Complicated brotherhood

Everybody was silent for a few seconds. They were obviously shocked after what unfolded in front of them. Claude was the first one to break the silence, even though such a spell was strong it was still a ton of mana consuming. Maybe he has to make some slight changes to this spell. But not now of course. Claude bent over his knees keeping his palm on his chest and said in a hoarse voice :-

" I've depleted too much of my mana….."

Eren was the first to react. He frowned, even though he was shocked and excited just like others. All the other thoughts disappeared when he saw his younger brother in pain.

He ran towards Claude and helped him stand on his own two feets by giving him his shoulder.

" If it was going to hurt you, why did you do that ?" Eren asked with a bit of anger but Claude recognised it was genuine worry.

" It was the first time for me, I knew the theory but I have not used it practically. It's like even though you knew a sword technique, knowing it and doing it are completely different things." Claude explained, Eren pondered for a while but understood Claude's explanation.

" But don't worry, I just need a few breaths to recover." Claude said.

What Claude said was the truth. Claude saw his deep brown mana core and noticed that more than half of the deep brown stars were destroyed. The extra world energy near his core was replacing a lot of his stars/mana but it was slow. Claude took a deep breath and forced the world energy in the deep brown core which caused his mana to recover quickly and just with some more breaths his mana was completely restored.

" See, " Claude told Eren, gesturing that he can stand on his own two feets. Eren was worried but seeing that Claude can walk on his own feet he decided to give up.

Well, for Claude it was a worthwhile experience because he learned two things. First, the depletion of mana also causes pain physically and mentally, he also got a sharp headache when his mana was lost. Secondly, he understood that if given a chance his and Eren's relationship might even become better than true brothers.

'.....but is that what I want ?' Claude thought.

" You were awesome !!" Every single girl along with the black haired kid and fat kid exclaimed.

Just like that evening came and Eren along with Claude decided that it was time to go. After everyone went their own way Eren said :-

" Let's go somewhere before going home. You said you are going to practice magic from tomorrow right. I think I might have the right place for you." Eren said, took Claude's hand and ran towards a certain direction.

After around a ten minute walk the scenery completely changed. They were first walking through high woods. A small river with a pebble bank on both sides was seen. This place reminded Claude of an old anime where two friends used to meet each other. ( Naruto : Hashirama and madara ; )

" This river is on the outskirts of dark woods. People usually don't enter this place because of the fear of beasts but according to my father , at the outskirts there are usually weaker beasts which even a beginner rank can handle. Though they don't usually attack humans because they know a human settlement is near here." Eren himself didn't understand what he said, it seemed like he has just repeated what Ares had said but Claude understood what Ares wanted to say.

" This place is great !! Here I can even use black magic without harming the trees. Thank you Eren." Claude said in excitement. Even though Claude might have been able to practice white magic, he won't be able to use black magic in a green or living environment. After all, black magic is the magic of destruction and chaos.

Eren was pleased after hearing his younger brother but there was something on his mind which he wanted to say to Claude. After seeing the river in dark woods they started walking towards the manor, Claude noticed Eren's silence with his distress. He first waited for a few minutes but the silence creeped him out along with occasional glances from Eren.

" What is it ?" Claude asked.

" N-no, it's nothing…." Eren flinched and replied.

" Come on, tell me. I already know it's something related to me." Claude said.

" You know our relationship is complicated isn't it ?" Eren said with a gloomy face.

" What of it ?" Claude asked, he was confused why he was taking this topic out now.

" I mean we are not blood related brothers, then what are we….." Eren asked in a low voice, it seemed like it was awkward for him.

Claude and Eren's relationship is complicated after all they both have not talked with each other in the past five years. Claude knew that his step father had a son and that's it. Eren knew that the son of his father's wife who was not related to him in any way was staying upstairs and that's it. They both have never talked with each other from childhood even though they lived under the same roof but now that they have finally talked they both knew that the other person was interesting and they will get along well with each other.

" What do you want us to be ? Brothers, friends, acquaintances. If you'll ask me then I don't want us to be anything from above but I don't hate the idea either." Claude said with a look of a man teaching something to a child.

" Then what do you want us to be ?" Eren asked with a curious look.

" Rivals, " Claude said with a smile.

" Rivals ? " Eren asked with a confused look.

" I want us to treat each other like brothers but I don't like the normal brothers relationship, it's so boring don't you think so too ?" Claude asked and after a few seconds of thinking Eren replied with a nod.

" That's why we want us to be rivals as well. We won't protect each other, love or care about each other. Instead I want us to grow stronger and fight each other." When Claude said that Eren was shocked.

" See the logic Eren, we don't have any blood relation and even if we think of each other as brothers there will be a wall always present in front of us which we can never overcome. Then why not use each other as rivals? We will compete for strength and if you ask me there is no one in this village of our age who can compete with us. Then why don't we compete with each other. I know you are strong and you will grow stronger. That's why I have this instinctual desire to fight against you. Don't you have that too." When Claude said that he started walking. After a few minutes Eren came running behind him and said :-

" I also want to fight. When you showed that magic today. I thought that could you and I even fight as equals but at the same time there was something else….." He was huffing after such a long run but before completing his sentence he looked in Claude's eyes with a smile which can never be seen on anyone except someone crazy and insane.

".....I also felt excitement and desire growing in me. It was pretty weird. I have never felt anything like that. Even though I felt like I was standing in front of someone with absolute power, I still wanted to fight it. I wanted to fight that power, I wanted to fight to enjoy and I wanted to live that fight." He concluded.

Even Claude himself felt chills running down on his spine but he also had that crazed smile on his face. He was filled with excitement. He didn't know why but right now he somehow felt completed.

' It was the right choice !! ' He exclaimed inwardly.

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