Loathe the way they light candles in Rome

( I'd sacrifice my life to find you, angel of the blade )

Keres sat in silence, the little light that shone in through the windows was the only illumination she had. It was not nearly enough to brighten the whole room. But it was enough for her to see what she was doing. The woman had a crossbow in her hand, one that was tailor-made to her express specifications. All those years ago - when she first set out on her own. The woman placed the arrow in the middle of the device, and locked it in place. Before pulling, it back slowly. All the way back, until she heard a click. Keres then aimed the crossbow at the door. Her eyes focused, and her breathing slowed. Her brother could enter at any moment. She had been keeping a watch long enough to know that he always returned to his chambers around this time. It was part of his routine. He was still a hermit, even after all this time. Always preferring the comfort of his own room above anything else. So he could write in peace. Keres had read some of them, old and new. And she never liked his work. It was always too sentimental for her tastes. The woman sighed softly as she waited patiently. She wasn't sure yet if she would actually shoot her brother or not. In a way, she wanted too. Even if he had done nothing to her. It was just that sadistic little voice in her that called for bloodshed. But she wouldn't, she refrained. At least for now. She had to talk with him first. And if that didn't go how she wanted - then she could always resort to violence. Just then, the door opened. Light from the hallway spilled into the room. And Keres rose slowly from her seat. Her weapon still raised. "We need to talk." She said in a cold and emotionless voice.

ft. Eifuku-mon In
— Somewhere far away

Cactus

❝ A masterpiece of tragedy, turning even stars into dust. ❞

As time went on he started to think it would have been for the better if he returned to Xaila. Back to the safety of the old familiar house and his cosy little room. Because everything here had started to become oh so complicated. His parents really had struck on the opportunity from their hermit son leaving his room by arranging something like this for him. Marriage, a woman to call his own. And it hurt, a lot, because he knew that his family would be expecting children from him... From them. And he was sure that she would love to do such things, but the other way around. Well. Zuhayr wasn't even ready to hold hands yet, let alone create new life with someone else. It made him shiver, made him feel uncomfortable. And he had held his mouth shut about it, to Fauna... To all the people around him. He knew that only she would really care, for they had talked about such matters. But he wasn't certain what he response would be. Would she be happy for him or would she only feel a certain jealousy and sadness...? Like he had felt so many times thinking about her future. He couldn't help but feel like she would be somewhat relieved, for in a couple of weeks she would no longer have to worry about him. But could he truly part ways with someone that was constantly on his mind? he wasn't certain about that... He hated it.

And he had let his frustration out by swinging around his axe on the battle grounds. Slashing up dummies as if they were made of paper. He did it so effortlessly, as if the heavy weapon was as light as a feather. But when he was in his own little world, things like that all filtered out. It was his only way of really letting out some steam. And it was visible on every inch of his body. He wasn't particularly angry or sad, but purely... well, frustrated. It felt as if he had lost all control over his life and it made him feel anxious. He didn't want any change and he sure as hell didn't want to marry someone he didn't love. He had always thought he could get a woman he really loved. And, don't get him wrong, she was a fine woman, but she wasn't someone he could ever fall in love with. Call him a hopeless romantic or whatever the hell it was, but it was just what he longed for. He clenched his teeth, slashing his axe down a final time as the wooden dummy got split in two.... And both fell to one side as gravity won over them. Zu stared at the scene for a moment, heavy breathing leaving his lips. How did he ever end up here?

He had ignored the stares and comments and turned around in an instant, putting up the axe against his shoulder as he walked the corridors of the castle towards his chambers. He didn't want to talk to anyone anymore. He didn't want confrontation or realization that whatever future he was heading for, was even worse than what his life had been before. He had always hoped that he would get better and his life would slowly follow shortly after. And for some time it truly had seen like it was going to be like that. When he had arrived in Ravaryn and had met her for the first time all over again. When they had travelled through Avalon and Lemuria to get to Lythrania and he had seen and met so many... People... And he had seen so many new places he had only heard stories about. It was as if his life had finally taken off. And he liked where it was going. He really like the storyline so far. But... he despised this plot twist with all his heart. It felt so unfair, because he had no saying in it, despite the fact that he should have. This cruel fate should have never been a reality.

