Still Above the Surface
Still Within the Territory of Reginae
Ancient Watchtowers of the North
Before the darkness of the night and the moonlight shining over the vast forested region, a person could be seen sitting with a white hood.
This person had their head lowered, and their robes swayed gently with the breeze, which also made the surrounding vegetation move in the same way.
It was clear that beneath the long white hood that covered their entire body, this person was wearing black combat attire.
This enigmatic figure was not a member of the Reginae faction, as they were now glaring with clear contempt and superiority at the vast territory under Reginae's influence, even though most of that influence was closer to the Oculi capital.
Several kilometers ahead of the calm and tranquil forest, where Selene and Salon were at that exact moment returning to the underground base, they leapt from tree to tree, using their Oculi abilities to enhance their physique, making them extremely fast and agile.
They advanced several meters with a single jump, side by side, still far from the ruins of the Oculi capital.
[Person - Deep, Amused, and Contained Sigh]
It was evident that the person was far enough away not to be easily recognized by the extremely sharp perception of the twins, Selene and Salon. But at the same time, this didn't mean that the mere presence of the person, miles away on the horizon, wasn't enough to make them feel something strange.
It was a dense presence that was observing their movements, not hiding its active Oculi power so calmly on the outside, but violently intense in its emotional and sentimental turmoil, all channeled into one thing: unrestrained violence.
This presence seemed to watch from the darkness of the night, and often from the shadows during the day, around the area of the ancient Oculi Capital.
Selene and Salon were attentive enough to sense whether this mysterious person would cross the "line" of what was acceptable and venture deeper into Reginae's territory.
Even though the twins were only 15 years old, they seemed oblivious to the first glances that might have led anyone to believe they were heading into Reginae's territory.
But in reality, they knew exactly who was transmitting that dense presence from afar on the horizon.
This presence was subtle, though thick, and very few people would fail to notice it even if it was just a few meters away.
However, with a subtle movement, as though considering advancing, a breeze was seen blowing out from within the territory toward where the person sat.
It started as an ordinary breeze, but it was entirely different in the eyes of that person. Despite their momentary inattentiveness to their surroundings, they were saved from a potentially fatal injury while seated because of their instinctive reflexes against extreme danger.
Revealing, before the slowed time in front of their eyes, the breeze they felt pass by them and across the forest in front of them was nothing less than a gentle and artificial breeze, with a nearly invisible wind cut inside it.
It passed by the person, who remained stunned, easily cutting part of the structure on the top of the ancient, centuries-old, deactivated tower. The tower was now overtaken by forest vegetation and ancient roots.
The person froze, wide-eyed, watching as part of the tower fell to the ground, creating a slight tremor and startling the animals that were quietly resting near the area of the abandoned tower.
The wind cut sent in that direction from several kilometers away was enough to lightly cut the person's cheek, even though their reflexes were extremely fast and instinctive.
Then, a strong breeze swept through the entire area, making the vegetation sway, as seen through the person's astonished eyes.
Calmly returning their gaze, this person looked ahead, towards the one who had performed such a feat so subtly.
Using the initial breeze as a "cover" to hide their attack, the white hood, which had been over the person's head, was flung backward onto their back, revealing that this person was the first and youngest renegade of the Reginae faction.
This was the person largely responsible for the success of the bloody fall of the entire capital five years ago, brought down by the forces of the Inanis faction.
[Person - Deep, Pleasurable Breath]
Showing this person before with an expression of contempt and superiority, immediately changing their face in response to what had just happened.
Using one of their fingers from one hand over the slightly open cut on their cheek, which was bleeding in small amounts toward the side of their chin.
Resulting in that bizarre and strange scene where, with their finger stained by their own blood coming from the cut, they then proceeded to bring it to their mouth to taste it in a masochistic manner.
While they stared intently in the direction of the one who had caused this, standing before them yet simultaneously so distant, miles away from them at that exact moment.
At that precise moment, showing their penetrating and deeply empty eyes, accompanied by an insatiable thirst for pleasure, far beyond the sadistic.
It was evident in the reflection of their eyes that they were initially only observing that entire scene of the vast forest stretching before them.
But it would be a mistake to think that they were merely observing this, for their eyes were enhanced by their Oculi abilities.
Their vision reaching so clearly that they could see the one responsible for the wind-cutting blow, almost 50 kilometers away.
Into the vast forest that surrounded much of the Reginae territory and the former capital of Oculi, now in complete ruins at that very present moment.
