Kael opened his eyes and saw a small lantern above his face. Perched on it was a blue bird. It tilted its head to get a better look at him, staring with glowing red eyes for several seconds. As it fluttered its black wings, the lantern shone with a golden aura that warmed Kael’s face.

The bird then spread its wings and flew toward the open window. Kael followed it with his eyes as it landed on the window ledge. Its back feathers shimmered a deep blue, running from its crown all the way down to the tip of its tail, forming a diamond-like crest on its head. In contrast, the feathers along its chest were black. It turned once more, locking eyes with Kael for a brief moment before taking flight into the open sky.

Kael tried to move his right arm, but it resisted. Something was weighing it down. Turning his head, he saw Tania clinging to his arm in her sleep.

Carefully, Kael sat up and glanced out the window. The sun had already risen, bathing the mountain ranges of Muchu Chhish in a golden glow.

“There’s something odd about that bird…” he thought.

Then his bladder reminded him of another problem. He gently pried Tania’s fingers from his arm, but the motion stirred her awake. She stretched, arms raised high above her head. Kael’s eyes drifted down for a moment, unintentionally catching the curve of her chest beneath the nun’s black habit she wore—though without the veil. His face burned crimson. He snapped his head away and squeezed his eyes shut in embarrassment.

“Kael,” she murmured, her tone sharp despite her sleepy voice. “Dismiss those thoughts. It’s rude to look at your older sister that way.”

Kael’s face grew even redder. “Ka-Ka-Kael…”

He turned back and froze when he saw her crying, tears slipping down her cheeks like a child’s.

“You’re okay…” Tania whispered, wiping her tears. The weight of her emotions trembled in her voice.

Kael tried to lighten the moment. “Is Howard alright, Te? I can’t wait to hear how he killed that assassin.”

But Tania’s expression hardened. She raised her hand and struck him across the cheek.

Stunned, Kael turned back to her. Her eyes burned with rage and grief.

“Do you have any consideration inside that head of yours? If it weren’t for Howard, this entire town would have been obliterated.”

“What do you—”

“Father Howard is dead.”

The words cut him off. Kael blinked, then chuckled weakly.

“You’re joking.”

But when he looked into Tania’s eyes, he knew she wasn’t. His smile crumbled. His head dropped, and tears began to fall.

“If… if only I was strong enough…”

His tears fell onto the blanket. Tania rose, gently wiping them away before pulling him into her arms.

“Te, can you leave me alone for a while?” he murmured.

“Sure.”

“I’m sorry, Ate…”

“I understand, Kael. There’s food downstairs.”

“Thank you, Ate… for taking care of me.”

Tania giggled softly. “Don’t mention it. It’s not like you to say things like that.”

“Hey, I’m a decent person compared to Matt,” Kael managed to chuckle.

“Matt…” Tania sighed, sadness flashing across her face.

“If he were alive, he could’ve said something comforting to you.”

“Knowing him, I doubt it,” Kael smirked weakly, though his fists clenched at the memory of that tragic past.

Tania leaned forward and kissed the top of his head.

“It’s good you’re still alive and warm, Kael. Please, stay that way.” She placed his folded clothes at the foot of his bed and headed toward the door. Kael could see the fatigue in her eyes, the dark circles that spoke of sleepless nights she endured while he lay in a coma.

“Ate Tan.”

She stopped and turned.

“I swear, I will protect you.”

Her lips curved into a gentle smile. “Thank you, Kael. Get dressed. I’ll meet you downstairs.”

But Kael’s bladder didn’t wait. His eyes widened, and he jumped up from the bed, rushing past her.

“Ate! Excuse me, I need to pee!”

He stumbled barefoot across the wooden floorboards, urgency in every step. Tania laughed softly behind him, closing the door.

“Careful, Kael!” she called out.

But Kael barely heard her. His focus was only on relief. He made it to the makeshift comfort room outside and, after his business was done, splashed cold water on his face at the basin. He checked his body for wounds from the assassin’s attack—but found nothing, as if the battle had never happened.

He caught his reflection in the cracked mirror. Same unruly ash-brown hair. Same sharp blue eyes. Same face.

And then the memories came flooding back—Howard. The fight. The assassin’s blade. The pain.

Kael’s breath faltered, his grip tightening on the basin.

“Howard… I’m sorry…”

A soft knock pulled him from his thoughts, followed by Tania’s voice.

“Kael… you alright?”

He cleared his throat. “Yeah, Ate. I’m just finishing up.”

