The murder of the five brothers had long been a festering wound within the family. The truth was, the tragedy had been carried out by the eldest son of the eldest brother; a punishment, not a senseless act of violence. Yet, even though it was retribution, the father couldn't bring himself to kill his own sons, despite their grave transgressions.
It was impossible for him to destroy his own bloodline in such a manner.
To complicate things further, the fifth brother had retaliated with a madness that shook the family to its core. He had hunted down several of the eldest brother's sons who had ventured away from home. Though he spared their lives, he ruthlessly shattered their strength, leaving them mere shadows of the warriors they once were.
The bond between the two brothers had long since disintegrated, replaced by a venomous animosity that ran deeper than any blood ties.
Over a hundred years had passed since those events. The question hung in the air like a ghost, How could it come to this? We share the same mother, the same blood...
Breaking the tension, the one-eyed old Beastman, the fifth brother, sighed heavily. "Brother Walcott, can we put aside the hatred, just for a moment? Tell me, do you know what's happening in the Cross Royal Court right now?"
Walcott, the fourth brother, looked at him gravely. "After Father died, the eldest brother took the throne, but it hasn't been easy for him. The court is filled with infighting and complex factions. Even the elders have their own agendas. Ever since the Cross Tribe retreated to the mountains decades ago, the royal court has fractured. Each tribe looks out for itself now."
He paused, his voice thick with worry. "Famine has ravaged the wasteland for months. The royal court's resources are strained like never before, and unrest is spreading. Marshal, that cursed boarman commander, has already claimed a third of the northern wasteland. If the court hadn't finally agreed to send our strongest warriors to confront him, he might have unified the entire north by now."
The fourth brother's voice lowered, taking on a darker tone. "And it's not just the boarman. The humans across the mountains are watching, waiting for us to crumble. This famine, it's a gift to them. You know they won't just sit back and watch. They'll come for us."
His eyes locked onto his brother's, searching for a response. "We need to send more warriors, stronger than before. But the royal court... It's been over a hundred years, and we're running out of new blood, out of warriors who can fight. If you stay silent, Fifth Brother, the Cross Royal Court will fall. It could be the end of everything."
The one-eyed Beastman shook his head, his voice steady, yet filled with finality. "I left the royal court long ago, Fourth Brother. The Cross Royal Court and the Maine clan... they're nothing to me now." Without another word, he vanished into the shadows.
"Fifth Brother!" Walcott shouted after him, his voice tinged with desperation. "Will you really stand by and watch the Cross Royal Court fall? Will you watch our family perish?"
But the only answer was silence.
After a long moment, the old Beastman's anger faded, leaving only a bitter smile. He sighed deeply, retreating from the skies above Canyon City, disappearing into the night.
...
Meanwhile, in a different part of the kingdom, Jane pushed open the door and stepped inside. Logan, her longtime companion, gently pulled her close and guided her to sit beside him.
"Jane," Logan began, holding her hand with a rare intensity, his eyes searching hers. "Do you know my dream?"
I can't be selfish, Logan thought. I can't let my fear hold her back from being the woman she dreams of being.
Jane liked him deeply, so much that it was evident in every glance, every word. He knew it wasn't right to leave her waiting, to deny her the life she wanted simply because of his own unresolved fears. He couldn't keep enjoying the ease of their relationship without giving her what she truly desired.
So, he made up his mind.
"Silly girl," he whispered, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Will you marry me now and face all the hardships that lie ahead by my side?"
Jane's heart leaped at his words. She had waited so long for this moment, for him to finally ask. Breaking free from his embrace, she nodded vigorously, tears of joy streaming down her face.
"I will! Of course, I will!" she exclaimed before collapsing back into his arms, overwhelmed with happiness.
Logan smiled, holding her tightly. "Then it's settled. We'll get married when my uncle returns."
"Yes!" Jane nodded again, burying her face in his chest. But then, after a moment, a thought struck her, and she pulled away slightly, her emerald eyes searching his face.
"Wait... are you marrying me because of what my fourth brother said earlier?" she asked suddenly, her voice filled with curiosity.
Logan blinked in surprise. "You overheard that?"
Jane nodded, not bothering to hide it. "Yes, I heard everything."
There was no guilt in her voice; just honesty. She hadn't meant to eavesdrop, but the conversation had drifted to her ears, and now she needed to know. "If you're only proposing because of my father and brother's pressure, there's no need for you to do so. I won't hold you to it."
Logan looked at her, surprised and a bit taken aback. "Really?" he asked, an odd mix of relief and disbelief coloring his voice.
Jane nodded, though her heart tightened painfully at his reaction. Why did he sound so... relieved? Would he be happier if he didn't have to marry her? The thought brought a wave of sadness, and she fought to keep her voice steady as she said softly, "Yes... if that's the case, you don't have to marry me."
Logan stared at her for a moment, and then suddenly, a look of pure joy spread across his face. "You really mean it?"
Jane was caught off guard. What could he possibly be so happy about? Did the thought of not marrying her bring him such relief? She felt her chest tighten with suppressed emotion, and her eyes began to well up again.
"Yes," she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. If not marrying me makes you this happy...