My eyes were blurry; everything, everyone, even myself became distorted with a dimmed grey. My mind, too, was dimmed with a greyness that overpowered my conscious. Whether I was actually alive at this moment, I had no way of knowing.

But my ears, my ears were able to pick up sounds that abated the unease of my waning existence: a weary groan and grunt, the dews of living beings slapping against the wooden floor beneath our feet, and the weeps of a feminine, adolescent voice. The melancholic mewling, keen to my ears, had brought my conscious relief, yes, but my heart the contrary; my heart had, too, been affected with sudden grief.

And in that moment, the weeper, mustering the little courage left in her heart, shrieked. “Daddy stop! Please, just leave! Do you even realize what you’re doing?!”

The shrieking of a little girl, no older than seven, perhaps, had clarified the fragments of blur within me, piecing them together in haleness. My eyes could see, but little things, still, remained blurred; even as my eyes searched my surroundings, only a portion is permitted. But what was visible to me were the streaks of blood that traced along my white tee. ‘Am I bleeding?’

Apprehension, thanks to the blood, grabbed me by the neck, eyes widening out of realization of the unknown setting I was in, surrounded by unknown voices I’ve never heard. ‘Where am I? Who are these people?’

The urge to speak out from my mouth grew and grew, but the words remained trapped within my throat, almost like something, some mystifying barrier was placed over my larynx. No matter how much I attempted to speak, my mouth never opened. My mouth muscles, I felt, were so strained by this mystical barrier, that even my mind felt like it wasn’t my own. That another being had overtaken my conscious, giving me no freedom whatsoever. But the confined space of this body gave way to an even greater angst to yell my lungs out, that way something of mine is no longer trapped, suffocated by the subjugation of another entity.

There was another voice that had spoken. The voice spoke confusedly, as if in a state of deliria merging with disbelief at the girls words. “How could you say that? He doesn’t even remember me. He doesn’t remember his own father!”

My body, creakingly moved towards the voice. It was an odd sensation; being moved by another’s will. I felt like a puppet being pulled by its string controlled by another. Albeit there seemed to have been another feeling that I felt. As oddly as it was, I began to become accustomed to the other entity within no time; growing not necessarily attached but growing with empathy. Like this entity meant no harm even as it controlled my body; it controlled my body with a purpose. So I allowed my body to be controlled. I could be of no use in this conflict, as I wasn’t permitted to, but the realization of its true intent; its purpose, was enough for me to abide and watch as things took place.

My body now faced the man who spoke. I was only able to see his eyes. They were a sapphire blue. His eyes looked angry. No, rather his eyes looked as if he were caught in a vortex of conflict and contradiction, his mind colliding with his heart, his morality colliding with his values. He was crying. Though I couldn’t make out his entire figure – as it remained blurry – I could clearly see a tear flowing down his face; he was in despair.

I felt my strained mouth slowly begin to open. My lips pursed, teeth grinding from uncertainty subsiding as my dried lips mouthed a word. Only mouthing, no sound arrived; but I was able to feel the strenuous expenditure my larynx was put under.

Once, twice, three times. It was after the third time I mouthed the word; I was able to finally make out what the entity was trying to say. It was after the third time the shackle holding my larynx hostage was broken into pieces, as the word that, for whatever reason, brought the entity so much pain for a subtle feeling of relief, coursed its way through my throat.
‘Mommy’
“Mommy.”

‘Huh? That… that wasn’t my voice? Who’s voice-’

“Help me.” The voice whispered again. “Please.”

A blazing yellow light, starting from the corner of the blurred room, began to flood my vision. ‘Agh!’

“Huuuugh!” I painfully breathed through my mouth, nearly asphyxiated from the suffocating light that clouded my vision only moments ago, lungs filling with cool air. My eyes frantically searched my surroundings. “Half the room is gone! Oh, never mind.”

I was in my room. My half empty, but comforting room.

“A dream – no, a nightmare, huh?” To be sure that my body was still my own, and not some sort of continuation of dream where you think you wake up but are actually still dreaming before actually waking up in a state of dubiety, I clenched both hands to a fist until they popped, stretched my legs till they shook, and yawned.

