Spring in Oakhaven had always made its arrival. The vibrant hues and coaxing life from the earth, but this year, it carried a more personal promise: the return of a shadow, not of darkness, but of a brother who came back from his journey.
In his presence, the scent of early April mornings held a slight trace of excitement for him, in fact, the anticipation of seeing his loved ones again bloomed. For Vysse, however, the life outside his window was a mere backdrop to the far more significant bloom he awaited — the silhouette of his elder step-brother, Carrian, stepping back on their porch, back from his absence.
Vysse wasn't related to his parents and thats because he was found within the Abyss! He was taken in by his parents, but he wouldn't dare call them step-parents, or even guardians, as they were like real parents to him.
Due to him not being related to his parents, his appearance was way different, compared to their brownish hair, that seemed to run in the family.
Vysse's eyebrows were pure black, and his eyelashes are a stark black, but with grey hair follicles at the edge of them. His eyelashes contrasted sharply with his grey eyes. His hair, too, was a deep black, cut to a medium length. His parents had sun-kissed skin, but Vysse had a pale complexion and an unspecified physique, likely slender or average.
Carrian, who had ventured deep into the lands of the bordering Abyss, a place where the veil between their world and the darkness, was expected back with the turning of the season.
It was a journey taken with necessity, mainly for his brother to become the first Luminary within Oakhaven.
Vysse pictured Carrian's familiar stride, the way his brown hair always seemed a little windswept, and the reassuring weight of his hand on Vysse's shoulder, and his darting yellow eyes always being unforgettable to Vysse.
Without any further anticipation, the latch on the front door clicked. Vysse was on his feet in an instant, nearly tripping over a stray of floorboard in his haste.
'I... I got to see him!'
The door swung inward, revealing Carrian — taller than what Vysse remembered, his face etched with a weariness that somehow made him look more heroic.
A pack slung across his broad shoulders, and something metallic glinted at his hip. Their parents rushed forward, their faces beaming with relief, and for a moment, Vysse was simply lost in the joyous chaos of their reunion.
He looked... different. There was a set to his jaw, a quiet intensity in his dark eyes that hadn't been there before. The glint of metal at his hip resolved itself into the hilt of a sheathed blade.
"Welcome back, brother," Vysse managed, his voice a little choked with emotion.
He wanted to ask a thousand questions at once — about the Abyss, about the journey, about him becoming a Luminary — but the relief of Carrian's presence held his tongue.
Their mother, her hands still clutching Carrian's arm as if afraid he might vanish, finally stepped back, her eyes shining with unshed tears.
"You're thinner, dear boy. Did you eat enough?"
Their father clapped Carrian on the shoulder, a hearty sound that echoed in the small space.
"Never mind that, Martha. He's back, safe and sound. That's all that matters."
He turned to Vysse, a wide grind on his sun-kissed face.
"Your brother has returned just in time for your birthday feast, lad. Tonight, we celebrate!"
Carrian offered a tired but genuine smile, his gaze meeting with Vysse.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world, little brother."
He reached out, his weight settling on Vysse's shoulder.
"Though I have a few tales to tell... and perhaps a thing or two to show you."
The scent of roasting herbs and simmering stew was evident, chasing away the dust of Carrian's journey.
Their mother, bustling with a renewed energy that Vysse hadn't seen in months, hummed with a cheerful tune as she moved between the hearth and the small wooden table.
Their father, his arm still occasionally finding its way around Carrian's shoulders, recounted local news and trivial happenings that had occurred during Carrian's absence, as if trying to weave him seamlessly back into the fabric of their everyday lives.
Vysse, however, found his attention constantly drifting back to Carrian. He helped with the preparations, peeling potatoes and setting out plates, but his gaze kept returning to the blade at his step-brother's hip.
The small table groaned under the weight of the feast. There was roasted fowl, root vegetables glazed with honey, crusty bread still warm from the oven that their father was proud of, and a sweet berry pie that was Vysse's favorite.
Their father boomed, raising his mug.
"To Carrian. Welcome home, son. May your journey have been fruitful, and may you never have to face such peril again."
Their mother continued, her voice hearty and filled with emotion.
Happy Twelfth birthday, Vysse. May this year bring you joy and strength!"
Carrian's gaze sweeped over their faces, a genuine smile touching his lips. He clinked his mug against theirs.
"To family."
***
The days following Carrian's return stretched out. The feast was a cherished memory, the laughter and warmth covering his worry about the Abyss.
But the "things to show" and "tales to tell" remained elusive. Every time Vysse tried to broach the subject, Carrian would offer a tired smile and say:
"Soon, little brother. Soon."
It only fueled Vysse's imagination, his mind conjuring images of heroic battles and discoveries within the shadowed lands.
***
The days bled into another. Vysse's impatience began to simmer beneath the surface of his joy. The promised stories of the Abyss remained locked behind Carrian's tired smile and that ever-present "soon."
He'd tried a few times. Once, while they were mending a section of the fence, he had casually asked:
"So, the Abyss... what's it really like?"
Carrian had just chuckled, ruffling Vysse's white hair.
"A story for another time. Right now, we have splinters to worry about."
Another time, during their evening meal, Vysse had pointed to the sheathed blade.
"Is that... a Luminary's weapon?"
Carrian's smile had faded slightly, replaced by a distant look.
"Something like that..."
Finally, one sun-drenched afternoon, as Vysse was diligently polishing his father's worn boots, Carrian entered the small shed, two roughly hewn wooden swords tucked under his arm.
He paused for a moment, his gaze on Vysse, then continued.
"Enough with the chores for now, little brother."
A genuine grin was evident, mainly due to his usual weariness. He tossed one of the wooden swords to Vysse, who caught it with a surprised yelp.
"You're eager to know what I've been doing, what I've seen, aren't you?"
He continued, hefting the other wooden sword.
"Well, how about I show you... instead of just telling you? Consider this your first lesson."
He gestured with the wooden blade towards the small field of grass behind their cottage.
"A duel, little brother."
Vysse's heart leaped. A duel! It wasn't that he'd expect, but it was something. Something tangible, something that involved Carrian, and perhaps, just perhaps, a glimpse into the skills his step-brother had honed in those dangerous lands.
He gripped the wooden sword, its smooth surface surprisingly comforting in his hand. It felt... right.
He followed Carrian out into the patch of the grass land, where their father occasionally practiced his axe swings.
Carrian took a few practice swings with his wooden sword, the movements surprisingly swift despite his earlier weariness.
He then turned his gaze upon Vysse, with a smirk.
"Now, Vysse. This isn't about brute strength. It's about footwork, about watching your opponent, about finding the openings."
Vysse held his own wood sword awkwardly, feeling a surge of both excitement and nervousness. He'd never held a proper weapon before, even a wooden one.
His chores involved tending the garden, helping his mother with household tasks — nothing that required direct and physical engagement.
Carrian chuckled, his stance relaxed.
"Don't just stand there like a startled rabbit! Come at me."