Chapter 5 : Grandma Said It's Fine.

The sky stretched vast and open, painted with hues of red and orange as the sun dipped toward the horizon. Astra and Grandma made themselves comfortable, sitting with ease on the serpent's back.

The sky was just another evening stroll for both the twins, who were flying up at the sky.

Kael flew close to them, his expression tight with concentration.

"You sure? That you both are fine???" he called out.

His sharp gaze flickered over Astra his usual annoyance tempered by something almost like concern.

Astra stiffened. Not because of the ride... but because Kael was the one asking if he was fine. His grip on the serpent loosened, his jaw wide open, he turned to Kael.

"I am fine…. But are you OKAY????.... you?"

Kael blinked. "What?"

Astra looked at Kael with a concerned look;

"I mean…The Great KAEL… asked me whether I am fine or not??? Did you hit your head or something?"

Kael scowled; "Forget I asked."

Astra's grandmother chuckled beside him.

"Oh, don't be shy dear. It's nice to see you looking out for Astra."

Kael huffed he looked at grandma with concern;

"Just don't fall off… are you comfortable sitting on it?? I can carry you if you aren't comfortable, Ma'am."

Astra blinked, thrown off by the offer. Grandma smiled serenely, patting the serpent's side.

"Oh, dear. Don't worry, I have seen so many things and the serpent's back is very comfortable to sit on moreover I don't want to trouble you"

Kael blinked at her, then shook his head. "it's not a trouble for me. I would be pleased to help you, Ma'am"

Grandma smiled; "Thank you, Dear. But I'll be just fine here."

Kael didn't push further, simply giving a small nod before flying ahead.

Astra, meanwhile, was waiting. Surely Kael would ask him next. He shifted slightly on the serpent's back, clearing his throat just in case Kael had somehow forgotten he existed.

Kael didn't even look at him.

Astra frowned. "Hey! The great Kael aren't you going to ask me?"

Kael shot him a side glance. "NO."

Astra gaped at him. "Why not?"

Kael smirked; "Because I want you to be uncomfortable."

Astra groaned, throwing his head back dramatically. His grandmother just laughed, shaking her head at their antics.

Ahead of them, Vael soared through the sky, moving with precise speed as he scanned the town below. The remains of Astra's house were still smouldering, and debris littered the streets. He descended now and then, pausing to check on people, ensuring no one was seriously hurt.

"Always has to play the hero," Kael muttered, watching his brother.

Astra's grandmother glanced toward Vael. Her eyes softened as she watched him move with quiet efficiency, ensuring everyone was safe before rejoining them.

She turned to Kael, who was still flying close by, arms crossed as if he were guarding them from an unseen threat.

"Your brother has a kind heart," she remarked. "He always puts others first, doesn't he?"

Kael scoffed, looking away. "Yeah. To a fault."

She chuckled. "That's not such a bad thing, you know."

Kael's expression darkened slightly. "It is when he forgets about himself."

His voice was quieter now, almost reluctant. "He acts like he's fine, but he takes everything on alone. Someone needs to watch his back, even if he won't ask for it."

Astra listened in silence, surprised by the rare honesty in Kael's tone. He had always seen Kael as sharp tongued and impatient, but now, for the first time, he caught a glimpse of something deeper something protective. Astra didn't know how to respond to that, so he simply looked away. Below, he could see the town growing smaller as they went further out of it.

His grandma smiled;

"It looks like he's not the only one looking out for others."

Kael tensed and blushed with embarrassment;

"Don't get any ideas Ma'am."

A mischievous smirk crept onto Astra's face; "Oh, just admit it!!, you care for your brother too… You love him so much"

Kael glared at Astra; "NO!! shut up"

"Oh my god… my eyes are full of tears because of your brotherly love Kael." Astra said dramatically, wiping an imaginary tear from his eyes.

Kael froze, turned slowly towards Astra, narrowing his eyes;

"NOO! Shut up!!"

Astra grinned; "I knew you cared. All that tough talk, but deep down, you're just a big softie when it comes to your cute big bro"

Kael's eye twitched; "Say that again and see what happens."

Astra ignored Kael's word he was having fun teasing Kael. As it was rare to see Kael caring about someone other than him;

"Don't hide the fact Kael!!! You are worried about your big bro."

Kael finally had enough, he turned to Astra's grandma his expression somewhere between frustration and resignation;

"Ma'am, can I do something about him?" he asked, jerking his thumb towards Astra.

She looked up at him with an amused smile, completely unfazed;

"Of course, Dear." {*with a thumbs up*}

Astra blinked; "Wait, what????"

Before he could react, Kael grabbed him by the waist, his grip firm, and shot into the air. Astra let out a startled yelp as they soared above the sky, the wind rushing past them. Astra looked down at the serpent, at his grandma, at Vael who was busy taking care of people, everything appeared small and tiny beneath him.

"KAEL!! PUT ME DOWN!" Astra flailed, but Kael held him effortlessly, his expression filled with nothing but smug expression.

"Oh, I will," Kael said, voice calm yet menacing. He tilted Astra slightly over the edge, letting him dangle just enough to feel the height.

"But if you don't shut up about the brotherly love thing, I swear I'll drop you."

Astra clung to Kael's arm instantly.

"OKAY, OKAY!!! You're not a softie!! You're a heartless monster! The meanest guy I know!!"

Kael smirked; "Don't you think that's a bit harsh. I think I should just drop you."

Astra clung to his arms tightly;

"NO..NO… you're not a heartless monster and not a meany pants too"

Kael chuckled. "That's more like it."

*** DOWN BELOW ***

Vael was finally done with taking caring of the injured citizen. He headed back to Grandma. On arrival he noticed that Astra was not there anymore and neither Kael, only grandma and the harmless serpent were there.

Vael asked Astra's Grandma; "Ma'am, why are you alone with the serpent???... where are those two??" Grandma said nothing but pointed towards the sky.

"Ma'am, is there something going up there...??" Vael looked up at the sky, only to notice that Kael was laughing at Astra, who was struggling to maintain his balance in Kael's arms, his jaw dropped in disbelief.

"What the…." He stopped mid sentenced as he felt a presence. Slowly, he turned his head to look at Grandma, who was already looking at him. Vael straightened immediately, clearing his throat;

"Ma'am, wait for me I will go and get the two of them here"

Grandma gently raised a hand, stopping him.

"Let it be," she said, smiling knowingly. "Astra deserves it."

Vael hesitated, looking between her and the chaotic scene above. Astra was yelling, Kael still smirking, and the whole thing looked more like a childish squabble than a real threat.

With a sigh, he crossed his arms.

"Fine. But if he actually drops him. I will kick his bu-"

"He won't," grandma assured Vael.

"Once they come down, I will lecture both of them… how can they leave you alone with the serpent" Vael said, as he looked at the serpent, who looked harmless.

Astra's grandma smiled;

"Oh, Dear. Its fine. The serpent's scale is actually so smooth and it doesn't even look harmful."

Vael looked at the serpent and nodded his head as if he agreed to what Grandma and Astra said.

*** UP IN THE SKY ***

Kael smirked as Astra continued to flail in his grip, sputtering threats that held absolutely no weight.

Then, suddenly-

TO BE CONTINUED....