Chapter 20: Taste 2
The golden light of the setting sun bathed the sprawling manor in a warm, amber glow. The sky above was a canvas of deep oranges and purples, the colors gradually blending into the twilight. Tain and his older sister Jora, sitting on the broad stone steps of their family’s manor, took in the serene beauty of the evening.
Tain, around seven years old, had tousled dark hair and bright, curious eyes. He leaned against Jora, who was a few years older and had striking dark hair that cascaded in waves down her back. Their fingers were intertwined, sharing a moment of quiet companionship.
Their father, a robust man with a cheerful disposition, was tending to the grill. His strong hands expertly flipped skewers of meat, and he whistled a merry tune. Occasionally, he glanced over his shoulder with a warm smile, his eyes crinkling with affection as he looked at his children.
Their mother, a formidable warrior with a commanding presence, was engaged in a training bout with their older brother, Karance. She wielded an axe with fluid grace, her movements both powerful and precise. Karance, by contrast, fought with an unarmed style, using gravity magic—an essence art that allowed him to manipulate the force of nature with an effortless elegance.
The training session was a captivating display of skill and harmony. Karance floated and glided through the air, his movements almost ethereal as he used gravity to his advantage. His body moved with a fluidity that seemed almost supernatural.
Their mother countered his every move with the axe. Each swing sent a resonant thud through the air, her strikes as forceful as they were controlled. Despite the intensity of the battle, the mutual respect between them was palpable. Their movements were synchronized in a dance of combat, a testament to their bond and skill.
Tain watched with wide eyes, his excitement barely contained. “Look at them, Jora!” he exclaimed, nudging his sister. “Mom’s swinging so fast, and Karance is floating!”
Jora, her dark hair catching the last rays of sunlight, smiled down at him. “I know, right? Karance is amazing with his gravity magic. It’s like he’s part of the air itself.”
Their father, having finished grilling, brought over plates of food. The aroma of grilled meat mingled with the scent of blooming flowers from the nearby garden. As he approached, he ruffled Tain’s hair affectionately. “How are my two favorite kids doing?”
“Great, Dad!” Tain said, grinning up at him.
Jora nodded in agreement. “We’re having the best time. Look at how Mom and Karance are fighting. It’s incredible!”
Their mother and Karance concluded their bout, both breathing heavily but smiling with satisfaction. Karance extended a hand to his mother, who clasped it with a grin. “That was a good match, Mom,” he said, his voice filled with admiration. “You’re as fierce as ever.”
Their mother, wiping sweat from her brow, laughed. “And you’re as slippery as ever. You almost had me there a few times.”
Their father set the table on the lawn beneath a sprawling oak tree, its branches casting a canopy of shade. The table was adorned with a vibrant array of dishes—steaks, skewers, salads, and a fruit tart gleaming with the colors of the sunset. The family gathered around, their laughter and conversation filling the air.
As they settled into their seats, their father served Tain and Jora generous portions of grilled meat. “Eat up, you two,” he said with a grin. “You need your strength for all that running around.”
Jora took a bite and sighed contentedly. “This is delicious, Dad. You always make the best grilled meat.”
Their mother, with her hair still slightly tousled from the fight, leaned in to offer them a warm smile. “I’m glad you like it, dear. It’s nice to have a peaceful evening with the family.”
Karance, having caught his breath, ruffled Tain’s hair with a playful grin. “You’re looking like a warrior already, Tain. I’ll have to be careful when we train together.”
Tain beamed up at his brother. “I can’t wait! I want to be just like you.”
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Jora chuckled, her dark hair falling into her face. “I think you’ve got some competition here, Karance. Tain’s pretty determined.”
The meal was a celebration of family, a moment of shared joy and togetherness. Stories were told, jokes were exchanged, and the warm glow of lanterns created a cozy, inviting atmosphere. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the stars began to twinkle in the darkening sky, adding a touch of magic to the evening.
Jora leaned over to Tain, her dark eyes sparkling. “Remember, Tain, no matter what happens, we always stick together. That’s what makes us strong.”
Tain nodded earnestly. “I know, Jora. We’re a team.”
As the evening wore on, the family sat back, sated and content. The remnants of their feast were cleared away, and the children, tired from the day’s excitement, were ready for bed. Tain and Jora hugged their parents tightly, their hearts full of love and security. Karance, with a final, affectionate tousle of their hair, bid them goodnight.
As Tain drifted off to sleep that night, his dreams were filled with the warmth of the day—the golden sunset, the laughter of his family, and the comforting presence of his loved ones. It was a time of peace and happiness, a precious memory that would stay with him always, even as life’s complexities unfolded in the years to come.
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The manor, once a symbol of warmth and security, was now a blazing inferno. The fiery glow of the flames illuminated the night sky, casting long, flickering shadows across the surrounding landscape. The once-grand stone walls of the manor were crumbling under the assault of the fire, their surfaces blackened and charred. The smoke billowed into the sky like dark, malevolent clouds, and the acrid smell of burning wood and melting metal filled the air.
Amidst the chaos, Tain and Jora huddled together on the stone steps leading up to their home. The heat from the flames was unbearable, searing their skin and making it difficult to breathe. The once-beautiful gardens were now a wasteland of smoldering ashes and scorched earth. The tranquil beauty of their childhood had been replaced by a scene of devastation and despair.
