it won't get done by itself."
"Shut it. Stop acting like Mum." Zaron retorted swiftly.
However, it was at this point when Zaron there was a separate reason for Denzo to start pestering him out of the blue, wondering if he was avoiding a personal issue.
And then the realisation set in.
Zaron gradually turned and smirked at his brother, his smug grin brimming with glee.
"Oh yeah...! Weren't you supposed to be meeting up for a date right about now?"
"Urk-!?"
Denzo abruptly jolted at the question, proving Zaron's assumption.
The older brother fell into resentfully eating his earlier taunts, falling silent and avoiding eye contact in the process.
"Ha-ha! Caught you red-handed." Zaron then declared with a triumphant chuckle. "I have to admit, I feel sorry for the girl."
From past memory, Zaron was all too aware that Denzo's tendency to hitch-and-ditch on dates – much to the detriment of the female party. The fact that Denzo had avoided notoriety for so long was baffling to Zaron, frequently wondering when this habit would finally backfire on him.
Whatever the case: it was undebatable that Denzo was a Grade-A heartbreaker.
"Well, at least we're even now." Zaron then proceeded to comment with a satisfied grin.
"Tsk...!"
Denzo scoffed at his younger brother's cocky declaration.
As time pressed on, the two brothers fell into silence, both watching the horizon in calming bliss.
Seemingly devoid of learning lessons from his previously failed attempt, Denzo was already conducting more ways of teasing his brother. He was not ready to back down after the previous backfire.
On the other hand, Zaron was still wary of his brother, briefly glancing over on occasions as to prepare himself for the next devious plot to mock him. With that said, part of him also prioritized his desire to relax and enjoy the atmosphere around him, preferring to ignore his brother's existence entirely over observing the tranquil nature of the vast horizon.
And then, noticing the direction of Zaron's wondering gaze, Denzo decided to break the silence with playful banter.
"So ... have you visited Selon Anora yet?" He curiously questioned, straightening up his body as he directed their attention to the old ruin in the distance.
"No ... why?" Zaron murmured cautiously in response, his body tensing up at the question.
"I'm just curious." Denzo then shrugged playfully. "Seeing as you visit here on a regular basis, it's surprising that you've yet to see the ruin up close."
"Did you forget there's a law preventing anyone from stepping foot in that forest - let alone Selon Anora itself?" Zaron quickly reminded him, refusing to fall for another one of his tricks.
"Yeah. And...?"
It was clear from his lofty tone alone that Denzo was feigning ignorance for a purpose. Zaron had a vague idea of where the conversation would lead, knowing it was best to prioritize the need to shut it down before it became a problem for him later.
"'And...' nothing, Denzo." He retorted in a raised spat. "Whatever you're thinking right now, I'm not doing it."
"Hold on, let me explain." Denzo assured calmly to his brother, a smirk curling at the corner of his mouth. "I just thought this would be up your alley. Knowing you, you're the right type of guy who would screw the rules and venture in there regardless of what anyone would say."
Zaron stared at Denzo with wary confusion, a brief sense of curiosity brewing deep in his mind.
"What are you getting at, Denzo?"
"Oh? Hold up, you haven't heard the rumours?" Denzo gave a gasp of surprise, his poor attempt of over-exaggeration proving to be obnoxious at this point. "You seriously need to socialize more, Zaron."
"Fine ... enlighten me." Zaron requested as he rolled his eyes, purposely falling for the obvious bait.
"You see, there's a rumour going around lately that a girl lives in Selon Anora, observing the entirety of Dragéra from the old watch-tower." Denzo proceeded to describe, pointing towards the ruin. "She has platinum-white hair, wearing a pure white dress, and her wings are coated in silvery feathers – at least, that's what people are saying."
In that moment, Denzo's voice lowered to just a murmur, causing Zaron to grow tense.
"They even reckon … it could be Enva."
"Enva? As in ... The Goddess Enva?" Zaron questioned in sudden surprise, unsure how to respond. "But isn't she supposed to be-?"
"-A myth?"
Denzo easily finished his brother's sentence, holding his serious tone even though hints of his amusement were breaking through.
"There's been numerous sightings from people suggesting she regularly watches the forest from the glass dome." He then continued, straightening up his posture as he eyes the lone ruin. "The comments all over social media are claiming they've 'spotted a heavenly glow' during evening walks along the cliffs and that they could hear 'a beautiful female voice' calling out to them."
"That … sounds like pure superstition." Zaron murmured doubtfully, struggling to believe his brother's words. "Are you making things up again?"
"Wha-? O-of course not! Why would I make things up?" Denzo assured him hastily, trying to maintain his credibility. "I know it's hard to believe, but…"
"You're just screwing with me, aren't you?" Zaron assumed instantly in an unamused tone, his eyelids falling half-open as his interest on the topic dissipated.
