The snow fell in quiet flakes over the Aurelis Mountain Range, each crystal drifting lazily before settling into the thick white blanket that already half covered the mountain.
It was late into the night, with no one except for guards that roamed around. A gentle breeze carried the cold, touching the snow-covered trees and creating a light snowfall under the glow of the moon.
From the middle down to the bottom, the night was broken by a scatter of warm golden lights of lanterns, their soft glow reflecting off the snow like the most beautiful fallen stars.
The stronghold of the Aurelis Clan rested high above the band, an intricate settlement of sloped roofs thickly laden with snow. Life had its way of enduring even in the harshest of conditions, and the air brought with it the scents of burning charcoal and freshly fallen snow.
A striking manor also rested in the center of it all. It almost looked like it was a palace; the stone walls, large windows, and sweeping balconies provided an unmatched noble and regal charm. There even existed a courtyard in front of the manor that was elegantly paved with dark granite. Snow gently lay on top of it, revealing just a thin veil, and torches that burned steadily adorned the edges of the courtyard.
This was the manor of the clan's young successors and of their mother, the matriarch herself: Caelivisa Aurelis.
"Mother, do you think I can awaken on my first try?"
The voice was high and boyish, yet the speaker had a golden gaze that was sharp and oddly steady, as if fixed on an object that already belonged to him. The boy was holding a book in his hands with old and torn papers and pretty much rotted leather.
The speaker was Lunaris, the eldest of the children of the Great Hero, currently about to turn thirteen years old next week, awaiting his Awakening ceremony.
And one of the two successors of Clan Aurelis.
Caelivisa chuckled softly. She bent down, brushing a few snowflakes from her son's hair.
"Of course you can, my little moon. I believe in you."
Lunaris puffed his cheeks, his small hands clenching.
"What do you think my ability would be?"
"Hmm," Caelivisa's smile curled, playful and secretive. "Well, I can't really know about it, but whatever it would be, it would be super awesome."
Lunaris tilted his head, his lips quirking into a small smile. "Then I will become the strongest, right?"
Caelivisa blinked. "Strongest? Why would you want to be the strongest?"
"Because," His eyes gleamed faintly, carrying the innocence of a child. "What would I be if not the strongest? Only then can I walk unhindered, gaze at the bottomless ocean, reach for the stars, and smell the finest of flowers."
For a moment, Caelvisa's gaze changed. As if reminiscing about someone.
'So much like him.'
Caelivisa's laughter returned, light but edged with something else. She tapped his nose, her eyes gleaming with warmth.
"Yes… strongest. Only then will you be able to fulfill our clan's wish and vengeance."
Lunaris fell silent, his small hands curling at his sides.
Then his gaze drifted into the distance, a slow, deliberate smile spreading across his lips.
"Anything for you, Caelrisu… and for that wish, Mother."
Before another word could be spoken, a new scent drifted into the courtyard: sweat, but with a faintly refreshing undertone.
They turned to see a slightly small figure emerging from the shadows. A raven-haired 12-year-old girl stepped into the torchlight, drenched with sweat from head to toe, her breath rising in silver clouds. Her hair clung to her pale skin, her clothes were torn in places, yet her posture was strangely poised. The flames caught on her eyes, blood-red, gleaming like garnets against the snow.
She was Caelrisu, another potential successor of the Aurelis Clan.
An illegitimate child, whose birth mother is unknown. An existence that the entire Clan loved despite her unknown origins.
Looking at his little sister, a smile appeared on Lunaris's face as he ran towards her, nearly tripping over his own feet in his eagerness.
"Caelrisu, my ugly sister! Why do you keep exhausting yourself alone like this? You should be training with me instead. I am quite a genius in weaponry, you know."
He crouched to her level, comical, considering he was barely taller than her himself. His grin was wide and lopsided, the kind only an older brother could perfect.
"Ugly, my foot. Have you ever seen yourself in the mirror?"
"Plenty of time, and I must say I look quite handsome. Also, you know… if you keep training like that," Lunaris whispered with a crooked grin, "your tiny arms will snap like twigs. First crack, "Snap!" and then your shoulders will burst open."
Caelrisu's brows furrowed. "…And then what? You'll pick up my arms and play with them?"
"Oh no," Lunaris leaned closer, his voice dropping. "I'll watch them twitch on the floor, little bones poking out, until they stop moving."
Caelrisu wrinkled her nose, but her tone was flat, almost mocking. "Sounds more like you. You're already too big. One day your muscles will get so swollen, they'll just rip through your skin. Pfft," she puffed her cheeks and spread her arms wide. "And then you'll pop like a balloon."
Lunaris grinned, curling his fingers as if squeezing something. "Better that than being so small that when you sneeze, your ribs snap one by one… and your lungs spill out like jelly."
Caelrisu remained composed, but within she hugged her arms around herself, shivering a little, her chin lifted stubbornly. "Then I'll just throw your broken bones at you when you collapse. At least they'll be useful for once."
He chuckled darkly, his shadow stretching over her. "Sometimes I hear it already… bones creaking, muscles tearing, hearts beating too hard. 'Crack… pop… chomp…' Like something inside just waiting to burst out."
Her lips trembled, her red eyes glimmering as she forced out in a shaky voice, "D-don't worry, I-I'll just rip it all apart first…"
"Oh, it's true," Lunaris said solemnly, leaning in close, baring his teeth in a smile far too wide for comfort. "And when it happens… I'll be there to hear it. Every. Last. Snap."
BAAM!
Their mother's fist landed squarely on Lunaris's head.
"Don't bully your sister too much," Caelivisa chided, voice warm yet edged with command. "She is not to shed even a single tear, not now, not ever. Understand? You should protect her, not scare her.
Also, Cael, don't go around expending yourself like that; you are still a child, play with others."
'"Yes."'
Both answered with a puppy look on their face.
"Cael, go to sleep. I know you are nervous about the ceremony, but it's way past your sleeping time. Also, come with me, Lunar. The Clan Head has asked for you."
Caelrisu, though comforted, felt an odd unease stir in her chest. She was too young to name it. So instead, she giggled at the sight of her brother rubbing his sore head.
Lunaris glanced up from his crouch, caught between annoyance and laughter. He looked at his sister's bright eyes, then at their mother's calm gaze. His lips curved into a smile. Without another word, he rose and followed his mother while waving Cael goodbye.