A haunting past

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So then, let’s gather the data we have. Three monsters attacked the orphanage of Master Albert this evening and killed Sister Olith, Master Albert, and some children. Among them were those who were about to take the acceptance test for the Seven Heroes: Dave, Nash, Charles, and others as well among the little ones. The one who survived was a youth named Andria.

—Dave, how is that boy?

—He is fine. The indicators seem good, but he kept mumbling one word: “Brother.”

—Did he have a brother?

—Yes, after investigating we found out that Charles was his brother from different mothers.

—Interesting. Then what about your investigation into young Andria?

—There isn’t much information. Only that he is the son of the hero Leon, but unfortunately he had no talent like his father, so he lived in a small village, and Albert was the only one who took care of him.

—Hmm, I was disappointed. I thought he was the one who did this with the monsters, but my assumption was wrong after seeing Master Albert’s corpse.

—What did you find?

—We found cursed bones inside his body.

—Cursed bones? The monsters here, in this report, cannot do that. They are beasts that cannot use magic. So someone was controlling them… but what was his goal?

—Send our scouts to investigate.

—Understood.

In the recovery room, Andria was there.

—So Andria is one of those who survived until now?

—Yes. Only me and fourteen children remain.

—So this is what’s left of our families. How pitiful.

—I wasn’t strong enough to protect them. My helplessness now makes me want to die.

—Dave, don’t talk about death carelessly. You’re not the only one who feels this burden. Do you know my greatest regret, Andria? It’s that when I learned I had a brother three months ago, and when I wanted to tell him… he died.

—That’s another heavy burden. A brother?

—Yes, Andria. I had a brother. It was Charles.

—What!? Charles? But I always saw you two together.

—Yes, since we were always with everyone else, nothing seemed strange. I thought the same. But one day I learned the truth. By coincidence, by luck only… he had been near me all this time.

He remembered that day, when he first knew. He was seven.

—Hey, look at that kid. Look how he stares. What are you going to do? Hit me?

—Yes, I will.

—Then do it. Come on, there you go! You’re doing it. Wow, even though you stagger, you walk like a penguin, haha!

Dave stepped forward but suddenly, in a second, Dave struck the bullies and the ones with them. After hitting them:

—Hey, you! I know you. You’re from the southern district. Tell me, do your caretakers know you came here?

The children were shocked.

—No, they don’t.

—That means if I kill you here, nobody would know, right?

—We’re sorry, so sorry! We didn’t know that boy was from the northern district. We’re sorry!

—Then go.

—Charles, are you okay?

—Yes, I could’ve beaten them alone.

—Oh, look at this little brother, defeating three bullies by himself! Charles the hero. Is that what you wanted? How pathetic. Let’s go.

—Pathetic!? You call it pathetic? What I call pathetic is that you can’t beat me in running.

—No, but I’m stronger than you, and maybe I’ll beat you now in running because I’m injured.

—Yeah, right.

—Fine, let’s race now—with your leg hurt?

—Yes, that’ll make my victory easy.

—Charles, are you sure?

—As sure as I am of my strength, I’m sure of my speed.

—Dave: Oh, such confidence. Fine, get ready… One, two—

—Goodbye, Dave!

—You cheater! See you later, loser.

—I won’t lose, I’ll catch up!

Charles, panting after winning:

—See? I’m better than you.

—Yes, well done Charles. Now go visit Uncle Albert, he wants you.

—Why?

—I don’t know.

—Dave, did you finish your tasks today?

—Yes, all of them.

—Are you sure?

—Yes.

—Good, then I’m off to see him.

In Master Albert’s room, he was reviewing some papers when suddenly someone knocked on the door. It was Charles.

—Oh, Charles, come in. How are you?

—Uncle Albert, did you call for me?

—Yes, I have something I want to tell you.

—What is it, uncle?

—What I want to say is… why don’t you do your job cleaning the storeroom?

—The storeroom? Why?

—Because it’s your job, and you agreed to it.

—I don’t remember agreeing to anything.

