Elora's voice boomed through the house, sharp and commanding, pulling all the siblings into the living room. She stood in the center, her silver hair glinting under the faint light, her expression was cold. The energy in the room was suffocating; they could feel the storm brewing behind her piercing gaze.
"What," she began slowly, her voice low and dangerous, "happened?"
The siblings exchanged nervous glances, shifting on their feet. Nola stepped forward, her face pale but steady. "We—"
"I don't want any excuses," Elora snapped, cutting her off. "I want the truth."
Nola took a deep breath, opening her mouth to speak. "The explosion was—"
"It was my fault!" Amelia blurted out, her voice loud. She crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at Nola as if daring her to say otherwise. "I'm the one you should be mad at. It doesn't matter what happened—it's on me."
Nola's eyes widened, but she didn't contradict her. Instead, she looked away, her jaw clenched tightly.
Elora exhaled slowly, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Of course it was," she muttered under her breath. Her tone shifted, colder now. "You're reckless and irresponsible. And now, because of you, we're all in the spotlight."
Amelia flinched but stood her ground, even as her mother's words cut deep. The tension in the room was thick enough to choke, and then Elora turned to the door.
"You've brought attention to this family that we cannot afford," she continued, her voice icy. "So I've called someone to deal with this."
The siblings tensed as a man stepped through the door. He was tall and broad-shouldered, clad in sleek black armor that glimmered faintly.. A badge on his chest marked him as part of the Arbitrium Corps, a Spectercore faction dedicated to public safety and law enforcement. His name was Captain Lucan Krail, and his reputation preceded him.
"I'm here to ensure the truth comes to light," he said, his voice calm but firm. His piercing green eyes swept over the siblings, lingering for a moment on each of them. "One by one. Let's not make this harder than it has to be."
Elora moved to the closest room. "He'll speak to you individually. Go."
The siblings were called in one at a time. Ronan went first, his usual bravado replaced by forced charm as he danced around Lucan's questions. He lied effortlessly, weaving hhalf truths and distractions into his story, but Lucan's eyes suggested he wasn't entirely convinced.
Gavin followed, his fiery temper barely contained as he answered. He avoided specifics, keeping his story vague and dismissive, leaning into his bravado. Lucan's questions, however, pressed at the cracks in his armor, making him fidget uncomfortably.
Nola stepped up next. Her answers were calm and precise, carefully constructed to give nothing away. She held his gaze, her new glasses were glinting faintly as they helped her focus. Lucan's expression remained unreadable, though her answers seemed to satisfy him.
Amelia's turn was more tense. She leaned back in her chair, her posture defiant as she answered. Every response was short, clipped, and laced with irritation. Lucan's probing questions only seemed to fuel her frustration, but she managed to avoid giving anything away—barely.
Finally, it was Nachtan's turn. He stepped into the room slowly, his face pale and his movements sluggish. As he sat down, Lucan's eyes narrowed slightly. "Nachtan, correct?"
Nachtan nodded, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over him. His hands trembled faintly, but he kept them on his lap, hoping Lucan wouldn't notice.
"Tell me," Lucan began, his voice soft but dense, "what happened?"
"I…" Nachtan began, but his mind was blank. His memories of the explosion were a hazy fog, fragments slipping through his grasp every time he tried to piece them together. "I don't remember."
Lucan's gaze sharpened. "Convenient."
Nachtan's head throbbed. He tried to focus, but the room was spinning, and his body felt heavy. His nose suddenly began to bleed, the crimson streaking down his face. He wiped at it with a shaking hand, trying to maintain his composure.
"I'm fine," he mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper. "I… I just…"
Before Lucan could respond, Nachtan's body gave out. His vision blurred, and he felt himself tipping forward. He tried to brace himself, but his strength failed. His head hit the edge of the table with a sickening thud as he collapsed to the floor.
Lucan stood abruptly, his calm demeanor breaking as he moved to check on the boy. Blood pooled beneath Nachtan's head, his body unnaturally still. Elora burst into the room seconds later, her face a mask of panic.
"Nachtan!" she cried, dropping to her knees beside him. She checked his pulse, her hands trembling as she worked quickly. "He's burning up."
Lucan stepped back, watching silently. "He's in worse shape than any of you let on," he said, his tone sharp. "This isn't just exhaustion."
Elora's jaw tightened as she lifted Nachtan into her arms. "This interrogation is now over."
Without waiting for a response, she carried Nachtan out of the room, her heart pounding. The rest of the siblings crowded around her as she moved. Their faces were pale with fear.
"What's wrong with him?" Nola asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Elora didn't answer. Her focus was on Nachtan, whose faint breaths were the only sign that he was still hanging on. Whatever was happening to him, it wasn't something she could explain—and it was not something she could ignore.