"Hey! Don't jump to conclusions." Denzo raised his voice, seemingly insulted by his brother's lack of trust. "I didn't make it up at all. You can search it all online, there's countless comments that support the sightings."
"Right…"
Zaron's response was slurred and uncaring at this point, turning away in complete disinterest.
"For now, I'll just assume that you're talking utter nonsense … as you always do."
And with that, Zaron bluntly blanked his brother.
Denzo turned away with a disgruntled pout, scratching the side of his head in looming frustration.
At the same time, Zaron slyly observed Denzo from the corner of his eye. He had noticed an uncharacteristic persistence and reactions from his older brother. In the past, Denzo would usually give up on teasing him once he knew there was nothing left to gain from it.
And yet, this occasion was significantly different.
From Zaron's perspective, Denzo's mannerisms gave off the impression that he had an ulterior motive to his persistent teasing. However, it was somewhat apparent that he was unable to directly convey the specific subject, and so chose to skirt around the issue by playing on his usual antics.
This was only an assumption, though.
In that moment, Denzo abruptly turned his attention back onto Zaron. The sudden switch of attention caused Zaron to jolt on the spot.
"W-what now?" Zaron blurted anxiously in retaliation, mentally bracing upon what his older brother had up his sleeve.
However, Denzo continued to stare back at him, his piercing gaze locked onto a specific piece of his attire.
Zaron then realised what had caught his brother's eye, swiftly readjusting his jacket to hide his chest.
With that, a sudden urge of agitation rose within Denzo, deciding to interrogate his younger brother.
"Zaron … Why are you wearing the family pendant?" Denzo questioned eerily as he shuffled closer, his eyes narrowing as his tone took an unexpectedly critical turn.
"I-err … that's because…"
Zaron could barely utter a word as he anxiously backed off from his brother's advance, hastily grasping the pendant resting from his neck and slipping it away inside the depths of his shirt.
Grab!
Denzo's mind reacted on instinct, leaping into immediate action just as he watched the elusive jewel slip into the V-neck of his brother's shirt. He reached out and grabbed the collar of Zaron's jacket.
Zaron scrambled back in shock, his eyes turning wild as he was desperate to break free from Denzo's locked grasp and attempted to flee in the process.
However, Denzo was swift to detain his brother from escaping, leaping up and locking Zaron by the torso. Using his body weight as leverage, Denzo forcibly pinned Zaron back down on the ground and began to rummage around for the emerald pendant.
"H-hey! What are you-!?"
Zaron yelled out in a broken stutter amongst the struggle, failing to break away from his brother's surprisingly ruthless grip.
"Denzo! Get off me, dammit!!!"
Without a moment's hesitation, Denzo snatched the pendant from around Zaron's neck just as he caught a glance of the leather necklace.
Zaron tried desperately to fight back, flailing around and throwing his body in unpredictable directions to throw off his brother.
It was to no avail.
Now holding the pendant up to head level, Denzo rose and stood over his younger brother with a triumphant smirk.
"Oh man! This is a new low, even for you!" Denzo scoffed hysterically as he began to swing and juggle the pendant in his hand, his eyes reflecting the brilliance of the emerald pendant hanging from his grasp. "I can't believe you would steal this from under Mum's watch. What were you even thinking!?"
Zaron could only stare at Denzo in utter detest, his face beat-red in defeated anger.
Denzo then shook his head in disappointment, amusing himself as thoughts of likely scenarios began to form.
"Wait until she hears about this ... she'll be absolutely livid."
"I didn't steal it! I was … only borrowing it." Zaron hastily denied the allegations, gradually returning to his feet. "I planned to return it when I got back home anyway."
"Pfft…! It doesn't matter if you were going to give it back or not. You still had the gall to take it in the first place." Denzo spat with laughter, finding the excuses too comical to take seriously. "Your obsession over this thing is seriously worrying. What if you accidentally lost it or, I don't know … broke it?"
"Wha-!? How could you say that in your position!?" Zaron snapped back in bafflement, noticing flaw in Denzo's argument. "You give me stick about it yet you're the one waving it around like a brainless moron!"
Denzo's amused expression dropped, halting his fiddling of the pendant as he began to re-evaluate.
Whilst Zaron words were just white noise to him, Denzo's expression tensed as he finally had his brother's full attention.
He then briefly switched his focus on Selon Anora in the far distance, the corners of his mouth twisting into an eerie smirk.
Witnessing Denzo's turn in expression sent a shiver up Zaron's spine, unable to hide the terror as he could only imagine what acts of infamy could be running through his brother's mind.
In that moment, Denzo's head gradually switched back to face his brother, showing off a devilish grin.
"W-what's with that look…?" Zaron murmured fearfully in question. "Denzo, what are you plotting?"
