Episode 6 - "A sister's path, A brother's Shadow"
The Kingdom of Ethril was alive with celebration. The streets bustled with merchants peddling their wares, children chasing each other through cobbled alleys, and the scent of freshly baked bread wafting from nearby bakeries. Yet, amidst the ordinary charm of the city, an air of reverence dominated the atmosphere.
Banners bearing Sakura's likeness adorned every corner. She was the kingdom's pride, the prodigious Light Mage destined to claim the title of "Light Knight Highness", the most prestigious honor bestowed upon the kingdom's protectors. Her golden hair and radiant smile were symbols of hope for the people, a beacon they admired and adored.
Within the castle walls, the grand hall echoed with the clinking of goblets and the hum of royal conversations. Nobles from across the realm had gathered to witness Sakura's latest achievement—a demonstration of her unparalleled mastery over light magic.
As she entered the hall, adorned in ceremonial armor that shimmered like sunlight, the crowd erupted in applause. Sakura's presence was both commanding and graceful, her aura a testament to the immense power she wielded. She raised her hand, and a sphere of pure light hovered above her palm, illuminating the room with warmth and brilliance.
"She truly is the kingdom's future," a noble whispered.
"A gift from the heavens," another added.
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Ikaru watched from the shadows, his presence unnoticed in the grandeur of the event. He leaned against a stone pillar, his arms crossed, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
"Another celebration for her," he murmured under his breath. His tone was light, almost amused, but his eyes betrayed a deeper emotion—bitterness.
He wasn't envious of her strength or her fame. He admired Sakura deeply and knew she had earned every accolade. But the constant comparisons, the whispered remarks about his lack of talent, the way even his parents had begun to overlook him—it all stung more than he cared to admit.
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As the ceremony continued, Ikaru slipped away, wandering through the castle's empty corridors. The silence here was comforting, a stark contrast to the noise and adulation in the grand hall.
He found himself in the royal gardens, where the moonlight bathed the flowers in a silvery glow. The gentle rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of crickets created a serene ambiance. Ikaru sat on a stone bench, his gaze fixed on the fountain at the garden's center.
His thoughts raced.
*"Why does it always have to be her? Why am I always the shadow?"*
He clenched his fists, shadows flickering briefly around his fingers before dissipating.
*"I don't want their praise. I don't need their approval. But… I want them to see me. To know I'm more than just her brother."*
Despite his growing resentment, Ikaru forced himself to breathe deeply, calming the storm within. He knew bitterness could consume him if he let it. And so, he buried his feelings under a facade of indifference, masking the turmoil with his usual calm demeanor.
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Meanwhile, in the grand hall, Sakura felt the weight of the crown that had yet to be placed on her head. Every praise, every expectation heaped upon her shoulders, was a reminder of the responsibility she bore.
She smiled and exchanged pleasantries with the nobles, but her mind was elsewhere. She had noticed Ikaru slipping away earlier, his presence as fleeting as a shadow.
"He's always so distant," she thought, a pang of guilt striking her heart.
Sakura adored her younger brother, but their lives had grown apart in recent years. She often wondered if her rise had inadvertently cast him into obscurity.
"Does he resent me?" she wondered. The thought unsettled her, but she quickly brushed it aside.
---
As the night deepened, Ikaru returned to his chambers. The castle was quiet now, the festivities winding down. He lit a single candle on his desk, its flickering flame illuminating the books and notes scattered across the surface.
He pulled out a worn journal, its pages filled with his thoughts and sketches of new techniques he wanted to master.
"I'll surpass them all," he whispered to himself, his voice steady. "Not to prove anything to them. But for me. For my own path."
In the solitude of his room, Ikaru felt a strange comfort. The shadows danced around him, silent companions to his growing resolve.
Elsewhere in the castle, Sakura stood on the balcony of her chambers, gazing at the moonlit landscape. Her heart felt heavy, her mind troubled by the growing distance between her and Ikaru.
"We're siblings," she thought. "I'll find a way to bridge the gap between us."
