Four huge statues of magical beings held the dome of an old shrine. Standing by the edge, it served as the portal for the kings to and from the kingdom below. Beyond it was a sea of clouds under a bluish night sky with the crescent moon that shined proud.

An occasional wind blew which amplified the extreme cold.

The frost covered the blades of the grass except for the ones beneath Elir.

"Hey, you aren't thinking that I would steal the throne, are you?" Hirel asked.

His brother's question caught him off-guard though he knew that it was a joke.

"What if I do?" he replied.

"As long as Eloi stands, I promise that it is yours."

"Seems more of a threat than a promise." he chuckled in reply. "Stop this nonsense, brother."

"I'm worried that you'll burn these precious grass again. Do you know that these only grew here?"

"You told me that a thousand times already."

Hirel smirked and faced the sky.

"Will he look like me? Or will he look you?"

"Like you, Elir, I guess. You're the next king, after all."

Lost in his excitement, a memory struck him. The one that bugged him for the past few days. It was from a summer ten years ago. While studying fire magic, Elir developed a new technique. He was so excited to share with his twin that he jumped right at the window of the study where Hirel usually stayed.

Being frail and sickly, the latter soaked himself with scrolls about magic. He was also keen on learning the history of the warring kingdoms.

"What do you think the elders would say if the heir burns all their precious scrolls?" Hirel asked as his brother entered by the window.

"Why are you reading those dusty scrolls for? Those aren't from our kingdom, right? " Elir asked in reply as he moved towards him, clapping his hands to extinguish the fire.

"Why would I not?" His eyes are fixed on the scroll bearing the crescent moon. Its texts are written in Amun scripts. "You would be a king one day, my brother. But before you become a king, I'll give you this advice. You must know who you are and where you came from. That way, you will know what you can do and what you can be."

For some reason, this memory lingered in his thoughts for the past few days.

"What do you think of the moon, dear brother?"

The question confused him. Being Elois who are proud children of the sun - they do not entertain any thoughts about the celestial body worshiped by their enemies.

When he turned to his brother, the excitement turned to dread. An ominous power overflew from his brother that gave him visions of their doom. He could never fathom that he was that powerful.

Captivated by the moon, his golden eyes are now silver, gazing at the beautiful crescent in the sky. His hair of gold was also turned to silver.

"What are you doing brother! Why did you disgrace the blood of our ancestors by drawing power from the moon!"

"I'm sorry brother, but not a drop of Elo'ir's blood flow in my veins," he replied. Arms outstretched, he let the moonlight embrace him.

"Ah! Enough of this kind and weak brother act. I have waited for far too long. I preferred that you found out earlier, but those pesky elders won't let me. They do not have faith in their future Rajah. But what can I do? I do not lord over them yet."

Elir turned towards his wife who was with their elders.

To his surprise, all the elders wore clothes with silver instead of gold. They bore symbols of the moon instead of the sun. And in place of a sinag sword, all held a scythe. One held a blade that is by her wife's throat.

"He's here!" Hirel cried. With a moon scythe, he attacked the king that appeared by the shrine. His blade slashed through thin air as the king's image vanished like a mist.

"Where's your brother?" the king asked as soon as his feet landed before Elir. "And what is that Amun prince doing here?"

"I'm afraid that Amun is my brother."

"No, that's impossible!"

"Do you really think that?" Hirel asked. "You Eloi's sure lack creativity."

As the prince of Amun walked towards him, he was stunned - it was Hirel himself. The reason he could not sense him was that his warm aura was now as cold as the night.

"I see. You're in her belly before she came here. And she did not know of it. But she also conceived Elir, thereby spoiling your plan."

"Spoiled? I looked at it as the plan was made, sweeter!"

"It seems that Eloi was already compromised for at least three generations for you to come this far."

"Oh great Datu, we were already under your noses even before Elo'ir built that annoying wall!"

The king crumbled within. There's no doubt that the kingdom below was already taken as well. He could not fathom what atrocities his people might have suffered. But at the same time, he worried for the life of his son and his wife who has a child inside her belly. The king knew that the Amun's intent was to end their bloodline. And it was the perfect opportunity for their enemy for all they were in the same place at the same time.

"Let go of the queen and spare her child." the king said.

"You don't seem to understand the situation. You all are as good as dead."

"What if I could give you something more important than our lives?"

"And what do you think is more precious than ending your lives? You see, this has always been the will of our first king. To end those who betrayed the race of the mages!"

"But Eloi is not the only kingdom you bear a grudge, am I right?"

"The Balangs will sure have their time."

"That is my point. If you want to end us now, make it quick! But I assure you, a dead man does not talk."

The elders were positioned to attack the Elois but Hirel stopped them.

"You intrigued me, oh dear Datu. You are not pertaining to a mayi, are you?"

The king nodded in reply.

"Ha! You are bluffing! No mayi has been born for centuries now!"

"And you believe that?"

"May I remind you that you are in no position to negotiate anything with us."

Hirel attacked him again. But like what happened earlier, the king vanished like thin air.

"From the looks of it, you have not fought Elir with your full strength, have you?"

The king appeared by the shrine and sat at its stairs.

"Defeat my son; I'll give you the town. Then defeat me, I'll give you the name. Taking down both the Eloi king and his heir would make you the strongest mage to ever live."

"Tempting. But you see, even if you defeat me, do you think that those elders would agree to let you go?"

"Our lives are already yours. But if any of us defeat you, I ask that you let go of the queen and spare the child."

"You heard the deal, right?" Hirel said. "You better come at me with your full strength, brother!"

"Like I would hold back after you threaten my family." Elir let his power overflow that the icy grass he stood was set ablaze. He tightened his grip on his sword and assumed an offensive stance. "And don't you dare call me brother again!"