The room was lit only by the flickering blue flames dancing at the fingertips of the silver haired boy standing before the transparent wall. Behind him came the constant, chilling hiss of countless snakes slithering across the cold floor, their scales scraping faintly in the dim light. But he didn't need to worry about that not yet. As promised, the raven haired boy gripped his sword tightly, eyes locked on the writhing mass slowly closing in on them, his knuckles white from the strain.
"How long is it going to take you to break this barrier?" Anathema asked, his voice sharp despite the strain, a bead of sweat trickling down his temple. He glanced back at the silver haired boy Emerion whose face was etched with a deep mix of confusion and worry, brows knitted tightly together.
"I'm not even sure I can break it," Emerion muttered, staring intently at the shimmering transparent wall, his lips pressed into a thin line. Through it, he could clearly see his sister on the other side, speaking quietly with one of Anathema's guards.
He wished he could hear their words, wished they could see him struggling here… but it felt like a distant, impossible dream, his chest tightening with helpless frustration.
"You're not sure?" Anathema's tone rose slightly, betraying the annoyance he was trying so hard to hide, his jaw clenching as he forced a neutral expression. "Aren't you a mage? Isn't this exactly the kind of thing mages are supposed to handle?"
"Yes, but barriers like this are incredibly difficult to break," Emerion replied, pressing a hand to his forehead as sweat beaded on his skin, his eyes flickering with doubt.
He racked his brain for a solution, but nothing came, his shoulders slumping slightly in defeat. "I think this one was designed to keep people inside. Breaking it from this side… I don't know if I have the strength for it."
Anathema clicked his tongue in irritation "Tch" his eyes narrowing sharply, and swung his sword in a swift arc, slicing through several approaching snakes. Their severed bodies hit the ground with wet thuds, the metallic tang of blood mixing with the musty air.
"So we're stuck," Anathema said grimly, swinging again. This time, his blade carved through six snakes at once, dark blood splattering across the floor. He kept moving, cutting down more, his breaths coming quicker, until his foot slipped on something slick. He staggered but caught his balance just in time, heart pounding, a flash of alarm crossing his face.
His gaze dropped to the spot where he'd nearly fallen. A strange, milky white liquid pooled there, glistening ominously under the blue light.
"Is this… venom?" Anathema thought aloud, eyes narrowing further in wary suspicion. He continued slashing at the snakes while scanning the floor cautiously. One lunged suddenly, fangs bared for his leg, but at the last moment he brought his sword down and severed its head. He let out a shaky breath of relief, his chest heaving.
"That was close." He steadied himself, glancing at the remaining horde with a determined glare.
"There were probably a hundred at first. Not a problem once I finish them off. But the real problem is…"
Anathema turned his head toward Emerion, who still faced the barrier in complete silence, utterly absorbed, his posture rigid with concentration.
Shifting focus back to the snakes, Anathema moved carefully but he slipped twice more. Each time he barely recovered, narrowly dodging another attempted bite, frustration flashing across his features.
His eyes widened in alarm as he noticed the white liquid had spread further across the floor. Some of it was now seeping from the bodies of the snakes he'd just slain.
Gripping his sword tighter, knuckles paling, he scanned the ground. He'd have to avoid the venom now, but then the puddles began to bubble faintly. From those bubbles, four tiny new snakes emerged, wriggling and hissing. The same thing happened across the rest of the floor dozens of miniature serpents rising from the venom like some twisted rebirth.
Anathema's face twisted in shock, mouth parting slightly in disbelief. He had never seen anything like this.
"Emerion… you should look at this," Anathema called out, not daring to turn his head away from the creatures now surrounding him, his voice tight with urgency.
"What is it?" Emerion replied, irritation clear in his voice as his concentration broke, his head snapping around with an annoyed frown.
But when he finally glanced over, his expression mirrored Anathema's surprise eyes widening, a sharp intake of breath.
"More snakes?" Emerion asked, eyes flicking to Anathema standing trapped in the tightening circle, concern creeping into his tone. "Can you handle them alone?"
"If I stay focused, I can," Anathema answered, taking careful, measured steps, his face set in grim determination. The snakes hissed louder, tongues flicking, ready to strike. "But that's not the point. When you kill them, their numbers increase. The new ones are smaller."
"They multiply when slain…" Emerion muttered under his breath, brows furrowing deeply in thought. "I read about a creature in a storybook with a similar ability once."
He wasn't sure whether to keep focusing on the barrier or help Anathema but he didn't even know how he could help with either problem, hesitation evident in his conflicted gaze.
"You shouldn't waste time," Anathema said firmly, slicing through a few more snakes. This time he aimed low, cutting their bodies without killing them outright, hoping to slow them down. But white venom still oozed from the wounds. Anathema's expression darkened with annoyance and frustration as realization hit him he'd made a grave mistake, his lips curling into a bitter scowl.
