The sun's scorching heat was unrelenting at high noon, leaving the people below victim to its light - drenched in their own sweat and desperate for cool relief.

Days drew nearer to the grand event taking place at the main palace - which had been closed off for a decade and half. Prince Daniel's return would reopen the home of the imperial family, and with this single, sudden banquet - Laydel would finally have their heir to the throne again.

"Ah, so you're out here." A voice called out from behind, as Mikael threw his sword to the grass beneath his feet, standing in front of a row of straw dolls he had completely demolished. As the blonde turned his head, a familiar silver-haired man approached him, his smile only leaving the prince to sigh.

So he's returned home from his expedition.

"If you're looking for Irene, she's getting her dress fitted right now." The boy sighed softly, sapphire eyes focused on the rows of wrecked dummies in front of him. He wasn't even breathless after ruining so many - but that was normal for the men trained under Rudien Cherliann.

"I know, I'll wait for her to finish. I came here to talk to you." Rayvis seemed amused, his long silver hair swaying as he leaned against the nearby fence. His tall, lean figure was dressed loosely in clothes fit for training in the summer heat.

"About what?" Mikael turned away, already sensing the young man's smirk behind him.

"You aren't going to ask me about Daniel?"

He remained quiet for a moment, but kept his back to Rayvis. "Is there a reason for me to? I see him again soon anyway."

"If you mean the ball, you'll have hardly any time together. You do realise his return is going to jeopardise your position?" Rayvis glanced upwards, staring at a giant cloud as it swept beneath the sun. The world darkened almost immediately, as sunlight disappeared past the white fortress overhead.

"I couldn't care less about that. I never wanted to be a prince, and sure as hell don't wish to rule this empire, or fight my brother for it." Mikael finally glanced back at Rayvis, his expression dull as always, but there was a glint in his eyes.

"Daniel plans on having you move into the palace to live with him."

"Well, he's a fool if he thinks I would do that."

"What will you do then? You know you can't stay at House Cherliann forever."

Mikael paused, silent for a moment. His fingers digging into his palms, as he turned to face Rayvis with an indifferent expression, but some sort of determination was also there. "I'll continue to live here until I've finished my studies under the Duke. Then when the time is right, I'll renounce my right to the throne, and leave Laydel - for good."

Rayvis' lips were pressed into a straight line, and there was very little shock upon hearing those words. Of course, both he and Rudien had long predicted this was the course of action the second prince would take.

Mikael never wanted to be in Laydel. Even if he was earning political support now - it was abundantly because of the influence of House Cherliann. But everyone knew, it wouldn't be easy for him to continue staying here. As a prince, his duties were to stay with the empire and make a contribution.

But Mikael was not that type.

"You know," Rayvis finally spoke. "Irene will be upset about this."

"I'm aware of that," Mikael's voice quietened ever so slightly, as though she were the only thread holding him back. "But it's fine, I'm not leaving any time soon. Not until Daniel has officially been throned, and Irene has taken the position of his empress."

"Wait— what?" The look of confusion on Rayvis' face was one Mikael hadn't seen in a while. "You want my Irene to marry him??"

Mikael raised an eyebrow. "Is that so bad? She's the most capable candidate anyone knows. There's already rumours about it, you know."

Rayvis seemed dissatisfied. "Yes- but still..." a crease formed between his perfectly arched brows. "Well, I'm sure someone else would make a fine queen- like Isabella. Does it have to be Irene?"

He's still a fool for his sister, it seems. Mikael sighed, deciding not to entertain this conversation any longer.

"I'm going out." Mikael stated, rather abruptly as he turned to head back to the main building.

"Hm? Where to?" Rayvis raised an eyebrow. "Do you want me to come with you?"

"No."

And with that, the young blonde had already taken his leave. Rayvis' eyes followed him past the trees, and it was then he noticed the sun finally returned after the large cloud finally passed.

The world lit up under its scorching gaze.

He's never gone out much on his own, but he is now?

I wonder what for.

Afternoons in Laydel remained a sempiternal cycle of liveliness ebbing into tranquility. As the streets faded with the closing of stalls that evening, a young man stood from a high, secluded rooftop. His deep blue eyes glistened like the ocean, focused on the people below as they began to return home for the day.

