From the day I opened my eyes, the only thing I saw was the walls of my room. They felt so empty, so hollow, yet this was my world.


    Many will come to visit me, some to give me food while others to mock me. Some gave looks of pity while others gave looks of disgust.


    The number of times I have seen my father could be counted on one hand. My mother, meanwhile, was the one who looked at me with her scornful look.


    I couldn''t understand why. Why was I being given such looks of pity and sorrow? What have I done wrong?


    Was all of this some kind of nightmare?


    In all my life, there was a bit of joy and sorrow. Both came from the same person nonetheless.


    My brother Cyan, he is my half brother. My mother, to her misfortune, was the second wife.


    "Hey Kena, how are you doing today?"


    Cyan looked at me with his gentle smile, his eyes full of hope.


    "As good as always."


    I answered with my usual tone. A look of satisfaction could be seen in Cyan''s eyes as he heard me.


    "Well, I will be gone for some days, so make sure to eat in time, not to be depressed, and take some fresh air outside."


    I looked at him in confusion; was he going somewhere?


    "Are you going somewhere?"


    Cyan gave a mischievous smile.


    "Are you going to miss me? If you request to me, then I won''t go."


    Cyan chuckled, ruffling my hair playfully. "Don''t worry, Kena. I''ll be back before you know it. Besides, I''m leaving you in good hands."


    Good hands, such laughable words.


    "Who will miss you? I will finally get some sleep."


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    The words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them. Cyan''s smile faded, and a look of sadness flickered across his eyes. It was a rare sight, one that made me feel guilty for the spiteful remark.


    "Ah! I mean, I can finally sleep now that you won''t wake me from sleeping all day."


    I quickly corrected myself, trying to lighten the mood with a joke. Cyan''s smile returned, but it didn''t quite reach his eyes. He knew I didn''t mean it, that my heart felt heavier than the chains that kept me bound to this room.


    "Anyway, stay well. If someone bullies you, make sure to tell me."


    Cyan''s words echoed in the room as he closed the door behind him, leaving me alone with my thoughts. The room felt smaller, the silence deafening. I sighed, looking around the bare space that had been my entire existence.


    He had said he would return, but he never came back. Two days ago, news came that the expedition failed: Cyan from the house Orgus died a brave death, saving his soldiers lives.


    The castle was in a state of mourning; everyone was talking about it except me. They didn''t even bother to tell me directly. I found out by overhearing the whispers in the hallway.


    Days passed, and the whispers grew fainter. The castle returned to its usual rhythm, but my room remained as silent as ever. The only difference was the absence of Cyan''s footsteps, the absence of his hopeful voice.


    I had felt relieved that the reason for my constant mockery by my mother was gone at first.


    But as days turned into weeks, the void Cyan left grew larger; it was like a gaping hole in my heart, one that could never be filled.


    "Kena"


    Someone entered the room without knocking; it was a familiar voice I had not heard in years. It was my father''s stern voice.


    I don''t know much about him except two or three facts. One, he is my father, and he is the head of the house. And finally, he is a transcendent, a rank 3.


    He looked at me; to tell the truth, I liked the way his eyes looked at me.


    His eyes don''t contain any warmth like my brother''s, nor do they contain the disappointment like my mother''s eyes.


    His sharp eyes clearly showed that he has no expectations for me; he also doesn''t have any pity towards me.


    "This will heal your legs."


    He passed me a box; with a bewildered look, I opened it. The wooden box contains two vials, each containing greenish red liquid.


    Holding one of them in my hands, it felt warm, but an undeniable chill came as well.


    The thing I hold right now was divine yet demonic.


    Father''s gaze never left mine as he spoke in a tone that was more of a command than a suggestion. "You are to take one of these.They will heal your ailment and give you strength. Do not disappoint me, Kena."


    With trembling hands, I took one of the vails and brought it to my lips. The warmth grew stronger, almost scalding, and I could feel a strange energy pulsing through the fabric. The liquid inside smelled faintly of iron and earth, a scent that was oddly comforting despite its unnatural origins.


    As he had spoken, my legs healed, but not only that; a few days later, I became an awakener as well, just like my brother.


    The once look of pity and scorn soon turned into one of admiration.


    I was later trained by Seth, my new teacher. He was a strict yet kind man. Always staying serious yet showing warmth in his own way.


    In the Caser forest, when I almost died, a boy of my brother''s age saved me. He has an unnatural but beautiful pair of silver eyes.


    They were the same as my brothers, containing warmth hidden in them.


    "He looks like a wonderful person." I told Seth he had given me some response, but I don''t remember what he said.


    Some weeks later, we met once again. I was happy to see him and gave a friendly smile towards him; after all, he was like my brother.


    The ruin raid was successful; it was scary. Seth almost died. Seeing him in danger, I drank another vial containing greenish liquid.


    With surge of energy, I managed to save everyone.


    They all looked happy and cheerful. Their eyes were full of warmth toward me.


    It hurts!


    I don''t want to die.


    It''s scary. Brother, where are you?


    I tilted my head at the sudden thought. But I shook my head as if feeling hallucinations.


    Father and mother looked at me finally; brother was also with them.


    I walked toward them as they welcomed me with smiles on their faces.


    I got everything I wanted.


    Ah, such a wonderful dream this is.


    ******


    Kena now, in the form of an abomination, hovers in the air; his body continues to contract and dilate. His limbs in the form of tentacles twitched and pulsed. New mass of skin forming and dissolving rapidly in them.


    The orbs of water floating pulsed, ready to rain down on all of us.


    I still was unable to do anything; my once sluggish mind raced with all its power to do something.


    The answer finally came as words formed in my mind as enlightenment finally unravelled.


    ''Stop the orbs of water floating in midair.''