Surely that’s enough to discern what’s reality and an illusion.

My face felt cold. To be precise, my right cheek, just before my bottom eyelash, felt cold. Wiping my cheek with my long sleeves sleeve, I felt a cool but, metaphorically, burdening wetness seep through the fabric.

“Tch.” I clicked my tongue. “I hate nightma- Ow!” My hands quickly flew to my head; the source of the sudden incredible pain. My eyes shut as I began to sway my head left and right to ward the pain off. “Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!”

A migraine? Headache? The pain was far worse than any word can describe. It felt as though something, attached by a fishing hook, had been pulled from the very bottom of my brain to the front of my head, forcing vacancy in my already filled mind.

“Helloooo?” A voice came from behind my door. “Albus? You okay?”

The sound of knocking accompanied the voice, as, just in time, the pain began to disperse. I stood up and clumsily walked towards the door. My legs, it seems, were still unsure of who exactly was using them, nearly buckling from the unanticipated weight. My hand touched the door knob, turning it, but halting only a moment after. The door was locked.

‘Strange. Guess I forgot?’

I turned the lock to the left, now opening the door. There stood Tadashi, with, to most an aloof expression, but to my eyes a worried, doting older brother.

“Dear me, did I worry you older brother?” I bowed my head. “This one is not worthy of your worry, do forgive me for my presumptuous behavior!”

“Shut it.” Tadashi dismissed, smacking the back of my head.

“Ow!”

 “I had been knocking on your door for three minutes and the door was locked.” He continued. “I thought I would have to break the door down.”

“Overdramatic much? It’s not like I was dying or anything.”

“You sounded like you were. I thought I heard you saying, ‘help me.’ and “ow, ow, ow!’ though I could’ve mistaken it for the wind outside.”

“Mhh. I see.” I nodded. “It probably was the wind, no, it definitely was the wind. It’s been getting fairly colder, hasn’t it?”

“…” Tadashi didn’t speak, maintaining his aloof expression. Instead, he stared at my eyes curiously, thoroughly inspecting every centimeter of them. After a couple of seconds, a frown visibly appeared on his lips.

I sighed, breaking the silence. “So? How come you’re here at my door?”

“What? Is it so wrong that a worried older brother is checking up on his little brother?”

“Yes.” I answered flatly.

He ran a finger down his cheek mimicking a tear falling. “You break your brothers’ heart.”

Ignoring his heartbreak, I spoke: “I thought you and father had went out to get ingredients for dinner. Did you need me for something?”

“Oh, yes.” Tadashi said, turning on his heels, ready for departure. “The food is ready, and our mother said she had some news to share. She wants to tell us while we eat.”

“I see.”

In the grey colored hall – where my room is – exists the other bedrooms. Four other bedrooms to be exact. My room was located on the right wall, furthest from everyone else’s. A little down the left wall was Tadashi’s room. Further down the right wall was my mothers and fathers room, with the wall in front of them being the empty room; a zig zag pattern.

The inner design of our manor was very simple compared to stories I’ve heard of other nobles homes that are said to be akin to castles. In our home we only have what’s essential, pretty much. Things like art rooms; rooms filled with sculptures, art, and even literature, were replaced, in our home, with the essential bathroom. Spa rooms; rooms for relaxing, containing saunas powered by fire and water mana, gardens inside the spa room for a fragrant smell, were replaced, in our home, with the living room that has two couches. Big, comfy couches, might I add. Training halls with the newest mage equipment and weapons, textured floors for better movement, and even an artifact that I’ve only heard about from my mother that supposedly brings cool air into the room. Well, in our house, our training hall was an empty space in the backyard surrounded by flowers.

As my father said: “There’s no better place to train than the outside where reality is.”

I agree with his words and I’m plenty happy with what I have here. But I’d like to experience other things outside what I already have.

*****

Tadashi and I sat at the oval table, overseeing the living room – and our couches – in front of us. The concoction of the spices coalescing with a brilliant meaty smell and the freshness of vegetables would make even professional chefs cry.

