How will I rise… in a world where even the sun doesn't? Or did I even want to rise in the first place? I only had to keep what's mine—or rather, stay with what's mine.
Aah… at least I still have my sister.
She's cruel, just like me.
But, Why?
I tried my best to keep her away from the blood, but somehow, I always ended up in it first. And she was always there—never letting me alone.
To the point where… she became just like me.
She was a burden once. Then a reason. My reason.
To live? Or perhaps… the only reason.
After all, how can a man live without a reason?
That's why I wanted more. More reasons. More to live for. But no… I shouldn't.
I loved my mother. Loved, not love. I also loved Viser. He was like a father to me.
But again… loved.
I just keep losing them. Twice now. I want to say I won't lose again, but… can I?
---
The cave was suffocating. Darkness pressed in from all sides, barely held back by the dim light flickering against the stone walls.
Nero watched his sister—covered in blood—trying to heal the burned face of another girl.
It's cold. Bearable… but still cold.
His gaze shifted to his friend—no, to Viser's son—Nemsus. He lay on the stone floor, breath ragged, soaked in crimson. Whispering to himself like a madman.
"You bloody bastards... why... Hhhah, why did you do it?"
He exhaled sharply, shoulders shaking. For a second, I thought he'd hold it in. But then his eyes burned into mine, and the dam finally broke.
"Nero, you piece of shit… you accepted this—hgkhhhh!"
Nemsus laughed—ragged, breathless, filled with agony, rage, and something close to pity. But even as he screamed, he kept his voice low. He knew what was outside.
He also knew we had to do it. But... he won't admit it. Not like this. He still somehow thinks he could have saved him but he didn't ,he was doomed the moment he fell, the moment he...
"Answer me, Delilah... why, why did you kill him—Hhhahh—hhk—hahh—!"
Those fucking nobles. Those damn wolves. And now… these two fucking bastards.
"AGHHHHHH!"
Nemsus screamed again, his voice raw with pain, his agony reverberating off the jagged walls.
Nero just stared at him, eyes dull, face blank. Tired.
As he sat there, his mind circled back, over and over, to his choices.
Yeah, I could have saved him. But for what? Two more minutes? And risk all our lives? No.
My priorities were always clear.
Delilah first. She always was. Then me. Then Nemsus.
Nero's gaze drifted to the girl delilah was healing.
I don't want her to die. But if she has to… it won't bother me that much, will it?.
What cruelty… I told you, Viser.
I told you that I needed you.
Nero exhaled, rubbing his eyes. The cold pressed against his skin, but his mind had already drifted—back to a time before the blood."
__
Here, the world stood still. One half scorched beneath an endless sun, the other frozen in unyielding night. Only the thin strip of twilight in between—the place we called could live in, it kept life from being burned or buried."
Two kids sat atop of a slanted rooftop, their legs dangling over the edge, watching the sun—a massive, unmoving orb—burn red against the horizon. The sky near it was painted in deep oranges and fading golds, blending into the endless stretch of darkening blue above. Shadows stretched long across the rooftops, the world caught in an eternal dusk.
Delilah kicked her feet against the rooftop tiles. "Do you think the sun ever gets tired?"
Nero leaned back on his hands, smirking. "Tired of what? It just sits there."
"Exactly." She frowned, her golden eyes reflecting the red sky. "It never moves, never rests... just burns."
.....
I like how she keeps smilling, i love how at least when she's with me, her brother, she can truly be the little girl i always knew, but i would really like if she can do that for the world too
.....
Nero glanced at her, then back at the horizon. The thought was strange, but maybe she wasn't wrong. The sun, ever-watching, never resting, casting its silent, red gaze over the world—perhaps it, too, carried a weight that never lessened.
After a moment, Delilah spoke again. "Viser told me that on other planets, the sun moves, circling around them and creating what he called day and night cycles."
She paused before continuing while looking at the sun, her voice thoughtful.
I would really like to try this night thing that he mentioned, to not have to close the windows to sleep, or like what we do here, build the rooms under the ground.
Nero let out a quiet chuckle. "you really do want a lot of things Dee."
They Laughed, then fell into a comfortable silence, Nero turned to his sister the sun casting a warm glow on Delilah's pale skin. Her jet black hair caught the light, and her golden eyes reflected the endless dusk.
They looked almost identical, more like twins than merely brothers.
Nero glanced at her and smirked. "You've gained some weight, Dee."
