The eldest child of Anna Quinn and Albert Winstorm is named Ayron Quinn. He is Myori Quinn's best brother as well. Albert is Sunhill Village's most well-known chief. Albert is the main source of their family's income. Anna has been a good mother to Ayron and Myori, even though she does not have a job.
Myori Quinn was the first to wake, as always.
Sunlight hadn't yet breached the horizon, but her tiny feet were already padding across the creaky wooden floors of their home. Her vision swam with sleep, the world a blur of muted colors until she reached the kitchen doorway and saw her mother, Anna, humming over a freshly baked morning cake. The scent of vanilla and honey curled into the air like a promise.
"Hello, my sweetheart," Anna said without turning, her hands dusted with flour. "Have you awakened already?"
Myori nodded, rubbing her eyes with one fist, the other clutching her wooden dragonfly. She shuffled forward, bare feet sticking slightly to the flour-dusted floor. Anna turned and opened her arms, and Myori crashed into them, burying her face in her mother's apron.
"Do you want some candy?" Anna murmured into her hair. Then, pulling back, she narrowed her eyes playfully. "Hold on. Did the two of you consume a whole bottle of cookies yesterday?"
Myori grinned, her cheeks dimpling. "Maybe."
Anna's fingers found her ribs, tickling mercilessly. "Maybe? Maybe?!"
Myori shrieked with laughter just as Ayron stumbled into the kitchen, his hair a wild tangle of sleep.
"What's the noise for?" he grumbled, though his lips twitched.
"YOU!" Myori lunged at him, tiny fists flailing. "Bad guy! Traitor!"
Ayron caught her mid-attack, hoisting her upside down while she giggled uncontrollably. Anna shook her head, but her smile was fond.
By the time the sun had fully risen, the Quinn-Winstorm household was in chaos.
Albert Winstorm, chief of Sunhill Village and perpetually unimpressed, sat at the head of the table, watching his children devour their fifth plate of cake. His wife's cooking was, as always, adequate.
"This is good... isn't it?" he said, deadpan.
Anna's spoon clattered against her plate. "Albert."
"Hmm?"
"The market," she said through gritted teeth. "Isn't it calling you?"
Albert stood, chuckling. "Ah, yes. The burdens of leadership." He ruffled Ayron's hair, kissed Myori's forehead, and vanished out the door before Anna could throw something at him.
Ayron and Myori exchanged glances.
"We're going to the woods," Ayron announced.
Anna sighed. "Of course you are."
The market was alive with haggling voices and the smell of spiced meats. Albert disappeared into the crowd, leaving Ayron and Myori near Old Man Herri's candy stall a rainbow of sugar-coated treachery.
"Don't move," Ayron warned Myori. "I'm getting a fishing rod."
"I'll be fine,"Myori said, already eyeing a jar of honey drops.
She wasn't fine.
Three boys older, broader, with the kind of grins that promised trouble cornered her before she could blink.
"Hello, little girl," the leader crooned, his breath reeking of sourberries. "Would you like to share some candies?"
Myori shook her head, backing up only to bump into another.
"Aw, don't be rude," the second boy sneered. Myori attempted to depart, but two other men blocked her way.
Then THWACK!
A rock struck the leader's shoulder. He whirled, snarling THWACK! Another hit his knee.
"WHO'S THROWING ?!"
A blur motion of Ayron yanked Myori's arm, and they were running, Yuo whooping as he pelted the boys with pebbles from the sidelines. The trio ducked into an alley, then another, laughter and curses fading behind them.
When they finally stopped, Myori was shaking.
Ayron crouched, wiping her tears. "Hey, my princess. Why are you crying? Didn't we do enough damage to them?"
Myori hiccuped. "Thank you, brother... You guys always protect me. I just if you weren't here, how could I ?"
Ayron pulled her close. "I'll always be beside you. No matter what."
Then SPLAT!
Mud smacked Ayron square in the face.
Yuo grinned. "Sorry. My hand slipped."
Myori's tears dissolved into giggles.
The trio's camp was unchangedblankets strewn, their fire pit cold. Yuo poked through Myori's latest plant collection ("This one looks like Albert's nose!"),
To test his fishing rod, Ayron is heading to the stream. He was drawn to the fallen trees and some starches, but they are no longer appealing to him.
But....