"You know what…? I feel like playing a game." Denzo answered cunningly. "Rules are simple: find the pendant and bring it back to me within the next hour. If you succeed, I promise I won't say a word to Mum. However, if you happen to fail … I may accidentally slip my tongue."
"Find … it? What are you-!"
Zaron's voice trailed off as realisation struck him.
"Wait…"
The smirking Denzo juggled the pendant in his hand, feeling its weight.
"No ... NO! DON'T!!!"
However, it was far too late for Zaron to retaliate.
Fwoosh!
Just as he had reached out to stop the inevitable, Denzo launched the pendant skyward, aiming the throw towards the far reaches of the forest.
In that moment, Zaron fell hauntingly pale.
The pendent soared across the air at immense velocity, showing no signs of slowing as it distanced itself from the two Dragoon brothers.
Eventually, after what felt like an eternity ... the pendant disappeared out of sight.
Zaron stared with his mouth agape, mortified by what had just occurred. He couldn't even blink, praying that what he had just witnessed was just a hallucination.
On the other hand, Denzo was beaming triumphantly, brushing his bothersome fringe to the side to gain a better view of the pendant's landing position.
"Huh! It landed in Selon Anora." Denzo enthusiastically pinpointed. "I must say, I forget how impressive my own strength is sometimes."
He then placed a prideful hand on his younger brother's shoulder, expressing reassurance.
"I'm certain you'll find it in no time."
"In no time..." Zaron echoed breathlessly, his frozen gaze blank whilst his body trembled.
Grab!
Suddenly, Zaron switched and grabbed his brother firmly by the shoulders.
"ARE YOU BROKEN!?" He screamed out at the top of his lung, his eyes turning wild and fiery in the process.
"Err … no. Not when I last checked." Denzo answered back jokingly, acting clueless to the rhetorical question. "You look stressed, Zaron. Maybe you should take a deep breath and calm down for a moment."
"OH? YOU THINK!?" Zaron bellowed in unyielding hysteria, releasing his grasp on his brother as he proceeded to pace anxiously. "Great, just great…! I'm screwed. I'm totally screwed. Actually, no ... you've gone and screwed us BOTH!"
Denzo watched Zaron as his mental state fell into disrepair, his expression lacking in sympathy nor empathy.
However, Zaron returned to face Denzo directly.
"What was going through that head of yours when you decided to throw that pendant!?" He yelled out in question, trying desperately to find reason in his brother's outlandish choice. "Did you even think before tossing it!? What are we going to tell Mum!? How will she react!? Oh man, this is a pain…!"
Denzo casually shrugged back in response, "I don't see the reason to worry. You just need to follow the rules of the game and it'll be water under the bridge."
Zaron scowled at him with sheer disgust in his eyes, bewildered by the entire turn of events as his mind cursed out uncontrollably.
To him, the rules were barbaric, believing the stakes were far too high to justify the effort.
And yet, he knew he had no choice in the matter.
There was no excuse he could conjure up to his mother that would explain why he took the pendant, let alone lost it in Selon Anora. Just imagining the torment that would come from her reaction sent a wave of shivers up his spine.
With a deep breath, Zaron gradually leaned over the cliff-edge, his eyes scanning the area of woodland directly below. As he realised the sheer height of the drop below, he couldn't help but let out a silent gasp. He reactively drew back from the cliff-edge, almost succumbing to the nerves struck.
"Hmm…? Is something the matter, Zaron?" Denzo lightly wondered as he continued to watch his brother, expressing a small level concern.
"Ah-ha-haa ... it's funny, actually. You act as though this game would be so simple. Only there's a slight problem here…" Zaron answered back awkwardly, his anxious tone hinting at an obvious flaw. "Maybe you forgot, but ... I can't fly! You know I'm useless at my current level!"
"Ah … you'll be fine. You'll love the challenge!" Denzo jokingly assured him, brushing the issue off as though it was a mild hindrance. "Besides, that never stopped you in the past. If I recall, there were numerous occasions when you were placed into situations that were worse than this: a perfect example being when you encountered that Pera-!"
"Ok, that's enough." Zaron murmured in swift interruption, rolling his eyes as he knew exactly what his brother was going to say.
In that moment, Denzo casually stepped up closer to Zaron, a wry grin twisting across his face as if transcending into morbid amusement. In cautious retaliation, Zaron stepped further back, droplets of sweat seeping from his forehead as he grew increasingly distrustful.
Unfortunately, due to the angle of the two brothers, Zaron was trapped at the cliff-edge with Denzo now standing directly behind him – wings spread slightly to indicate that there was no escape from this predicament.
Denzo had ultimately cornered him, leaving the young Dragoon with no room to escape.
To further heighten the tension, Denzo had taken hold of Zaron's thick jacket, having complete control over him once again.
