Rebirth System: Blood and Ash

Aric felt the warm rays of sunshine dance on his closed eyelids as he forced them open. He quickly noticed he was lying in his bed, surrounded by the familiar confines of his room.

It was morning, evident from the golden sunlight streaming into through the windows, escaping through the drapes.

"Ah, you’re awake, Aric."

Aric’s eyes widened at the voice, his breath almost catching in his throat as he turned to the far end of the room. Standing there in a cape of dark velvet and armor was none other than his older brother, Darius.

’Why did he come?’ Aric panicked internally, calculating the possibilities.

The third prince’s eyes were sharp and calculating, piercing through his own jet-black hair that sometimes fell over them. They held a shrewd glint as he observed Aric.

"Good morning… brother," Aric muttered weakly.

In response, Darius just stared at the fourth prince, saying nothing for a few moments, as if there was something to be discovered in the silence.

"Yes… morning," Darius finally returned the greeting, walking closer to the bed where Aric lay.

"There was quite the commotion here yesterday," Darius added, briefly glancing at the door that led to the hallway before turning back to Aric.

"Yes…" Aric’s voice trailed off, his tone soaked in sadness, an intentional gesture that turned out to be genuine.

"What can you tell me about what happened?" Darius asked.

Aric gazed at him for a moment before turning his head slightly to face the ceiling, sadness flashing in his expression as he began to recall.

"Not much," Aric began. "I heard the commotion outside and started calling for someone, but nobody came. So I struggled towards the door, and when I opened it, I saw one of my caretakers in a fight with some strange men, while Elise lay on the floor… there was blood, so much blood."

Darius raised his arm, stopping Aric.

"You said they were in a fight?"

Aric nodded in confirmation. "Yes, they struggled with each other."

Darius stayed silent for a while before speaking again.

"Then what happened?"

"I’m not sure… I immediately turned away and ran, but I blacked out before I could get back into the room."

The third prince’s gaze bore into Aric, as if scanning his very soul.

"Are you sure that’s all?"

"All I can remember," Aric replied steadily.

Darius nodded and turned. He walked towards the door of Aric’s room, holding both handles and swinging it open, his gaze sweeping through the hallway, checking for any listeners.

Having confirmed there were none, he closed the door, turning back to Aric.

"You are physically disabled, not mentally disabled, so I’m sure you know why this had to happen?"

Aric stayed quiet, almost unsure whether to answer the question or not.

"Yes," Aric whispered.

Darius nodded, adjusting his cape as he walked closer to Aric before resuming speaking.

"So you know those innocent people died simply because you were a fool who tried to act smart."

Aric’s fist clenched under the covers.

"I didn’t know it was y—" Aric’s words died, coming out as nothing but straggling gasps.

Darius had simply raised a finger, and as a red circle formed around the throat of the fourth prince, he immediately lost the ability to breathe.

Aric struggled silently, unable to shout or scream as he was being choked with magic.

"I don’t care for your explanation," Darius spat angrily, standing a few feet from Aric. "The next time you even contemplate reporting me to Father, I won’t only kill the people you care about."

He tightened the grip on Aric’s throat. "I’ll kill you as well."

Darius dropped his finger, and Aric began to take deep, grateful breaths as his ability to breathe was restored.

The young prince gripped his throat as he began heaving and coughing, his eyes a watery red feeling light-headed.

"Am I clear?" Darius questioned, his tone stoic and composed as it so usually was.

Aric was barely able to speak, but he swiftly managed a "Yes," followed by multiple violent coughs.

"Good. I’ve had them clean up the mess. I’ll make sure all the bodies are tossed somewhere appropriate. Also, a new caretaker will be sent," Darius informed, speaking over Aric’s coughing.

"I understand," Aric managed to say again.

Darius then turned away from the sickly prince, heading out of the neglected room, only to pause as his hands wrapped around the door handles.

"Finally, whatever it is you are hiding from me, I advise you to hide it well. Because when I find out, you’ll wish you were killed alongside your whore mother."

With those words, Darius swung open the door, stepped through it, and slammed it behind him.

Gripping his chest as he coughed, Aric sat up in his bed, his gaze hardening as he looked at the door the third prince had just walked through.

"You bastard, you don’t even know how much I want to kill you."

[ You have received a quest ]

[Title: Opposing the Third Prince ]

"What?"