5 Chapter 5: The Absolute Truth

The next morning, Lapran and Braman go outside to go on an adventure.

"Bye mom". Braman said

"Bye old wo-...". Lapran caught himself. "I mean Bramans mom".

"Bye boys, be careful out there on your adventure". She giggled.

The boys continued on walking down the path of the stream to get into the forest. While walking, Braman started to feel uneasy.

"Lapran, I think we should head back to my house. Something feels off about the forest today". He said.

"Nonsense Braman", Lapran said. "It's the same as ever".

Ignoring the warning, Lapran goes further into the darkening forest. Cautiously, Braman followed putting his feelings to the side.

Ka-ching, Ka-ching, Clang. The boys swords made loud banging noises as they practice.

"Lapran, how'd you get good with your sword". Braman asked.

"I don't know. It feels as if something just guides my body and does things". Lapran answered.

Just then a loud howl unlike any they've heard echoed through the forest.

"What was that"? Lapran asked.

"I'm not sure". Braman said. "Let's hurry back".

As the two boys started running back to Bramans home, Braman can feel as if a hand was reaching out to grab them.

"Son of Ramodrie, I will take back what's mine"! An eerie voice was heard.

The two make it back to the house and slam the door close.

"Mom, mom, mom"! Braman screamed. "There's something in the woods"!

As Braman reached out for her she turned and had a not so friendly face.

She said, "Why couldn't you be more like Lapran? Why couldn't you be like him"?

Confused, Braman asked, "What're you taking about? Mom, help us"!

Just then she grabs a knife and violently swings at Braman.

"Why? Why not my...son"?

As she kept asking why, Braman turned to Lapran.

"Lapran, we have to go! Something's wrong with mom and we have to get help"!

"Why do you have a loving family? Why don't...I have a loving family"? Lapran asked.

"Lapran"? Braman asked. "What's wrong"?

As Lapran turned around, his eyes were crimson red with black pupils. Shocked, Braman stepped back.

"Lapran? What's... wrong"?

Just then, Braman heard a familiar voice.

"BROTHER"!

It was Cormin! his brother.

"No one messes with my precious cargo. No one"! he exclaimed. "Braman, I'll hold them off, make a run for it"!

As Braman darted for the front door, he heard another voice. This one was from earlier.

"Son of Ramodrie, I'll take back what was mine"!

Confused he asked the voice, "What do you mean? I'm not the son of Ramodrie, Lapran is"!

"Fool"! The voice replied. "Only those who felt the quake of my awakening, have a connection to me"!

Just then he thinks back to the other day with Lapran. He knew he didn't lose his footing. He felt like he was tripped from underneath. Was it the quake that the voice mentioned?

"Brother, I am the son of Ramodrie"! He shouted.

Just then, Cormin stopped.

"Sigh". He looks back at Braman. "My precious.... CARGO! I knew all along. Why do you think I protected you for so long"?

He backs off the mom and Lapran.

"Why do you think I put up with this annoying facade? For my health"? As he laughs out loudly. "No, my dear CARGO! It was because you're the kings son! My meal ticket. My silver lining. I never cared for you, I just needed the reward to go up a little higher"!

Wide eyed, Braman looks at him as tears filled his eyes

"Bra..ma..n.". Lapran tries to speak. "R..un.. ru...n an..d do-don't look, ba...ck".

Braman watches at Lapran struggles to talk with his bestfriend. He reaches out for his hand.

"Come with me Lapran! Let's get out here"!

Lapran etches towards Braman with both hands. He places them on his shoulders and drops his head. As he looks back up, Braman looks into his eyes shocked. They were completely black. Laprans hands grabbed Bramans neck saying, "He'll take back what's his"!

"No....Stop..Lapr...an...."!

*Slice*

Cormin cut off both of Laprans arms.

"NO ONE HARMS MY PRECIOUS CARGOOOOO"! Cormin screamed and continued to slice up Lapran.

Watching in terror, Braman witnessed Lapran dismembered body falling to the floor. where his black eyes were, a tear flowed down the cheek.

"No...".

Braman darts out of the house and into the forest.

"Brother? Where art thou"? Cormin sings gleefully.

Braman, hidden in the darkness of night, still with the image of Lapran in his head.

"What's going on"?

Suddenly, a voice speaks to him.

"My child, go deeper in the woods until you come across a lake, jump in and be teleported somewhere safe".

Confused but feeling he could trust it, he runs, finding the lake he began to jump in when...

"Brother, there you are"!

He's been found!

"Where are you going? Don't you wanna play"?

Just then he holds up the head of Lapran.

"We came all this way just to play, and you decide to go away"!

Braman quickly jumps into the water where he was teleported across worlds, ending up in the water world Currento.

Back on Ocanar, Cormin dove into the lake trying to find his precious Cargo.

"No, no, no!! Not like this! Not when I was so close"! He screamed.

"Braman get back here, NOW! Bra..man"? he said crying.