INDIVA : ECHOES OF DESTINY
William's Nightmare
William lies in his bed, tossing and turning. His breath quickens, his skin damp with sweat, as he falls into a restless sleep. And then, he is thrust into the nightmare, a memory from a time when he was just a little boy, barely eight years old.
He stands in the middle of the battlefield—Indiva’s once-pristine land now a scene of chaos and destruction. The sky is an angry blood-red, filled with thick smoke rising from burning buildings. The ground shakes under the violent clashes of power—the sound of thunderous explosions and the screams of warriors. It’s as if the very earth is being torn apart.
The distance, his father, the king, stands tall, wielding his powerful sword. Beside him is Aaron’s father, the protector of Indiva, his mystical powers crackling through the air. Both their mothers, fierce and determined, fight at their sides. They move like the storm, cutting down enemies with a force so great, it seems as though they are invincible.
But then, the ground cracks. A dark, monstrous enemy general rises, his power dark and consuming. The air around him twists as he raises his hand, a wave of dark energy sweeping through the battlefield. William watches, helpless, as the Royal Family and the Hopes, who had fought so valiantly, begin to falter.
Suddenly, William is not alone. He looks down to see Aaron—only six years old—clinging to his side, trembling. Austin, his little brother, is hugging his other side, his face buried in William’s cloak. They are both terrified, their small bodies shaking from the terror surrounding them.
William Heart
Aaron, you guys have to hide.
William's voice is barely a whisper, but the panic in it is unmistakable.
William Heart
They'll find us. You both have to stay safe.
William looks around, his eyes wild, but everywhere he looks, the flames are growing, the battle moving closer. He can feel the weight of their parents’ sacrifices—they are fighting with everything they have, but they can’t hold on forever.
From the chaos, his father’s voice calls out, desperate.
Gerik Heart
William! Aaron! Austin! Listen to me!
William turns, his heart racing. His father, weakened but still standing, locks eyes with him.
Gerik Heart
You have to protect them!
His father’s words are urgent, filled with pain.
Gerik Heart
Take Aaron and Austin into the woods. Run—don’t stop! Protect them, William! You are the last hope.
Before William can speak, his mother—eyes filled with a deep sorrow—appears beside them. Her hand reaches out, touching William’s cheek for a moment, her fingers warm against his skin.
Lily Heart
Run, William. You are the future of Indiva. Protect them... no matter what.
The power of the Hopes and Hearts flares one last time. Their combined energy surrounds the three children, glowing bright and intense. Then, in an instant, everything changes.
William, Aaron, and Austin are lifted into the air, their feet leaving the burning ground beneath them. The world around them warps and distorts as their parents’ power forces them into the forest, far from the destruction.
William’s chest tightens as he looks at Aaron and Austin, both crying in his arms. He doesn’t want to leave. He doesn’t want to run while their parents stay behind, fighting and dying. But his father’s words are clear in his mind.
Gerik Heart
You are the last hope.
The moment lasts forever. Then, the nightmare shatters.
The world goes black.
William wakes up, gasping for breath. His chest heaves, his body drenched in cold sweat. He feels the weight of the memory pressing down on him, the echo of his father’s desperate command still ringing in his ears.
Gerik Heart
Protect them, William. You are the last hope.
The images of that night—his parents, their sacrifices—linger in his mind. They will never fade. The nightmare is a reminder of the weight of his duty, of the responsibility to protect Aaron and Austin. And one day, to reclaim Indiva.
Brothers
The soft light of the morning peeks through the window, casting a warm glow on the small but cozy kitchen. AARON stands at the stove, clearly out of his element. The egg he’s trying to flip looks more like a scrambled disaster than the perfect sunny side up that WILLIAM usually makes. He flips it one more time, only for it to stick to the pan.
Aaron Hope
(grumbling to himself)
Why does this always happen to me?
He sighs, eyes narrowing in concentration, clearly frustrated, as the eggs sizzle more violently than he anticipated. AUSTIN shuffles into the kitchen, his messy hair sticking out in every direction. He yawns loudly, rubbing his eyes before glancing at the stove and then at Aaron, who’s struggling.
Austin Heart
(surprised)
Wait... you’re cooking?
Aaron Hope
(half-embarrassed)
Yeah, I’m cooking. William’s still asleep. I had to take over.
Austin Heart
(teasing, leaning against the counter)
Ah, so the prodigy is taking a break, huh? What’s this? Is it... is it some kind of experimental cuisine?
Aaron gives Austin a sharp look, the eggs sizzling even louder, threatening to burn.
Aaron Hope
(half-trying to laugh)
I’m trying my best, Austin.
