31 - Somebody’s Brother

  Valrion climbed onto the bed and settled beside Sergius in the dimly lit room, the flicker of the lantern casting dancing shadows on the walls. He observed Sergius, noticing the older man’s furrowed brow and the way he seemed to be carefully choosing his next words.

  What could be so important that Sergius felt the need to stop him from leaving?

  “Octavia told me that you asked about evokers, summoners, and all that,” Sergius began, breaking the silence. “Do you still remember what they are?”

  “Yes,” Valrion responded with a gasp. Unlike Sergius’ stern demeanor, Valrion felt a surge of excitement. This had to be an opportunity to learn more about Eru—a topic that seemed to reveal itself to him only through unexpected moments.

  Sergius leaned back slightly, his expression thoughtful. “Good. Do you know what a cousin is?”

  Valrion furrowed his brow, surprised by the question. He had never heard anyone in the house mention that before, so he shook his head, pretending. “What’s a cousin?”

  Sergius smiled at Valrion’s response, though a more profound emotion was hidden in his gaze. “A cousin is someone whose parents are your parents’ siblings. If your parents have brothers, they’re your uncles, and if they have sisters, they’re your aunts. Their children are your cousins. It’s like having more brothers or sisters, but they’re from different parents. They’re from your parents’ brothers or sisters.”

  Valrion nodded. That explanation was atrocious, nothing like Octavia and Fina’s. If it had been any other kid, they likely would have ended up with headaches. More importantly, where was Sergius going with this?

  “So they’re family too,” Valrion said to satisfy Sergius.

  “Exactly,” Sergius replied, offering a warm smile. “They’re family, just connected through a different branch.”

  Valrion blinked, wondering why Sergius felt the need to mention the “brand,” but he still replied, “Okay.”

  Sergius went on, “Do you know that I’m your father’s cousin? That makes me your uncle. Well, technically, your second uncle, but let’s not get caught up in the specifics.”

  What?

  Valrion’s shoulders jerked upright. What was he hearing?

  [Personal Quest updated: A Right-Hand Man]

  [EXP +10]

  [A Right-Hand Man

  ? In a surprising twist, it is revealed that Sergius, a pivotal figure in your life, is actually your uncle. Is that the main reason he goes above and beyond for you?]

  Quickly, his mind raced as he recalled all the times he had noticed how Sergius and his father looked alike. They shared the same hair color and build, though Sergius had brown eyes and darker skin. Even the way Sergius addressed his parents by their first names—details he had dismissed without much thought years ago came rushing back. His heart pounded harder with each passing second, his breath catching as the full weight of the realization struck him.

  “Wait, what?” The words came out louder than he intended, disbelief evident on his face. “You’re my uncle?”

  Sergius laughed at Valrion’s reaction, the sound lightening up the room. However, it soon faded, replaced by a faraway look in his eyes, as if he were pulled back into a memory too heavy to ignore. It wasn’t because he was tired—it was something far deeper, a sorrow that seemed to weigh on his very being. His shoulders tensed slightly before he exhaled, his eyes fixated on a point beyond the room.

  “Your father had a younger brother, three years younger than him—two years younger than me,” he began. “We were inseparable when we were kids.”

  Valrion straightened his back, intrigued by the story unfolding before him.

  Sergius took another deep breath, his gaze drifting away as if he were lost in the golden days of the past. “Well, your uncle turned out to be an evoker—an earth wielder, which was quite rare. He was drafted into the army, and less than a year later, well, we didn’t hear from him anymore.”

  Valrion’s eyes widened, dread gripping him. “What do you mean? What happened to him?”

  Sergius hesitated, his features tightening as he seemed struggling to phrase the words. After a few seconds, he finally said, “He died on a mission.”

  Valrion fell quiet, his breath catching as the weight of those words. The room seemed to close in, and the air grew heavy. His chest tightened, and he found himself kneading the hem of his shirt as though grounding himself against the sudden wave of disbelief. His mind reeled, struggling to accept the reality of what he had just heard.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Once again, he understood why his father had been so strongly against the existence of his elemental power. Everything seemed to click even further: his uncle’s death had to be one of the main reasons his father had joined the Liberators. The more Valrion learned about evokers and the Kingdom, the more he understood the deep-seated resentment and opposition some people harbored.

  This time, he didn’t even care that the Handbook didn’t do anything about any of the quests he had received.

  “When someone dies,” Sergius said, gulping before continuing, “they go to a faraway place and don’t come back.”

  Valrion looked down, staring at his tiny fingers. “That’s not fair.”

  He wasn’t referring to his uncle’s death. Valrion knew very well that death itself wasn’t inherently good or bad for humans. His frustration stemmed from how the Kingdom treated elemental wielders—as tools to be used and discarded.

  “No, it isn’t,” Sergius agreed, his voice softening. “Life can be tough, and loss is part of it, but it’s important to remember those we’ve lost and hold onto the good memories.”

  It struck Valrion as ironic that Sergius would say such a thing to a god, but he still raised his head and offered a smile. “What was his name?”

