The brothers

The castle corridors twisted like the entrails of some great beast, the flickering torchlight casting elongated shadows that seemed to reach for the group as they followed Zayne deeper into the stronghold. 

Annie kept her senses sharp. Every instinct screamed that this was a trap, but the promise of answers about the Purgatorist—and the chance to avenge Lilith—kept her moving forward. 

Behind her, Lunara walked with quiet precision, her violet eyes scanning every archway, every darkened alcove. 

Menma, for once, kept his claws sheathed, though the tension in his jaw was unmistakable. 

The new guardians—Sybil, Saphyra, and Sylvara—formed a protective half-circle at their backs, their hands never far from their weapons. 

Then, the heavy oak doors ahead groaned open, revealing a vast chamber lit by a massive iron chandelier.

Four figures stood in the dim light, their postures relaxed but their eyes sharp. 

Zayne's golden eyes flickered to the ceiling for half a heartbeat - so fast Annie almost missed it.

**The "Brothers."** 

### **The First Brother: Garrick** 

A mountain of a man, his bald head gleamed under the torchlight, the planes of his face harsh and unforgiving.

A long beard, braided with iron rings, swung against his chest as he turned to face them. No mustache—just a sharp, clean jawline that looked like it could take a punch and laugh.

Twin axes hung at his hips, their edges notched from countless battles. His pale eyes, the color of winter frost, settled on Annie with cold appraisal. 

### **The Second Brother: Vex** 

Lean and wiry, Vex looked more like a feral cat than a warrior. His dark hair was tied back in a messy knot, a jagged scar running from his temple to the corner of his mouth, pulling his smirk into something crooked and dangerous.

He spun a dagger lazily on one finger, the blade flickering like a serpent's tongue. A whip, its handle wrapped in worn leather, coiled at his belt like a sleeping snake. 

### **The Third Brother: Dain** 

The youngest of them, with a face that still held traces of boyish charm. Freckles dotted his nose, and his auburn hair fell into his eyes in a way that might have been endearing if not for the cold detachment in his gaze.

He leaned against the wall, a longbow slung across his back, a quiver of black-fletched arrows at his hip. He didn't smile. He didn't speak. He just watched. 

### **The Fourth Brother: Kael** 

The quietest. Hooded, his face half-hidden in shadow, but the glint of a silver chain around his neck caught the light.

No visible weapons—just the way his fingers twitched, like a man who had killed so often he no longer needed steel to do it. 

Zayne spread his arms, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement. "Meet the family." 

Garrick stepped forward, his voice a deep rumble that seemed to vibrate through the stone beneath their feet.

"Did you see the kingdom along the way, it is not ruled by a King or Queen, it never was ... In fact they didn't even build it! We did !" 

"The four of us started working on it ever since we were children, planning every detail of OUR Kingdom!From this castle to the shops so that merchants could come and make a place there."

Continued Garrick talking and walking around the group...

"We ain't brothers by blood. But bonds forged in battle and loss, last longer than kin." 

"And while Zayne didn't join us until 5 years ago, he still proved to be a helpful person to this community, so we gave him the title of a ' brother ' as well!"

Annie interrupted, fingers twitching at her sides. "A touching tale. Now honor your bargain - the Purgatorist." 

Vex chuckled, the sound like gravel underfoot. "Straight to business. I like her." 

Dain pushed off the wall, his fingers brushing the fletching of an arrow. "The Purgatorist don't stay dead," he said, his voice flat. "They trade royal souls for resurrection." 

Lunara frowned. "Royal souls?" 

Kael spoke for the first time, his voice so soft it was almost a whisper, yet it carried through the room like a blade sliding from its sheath. "The stronger the royal blood, the easier it is to bring one back. Weak blood? You'll need more than one sacrifice." 

Annie started speaking " yes I know , but that isn't any valuable information, so unless you start speaking something that interests me, I will take my leave."

"You aren't going anywhere!" 

Said a voice from above the room...

The air turned to ice in Lunara's lungs as she looked up. Dozens of archers lined the balcony, bowstrings creaking, their arrowheads glinting like a constellation of death stars.

The new guardians immediately surrounded Lunara in the middle so they she wouldn't get hurt by Archers. Dozens of them, their bows drawn. 

**They were surrounded.** 

"Menma," Annie warned, but he was already tense. Her heart lurched as she saw him wipe blood from his lip - but pride flared when his claws stayed sheathed.

Vex started speaking again " there is no alliance witches, you are trapped and you will be sent as rewards for a high price, set by the ones that want you dead!"

Then—the first round of arrows whistled through the air. 

WITCH CREATION // MOTHER's HANDS 

Annie's creation managed to block all of the attacks, but they had plenty more arrows, and started shooting them again.

The witches were trapped as Lunara with a frustrated face says" fk if only we would get a chance to counterattack, as she used her ' steel creation ' to coat her hands.

Garrick used the chance to run towards them, holding his axes ready to kill them...

But in a flash...

Zayne moved in a blur of crimson, his sword flashing as he appeared before Garrick , who's eyes opened in shock.

"What kind of joke is this!!!! Move!" Shouted Garrick angrily.

While Zayne with a smiling face said:

"I changed my mind , I'm on the witches's side!" 

The last thing Annie saw before the arrows blotted out the torchlight was Zayne's smile - not triumphant, but almost... relieved.