New life chapter 17

The sun's first rays poured through the window, gently touching Rudra's face with their warmth. Despite the soft light bathing his skin, Rudra remained motionless, sound asleep. A trail of saliva dripped from the corner of his mouth as he lay there, like a child who knew nothing but comfort. He shifted slightly, turning onto his side, letting the sun warm his back instead, his gentle snoring filling the room.

A small hand reached out toward him, grazing his cheek, playfully pinching it. Selene, his young sister, giggled softly as she continued to pinch his cheeks, entranced by how soft they felt. "Big brother, your cheeks are so smooth! Smoother than mine!" she said in a high-pitched, innocent voice.

Ray, standing beside the bed with a smile, nodded. "Let me see." He leaned closer, curiosity bright in his eyes. Rudra, still caught in the peacefulness of his sleep, remained unaware of the playful intrusion.

For the first time in what felt like forever, Rudra was at peace, his face softened by sleep rather than the weight of the world. The months of hardship, the days without rest, the constant struggle to survive—those had left their marks. But now, in the warmth of the sun and the safety of his new family, he found something that had been missing: rest.

Ray, unable to resist the curiosity, reached out and gently touched Rudra's cheek. His fingers lingered on the soft skin, surprised by its smoothness. "Wow," he whispered, "it's like I'm touching the fur of an animal."

Selene, excited by Ray's words, eagerly continued her exploration, touching Rudra's face with more intensity.

Suddenly, Rudra's eyes flickered open, and he felt the pressure on his chest, the gentle pinches on his cheeks. A sharp, cold voice cut through the warmth of the morning. "What?"

He looked around groggily, his usual detached expression slowly replacing the serenity of sleep. His eyes focused on the girl sitting on him, and a sudden realization hit him. *Without even thinking, I've slipped into my usual self.*

In an effort to bury the coldness inside, Rudra forced a smile and said, "Oh, my cute little sister, what are you doing here?"

For a moment, the room fell silent. Selene blinked up at him before bursting into laughter. "Look, big bro! He said I'm cute! Don't you think I'm cute too?"

Ray, standing nearby, smiled warmly. "Yes, you're very cute, my lady."

Rudra let out a deep breath, his eyes shifting toward Ray and Selene. *Humans... they're so easily pleased by compliments. It's not that I think they're foolish, but I can't help but wonder… am I the fool for thinking I'm above it?*

For a brief moment, he felt disconnected from them, but before the thought could settle, Ray's voice broke through his musings.

"Rudra, how about a walk in the garden?" Ray suggested, his tone light.

Rudra, still half-dazed from sleep, squinted his eyes. "Give me a moment."

Ray, already lifting Selene off of Rudra's chest, said, "I'll wait outside. Come when you're ready."

"But I want to play with big bro!" Selene protested, her voice filled with genuine excitement.

Ray's smile was patient. "Big bro will play with you another time. He needs to get freshened up."

As Ray carried Selene out of the room, Rudra remained silent, watching them disappear down the hall. When they were out of sight, he sighed deeply. *Another day, another round of meaningless interactions.* The weight of being around others, always engaging in pleasantries, drained him, but he knew he couldn't let it show.

Standing up, Rudra moved toward the mirror. For the first time in what felt like forever, he saw his reflection clearly—a reflection he hadn't seen in over a year. His face had returned to its normal, unmarked state. "Ha, what's with my face?" he muttered, surprised at how well he had rested. "Did I really rest that well?" He noticed the saliva at the corner of his mouth. *I'm not used to this. Rest was a luxury on the streets. Even getting an hour of sleep was a blessing. The food I ate was nothing but scraps. But after just one night of sleep... this much recovery? It's almost like I've been reborn.*

He wiped his face and stared at himself, considering his next steps. He was ready to face the world again, to act like the normal kid everyone thought he was.

Stepping outside, he found Ray waiting by the door. As soon as Rudra's foot hit the threshold, Ray suddenly jumped in front of him with a grin.

Rudra reacted instinctively, his eyes widening in mock fear. "Are you trying to kill me or what? Just because I took a place in your family?"

Ray chuckled, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "I tried to do it quietly, but you didn't die. Guess I'll have to push you off into the garden to finish the job."

Rudra let out an exaggerated sigh, putting his hand on his chest in mock distress. "That broke my heart into pieces. I was happy to have a brother, and then I find out he's trying to kill me."

Ray's face twisted into a mock-serious expression. "What can I do? I can't have you in the race for the next crown prince."

Rudra, unfazed, raised an eyebrow. "Me? I don't plan to sit on some chair for the rest of my life, staring out windows."

Ray blinked, his playful tone vanishing. "Why is that?"

Rudra, his voice calm but firm, responded, "I don't like doing things for others just because they expect it. I don't care for the chair or the title."

Ray looked at him for a long moment, his expression thoughtful. "You sound different sometimes. It's like there's another side of you when you talk like that..."

Rudra paused, a fleeting thought crossing his mind. *Is it necessary for me to act like my usual self? Maybe they need to understand why I'm here, why I'm not interested in their world of titles and expectations.*

After a moment, he nodded slightly. "Maybe it's just how I am. But I'm not here for that damn chair."

Ray seemed to process his words before giving a small, understanding nod. "Let's go to the garden. The morning view is always nice here."

As they walked toward the garden, a familiar voice called from behind.

"Rudra, Ray, where are you going?"

It was Riven, Rudra's new elder brother. Rudra turned to greet him with a smile. "Ray was going to show me the garden."

A mischievous smile appeared on Riven's face. "Come with me. I'll show you around."

Before either Ray or Rudra could protest, Riven dragged them through the castle. They arrived at a large, open area, its white walls gleaming in the sunlight. Several sections of the grounds were set aside for different types of training: sword practice, sparring, archery, and even magic. As Rudra looked around, he noticed how meticulously the space had been arranged.

Riven, clearly pleased with himself, grinned. "Rudra, you said you wanted to learn how to fight with weapons, right? Why don't we practice for a bit? I'm no expert, but I know a little about all kinds of weapons."

Rudra, realizing Riven wasn't going to let him back out, simply nodded. "I'll do my best."

Ray stepped in before things could go further. "Big bro, don't you think he needs some rest?"

Riven's tone shifted to something more serious. "Don't you know what's coming in the next month? If he gets chosen, he'll need to be prepared for what's coming. This isn't just about learning for fun."

Rudra, confused, asked, "What are you two talking about?"

Ray and Riven exchanged a glance before turning to Rudra. "We'll explain later. For now, just know we'll help you through it."