The days following Ayin's recovery were tense and filled with cautious silence.
At least that's how it were for Zesh.
He would pace restlessly at the edge of the room, his sharp eyes watching every move the humans made, while his sister rested on a pile of soft blankets.
Clara never asked but old enough to understand, thus leave him be. Nakan, oblivious to the palpable tension, remained ever curious. He often sat beside Ayin, chattering away about anything that crossed his mind. After all, meeting with telepathic magical beast was not an everyday occurrence.
In fact, if Clara hadn't lock their house almost at all the time, some neighbor would probably have barged in.
Ayin, despite her initial reservations, found herself drawn to the boy's innocence.
"Do you want to play a game?"
It was rainy afternoon, as the soft patter of droplets filled the air, Nakan appeared with a crude wooden board and a handful of polished stones. He knelt near Ayin, who was quietly grooming her fur, and placed them down with a grin.
Zesh, curled near the door, let out a low growl.
Nakan flinched, obviously still afraid of him.
"It's not nonsense! It's called Stone Dash. It's fun, I promise."
Ayin glanced at her brother, then at the boy.
Zesh muttered something inaudible and turned away, though his ears flicked in annoyance.
On the next morning after that night, it was super awkward for Ayin especially. Zesh had it better since he was practically don't give a shit. But Ayin, who almost always interacting with the mother and son, feels super awkward. But it was then. After few days, she kinda accepted it and just push it behind her head.
Nakan demonstrated the game with exaggerated enthusiasm, explaining how to use the stones to knock others off the board. Ayin hesitated at first, her paw clumsily nudging a stone, but soon she was engaged, her laughter—a rare sound—echoing in the room.
Nakan beamed. "See? Told you it was fun!"
Ayin smiled faintly.
Zesh turned his head sharply, his eyes narrowing.
The atmosphere thickened, but Nakan, ever persistent, decided to push his luck. "You're really amazing, you know. I've never seen creatures like you before. Where do you come from?"
Ayin's gaze dropped, her laughter fading.
Nakan's face fell. "I didn't mean anything bad by it. I just… want to understand."
Ayin looked at her brother,
He huffed but didn't stop her as she turned back to the boy.
"There are beasts, sure." Nakan nodded. "But one like you are rare. In my life I've only seen one beast that could talk, it was two years ago. And most beasts can't think like people. They're just… animals. But you? You're very special since you can spoke through telepathy. That's what people said."
Nakan flinched but squared his shoulders. "Not everyone is like that! My mom says the Eltsopa are the real problem. They think they're better than everyone else—normal humans, beasts, anyone without powers."
It was not the first time she heard that word, but for the sake of gaining information, she still tilted her head and asked in confusion.
"Oh, they're amazing. Well, scary amazing." Nakan leaned forward eagerly. "They're humans who born with powers—like moving mountains or shooting fire. But not all of them are good people. The worst ones live in the Heavenly Court."
"It's this giant tower, taller than the clouds. They say the Eltsopa who rule there can control everything—storms, the land, even life itself. They're the ones who make the laws for all of us."
After all, their parents never hide the fact that they're the last of their species.
Nakan hesitated to answer.
After all, he didn't know what these animal are and his mother had told him to not delve into it. So how could he knew what Zesh's talking about?
"I… I think so. Some of them, anyway. My mom says they don't care about normal people like us, either. We just do what we're told so they don't hurt us."
Ayin lowered her head, her voice tinged with sadness.
"It is," Nakan admitted quietly. "But it's not all bad. There are people who try to help. Like my mom."
He brightened suddenly. "Oh! And there's the Giant Sun Dynasty! They're a group of Eltsopa that supposed to protect everyone—humans and beasts alike. Maybe you could go there!"
Nakan frowned. "They're not like those who hurt you. They're healers and warriors. My mom says they've stopped wars before."
Ayin tilted her head.
"Uh, I think it's in the north?" Nakan scratched his head. "Yeah, I think it's past the Eternal Battlefield."
Zesh's ears perked up. "Eternal Battlefield?"
"It's this massive place filled with the bones of old wars," Nakan explained grimly. "People say the ground's cursed. If you stay there too long, you hear the cries of the dead. But if you can hold on your sanity for one week, you can speak with the dead... I don't know, that's what people said."
Such possibility caused waves to stir in the twin's heart as they remembered the scene of their father death.
"By the way.." Nakan trailed off, "What creature are you? I've heard some of four legged magical beast like Mohg the blood taker, goldum the killer bear, hellhound, black dog, barghest…"
Nakan could only sigh.
That evening, Zesh ventured outside for the first time since they'd arrived at the village.
The air was cool and damp, carrying the scent of the recent rain. Since the boy's hut was located on the outskirt, he easily stalked to the edge of the village, his mind swirling with what the boy had told them. He also hated how easily his sister had begun to trust the boy.
Humans couldn't be trusted.
Even if this one seemed kind, it didn't erase their kin's blood on their race's hands.
That was what their parents teach him.
Gritting his teeth, he turned sharply to see Clara standing a few paces away.
Clara shrugged, her small hands tucked into her pockets. "Just making sure you're okay. You always looked so angry since you coming here."
Clara sighed. "I'm sorry about your family. I really am. But it wasn't me who hurt them."
Zesh glared, his claws scraping against the dirt.
"My late husband always said the world's a cruel place, but it's the people in it who choose to make it better or worse." Clara smiled kindly, "I want to be one of the good ones."
Zesh didn't respond. He stared into the distance, his thoughts tangled and heavy.
"It's cold outside," Clara spoke warmly, "Let's get inside."
Inside the hut, Ayin sat beside the fireplace, watching the flames dance. The warmth soothed her aching body, but her mind was far from calm.
When Zesh returned, his expression was guarded. He settled beside her, his body tense.
Ayin looked at him, her eyes soft but resolute.
Zesh huffed.
Zesh's jaw tightened.
Ayin's gaze dropped.
Zesh stood abruptly, pacing near the fire.
Ayin countered, her voice quiet but firm.
Zesh didn't answer.
He stared at the flame, the flickering light like the devil's dance reflected in his scarlet eyes.
Obviously he saw what Ayin wanted to show him, after all they're not a twin for nothing. Their life had been dark since that tragedy, but now in that darkness, faint glimmers shone through—hope that perhaps not all humans were their enemies.
For Ayin, it felt like the first step toward healing.
But for Zesh, it felt like a betrayal.