After a long while, the two brothers descended into the depths of the forest. The air was cool, touched by the scent of damp earth and pine. Leaves rustled softly overhead, casting shifting shadows on the moss-covered ground beneath their feet.
Edmund knelt by a cluster of jagged rocks and murmured an incantation, his voice steady yet deliberate. In moments, two simple chairs formed, shaped seamlessly from the stone as if they had always belonged there. He gestured toward them with a faint smile.
"What shall we do next, brother?" Edmund asked, settling onto one of the rough chairs. His eyes flickered with a mix of curiosity and cautious hope.
Faera sat opposite him, folding his hands in his lap. His gaze was calm, but the weight of their predicament pressed quietly on his shoulders. He considered the paths before them carefully, sorting through possibilities like a chess master anticipating moves.
"If we seek out Lady Viola or any of the nobles close to Lord Hyde," Faera began, his voice measured, "they will doubt how we survived. They will question if we still possess any family treasures. That suspicion alone would make it the worst choice we could make."
He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as he measured the next thought. "We could try to settle in a distant city or start a business with the money our father left in the ring. But that would stall our progress significantly. We would be bound by caution and limited resources."
Edmund nodded thoughtfully, absorbing his brother's words. The forest around them seemed to grow quieter, the canopy above filtering pale sunlight that danced on Faera's sharp features.
Faera leaned forward, voice steady and sure. "The best option, in my opinion, is to join the Hunters' Association. We can hunt monsters and those wanted by the government. The rewards are substantial, and it would allow us to advance while earning a living."
He met Edmund's gaze directly. "I believe that is our best path."
Edmund considered the reasoning carefully. The idea of hunting dangerous creatures, risking their lives for coin and progress, had a grim appeal. It was a path of action, one that would keep them moving forward instead of hiding in shadows.
"Yes," Edmund said after a moment, his voice calm but resolute. "I agree with you."
He paused, then asked plainly, "But how will we register with the Hunters' Association?"
Faera's lips curled into a slight, confident smile. "We must travel to the capital and register at the main branch. From there, we can affiliate with one of the major cities as our base."
Edmund nodded again. The plan was sound, practical, and demanding. It required strength and resolve, but it offered a chance to reclaim their lives.
The two fell into silence, their expressions darkening as the gravity of their situation settled over them once more. The forest around them seemed to hold its breath.
Memories of that terrible moment haunted them, Grievous slamming the door shut, fire raining down like a merciless storm. The image was etched deep into their minds, replaying relentlessly.
Sadness spread through the quiet space between them like a thick fog, wrapping around their hearts for hours. If it had not been for Grievous' mental reinforcements before his escape, they might have drowned in despair.
But Edmund and Faera were not ordinary. They were geniuses shaped by tragedy, familiar with the taste of death and pain. They understood the necessity of control. They did not let grief consume them.
Faera closed his eyes. Behind his lids, he saw his father, burned and broken, leaning heavily on a crutch charred beyond recognition. The vision stabbed at Faera's chest, a sharp and bitter ache.
His heart felt like a fruit ripe with sorrow, delicious in its intensity but painful all the same.
He drew a slow breath and thought, 'Father would not want us to be sad.'
'He would want us to be strong.'
'He would want us to seek justice.'
The thought ignited a quiet fire within him. Their father's spirit seemed to whisper from the shadows, urging them onward.
Edmund opened his eyes and glanced at his brother. The shared pain was visible there, but so was the determination.
"We cannot afford to linger in sorrow," Edmund said softly.
Faera nodded, a small but firm gesture. "There is too much to do."
The forest seemed to listen, holding its secrets as the brothers rose from their stone seats.
Together, they stepped forward, their paths uncertain but their resolve unshaken.
The Hunters' Association awaited, and with it, the chance to forge a new destiny from the ashes of their past.
---
Over the past several years, Grievous had forged an unbreakable bond with his two sons and their entire family circle. Their connection was not born from mere blood ties but from countless shared trials and quiet moments of understanding.