Tain, now around twelve years old, was holding Jora tightly, his face buried in her dark hair. Tears streamed down his cheeks, mingling with the soot and grime that covered his face. Jora, a few years older and still possessing her striking dark hair, held him close, her expression a mix of fear and determination. She shielded him from the searing heat with her body, her arms wrapped protectively around him.
The heat was almost unbearable, and the sounds of the burning manor were punctuated by the occasional crash of falling debris. The sky was a hellish red, and the air was thick with smoke, making it hard to see or breathe. The once-clear lines of the evening sky were now obscured by the fiery glow and the heavy smoke.
In front of them, a brutal and deadly scene was unfolding. Their mother, a fierce warrior, was locked in combat with Karance, their older brother. The fight was unlike any training bout they had ever witnessed. This was a battle to the death, a struggle of life and death marked by a fierce, almost palpable intensity.
Karance, his face set in grim determination, floated effortlessly above the ground, his gravity magic allowing him to move with an unearthly grace. He wielded his power with brutal efficiency, his movements swift and precise. His eyes, usually warm and kind, were now cold and merciless. He had become a force of destruction, a being of pure, unrestrained power.
Their mother, though fierce and skilled, was no match for Karance’s overwhelming strength. Her axe, which had once been a symbol of her strength and skill, now seemed like a mere toy against the onslaught of her son’s gravity magic. Each swing of her axe was met with a countering force, each strike absorbed or deflected with ease.
The clash of their combat was deafening, a cacophony of metal against metal, the roaring of flames, and the anguished cries of those who witnessed the fight. Karance’s gravity magic distorted the air around him, creating ripples of force that sent shockwaves through the ground. With each pulse of power, the flames roared higher, as if feeding off the energy of the battle.
Tain and Jora watched in horror as their mother was driven back, her movements growing slower, more desperate. She fought valiantly, her face set in a grim mask of determination, but the sheer force of Karance’s attacks was overwhelming. His power was relentless, a hurricane of destructive energy that battered her defenses.
With a final, devastating burst of gravity magic, Karance struck. The impact was catastrophic. Their mother was thrown backward, her body slamming into the crumbling stone of the manor. She lay there, her axe shattered, her body broken. Her eyes, once fierce and full of life, were now vacant, her spirit extinguished by the overwhelming power of her son.
Tain’s heart broke at the sight, and he clung to Jora, his cries of despair barely audible over the roar of the flames. Jora, tears streaming down her face, tried to comfort him, her voice choked with grief. “We have to stay strong, Tain. We can’t give up.”
Their father, who had been frantically trying to save his family, rushed toward the scene, his face a mask of anguish. He shouted out, his voice hoarse and desperate. “No! Stop this, Karance!”
But Karance’s eyes were hard, his expression unyielding. As their father closed in, his desperation gave way to a tragic, futile struggle. Karance’s gravity magic swept him away, sending him crashing into the flames. The fire consumed him quickly, his form disappearing into the inferno. The loss of their father was swift and brutal, a final, heartbreaking blow to the already shattered family.
In the aftermath of the carnage, Karance landed in front of Tain and Jora, his face a mask of cold resolve. His eyes, still glowing with the remnants of his gravity magic, surveyed the ruins of their home. He approached them with an unsettling calmness, his voice soft but firm.
“Come with me,” Karance said, his tone devoid of any warmth. “There’s nothing left for you here.”
Jora, her face streaked with soot and tears, stepped in front of Tain. Her voice was strong, despite the pain and fear etched into every word. “No, Karance. We’re not going anywhere with you.”
Karance’s expression shifted, a flash of anger crossing his features. “This is not a choice, Jora. You have to leave with me.”
“No,” Jora repeated, her voice unwavering. “You’ve taken everything from us. We’re staying here.”
Karance’s eyes hardened, and he clenched his fists, his frustration palpable. “You’re making a mistake. You don’t understand what’s happening.”
But Jora stood her ground, her gaze unyielding. “We understand more than you think. We’re not leaving.”
With a final, angry glance, Karance floated upward, his gravity magic propelling him into the sky. The intensity of his emotions, now directed outward, created a powerful gust of wind that scattered debris and ash across the charred remains of the manor.
As Karance disappeared into the night, Jora sank to her knees, pulling Tain close. The two siblings embraced tightly, their bodies shaking with grief and fear. The heat from the flames was relentless, but the cold emptiness within them was even more severe. They were alone, the last remnants of their family consumed by the inferno.
The once-grand manor was now a smoldering ruin, a stark reminder of the happiness they had lost. The flames continued to rage, the fire a cruel symbol of the destruction that had befallen their lives. Tain and Jora, wrapped in each other’s arms, faced the darkness together, their future uncertain and their hearts heavy with the weight of their losses.
In the midst of the devastation, the siblings remained united, their bond a beacon of strength amidst the chaos. The fire burned on, but their resolve was unyielding. They were determined to survive, to find a way forward despite the horrors they had faced. As the night deepened, they clung to each other, their love and resilience shining through the darkness of their shattered world.