The Great house of Ruths: a family extended from royal lineage. A palace built from white washed marble with marvellous portrayals of bravery in warships. This was the house- Rutherford belonged to in his early 10s. In those days Drasha was merely 7 years old, still a petite child. The peak of the epitome hosted a single flag- a flag with a portrayal of a shield. House of Ruths were known for their descendancy in The Path of Armour. These paths swear fealty to defend forbidden walls as their shields.
As an armour himself, with Path dignifying Shields, Rutherford was the decorated offspring of the house. Contrary, Drasha made an aberration to proclaim the Path of Gourgosy. A path that conquers the enemy psychologically, rather than physically damaging them.
There was a third child, the eldest one- Her name was Saffaire. Beautiful and cunning, but always loved her two brothers. It was as if she wielded the family in unison.
"Oh, dear elder kin. Can I touch your silky hair?" Drasha would ask, the instant his sister would kiss his soft cheeks. A fair bargain though…
"Not again" she would be left with no choice but to accept.
"Shouldn't you both focus on sustaining our royal Heritage" Rutherford would nag
"Someone is getting jealous" Drasha would whisper… commencing a harmless brawl between the brothers.
Days went by and the family resonated with warmth. But something evil had its eye on prosperity, something unwittingly ruinous.
"Recite the months" Saffaire insisted Drasha
"Kanuar,
Dember,
Eurel,
Blue,
Visco,
Campho,
Hijem,
Shule"
"It's not blue, it's Bloo, idiot" Saffaire giggled "but that's impressive"
They were sitting in a little lawn across the mansion. It was a full moon which illuminated the expanse. Trees were hushed but heeding. But the sight was about to change….
A fire blew upon the roof. It was the fire of God, someone intentionally ignited it. And soon the lost men revealed themselves- they were crusades of the Crikes. Guards of the house rushed to the scene, but the attack was planned to perfection. The sudden upheaval left protectors helpless. The fight was rigged to the tables of Crikes.
Drasha held his sister's hand and rushed her towards the gates. The moment he knew they were Crikes, he analysed they must be on hunt for Saffaire. Looking at the victory being cast away- he had no choice but to escape with his sister.
"Wait, Drasha. What about Rutherford?" Saffaire cried
"He is the strongest in the house, elder kin" Drasha smiled "no one can afflict him"
The gate was in their sight, but then one of the foe bugged in.
"Amhaphalus vision" Drasha casted his attack with no delay. The man was tormented by his very fear the exact moment the attack was unveiled.
But… it wasn't ample as two more intruders intervened. The geometry of time was irresistibly fast. The two men dashed in with swords. Drasha, who didn't have absolute control over his arcana, could only dwindle with the mentality of one. The other one was right ahead, and with one swing he could end it all. That's when Rutherford strode inside as their shield. The sword broke into pieces of aether it was crafted through.
"Both of you" Rutherford commanded "keep running"
Drasha quickly held the hands of his sister and strided outside the gates, while Rutherford knocked down the man who dared inflict harm on his cousins. The mansion was hemmed in by the forest. Imposing trees canoping the belittled ones, while the beautiful flowers enhance the domination.
That's when Drasha heard moments….
Someone slipped past Rutherford, and was right on their tail….
It was the second leader of Crikes, called the Slister. His power was the thicket itself. He was a disciple of the God of forest, someone who was cherished by nature's harmony. Two long strokes of roots- thick and broad, were brought forth from soil. But before they could immobilize them, Drasha brought a thin film of psychological barrier amidst. It rotted the root to their very nucleus. He swiftly summoned two dream sippers- orbicular conjuring monsters which could be harnessed for attack.
"Stay behind me, no matter what" Drasha commanded.
Saffaire noded…
The dream sippers were banished spontaneously by a simple sting from a Courterian flower. Those stings were venomous enough to detrude any organism.
Drasha was held captive in a miserable situation. It was challenging and grueling for the young soul. Before he could decipher the situation, Slister's ultimatum flung out of the moist land. Courterian Daddy- a funny name but deadly stings. A second causes paralysis and two cause death.
It opened its mouth, ready to attack fiercely, with no restraint. Sting of ruin were unsealed towards them.
It was a dead end…
It couldn't be prevented…
But that's when an awakening transpired…
Drasha extended his hands, portraying the divine almighty, and whispered those lunatic words
"Omnipatent vision"
A sour dizzle… purely sour… spread all around the forest. An omnipotent energy fogged through the clouds. It didn't intrude, but just stood there as a spectator- blessings Drasha with its psychotic energy…
The forest was completely degraded to debris. The attack was a solemn gleam of destruction. No flowers remained, no tree was upright, no leaf was green and no mercy was so kind.
Slister was heavily injured. Casualties on him were clearly visible and daunting. Amidst the success his attack was, Drasha turned towards his dear sister. She was happy and smiling back, glad that the rush was over. But a quiver of woe spread through her. It was extremely painful, as she fell to her knees. Blood started dripping out pressed against the earth.
It was haunting….
It was the grief Rutherford carried…
It was the regret Drasha had…
Saffaire was smothered by the sting from Courterian. The strike flooded out the blood, while the concentrated poison caused instant death. But the smile wasn't gone, it was still etched across her face. Rutherford, who just interpreted the situation, flung away, holding Drasha in the curl of his hand. Even as he was taken away, all he could do was call out for her.
"Saffaire"
"Elder kin"
"No…"
Her smile slowly fading away from his site, the brothers escaped…
Then they met Silas, who gave them shelter and hope of revenge. And thus began the tale of brutality and conspiracy…
But how would this revenge catalyse Leon's destiny, was something to look forward to…
That's how past of Rutherford and Drasha ends
~Fin