Austin Heart
(smirking, walking closer)
“Best?” If that’s your best, I’m glad I’m not the one who’s gonna eat it. Looks like the eggs are plotting against you.
Aaron glares at him playfully, flipping the eggs with a bit too much force, causing them to slop over the edge of the pan.
Aaron Hope
(growling)
You know, Austin, you could at least help me instead of just standing there making jokes.
Austin Heart
(sarcastically)
Oh, I’m sorry, Master Chef. I didn’t realize I was supposed to interrupt the magical process.
Aaron rolls his eyes but can’t help the smile that edges its way onto his face. He turns back to the stove, attempting to salvage the meal.
Just then, WILLIAM enters the kitchen, looking disheveled, rubbing his eyes as he stumbles in.
William Heart
(groggily)
What’s... what’s going on? Why’s it so noisy in here?
He glances at Aaron, who’s now trying to salvage what’s left of the breakfast.
William Heart
(raising an eyebrow)
Aaron, are you cooking?
Austin Heart
(grinning)
Yeah, it’s an experiment. I don’t think we’re gonna survive it.
William Heart
(faint smile)
I had a feeling. How bad is it?
Austin Heart
(squinting)
You know how good Aaron is with knives, right? Now imagine that same level of skill applied to eggs.
Aaron Hope
(defensively)
I’m doing fine!
Austin Heart
(teasing)
You’re doing something. Not sure what, but it’s something.
William laughs softly, his tired eyes scanning the kitchen, a quiet concern flickering across his face. He glances over at Aaron, who looks exhausted, his efforts failing but his determination never wavering.
William Heart
(gently, with concern)
Aaron, why didn’t you wake me up? You should’ve let me handle this.
Aaron Hope
(quietly, focused on the pan)
You were up late. You looked like you needed sleep.
William Heart
(sighs, walking over to the table)
Yeah... I just couldn’t sleep.
Austin Heart
(sitting at the table, casual but with a sharp glance at William)
You’ve been like that a lot lately. You sure you're okay?
William doesn’t respond immediately, but the exhaustion on his face speaks volumes. He grabs a chair and sits, rubbing his temples, his tiredness more evident now.
Austin Heart
(cheerfully, trying to lighten the mood)
Don’t worry, Will. I’m sure your breakfast is... uh, salvageable. Aaron’s just making it... interesting.
Aaron lets out a small laugh, the tension breaking a little. Despite the rough start to their day, the bond between the brothers is clear. They understand each other—always trying to care for the other, even in their own little ways. They’ve been through a lot together, and no matter how much they hide it, they’re all still deeply affected by what happened.
Aaron, though still uncertain in the kitchen, sets the eggs on the table and looks over at Austin.
Aaron Hope
(serious)
Eat it, Austin. I swear I put my best effort into this.
Austin looks at the plate, then at Aaron’s face, and for a second, his usual teasing demeanor softens. He gives Aaron a small, grateful nod.
Austin Heart
(softly)
I appreciate it. Seriously.
William Heart
(smiling, tired)
Let’s just make sure we survive this first.
They all sit down, the table feeling unusually quiet for a moment. But the comfort in the shared space is palpable. Even if things aren’t perfect, they’re together.
Austin Heart
(mumbling)
Well, we’ll be eating something...
Aaron gives Austin a look, and though the food might be questionable, there’s no doubting the love that fills the room. The brothers know, despite the hardships and all the unsaid things hanging between them, that they’ll always have each other. They’ve been through too much to let go now.
Confrontation
The morning sunlight streams through the windows. Three brothers—William, Aaron, and Austin—sit at the dining table, sharing breakfast. The room is filled with the scent of slightly overcooked toast and scrambled eggs.
Aaron, determined to let William rest after a troubled night, has taken over breakfast duty. However, his cooking skills leave much to be desired.
Aaron, watching his brothers carefully, tries to mask his concern about William, who is uncharacteristically quiet. Austin, the youngest, is his usual cheerful self, cracking jokes and poking fun at Aaron's culinary attempts.
Austin Heart
(grinning, holding up a piece of burnt toast)😁:
Are we sure this is edible? Aaron, I thought this was breakfast, not charcoal art.
Aaron Hope
(rolling his eyes, trying to defend himself)🙄:
Hey, it’s not that bad! You’re still alive, aren’t you? Besides, someone had to step up since Chef William decided to take the morning off.
William Heart
(glancing up with a faint smile, his voice soft):
I’ll take over tomorrow. Let Aaron
experiment for once—maybe he’ll surprise us someday.
