The flames of the victory fire rose toward the sky in the clan square as the Auryan Dynasty celebrated with an enthusiasm unseen for a hundred years. The smell of roasted meat and pine resin mingled with the cheerful laughter of clan members and the heroic tales told by bards. As the hero of the day, I sat on the seat of honor between my father Kadros and King Theron. My mother Niyara was at my side, and my little sister Thera had fallen asleep in my lap from exhaustion.
This was a feeling Epsilon had never tasted in his life. Success had always remained in the shadow of the next task, the next expectation. But here... victory was celebrated together, like a family.
Kadros raised his wooden cup into the air. "To my son Aetron!" he roared. "To the reborn hope of the Auryan Dynasty!"
The entire clan responded in unison, keeping rhythm with "Aetron! Aetron!" I startled as Thera tugged at my arm. Her eyes shone with pride. "Brother, my friend Lyssa said you're the strongest warrior in all the clans! Is that true?"
Before I could answer, Lyssa, a small girl from the Valerius clan, jumped in. "My father said so! Even though you defeated Lycor, my father said you fought with honor!"
Children surrounded me, showering me with questions. In my old life, I was "the smart one," isolated by expectations. Here, I was "the strong brother," celebrated by the community.
"Do you see?" Null's voice said in my mind with a warm tone. "This is what it's like... they're truly proud of you. Not for your performance, but for being you. Taking pride together instead of competing alone... I think that's what family is."
"This is so strange," I thought, my eyes moistening. "I'm not used to it at all."
"Start getting used to it. Because we're going to experience this a lot more," Null replied, with pure pride in her voice.
Early the next morning, I had climbed a small hill overlooking the clan's settlement to meditate. The sun was just rising, illuminating the dew drops over the forest with a golden shimmer.
"I'm thinking about last night's celebration," I said to Null in my mind. "For the first time, I felt like I truly won a victory."
"That's your right. You're truly talented, Aetron. It's just... no one understood you before."
Just then, horn sounds from below caught my attention. Toward the clan tents' entrance, a mounted group carrying the Valdorin Kingdom's banners embroidered with golden lions was approaching. Carefully armored guards walked beside the horses King Theron and Prince Kaelen rode. Immediately behind them, Princess Eirlys came in a covered palanquin.
"Princess Eirlys has arrived," I murmured to myself.
"Ah," Null said, with that dangerous calm I recognized in her voice. "Our new... guest." I laughed inwardly. "Did you mean to say rival?" I teased. "I didn't say any such thing," Null said, but couldn't hide the tension in her voice.
Aetron ran down from the hill to the tents. There, he saw his mother greeting the princess and her father. King Theron dismounted, a sovereign's worry on his face.
"...we're truly concerned, Niyara," King Theron was saying. "My daughter's condition is getting worse. Even our best healers couldn't achieve results."
When the palanquin's curtain parted, Eirlys emerged with the help of her ladies-in-waiting. She wore a simple but elegant traveling dress. But Aetron noticed how pale she looked. There was no trace of that vibrant sparkle from yesterday's tournament. There were faint purple circles under her eyes and her posture was weary.
"Of course I'll do everything I can," Niyara was saying in a compassionate voice. "Princess, please come to my tent. You can explain your symptoms more comfortably there."
When Eirlys noticed Aetron, a momentary sparkle appeared in her eyes, but then she returned to that weary expression. "Ah, Aetron," she said, her voice faint. "We meet again."
"Look, look, she noticed you right away," Null said in a voice that couldn't hide her jealousy.
"She's sick, Null. A little understanding please."
"Of course... Sick princess," Null grumbled. "How... romantic."
"Hello, Princess," I said. "The journey must have tired you. I hope you'll be comfortable in our clan."
Eirlys seemed surprised by this unexpected courtesy. Usually people approached her either with pity or distant respect. "Thank you, Aetron. You're very kind."
"If there's anything I can do to help you, please don't hesitate to say so."
"Why are you so interested?" Null snapped, her voice sarcastic and harsh.
"Because we have a human responsibility toward those who are ill," I said in a determined tone.
"Or maybe... you're just captivated by her beauty," Null added, her voice softening a bit, as if trying to control herself.
As Eirlys examined the clan settlement, there was genuine curiosity in her eyes. "You live so... freely here," she said, turning to me. "In the palace, everything is ceremony and protocol. But here..." She paused, a melancholy expression crossing her face as she watched Thera running around with other children. "Here, people just... live." This was the first sign that she had a character beyond her "sick princess" identity. That night, Eirlys began treatment in my mother's healing tent. Tomorrow would be a new day when we would begin to unravel the secrets of this mysterious illness.