In the early hours, well before the sun began to rise, Sirius stirred awake with a quiet yawn. His dark hair fell loosely over his eyes as he stretched, blinking away the remnants of sleep. Without hesitation, he reached out to nudge Xander, who was still fast asleep beside him, his face half-buried in the pillow.
"Xander, wake up," Sirius said softly at first, his voice calm but firm.
Xander groaned, pulling the blanket tighter around him in defiance. After several moments of futile tapping, Sirius' patience ran thin. With a swift motion, he kicked his cousin off the bed.
*Thud!*
"Ow! What the hell—" Xander yelped, rubbing his shoulder as he scrambled upright. His irritation was short-lived as he noticed the cold glare Sirius was shooting him. Sensing it was no time to argue, he clamped his mouth shut, grumbling under his breath instead.
Sirius, without saying another word, turned his attention to the wardrobe, pulling out their track suits. As he dressed, Xander grudgingly followed suit, still muttering to himself about the rude awakening.
Minutes later, they were out the door, dressed in their workout gear. The quiet hum of the apartment building echoed faintly around them as they walked down the hall and into the elevator. Xander let out a long, drawn-out yawn, rubbing his eyes as the doors slid shut.
Sirius stretched his arms once they reached the street, his breath visible in the cold morning air. "We're sticking to the usual routine. We'll run to the park and finish our training there," he instructed, already setting off at a steady jog.
"The park? Seriously?" Xander whined, dragging his feet. "That's so far!"
"Quit complaining. The sooner we finish, the sooner we can get on with our day," Sirius shot back, his pace unwavering.
Reluctantly, Xander fell into step behind his cousin, muttering curses under his breath as they jogged through the empty streets. The houses lining both sides of the road varied in size and style, but they passed by in silence, their focus set on reaching the park.
After what felt like an eternity to Xander but was only about thirty minutes, they arrived at the park. Sirius led the way as they went through light stretches, then launched into a routine of push-ups, sit-ups, and pull-ups. The faint glow of the rising sun started to color the sky as they worked, casting long shadows across the dewy grass.
An hour later, drenched in sweat and with the first rays of sunlight warming their faces, they jogged back home.
As they entered the apartment, the familiar scent of breakfast greeted them. Ava, Xander's mother, stepped out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on an apron. Her eyes lit up with a gentle smile when she saw them.
"Morning, boys! Back from your training?" she asked, her voice warm.
"Morning, Mom," Xander mumbled, his exhaustion evident as he collapsed onto a chair.
"Morning, Aunt," Sirius said, returning her smile as he caught his breath.
Ava shook her head with a soft chuckle. "You two look like you've been through a storm. Go clean up and get ready for school."
"Ugh, yeah, yeah, I'm going," Xander grumbled as he dragged himself toward the bathroom.
Sirius followed suit, disappearing into his room to shower and change. A short while later, both boys returned to the dining room, now dressed in their school uniforms. Ava had laid out a simple breakfast: eggs and bacon, nothing extravagant, but comforting all the same.
As they sat down to eat, Ava glanced at Xander. "How was your workout today?" she asked, taking a seat across from them.
"Torture," Xander whined, shoveling eggs into his mouth. "Do I really have to keep doing this, Mom? I'm already in good shape!"
Ava raised an eyebrow. "You know your soul weave requires discipline, Xander. Your soul Weave may be powerful, but it's tricky. If you don't take your training seriously, you won't stand a chance at the academy."
Xander puffed out his chest. "I have a legacy soul weave, the Weave of shadows. The academy should be begging for someone like me."
Sirius snorted, shaking his head. "Not if you keep slacking off."
Xander scowled but didn't argue, shoving another forkful of food into his mouth.
Ava's gaze shifted to Sirius, softening as she noticed the hint of melancholy in his expression. His long hair was tied into a neat bun, and he adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses before she spoke.
"And what about you, Sirius?" she asked gently.
Sirius hesitated before answering, his tone low. "We both know my soul weave is... different. It's not exactly useful." He raised his hand, concentrating for a moment until small grains of salt formed on his palm, slipping through his fingers and into his empty bowl. He sighed. "The Salt Weave isn't going to help me fight Abyssal Shades. How am I supposed to stop them with salt?"
Ava frowned, leaning forward. "You've heard the legend, haven't you? About the Sovereign of Death? They say he was a terror, even before the Abyss Gates opened. He had the Salt Weave too. And you keep dreaming about being crowned the Prince of Salt. Maybe it's more than just a dream."
Sirius shook his head, his expression darkening. "It's just a myth, Aunt. A story to make people like me feel less useless. Even if it were true, I'm no Sovereign of Death."
Ava opened her mouth to protest but was quickly cut off by Sirius.
"Don't worry about me," he said softly. "I probably won't make it to the academy, but there are other paths I can take."
Xander, ever the optimist, piped up. "Don't be so down, big bro! I'll become a great soul weaver and protect both you and Mom from any Abyssal Shades!"
Ava chuckled at the sight of her son's enthusiasm. "Sometimes I wonder how you grew up so quickly, Sirius. If only Xander here could follow your example."
"Hey! Who're you calling dumb?" Xander protested, his face flushing as Sirius and Ava burst into laughter.
Amidst the laughter, Sirius glanced at the clock and nearly jumped out of his seat. "We're going to be late! Aunt, we're heading out now."
"But I'm not done with breakfast!" Xander complained, still chewing.
"No time!" Sirius said, already grabbing his bag and rushing to the door.
Xander groaned but followed, stuffing the last of his breakfast into his mouth before grabbing his bag.
Ava called after them as they reached the elevator. "Did you remember your lunch?"
"Yes, Mom!" Xander shouted back.
"Yes, Aunt!" Sirius echoed.
"Don't forget to stop by the café later!" she added with a wave.
"Will do, Aunt!" Sirius replied as the elevator doors closed behind them, leaving Ava smiling fondly in the now-quiet apartment.