The sunlight streamed through the classroom windows, casting warm golden light over the desks. Valerius Delindor sat near the back, gazing out the window with a faraway look in his eyes. The droning voice of his chemistry teacher was just background noise, barely registering.
“Valerius Delindor,” the teacher’s sharp voice rang out, cutting through his haze.
Valerius blinked, snapping out of his daydream. “Uh… yes?”
The teacher folded her arms, a smug smile tugging at her lips. “Since you’re clearly paying so much attention, perhaps you’d like to explain the reaction we just discussed?”
A ripple of laughter moved through the class, but Valerius didn’t miss a beat. He leaned back in his chair, smirking.
“Sure. When hydrochloric acid reacts with sodium hydroxide, you get water and sodium chloride. Neutralization. Simple stuff.”
The teacher’s expression tightened, and the class murmured in approval.
“Show-off,” Ryan muttered, elbowing him playfully.
Valerius chuckled, whispering back, “What can I say? Genius can’t be hidden.”
---
After school, the courtyard buzzed with students eager to head home. Valerius and Ryan strolled toward the gates when a growing commotion caught their attention.
“What’s going on?” Ryan asked, craning his neck to see over the crowd.
“No clue,” Valerius replied. “Let’s find out.”
As they pushed through the throng, Valerius immediately spotted the source of the commotion. Towering over the students stood Eryndor Delindor, his commanding presence drawing every eye. At 8’4”, his height alone was intimidating, but his striking features added to the effect. His tailored black jacket emphasized his broad shoulders, and his long, dark hair framed a face so perfectly symmetrical it looked otherworldly. His piercing gray eyes scanned the crowd with quiet authority.
Valerius groaned. “Of course, it’s him.”
The whispers began immediately.
“Who is that guy?” “He’s so tall... and gorgeous.” “Is he famous or something?”
Eryndor’s gaze fell on Valerius, and he raised his hand in a gesture that demanded his younger brother approach. But before Valerius could move, a group of girls surrounded him.
“Valerius, is that your brother?!” one asked, wide-eyed.
“You look just like him!” another exclaimed.
Valerius sighed, scratching the back of his neck. “Uh, yeah, I guess—”
Ryan grabbed him by the collar and dragged him out of the circle. “Let’s go, you facially endowed bastard,” he muttered, his tone half-annoyed, half-amused.
Valerius laughed as they broke free. “Jealousy doesn’t suit you, Ryan.”
Ryan rolled his eyes. “Whatever. Just go home with your ridiculously tall and handsome brother already.”
Valerius smirked. “Don’t mind if I do.”
---
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Eryndor’s sleek black motorcycle gleamed in the afternoon sun. The rumble of its powerful engine turned heads as Valerius climbed onto the back.
As they wove through traffic, pedestrians stopped to stare, some even snapping photos.
“Don’t these people have anything better to do than stare?” Valerius muttered.
“Admiration is but the natural consequence of excellence,” Eryndor replied, his tone smooth and refined. “Let them marvel—it is all they can do.”
Valerius rolled his eyes. “Do you have to talk like that all the time?”
Eryndor smirked. “Would you have me lower my standards to blend with mediocrity? Perish the thought.”
Valerius groaned. “You’re insufferable.”
---
The moment they stepped into the house, Ziraiah’s voice rang out like a battle cry.
“You used my hairbrush to clean your shoes, didn’t you?!”
Before Valerius could respond, Ziraiah stormed into the hallway. At 5’9”, she was tall and graceful, her auburn hair falling in waves around her shoulders. Her emerald-green eyes, typically warm, were blazing with fury.
“What? No!” Valerius protested.
“Don’t lie to me! Eryndor would never do something so disgusting, so it had to be you!”
Without warning, she launched herself at him, delivering a flying kick to his face. Valerius stumbled back, clutching his nose.
“Ziraiah!” he yelled. “What the hell is wrong with you?!”
As she moved in to attack again, Eryndor intercepted her, wrapping his arms around her and lifting her off the ground with ease.
“Calm yourself, Ziraiah,” Eryndor said, his tone calm but firm. “This unbecoming display of wrath serves no purpose.”
“Let me go, you big oaf!” Ziraiah yelled, struggling in his arms. “I need to teach him not to mess with me!”
Eryndor sighed. “Your temper is as fiery as your hair, but alas, it lacks refinement.”
Before Ziraiah could retort, Lyriana’s voice echoed from upstairs. “All three of you, to my room. Now.”
---
Lyriana stood by the window, her tall, regal frame silhouetted against the evening light. At 9’4”, she carried herself with a presence that demanded respect. Her long, dark hair fell in soft waves, and her sharp, symmetrical features radiated both authority and warmth.
“You three are utterly insufferable,” she said as her children entered. “But perhaps this gives me the perfect reason to tell you what I’ve been keeping from you.”
Eryndor straightened. “Will you be teaching them Bravo, Mother?”
Valerius frowned. “Wait, you already know about this?”
Lyriana sighed. “No, Eryndor. They are not ready for Bravo. First, they must understand our history.”
She stepped closer, her gaze softening. “You are Delindors. Our family has carried a legacy of extraordinary power for generations. Bravo is an energy fueled by willpower, one that strengthens the body and mind. But it is more than that—it is a responsibility.”
Ziraiah hesitated. “So… we can use it too?”
“In time,” Lyriana replied. “But for now, focus on understanding the weight of who you are. That will matter more than anything.”
---
At the dinner table, Lyriana gestured to Eryndor. “Ery, will you lead us in prayer?”
“With pleasure, Mother,” Eryndor said, bowing his head. “Bless this meal and the hands that prepared it. May it fortify us as we strive to uphold the Delindor name.”
As soon as the prayer ended, Valerius grabbed his plate, piling it high and eating with his hands. Eryndor gave him a disapproving look.
“Must you persist in these barbaric habits, Valerius? Use the proper utensils.”
Valerius sighed, waving the fork and knife in the air. “There. Happy?”
Lyriana chuckled softly. “It’s good to see some things never change.”
---
That night, as the house fell silent, Valerius crept into Ziraiah’s room. She lay sound asleep, her breathing soft and even.
A mischievous grin spread across his face as he uncapped a marker and began to draw on her face. He stepped back to admire his handiwork—a masterpiece of ridiculous doodles—before sneaking back to his room.
“Revenge is sweet,” he whispered, chuckling to himself as he crawled into bed.
---
At exactly 7:00 a.m., Valerius was jolted awake by the sound of distant screams. He sat up, his heart pounding, as a deep, crimson hue painted the sky. The ground trembled violently beneath him.
“What the hell?” he muttered, rushing out of his room.
Eryndor and Ziraiah met him in the hallway, their expressions tense.
They hurried to their mother’s room, where Lyriana stood at the window, her face grim. A news broadcast played on the television, showing images of chaos: buildings crumbling, people vanishing, and the same red sky enveloping the world.
“It’s happening,” Lyriana said, her voice low. “Sooner than I expected.”
“What’s happening?” Ziraiah asked, her voice trembling as she clung to her mother’s arm.
Lyriana turned to them, her eyes fierce. “You must leave. Now.”
“What do you mean, leave?!” Valerius demanded. “We’re not leaving you!”
Lyriana pulled them into a tight embrace. “You’re Delindors. Now and forever. Survive. Together.”
As the house crumbled around them, the siblings felt a strange sensation coursing through their bodies. Their vision blurred, and their mother’s voice was the last thing they heard.