She laughed, the sound light and unbothered. "Thanks to Viser. At least we don't have to steal food anymore."
"You two, get down here!" Viser's deep voice carried through the quiet evening.
Nero and Delilah glanced down to see him standing below, arms crossed, his broad shoulders tense. His yellow hair caught the fading light, and his piercing blue eyes held their usual mix of irritation and amusement.
The siblings exchanged a grin before leaping from the rooftop—six meters down—landing with effortless grace, as if it were second nature.
"What is it, old man?" Nero asked, crossing his arms. Viser smirked. "Two things. Remember that Level 2 Fire Rune I promised you? A friend of mine is bringing one."
Nero's eyes lit up, a grin spreading across his face.
....
With that i will only need to find a second level rune of ice, and then i will be able to ascend
....
Before he could say anything, nero scoffed, "Nemsus has been showing off ever since he became an Ascendant. I'm gonna kick his ass now."
"No, you won't." A cheering voice came from behind
As Nero turned around, a young man stepped forward, his features a clear reflection of Viser's-yellow hair, sharp blue eyes, and a familiar confidence. He was closing the distance between them before stopping just in front of Nero's face .
They locked their eyes for a moment before breaking into laughter.
"A lot of confidence for just an ascendent, dont you think" Nero said with mockery
"Says the mage " nemsus counterd
Two soft thuds echoed as Viser's hands lightly tapped the tops of their heads. Nero and Nemsus both instinctively grabbed their skulls, wincing in exaggerated pain, their faces twisted in matching grimaces.
....
Sometimes, I forget this man is a 90 years old Dominus, after all he looks like in his 30
....
"When older people talk, you shut your mouths," Viser said with a smirk, clearly enjoying the fact that they'd given him a reason to flick their heads.
"You said you had two things to say, old man," Nero grumbled, still holding his head.
Viser nodded. "Yeah. A friend called from Bluecastle. He said there have been strange sounds coming from the mountains."
....
The song mountens? Isn't that ...normal!?
....
Nemsus raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that normal? they're called the Song Mountains after all?"
Nero looked at him with a wierd look
But nemsus didn't care, a smirk forming. "Even if some beasts came down, the Sage Arus is still in bluecastel."
Viser's expression darkened slightly. "You can't be too careful when your this close to the cold side. You'd know that if you actually read the history books I gave you."
Nemsus backed up a few steps, letting out a hesitant laugh, while the others chuckled, knowing full well he never liked to read.
As Viser clapped his hands together, he gave the kids a brief nod. "I'm heading to get some groceries for dinner. You three, go gather the other kids well meet at the orphanage." With that, he turned and walked toward the village, his steady steps echoing in the quiet streets.
A distant bell rang, drawing their eyes to a towering structure, its reddish-brown walls standing against the twilight. At its peak, a white clock's face displayed numbers from 1 to 23. The time read 16:00
....
I really don't like these big towers, Evrything already have a touch of reddish in them because of the sun, why do they keep painting them in that
....
"It's time to sleep, fellow Mages," Nemsus said, emphasizing the title with a smirk.
Nero and his sister exchanged knowing glances. "What do you say we try your new spells, Nemsus?" Nero asked, his voice filled with eager anticipation.
"Yeah, right. You think you can take me on now, little Nero?"
Nemsus teased, calling him the same way Viser used to call everyone adding the word little. His newfound confidence as an Ascendant practically radiated from him.
....
Ooh, he must be very confident
....
Nero raised an eyebrow, looking to his sister. "Dee?" he asked, a playful grin tugging at his lips.
Delilah nodded with the same face as ever she never refuses her brother. Nero turned back to Nemsus, his grin widening. "Hhhh, a few more Spells and a little more mana won't protect you from me, dont cry when two Mages kick your ass."
Nemsus took a few steps back for the distance before drawing his sword
Nero and Delilah did the same, Nero in front while Delilah was a few steps behind him.
"Come on now we dont have a lot of time, my father will be back soon"
The writer:
"Ever wondered what it would be like to live on a planet where the sun never moves? Where there is no day or night, just an endless, unchanging sky? One side burns, the other is frozen solid, and only a thin twilight keeps life from vanishing completely. That's the world Nero and Delilah live in. If you're curious, look up 'tidally locked planets'—it's real science, and it's just as terrifying as it sounds."
I also added magic and action so anu thaughts?