"Here, I'll give you a little boost." Denzo offered generously, his grasp as firm as possible on Zaron's shoulder. "Just bear in mind, though … you may want to brace for impact."
"Denzo! Don't you dare!"
Zaron had roared out in pure terror, his body gradually losing balance as he was shifted closer over the edge.
However, his shrieks and yells fell on deaf ears.
"DENZO!!!"
Shove...!
And just like that, Zaron's balance had dissipated entirely.
As if time itself had slowed to a crawl, the momentum of his body fell back in a graceful motion. In one last desperate manoeuvre, Zaron reached out his hand to his expressionless brother.
However, Denzo just waved back in casual amusement, dooming his brother to the will of the forest below.
WHOOSH…!
Betrayal finally set in.
With no hope left, the wide-eyed Zaron continued his helpless descent, disappearing into the abyss below.
A slight breeze blew across the vast forest, tree branches rustling freely, acting as though they desired to be taken away with the wind. Petals from the blossoms fell soundly, displaying the signs of spring in the air. The trees covered the entire canopy of the grand forest, fighting against one another as they attempted to absorb the last of the Sun's brilliant rays. With the sky gleaming of gold and not a cloud in sight, today was the perfect time for them to thrive. The tranquil sounds of nature could be heard echoing throughout the forest: signs of small animals scurrying through the rich green grass, zipping across the dirt paths and into the nearby bushes as they desperately avoided their common predators; On the other hand, larger animals took time to bask in the luscious green environments, nibbling at the surrounding foliage. The forest was a true haven, long since invaded by humanoid beings.
At the centre of the forest stood Selon Anora: a towering, ancient ruin known to be a remnant of Xaphire's early years. It's singular glass dome tower rose high over the surrounding trees, giving off the impression that it was the centre of attention. When examined in close detail, its crystallized platinum walls were shown to be corroded, cracked, and battered – assumedly scars from the plethora of events that occurred during its prime. Regardless, it held tall and proud to this very day, proving that it was an undoubtable force to be reckoned with.
Shifting to the west sector of the forest sat a mystifying lagoon, giving an otherworldly aspect with its oceanic-blue aura and its clear-as-glass water. Surrounded by various rocks and embedded with untouched sand, the lagoon was entirely secluded from the world – just like the forest itself. It sat close by the ocean, overlooking the never-ending horizon as if flaunting its perfection. One could only imagine standing before its magnificent shore.
Finally, towards the east of the forest situated a cliff of momentous proportion, observing the entirety of the vast forest as if it was a deity assigned to protect its many inhabitants. The view from its overhanging peak was breath-taking, reaching out for miles without so much as a definitive endpoint. This cliff was a popular landmark amongst the local community, visitors basking in its luscious scenery and tranquil atmosphere on the regular. The cliff's name: Grand Falcon's Peak.
Currently, a lone soul could be seen perched on its edge, enjoying the rare solitude his surroundings had to offer. A Draiken boy, 16-years of age, had his legs dangling freely off the edge with no care in the world. His bright-green eyes gazed out towards the vast horizon as if in a daydream, unfazed by his surroundings. He took in the refreshing breeze, feeling it brush freely through his jet-black layered hair and on his fair skin. He was of average height and well-built for his age, proficient in fitness and physical activity where necessary. He took the opportunity to stretch out his large Draiken wings, both cloaked in a veil of luminescent sapphire scales. Light and sharp in appearance, these scales rivalled the durability of any feather or even the toughest of armour. Additionally, a large, deadly-looking talon broke thought the peak joint of each wing, giving the impression that it could rip through most materials easily and latch onto any tough surface where required. Although he had stretched and exercised his shoulder-joints, the Draiken boy had no intention of taking flight for now. Instead, the boy gave out a loud, tired yawn, allowing his body to fall back on rich green grass behind him as though falling on a cushion.
The Draiken boy was usually one for casual attire. Specifically, he was normally seen wearing a jet-black, firm cotton-based jacket that fell to hip length. Albeit not the tidiest in terms of appearance, it was his pride and joy. This jacket had barely ever left his person, considered by him as a preferred 'image' regardless of weather and climate. Shifting from the jacket, the boy's garb was simple: consisting of a pair of strong, durable tawny-coloured trousers; lightweight, breathable red T-shirt with a simple, patterned logo design; and tough, resistant boots able to withstand excessive outward-bound use. However, the most notable aspect of his attire was a unique pendant resting around his neck, holding a glistening emerald jewel at the end of a light chain. The pendant had seen generations of events and battles that lasted several lifetimes, deemed irreplaceable and priceless if ever attained by the avid collector. To the Draiken boy, the pendant was a family heirloom – one that he would treasure to the end of his days.
