The cup and saucer completely forgotten, I had sprung to my feet, running to my brother's bedroom with Laeroth tailing me. There were loud commotions and growls inside of the room with some Ancients frantically going in and out. 

There was a basket filled with snacks lying on the floor just outside of chii's room. I barged inside, seeing a man drenched in blood with a few Ancients lying unconscious on the ground. Their skin was ashen grey with moss cultivating on their skin.

"Monster! He's a monster! He did this to me! He made me do it!" he screamed.

My eyes widened. 

How?

He was already dead.

Green vines restrained Fenris while Lucian glanced at the ceiling. I thought he was dead because he was unmoving. He didn’t blink. I felt the pulse on his neck, sighing in relief when there were strong pulsations. 

Laeroth lashed out to the blood-covered intruder with distorted features. His left ankle was twisted. His right arm was dislocated from its joint. Needles protruded from Iltut's bare skin. Laeroth dodged the flying needles. 

"Lucius, get your brother!" Ikesha stormed inside the room, appearing to be equally disturbed by the situation. 

A gush of air followed her. Aramastus appeared, slicing the vines holding Fenris. The moment he was released, he attempted to bite on Iltut’s leg, fortunately, Ikesha put him in ice for his own sake.

Even if werewolves were known for their regenerating skills, he wouldn’t be able to survive the poison in my master’s veins. Iltut’s specialties were venom and acid. He had concocted various poisons with no known cure. He was never good with close combat but who said that physical power always won wars?

My subordinate turned to the disturbed Ancient, swinging his sword to his side and vanishing in a second. The moment Aramastus popped back, legs and arms dropped to the ground followed by the torso. A scream spread through the room and pierced through the halls. Lucian was unflinching. He was lying down, staring blankly, and looking deathly pale. 

Ikesha froze the ends where the limbs were once attached to and sealed Iltut's mouth with ice. 

"Bring him to the cell," she ordered.

Aramastus nodded obediently, vanishing with Iltut and leaving everyone speechless before Ikesha realized that she had to heal the poisoned. 

"I need to test their blood for the kind of poison he instilled. Maybe I can slow the poison down but after that, we can only rely on an Ancient’s capability to adapt."  She released Fenris from his frozen state, punching the ice and cracking it open. 

Ikesha snapped her fingers. The ice liquified and slithered around her body. If she left the ice exposed, the ice would melt and turn into lava.

I took Lucian into my arms, gazing at his empty eyes. They were back from where they were when I first met him after eighteen blue moons.

He seemed worse even. I moved him out of this room and into a new one. Fenris followed us out. I laid my brother on the bed, cleaning the stains of blood on his skin with a wet towel and changing him into a fresh set of clothes.

Fenris sat opposite of me; his eyes never left Lucian. He would occasionally nudge his hand with his nose with a soft whimper.

"Lucian..." 

He had progressed so much since we left and with that mere reunion, everything just went... Nothing. He was robbed all over again. He was left empty.

And where was I? Where was I in all his pain? What did I do to stop it?

"Big brother is here. I'm here Lucian." My voice got shakier by the second.

Someone started to fill the room with audible cries, and it didn't sound nice at all.

This wasn't the time to show such a feeble portrait. My brother needed a positive environment and with this guy up here weeping up a storm, how could my Lucian get better?

Who exactly was this big cry baby?

My eyes were cloudier. My cheeks were sweaty. It was then I realized that it was me all along.

The one being a pathetic creature near my brother was me.

"Talk to me. Tell me what's going on in your head. I need you to help me help you. I need you to tell me... Please tell me..."

I picked him up, holding his head against my chest. I cradled him as tightly and as closely as I could as I was racked with sobs.

Where was I when he needed me?

‘Sweet little flower you fear the setting of the sun.

When the skies grow dark, and the moon shines its gentle    dawn,

You shun the night in fear of the dark.

Frown no more for the moon means no harm to you.

Good night, sleep tight and don’t fright.

Your wings shall grow for this night.

Sweet dreams and let your dreams take flight.

It's a short trip you'll regret if you missed it tonight.’

‘Shut your eyes now little flower. 

For it is a quick wander.

The moon shall be our lamp through the night. 

And soon it will say another goodbye.

Good night, sweet dreams and sleep tight.

I’ll close your eyes with a kiss of a good night.

I hope you dream of me behind those eyes. 

And once you wake tell me about your flight.’

‘But brother, you're leaving tomorrow, aren't you?’

I turned around; two beautiful pools of blue eyes stared at me in wonderment.

‘Yes, I will. I'll be home before you know it.’

‘But... How will I tell you about my dream if you aren't here?’

I didn’t drop my smile. 

‘I'll hear of it once I return. So just write them down for me and you can read it to me, alright? You can see me off tomorrow.’

There was a glimpse of sadness in his eyes, but he covered it up with a nod and a small smile.

‘Okay... onii. Good night.’

Never once did I see him complain.

Never once did I see him throw tantrums.

But I wished at that time... I wished he did. I wished he became a selfish brat. I wished he thrashed around and caused a scene.

Perhaps then... I could have stayed.

Now we were back to where we started.