And as he opened the doors to his room and his dark eyes raised up, he came to a halt in an instant. One hand still resting on his weapon as he held his breath. His eyes widening as he came face to face with a past he had almost forgotten. And perhaps it was his fault for not even feeling the pressure of her weapon being pointed to him. For Zuhayr had never feared death or the pain that it could inflict on him; he had seen and felt it a thousand times over and over thanks to his cursed magic. Threats didn't scare him anymore. If they would hit, he would at least know there would be an end to it, something that couldn't be said about his divination. And his sister spoke.... And he frowned, tilting his head slowly. She had vanished years ago.... And they had never had a close bond. And some would say that for a brother who had never seemingly cared for their sister that he didn't feel any bond or... Any feelings for her. But that's where Zuhayr was so different to other people. "Keres..." he said softly. "I didn't know you were still alive-" he blinked rapidly as he realized that comment had left his lips perhaps a bit too soon.... He cleared his throat, shaking his head as he averted his eyes to the ground. His parents had always acted as if she had been death after all. Zuhayr had been so in his own head back then that everything around him was nothing more than white noise. Trapped in his own anxiety and nightmares, he had never had any eye for her or the troubles of his little family. Secluded in his own problems, it was safer to just remain in that solitude, after all.

( I'd sacrifice my life to find you, angel of the blade )

She did feel something, a little tug on her heart strings. When she fully laid her eyes on him again. The last time she had seen him was years ago now. They hadn't parted on bad terms. She just, left one day. Without saying anything. She hadn't felt the need to say goodbye because, to her; Zuhayr was almost a stranger. Someone she didn't really know. They lived in the same house but, they had entirely different lives. Still; he seemingly hadn't changed much. He was still the soft-spoken young man, trapped in a large, imposing body. He looked surprised to see her, though not in the sense that one would expect. The astonishment his face showed wasn't because of the fact that she had suddenly appeared into his room, and without warning held a weapon to his face. No- he looked as if he had seen a ghost. A suspicion all but confirmed, when he told her that he had suspected her to be dead. A wave of anger rushed through her body upon hearing those words. How could he ever think such a thing? Sure, she was young, had little help- and was perhaps a little rash from time to time, but. Even he could admit that she was capable, enough so to survive. Keres tightened her grip on the crossbow as she stood silently. Watching the man before her, like a predator would with their prey. "I heared about the marriage plans." She said, not even giving credence to the ridiculous notion of her potentially not being alive. "You're not thinking about actually going through with it, are you?" She inquired then. Her tone as sharp as a newly forged blade.

ft. Eifuku-mon In
— Somewhere far away

Cactus

❝ A masterpiece of tragedy, turning even stars into dust. ❞

When he looked back up at her, he saw that she wasn't pleased by his comment. He averted his eyes in an instant as he was all too aware that he most likely shouldn't have said that. His sister had always been the rougher one of them two. But Zuhayr had always kept himself away from her. Her rough life would surely match with an even more brutal death and he didn't want to come face to face with such a future. She always got in trouble, even as a kid. So his statement wasn't even that weird. She might have been deadly with weapons and so on but that didn't mean she could handle herself in any fight. She could be easily overpowered when it came down to pure muscle. Not that he would do it, he wasn't the type to resort to physical violence. Well, mostly not. Usually he only did it as last resort.

And then she spoke. Talking about the arrangements. He tilted his head more, frowning ever so slightly as he took the axe of his shoulder, putting it down next to him with a heavy thud. Keres made it all too clear she wasn't happy with whatever future his parents had laid before him and he did agree with her, but as soon as she had spoken those words, he shook his head. His dark eyes still focused on the ground below him, he didn't dare to meet her gaze. He just didn't want to talk about it. And if he would want to have a conversation about it, she would be the last person who would hear his doubts and emotions about it. The man wasn't the type to open up easily, he never had been. Always carrying the burden of everything on his shoulders without much complaint. He was a perfect little servant when one could look past his severe anxiety and his problematic magic. If he could give up that fragility and softness he had, he would surely even be an almost perfect soldier. With his type of magic and a body as well trained as his, he could see anyone's fate and easily calculate his way around it. But Zu wasn't the type of guy to even think about the potential of his magic. All he really wanted to do was live a normal life... For as much as that was possible.

"I don't have a choice," he said, eventually, looking back at her. He sighed softly, looking over his room slowly as to see if she had been through his stuff, or maybe destroyed some things. It would be fine, really, it wasn't as if he possessed anything of value. He wasn't well off in any way. The only reason why he was in this castle in the first place was because of Fauna. "The family expects me to... fulfil my duty I- I... I can't say no," Even if he wanted to, they would force him to do so. And he knew that she would force it upon them as well.

