Brothers.

3

The next day Gabe and Josh stood with the other soldiers. They were waiting for Father to come and bid them well on the mission. Gabe's eye caught his brother talking to Luciana. He was still embarrassed about the folly of last night, but he knew something had been up with Josh. He knew his brother and even though he never seemed to notice anything wrong about Josh, he did notice and he cared.

Last night Josh had sounded pained and he was in one of his moods again. Then he suddenly knocked Gabe out, which was not unusual, but then he disappeared and went to the library? Something was up and Gabe would find out.

He walked to his brother and the beaut he was talking to. Luciana was the woman of his dreams, beautiful courageous and above all hard to get.
"Hello, Lucia!"
She scoffed when he said his nickname for her.

"How are you, Gabe?"
She mustered a smile and Gabe smiled back.

He looked at his brother. He seemed eager to get away.
Josh had already turned on his heels and was on his way, but Gabe caught him by the neck of his armor. Josh stumbled backward and turned around, redfaced!

Gabe turned back to Luciana, "Just tired, I had to look for my baby brother most of the night and then he ends up being in the library! Ridiculous!"
Luciana laughed ladylike with her mouth behind her hand as Josh turned even redder.

Gabe punched Josh playfully on the shoulder,
"Red is not your color, Brother!" Josh glared at Gabe.

"Okay, awkward! So is that why the horn was sounded last night?"
Luciana asked, batting her eyelashes for some reason.

Gabe nodded,
"And Josh still did not turn up immediately. He apparently didn't hear it and he was inside the building!"
Luciana laughed until tears rolled down her cheeks. Red as a tomato, Josh opened his mouth to speak but was cut off.

"Warriors! Go to the Gateway!" Father's voice boomed and compelled everyone to obey.

Gabe had always marveled at Father. He did his best to always appease him and to make him proud. If Father was ever to be disappointed in him, Gabe would kill himself with his own sword. He needed to be as good a leader as his father.

They entered the Gateway which was a cylindrical building with a domed roof. Inside the walls were painted with scenes representing their history.
Gabe loved the portrait that portrayed Father fighting maligan in Obscurum. Father was clad in his golden armor and flew through the air sword in hand, the best thing ever to be painted by far! In the center of the building stood an altar made of marble that shone when the light fell on it through the oculus in the dome. On the surface was a small raised circle with a small hole in the shape of a dragon.

Luciana stepped forward and took her place next to Father.
"Remember men, this mission is only for observation. Avoid any conflict with anyone and listen to Gabriel when he gives a command."
Next to Gabe Josh twitched a little. Father continued, "Be safe! I wish you well on your mission. Come back triumphant!"
The soldiers roared in approval.

Bill walked over to Gabe and Josh.

"Luciana, proceed."
She nodded and walked to the altar. Luciana removed a leather necklace with a dragon on it from her neck. She placed the pendant in the raised stone and turned it into what seemed to Gabe like random directions. A second later a black portal appeared. It seemed to draw all the light from the room. Suddenly it was cold.

Gabe tightened his grip on Focus, he was stressed about this mission. Obscurum was nothing like In Tutum and certainly not as easy as earth. Obscurum was a world at a different level and that almost frightened Gabe. He had to succeed in this mission, he had to make Father proud.