The smiling faces of mothers calling in their children who had been playing out in the sun all day. Hearty roars of laughter from the men heading to the tavern after hours of meticulous work. Fishing boats lining up at the docks, and merchants closing their stalls for the night.

"Are you going to watch them like that forever?"

A familiar voice resounded from behind, as the cloaked figure turned to see another young man stood several metres away.

Pale blonde locks glistening in gold under the sunset hues. Familiar, deep blue eyes framed by long lashes. His expression was lacking any emotion, as always.

Mikael surveyed the expression of the tall figure in front of him. His dark hair, curled around a gorgeously proportioned face of a man who had a rather intimidating air about him. Unlike he, who was more gentle to the eyes - Daniel was far more formidable in appearance alone.

"Mikael..." Daniel's voice was quiet, but there was relief in the way he whispered the name. Even so, the first prince kept his composure and didn't appear very shocked at the sight of his brother - who he hadn't seen in years.

Perhaps he saw this coming.

"You look well," Daniel seemed pleased. "I'm glad."

Mikael sighed softly, his own figure cloaked by a white shroud - but he was far smaller in comparison to his elder brother. Even though they were the same age, somehow Daniel had grown so much more.

The first prince continued to observe his brother for moment, before a question crossed his mind.

"How did you find me?"

"Coincidence," Mikael shrugged. "I just wanted some air and I saw you here from the distance."

Something about those words was slightly suspicious. Daniel's expression remained neutral, but a hint of doubt was concealed in his gaze.

"You're sure causing a ruckus in this empire," Mikael sighed, taking a few steps toward his brother, before standing beside him. "Everyone was sure you weren't coming back."

Daniel was silent for a moment, gazing at his brother's profile. Observing the healthy colour of his pale skin, the luscious locks of gold hair peaking from beneath his hood, and his eyes. Those elegant blue eyes in which they shared in common.

They no longer appeared dull and void of light like they were in the past.

I'm so happy to see him healthy... Was all he could think, as he continued staring at his brother without processing a single word of what he was saying.

"I know there was more to your disappearance than just training under the Duke in secret. So? What were you really doing? ...Daniel, are you listening?"

The first prince snapped out of his thoughts. "Ah- sorry."

"Did you hear me?"

"...No."

Mikael heaved a sigh, glancing up at the tall male beside him. "You're going to be an emperor. You should at least know to pay attention when someone's talking to you seriously."

Daniel processed these words for a moment, but a small smile formed at the edges of his lips. "It seems I still have a lot to learn." Somehow, the look in his eyes had a glint of mischief in them, and Mikael wondered if his brother had been learning anything other than fighting.

"So? Answer me," the blonde repeated his question, ensuring his brother could hear him this time. "What exactly have you been doing these last four years? I know you weren't just training in a secret little safe place with the Cherlianns. Tell me the truth."

A stern, icy look settled on Mikael's expression - and in that moment, the air turned cold. But Daniel did not budge seeing his brother's frosty gaze.

Mikael was right - there was far more to Daniel's disappearance than what both Rayvis and Rudien Cherliann had let on. And the sturdy, silent aura encompassing the tall, raven-haired young man, seemed far from what it should have been. He had not the face of a boy who had been training and building up his strength.

But the look of a person who walked out of hell.

Daniel's collected and gentle nature could fool anyone - but Mikael saw through him like an open window.

As I thought... Mikael clenched his fists. They were all hiding something.

There was no response, for a long moment - and Daniel kept his eyes off his brother. He seemed to be contemplating whether or not he should tell Mikael the truth, but soon steeled his resolve.

"If you've already caught on, then you must have a good idea of what's been happening," His eyes sharpened. "Of what it is I've been doing."

Daniel's hand shuffled beneath his cloak as he reached into his pocket. From it, he produced what appeared to be an oddly-shaped amulet. The dark stone held between the threads appeared to be carved into the shape of a bird, of some sort.

Mikael blinked, his eyes widening in recognition as he stared at the artifact in shock.

A crow with an upturned beak.

"I infiltrated the guild of dark magicians, with the help of River Alvenicht," Daniel's expression turned grim, as though it were an extremely unpleasant place of memories he wished to erase. "In order to gain information, and find a way to rid of them as a threat."

