Zaryth lay in the field for what felt like hours, staring at the stars with a hollow ache in his chest. His anger had subsided, leaving only exhaustion and confusion in its wake. The weight of the archons' whispers still clung to his thoughts, cryptic and haunting.
The cool night breeze swept through the grass, chilling his skin. He knew he couldn't stay out here forever, but going back to the house—to them—felt unbearable.
Then, footsteps. Soft at first, then louder. Zaryth tensed. He turned his head just in time to see a figure approaching—Ruby.
She knelt beside him, her bright purple eyes filled with concern. "You really ran far this time, huh?" she whispered, brushing a strand of silver hair from her face. "I was worried."
Zaryth gritted his teeth, trying to ignore the warmth in her voice. "Why did you follow me?"
"Because you're my brother," she said simply, sitting down beside him. "And because I know how you feel."
"No, you don't," Zaryth muttered bitterly. "You're talented, Ruby. Everyone loves you. They see me as a joke."
Ruby sighed, looking up at the stars. "It's not about being perfect, Zaryth. It's about trying. You'll find your way, even if it's different from mine."
Zaryth clenched his fists. "It's easy for you to say that. You're not the one who's useless."
Ruby gave him a sad smile. "You're not useless, Zaryth. You're just... waiting for the right moment. I believe in you. You just need to believe in yourself."
He wanted to believe her. But the weight of years of disappointment and comparison to his siblings crushed that hope before it could take root.
The two sat in silence, the tension between them lingering like the chill in the night air.
Then Ruby stood up and extended her hand. "Come on, let's go home. They're worried."
Zaryth stared at her hand, torn between wanting to stay and knowing he couldn't avoid his family forever. With a sigh, he took her hand and stood up.
---
When they arrived home, the atmosphere was tense. The hall lights glimmered, illuminating the concerned faces of their parents and siblings.
Their father, sitting at the head of the long dining table, glanced at Zaryth with disappointment. "You can't keep running away from your problems, Zaryth."
"I know," Zaryth muttered, avoiding eye contact.
Dorian, the eldest sibling, folded his arms. "If you can't even face a dummy, how do you plan to face the world?"
Zaryth's fists clenched, but Ruby gently touched his arm, stopping him from lashing out again.
His real mother, with kind but stern eyes, leaned forward. "Zaryth, you need to understand... We're hard on you because we care. You can't keep throwing tantrums."
He glared at her. "I'm not throwing tantrums. I just—" His voice cracked, and he looked down, feeling small. "I just... hate being weak."
A small voice broke the tension. "Brother, don't be sad."
Nico, the youngest of the siblings, toddled over and tugged at Zaryth's sleeve, his wide eyes filled with innocent concern.
For a moment, the anger drained from Zaryth. He knelt down and ruffled Nico's hair. "I'm okay, little one."
But deep down, Zaryth knew he wasn't okay. The frustration gnawed at him, and the voices of the archons still whispered in the back of his mind, like distant memories waiting to surface.
---
Later that night, Zaryth sat alone in his room, staring at the ceiling. Sleep wouldn't come. His thoughts were too loud, filled with doubts, dreams, and echoes of ancient voices.
"Awaken, Zaryth... Remember who you are."
He pressed his palms against his temples, trying to shut the voices out. Why do I keep hearing these things? Who am I supposed to be?
Suddenly, a knock on his door interrupted his spiraling thoughts. The door creaked open, and Mavuika stepped inside, her fiery red eyes flickering in the dim light.
"So," she said, crossing her arms, "you really made a mess of things today."
Zaryth groaned. "What do you want?"
Mavuika smirked. "Just wanted to see the great 'good-for-nothing' Zaryth in his natural habitat."
He scowled. "You here to gloat?"
"Nope," she said, sitting on the edge of his bed. "I'm here because, for some reason, I think you're more than what you seem."
Zaryth snorted. "Thanks, but I'm really not."
Mavuika leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Maybe not now. But things change, Zaryth. I've seen it happen before."
Before Zaryth could respond, Mavuika stood and gave him a teasing grin. "See you at the next training session. Don't embarrass yourself again."
With that, she left, leaving Zaryth alone with his thoughts once more.
He stared at the ceiling, the whispers of the archons swirling in his mind.
"Awaken... Find your strength... The time is near."
Zaryth closed his eyes, the weight of everything pressing down on him. He didn't know what the future held, but he knew one thing for certain: He couldn't stay weak forever.
The journey to uncover his true self had only just begun.
__:)