Nick skulked through the road, passing quartz-lit house after quartz-lit house. At the moment he was on a detour, because someone was following him.

He noticed it a few corners ago. A black flicker above the shadows cast by the houses. The thud of shoes against the rooftops behind him. Whoever was tailing him was doing a poor job of it.

Nick acted no different, but his mind was racing. Who was this person? Did he do something to trip anyone to his actual activities? He was preparing to move into a position where he could throw off his stalker, when it cursed in a familiar voice.

Ren dropped his guard, sighed, and turned, gazing above the pale buildings.

“Ren,” he said. “I know you’re up there. Get down. People are sleeping under the roofs you dolt.”

There was a brief silence then a reply.

“I’m not stomping. And you’re late.”

“I know. I know, but let’s not annoy everyone else. Come out now.”

A human head and torso perked itself up from one of the rooftops then leapt. Yellow static trailed behind in its wake, as it landed atop the wooden beam of a quartz street-lamp.

“Ren. What on earth are you wearing?” Nick crossed his arms and started tapping a foot.

“It’s a cloak.” Ren popped the hood off, revealing a mop of blonde hair and a boyish smile. Glittering gold eyes, peered down at Nick. “Used by the Imperator espionage agents. I got it off the market this morning!”

“Ren…” Nick palmed his forehead. “What did I tell you about buying needless things. Also, get down from there.”

“Why should I?”

“It is not a matter of why. It is a matter of when.” Nick peered at the tattered holes in the wooden beam probably left from a termite infestation.

“What do you mea-.” There was a cracking noise and the beam teetered, sending Ren off balance. His hands grabbed the pole, causing the beam to topple over. Nick stepped aside as it tumbled onto the ground with a crash, and as his younger brother landed face-up with a painful oof.

“Id-i-ot,” said Nick, walking over to Ren, who was massaging his bruised back.

“Do you have to be so mean?” Ren looked up with irritation.

“I’ll stop being mean when you stop being an idiot. But I’ll be nice just this once.”

Nick offered a hand, and Ren grabbed it, hoisting himself up.

“On second thought.” Nick let go, letting Ren fall to the ground with another oof. “Nah.”

“Hey!”

Nick just snickered as he continued down the street. It was the fundamental duty of older brothers to tease their younger ones, especially if they were being dumb. A duty Nick intended to take quite seriously and with much amusement.

A weight fell on his back, and two arms wrapped around his neck.

“Ack!” he said. “Ren, get off!”

“Not until you say sorry!”

Nick could have apologized, but the stubborn streak in him said no, so the two of them flailed and heaved around the street like a marionette. At least until Nick tripped over a pebble and fell forward.

“There,” said Ren as he got off his brother’s back. “We’re even.”

“Ugh,” said Nick as he lay face side-ways on the ground. He could feel the cuts across his chest reopen as he struggled to breathe.

“Hey, what’s up? Are you okay?” said Ren. “You aren’t getting old on me, are you?”

Ren’s foot drifted into Nick’s vision and he sprung the trap.

“Never too old.” Nick’s hand swept around, knocking Ren’s leg off balance and causing him to fall. “To teach you a lesson!”

“Ow!”

Nick laughed as he sauntered back up and jogged ahead, leaving Ren behind.

He looked over his shoulder, expecting another leaping attack. Instead, Ren was zipping towards him faster than any normal human being, with yellow lightning trails in his wake.

“Hey no affinitie-OOF!” said Nick, right as Ren collided into his waist and two went tumbling across the street.

When Nick rolled to a stop, he could see a few shutters flip open above. Faces peeked down at him and Ren looking to see what the commotion was about. Some of the shutters slammed close immediately afterwards, followed by angry mutters.

“Alright you win,” said Nick, preferring a truce to drawing any more unwanted attention. He hefted himself up, turning to his brother who was already up and about. “Using an affinity means it doesn’t count though.”

“Sure.” Ren rolled his eyes.

“You’ve gotten better with timing your charges though I’ll give you that,” said Nick, wincing at spasms of pain from his chest from the blow.

“Of course!” Ren crossed his arms with a smug look on his face. “I’ve even started to beat Master Dunwick.”

“Really? So, you’ve finally started to take your training a bit more seriously?”

“If you mean those boring drills where I hit a straw dummy a thousand times the same way then hell no.”

“Language… “said Nick.

“Yea yea whatever, old man.”

Nick bonked Ren on the head.

“Ow!” Ren hands leapt up to massage the bruise.

“Take those drills more seriously.” Nick eyed Ren. “You can’t just coast on talent forever you know, and you’re making a habit of not trying. Bad habits are far harder to break than good ones. Didn’t you promise to give your best effort? What did I tell you about keeping promises?”

“Speak for yourself.” Ren scowled back. “You said you wouldn’t be late today. What happened to that?”

Ren’s nose twitched as he smelled something foul. “And why do you smell like stale liquor?”

“Uh-Work related business,” said Nick.

Ren just raised an eyebrow. “Uh-huh. It is almost like you didn’t want to see Lara. I wonder wh-?”

“Why you- .” Nick was about to bonk his brother’s head again but his swing hit nothing but air. Ren dashed out of range, lightning sparking in his wake.

“Too slow!” said Ren as he began running away.

“Come back here!” said Nick, unable to help the grin creep up his face as he chased after him.