"Damn it, it's so unfair. You can't even cut them without making it worse," Anathema groaned, voice laced with growing desperation. Sure enough, the number of snakes surged again. Venom dripped steadily from their open mouths now. A few bites would be fatal.
Seeing no other choice, he turned toward Emerion, eyes pleading beneath the frustration. "It's a shame I'm taking help from a Dawnveil… it's a shame I'm even close to begging… but break the barrier, damn it! Please, break the barrier!"
Anathema shouted, his gaze piercing through the transparent wall to the unconscious Ryuuken and Rui's despairing face beyond. Guilt twisted in his chest like a blade he felt utterly useless, unable to protect them, his voice cracking with raw emotion.
"If only I hadn't drawn my blade against that kid… if only I'd avoided fighting Emerion in the first place, I wouldn't have been tricked by the captain. Why did I even draw my sword against a child holding nothing but a knife? For the beliefs and customs of my house… Everything I've done since that bloody night until today, I did for the well being of my house."
Anathema's mind drowned in those thoughts as he faced the encroaching snakes, his swings growing more frantic.
"Well being of my house… the same thing Father told Leon that bloody night.
His pride and ambition overtook him, and he brought death to the entire valley with one reckless decision. I despised that man growing up. But looking back now… am I becoming the very man I despise? I was so focused on restoring my house's reputation for producing the greatest assassins… I stopped appreciating the people who stood by me. Ryuuken… Rui… I'm sorry. If possible, forgive me."
Tears welled in Anathema's eyes, spilling over without restraint. This time, he didn't force a strong face or try to hold them back his features crumpled in vulnerability. He dropped to his knees and cried openly, like a lost child, shoulders shaking with sobs.
"I want to see them again… I just want to be a normal person again… I want to smile again. Ruling was meant for Leon, not me. I was only ever a replacement."
The snakes lunged, fangs glinting, but sudden bursts of blue mana blasted them back. Emerion had turned, launching flames to shield him, his face tense with effort. He stared at the crying boy a sight that reminded Emerion painfully of himself, alone in his room years ago, tears falling in silence. He didn't know how to console him or pull him back to his feet.
Telling him to just "get up" felt too harsh. So Emerion stayed quiet, his expression softening with quiet empathy, continuing to blast the snakes while knowing he couldn't keep it up forever, sweat dripping down his face.
"What would Leon do… If he were in my position, he'd be a better leader, loved by everyone. It should have been you, big brother."
Anathema's mind completely detached from the fight. His body grew cold, as though he'd returned to his snowy homeland.
He found himself kneeling in deep snow beneath a lone tree. A calm river flowed gently in front of him, its current barely whispering. Sunlight bathed the scene in soft warmth. The weather wasn't freezing, nor overly warm it was indescribable, perfect.
Anathema rose slowly, gazing at the distant mountains with wide, wondering eyes. This place resembled his homeland, yet he knew it wasn't real.
"Where am I?" he thought, looking around with a puzzled frown. No one else was there. A strange, profound calmness settled over his mind, one he couldn't explain, easing the tension from his features.
His feet carried him onto a wooden bridge as if guided by instinct. With each step, that calm deepened, drawing him forward like a gentle tide, a serene smile almost touching his lips. Just a few more steps and he'd reach the other side.
But a voice stopped him.
"Don't cross the bridge."
The words came from behind. Anathema snapped out of the trance, turning and his eyes filled with fresh tears at the sight of the person standing there, joy and sorrow mixing on his face. He rushed forward and threw his arms around them.
The figure embraced him warmly, smiling gently.
"You've grown so much, little brother," the person said softly, eyes warm with affection.
Anathema buried his face in their chest, clinging tightly. "Big brother… where were you? What is this place? I missed you so much."
He finally pulled back, looking up with teary, hopeful eyes. They were now almost the same height.
"You always drop a lot of questions on me, huh? I guess you never changed," Leon said, his smile unchanged, eyes crinkling at the corners.
"You're still avoiding answering them. You haven't changed either," Anathema replied, voice trembling with emotion. "But now you're here. Where have you been all these years? We never heard anything from you."
Leon sighed, rubbing the back of his head with a sheepish expression. "It's complicated."
Anathema waited expectantly, eyes searching his brother's face.
"This place is in your heart," Leon explained with a sheepish grin. "And I've lived in your heart all along. So I was never truly gone."
Anathema's brow furrowed in confusion. "In my heart? Don't trick me with pretty words, big brother."
"That's why I said it's complicated. I'm not tricking you. Sometimes logic stops working that's why poets say to follow your heart."
Anathema punched him lightly in the stomach, frustration flickering across his face. "I don't understand…"
His eyes darkened, voice shaking with building anguish. "I don't understand a single thing. I was fighting snakes. You show up after years, and now you're spouting nonsense."