He saw it.
The stream their glittering paradise was red.
Fish floated belly-up, their golden scales dull in the crimson water. The scent was metallic, wrong.
"MYORI! YUO!" Ayron's shout tore through the woods.
They came running. Myori took one look and pressed her face into Yuo's sleeve. "We should go back. I don't want to be here."
Ayron met Yuo's eyes. "Let's go home."
They walked faster than usual. The air was thick, heavy, like the forest itself was holding its breath. The birds had gone silent. The closer they get to the village, the more terrified they are of seeing something. They can feel it in air.
Then smoke.
Black plumes coiled above Sunhill Village.
once he had taken the bush out. They saw the nightmare. People are dying as a result of red creature attacks.
Demons....
Myori's eyes were swiftly shielded from the death scene by Yuo. Ayron's breath came in ragged gasps. The demon's growl vibrated through the earth, its crimson body slick with blood his village's blood. His fingers tightened around the splintered stick in his hand. It was the spear of Albert.
From the village, a demon spotted them, howled, and charged at them. "Run!" was yelled by Yuo upon seeing that. Looking at the demon's head where his father's spear struck, Ayron remained frozen in agony and rage. Yuo punched Ayron and exclaimed, "What are you doing, Ayron! Come on!". After regaining consciousness, Ayron charges into the forest. They ran, jumped, and did anything to get away from the demon.
But it's not that easy. After noticing that the demon was getting closer and closer, Ayron turned to face Yuo and Myori. He made a decision that no one else could make.
He turned to Yuo, whose face was streaked with tears, his chest heaving. Myori clung to his arm, her small fingers trembling.
"Yuo," Ayron said, voice raw. "You're too fast. And Myori she is too. Protect her for me. Because you guys… you guys are too fast."
For a heartbeat, Yuo didn't understand. Then it hit him Ayron wasn't coming.
"No...." Yuo choked. His legs refused to move. Fear coiled around his ribs like vines, crushing his lungs. He wanted to scream. Tofight.To do something. But the terror was too thick, too real. He had spent his whole life running from fights, not toward them. And now
Now Ayron was going to die.
Myori tugged at Ayron's sleeve, her voice breaking. "Ayron, you can run like us! Come on!"
Ayron smiled. It was the same smile he gave her when she scraped her knee, when she cried over nightmares. Gentle. Certain. A lie wrapped in love.
"I'll catch up," he whispered.
Then he turned toward the demon.
The stick in Ayron's hand felt like nothing. Useless. Pathetic.
But he charged anyway.
"COME ON!" he roared, swinging with everything he had.
The wood cracked against the demon's skull. Black blood sprayed. The creature shrieked, a sound like metal tearing, and backhanded him across the clearing.
Ayron hit the dirt, ribs screaming. His vision swam. Blood filled his mouth.
Get up.
He staggered to his feet just as the demon lunged. Claws raked across his chest, shredding skin. He didn't scream. He stabbed another stick, this one jagged, straight into the creature's eye.
It howled, thrashing. Ayron didn't let go. He twisted.
The demon's fist slammed into his stomach.
Something ruptured.
Ayron crumpled.
Through the haze of pain, he saw them Yuo, half-dragging Myori, his face twisted in sobs. Myori, struggling, screaming his name.
Yuo pulled her back, shielding her eyes. His voice cracked as he lied, "He'll follow!" "He promised!"....a promise of life.....
Ayron smiled. Keeping an eye on his sister and knowing she will be alright
The demon loomed over him, its remaining eye burning with hate. It stomped toward a boulder, hefting it with ease.
Ayron didn't look at it.
He watched Myori and Yuo disappear into the trees.
Then
Darkness. Silence. Peace
Yuo ran.
He ran like he had never run before, Myori's hand clamped in his, her sobs ringing in his ears.
Coward. The word pounded in his skull with every step. Coward. Coward. COWARD.
He had left him.
Ayron, who had always been braver. Stronger. Better.
What did you do? Nothing but annoying. He made the decision to spare his life so that we could escape.. and I've just looking.
Yuo speaking to himself. And now he was gone. Ayron was gone.
Yuo's legs burned. His chest ached. But he didn't stop.
Because Ayron had given him one last order.
Protect Myori....
And for the first time in his life.
Yuo wouldn't run from that.