Brilliant Darkness

Chapter 1

The green fields stretched a vast distance across the gently sloping hills. The grass were warm and the Sun was shining its rays generously on the bright green grass which were slowly waving in the gentle wind. Flowers of a wonderful array of colours dotted the fields and trees stood majestically, extending their long, brown, beautiful branches which silky leaves of many different colours clung onto. There was not another place Leonard Hutorn wished to be at that moment.

There would not be enough words to describe that beautiful scene. Of course, that was because a picture paints a thousand words. Leonard gently put down the paintbrush and stared hard and long at the picture he just painted. Or anyway, pretended to.

A mischievous smile crept in.

"Watch your face." There was a tiny whisper from the pile of cloth beside him. Right. He pulled down his lips and stared at the picture fiercely, as if trying to decipher an extremely bizarre piece of puzzle. Leonard directed his gaze to a spot beside the canvas, to a small, rectangular mirror leaning against the wall beside the canvas.

On the mirror was a reflection of a tiny, little girl, who was his only sister called Prism. She had a cheerful smile on her face and she radiated brightness. She had light brown hair which was neatly tied in a lose braid. Her eyes were light blue in colour and her nose was small and timid. She had rosy cheeks which made her look like she was constantly blushing and standing out very much in her light peach skin. She had an angelic face and she was just the right size for girls her age. Leonard thought that she was considered an extremely pretty girl.

Many people had said that she would probably grow even prettier as she grows older. She'd probably inherited those pretty looks from their father, along with her carefree and confident personality.

Leonard shifted his gaze a little and saw that he had the same light brown hair, but his was cut really, really short. His hair was not allowed to grow over his ears, because of the family rule which specified the length of boys' hair in the family. That had caused him many visits to the family hairstylist, Rubine. He had rather enjoyed chatting with her while she cut his hair.

Unlike his sister, Leonard inherited most of his looks from his mother. He had dark brown eyes and a regular nose. He was extremely ordinary and unattractive but he didn't care at all. Many said that he had inherited his mother's smartness, though he was unsure of the truth.

He certainly didn't feel very smart.

She was about ten years in age. If he did his maths correctly, he was five years older than his sister. He beamed proudly. Prism shook her head hurriedly. It slipped again. He just couldn't suppress his emotions. They all just come spilling out.

He re-assumed his fierce face. She covered her mouth to suppress a giggle. A small giggle escaped her mouth. Immediately, both of them froze.

"What was that?" An elderly woman, all bent and wobbly, slowly walked towards him. She had her white hair tied in a tight bun and she wore a bright green dress which certainly didn't suit her.

She was the type of mentor which would just settle down at a comfortable coach and order him to paint. No steps, no guidance. None at all. If he was unlucky, she would ramble about how a great painter she was and how painting was all about passion before she slowly drifted off into a sleep, snoring the roof off. After that, it was almost impossible to wake her up.

He grinned. It was a miracle that she was now awake and walking. 

"Hide!" He whispered. Prism didn't need to be told twice. She ducked into the inner part of the pile of cloths, so that the mirror did not reflect her image, thus revealing their secret. Leonard exhaled a breath he didn't realize he had been holding. Well, that was a little too close. He really had to be more aware next time.

"Yes? What was what?" He asked innocently, standing up and facing his mentor. He could imagine his sister suppressing laughter at the tone of his voice.His mentor frowned. "I thought I heard someone laughing just now."

Then her attention turned to the painting he had "painted". He steadied himself , stared at his painting.and took a deep breath, preparing himself for the heap of praises he had so often obtained from the mentor.

For a beautiful work that was not his. He bit down his urge to laugh. He waited. And waited.

Surprised, he turned around when the mentor did not say a word. His jaw dropped. His mother was standing there, while his mentor was nowhere to be seen. She was wearing a plain, white gown, looking as lovely and wise as ever. In her arms, she cradled several books. She looked like a lovely ancient Greek maiden. She was known to many people as Athalia Hutorn, but she had insisted that we call her "Mother" instead of her real name. 

Don't notice, don't notice, mother. He pleaded frantically.

"Hello Leonard.  I would have to trouble you to come to my room immediately." She turned to leave after finishing her sentence. His shoulders sagged with relieve, until she stopped at the door abruptly.

"And Prism, I want you to come along too." She had noticed.

He sighed. Well, he had kind of predicted that.