With his wings spread out across the bed of grass, the Draiken boy placed his hands behind his head in a casual manner, resting himself upon a makeshift pillow. He gazed up towards the never-ending cloudless sky, taking in the sights as he listened to the music that played through his headphones – engulfing his point-tipped ears entirely and blocking out any uninvited sound in the process. He was immersed happily in a dream-like state, free from the burdens and inconveniences of the real world.
Whack!
"Ow!"
Just then, the boy felt an unexpected jab in the side of his abdomen, causing his entire body to jolt up in shock. His headphones slipped as he lurched, causing his music to echo as it laid beside the quivering Draiken boy. At the same time, a lone shadow loomed over him, watching him in amusement as he proceeded to squirm.
"You're as predictable as ever." A voice murmured in a teasing chuckle. "You could've picked a better spot to take your nap, Zaron."
"Pain ... so much pain...!"
The boy – Zaron – wheezed out, ignoring the voice purposely as he clenched his sharp, fanged teeth and clutched his side in agony.
"Oh, come on..." The figure tutted without a hint of sympathy, "I didn't kick you that hard, numbskull."
"Screw you." Zaron growled back, straightening himself up carefully as he soothed his aching abdomen. "Would it kill you to not be a prick for a day, Denzo?"
Denzo – Zaron's 19-year-old brother and a master at disturbing the peace – stood towering above him with a smug yet unapologetic expression. Compared to Zaron, he was taller and leaner in appearance. However, he was also the epitome of scruffy. Everything Denzo wore were in abysmal condition: from his ripped, loose jean trousers; his worn out, untied black trainers; and his hooded, frayed grey top – to name a few. Even his light-brown hair was long and unnecessarily messy, causing his unkempt fringe to cover most of the upper half of his face. If examined from close-range, it was possible to identify his half-opened, night-blue eyes through the fringe's narrow gaps.
Moving passed the scruffiness, one notable highlight to his attire was the archery-centric additions. As through retuning from training, he was wearing a leathery bracer on his left forearm; a large, secured holster strapped across his torso, lined up between the shoulder-blades of his back; and a long, tightly woven Draiken bow, crafted from the most durable materials known to the archery profession. Admittedly, Denzo always preferred a safe secured distance from his target during confrontation, feeling close combat was inconvenient in comparison.
Finally, his large Draiken wings were of similar shape to his younger brother's – as expected regarding general family traits. However, due to his taller frame and a few extra years of growth, both scales and talons were denser and profound, allowing the wing to display a bulkier appearance. In addition, his scales were a light, silvery-grey colour scheme when compared to Zaron's more striking sapphire-based wings. As with every respectable Draiken, the two brothers considered their wings the most vital aspect to their character. They were the visual epitome of a Draiken's pride, emulating their individuality amongst the species. Even amongst siblings, they were rarely identical.
"Whatever you say."
With his arms crossed and head tilted to the side, Denzo acted oblivious to his brother's snarky remark. After that, he perched himself carelessly next to his brother, his legs folded and back arched forward as he admired the eternal view. Zaron glared irritably as he watched his brother sit next to him, believing it to be an invasion on his personal space. He shuffled from his initial position awkwardly, keeping his lone bubble intact.
"Do you have to sit so close?" Zaron grumbled with a sneer, refusing to make further eye-contact with his irritating brother.
"Oof...! There's no need to get all defensive on me." Denzo teased with a sad frown, a hinting of snickering underneath his breath. "I'm just simply curious to see why my 'Baby Brother' was sitting here on his lonesome."
Zaron shuddered reactively.
"Why do you have to phrase that in such a lame way...?" He questioned in disgust, wishing Denzo would not refer to him with such a condescending name.
However, Denzo stared back at him obliviously, holding his patience as he waited for an answer.
"...Fine."
With a defeated sigh, Zaron decided to answer his brother's obnoxious curiosity.
"If you must know ... I like it here." He admitted, gazing out to the distant horizon. "It's silent, peaceful, and it takes my mind off of ... things."
"Is that so...?" Denzo pursued with increased intrigue, raising a brow upon hearing the end of Zaron's whimsical statement. "Wait ... isn't your academy assignments due in soon?"
"...Don't remind me."
Zaron was seething at the teeth, resenting the thought of his overdue homework – and Denzo's insistence on reminding him. The thought continued to sit deep in the crevasses of his mind, brewing up unwanted anxiety as he knew he had to tackle the looming burden eventually. As Zaron sat pondering at the dreaded thought, Denzo continued to satisfy his ever-growing amusement.
"I hate to burst your bubble, but ... you know it won't get done by itself."
"Shut it. Stop acting like mum." Zaron retorted swiftly.
However, Zaron then wondered if there was a separate, personal reason for Denzo to start pestering him unexpectedly. And then, the realisation set in.
Zaron turned gradually and smirked at his brother, his smug grin brimming with glee.