There was a long moment of silence between the brothers. Mikael's expression was shadowed with horror, but he kept his composure.

If he joined that guild, there's no way he could have come out of it without losing his sanity.

"I'm going to be honest, Mikael," Daniel then continued. "...I don't think we stand a chance. Even with the Cherliann's power, they'll completely crush us. Even with the years that I spent as one of them, I couldn't find a single weakness. They leave no traces of their existence behind, and every member is completely sworn to secrecy and loyalty."

That's why it's been almost impossible for Sir Alvenicht to find them.

"...How did you make it out alive?" Mikael asked, and the elder prince clenched his jaw. A flurry of horrifying memories seemed to flash through his mind in that moment, and a crease formed between his brows.

That grim expression on Daniel's face already told too much.

"Nevermind that-" Mikael quickly added. "If we can't beat them, then what will we do?"

Another moment of silence. Daniel seemed to be in deep thought, as he gazed downwards at the empty streets. The people had sheltered away for the night.

"Alvenicht... He mentioned he may be able to find a solution to all this, if we gave him some time to search for some kind of- stone."

Mikael raised an eyebrow. "I don't doubt the mage's abilities, but a stone? How exactly is that going to help?"

"I don't know," Daniel glanced at Mikael. "But I do know it's related to Irene Cherliann."

Mikael froze.

"What?"

The reaction was one Daniel hadn't seen from his brother before. Stunned - completely stricken with awe and confusion, eyes wide with a mix of complex, multiple feelings.

"What do you mean, Irene? She is completely uninvolved in all of this," Mikael suddenly seized Daniel's cloak by the collar, and roughly pulled his brother toward him with a threatening gaze. "If she is harmed in any way-"

"I won't allow that to happen," Daniel interjected, completely composed, gazing down at his brother with a solemn and stern glare. "I trust in Alvenicht. But he is already aware..."

"I will not hesitate to kill him if his plan causes harm to her."

Mikael was taken aback by those words.

They echoed through his ears, over and over. And the deathly-cold gaze of his elder brother was completely unlike any he had seen before.

His eyes were as fiercely cold as glaciers - so sharp that even Mikael feared they'd cut through his heart and freeze up his body from the inside.

Daniel was no longer the same cowardly prince who feared other's wrath. Those words were completely serious - and Mikael couldn't tell whether this was how he usually was, or if it was Irene who was the reason.

He is dangerous.

Mikael backed away, but the shock in his eyes faded as he surveyed Daniel with a clinical gaze. "For someone who hardly knows her, you seem determined."

Daniel turned away, preparing to make his leave. "...She's the beloved daughter of my mentor," he spoke, his voice quiet. "Of course, I am determined."

Roof tiles clacked under the soles of his boots as Daniel made his way to the edge of the building he currently stood atop. Mikael was still in a train of thought, but watched his brother's receding figure.

The words he spoke in complete bloody intent, still echoed in Mikael's mind.

"I will not hesitate to kill him if his plan causes harm to her."

There's no way he would say that just because Irene is his teacher's relative. Mikael's nails dug into his palms. He couldn't seem to comprehend his brother's thoughts at all. Irene and Daniel had only ever met once- or perhaps they encountered more than that. But it was unlikely they ever got to know each other personally enough, for Daniel to be that serious about her.

I don't know... Mikael held his breath. Whether or not to place my trust in him.

Daniel remained seconds away from disappearing. Before he could leap down from the building and take his leave, the dark-haired young man paused and glanced back at Mikael. He took a moment to gaze at his brother's face.

The way Mikael was looking at him was reminiscent of when they were young. He would always appear slightly disappointed to watch Daniel go for the night. It brought a small smile to his face, seeing that again.

"I'll see you at the palace, Mikael." He said, turning away. I'm glad I got to see him.

With a deep breath, Daniel gazed at the world below him. The ground was a safe distance from his feet if he jumped.

"Wait!"

Just before he could leave- Daniel froze and turned back to see his brother promptly approaching him. Eyes overlayed with both uncertainty and determination, Mikael hurriedly reached into his pocket, and in his pale palms, he produced a small, circular silver object.

It glistened under the sunlight, and Daniel flinched as his eyes widened in recognition. "Is that...?"

"I have a favour to ask."

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