His outward demeanor, sharp and slightly hotblooded, spoke of an intelligent man who balanced emotion with reason. Beneath that exterior, however, lay a heart fiercely calculated.
The two sons, now well beyond their twentieth year, had grown into young men who carried the weight of experience on their shoulders. They had seen the harsh truths of the world, glimpsed death's cold hand, and learned to overcome obstacles that would have crushed lesser souls. Thanks to Grievous's careful mental guidance and his subtle manipulation, the emotional blows that might have shattered them in youth had instead tempered their spirits. The scars were fewer, the wounds less deep.
Faera finally rose from his seat, his tall frame moving with a quiet grace. His voice, calm but firm, cut through the stillness. "I think we should focus on improving our rank first."
He paused, eyes meeting Edmund's in a steady gaze.
"Otherwise, we will simply be vulnerable to powerful monsters and lone magicians."
Edmund nodded without hesitation. His expression was thoughtful, contemplative.
"How many magic fruits did Father leave behind?" he asked.
Faera reached into the space ring, fingers brushing over its smooth surface. After a brief moment, he replied in his naturally calm and low voice, "He left exactly 84."
Edmund hummed softly, the sound almost a murmur of approval. He closed his eyes for a moment, turning over calculations and possibilities in his mind. When he spoke again, his tone was measured and precise.
"You are already at the late second rank," he said.
"So you only need a small push to reach the third rank."
He counted silently on his fingers, then continued, "You will need about four fruits for that push, and another thirty to reach the late third rank."
Then he glanced at Faera with a faint smile and added quietly, "As for my personal situation, I am still in the early second rank."
"To reach the top of the third rank, I will need forty four fruits."
Faera nodded calmly, the hint of a smile touching his lips.
"Your calculations are excellent as usual, Ed."
He paused, then added with a note of satisfaction, "Fortunately, the spiritual water is also placed in the space ring, so everything is ready."
"All we need is a place to put the things."
Edmund's smile widened. "Leave it to me."
Without further ado, he extended his hands, fingers weaving intricate patterns in the air. The faint shimmer of magic filled the space before him. Slowly, a large piece of rock rose from the ground, hovering weightlessly as if summoned by an unseen force.
Within moments, the rock settled before them, solid and immense.
Edmund whispered an incantation under his breath. The surface of the stone began to glow faintly, delicate lines tracing themselves across its face.
With deft movements, he cast a rock carving spell, and the center of the slab hollowed out smoothly.
The transformation was swift and precise. In less than a minute, a spacious rock bathtub had taken shape, its walls thick and sturdy.
Faera watched with a quiet intensity, impressed by his brother's skill.
'Edmund's magic has become more refined,' he thought.
'The precision and speed of his spells continue to improve.'
Faera stepped closer and ran a hand along the carved interior.
"This will be perfect for the magic fruits and spiritual water," he said.
Edmund nodded, already moving to organize the items within the space ring.
Their minds were aligned, their goals clear.
The path ahead was dangerous, filled with unpredictable threats.
Yet, with precise planning and steadfast resolve, they would face whatever came.
Faera glanced at Edmund, respect shining in his eyes.
"Once we reach the late third rank," he said softly, "we will be able to stand against nearly any foe."
Edmund's gaze hardened with determination.
"We cannot afford to be caught off guard."
Their father's legacy weighed heavily on them, but it also gave them strength.
Grievous had prepared them well, leaving behind not only resources but the wisdom to use them wisely.
The rock bathtub stood ready, then together, the brothers began arranging the magical fruits and vials of spiritual water.
Each movement was deliberate, ritualistic.
They knew the importance of every detail.
As the last of the fruits were placed inside the carved stone, Faera took a deep breath.
"This is just the beginning," he murmured.
Edmund's eyes gleamed with quiet fire.
"And we will grow stronger!"