"Oh yeah...! Weren't you supposed to be meeting up for a date right about now?"
"Urk-!"
Denzo jolted at the question abruptly, proving Zaron's assumption. The older brother retreated his earlier taunts, falling silent and avoiding eye contact in the process.
"Ha-ha! Caught you red-handed." Zaron then declared with a triumphant chuckle. "I have to admit, I feel sorry for the girl."
From past memory, Zaron was all too aware of Denzo's tendency to hitch-and-ditch on dates – much to the detriment of the female party. The fact that Denzo had avoided notoriety for so long was impressive to Zaron, wondering frequently when the habit would backfire on him. Whatever the case: it was undebatable that Denzo was a Grade-A heartbreaker.
"Well, at least we're even now." Zaron commented with a satisfied grin.
"Tsk...!"
Denzo scoffed at his younger brother's cocky declaration.
As time pressed on, the two brothers fell into silence, both watching the horizon in calming bliss. Devoid of learning lessons from his previously failed attempt, Denzo was already conducting more ways of teasing his brother. He was not ready to back down after the previous backfire. On the other hand, Zaron was still wary of his brother, briefly glancing over on occasions as to prepare himself for the next devious plot to mock him. With that said, part of him also prioritized his desire to relax and enjoy the atmosphere around him, preferring to ignore his brother's existence entirely over observing the tranquil nature of the vast horizon.
And then, noticing the direction of Zaron's wondering gaze, Denzo decided to break the silence with playful banter.
"So ... have you visited Selon Anora yet?" He questioned curiously, straightening up his body as he directed their attention to the old ruin in the distance.
"No..." Zaron murmured in cautious response, his body tensing up at the question. "...Why?"
"I'm just curious." Denzo then shrugged playfully.
"Seeing as you visit here on a regular basis, I'm surprised you've never seen the ruin up close."
"Did you forget there's a law preventing anyone from stepping foot in that forest – let alone Selon Anora itself?" Zaron reminded him sharply, refusing to fall for another one of his tricks.
"Yeah. And?"
It was clear from his lofty tone alone that Denzo was feigning ignorance for a purpose. Zaron had a vague idea of where the conversation would lead, knowing it was best to shut it down before it became a huge problem.
"'And...' nothing, Denzo." He retorted in a raised spat. "Whatever you're thinking right now, I'm not doing it."
"Hold on, let me explain." Denzo assured his brother calmly, a smirk curling at the corner of his mouth. "I just thought this would be up your alley. Knowing you, you're the right type of guy who would screw the rules and venture in there regardless of the consequences."
Zaron stared at Denzo with wary confusion, a brief sense of curiosity brewing deep in his mind.
"What are you getting at, Denzo?"
"Oh? Hold up, you haven't heard the rumours?" Denzo then gasped in surprise, his poor attempt of over-exaggeration proving to be obnoxious. "You seriously need to socialize more, Zaron."
"Fine ... enlighten me." Zaron requested as he rolled his eyes, falling purposefully for the obvious bait.
"You see, there's a rumour going around lately that a girl lives in Selon Anora, observing the entirety of Dragora from the old watchtower." Denzo described, pointing towards the ruin. "She has platinum-white hair, wearing a pure white dress, and her wings are coated in silvery feathers – at least, that's what people are saying."
In that moment, Denzo's voice lowered to just a murmur, causing Zaron to grow tense.
"They even reckon ... it could be Enva."
"Enva? As in ... The Goddess Enva?" Zaron questioned in sudden surprise, unsure how to respond. "But isn't she supposed to be-?"
"-A myth?"
Denzo finished his brother's sentence easily, holding his serious tone even though hints of his amusement were breaking through.
"There's been numerous sightings from people suggesting she watches the forest from the glass dome regularly." He then continued, straightening up his posture as he eyes the lone ruin. "The comments all over social media are claiming they've 'spotted a heavenly glow' during evening walks along the cliffs and that they could hear 'a beautiful female voice' calling out to them in the distance."
"That ... sounds like pure superstition." Zaron murmured doubtfully, struggling to believe his brother's words. "Are you making things up again?"
"Wha-? O-of course not! Why would I make things up?" Denzo assured him hastily, trying to maintain his credibility. "I know it's hard to believe, but..."
"You're just screwing with me, aren't you?" Zaron assumed instantly in an unamused tone, his eyelids falling half-open as his interest on the topic dissipated. "Hey! Don't jump to conclusions." Denzo raised his voice, acting insulted by his brother's lack of trust. "I didn't make it up at all. You can search it all online, there's countless comments that support the sightings." "Right..." Zaron's response was slurred and uncaring at this point, turning away in complete disinterest. "For now, I'll just assume that you're talking utter nonsense ... like you always do."