Their eyes, conveying genuine distorted amusement, were focused on the top of one of the tallest trees, 50 kilometers away ahead of them.
And on this tree, on its lateral branch near the top, there was the scene of Selene with her combat attire swaying in the breeze of the night.
She was holding nothing less than her incandescent blade, materialized from her very essence.
Pointed toward the person she knew was watching her perfectly at that very moment, even from such a distance.
Sitting next to her on the branch was Salon, with an expression of utter provocation and a penetrating gaze directed at that person.
Selene's eyes clearly conveyed a burning and violent hatred, even though her expression remained serene, her gaze just as penetrating.
The twins and that mysterious person couldn't hear each other, being obviously so far apart, as they silently whispered the name of that person.
And that same person, wearing a white hood over their black robes, ended up seeing Selene as she whispered this to him.
[Selene - Inaudible Whisper] Be aware, the Queen Lilian made us promise that we would not seek revenge against you. -
Further transmitting that calmly violent presence, Selene was using her ability at its highest intensity.
[Selene - Inaudible Whisper] When she took us in after that night five years ago, when you hurt her heart so much, then... [Subtle Motivated Sigh] -
Channeling it through her entire energy blade, so that the next cut she launched into the wind would be the last thing that person would see before their head was decapitated from their body.
[Selene - Inaudible Whisper] ...Think very carefully before you soil the ground of the old capital with your filthy feet, you bastard! [Deep, Merciless Breath] -
That person, upon hearing those whispered words, interpreted them easily from the movements of Selene's lips.
This made that person smile upon realizing that Selene, more than her brother Salon, hated them deeply for the suffering Queen Lilian had endured.
Lilian had cried so much alone in her room after the fall of the capital, knowing who had been the central piece of the bloodthirsty plan by Inanis against hundreds of innocent lives, lives that were cut short by Inanis' troops as they marched on the capital before its fall.
The person in the white hood made no sign of advancing toward them, understanding the "warning" Selene had given them at that moment.
Choosing instead to remain standing on the tower, now partially collapsed, showing that the person was a 16-year-old boy.
And that he was none other than Nero, the older brother by a year of the twins, Selene and Salon.
Unlike Salon's short white hair and Selene's long white hair as white as snow, the young boy, Nero, had black hair that was somewhat long, reaching down to the base of his neck.
This allowed Selene and Salon to see Nero putting his white hood back on over his head.
[Nero - Inaudible Whisper] Is this how you treat your dear big brother, whom you haven't seen in five years... -
Still looking at them both in an amused and joyfully contained manner, while his clothes fluttered in the wind.
[Nero - Inaudible Whisper] I thought dad and our uncle had taught you better manners. [Deep Breath] -
That breeze of wind was not from the environment, but from his own body, which was using his Oculi abilities.
[Nero - Inaudible Whisper] Before I cut his neck and our uncle's neck almost six years ago, for what they assumed to have done to our mother. [Sadistic & Nostalgic Breathing] -
[Distressing, Echoing Cry From Nero's Mother's Past, Inside His Mind]
[Nero - Inaudible Whisper] While they don't know, I was still half-asleep, hearing the two of them talk in the living room during the night. [Deep Breath]
[Desperate, Echoing Cry From Nero's Mother's Past, Inside His Mind]
Nothing less than completely activated, affecting the air circulation around him, and lightly creating subtle cracks that slightly shimmered at the edges of the air.
[Nero - Inaudible Whisper] Only after hearing them that night could I remember the most traumatizing day of my life. [Slight Tremor & Voice Falter] -
[Echoing, Amused & Pleasurable Laughter From Nero's Father & Uncle, From the Past]
[Nero - Inaudible Whisper] Where our defenseless mother was forced by our father and uncle to become pregnant by both of you in such a horrific way. [Deep, Disgusted Breath] -
[Echoing Scream of Suffering From Nero's Mother, From the Past]
These words, though Selene could not hear them, she could perfectly understand each one that made up the last sentences of her older brother, Nero.
This made her freeze, instinctively wishing to charge forward, only to be quickly held back by Salon's strong grip on her hand.
Salon, whose gaze was lowered, had understood exactly what Nero was trying to do in that place—he had nearly made Salon fall for that disgusting psychological game.
But what Nero hadn't counted on was that, now, the one who had taken his place as the protector of his younger sister, Selene, was Salon himself.
Salon, the "older brother" by a mere five minutes before his twin sister, Selene, who was standing right beside him at that moment.