Nachtan stirred in his bed. His head was pounding like an endless drumbeat. He opened his eyes slowly, blinking against the dim light filtering through the curtains. His body ached, and his nose still felt raw from the earlier bleed. For a moment, he couldn't place where he was. The faint sound of Kael's equipment near him brought everything back. Kael was seated across the room, scribbling notes in his journal. His sharp eyes were flicking between Nachtan and the readouts from his portable diagnostic device. Elora stood by the door, arms crossed, her face a mix of worry and frustration.
"You gave us quite a scare," Kael said, his voice calm but direct. "How are you feeling now?"
"I'm fine," Nachtan muttered, sitting up slowly. His limbs felt like lead, but he refused to show weakness in front of them.
Kael didn't press him further, closing his notebook. "Good. Just...try to rest. Whatever's going on, your body is under immense stress. You're pushing yourself too hard."
Elora raised an eyebrow, but Kael said nothing about corruption or anomalytes. Instead, he packed up his equipment and gave Elora a meaningful glance before leaving the room. Elora sighed, walking over to Nachtan and placing a cool hand on his forehead.
"You need to stop hiding things, Nachtan," she said softly. "Whatever's happening to you, we can't help if you don't let us in."
Nachtan didn't answer. He simply looked away, his expression distant. Elora frowned but let it go. "Get some rest," she said before leaving him alone.
Hours later, the house had settled into an uneasy calm. The siblings kept their distance, wary of pushing Nachtan further after what had happened. But as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a soft orange glow over the city, Amelia found him sitting outside on a creaky old bench near their home.
Amelia hesitated; her usual confidence was faltering for a moment. She proceeded to walk over and sit next to him, her posture being unusually slouched."Hey," she said, her voice softer than usual.
Nachtan didn't look at her. "Hey."
For a moment, they sat in silence, the faint buzz of city life in the background. Finally, Amelia cleared her throat. "I… I wanted to say I'm sorry."
Nachtan glanced at her, surprised.
"For earlier," she continued. "For everything, really. I know I can be... a lot." She let out a dry laugh. "Okay, I'm a nightmare sometimes. But I want you to know that I'll always be on your side. You're not just our little brother, Nachtan. You're... you're equal to me. To all of us."
Nachtan's lips twitched into the faintest smiles. "Equal, huh? Even to your 'big ego'?" he teased.
Amelia smirked. "Don't push it."
The moment of peace they had was short-lived when Gavin strolled over with his usual swagger. He snorted, looking at them on the bench. "Equal? Yeah, right. Nachtan'll always be in our shadows. That's just how it is."
Amelia shot up, her eyes blazing. "Gavin, just shut up."
"What? I'm just saying the truth," Gavin said, shrugging nonchalantly. "Some people are meant to shine, and some... well, some are just background."
Nachtan's fists clenched, but Amelia's hand on his shoulder stopped him. "Ignore him," she muttered. Gavin chuckled and walked off, leaving the two of them in an uncomfortable silence.
Later that evening, Silas called the siblings together. "We're going out," he announced, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You've all had a rough few days, and I think some fresh air and good food will do you good."
"Where?" Ronan asked, perking up at the idea.
"The Night Owl Café," Silas replied with a small smile. "My treat."
The siblings groaned and cheered in equal measure, their moods shifting slightly at the promise of food. Nachtan lingered at the back of the group, still brooding, but he followed along.
The café was like usual a cozy place. Its wooden floors and soft lighting gave it a warm, welcoming atmosphere, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods filled the air. Varric greeted them with his usual booming voice, pulling Silas into a bear hug.
"Silas! It's been too long!" Varric exclaimed, his hearty laughter filling the café. "How have you been?!"
"It could always be better," Silas replied with a warm chuckle.
The siblings quickly settled into a large booth, and plates of food soon appeared before them. Nachtan picked at his food, his thoughts still clouded. But then a familiar voice pulled him from his haze.
"Nachtan?"
He looked up to see Talia, his best friend, standing near the table. Talia's usual confident grin was firmly in place, but there was something off about it—a faint insincerity that Nachtan couldn't quite place.
"Hey," Nachtan said, his voice cautious but polite.
"I didn't expect to see you here," Talia said, sliding into the booth next to him. "What's up? You look like you've been through it."
"Just... stuff," Nachtan muttered, not wanting to elaborate.
Talia nodded, her grin widening slightly. "Well, I'm glad you're out. It's been a little while since we hung out."
As the siblings laughed and talked around him, Nachtan couldn't shake the feeling that Talia's presence was more calculated than casual. But for now, he pushed the thought aside, letting himself be part of the noise and warmth, even if it was just for a little while.