And with that, Zaron blanked his brother. Denzo turned away with a disgruntled pout, scratching the side of his head in looming frustration. At the same time, Zaron observed Denzo slyly from the corner of his eye. He had noticed an uncharacteristic persistence and reactions from his older brother. In the past, Denzo would give up on teasing him once he knew there was nothing left to gain from him.
From Zaron's perspective, Denzo's mannerisms hinted an ulterior motive under his persistent teasing, alluding to a potential desire to force Zaron to venture towards the abandoned ruin. However, it was apparent that he was unable to convey the specific subject directly, choosing to skirt around the issue by playing on his usual antics. However, it was a mere assumption.
In that moment, Denzo turned his attention back onto Zaron abruptly. The sudden switch of attention caused the younger brother to jolt on the spot.
"W-what now?" Zaron blurted anxiously in retaliation, bracing upon whatever his older brother had up his sleeve.
However, Denzo continued to stare back at him, his piercing gaze locked onto a specific piece of his attire. Zaron then realised what had caught his brother's eye, readjusting his jacket to hide his chest swiftly. With that, a sudden urge of agitation rose within Denzo, deciding to interrogate his younger brother.
"Zaron ... Why are you wearing the family pendant?" Denzo questioned eerily as he shuffled closer, his eyes narrowing as his tone took an unexpected critical turn.
"I-err ... that's because..."
Zaron could barely utter a word as he backed off from his brother's advance anxiously, grasping the pendant that rested against his neck and slipped it away inside the depths of his shirt.
Grab!
Denzo's mind reacted on instinct, leaping into immediate action just as he watched the elusive jewel slip into the V-neck of his brother's shirt. He reached out and grabbed the collar of Zaron's jacket. Zaron scrambled back in shock, his eyes turned wild as he was desperate to break free from Denzo's locked grasp. However, Denzo was swift to detain his brother from escaping, leaping up and locking Zaron by the torso. Using his body weight as leverage, Denzo pinned Zaron back down forcibly and rummaged around for the emerald pendant.
"H-hey! What are you-?!"
Zaron yelled out in a broken stutter amongst the struggle, failing to break away from his brother's ruthless grip.
"Denzo! Get off me, dammit!!!"
Without a moment's hesitation, Denzo snatched the pendant from around Zaron's neck, holding it up into view triumphantly. Zaron attempted to fight back desperately, flailing around, and throwing his body in unpredictable directions to regain control. And yet, it was to no avail.
Holding the pendant up to head level, Denzo rose and stood over his younger brother with a pitiful smirk.
"Oh man! This is a new low – even for you!" Denzo scoffed hysterically as he swung and juggled the pendant in his hand, his eyes reflecting the brilliance of the emerald pendant hanging from his grasp. "I can't believe you would steal this from under mum's watch. What were you even thinking?!"
Zaron stared at Denzo in utter detest, his face beat-red in defeated anger. Denzo then shook his head in disappointment, amusing himself as thoughts of various scenarios formed. "Wait until she hears about this ... she'll be absolutely livid."
"I didn't steal it! I was ... only borrowing it." Zaron denied the allegations hastily, returning to his feet. "I planned to return it when I got back home anyway."
"Pfft...! It doesn't matter if you were going to give it back or not. You still had the gall to take it in the first place." Denzo spat with laughter, finding the excuses too comical to take seriously. "Seriously, your obsession over this thing is worrying. What if you accidentally lost it or, I don't know ... broke it?"
"Wha-?! How could you say that in your position?!" Zaron snapped back in bafflement, noticing flaw in Denzo's argument. "You give me stick about it yet you're the one waving it around like a brainless moron!"
Denzo's amused expression dropped, halting his fiddling of the pendant as he re-evaluated. Whilst Zaron words were just white noise to him, Denzo's expression tensed as he realised he had his brother's full attention. He then switched his focus on Selon Anora in the far distance briefly, the corners of his mouth twisting into an eerie smirk. Witnessing Denzo's turn in expression sent a shiver up Zaron's spine, unable to hide the terror as he imagined what acts of infamy was running through his brother's mind.
In that moment, Denzo's head switched back gradually to face his brother, showing off a devilish grin.
"W-what's with that look...?" Zaron murmured fearfully. "Denzo, what are you plotting?"
"You know what...? I feel like playing a game." Denzo answered back in a cunning tone. "Rules are simple: find the pendant and bring it back to me within the next hour. If you succeed, I promise I won't say a word to mum. However, if you happen to fail ... I may accidentally slip my tongue."
"Find ... it? What are you-!"
Zaron's voice trailed off as realisation struck him.
"Wait..."
The smirking Denzo juggled the pendant in his hand, feeling its weight.
"No ... NO! DON'T!!!"
However, it was far too late for Zaron to retaliate.
Fwoosh!
