Chapter 26: Fractured Bonds
The air was thick with dust and tension as the ruins of Stone's Rest lay in shambles around them. The once-vibrant village was now a wasteland, its structures reduced to piles of rubble and ash. The villagers, stunned and heartbroken, sifted through the remnants of their shattered lives, trying to salvage what little they could. Yogan stood in silence, his heart heavy with guilt, watching as the destruction unfolded before him. Memories of laughter and warmth associated with this place flashed in his mind, now tainted by the loss.
Renji stormed toward him, fury etched across his face. "This is on you, Yogan!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos like a knife. "You and Kezin—both of you held back, and now look what's happened! This village is gone because you weren't willing to do what was necessary!"
Yogan's anger flared, a visceral heat rising within him. "We were trying to stop the spirit, Renji! Not destroy everything in our path!" His voice cracked, filled with frustration and desperation. The remnants of the village seemed to echo his turmoil, the ghosts of what once was haunting him.
Kezin, calm as ever, approached from the side, his demeanor unfazed by the accusation. "The situation was more delicate than you realize, Renji. Blind aggression doesn't solve everything." His tone was measured, almost patronizing, which only fueled Renji's wrath.
"Delicate?" Renji scoffed, his eyes blazing with indignation. "Delicate got this village destroyed! If you two had just acted—"
Kaiya stepped forward, her presence like a shield. "If you had helped Yogan catch the spirit instead of focusing on killing the badgermoles, this wouldn't have happened!" Her voice was sharp, cutting through Renji's anger like a breath of fresh air.
Renji's fists clenched, the tension in the air palpable. "Don't lecture me, Kaiya. We needed to stop those creatures before they tore the place apart!"
"You were out of control!" Yogan shouted, stepping closer to his brother, their faces mere inches apart now. The storm of their emotions swirled around them, palpable and dangerous. "This isn't the first time, Renji. You're reckless. You only care about winning, not about doing what's right!"
Renji's eyes darkened, his hand tightening around his staff, knuckles white with tension. "I'm not the one who stood by while a village burned. You're too weak to lead, Yogan." His words struck like arrows, each one finding its mark.
The tension crackled between them, the brothers poised for confrontation. Yogan's hands itched to lash out, to deliver the anger coursing through him. But before he could move, Yoan appeared between them, placing a firm hand on Yogan's chest. "Stop this!" he shouted, his voice steady yet pleading. "This won't fix anything!"
Yogan hesitated, his fury simmering just beneath the surface. He could see the desperation in Yoan's eyes, the plea for peace. "You're both better than this," Yoan continued softly, his tone a soothing balm against the fire. "Don't let anger destroy what's left."
With a deep breath, Yogan stepped back, his fists still clenched at his sides. His heart pounded, adrenaline rushing through his veins, but Yoan's words cut through the haze of anger like a knife. He forced himself to look away from Renji, turning toward his friend instead, seeking solace in their bond.
"Let's go," Yoan said quietly, pulling Yogan away from the confrontation. Together, they moved away from the chaos, the smoldering ruins fading behind them.
As they walked, Yogan's anger began to ebb, replaced by a deep sense of confusion and betrayal. He had always known Renji was ambitious, but this… this was different. Renji had changed—or maybe, as Yoan suggested, he had always been this way.
"Renji's changed too fast," Yoan said, his voice low and contemplative as they walked. "Or maybe he was always like this, and we just didn't see it." His words hung in the air, heavy with implication.
Yogan frowned, memories of their childhood flashing in his mind. Back then, Renji had always been the "perfect" air nomad—the one who followed every rule, the one who lectured Yogan constantly about staying true to tradition. Yogan had been the one who bent the rules, who sought freedom, but he had always done it in a way that respected the temple's values. Renji, on the other hand, had never really cared about freedom. He only cared about control—about proving that he was better, stronger.
