Huh! Where am I? I feel like I've seen this place. But, where? Is it a deja vu. Well, whatever.

The relentless sun beat down on the rusty jungle gym, casting long, distorted shadows across the peeling paint. Corvus, a visitor for the week to his younger cousin Leo's bustling town, felt a prickle of unease. Across the sandpit, a trio of older boys had cornered Leo. Their leader, a sneer twisting his features, held aloft a well-worn object – not a teddy bear, but a gleaming model spaceship missing a wing. Leo, eyes wide with a mixture of fear and defiance, stood his ground, fists clenched at his sides.

The sneer on the leader's face widened. "Looks like this little space captain can't even keep his ship together," he taunted, tossing the model spaceship in the air with a cruel flick of his wrist. Corvus watched, a cold anger simmering in his gut. He wasn't the biggest kid, but the sight of Leo's crestfallen face fanned the flames of protectiveness within him. Taking a deep breath, he squared his shoulders and started towards the group, a plan already forming in his mind.

A nervous tremor ran through Corvus's hand, not from fear, but from the strange energy crackling beneath his skin. He locked eyes with Leo, picturing the model spaceship hovering, undamaged, in the bully's grasp. The playground seemed to hush, the laughter of nearby children fading into a distant hum. A lone bead of sweat trickled down Leo's temple, catching the sunlight like a desperate plea. In that moment, a surge coursed through Corvus. He pushed his focus, willing the model to defy gravity.The bully, mid-taunt, abruptly stopped. His hand, holding the spaceship aloft, twitched violently as if caught in an invisible vise. With a surprised yelp, he fumbled, dropping the model with a clatter. It bounced improbably across the sand, landing upright and miraculously whole.Leo's eyes bulged, mirroring the dent appearing in the bully's smug grin. A flicker of hope, brighter than the midday sun, ignited in Leo's face. Corvus, chest pounding a frantic rhythm, forced a casual air. He strolled closer, a carefully crafted grin stretching across his face. "Hey Leo," he boomed a little too loudly, "Looks like you brought some serious downforce with you." He scooped up the ship, brushing the sand with practiced ease, his heart hammering a victory march against his ribs. The tremor in his hand had subsided, replaced by a newfound confidence, an awareness of a power he barely understood, but one that had just saved the day.

"Stop that already! you jerks" Corvus screamed as he rushed towards the four. The bullies stammered in unison , "Ehhh?" "Look who wants to get his whooped," one sneered. "Haven't seen you around here before. who are you anyway?""My name is Corvus Anvis and I'm here to stop you from hurting my friend."

The bully's gaze flickered to Leo, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Huh," he scoffed, "this runt's with you?"Leo, who had shrunk back slightly during Corvus's approach, spoke up cautiously. "Um... he is my cousin who came to visit us."

"Meh, who cares, another ass that needs to be whopped."

Corvus clenched his fists, his newfound confidence wavering. He tried to sound cool, his voice trembling slightly, "Try me, PUNK."

Ow!ow!ow!ow!OW! watch it Chris. Excuse me, who got their ass beaten up. Which grudge are you holding against me. "I ain't any" Chris replied. 

"You shouldn't have butted in," Leo mumbled, his voice heavy with guilt.Chris, her brow furrowed in worry, glanced at Corvus from beneath the mop of dark hair they both shared. "Yeah," she said, her voice a touch sharper than Leo's, "Those Wilson twins are the worst. Always picking on someone smaller.""I couldn't just stand there," Corvus mumbled, his voice hoarse. Seeing Leo cornered had triggered something primal in him, a desperate need to protect. But that desperate need had gotten him a face full of dirt and a bruised ego.Chris sighed, her blue eyes, the exact shade of his own, softened. "I know, dunderhead. It's just..." she trailed off, a flicker of something akin to pride dancing in her gaze.Corvus caught it, a question forming on his lips. "Just what?"Before Chris could answer, Leo piped up, his voice filled with awe. "You know, Corvus, that was… amazing! Like the way you jumped in and went BHAM and all."It's not even that cool.""Someone's a little jealous!!!!!.""I'm not !""Let's just say your cousin visit has coincided with a… unique development for you, little brother."Corvus scoffed. "Unique development? I got beat up by a bunch of jerks, that's all I see.""There's more to it than that," Chris said, her voice firm. "But for now, let's get you both cleaned up."