With his eyes lowered, showing his teeth as his desire for vengeance was evident in his expression and empty stare.
Meanwhile, silent tears were seen streaming down her face, causing her to lift her gaze, still held by Salon's hand at her side.
She looked into Nero's eyes, who was staring at her, realizing that she had become emotionally stronger with Salon's support over the past five years.
[Selene - Inaudible Whisper] ...In the past two years, with the help of Queen Lilian, I have gained the strength not to seek revenge against you! [Slightly Failed Breath] -
Selene intertwined her fingers with her brother's hand at her side, reaffirming that she was with him, not with Nero.
[Selene - Inaudible Whisper] I promised myself that I would seek justice for what you did to the ones we loved most. [Slightly Trembling Breath] -
That was enough to leave Salon, who had previously kept his gaze lowered, with no reaction, looking sideways toward his sister's face, Selene.
[Selene - Inaudible Whisper] Including my dear older brother, who is, at this very moment, dead inside your heart. [Deeply Motivated] -
She formed a genuinely confident and motivated smile on her lips as she looked into Nero's eyes.
[Echoing, Frightened Screams of Their Mother Calling Nero's Name, From the Past]
These final words from Selene made him smile genuinely, as he turned around and leaped calmly toward one of the trees around them, clenching his fist with strength.
In a Single, Fleeting Blink
In Various Places of Time
Before his eyes, Nero observes several memories throughout all the months of his twin siblings' gestation, her playing with him so sweetly and attentively.
In many of the most beautiful memories when he was one year old, she was smiling with a few light bruises on her face, made by the hands of her own husband, Nero's father.
His mother was always smiling, with such a loving gaze, even when the pain made her cry, not noticing that Nero was smiling so innocently, still a baby.
All of this repeated itself so many times throughout Selene and Salon's pregnancy. For a second, Nero saw himself before his mother in the darkness.
She smiled at him as she always would, calling his name in such a sweet way, walking toward him to embrace him. But at the moment Nero was about to do the same,
the darkness gave way to the exact day he killed his father and uncle, after wielding his own blade, materialized from his essence, for the first time.
It was also the day he was embraced by his mother for the last time, as she failed to stop him from doing that.
From a broader perspective, it showed him embracing his mother, while his shimmering blade pierced her heart.
It easily passed through her back, illuminating the room in the darkness, with absolute silence around them.
[Echoing & Distant Voice of Nero's Mother]
My dear, Nero. Know that my greatest mistake in life was staying by your father's side, up until this very moment, but... [Subtle Tremor & Failure in Her Voice] -
Even through the pain, she kept smiling at him, embracing him with so much love and affection, just as she always had since he was a baby.
[Slightly Trembling & Failed Breathing from Nero]
Even when she bled from her mouth, everything seemed to lose its color in the eyes of young Nero, as his 11-year-old eyes grew distant.
[Echoing & Distant Voice of Nero's Mother]
...Without a doubt, my greatest success was having you by my side, through everything I lived, my dear children... [Affectionate & Emotional Sigh] -
This resulted in the scene of the world slowing down through Nero's horrified perspective, his eyes widening as he witnessed it.
[Slightly Trembling & Failed Breathing from Nero]
His mother fell to the left side of her body, standing, with an empty look in her eyes, void of any life.
She reached the floor after losing all her strength, as her life drained away with her final breath.
She made him promise to protect his siblings, no matter the cost, from that day on, for he was the oldest brother.
[Loud & Irregular Heartbeat Echoing from Nero]
Nero had already discovered part of the truth about the many abuses she suffered at the hands of both his father and his uncle, simultaneously, many times.
Meanwhile, in the background, the door to the room opened due to the noise and shouting from inside the room. His little sister Selene and his brother Salon appeared.
They were seen sleepily, then horrified, covering their mouths and widening their eyes.
The scene before their innocent eyes—almost ten years old, just a few weeks shy—was one they would never forget.
They saw Nero from behind, holding his shimmering blade with one hand, shattering into particles in the air, disappearing.
Beside him, his mother lay face down on the floor, and further beyond, his father and uncle had been decapitated.
Both were near the room's extinguished fireplace, and the entire house was without light, except for Selene and Salon's room.
Part of the light from their room spilled out, casting its glow on Nero's back in the room as he cried, his face showing complete psychological devastation.
However, he didn't show this expression to his siblings behind him, who then screamed their mother's name, and their father and uncle's. This caused Nero to close his eyes, returning to the past.
- (Act 3 - Internal Changes) -