( I'd sacrifice my life to find you, angel of the blade )

The distaste she felt over his comment, was plain to see on her face. Or at the very least; plain enough for her brother to look away. In a way that suggested that he knew that he probably shouldn't have said that. Keres sighed, in an annoyed way. As she lowered the weapon in her hands. Letting it fall to her side. She honestly didn't know what was worse, Zuhayr thinking so little of her that he didn't even expect her to last on her own. Or the fact, that he didn't even do anything about it. She supposed she couldn't expect anything from him but, he could've gone looking for her, surely? Keres shook her head, in an attempt to get those meaningless thoughts out of her head. What was or could have been wasn't important right now. She needed to focus on her objective. She brought up the matter of his engagement. And when she did so, he dropped his own weapon. The battleaxe he had been carrying around. Keres suspected he had been training with it. She always wondered why he'd ever bother, when did he ever have to use violence to get anywhere? Maybe when there was no other option, but, what were the chances of that? Especially for a man like him. One who would spend his days locked in his room if he could. There were other ways to clear one's head, better ways to cope. With the nightmares, his magic brought with - all this. The situation he was now in. Keres was sure, that it ate him up from the inside. "I don't have a choice," Was his response to her earlier posed question. If Keres didn't like what he had to say before, she definitely didn't like what he had to say now. "The family expects me to... fulfil my duty I- I... I can't say no," He went on. But the woman could only scoff. She hated it when people talked like that. "Your duty?" She began while taking a few steps forward. "Don't start with that. The only obligation you have is to yourself, and no one else." They weren't some pieces on a chessboard, able to be moved around whenever their "betters" saw fit. This wasn't a game. They were playing with peoples lives.

ft. Eifuku-mon In
— Somewhere far away

Cactus

❝ A masterpiece of tragedy, turning even stars into dust. ❞

He had never been a very valuable member of the family. Having powerful magic he couldn't control, only really stunting him as a person. He had become a shut-in, locked away from people who had questions about the Rizal boy that could have been. He had read the letters his mother had exchanged with his father’s side of the family. And even though in all of them she had defended him, he could see and feel that even she sometimes was disappointed in her eldest son. And he hated himself for it. Because of course he had. He had made something of himself thanks to his writing and he had quite a nice income thanks to that talent, but besides that he had nothing. He was just as much an average man like his parents were. And he himself was fine with that, but he knew that deep down his human parents weren't. They had both lived without dragon's magic in their veins. And to be casted out and sold to another family only for the hope that it would strengthen the bonds of the family... Well, that did things to people. And they had been somewhat lucky, as his parents did fall in love eventually. But compared to their cousins and siblings, they had nothing more than their name to fall back on.

And yet their children had both been blessed by magic from their fathers side. And Zuhayr couldn't help but think that his baby brother would have been granted some kind of magic as well. Because Keres and him were both very good at what they did. Flawless, even. It was blatant proof that whatever kind of chemistry was happening between their two bloodlines, it was working. Sometimes he wondered how life would have gone if he could have prevented Lubayd from passing away that day. Or anyone's death for that matter. If only he wasn't such a coward. And speaking of such cowardness, he did finally speak up. But the way he stated his words were underlined by his doubts and anxiety. As he slowly started to stutter, getting his words together to try and explain to his sister why this had to happen. After all, he was the only remaining child of their line that could do this. She had already cast away such life when she left. And their brother, well he hadn't even made it to his first month on earth. SO that just left the hermit son that never left his shell. Or well, he finally had left it, which had been the opportunity their parents had waited for, or so it would seem.

Keres scoffed at his words. Her mentality shining through as she stepped closer to him. Zu blinked, keeping his gaze on her as a complex expression was written all over him. It had always been a difficult matter to talk about, with anyone really. Because selling people like that as if they were cattle was questionable to begin with, especially in the culture and family they had grown up with. Away from the grand lines of both the Rizals and Zinyra, they were only really seen as... Lucky individuals to have at least a sliver of such greatness, he didn't think about his heritage that way... But so be it. "Look-" he started softly as a sigh left his lips. "It could be worse," way worse even. "And besides that I don't have anything to offer- Really..." To his magic and his family. "Besides... I'm just getting married, it's not like I'm going to jail or whatever," He would just be bound to someone. And if he wanted to travel, he could. And if he wanted to stay at home and work, he could do that as well. It wasn't the end of the world. It was just a change, like any that would follow. Slowly the man averted his eyes to the ground, sighing almost silently as he did.