***

The two of them ran through the streets. Ren barely breaking a sweat while Nick struggled to keep up. It didn’t help that Ren’s affinity was lightning which granted him an unprecedented degree of speed and dexterity.

However, he wasn’t about to show weakness in front of his little brother. He’d never hear the end of it.

Thankfully the chase came to an end as they arrived at the Belver’s home. A quaint two-story building built out of the same pale marble as all the others. Ren blew a raspberry at Nick’s face as he jaunted through the wooden door entrance. Nick sighed, wondering whether he would ever actually grow up.

Warm quartz-light glowed past the window shutters, and Ren could hear muffled voices. A female voice yelling at Ren, followed by the giggle of another. It looked like everyone was already settled in.

Nick put a hand against the wall, trying to catch his breath. He winced as a spasm of pain rippled through his chest. He peeked under his shirt, and it didn’t look like blood was seeping through. Still, it was best to be careful. That was not a conversation he wanted to have.

Once the fire from his chest eased, he pushed past the doors to enter the warmth of the house.

“-swear Ren, why do you have to always be so immature?”

“Quit being such a nag. You’re acting more like Nick every day.”

“Am not.”

“I’m home,” said Nick, as the four faces around the dinner table turned to face him. The air was seeped with the scent of a feast that caused his mouth to water, even if he had no need to eat.

Ren stopped his argument with Miri, his twin sister, surprising given their polar opposite temperaments and looks. The two were seated on one end of the dining table, an empty seat for Nick between the two.

“About time,” said Miri. She was dressed in a simple training tunic; her wavy blonde hair was tied to a semi-neat pig-tail to her side. One arm was resting lazily on the table, holding up her chin while the other circled a fork on an empty plate. Her golden eyes peered at Nick with annoyance.

“You’re late you know.” Miri peered at Nick’s clothes, covered in dust and dirt from his scuffle with Ren and his earlier evening activities. “And dirty as well.”

“Got into a scuffle on the way back,” Nick said with innocence. Ren snickered.

“Right… “ Miri rolled her eyes.

“Do you have to be so uptight sis?” said Ren. “Who put a stick up your bum?”

Irritation flashed on Miri’s face but she restrained herself. They had a special guest tonight after all. One she looked up too.

“I see the three of you haven’t changed at all,” said a green-haired woman whose voice exuded warmth like a ruby.

Nick looked to Lara Belver, eldest daughter of the Belver family. Her green hair was tied back in a ponytail and her face was cut in a striking way, in similar fashion to the white uniform she wore. The golden emblem of a Pegasus etched onto her collars.

She had flowered a physical and spiritual poise and grace which whose bud could be seen when they were children. A trait which drew the unwanted attention of nearly every boy and quite a few men in town.

Now she was a full-Nephilim, graduate from the top of her class at Seraphil’s main academy, and a Pegasus knight, just like her late father. Nick wouldn’t be surprised if the net of unwanted attention now spanned half the country.

“Lara.” Nick smiled, happy to see his friend again. “Welcome home.”

“Its good to see you again Nick. You especially haven’t changed one bit.”

“And you’re as radiant as ever.”

“Ew,” said Ren. “No flirting over the table.”

“Yes, it is rather unseemly,” said Miri. “Worse when you do so in such a straight-forward manner.”

Nick bonked both of their heads resulting in a simultaneous “Ow!”

Lara giggled. To her right, across from Miri, Vlara blushed and looked down with hands folded under the table. Unlike her older sister, Vlara was like a mouse. Not to say she lacked in looks but rather they were hidden away. Her hair was cut short around her neck, but also covered most of her face, covering it up as a reflection of her own shy nature.

Nick looked at the plates of food brimming atop the table. Slow-roasted peppered pork. Honeysuckle gravy over mashed potatoes. Buttered oysters with a hint of lemon. Not too many in terms of spice due to the ongoing embargos, but still delicious.

The rest of the room was as quaint as the rest of the house, a reflection of a near-ideal Vislandan family. A few potted plants set in the corner, demonstrating harmony with nature. A family portrait set overlooking the table, featuring young Lara and Vlara, standing in front of their mother Cianna and their father clad in his full knight regalia. Nick had few memories of the man, before he passed while evacuating the Adrestan embassy when the kingdom fell to revolutionaries. However, he got along with Valdric, which to Nick meant he was a good man.

“Children, Children!” said a matronly voice from the kitchen.

Cianna Belver who retained the same grace she once possessed in the picture, but with a few extra gray lines around her hair, appeared from the kitchen doorway with a plate of roasted potatoes and herbs. Lara’s favorite.

“Nick!” she said. “You’ve finally arrived.”

“Sorry Ma’am,” he said.

“Oh, don’t worry. I’m sure ehe Earl is quite demanding, especially with tomorrow coming up.” She placed the plate in the center of the table, and sat on the final seat around the table. “Besides, the potatoes took some time so not a moment has been lost.”

She placed a hand on Lara’s shoulder.

“Just like how you used to love them.”

“Thanks mom,” said Lara.

“Nothing to worry about honey. It has been so long since we shared a dinner with all of us here.” Ciana beamed at her daughter, and Nick could see where Lara got her grace from. Out of the corner of his eyes, he could see Vlara tighten up and shirk away.

Cianna gestured around the table. “Please help yourselves!”