Leon kept smiling gently, unfazed. "I know you were fighting snakes. I understand if my words don't make sense I wouldn't get them either. But I have no reason to lie to you."
"Then why… why did you disappear? Why show up now?" Anathema demanded, breathing growing heavy, face contorted with pain.
"I disappeared because ______ I'm sorry." Leon's expression stayed gentle, but the middle part of his sentence vanished, as if cut off.
"what happened to your voice?" Anathema asked, confused and alarmed, eyes widening as he searched Leon's face.
Leon's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "I see… you can't hear that part. Listen I don't have much time. You have to trust me, no matter how confusing it sounds."
He placed both hands on Anathema's shoulders firmly, gaze intense. Anathema nodded, despite the storm of questions in his mind, his expression a mix of trust and turmoil.
"Let go of the past. I've seen you carrying those burdens. What happened that night wasn't your fault. I know you fear becoming like Father I've seen it. But the truth is, for many people, Father was a good ruler. It sounds strange, I know. But it depends on your definition of 'good.'"
"If you want to be good for the house, then you're on the right track," Leon continued softly.
Anathema's eyes only darkened further, as if the words stung deeply, pain etching lines on his face.
"I see you're not satisfied… That's actually good," Leon laughed softly, eyes sparkling with understanding before going on. "I know what you really want. You want to be a good person. You can't stand on both boats forever, brother. You have to choose and make the right choice."
"Good person… why can't I be both?" Anathema asked, voice pleading.
Leon sighed gently. "Don't be greedy now. If you continue to rule, you'll see why. For now, just make the right choice."
"How do I make the right choice?" Anathema heard faint cracking sounds but ignored them, focusing intently on Leon.
"Just follow your heart. Whatever your heart says will be right."
Leon paused, then guided Anathema's hand to his own chest with a reassuring smile. "Close your eyes. Let go of your burdens, let go of regrets. Empty your heart as if you were born anew."
Anathema obeyed, features relaxing slightly. "Now open your eyes. See the world fresh, and tell me what do you want to become?"
Anathema's hazel eyes met Leon's, filled with raw honesty. Memories flooded him every pain, every mistake. With a deep breath, he answered simply, "I want to be myself."
Leon paused, then laughed warmly, pride shining in his eyes. "A choice after all. If you truly wish that, you must go back." He pointed toward the lone tree.
"Go back? Aren't you coming? You'd be a better ruler than me," Anathema insisted desperately. The cracking grew louder.
"I live inside you. I'll always be with you. I wish we had more time… but you must go now. You can't afford to die and abandon the people who will need your help in the future."
Leon pulled him into one last tight hug, holding him close. Anathema hugged back fiercely, tears streaming down his face. Then Leon gently pushed him away and the bridge beneath them collapsed entirely. The cracking had been the pillars giving way.
Leon fell toward the river below. Anathema lunged to save him, face twisted in panic, but thick veins from the tree wrapped around his body, holding him back.
"Let me go! Damn it, let me go!"
He swung his sword desperately, eyes wild with fear and grief, but the veins were unbreakable. His vision began to fade as Leon's calm voice reached him one final time, even as he sank into the water.
"If your heart ever feels heavy with regrets again, share them with me… and I will share my strength with you."
Then the veins covered Anathema's eyes, blotting out everything.
A streak of blue flame flashed past his vision. Anathema blinked, focusing on the caster Emerion. The flames weren't aimed at him this time; they scorched the snakes, whose numbers had exploded in his absence.
Emerion noticed Anathema stirring, relief briefly softening his strained features. "Are you okay? It'd be rude to ask you to fight again, but.."
"You're not surviving this by being polite," Anathema cut in, voice steady now, wiping tears from his face with resolve. "And neither am I by just crying." His eyes burned with fresh determination as he gripped his sword once more, standing tall. "I'm not dying until I see my guards again no… my friends."
A faint green glow ignited in his eyes. Mana surged through him, rising like warm steam around his body. Emerion's brows shot up in surprise, mouth opening slightly.
"Since when can this guy generate mana?" Emerion thought, staring at the emerald haze cloaking Anathema, genuine astonishment on his face.
"Same plan," Anathema said, glancing back with a firm nod. "You focus on the barrier. And if I die but you survive… tell my friends I'm sorry."
Emerion looked stunned he hadn't expected to hear that from Anathema of all people, his eyes widening in quiet respect.
"Well, if you're going to die, die a bit later," Emerion replied, rolling his eyes with a dry smirk. "I need more time to break this thing."
Anathema blinked, then bit his lip to suppress a laugh, a spark of amusement breaking through his determination.
"You should really work on your way with words," he sighed, turning back to the snakes with renewed focus.
"Only if I get out of here," Emerion muttered without humor, palms glowing bright blue once more, his expression hardening with concentration.
"ZALTREIGN!"