Beyond Existence

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Hunt and Mirian stood dumbfounded by the scene before them. Hunt smirked, casting a sideways glance at Mirian as if to say, "Told you so," about Ryan's mental strength. Mirian sighed, a mixture of relief and resignation. They watched as Ryan gently laid Daniel down and exited the room, his expression unreadable.

"What really happened to Neav? You seem to know a lot more than I do" Ryan asked, his voice steady but laced with curiosity and a simmering anger. "And who the hell is that red-haired bastard?" His fist clenched tightly, the anger burning in him again.

"It ain't—" Hunt began, but a voice from the corridor interrupted him.

"It wasn't just Neav. Other villages nearby were hit by the attack."

They turned to see a man in his early twenties walking toward them, flanked by Lock and Brit. His white long hair and piercing blue eyes stood out in the dim light of the corridor.

"Captain," Hunt saluted, placing his right fist against his chest. Mirian bowed her head slightly in respect.

He is the youngest captain of the imperial knights, a genius among geniuses known for his unmatched fighting prowess and leadership. One of the eight pillars of Arth Kingdom; Roy Cinaed.

But to Ryan, Roy is more than that. He isn't just a distant, untouchable figure of authority; he was his brother. The brother who had taken care of him since birth. He was his model.

"Roy..." Ryan's voice softened, his anger melting away into something calmer. A small, nostalgic smile crossed his face as memories of their past flashed through his mind. But almost immediately, he snapped back to the present.

"Yo, Ryan, you've grown a lot," Roy said, grinning slightly, clearly relieved to see his brother in one piece; at least on the outside. "You probably have a ton of questions, but let's talk when we're seated. My legs are about to give out from the journey," he added, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish smile.

Mirian had secured a room for them, preparing refreshments to help them unwind. Lock and Brit accepted water, while Hunt grabbed a beer. Ryan, however, wasn't interested in anything but what Roy was about to reveal. Meanwhile, Roy, unbothered by the tension, was happily indulging in cakes and hot chocolate, like a kid savoring his favorite treat.

"You'll never change, will you?" Ryan smirked lightly, but the smile quickly faded. "It's been five years, you know..." His smirk gave way to an expressionless stare. "You never visited, never replied to any of my letters, so..." His voice shifted into a mix of sadness and anger. "...Why now? Did it have to come to this for you to show your face?" His anger began to rise, his fists clenching tightly. "If you were there, they'd all have been saved. You'd have saved them!" His voice cracked with the weight of his sorrow and rage.

"I've been holding back since you're the captain's brother, but I can't anymore," Brit snapped, grabbing Ryan by the collar and effortlessly lifting him off the ground. Ryan was shocked, Brit was half his size, yet he was powerless against her iron grip.

"The captain dropped everything and ran here on foot from the capital the moment he heard what happened. He didn't take a single break 'til he got here," Brit's voice was filled with anger, but Ryan's own fury only grew.

"That's enough, Brit. He has every right to be angry, the capital is not that far anyway." Roy said, waving his hand to signal her to release Ryan. "But captain, this brat..." Brit began, but she stopped when she saw the deep sorrow behind Ryan's eyes. She scoffed and dropped him before leaving the room in a huff.

Still simmering with anger, Ryan was caught off guard when Roy gently patted his head. "You did your best, Ryan. Stop blaming yourself," Roy's voice was soft, knowing. Despite the years of distance, Roy understood Ryan better than anyone, he knew Ryan was mostly blaming himself for failing to protect the village.