Yen finished his meal in silence. Once the brothers excused themselves, they made their way to the estate's sprawling training grounds. The morning air was cool and crisp, carrying the faint scent of dew-covered grass.
"I can teach you another time," Elluah said as they reached the training field. He rested an arm on Yen's shoulder, guiding him to sit on a nearby bench. "So why don't we talk instead?"
"Talk about what?" Yen asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Hmm...love?" Elluah replied, his smile turning mischievous.
"Big bro, are you seriously asking me that?" Yen stared at him incredulously.
"…No?" Elluah admitted with a sheepish laugh.
"Then shut up and teach me instead," Yen huffed, but the corners of his lips formed a small smile.
"Ahahaha! Okay, okay," Elluah said, his laughter as light and charming as ever. "Let's chat while we train, then."
The brothers moved to the center of the field, the earth beneath their feet firm but softened by years of practice.
"Show me your summoning stance," Elluah instructed, his playful demeanor replaced by a calm seriousness.
Yen nodded and adjusted his posture. He stood with his feet firmly planted, raising his arms so that his wrists connected horizontally in front of his chest. He closed his eyes, letting out a slow, measured breath.
"Begin," Elluah said, his tone steady but encouraging.
Yen moved with careful precision. His arms slid apart, palms touching horizontally as he began chanting the summoning incantations. The ground beneath them trembled faintly, and specks of dust floated into the air as if responding to his call.
"Your breathing is unstable," Elluah observed, his voice cutting through Yen's focus. "Everything must move in harmony, Yen. Align your mind, body, and soul."
Frowning, Yen inhaled deeply, forcing his thoughts to clear. A faint mark began to glow on his forehead, its soft light radiating a quiet energy. His fingers moved with greater speed and confidence now, weaving through complex hand signs as the chant grew stronger.
"Stop."
The command came suddenly, and the spell broke like a thread snapped too soon. The mark on Yen's forehead faded, leaving a faint warmth behind. Opening his eyes, Yen was greeted by his brother's calm but expectant gaze.
"How did I do?" Yen asked, though a sinking feeling told him the answer already.
Elluah didn't respond immediately. Instead, he placed a gentle hand on Yen's shoulder, his expression softening. "Come on, Yen. Tell me—what's weighing on your mind?"
Yen hesitated, clenching his fists at his sides. "...That I have to meet the expectations placed on me because I have two accomplished brothers?"
The words remained on his mind and just avoided his brother's gaze. "Why are you asking that?"
Elluah sighed, the weight of his brother's struggles evident in his own eyes. "The soul is the essence of a person, Yen. It transcends life and death, time and space. In this life, what do you want to give to your soul? What do you truly want for yourself?"
Yen's lips parted, but no words came out. The question lingered in the air, heavy and unavoidable.
"Listen to me, baby bro." Elluah said, gripping Yen's shoulders firmly. "If you ever feel overwhelmed—by us, by Father's expectations, by anything—I want you to remember this: we're proud of you. I'm proud of you. Be who you are, Yen. That's all that matters to me."
The sincerity in his brother's voice made Yen's chest ache. He couldn't find the words to respond, so he simply nodded.
Elluah smiled softly, tapping Yen's cheek lightly.
"May peace rest on your mind," he murmured, placing two fingertips on Yen's forehead and left a faint, shimmering light.
Almost instantly, Yen felt his chest loosen, his breaths coming easier. A newfound lightness lifted his spirits, chasing away the heaviness that had clung to him. The glow faded, but the calm it brought lingered, steady and reassuring.
"Now," Elluah said, stepping back to the center of the field. "Let me show you how it's done. Watch closely."
Yen's heart quickened with excitement as he retreated to a safe distance. It had been years since he'd last witnessed his brother's summoning and soulbound creature.
Elluah closed his eyes, his stance immediately commanding the attention of the space around him. The ground beneath him cracked faintly, the air growing dense with a palpable energy. His incantations flowed smoothly, each word charged with power. His hands moved like a symphony conductor, precise and deliberate.
The mark on Elluah's forehead blazed intensely as light particles began to gather, swirling around him in a radiant dance. The ground shuddered, and in a flash of brilliance, a magnificent creature emerged.
It was a fusion of phoenix and lion—a towering, majestic being with fiery plumage and a regal, leonine stance. Despite its size and power, it exuded a gentle, protective aura that inspired awe rather than fear.
Lucian.
The creature landed gracefully, its deep rumble resonating like thunder as Elluah approached and rested a hand on its side, caressing it gently.
"Wow…" Yen whispered, unable to hide his awe. Pride for his brother swelled in his chest, mixing with a longing he couldn't quite name.
Elluah turned, his smile as radiant as ever. "Once you finish the soulbound ceremony, you won't have to summon like this. Just calling their name will bring them to you."
Lucian turned its gaze to Yen, its luminous eyes sharp but kind. The creature walked to him and huffed on his face, its breath warm and powerful, fogging Yen's glasses.
"Hahaha! Lucian still remembers you," Elluah said, laughing as Lucian let out a soft grunt of agreement and playfully lets its tail graze on Yen's clothes.
Yen smiled despite himself, pulling off his glasses to wipe them clean. "Of course he does."
In that moment, as Lucian's gaze lingered and Elluah's laughter echoed in the distance, Yen felt something stir within him—a flicker of hope, fragile but undeniable.