Little did they know, their paths—one bathed in light, the other shrouded in darkness—were destined to intertwine in ways neither could foresee.
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The castle was eerily quiet as Sakura prepared to leave. Her belongings were already packed, and her ceremonial armor gleamed under the early morning sun streaming through the windows of her chamber. Outside, the royal gardens lay bathed in a golden glow, dew shimmering like tiny diamonds on every petal and leaf. Birds chirped softly, their melodies tinged with an unspoken farewell.
Sakura stood at her window, taking in the view she had grown up with one last time. Her heart was heavy, a mix of excitement for the path ahead and sadness for the one she was leaving behind.
"Ikaru…" she whispered, clutching the hilt of her sword. She wanted to see him before departing, to tell him how much she cared for him, but she hesitated. She didn't know how to bridge the widening gulf between them.
Downstairs, the royal family and the knights gathered to bid her farewell. Trumpets blared as the gates opened, and Sakura stepped out, fully adorned in her new role. The people cheered, their voices rising like a wave of devotion.
Among the crowd, Ikaru stood in the shadow of a tall oak tree, his face impassive. He watched as his sister mounted her steed, her figure radiant and commanding. She waved to the crowd, her smile as bright as the sunlight, but her eyes searched for him.
"Ikaru," she murmured under her breath, but her brother did not move. He stayed hidden, his hands clenched into fists at his sides, his face a mask of emotionless calm.
As her convoy disappeared into the horizon, a strange stillness settled over the castle. The brilliance of Sakura's presence had left, leaving behind an empty void.
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The days turned into weeks, and life in the castle began to shift. Without Sakura's radiant light, the attention of the court dwindled from Ikaru entirely. It was as if he was invisible—a shadow with no one to cast it.
At first, the bitterness lingered, gnawing at the edges of his heart. He trained in secret, pouring his emotions into perfecting his techniques, but something had changed. The day his sister left, he realized the futility of his grudge.
"She's gone," he whispered to himself one evening, sitting in the garden under the silver glow of the moon. The cool night air carried the scent of blooming jasmine, and the world felt vast and empty. "There's no one left to compare me to. No one left to see me."
The realization didn't hurt—it simply left him hollow. He accepted it, his feelings slipping away like sand through his fingers. From that day forward, Ikaru grew cold and detached, his emotions buried beneath an impenetrable wall.
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After few Tears
Ikaru was now 12 years old. The castle became his sanctuary and his prison. The once lively halls now felt vast and desolate, the echoes of laughter and celebration replaced by silence. His days were filled with study and training, his nights spent wandering the gardens or reading in the archives.
He counted the years silently—six more until he could enroll in the "Academy of Ethril", the renowned institution where mages and warriors honed their skills. Until then, he had only himself for company.
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Far from the castle, Sakura's fame only grew. She joined the Royal Army, earning the title of "Light Knight Highness", a rank revered across the kingdom. Her strength, discipline, and unwavering dedication made her a beacon of hope for soldiers and citizens alike.
She led her battalion into battles, her light magic cutting through darkness like a blade. Her name was sung in songs, her deeds immortalized in tales, but amidst the glory, she often found herself thinking of her younger brother.
"Is he all right?" she wondered one evening, staring at the stars from her camp. The campfire crackled beside her, and the soldiers laughed and shared stories, but Sakura felt a pang of guilt that she couldn't shake.
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Years stretched on, and the distance between Ikaru and Sakura grew wider, not just in miles but in understanding. She was the kingdom's light, its hope, while he had become the shadow no one noticed.
But Ikaru didn't mind anymore. In the quiet of his solitude, he found strength. He poured himself into his training, mastering the techniques he had created. Each strike, each maneuver, was sharper, faster, more precise.
"Six years," he whispered to himself one night, standing on the castle's highest tower. The wind whipped around him, carrying the scent of rain. "Six years, and the world will see who I truly am."
And as the first drops of rain began to fall, Ikaru stood unmoving, a silent figure against the storm, his heart steady and his resolve unshakable.