Keiran and Lumina, aged 13, arrived at a strange town called Forevermore two days after leaving Soweto. They saw two men posted at the gates and a long line of people waiting to enter. Among the crowd, a strange man rode by in a carriage with peculiar writing on its back. Without hesitation, the brothers jumped into the back of the carriage to sneak into Forevermore.
Inside Forevermore, the two brothers let out a sigh of relief, thankful they had managed to enter unnoticed. Lumina poked his head out of the carriage, and to his surprise, he was dazzled by the beauty of the town.
"Lumina," Keiran called, trying to get his attention. "Lumina!" he repeated louder. But Lumina was too distracted by the town's splendor.
"Shut up! You'll get us caught!" Keiran hissed, jumping on Lumina to see what had captivated his brother. Both were awestruck by the town's charm. Suddenly, the carriage came to a stop, and they fell back onto the floor.
"Ouch!" they both exclaimed, rubbing their sore spots.
Hearing the sound of a man arguing with his pet bird, the brothers quickly hid behind a stack of boxes. Lumina noticed the same strange writing on a nearby crate as the one on the carriage. As the man began unloading the boxes, Keiran leaned in, trying to listen to the argument, but Lumina pulled him back.
"A talking bird," Keiran whispered excitedly, grinning.
"This is not the time for this!" Lumina hissed.
When the man and his bird finally left, Lumina gestured for Keiran to follow him out of the carriage. As they stepped outside, a strong breeze hit them, and heavy rain began to pour. With no other choice, they dashed into the nearest building for shelter—only to come face-to-face with the man and his arguing bird again.
The brothers quietly tried to sneak into another room, but Keiran stopped to eavesdrop.
"Keiran, where are you going?" Lumina whispered harshly, trying to pull him back.
Ignoring him, Keiran moved closer to hear better but accidentally knocked over a stack of boxes. The man and his bird turned toward the noise, and Keiran froze in place. Lumina stepped forward, bowing his head in apology for his brother's clumsiness.
The bird flew toward Lumina and, to the brothers' astonishment, transformed into a woman.
Keiran shouted in awe at the sight, while Lumina stood in a trance. The man stepped forward and asked sharply, "Why are you here?"
The brothers exchanged nervous glances, unsure of how to respond. The woman, sensing the tension, softened the moment by changing the subject. "You must be hungry," she said.
Keiran's stomach growled loudly, betraying him.
The woman introduced herself as Asvlumina Rich and the man as her husband, Malar Rich. "But don't call him that," she added. "He prefers to be called Shadow."
Keiran and Lumina nodded in agreement, trying not to laugh at the peculiar nickname.
"What are your names?" Asvlumina asked.
The boys responded simultaneously: "Lumina. Keiran."
The man frowned and demanded, "Full names."
"Lumina Dyears," Lumina said.
"Keiran Dyears," Keiran echoed.
The woman glanced at Malar, who looked displeased. She then invited the boys to join them for dinner, as the rain outside showed no signs of stopping.
At the table, Keiran raised his hand. "I have a question," he said shyly.
Asvlumina smiled. "What is it?"
"That thing you did back there—turning from a bird into a person—what was that?"
Asvlumina looked at the boys curiously. "You're not from around here, are you?"
The brothers shook their heads.
Malar interrupted, his tone strict. "It's a gift passed down through her family for generations. Here in Forevermore, people call them blessings—gifts sent down from the gods."
Asvlumina shot her husband a sharp look, silencing him. Turning back to the boys, she explained gently, "My family was blessed by the gods, granting us extraordinary powers. That's why I can transform into an animal of my choosing."
Malar fixed his gaze on the brothers. "If you were from here, you'd know all this. So, where are you really from?"
Lumina hesitated, then whispered to Keiran, "Should we tell them?"
Keiran replied, "We have no choice. What do we have to lose?"
---
5 Years after the birth of the twins
Verena took five-year-old Keiran and Lumina to the grave of their father, Roegadyn Dyears. The tombstone read:
Here lies Roegadyn Dyears, son of Dren Dyears, heir to the throne and prince of Soweto. A loving husband, a loving son. He would have been a great father.
Verena brought them to honor their father on a day forever remembered in Soweto as Inuerte.
"How was our father like?" the boys asked.
Verena looked up at the sky and smiled. "Your father was a great man, loved by all. I was lucky to marry him. He's watching over us from above."
The boys glanced at each other. "Up where?" Lumina asked.
Two women approached, calling Verena for dinner. She smiled at her sons. "Let's go. Whoever gets there first gets the biggest chicken!"
"You're on!" Keiran shouted as they raced home.
The memory faded.
---
8 years later
Keiran and Lumina could be seen running through the streets of Soweto, spreading joy despite the somber atmosphere. At the palace, Verena was busy preparing for Inuerte. When Keiran arrived, he shouted, "I win!" but turned to see Lumina frozen in the street.
"Lumina?" he called. No response.
Rushing over, Keiran shook his brother, worried by the frightened look on his face. Lumina hugged him and began to cry.
"It's okay. Don't cry, you big baby," Keiran teased, trying to lift his spirits.
Carrying his brother on his back to the palace, Keiran met Verena, who asked what had happened. Keiran explained, "He had another vision."
"Don't say that outside!" Verena snapped, pulling her sons close
---
Verena and her sons arrived at Imue, the gate of Soweto, and began running toward it. Suddenly, a mob appeared behind them, wielding torches and pitchforks.
"You think you can run away after all the crimes you've committed? Die!" the crowd shouted in unison.
Out of the blue, a carriage approached with Dren, the king of Soweto, riding on it. Bow in hand, he aimed an arrow directly at Lumina and released it. Verena stepped in front of Lumina, blocking the arrow. The projectile struck her, and she fell to the ground.
With her final breaths, she ordered her sons, "Run and don't stop. Get out of this land and find somewhere you can call home—a place where you'll be loved."
Lumina dropped to his knees, tears streaming down his face as he cried, "It wasn't supposed to be you!"
Keiran, overwhelmed by the sight of their fallen mother, quickly wiped away his own tears. Determined, he pulled Lumina to his feet, carrying him toward the gate. Lumina hesitated, his heart breaking as he looked back at their mother.
A powerful breeze swept through the land as Keiran and Lumina pushed through the gate, leaving their home behind.
The memory faded.