“ A Boy With A Familiar Smile . “

Brytos refused to see the Carnelians round up what was left of the Tanzanite army, he saw a few that had safely escaped underwater but he didn't pursue them nor told anyone. He refused to see the fear and despair in the townfolk's eyes as they landed ashore with a message of tyranny.

"Are you happy?" he asked his brother, who played with the silvery crown that belonged to the King.

"More than satisfied," Baco said, unfazed. He then turned to him with a grateful look that made Brytos sick. "Thank you, for saving me… as a gift, dear brother, I will be giving you Tanzanite."

But Brytos pretended he didn't hear a thing. Instead, to take his mind off of things, he decided to explore the castle.

It was bright and beautiful. Especially, the gardens. It was not anything he had seen before. The plants were alive and tender, but he imagined them burnt and withered, now that it was under their care. A few Carnelians had tried to trash the place and Brytos had sent them off for a good lashing. Anyone who tried to loot and destroy was going to meet his wrath. It was the least he could do after what he had done.

And then he was off to the forest. It was quiet and it seemed like he was the only one there. As he ventured further, the leaves crunching beneath his feet became quieter. He gazed up above, saw the shyness of the crown, and wondered what the forest would've looked like in the dark, with only the moon and stars lighting the way.

He stepped forward and felt something under his foot. He moved the leaves out of the way and picked up a pen.

He only examined it for a few short seconds before he heard a ruffling sound behind him. He placed the pen in his pocket. It was the old man, The Alumnus, he recalled.

"You're alive," said Brytos.

"So are you," he simply said, then turned to pick up a mushroom at the root of a tree. Placing it within his robes. "These are for healing scars, the right remedy for those who suffered from a burn," he explained.

Brytos pursed his lips. "Of course,"

"Would like an ointment for that?" asked The Alumnus, continuing to pick up a few more without looking at him.

He placed his hand on his charred chest. Once the magma had cooled, it couldn't hurt him anymore but it did leave a nasty scar. But he shook his head, "No need."

The Alumnus only hummed. "Saving a vessel from its master will not be easy, with a conscience like yours and a person like your brother."

"Do you know how to?"

"No, but I have killed one before to end their pain," he said and stared at him. "I am afraid that this would destroy you and everyone around you,"

"I know,"

-

After he had finished his walk outside, he returned to the castle, flying high above, taking his time. There was a window that was barred from the outside, but he didn't pay it much mind. He entered the King's Chambers, where his brother resided.

The room was big and lacked a sense of ownership. His brother was at the desk, comfortably reading a book as though he was guilty of nothing.

"The Tanzanite Stone is upset. But I do wonder why they can't just do a thing themselves, they have to power to kick us out but doesn't," said Baco.

"Maybe because this is all just a game to them," shutting the book close that Baco was reading, " and you're just a chess piece ready to get sacrificed,"

"So grim. Where was the Brytos that had promised to save me from its evil clutches? Have you given up so easily?" mused Baco, who didn't seem bothered at all.

"No, I'm just looking for that brother I wanted to save," Brytos said with a sneer.

Baco rolled his eyes and opened his book back. "Shame. If you don't want this room, you can have whatever, they're all empty anyways, even before we arrived."

Brytos left the room, unable to spend a single second with him. He went down the marbled stairs, his steps echoed as though the whole place was deserted. The previous staff was spared to take care of the whole castle, but even though they weren't brave enough to come out of their room, some had run away into the night. This place will be filled with Carnelian maids and servants soon, either way.

He forced the large door open of the Grand Hall, it was dusty, as though no one had opened it for a long time. It was different from what they had but if he say so himself, it looked a lot more comfortable and less like an execution room.

The Tanzanite Stone did not glow to acknowledge his entrance. It was asleep.

Brytos entered the hall and discovered the thrones. It was tarnished. There were three of them in front, a large one in the middle, a slightly narrow one on the left, and a smaller one on the right, the upper half of the smaller one was sliced. He went over to pick it up and place it back where it was supposed to be, he molded it together, crudely fixing it.

Then a curtain fell, spreading dust everywhere. He scrunched his nose, squinting.

And there he was, plastered on the walls behind the throne. Brytos stood there agape at the mural. It was beautiful he thought. The King looked young and happy, with the Queen just as joyful on his left, and at their right was a boy with a familiar smile. He took a sharp intake.

Cerulean hair and Azure eyes.

He blinked once again thinking he was dreaming and the boy would disappear soon. But he didn't disappear and he wasn't dreaming. What he was seeing was surreal.

"Can't be," he whispered.