Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Kael's question hung in the air, and for a moment, Arin seemed taken aback. Then, his expression darkened, and he spoke in a low, gravelly tone.

"The war with Valtoria," Arin said, his eyes glinting with a mixture of anger and desperation. "They've been raiding our borders, burning our villages, and slaughtering our people."

Kael's eyes widened in shock. He had heard rumors of skirmishes along the border, but he had no idea it had escalated into full-blown war.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Kael asked.

They had always told each other everything so it was surprising that something like this was kept from him.

Arin's gaze turned cold. "You've been too busy indulging in your own pleasures, Kael. You've been too busy traveling and whoring to care about the kingdom's problems."

Kael's face stung from the verbal slap, but he knew he deserved it. He had been selfish, ignoring the kingdom's troubles in favor of his own desires.

"I'm sorry." Kael said reflexively. "But you could have sent a message or..."

"And I expect you would have gotten it because either knew where you were?" Arin scoffed.

He sighed before he continued. "I need you to go to war for us." Arin sat upright as if he had just thought of the best solution. "Yes that's it. You go to war in my place as a royal. You'll lead a troupe."

Kael stood before his brother, Arin, his expression skeptical. "You want me to lead a troupe into war?" he asked, incredulous.

Arin nodded, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of desperation and determination. "I need your help, Kael. The war is not going well, and I need someone with your... particular skills."

Kael raised an eyebrow. "My skills? Arin, I haven't practiced magic in years. I gave up practicing magic when I was sixteen."

"You're the only one I can trust, Kael. Please, you have to help me. I can't leave because of the issues with the country. I've never asked you for naytyKale, just do this for me okay?" Arin begged.

Kael hesitated, unsure of what to do. He had never been one for war, and the thought of leading a troupe into battle made his stomach twist with anxiety. But Arin's words echoed in his mind - "You're the only one I can trust."

With a heavy sigh, Kael nodded. "Fine. I'll do it."

What Kael didn't know neither did he see was that, after he left that day, Arin turned to Matthew with a smile.

"I told you he would fall for it. No one knows my brother the way I do." Arin said with a smile on his face.

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The years that followed were a blur of blood and sweat and tears. Kael led his troupe into battle. He was of little help to them but for some reason, his troupe members liked him. And they loved the kingdom they fought for.

Finally, after years of fighting, Kael and his troupe emerged victorious. They marched back to the kingdom, weary but triumphant, ready to pay their respects to the king.

As they approached the castle, Kael's excitement grew. He couldn't wait to see his brother, to tell him of their victory and to celebrate their triumph. Arin would be as excited as he was to see that the war had ended and that they emerged victorious. He was sure of it.

But as they entered the throne room, Kael's excitement turned to confusion. The guards surrounded them, their faces stern and unyielding.

"Traitors," one of the guards spat, his hand on the hilt of his sword. "You're under arrest."

Kael's eyes widened in shock as he turned to his brother. "Arin, what's going on? We're not traitors - we're warriors, returning from battle."

"I am to be addressed as your king." Arin replied cooly.

Kael frowned. His brother had never used that time on him. "Your highness. I don't understand, what's going on?" Kael asked according to Arin's demands.

"You do not question the king." Arin said. "Take them away."

Kael's heart sank as the guards closed in, their chains clanking ominously. He tried to reason with his brother, to make him see sense, but Arin just turned away, his back cold and unyielding.

It wasn't until later, when Kael was chained in a dark, damp cell, that he realized the horrifying truth - his brother was not what he seemed.

Kael's eyes adjusted slowly to the darkness, and he made out the faint outline of stone walls and iron bars. He was in the dungeon, deep beneath the castle. A place he was accustomed to given the fcat that his father loved to lock him up when he was younger and Arin had been the one to always look out for him.

Kael struggled to free his hands from the chains but they weren't yielding to his strength.

"Give up. The more you move, the faster you die." Arin said to him.

"Arin." Kael said in relief. "Please what's happening? We are not traitors. Everything we did was for the kingdom. No one betrayed..."

Arin laughed. "You are still so naive brother. You think this is because you guys are labelled traitors?"

Kael frowned. "Isn't it?"

"Oh no. This goes beyond that." Arin said, his voice dripping with malice. "I've been waiting for this moment for a long time."

Kael's heart sank as Arin approached him, a cruel smile spreading across his face.

"You see, Kael, you have something that I need. Something that will give me the power to rule this kingdom forever. Something I've craved since we were young." Arin said with a smile.

Kael's eyes widened in horror as Arin showed him a drawing. Kael would recognise that anyhwere. Arin was going to use Kael as a vessel to summon a great demon, one that would grant him unimaginable power.

"Are you out of your mind? That is forbidden magic." Kael said to his brother. "And your blood royal or not cannot carry it."

Arin laughed. "Who said I was going to use my blood. Why do you think you are here?"

"Wh..what?"

"I always knew of your bloodline. One belonging to an ancient family. You always had this thing with magic. What I learner in months you took a day to learn but you refuse to use it." Arin said to him.

Kael swallowed. He had stopped oracticinv magic, blocking his circles so it ended at level five where he stopped just so he wouldn't be seen as someone who was after his brother's position.

"How long?" Kael asked his brother.

"What?"

"How long have you planned this?" Kael asked his brother.

Arin smiled. "Since the moment you were born. You were always going to be a sacrifice for me to excel."

Arin began to chant in a language Kael didn't understand, the air in the cell began to grow colder. Kael felt a dark energy building up inside him, and he knew that he was running out of time.

With a surge of adrenaline, Kael struggled against his chains, but they were too strong. He was trapped, and Arin was going to kill him.

As the ritual reached its climax, Kael screamed in agony, his body convulsing in pain. Arin's eyes gleamed with triumph, and he raised his hands to the ceiling, invoking the ancient powers of darkness.

And then, everything went black.

Kael's scream was cut short, and his body slumped forward, lifeless. The last thing he saw was his brother's face, twisted in a malevolent grin.