Where's Elda?"
That voice behind Arav didn't just come—it exploded with rage. It was the kind of voice that makes even the air freeze. Arav slowly turned, confused, still half-dizzy from everything that happened—
SMACK!
A fist smashed into his cheek before he could even register the face. His skull snapped sideways, and for a moment the world stretched like smeared paint. Before he could breathe—
SMACK! SMACK!
Two, three more blows followed, landing on his jaw, temple, forehead. Everything turned reddish-white. His ears rang. His lips tasted blood. His eyes burned and blurred, and all he could hear was the muffled pounding of his own heartbeat.
Why…? Why again? Who is hitting me…?
The fourth punch never fully registered.
Arav collapsed, falling sideways on the cold stone floor as darkness swallowed him whole.
---
He woke up hours later.
The first thing he felt was pain.
Second was the stench—damp clothes, sweat, blood, and the faint rotting smell of flesh lingering in the shelter.
He opened his swollen left eye—barely. His cheek felt like a stone stuffed inside skin. His eyelashes were stuck together from dried tears and blood.
Through the blur… he saw Varek.
Sitting beside him.
Talking to a woman quietly.
Expression calm, but eyes sharp—like he was controlling something burning inside him.
Arav slowly sat up, his ribs crying, his palms trembling. And then he saw him—
Kabeer.
The one who punched him.
Kabeer's footsteps echoed like drums as he walked toward him, each step filled with raw rage and grief mixed into something twisted. He grabbed Arav's collar in one swift motion and jerked him up until the boy choked.
"Where's Elda!?" Kabeer roared, face inches away, breath hot and wild.
Arav looked down.
His throat tightened, and for a second he forgot how to breathe.
Not because of fear… but because just hearing Elda's name made his chest burn again.
Kabeer wasn't done.
His anger snapped.
He lifted his leg—
—and crushed Arav's left palm under his boot.
"AAAHH—!!"
Arav screamed instantly, the pain shooting straight to his shoulder like fire.
Tears burst from his eyes, his lips trembled, he didn't even understand why Kabeer was doing this, why his own brother hated him like this.
"Where's Elda!!?" Kabeer shouted again.
Arav gasped, swallowing air mixed with blood and sobs.
"S–She's… not with us anymore…"
That one sentence killed the last thread holding Kabeer's sanity.
He kicked Arav again—hard—right in the ribs.
Arav coughed blood, rolling sideways, clutching his chest.
Kabeer raised his leg for another blow—
But a hand caught his ankle.
Varek's.
"Enough."
His voice wasn't loud—but it commanded everything.
Kabeer glared. "Let me finish him! He's the murderer of my sister! She died because he went back—she died saving him! I'll kill him! I'll kill this bastard and that'll be my revenge!"
Arav crawled closer to Varek instinctively, shaking, trying to hide behind the only person who had protected him in the last 24 hours.
Kabeer spat, "Move aside, Mr whoever you are! This is our family matter. Don't interfere!"
Varek smirked.
Not angry.
Not emotional.
Just… amused.
"I will interfere," he said casually. "Unless you want me to show you the other kind of torture I'm capable of."
He snapped his fingers.
Instantly, nearly forty Triamath soldiers aligned behind him like iron pillars.
Kabeer's rage faltered.
Fear replaced it.
Who was this man?
Why was he protecting Arav?
Why was he acting like this boy was his own blood?
Before he could speak—
A woman's cry broke through everything.
"Have mercy! Have mercy, sir!"
She came rushing forward, tears running down her cheeks, hands joined desperately.
"Sir, please forgive my son… I beg you…"
Her voice trembled with a sorrow that only a mother carries.
Varek immediately stood up, startled.
"Don't join your hands, miss," he said quickly. "I wasn't punishing him. I was protecting my last family member."
He pointed at Arav.
Arav peeked out from behind him—
And the woman's eyes widened.
Life returned to them.
Her breath hitched as if the world came back to her.
"Arav… my gem…"
Arav froze.
That voice—
It melted his fear instantly.
He turned, eyes widening, every emotion bursting at once.
"Mama!"
He ran into her arms so fast he almost tripped. Sylphiate hugged him tight, crying uncontrollably into his hair.
Varek watched them… and smiled softly.
What a beautiful reunion… I wish I could be in his place.
My eyes… damn, don't get wet now.
Arav pulled away excitedly and pointed at Varek.
"Mama! He saved me! He even said he's Elda's husband!"
Varek choked on air.
His face turned bright red.
"M-Mam, it's not like that—!"
Sylphiate giggled despite all her grief, wiping her tears.
"I know what that means. Now tell me… where is Elda?"
The air changed.
Even the soldiers behind Varek quieted.
Varek lowered his head.
"I… couldn't save her. I lost her."
Sylphiate's smile faded instantly.
She didn't scream.
She didn't collapse.
She just reached out and gently patted Varek's head, her hand trembling even though she tried to hide the pain burning inside her.
Behind them, Kabeer was bound by a soldier pulling his hair up harshly.
"Captain," the soldier asked, "should I execute him for attacking a civilian?"
Varek rolled his shoulders, authority returning instantly.
He looked at Arav.
"So? What should I do with him?"
He smirked lightly. "This little brat… he looks a lot like you. Is he your brother?"
Arav nodded slowly.
"So he is your brother."
Varek stepped forward—
—and punched Kabeer once.
Just one blow.
But it knocked him flat on the ground, unconscious.
Varek flexed his fist, whispering,
"Now you know the taste of your own medicine."
He turned away.
"So, Arav's mother… should I call you 'mother' too? Whatever. I'm leaving."
He began walking away.
"Soldiers, retreat!"
Cloaks fluttered as the army prepared to move—
But then—
He felt a tiny tug on his navy blue cloak.
Someone was holding it.
He stopped.
Slowly turned.
And saw—
Who was holding his cloak? Is it beginning of something tragic or will result in beautiful reunion?
End of chapter 5- To be continue