Just as he had reached out to stop the inevitable, Denzo launched the pendant skyward, aiming his throw towards the far reaches of the forest. In that moment, Zaron fell hauntingly pale.
The pendent soared across the air at immense velocity, showing no signs of slowing as it distanced itself from the two draiken brothers. Eventually, the pendant disappeared out of sight after an eternity of soaring through the air. Zaron stared with his mouth agape, mortified by what had just occurred. He was unable to blink, praying that what he witnessed was a simple hallucination. On the other hand, Denzo was beaming triumphantly, brushing his bothersome fringe to the side to gain a better view of the pendant's landing position.
"Huh! It landed in Selon Anora." Denzo pinpointed enthusiastically. "I'll be honest, I forget how impressive my own strength is sometimes." He then placed a prideful hand on his younger brother's shoulder, expressing reassurance.
"I'm sure you'll find it in no time."
"In no time..." Zaron echoed breathlessly, his frozen gaze blank whilst his body trembled.
Grab!
Suddenly, Zaron switched and snatched his brother firmly by the shoulders.
"ARE YOU BROKEN?!" He yelled out at the top of his lung, his eyes turning wild and fiery.
"Err ... no. Not when I last checked." Denzo answered back jokingly, acting clueless to the rhetorical question. "You look stressed, Zaron. You should take a deep breath and calm down for a moment."
"OH? YOU THINK?!" Zaron bellowed in unyielding hysteria, releasing his grasp on his brother as he proceeded to pace anxiously. "Great, just great...! I'm screwed. I'm totally screwed. Actually, no ... you've gone and screwed us BOTH!"
Denzo watched Zaron as his mental state fell into disrepair, his expression lacking in any compassion whatsoever. However, Zaron returned to face Denzo directly.
"What was going through your head when you decided to throw that pendant?!" He yelled out in question, trying to find reason in his brother's outlandish decision. "Did you even think before tossing it?! What are we going to tell mum?! How will she react?! Oh man, this is a pain...!"
Denzo shrugged back casually in response.
"I don't see the reason to worry. You just need to follow the rules of the game and it'll be water under the bridge."
Zaron scowled at him with sheer disgust in his eyes, bewildered by the entire turn of events as his mind cursed out uncontrollably. To him, the rules were barbaric, believing the stakes were far too high to justify the effort. And yet, he knew he had no choice in the matter. There was no excuse he could conjure up to his mother that would explain why he took the pendant, let alone lost it in Selon Anora. Just imagining the torment that would come from her reaction sent a wave of shivers up his spine.
With a deep breath, Zaron leaned over the cliff-edge gradually, his eyes scanning the area of woodland below. As he realised the sheer height of the drop below, a silent gasp escaping his breath. He then drew back from the cliff-edge reactively, almost succumbing to his nerves.
"Hm...? Is something the matter, Zaron?" Denzo wondered lightly as he continued to observe his brother.
"Ah-ha-haa ... it's funny. You act as though this game would be so simple. Only there's a slight problem here..." Zaron answered back awkwardly, his anxious tone hinting at an obvious flaw. "Maybe you forgot, but ... I can't fly! You know I'm useless at my current level!"
"Ah ... you'll be fine. You'll love the challenge!" Denzo assured him jokingly, brushing the issue off as though it was a mild hindrance. "Besides, that never stopped you in the past. I remember when you encountered that Pera-!"
"Okay, that's enough." Zaron murmured in swift interruption, rolling his eyes as he anticipated Denzo's needless example.
In that moment, Denzo stepped up closer to Zaron casually, a wry grin twisting across his face as though transcending into morbid amusement. In cautious retaliation, Zaron stepped further back, droplets of sweat seeping from his forehead as he grew increasingly distrustful. Unfortunately, due to the angle of the two brothers, Zaron was trapped at the cliff-edge with Denzo standing directly behind him – wings spread to indicate there was no escape from his predicament. Denzo had cornered him, leaving the young Draiken with no room to escape. To further heighten the tension, Denzo latched onto Zaron's thick jacket, showing complete control over him once more.
"Here, I'll give you a little boost." Denzo offered generously, his grasp as firm as possible on Zaron's shoulder. "Just bear in mind ... you'll want to brace for impact."
"Denzo! Don't you dare!"
Zaron had roared out in pure terror, his body losing balance gradually as he shifted closer over the edge. His shrieks and yells fell on deaf ears.
"DENZO!!!"
Shove...!
Zaron lost his balance. As though time itself had slowed to a crawl, the momentum of his body fell back in a graceful motion. In one last desperate manoeuvre, Zaron reached out his hand to his expressionless brother. However, Denzo just waved back in casual amusement, dooming his brother to the will of the forest below.
WHOOSH...!
Betrayal finally set in. With no hope left, the wide-eyed Zaron continued his helpless descent, disappearing into the abyss below.