  “Marius,” Sergius answered. It seemed like their side of the family followed a distinct pattern: Cassius, Sergius, and now Marius.

  “Did you have many good memories with him?” Valrion proceeded.

  Sergius smiled faintly. “Oh, many. Savio wasn’t this developed years ago. We used to play in the fields near the market, climb trees, and explore the woods. He always had a sense of adventure, always getting us into trouble. I remember one time we tried to catch a wild rabbit. We ended up chasing it for hours and completely lost track of time.”

  Valrion’s face brightened at the thought of such experiences. “Did you catch it?”

  “No.” Sergius chuckled, shaking his head. “But we returned home late in the evening and got scolded by our parents. That’s what I try to remember—the laughter and the fun we had. It helps to keep his spirit alive.”

  “I see.” Valrion nodded. He didn’t know how many times he had done this in the last fifteen minutes or so.

  Sergius heaved a sigh, his expression suddenly turning somber again. “Valrion, listen carefully. This is why we don’t want you using your fire power in public. We’re deeply worried about what could happen if others find out. The consequences could be severe. That said, I know it’s unlikely you’ll be able to keep it hidden forever, especially given how unique and special you are.”

  Valrion stared at Sergius, his eyes fluttering slowly as he absorbed every word the man—his second uncle—uttered. He could tell Sergius wasn’t finished, so he waited.

  “If I could see the future, I would envision you as someone who could lead the Liberators—someone with the potential to change the world,” Sergius went on. “Your mother, Fina, and Octavia all believe in your strength and your potential. That’s part of the reason we got you that bow. It’s not just about hunting but about preparing you for the path that lies ahead.”

  “Okay,” Valrion said.

  There was a pause before Sergius continued. “A lot of us have lost people because they turned out to be elemental wielders, fighting for the army and dying on the battlefields. Friends and loved ones were taken from us over nothing. Well, you might not understand this right now, so I’ll tell you again when you’re older.”

  “But I understand,” Valrion muttered.

  Sergius seemed taken aback by Valrion’s sincerity but soon broke into laughter. “How old is your soul?”

  Valrion smiled, always acting like he didn’t get the question. “My soul?”

  Sergius laughed even harder. “Honestly, what a weird child! You seem wise beyond your years. It’s as if your soul has lived many lives.”

  Valrion shrugged, a grin on his face. “Maybe?”

  “Well, I hope you don’t make the same mistakes again as the one you made at the market.” Sergius extended his pinky finger. “Promise?”

  Valrion glanced at Sergius’ extended pinky, the gesture familiar from observing human traditions. He hesitated briefly before linking his finger with Sergius’. “Promise,” he said with a small smile.

  “Off you go, then. I’m feeling sleepy,” Sergius said, stifling an exaggerated yawn. Despite the dramatic delivery, Valrion knew it was late, and they both needed rest.

  “All right. Thank you,” Valrion murmured as he slid off the bed and made his way toward the door. Sergius followed him, but before they both reached their destination, a thought crossed Valrion’s mind, and he turned around. “How does someone become an evoker?” he asked.

  “Hmm?” Sergius glanced down. “At thirteen, everyone is required to take a test to determine if they have elemental power. Those who pass go on to study at the academy in the capital city for at least three years, starting at fifteen.”

  “A test?” Valrion asked, even though he already knew the answer. It had to be the Aptitude Test, but hearing another confirmation wouldn’t hurt.

  “Yes, it’s called the Aptitude Test,” Sergius clarified. “You have that power, Valrion, but don’t think about becoming an evoker, okay? We’ll make sure you don’t take the test.”

  “Oh. All right. Good night,” Valrion said, reaching for the door, causing him to tiptoe. Sergius chuckled and opened it for him.

  “I’ll walk you back, silly,” Sergius scoffed. Of course, he had to, and it was even better since Valrion needed someone to help him get back into the cradle. Valrion sometimes forgot that he was too young to be alone.

  This was precisely what Sergius did: he accompanied Valrion to the bedroom on the second floor and placed him in the cradle. They didn’t speak a word since the moment they left the guard’s room, even until he made his way out and closed the door behind him.

  Staring at the ceiling, Valrion reflected on everything he had learned about the new world. Wasn’t it funny that he hadn’t gotten anything at the market, yet the trip still led him to his conversation with Sergius? It was like that old saying: if one thing didn’t happen, then the rest wouldn’t.

  His mind buzzed with possibilities and aspirations, all landing on one thought: if life didn’t throw him any curveballs, he would like to become an evoker, then a summoner, and eventually any position necessary to gain the power to collect all Twelve Eidolons. That way, he could achieve his goals more efficiently.

  Moreover, if he truly wanted to dismantle the system, wouldn’t it be more effective to work from within rather than trying to change it from the outside? Instead of joining the Liberators, becoming an active part of the Kingdom seemed like a more strategic path. The Liberators might have tried it before, but as everyone said, he was different. This time, things should work because he was the Son of Heaven.

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