Austin Heart
(mock horror)😧:
Surprise us? I don’t want to wake up in the hospital! Next time, William, please save us.
Aaron Hope
(playfully throwing a napkin at Austin):
Very funny, brat. Maybe you should try cooking for once instead of running your mouth.
Austin Heart
(grinning wider)😁:
Me? Cooking? Nah, I’d rather live dangerously and eat whatever you manage to burn.
William Heart
(chuckling, but his tone has a faint edge of fatigue)😌:
Enough, you two. Just eat before it gets colder.
Austin Heart
(chewing, his tone more serious but still playful):
You know, I don’t mind burnt food if it means spending time with you guys. Even if Aaron’s cooking kills me, at least I’ll die happy 🥰.
Aaron Hope
(pretending to be annoyed, but his affection is clear):
Such a drama queen. Now hurry up or you’ll be late for school.
Austin Heart
(grabbing his bag and heading for the door):
Okay, I’m off. Try not to burn down the apartment, Aaron. And, William, don’t let him cook tomorrow, alright?
William Heart
(nodding with a small smile):
Don’t worry. Stay out of trouble, Austin ☺.
Aaron Hope
(mock stern):
Yeah, behave at school, or I’ll send you burnt toast for lunch.
Austin Heart
(laughing, waving):
Love you guys! Bye! 😄👋
The door closes behind him, leaving a moment of silence in the room.
Aaron Hope
(turning to William, his playful tone gone, his voice laced with concern):
You had that nightmare again, didn’t you?
William Heart
(hesitating, avoiding eye contact):
It’s nothing, Aaron. I’m fine.
Aaron Hope
(firmly, leaning forward):
Don’t lie to me. I saw your face at the table. I know that look. You’re blaming yourself again, aren’t you? For everything that happened that night.
William Heart
(his voice sharpening, but still low)😔:
It is my fault. I was the eldest. I should’ve done something. I should’ve saved them.
Aaron Hope
(voice rising, his emotions spilling out)😡:
How can you even say that? You were just a kid, William! You couldn’t have done anything against an entire army. You got us out. You saved me and Austin. That’s what matters.
William Heart
(standing, his voice breaking with guilt and anger):
Saving two lives doesn’t make up for losing everyone else, Aaron! Father, Mother, your parents—they all died because I wasn’t strong enough😡. I failed them. I failed you😔.
Aaron Hope
(standing as well, his voice trembling but resolute)😔:
Don’t you dare say that. You didn’t fail anyone. If anything, I’m the one who failed. I’m the spiritual guardian of the royal blood. It’s my duty to protect you and Austin, and I—🥺
William Heart
(interrupting, his tone fierce)😡:
Stop it! How dare you talk like that? You’re my brother, Aaron. My family. You’re more than just a protector. I don’t want you throwing your life away for some duty!
Aaron Hope
(emotional, his voice cracking)🥺:
But that’s who I am, William! If I have to die to keep you and Austin safe, I will. Without hesitation.
William Heart
(grabbing Aaron by the shoulders, his eyes blazing with intensity)😡:
No, Aaron. No one else is dying for me or for Austin. I’ve already lost too much. You’re not just a protector—you’re my brother, my friend. I’ll protect you, too. I’ll protect both of you, no matter what it takes.
Aaron Hope
(his resolve wavering, tears in his eyes):
William, you don’t understand. You and Austin are everything I have. You’re my family, my purpose. I can’t lose you 🥺.
William Heart
(softening, his grip on Aaron tightening):
And you think I can lose you? Aaron, we’ve already lost our home, our parents, our childhoods. But we still have each other. You’re not just my responsibility—you’re my strength. Together, we’ll protect Austin. Together, we’ll reclaim what’s ours.
Aaron Hope
(nodding, his voice barely above a whisper):
Together 🥺.
The brothers share a moment of silence, their emotions raw but their bond stronger than ever. William pulls Aaron into a firm embrace, and Aaron clings to him like the brother he has always seen him as, not just a prince.
William Heart
William (pulling back, his tone lighter but still firm):
Now, no more of this ‘dying for me’ nonsense. We’re in this together, Aaron. All three of us. And when the time comes, we’ll make them pay for what they did. We’ll take back our kingdom.
Aaron Hope
(smiling faintly, wiping his eyes)☺:
Alright, alright. But for now, please resume cooking from tomorrow.
William Heart
(chuckling):
Deal and from tomorrow you are on cleaning duty because I am not gonna babysit two kids. 😁
Aaron Hope
Copy that, sir! 👊
The two brothers sat back at the table, the weight of their shared past momentarily eased by the unshakable bond they share.
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