“Alright. I’ll be waiting inside.”

Back in the house, the warm aroma of roasted herbs and spiced vegetables greeted him. The stone walls, hung with tapestries that fluttered from the mountain breeze, gave the home a comforting glow—but the silence reminded him it wasn’t the same.

Tania set a steaming bowl of broth on the table and smiled faintly.

“Sit.”

Kael obeyed. The first sip of broth filled his chest with warmth, pushing back the lingering shadows.

But the silence didn’t last.

“Ate… what happened after I blacked out?”

Tania paused, lowered her gaze, and set her spoon down.

“We cleared the ruins. Some townsfolk who lost their homes are camped outside the walls. Aid has already been sent from the nearby towns, and the duke’s convoy is on its way.”

She drew in a shaky breath. “Howard’s body… we buried him beneath the cherry blossom tree. Next to my mother.”

Kael froze. “…Your mother?”

Tania laid her head on the table, her voice trembling.

“This may sound strange, but… Father Howard was my real father. The empty gravestone beneath the cherry blossoms… is where my mother rests.”

Kael blinked in shock. “Wait… Howard was your biological father?!”

Tania turned her head, expression heavy. “Yes. And he was a Dragon Knight.”

“Dragon Knight?! You mean—”

“Yes. The very same from the old stories Mother Emily used to tell us.”

“So… your mother…?”

“She’s buried there too.”

“And Howard…?”

“Beside her.”

Kael hesitated. “What was her name, Ate Tan?”

But instead of answering, Tania abruptly stood and reached for the bookshelf.

“She’s changing the subject,” Kael thought bitterly. “She never wants to talk about it.”

“I heard rumors,” she said, retrieving a weathered book. “That an order of assassins called the Obsidians were behind this incident. Talos… was one of them.”

“Obsidians?” Kael echoed, his heart pounding.

Tania nodded grimly. “The Obsidians were once a guild of assassins, seventy years ago, during the Valerian dynasty. The Imperial Praetorian Guard wiped them out—or so we thought. It doesn’t make sense for Talos to belong to that order.”

Kael clenched his fists. “Then I’ll find them. Every last one. And I’ll kill them.”

“Kael!” Tania gripped his hand. “Don’t even think of revenge!”

He pulled away, standing sharply. “Do you expect me to let this go? You’ve given me all the proof I need! I’ll avenge our parents!”

“Kael, I know how you feel—”

“NO, YOU DON’T! Have you ever been accused of something you didn’t do? Were you there when MOM, DAD, and MATT WERE KILLED?!”

“KAEL, ENOUGH!”

A green aura burst from Tania, vines erupting across the walls, blooming with flowers.

“Sit down!” she roared.

Kael obeyed, glaring at her, his chest heaving.

After a long silence, she sighed. “…Kael.”

He softened. “…I’m sorry, Te. I went too far.”

Kael’s voice dropped. “I saw a bird. When I woke up. It perched on the lantern. Red eyes. Black chest. Blue feathers from its crown down to its tail.”

Tania froze. “…Did it stare at you?”

Kael nodded slowly.

“That wasn’t just a bird. That was an omen-bird.”

“Huh?”

“Have you forgotten Howard’s lessons? The seven gods have familiars… messenger animals. That was one of them.”

She pulled a book from the shelf, flipping through until she stopped at a faded illustration—an identical bird. She set it in front of him.

“This is an Omen Bird. A sacred messenger of Bathala.”

Kael leaned closer, reading the old inscription beneath the drawing:

“Where the spirit of the Creator God watches, destiny walks behind.”

“…What does that mean?” Kael asked.

“I don’t know,” Tania admitted quietly.

Kael sat back, unsettled. His broth had lost its warmth.

“…I want to visit Howard’s grave,” he said, rising.

“We’ll go together. Wear something formal.”

“And if I don’t?”

Tania lifted her gaze, her tone deadly calm. “Do you want me to slap you again?”

“I DARE YOU, CRYBABY!” Kael shouted, bolting toward his room.

Tania lunged after him, nearly grabbing his sleeve before he slammed the door shut.

“THIS ISN’T OVER, YOU MORON! OPEN THE DOOR!”

“Why would I? I just can’t stop laughing at a crying baby!” his muffled voice retorted from inside.

“ARGHHH!” Tania roared—but then chuckled softly, shaking her head.

Kael leaned against the door, smiling. Locking it, he moved toward the chest to change his clothes.

Knock

Tania turned to the door on the right as she walked down the stairs. 

“Who could that be?” she thought.