Eclipse

Hyra and Hyrio looked at each other without saying a word. They didn't know where to start. They had been left alone for a while in the large living room, but neither of them dared to take the first step.

Hyra wiped the last tear with her handkerchief. She could see through the bay window the sun, half darkened. It had been over an hour since the phenomenon started. Their quest was now confirmed. However, she felt no fear. The presence of his brother had cleared his mind.

The latter stared at her gently. That day, which he had waited for years… His sister looked like two drops of water, except she had long hair that was dazzling gray. She was stunning. It wasn't the three-year-old who was crying over and over the last time, they saw each other. Unlike her, who had no doubt forgotten, he sometimes remembered their past.

How they liked to play together, their parents who laughed very often, the time when Hyra had shown her power for the first time…

She was there. We had to make up for this lost time. Besides, this eclipse that was forming did not bode well. It mainly meant that all demonic creatures would locate them! They would be stalked, and it would not be easy.

Fortunately, they were together!

“Hyra! I am more than happy! I have so much to tell you…”

“If you have so much to tell her, do it. Are you scared or what?”

Hearing that voice out of nowhere, Hyra jumped. Hyrio sighed as he turned to one of the large curtains.

- Get out of there! Since when are you here, my brother?

- I'm not your brother.

A stranger was coming out of his hiding place. He ran his hand through his raven black hair as her caramel eyes stared at them harshly. He was also richly dressed, arguably a member of the royal family, Hyra thought to herself. He was no taller than his brother, and his slender figure stood proudly as he stared at her for a brief moment, haughtily. Then he walked over to Hyrio casually.

“You, who's more talkative than a usual magpie... It's almost funny!”

- My brother! I would like to introduce you to my little sister...

- I know who she is. However, just because you got out first doesn't mean you have to give yourself the title of big brother! What can you be silly…

The stranger, who arrived in front of Hyrio, naturally sat in his lap. Hyra gasped in surprise as her brother tried to push him away.

- Stopped! What are you doing?

- What ?! Are you ashamed because she is here?...

- Quiado!

At Hyrio's bossy voice, which his sister heard for the first time, this “Quiado” purred strangely, sticking more tightly.

- Rrrr… What I love when you take that male and manly tone! Again!

- You overstep the line! You are…

- Shh… You're not going to say bad words in front of her, right? What will she think of her big brother?

So, as they struggled, almost forgetting his presence, Hyra made up her mind. From the moment her eyes rested on Quiado, she found he gave off a rather dark aura. However, he seemed close enough to his brother, despite his arrogance. She walked over to them.

When they finally noticed her, Hyra smiled as she introduced herself:

“Good morning Quiado! I am Hyra. You seem to know my brother well, and I am already happy to meet you! You could tell me more about him! What do you think?”

At his brief introduction, Quiado burst into a spontaneous laugh. He had to admit that Hyrio's little sister was quite a number. Many other young girls in his place would have blushed in embarrassment at not saying a word or left the room embarrassed at his daring demeanour. But not her! Curious but brave. She was indeed Hyrio's sister. He pinched his cheeks teasingly before finally standing up.

“You know what? I like her, Hyrio!”

He turned to Hyra and bowed exaggeratedly.

“Nice to meet you, Princess Moon! I am your cousin, Queen Pahela's first son! I've heard so much about you. And I have a lot to tell you about this idiot who serves as your brother. Like when he was younger, he often had nightmares and shouted your…”

Hyrio got up quickly, embarrassed at the highest point, before pushing him towards the exit:

- That's enough! Go now!

- Hold on! I'm not done…

- Oh, yes!

After he left, Hyrio sighed in relief. When their eyes met again, the twins burst out laughing too. Hyra, because this bizarre scene was still refreshing, and Hyrio, because he was most uncomfortable with what had just happened!

- I am sorry! He's always like that. He does what he wants!

- To be honest, I like it!

In fact, despite his bold and strange demeanour, Quiado had managed to lighten the mood! It had to be recognized! Hyra and Hyrio went to sit down again, talking to each other a little more freely than before, until they were picked up for a big dinner in their honour.

As Queen Pahela officially introduced her husband, King Toulbot, and her two children, Quiado, and Myralo, a four-year-old infant, Hyra noticed that the elves' attention and even Brakir was mostly on Quiado. He was flattered, however, as he strutted like a peacock among them.

It was somewhat unexpected when they had just met...

Hyrio, for his part, was particularly delighted to meet Kahelle. He began to shower her with equally confusing compliments. What made the young woman laugh anyway!

While they were served delicious food of all kinds, the conversation was going well. The twins sat across from each other, smiling at each other now and then. Amid this good spirit, Queen Pahela stood up to raise a toast:

“I would like to raise my glass, especially for my beloved nephews, who have reunited after all this time! Indeed, the opportunity is not necessarily right, but we remain hopeful that all will be well. I also want to believe that you will come back to us, safe and sound. I will continue to pray for your mission to be carried out with the greatest success. Never forget that good has always triumphed over evil and that you are stronger together.”

Immediately after his speech, the great hall was plunged into darkness, which told them that the eclipse had peaked. The valets bustled about to relight the candles from several candelabras. Immediately after, Lydar stood up to thank Queen Pahela and assure her that nothing could stop him from protecting the twins from the prophecy. As he was still speaking, Hyra noticed that he was staring at her with a look, almost tender. She looked away. He had a knack for confusing her.

Quiado stood up abruptly to proclaim:

“Father, mother, I would love to accompany my cousins! A helping hand would not be a refusal, I think!”

- My son, are you sure? You who have never left the castle...

- Well, here's an excellent opportunity to do it! I can't let Hyrio put his life to death and do nothing.

- If you insist…

Suddenly, the two large doors slammed open in front of a vast hideous beast. He had the head of a man with three horns. Its bloodied mouth revealed a triple row of teeth, going from ear to ear. His blood-red body was that of a lion, and he had a long scorpion tail that wiggled in all directions. Ofyr stammered:

“A ... A manticore! It's a manticore!”

The elves prepared for battle. But a monstrous voice stopped them in their tracks. It was the beast that shouted:

“How dare you rejoice before you even fight!!? I'll make you regret underestimating the Shadow People. Our leader Galyr, sent me right. I will devour you and feast on your flesh, miserable people that you are!”

As Quiado rushed out his father, mother and four-year-old brother, Lydar bravely stepped forward to respond by pointing at a claymore:

- For that, it will be necessary to pass me on the body, monster!

- However, you want! I'll start with you. But first of all, we're going to play.

Suddenly, a strong wind extinguished all the candles, plunging the room into total darkness.