Water and Sun

Aelius was forcing himself to walk faster than usual. He needed to put enough space between himself and his mother before he explodes. He already expected her answer, but it was her face and the way that she said it that hurt him the most.

'Calm down, Aelius. Calm down.' He mumbled to himself. 'Don't explode here. You have to calm down.

As he was trying to focus his emotions, he bumped into someone small.

"Oh!" a lilting voice cried as she tumbled down.

"Sorry," Aelius said as he offered his hand to her. "Oh, it's you."

The girl was small, her head only reaching Aelius's chest. Her hair was as fiery as the sun and as wild as the winds, and with big eyes as gold as the lava. She shares the same sharp features as Aelius and his father, but instead of harsh angles, there's a softness in there, making her angelic looking. Mira, Aelius's only sister; was born from his father's concubine, Lady Mina of Saphiro.

The Saphiros is a noble house, but Solaria was not their main location. Only a few families under the Saphiro bloodline joined Solaria during the Reckoning of the Moon, making them scarce. His father considered their women as 'exotic sirens' due to their ocean blue eyes and midnight blue hair. Wanting those blue eyes to mix in his bloodline, he married one of them, Lady Mina. It was rumored that the Sun King has to force her family to give Lady Mina to him as a concubine; going as far as to burn all of the Saphiro's living in Solaria.

It was also rumored that her blue eyes were not the only reason Lady Mina was chosen by the King. It was also because she can see the future, due to her mixed blood from Airea. A power the Sun King would kill to have on his side.

Unfortunately, those blue eyes were not present in their progeny, for Mira inherited the Sun King's family's eyes and looks, drowning her Saphiro blood. After giving birth, Lady Mina hid from the court and stayed at the Black Tower; A tall fortress at the edge of Ember Castle's land, with only her closest servants and her daughter on her side. The Sun King never visited her again.

"I'm fine," Mira said, as Aelius pulls her from the floor. "See? No broken bones, no wounds or scrapes" She gives her brother an innocent smile

Aelius can't help but smile at her as well. She was truly an innocent being. 'How can someone so pure come from my father' Aelius thought.

"How about you brother? Are you okay? You seem to be in deep thought earlier that you didn't even see me" Mira said as her eyes examine Aelius.

"I'm fine. I'm just busy with this whole being heir thing." Aelius replied.

"Hmm… if you say so" Mira replied with a smile. Her eyes not believing Aelius. "You going to the armory?" she asked.

"Yep, walk me there?" Aelius asked with a smirk.

"Sure!" Mira replied enthusiastically, as she linked her arm to her brother.

Mira was the light of Heloi and Aelius's childhood. Only two years younger than him, the brother strived hard to shield their dear sister from the harsh and stinging rays of the Sun Court, and their Father's calculation eyes.

'Now, I'm the only one protecting you' Aelius thought to himself while glancing at his sister. "How is your mother, Mira? Does she need anything in the Black Tower?"

"Mother is doing fine," Mira said happily. "And she thanks you for the new clothes you sent there last week, even though she has nowhere to wear those beautiful gowns to"

Aelius smiled at his sister's answer. Lady Mina was a kind and gentle soul who was just trapped by his father, thinking he struck gold with her supposed powers. She was also the only mother figure he knew, for his mother was cold, and Mina was like a warm spring enveloping him in a comforting hug.

"Tell her that if she needs anything, don't hesitate to tell me. I'll do my best to provide for her." Aelius told his sister.

"She already knows that Aelius" she replied, looking at her brother.

"Mira, may I ask what are you doing here in Ember Castle? I thought you would be staying in The Church of Flames until sundown?" he inquired.

"I got bored," Serene replied flippantly.

"And here I thought you were a devout follower of the Church," Aelius said with a laugh

"I am!" Mira answered, "It's just one of those days for me"

"One of those days?" Aelius asked, looking at his sister.

"Yes, one of those days" She answered. "You know; those days where you just want something different even for a day. A day where you just want to do anything except what you usually do"

"Oh, those days. Sorry, I don't think I'm allowed to have one of those anymore" He replied as they passed by people of the court.

"Why? Don't tell me you'll be stuck up like Heloi?" She asked with irritation. "Of the two of you, you were my favorite. You know why?"

"Why?"

"Because you're fun! You don't follow rules. You challenge everyone who says no to you." She says with a smile.

"I can't do that anymore Mira. I'm the Heir now, I have to be the perfect reflection of the Sun Court." He answered somberly.

"How sad." She whispered.

They walked in silence after that, trying to forget their responsibilities. They both know that in court, they can now only depend on each other.

Soon they reached the armory, with soldiers coming in and out bearing swords and bows, wearing armor.

"Why are they dressed like that?" Mira asked as she let go of her brother's arm and looked at the people strangely.

"Combat practice in 20 minutes. The best of them will be promoted and will be put into a new unit"

"Yours?"

"Yep, mine," Aelius said proudly.

"Nice!" Mira answered happily. "Don't over-exert them, please. And if you're going to join and wrestle with one of them please reign it in a bit, the Church cannot heal all of them immediately" Mira pleaded.

"Fine, I'll control my strength for them" Aelius chuckled. "Walk safely, my dearest sister.

"Keep safe, my dearest brother" she smiled.

Mira walked away from Aelius when she turned around. "Aelius"

"Yes?"

"Everything will be alright. So don't worry and keep doing what you're doing" Mira said while calmly looking at her brother.

"What?" he asked her, not understanding her meaning.

"I'm saying, don't push yourself too much. It's gonna be okay. Everything is gonna be okay" she said with a smile.

Then Mira walked away, leaving Aelius to stare at her back, thinking about what she said.