War

That Fateful Night

After dinner was over, Jared immediately excused himself. Their grandparents and their parents still hadn't stopped the argument regarding his education.

He wished that the Council would not think how he gravitated towards Outsiders negatively. Everyone has their own opinions, they didn't need to force it that their opinion is the one that's right. Because it's one's own free will to build an opinion on his own without someone's persuasion.

And he wished that that they would stop pressuring his brother. Normally the sibling would be jealous of the other because of the attention and respect given to him. He was like that, once upon a time.

But then he was invited to watch one of Elliot's sparring sessions with Shiki when they were 9.

Suddenly he saw the weight on his twin's shoulders. The instructor was yelling them some encouragements and the occasional threats. But even a blind person can see that the instructor was merely pressuring the both of them to put the other down and show them their place.

Not let their guard down because in the real battlefield, even a millisecond can cause you your life.

Then, instead of the jealousy that he previously felt it was replaced by a newfound respect. He tried to fix their broken relationship and fortunately for him, his brother was willing to make amends. Really, most of the times he felt like he was the younger one.

And after that fateful night two years ago, their relationship improved significantly. The brothers still remember the events like it all happened yesterday.

Jared was walking in the woods peacefully. The school dismissed them early and he was excited to go home and spend time with his family. Then there was a slight rustle of leaves.

"Are you Jared Fantom?" A man asked.

"Why do you ask?" Jared retorted as he turned around with narrowed eyes which widened with recognition.

"Harold Francia..." he whispered.

Harold laughed. "Good to know that the spare knows someone like little me."

Then it was all black.

Training was over for the heir and his right hand, they finished early so they have the day for themselves. It was rare that they get to relax like this.

But fate has other plans.

"Masters!" The both of them sighed in exasperation.

"What?" Shiki snapped, annoyed that someone interrupted their peace.

"Young Master Jared was kidnapped!"

"What?" The servant flinched when Elliot turned around with a dark glare. His tone of voice was already deadly, but the servant can't resist the shiver that went down his spine when the glare was turned to him.

"Y-your parents and grandparents are waiting for you in your father's study, sir." He stuttered. Shiki placed his hand on his best friend's shoulder who was trembling, who in turn took a deep breath to calm himself. They wasted no time and rushed to the study.

Shiki was getting worried for his best friend. In the times when Jared was still jealous of his brother, Elliot was worried that Jared's whole life will only depend on the jealousy alone. He was scared that they would never have a relationship because of his title as a heir.

But when Jared was slowly but surely opening up to him, Shiki could just see the happiness that radiated from Elliot. Everybody could tell that simply talking to him without an insult mixed in the sentence made him feel relief that there was a chance, a chance for them to be actual brothers.