—Then let me remind you. Last night, in front of Dave, you said you agreed to help.

“Wait… last night?” Charles remembered.

“Charles, I need your help. Uncle Albert needs a break from all the work. Don’t you agree?”

“Yes, good. Then come tonight, in the garden, when I call you. Agreed?”

“Yes.”

That night Charles went to Albert and Dave, finding them talking.

—Charles, Dave told me you agreed to help me too. Is that true?

—Yes, uncle. You’ve worked so hard, you need rest. Dave and I will do all the work. Right, Dave?

—Right.

—Then no choice. Dave, you clean the upper part of the room, the tall library shelves. Charles, you clean the lower part, under my desk. I’ll leave it to you.

—Looks like you’ll sweat, Dave, cleaning the tall shelves.

—Yes, it’ll be tiring.

—And you, Charles, the floor—that’s easy.

—Yes… wait, you mean the basement floor?

—Correct. Now, start.

—On second thought… maybe I’ll quit this job.

—Where do you think you’re going? No escape!

Uncle Albert grabbed Charles and threw him into the basement.

There Andria began cleaning until he found an old paper with pictures. His father was in them. Time froze for him. Questions stormed his mind: Who is this woman? Why is my father with her? Is it related to this letter?

He read:

“To Master Albert, my second wife bore a son. He is six months younger than his brother. Both my sons are entrusted to you, for I am a soldier, I don’t know when I may die. Amid these wars I don’t know if I’ll live. If news of my death reaches you, raise both my sons to be strong, as you taught me. This is the wish of your student, your soldier, and your son not by blood.”

—A brother older than me by six months? There is no one older than me… except Dave. No, impossible. Then the one who protected me all this time, who was my friend, was my elder brother? And I didn’t know? Why didn’t Uncle Albert tell me? And does Dave know? I must find an answer.

He heard that brat’s voice coming upstairs.

—Uncle? Oh, you’re here. Did you finish?

—No.

—Are you joking?

—No, you’re the one joking, hiding this from me!

Charles slammed the paper down.

—So after all these years, I couldn’t escape it. What a fool I am. Tell me now, is what’s written true? Does Dave know? Who is this woman? Tell me!

—You want to know? Fine. Yes, it’s true. Dave is your elder brother, but he doesn’t know. The woman is your father’s wife, whom he married for special reasons.

—Are you kidding me? You want me to accept that someone who was my dearest friend was actually my brother, and I never knew?

—Listen, Charles. Maybe you didn’t know you were brothers, but you spoke together, you laughed together. I always saw you side by side, never apart. I even wondered—are siblings always like that? What you feel now is only strangeness. But when you try to accept that strangeness…

—What do you say now? How can I accept this?

—Don’t try to accept it or force it. Maybe it’s a test of fate. You can either live your life knowing and be prepared to tell him, or you can remain as you are now—someone who is afraid in front of me. This is your test. Tell me tomorrow what you want, and I’ll do as you say. As for the storeroom, clean it later.

—Charles, did you clean the storeroom?

—Yes, Dave. I tricked you, haha!

—What?

—Yes, but I didn’t just trick you, I tricked everyone. I made them believe cleaning the rooms would let Uncle Albert rest because he was sick. But in truth, he’s fine.

—How did you convince them?

—Easy. Some rumors that the uncle was sick, that was enough.

—Well done, your cleverness beat us. Then you should look back and laugh at their faces.

—What? Are you serious?

—No, joking.

—Oh hey, guys! How are you?

—So uncle isn’t sick?

—Oh, looks like he recovered fast. Good, this place can’t handle two sick people.

—Wait, wait—get him!

—Dave, run! Hahaha!

That day Albert decided to keep the secret until the right time, until Charles was ready to tell his brother.

—That’s why I regret, Andria.

—Don’t blame yourself.

Meanwhile, in a cave filled with the stench of the dead and endless screams, there was someone who had slept for thousands of years. Someone whose awakening silenced the mountain itself. A vision came to me of a young man who will soon appear…

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