27. Common Ground
As the villagers gathered their meager possessions, Yogan forced himself to push aside the turmoil in his heart. The chaos and destruction around him weighed heavily on his shoulders, but he knew that the only way to honor the memories of those who had lost everything was to help those who remained.
Working alongside Kaiya and Yoan, Yogan moved through the crowd, lending his strength to carry what was left of their lives. He offered encouraging words to those who were grieving, trying to bring a sense of hope to the devastation. The elderly woman he had helped earlier smiled faintly, her eyes brimming with gratitude as she watched him assist her neighbors.
"You're doing well, dear," she said, her voice trembling but warm. "Thank you."
Yogan smiled back, feeling a sense of purpose wash over him. But just as he began to feel a glimmer of hope, Renji's voice cut through the air, commanding and harsh.
"Get them moving! We don't have time for delays!" Renji barked, his impatience palpable as he directed the villagers like a general on a battlefield.
The villagers looked to Yogan for guidance, a flicker of uncertainty passing through them. Yogan's heart sank at the sight of their frightened faces, torn between loyalty to his brother and the need to lead the people properly.
With a deep breath, he stepped forward, his voice steady but firm. "Renji, they've been through enough. We need to give them time. They can't just pick up and go after everything that's happened."
Renji's expression twisted with anger. "This isn't about what they want! It's about survival! If we wait, who knows what other spirits might come? We need to get to the temple before nightfall."
"Maybe if you hadn't acted recklessly in the first place, we wouldn't be in this situation," Yogan shot back, his temper flaring once more.
The air thickened with tension as the brothers faced off again. Yoan stepped in, hands raised. "Both of you, please! We need to focus on the villagers right now. They're our priority."
But Renji's eyes were locked onto Yogan, and he couldn't back down. "You think you can lead? You're weak, Yogan. This village was destroyed because you weren't strong enough to handle the situation."
The villagers around them grew restless, whispers of fear and doubt rippling through the crowd. Yogan felt their eyes on him, and a wave of frustration washed over him. He took a step closer to Renji, his fists clenching again. "Strength isn't just about power, Renji! It's about compassion! You've lost sight of that."
A flicker of uncertainty crossed Renji's face, but he quickly masked it with anger. "Compassion won't save us! You're too idealistic to see the real world for what it is."
"Maybe you're too consumed by your ambitions to remember what it means to be a leader!" Yogan countered, each word laced with the pain of their fractured bond.
Before Renji could respond, a loud crash echoed through the air, drawing their attention away from their argument. A group of badgermoles, remnants of the chaos, had begun to stir among the rubble, their massive bodies lurching as they made their way back into the village. Panic spread through the villagers, a few crying out in fear.
"Renji!" Yogan shouted, his heart racing. "What do we do?"
Renji's expression hardened, and in an instant, he sprang into action, calling on his airbending skills to create a barrier between the villagers and the approaching creatures. "Everyone, stay behind me!" he yelled, summoning a fierce gust of wind to push the badgermoles back.
Yogan's instincts kicked in, and he immediately began channeling his own airbending, ready to assist. "I'll help!" he shouted, forming a vortex of wind to control the badgermoles' path.
But as they worked together, Yogan couldn't shake the feeling that Renji's actions were not purely protective; they were also a display of power, a way for him to assert control over the situation—and Yogan.
"Yogan, focus!" Renji barked, his voice harsh as they fought against the beasts. "Don't lose sight of the goal!"
The tension between them intensified as they maneuvered to redirect the badgermoles away from the villagers. Yogan fought against his brother's dominance, pushing himself to match Renji's intensity, but deep inside, doubt began to gnaw at him. Was he truly strong enough to stand against Renji, even in this moment?
Just as the last of the badgermoles was driven back into the shadows of the ruins, the village guard stepped forward, their weapons ready, faces lined with concern. "What now?" the guard asked, glancing between the two brothers, sensing the brewing storm in the air.
Renji's composure returned, his authoritative presence rising once more. "We regroup. We need to fortify our defenses at the temple and prepare for anything else that might come our way."
Yogan felt his heart sink as he realized that Renji was starting to lead the villagers, a sense of unease growing within him. The more he watched, the more he felt that Renji was more interested in asserting his dominance than in protecting those in need.
"Renji," Yogan said cautiously, "we can't treat the villagers like this. They're not pawns in a game. They need reassurance, not orders."
Renji turned to him, eyes blazing with frustration. "You think they want to hear your idealistic ramblings right now? They want safety! They want to survive!"
"And they'll never feel safe if they see you only as a ruler and not as a protector," Yogan shot back, feeling a surge of anger and desperation. "You're pushing them away!"
The guard's brow furrowed, and some of the villagers exchanged uneasy glances. The air was thick with the unspoken tension between the brothers, and Yogan felt the weight of their expectations pressing down on him.
"Enough!" Renji's voice echoed, commanding silence. "We'll do things my way. I'll ensure they're safe, and if you can't accept that, then step aside!"
Yogan stood frozen, his breath catching in his throat. The divide between them had deepened, and it felt as if an invisible chasm had formed, threatening to swallow everything they had once been.
Before Yogan could respond, Kaiya stepped in, her voice firm yet calming. "Renji, we need to work together. This isn't just about you or Yogan; it's about everyone here." She gestured to the villagers, who were still watching with bated breath. "You can't lead from a place of anger or fear. They need hope."
The tension crackled in the air as Renji stared at her, his features twisting in frustration. "And what do you suggest we do, then? Stand around and hold hands while we wait for the next disaster?"
Kaiya held his gaze, unflinching. "No. We gather them, we provide shelter, and we help them heal. But we do it together. Not as enemies."
Yogan looked between Kaiya and Renji, hoping to find common ground. "She's right. If we want to restore faith and hope in the village, we have to show them that we're united. That we care."
Renji hesitated, uncertainty flickering across his face. For a brief moment, the tension ebbed, and Yogan dared to hope that perhaps they could come together, even after everything that had happened.
Finally, Renji sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose in frustration. "Fine. We'll work together. But mark my words, Yogan—if anything happens again, it's on you."
Yogan nodded, his heart still heavy but grateful for the small truce. "Understood. But let's focus on the villagers now."
As they turned to the gathered crowd, Yogan felt a renewed sense of determination. Together, they could help the villagers rebuild, find shelter, and restore hope after the devastation. Even if their bond was fractured, they would still try to mend it, one step at a time.
With Kaiya and Yoan at his side, Yogan began organizing the villagers, directing them toward safety as he tried to ignore the nagging doubt in his heart. Perhaps, if they worked together, they could heal not just the village, but their own fractured bonds as well.
But deep down, he knew that the path ahead would be fraught with challenges, and that the scars of their past would take more than mere cooperation to heal.
[A/N: Read 10 chapters ahead available on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels]