Time rolled on mercilessly, slowly pulling life in Lazavis back to its tranquil, if somewhat empty, normal rhythm. Most of the Altavis extended family had returned to the bustling capital, leaving behind faint echoes of laughter that slowly faded from the air. Now, only Victor and Virena remained in Joltam to shoulder the responsibility of leading the territory. The recent sight of the Griffon army slicing across the sky was still the talk of the town, while rumors about Selena's potential husband—an Elf named Sarias—spread like wildfire, becoming the hottest topic in every coffee shop across Lazavis City.
Yet, far from the external buzz, a suffocating silence reigned over the magnificent Altavis mansion.
Kazien found himself lost in thought in the spacious living room. His sister's absence had created a tangible hole in his heart. The mansion's corridors felt colder without Virena's presence, the absence of her mischievous antics, her cheerful chatter, and the laughter that had defined their colorful childhood. The late afternoon sunlight streaming through the large windows illuminated dust motes dancing in the air, yet failed to warm Kazien's heart, which was enveloped in melancholy.
"I'm going to miss Sister Virena's teasing and jokes again..." he mumbled softly, almost whispering to his own shadow. His voice held a thick note of sadness, trembling faintly at the end of the sentence. "This mansion... it feels so empty, so desolate."
Nearby, seated on a maroon velvet sofa, Davin lifted his face from the thick book he had only skimmed, failing to truly absorb its contents. The flame-haired Davin gazed at his younger brother with his beautiful, calm violet eyes, understanding the invisible burden resting upon Kazien's small shoulders.
"Do you think you're the only one who feels this way, Kazien?" Davin asked, a thin, understanding smile pulling at the corner of his lips. "The five of us have been together since childhood, through thick and thin, sharing wounds and laughter. But this is... this is life. Sooner or later, we all have to walk our separate paths of destiny."
Kazien turned slowly. His silver-white hair glistened softly in the twilight, contrasting with the tired look in his sapphire-blue eyes. His lips curved into a small, wistful smile. "Yes... I know, Brother Davin. I know that's an unchangeable rule of the world." He paused for a moment, his eyes fixed on the marble floor before looking back up at his brother with a slightly spoiled, childlike look he rarely showed. "Speaking of which... Brother, can I sit on your lap?"
Davin froze for a moment, his thick eyebrows raised in surprise. "Huh? Why would you suddenly ask something so silly?"
"Just for my own satisfaction. You don't mind, do you?" Kazien replied. His eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief, trying to conceal the deep sadness in his tone. It was the look of someone who wanted to record as many memories as possible before time snatched the opportunity away.
Davin sighed briefly, realizing he couldn't possibly refuse this particular request from his younger brother. His heart was too soft for Kazien. "Alright," he said gently, closing his book and setting it on the side table. "Come here!"
Without a second thought, Kazien climbed onto Davin's lap. He wrapped his arms around his brother's neck and hugged him tightly, so tightly, as if he were anchoring himself to the only solid pillar in the storm raging within his emotions. Davin's scent—a mix of soap, old paper, and a distinctive masculine warmth—made Kazien feel safe, yet simultaneously afraid of losing it.
"Your hug is so tight! What's wrong with you?" Davin asked, a hint of worry coloring his voice as he felt the small body in his arms tremble slightly.
"One day, this is what I will miss most about all of you," Kazien whispered, burying his face in Davin's broad chest, listening to his brother's steady heartbeat. The heartbeat of an ordinary human being who will one day stop beating, while he lives in eternity. "Please... let me savor this moment a little longer. Let me record your heartbeat."
Davin's heart ached at the confession. He returned the embrace, one large hand gently stroking Kazien's back in a soothing motion. "I understand completely," he murmured, his voice heavy. "You will live forever. You bear the burden of separation that we will never truly comprehend. I can see why a simple moment like this means so much to you."
Silence enveloped them for several minutes, broken only by their rhythmic breathing and the ticking of the wall clock, which seemed to be counting down their time together. Then, Kazien loosened his grip slightly, resting his head on Davin's shoulder, staring blankly at the cold fireplace.
"Hey, Kazien..." Davin broke the silence with a very soft voice, almost like coaxing a child, "Want to take a bath with me? Like we used to?"
Kazien blinked, slightly surprised by the offer. They used to do this often as children, but now they were adults. However, the offer sounded so tempting; an escape from loneliness, a final sanctuary of their intimacy. "A bath with you?" he repeated, then a genuine smile bloomed on his sweet face. "Well... why not? Let's go!"
A moment later, the atmosphere changed, becoming warmer and humid. Inside the luxurious mansion bathroom, hot steam billowed from a large bathtub made of ivory white marble. The warm water, scented with lavender and sandalwood, submerged both their bodies up to their chests, creating a thin fog that blurred the reality of the outside world.
Kazien leaned against Davin's chest. His small body fit perfectly against his brother's larger, muscular frame. The warm water enveloped their skin, creating a comfortable, intoxicating sensation, as if time had stopped spinning in this room. There was only the two of them, isolated in a cocoon of memories.
Davin gently washed Kazien's arm with a soft sponge, his movements full of affection and care. Davin's flame-red hair looked dark and wet, plastered to his temples. "Why have you never asked me to do this before?" Davin murmured right into Kazien's ear, his voice trembling with contained emotion. "If you want to be spoiled, I will gladly do it for you. You know I can't refuse you, right?"
Kazien shook his head gently, creating small splashes of water from the movement of his soaking wet silver-white hair. There was a faint red blush on his pale cheeks, not just from the hot steam. "I was afraid," he confessed truthfully, his voice nearly drowned out by the gurgling water.
"Afraid of what?" Davin asked, gently brushing the silver strands of hair that clung to Kazien's wet forehead with his fingers.
"Afraid that I might... like you too much. Get too comfortable with you. That's why I always tried to keep my distance," Kazien admitted. His voice trembled, bare without defense, just as bare as their physical state right now. "I was afraid if I got too close, I wouldn't be able to let go of you when you get married."
Davin chuckled softly, the vibration of his laughter felt on Kazien's back resting against him. He didn't pull away; instead, he tightened his embrace around his brother's waist. "Has my face ever charmed you?" he asked lightly, trying to lighten the mood even though his own heart was pounding fiercely.
Kazien turned his body slightly in the gently swirling water, looking up to stare directly into Davin's beautiful violet eyes. The steam made Kazien's long lashes look wet and glossy, framing his sapphire-blue eyes. "Not just your face," he whispered seriously, without a hint of falsehood. "Your personality... your constantly protective nature... everything about you has charmed me for a long time."
Davin's breath hitched. The confession felt heavy yet sweet, hitting his chest squarely. "When you said you wanted to marry a man, I briefly wondered if you liked me," Davin continued, his voice lowering, becoming more intimate and husky. "But Sister Virena immediately threatened me, reminding me that I couldn't have deeper feelings for you. That we are siblings."
Kazien released his support and turned completely to face Davin in the narrow confines of the bathtub. Their knees touched under the water's surface. "Are you serious? Did you... actually have feelings for me?"
Davin swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing with difficulty. The look in Kazien's sapphire-blue eyes, demanding honesty, made him helpless. "I think so," he confessed softly, a long-buried secret finally breaking the surface. "But... I already have the future wife you chose for me, Kazien. I will live with her for the rest of my life. That is the path of destiny I must take for the sake of this family."
Kazien's sapphire-blue eyes glittered with deep disappointment and sadness. "Why didn't you tell me? Why only now?"
Davin touched Kazien's wet cheek, his thumb gently caressing the smooth skin, wiping away a drop of water that hadn't come from the tub. "Because you are my little brother. I didn't want to ruin the sacred bond we have. I didn't want to confuse you among your choices."
"You are truly an idiot! You are the worst brother!" Kazien exclaimed, hitting Davin's wet, broad chest. The hit didn't hurt; it felt desperate and full of regret.
Davin laughed bitterly, a soft yet wounded sound. He caught Kazien's hand and held it tightly against his chest. "Kazien... listen to me. Focus on making Alvin happy. After all, he is the one you chose. If you hurt him, I will never forgive you!" he said firmly, trying to restore reality to its place, trying to be a good brother one last time.
"You don't even need to say that," Kazien countered, his voice regaining confidence despite his wet eyes. "I would never hurt him."
Mwah!
In a spontaneous move driven by an unbearable surge of emotion, Davin leaned forward and kissed Kazien's lips. Not a kiss of lust, but a kiss of desperation.