Tale of Two Brothers [The Throne Saga]

Decisions

Ray woke up early, just as the sun began to peek through the curtains of their small cabin. He nudged his brother Ra'Hashmel awake. "Morning," he said, stretching and heading to the kitchen where the smell of breakfast filled the air.

Their caretaker, a nun who had looked after them since they were young, was already busy at the stove. "Good morning, boys. Breakfast is almost ready. Can you help with the chickens first?" she asked without turning.

"Sure," Ray replied, grabbing a bucket of feed. Ra'Hashmel followed him outside.

After feeding the chickens, they returned to a warm meal. As they ate, the nun talked about the city far beyond their woods. "It's a big place, full of life and opportunity," she said wistfully.

Once they were done with breakfast, Ray started clearing the table. "Ra, do you ever think about going to the city?" he asked, looking out the window towards the dense forest that surrounded their home.

Ra'Hashmel shrugged, "I do, but what for? We have everything we need here. The city's just noise and trouble."

"But there's more to life than just this, don't you think? We could find our purpose there, see more of the world," Ray argued, his eyes alight with the thought of adventure.

Ra'Hashmel gave him a skeptical look. "And leave all this? The woods, our home? For what, Ray? Dreams?"

Ray paused, then said, "Maybe those dreams are worth chasing."

Their conversation paused as they grabbed their axes and headed to the woods to chop wood. The forest greeted them with familiar sounds, but Ray's mind was elsewhere, filled with images of bustling streets and new faces. Ra'Hashmel noticed his brother's distant gaze.

"You're serious about this, aren't you?" Ra'Hashmel asked, breaking a piece of wood with a clean strike.

"Think about it, Ra. There's a whole world out there waiting for us. Don't you want to see it?" Ray's voice was full of hope.

Ra'Hashmel didn't respond immediately, focusing on his next swing. "I guess... but it's not that simple, Ray. We have responsibilities here."

Ray picked up a log, his resolve firm. "I know, but we'll never know if we don't try. I just feel like we're meant for more than this."

They continued their work in silence, the idea of leaving their woods for the city hanging in the air like the morning mist. Ray'Daniel longed for something that was missing and his Alma called to the outside world.

After their morning chores, Ray playfully picked up a stick from the ground, its length and weight perfect for their impromptu sparring sessions. "Think you can finally beat me today, Ra?" he teased, adopting a fighter's stance that was more confident than professional.Ra'Hashmel, never one to back down from his brother's challenges, selected his own stick with care.

"You wish, Ray. Let's see if your moves have improved," he replied, mirroring Ray's ready posture.The brothers squared off, the air between them charged with friendly rivalry. Ray made the first move, lunging forward with a speed that had noticeably improved from their countless practice sessions. He aimed a strike at Ra'Hashmel's side, which Ra'Hashmel parried with a swift, upward swing of his stick, redirecting Ray's momentum.Ra'Hashmel countered with a series of calculated strikes, each aimed with precision. Ray, however, danced away from each blow, his movements fluid and reactive. He ducked under a particularly swift cut and closed the distance, attempting to use his superior hand-to-hand combat skills.The fight choreography between the brothers was a blend of offense and defense, with Ray relying on his agility to evade and counter Ra'Hashmel's more structured and powerful strikes. Their sticks clacked and whooshed through the air, a testament to the countless hours they had spent refining their skills in the solitude of the woods.