"I used to hate how he'd nag me about following the rules," Yogan muttered, shaking his head in frustration. "He always acted like he was the good guy, the one who had it all figured out. I thought he just wanted to be the perfect air nomad. But maybe… maybe he was just hiding who he really was." The realization washed over him like a cold wave.
Yoan sighed, glancing at Yogan with a sad smile. "He's always been driven, Yogan. But lately, it feels like he's losing sight of what really matters." There was a wistfulness in Yoan's tone, a longing for the simplicity of their youth.
Yogan nodded, his heart heavy. He couldn't shake the feeling that something fundamental had shifted between them, something that might never be repaired. The weight of their fractured bond pressed down on him, threatening to suffocate any hope of reconciliation.
---
Later, as the group gathered near the center of the ruined village, Renji called everyone together, his face set with grim determination. "The villagers can't stay here," he announced, his voice resonating with authority. "This place is destroyed. They need to come with us, back to the temple."
Yogan's gut twisted as Renji spoke. It was true—the village was in ruins, and the people had nowhere to go. But Renji's motivations felt tainted, as if he saw this as an opportunity to rally more people behind him, to strengthen his influence. A sense of foreboding settled over Yogan, one that he couldn't shake off.
The village guard, a sturdy man with a weathered face, stepped forward with a solemn expression. "We agree," the guard said, his voice grave. "We need to report to Lady Kiva about what happened here. It's not safe for the villagers to stay. We'll go with you." There was a resignation in his tone, a recognItion that they had no other options.
Yogan stared at Renji, his jaw clenched tightly. He knew they had no choice, but something about this felt wrong. He could feel the control slipping further into Renji's hands, like sand through fingers.
With a sigh, Yogan nodded reluctantly. "Fine. We'll take them back to the temple." His voice was quiet, but the words tasted bitter on his tongue.
Renji smirked, that infuriatingly self-satisfied grin creeping across his face. But before he could speak, Yogan's voice turned cold, sharp as a blade. "But understand this, Renji—there will be consequences for your actions today." The weight of Yogan's words hung in the air like a storm cloud, and for the first time, Renji faltered, his smirk fading.
The others, even Renji's loyal students, exchanged uneasy glances. There was a chill to Yogan's tone, a quiet, ruthless determination that made everyone pause. The atmosphere crackled with unspoken tension, as if the very air around them held its breath.
Kaiya, standing at Yogan's side, glanced at him, sensing the shift in his demeanor. Even Yoan, who had always been the one to calm Yogan, seemed unsettled by the intensity of his warning. They both recognized the fire in Yogan's eyes—a fire ignited by the injustice of the situation.
Renji said nothing, his expression unreadable, but Yogan could see the flicker of uncertainty in his brother's eyes. It was a small victory, but one that left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Without another word, Yogan turned and walked away, heading toward the villagers who were already starting to gather what little they had left. He could feel Kaiya and Yoan following closely behind, their footsteps echoing the heaviness of the moment.
As they reached the villagers, Yogan's tone softened, the warmth returning as he focused on those in need. "We'll help you pack up," he said gently, offering a reassuring smile to an elderly woman struggling to gather her belongings. Her hands trembled, and the sight of her worn face broke Yogan's heart. It was a reminder of the vulnerability of life, of how easily everything could be stripped away.
Kaiya knelt beside a group of children, her presence a soothing balm as she helped them gather what few toys and clothes they had managed to save. Her gentle words and comforting demeanor provided a glimmer of hope amidst the despair, and Yogan felt gratitude swell in his chest for her unwavering strength.
Yoan stood nearby, his hands on his hips as he surveyed the damage. "We'll get them to safety," he said quietly to Yogan, though his voice carried a weight of sadness. The stark reality of their situation settled heavily upon them. Each of them feeling the pressure in their own way.
[A/N: The schedule for this series has been reduced to 3 a week. Namely Mon-wed-fri gmt +2 at 2 am. The schedule of Patreon remains the same at 5-10 a week. You can read 10 chapters ahead right now available at patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels.