Night had fallen. The sky was veiled in crimson, and darkness crept in with quiet authority. Beyond the palace walls, the wind howled, making the ancient timbers groan like dying wood. By the fire's glow, Noa and Lilya sat in silence, the flickering flames casting shadows across their faces—shadows heavy with grief and unspoken conflict.
From the distance came the thud of heavy footsteps. Slow at first, then closer, louder. Lilya stiffened, her wings twitching with instinct.
— "Brother… someone is coming," she whispered.
Noa narrowed his eyes, turning his face away from the fire—not from its heat, but from the chill stirring within.
From the darkness emerged soldiers clad in black, the sigil of the Black Dragon clan burning on their chests.
— "At last, we've found you," one of them sneered, a long spear in hand. His voice was cold, steeped in venom. "The fallen prince, reduced to a common soldier."
Lilya surged forward in anger, but Noa caught her wrist.
— "Stay out of this, little sister."
— "No! They will keep humiliating you. I won't stand aside!"
The soldiers stepped closer, forming a circle. The firelight glimmered in their ruthless eyes.
Noa rose slowly. His gaze was steady, resigned, as if he had long accepted this path.
— "If it's a fight you seek, then this time I will not run," he said, his voice calm yet unyielding.
Inside, Lilya clenched her heart.
"If they strike him, then I will fight too. I am no longer just a princess. I am his shield."
The fire crackled, sparks leaping skyward as the shadows drew nearer…
---
Steel clashed, blood spilled, and the enemy's screams tore through the night. Noa moved with precision—every strike aimed not to kill, but to break, to cripple, to dominate. His blade sliced through tendon and muscle with merciless accuracy.
When the last soldier fell, writhing in pain, his comrades dragged him away. Hatred lingered in their voices:
— "This isn't over! You'll pay for this, wretch!"
Noa's lips curved into a chilling half-smile.
— "Then crawl back and bring your masters. I'll be waiting."
The night grew silent once more, broken only by the fire's hiss.
Lilya stared at her brother, breathless, awe shimmering in her eyes.
— "Brother… you're incredible!"
Noa turned away, his tone heavy.
— "He was careless. Next time, it won't be so easy."
— "But how? How did you do that?" she pressed, wonder in her voice.
Noa sank his blade into the earth, exhaling.
— "I've studied the anatomy of dragons. Every sinew, every joint… all have their weaknesses."
Lilya laughed softly, shaking her head in disbelief.
— "My lazy brother, reading books? If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I'd never believe it—even if Father swore it to me. Hahaha!"
But Noa didn't smile. His gaze remained cold, though pride flickered faintly beneath.
— "Survival leaves no room for idleness."
The fire sputtered, shadows lengthened, and the weight of silence settled once more.
---
Later, as the embers died, Noa broke the stillness.
— "We should return soon. Tomorrow will bring more trouble. The further you stay out of sight, the safer you'll be."
Lilya leaned closer, voice soft yet insistent.
— "Then… stay in my chambers tonight. I'll share my room with you."
Noa hesitated, then shook his head.
— "No. If someone saw, they would misunderstand."
— "Misunderstand?" she blinked. "How could they?"
His eyes hardened.
— "They would think you're mine. You've begun to build your reputation. A rumor like that could ruin you."
Lilya smirked, though her eyes gleamed with quiet defiance.
— "Let them talk. You're worthy of a mark, Noa. I don't fear whispers."
— "No. I won't allow it," he cut her off.
She tilted her head, half-teasing, half-aching.
— "What, ashamed to share a room with your own sister?"
A hollow laugh escaped him.
— "If Rion heard of this, he'd cut me down without hesitation. Hah… Go. Rest."
Her smile faded, voice trembling.
— "You know he wouldn't… not truly."
At that, Noa's eyes went cold as winter steel.
— "Since when did you stop listening to me?"
The words struck her harder than any blade. Head bowed, shoulders trembling, Lilya spread her wings.
— "...Fine."
With a powerful sweep, she rose into the night sky. Against the crimson twilight, her silhouette grew smaller, until only the beating of wings remained. She turned once, looking back with eyes glistening.
"Brother… you've changed. You're no longer the man I once knew."
Below, Noa lifted his gaze to the heavens, his face a mask of stone though his heart twisted in silence.
— "At last… she's gone," he murmured, staring into the fading glow of dying embers.
The night swallowed him whole, leaving only firelight flickering on his solitary figure.
And so the fire burned low, leaving Noa alone beneath the weight of night.
He pushed Lilya away with ice in his voice, yet in the silence, his eyes betrayed something unspoken.
But what was it?
Was his coldness nothing more than a shield, a way to protect Lilya from whispers and danger?
Or had the hardships of exile truly stripped him of warmth, leaving behind only a soldier carved from stone?
What do you think, reader?
Is Noa still the brother Lilya believes in—buried deep beneath the armor of pain—or has he already become someone else entirely?