My mother and father, from the kitchen within the same room, brought out heaps of food on large platters, ranging from smoked fish to raw fish, steamed vegetables, freshly baked bread, grilled sausages, soup, and a gorgeous platter of brownies calling out my very name, tempting my heart with its beauty and fragrance. Like a muse gripping at the creative thoughts of a painter.

Enraptured, a heated breath escaped my mouth. “Aah, splendid…”

Tadashi looked at me with confusion, almost disgust as saliva trickled down my mouth.

The enthrallment that overtook my common sense came to an abrupt end from the serious look my parents gave me upon sitting down. The atmosphere gave an epoch-making feeling, forming a weighty burden upon my emotions.

Overthinking, I prepared myself for bad news. Mere moments passed before I saw my mother’s lips quiver slightly. Then I thought of the worst thing. An intrusive thought so horrible, I was tempted to close my ears altogether. Before my mother could speak, I chose to take the initiative; hitting the nail on the head early on.

“Wait!” I spoke urgently, hands, spread out across the table, opened entirely. “Don’t tell me you both are getting a divorce? Actually, I wouldn’t blame you mother. I’m sure our father has done something to enrage you. But I ask you for the sake of our family to give the man one more try. As much as I hate to admit, our father is essential to my proper growth. I could learn on my own, sure, but even so, isn’t a father figure necessary for the development of children? A mother can only do so much, and I don’t wish to add any further burden on top of your divorce. That’s the last thing I’d want! But if our fathers done something absolutely unacceptable and heinous – as duplicitous as the man himself is – both Tadashi and I will support your decision with all of our mind and soul.”

Tadashi nodded in agreement.

“Aah, thank you, Albus, Tadashi.” My mother said, smiling dearly.

“HUH!?” My father exclaimed. “Why is it immediately my fault?! I haven’t even done anything wrong! Wait, were not even getting a divorce, you brat!”

As everyone but my father chuckled, my mother began to speak. And she did so cheerily. “Actually… I’m pregnant.”

“Hmm. By whom?”  I asked genuinely curious.

“Who else, you problem child.” My father said, exasperated from my words.

“Oh… wow.” Both Tadashi and I said expressionless.

My father stared down at his empty glass plate, and I swear I saw a tear land on the plate. I stifled back a laugh by covering my mouth as to not gather my families attention at my sadistic humor.  

“Congratulation’s mother.” Tadashi congratulated with a slim, but noticeable smile. “Oh, now that I think about it. Didn’t you go to Ms. Sakura’s this morning?”

“Yes, I had been feeling sick these couple of weeks, so I visited Ms. Sakura this morning. That was when she told me the news.”

For a moment, a brief moment, my mother’s words didn’t feel real. I mean, carrying a life within a stomach just doesn’t seem plausible. It’s so odd to think about, truly. A living, breathing being is within my mother as we speak. It’s because of how odd it felt, I felt the need to ask a question. A question to validate this oddity gnawing away at my mind. “So… I’m going to be a big brother?”.

My mother smiled. “Yes! Aren’t you excited Albus? You’re no longer the little brother anymore.”

“Aah.” I sighed, sitting loosely in the wooden chair holding me. “I can’t believe it. I can finally be called big brother. I no longer have to endure being only brothers with Tadashi.”

“Idiot, I’m still your older brother. But true. Now you have to be an older brother as well. I guess our father should start teaching you how to use magic.”

My fathers depressed frown had widened into a teeth-showing smile. “Yay, I get to teach my son magic!” His smile brightened even more, like the sun appearing wholly, no longer dimmed by grey clouds, when he faced me. It had now turned to a devilish grin as my father snickered. “The trainings going to be like hell.”

I guess he feels he can finally get back at me after all my “verbal abuse” as he puts it. ‘Geez, what an overdramatic father.’

While my mother had smacked the back of my father’s head for cursing, we all enjoyed the meal as any happy family would, celebrating the news. Even Tadashi’s solemn smile was very visible for the first time.

Truly a monumental moment historians would die to document.