The rusty swing set creaked a mournful goodbye as Corvus limped down the familiar street, the echo of Leo's relieved laughter fading behind him. The setting sun cast long shadows, painting the cracked pavement in shades of regret. Chris, thankfully, had vanished after tending to his wounds, leaving him to face the inevitable parental wrath.He pushed open the creaking screen door, bracing himself for the storm. The aroma of his mother's famous stew greeted him, a warm contrast to the chill of impending judgment. His father sat at the worn oak table, a newspaper held aloft like a shield. His mother, her kind face etched with worry, stirred the bubbling pot."There you are, young man," his father boomed, lowering the paper with a rustle. "Care to explain why you look like you wrestled a particularly grumpy badger?"Corvus winced. "There were some bullies bothering Leo," he mumbled, shuffling his feet. Shame burned in his throat, a stark contrast to the strange tingle that still lingered in his fingertips.His mother set down the ladle, her eyes softening. "Is Leo alright?" she asked, concern lacing her voice."He's fine," Corvus mumbled, relief washing over him momentarily. "Just a scraped knee."His father snorted. "And you, the valiant knight, took the brunt of the battle, I presume?"Corvus mumbled something unintelligible, avoiding his father's gaze.A sigh escaped his mother. "Come on, Corvus," she said, gesturing towards the table. "Let's hear what happened. But first, wash up. Dinner's almost ready."As Corvus scrubbed the grime off his hands, he stole a glance at his parents. The worry lines etched on their faces were a stark reminder of his recklessness. Tonight's meal would be heavy on silence and light on praise. Still, the warmth of the kitchen, the familiar scent of stew, and the unspoken love hanging in the air offered a strange comfort. Perhaps, Corvus mused, facing his parents' disappointment was a small price to pay for the strange power that pulsed within him.He sat down at the table, the steam from his bowl carrying the promise of a warm belly and a cool head. The stew tasted of comfort and possibility, a fitting end to a day filled with bruises, bewilderment.

"By the way, where is your sister?""She told me that she would be home, once you were done lecturing me."

"I think Ann is awake. Can you bring bring her down stairs."

 Oh! I remember now. It was a hot summer evening.Gentle breezes, seemingly summoned for this very evening, whispered secrets between the leaves. Each rustle became a note, a melody both melancholic and strangely beautiful, a memory carried on the wind long after the leaves themselves had fallen silent. A memory that would be ever engraved in my heart. A scar etched on my heart, a constant reminder of what was taken.Living a life away from the grays, deep in the countryside, visiting our relatives every now and then, it sure was peaceful. Jumping in the cool creek on a hot summer day, playing in the meadows way past sunset. 

As I remember, after dinner, we were having a quality family time. Chris was helping out mom with the dishes, dad was busy scrolling through the internet and I was playing with Ann. 

The fireflies outside our window were like a constellation of childhood dreams, twinkling against the fading light. Each chuckle that escaped my lips was punctuated by the rhythmic creak of the swing set in the backyard, where my little world seemed to exist in a constant state of blissful motion.Then, the world tilted on its axis. A long, mournful wail, unlike anything I'd ever heard, ripped through the peaceful evening. It was the air raid siren, a sound I'd only encountered in the dusty pages of history books, stories relegated to a bygone era. My eyes, wide with a terror that mirrored my parents' own, darted between them and the source of the unearthly shriek.THE WAR WAS DECLARED. The rhythmic creaking of the swing set outside ceased, a chilling silence replacing the symphony of childhood joy.

A whimper escaped my lips, a small sound that echoed through the sudden emptiness of the room. It was a stark reminder of the innocence lost in the face of war's brutal embrace. The air grew thick, heavy with the weight of the unknown. The night, once filled with the promise of laughter and stories, now stretched before us, an endless void of uncertainty and fear. The fireflies continued their carefree dance, a cruel contrast to the impending chaos that threatened to engulf our world, the irony.That night, nestled between my parents, the warmth of their bodies a fragile shield against the encroaching darkness, my childhood fractured. The air raid siren's wail became a permanent soundtrack in my memory, a chilling reminder of the day the world outside our window ceased to be a safe haven. It's a memory etched deep within me, a turning point in my life story, the day a carefree summer evening transformed into a harsh introduction to the brutal realities of war.Now that I look back, it is nothing compared to what I've been through. No, it was the beginning. Where it all started. ONLY IF, we stayed at our place that night. None of this could've happened. What am I even saying? Pathetic! Groveling now won't do anything. Show drafts volume_up"Corvus!"Silence. Moonlight, pale and uncaring, streamed through the window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the still air. Just as Corvus drifted back to sleep, the name came again, sharper this time, laced with urgency."Corvus!"He stirred, a frown creasing his forehead. What was..."Corvus!"This time, the yell was a full-blown shriek, ripping through the pre-dawn quiet. Corvus bolted upright, heart slamming against his ribs like a trapped bird. His eyes flew open, scanning the room in a panic. The yell hadn't come from outside, some unseen terror in the night, but from right beside him. He squinted through the gloom and made out the shape of a small figure perched on the edge of his bed."Nyra?" he rasped, his voice rough with sleep and surprise."Do you know what time it is?" "It's just that Nyra was so scared, that the master was sleep-talking. And master was also trembling.""Just a nightmare. Let's get some sleep. Tomorrow would be a busy day. " "Master! Nyra needs to pee.""HUH! Right now, give me a break.""Ne, master! What were you dreaming about. What was that make YOU tremble.""Just a haunting memory.""Master! you will be okay, Nyra is here. Nyra will protect you.""Of course Nyra will, but what I want from Nyra that she will be a good girl and go to sleep.""Ehe!""Ne, Master when will we go to retrieve miss Chris and miss Anna?""Soon enough.

"Don't worry, Chris, Ann. Big brother's gonna come and take you both someplace you might as well call home. They took you away... Chris, Ann... but I know where to start.... gotta get you both back... a real home this time."