The Universe Rings (A Ringing Purpose)

Chapter Fifteen

Note: Ibryl and Ilis are newly added characters so they won't be in any non-edited chapters.

Kenneth and the helping group of Venenarius ran away from a fight. The eldest of the group, who everyone called Axin, had told him that they would avoid fights if possible. This Kenneth appreciated; the idea of further violent confrontation heightened his dread.

The twins—Ibryl and Ilis—shot spells at any nearby Interitus. Pushing spells, temporary paralysis spells, temporary limbo spells. In a short amount of time, Kenneth saw and heard a variety of new spells Halo had never told him about. However, any intrigue or wonder was short-lived, given the abundance of corpses, injured people, and frightening sounds.

"My dad is a Venenarius leader. He made groups of Venenarius to help people specifically for unprepared battles like this," Ibryl said from beside him, his young boyish voice nearly drowned out by the explosion of spells. "Me and Ilis don't see him a lot, but he visited this year on our fifteenth birthday—we're twins, duh—and let us join this group."

Kenneth nodded, distracted by the surrounding chaos.

"Hey, so who's your Venenarius friend?" Ibryl asked after a moment.

"Her name's Halo." Ibryl and Ilis shared amused expressions, puzzling Kenneth. "What?"

Ilis raised her eyebrows. "Halo Evans? White hair? Friends with the creepy guy?"

Kenneth frowned. Creepy guy? Oh, Dior... "Uh, yeah. That's her." A small world, he supposed, if these random Venenarius siblings knew of Halo.

Ilis extended her arm out to a nearby Interitus, who was propelled back through a shattered window. With her other hand, she slipped some coins from her pocket and passed it to Ibryl, who suppressed a smile. Their behavior only bewildered Kenneth further.

"So, you know Halo?" Kenneth asked, shuffling forward as they entered a cluttered street. He attempted to hide his flinching at loud booms.

"I mean, we were in the same space shelter for a while," Ibryl replied. "I wouldn't say we're friends."

Kenneth squinted forward at a new wave of smoke and ash. The Venenarius in their group threw spells at nearby Interitus, magically petrifying some, and causing others to hover above the ground and crash against walls. Debris littered the streets, alongside bodies—men, women, and children. Kenneth's heart grew heavy, but he found some relief that none of the dead resembled Halo.

"I think she knows I exist," Ibryl continued, and he chuckled lightly.

Kenneth didn't mean to be unkind but he could hardly concentrate on Ibryl's words right now, burdened by anxieties and his troubled mind. A person of merely fifteen shouldn't witness this much close violence. No, their eyes should be shielded, and their heart from the fear of death.

"I kinda observe her from a distance—not in a creepy way!" Ibryl winced as his sister elbowed him.

"Sure..." Ilis put on a low mocking voice as she flipped her long hair—brunette but nearly black like her brother's. "I like to stare at and talk way too much about this girl, but I'm not a creep. I swear! I only daydream about her." In return, Ibryl elbowed her, and their banter continued as Kenneth's head swam. His pulse beat and his vision grew blurry despite his constant blinking.

The group ran around a bend in the street and approached a distant fight. The older Venenarius leading in the front turned to each other, discussing how they should maneuver around the Interitus.

"I mean, she is pretty," Ibryl said, jogging beside Kenneth, who focused forward with narrowed eyes. "Her smile...and have you noticed her eyes?"