Kael watched Sylvia step into the house. She was dressed in a simple pale tunic and a dark dress. But even so, she looked breathtaking. That wasn't surprising. She always did.
If Kael was being honest with himself, he never understood why Sylvia had never married in her life. He knows that him and Mira might have been the issue because she had to take care of them, but that shouldn't have stopped her in his opinion.
With her beauty, she could've easily become a nobleman's wife in one of the southern cities. But she hadn't.
And selfish as it was, Kael was glad for that. The thought of her having a husband, of someone else claiming her, made his chest tighten with something bitter and hot.
He greeted her. "Hey, Sylvia."
Sylvia set a woven basket of food on the small wooden table. "I'll change out of these clothes and prepare the food," she said, then paused, her gaze drifting to his face. Her eyes searched his features.
"Did you at least manage to get some sleep while I was away? You looked restless this morning."
Kael offered a small, reassuring smile. "It's alright, Sylvia. I'm not really tired. And yes, I did get some sleep, despite the… dream."
Her brow furrowed slightly. "Do you want to talk about it? The nightmare you had?"
Kael hesitated, his eyes flicking away. He didn't want to burden her with the disturbing images still clinging to his mind. "It's… nothing. I'd rather not relive it by speaking it aloud."
He shrugged, trying to sound casual.
"Are you sure? Talking about it might help us understand what's going on." Sylvia knew something strange was going on with Kael, probably had to do with his true background.
She didn't know where her brother had found Kael. And he'd never told Kael, either. All they'd been told was that Kael had been rescued from a house burned down by rebels in their neighboring country of Raventhyr.
But now Syvia was not very sure that was true. Kael seemed to be very different from every other person.
"It's nothing, Sylvia. And I promise you, it wasn't as bad as the other ones," he lied.
Sylvia's lips curved into a knowing smile. She walked over and settled beside him on the bench, resting her head gently on his shoulder. Kael felt the intensity of her body this close to him, it was not safe.
Not because she wasn't welcome, but because something in him always stirred the wrong way when she got this close.
"Kael," she said softly, her voice warm and kind, "I know when you're not being entirely truthful with me."
Kael chuckled, a genuine smile tugging at his lips. "Alright, you caught me. It's just… not a dream I particularly want to revisit."
Her lightheartedness faded into concern. She lifted her head, turning to face him. "Maybe we should take you to the temple. Perhaps the priest could offer some insight into what's causing these nightmares."
Kael's smile vanished. "Sylvia, no. Don't waste your money on that. It's not serious, really. They'll go away eventually. It's not like they affect my everyday life."
She studied him, then reached out and gently touched his chin, guiding his face to hers. "But what if they don't stop, Kael? What about… one day, when you're married? I wouldn't want your wife to misunderstand and think you're… strange because of them."
Kael fell silent. Her words lingered, and for the first time, he considered them. He had always dreamed of having a wife someday, someone to love, to build a life with. But what if those dreams never came true because of something as ridiculous, and terrifying, as his nightmares?
Sylvia rested a hand on his arm, her touch warm and steady. "You're not strange, Kael. But… others might not understand." She gave him a kiss on the cheek, stood up, and walked toward her bedroom. "If you're ready, I'll take you to the priest," she offered with a light tone.
Kael stood up slowly, conflicted. As much as he wanted to go and see if this could be resolved, he didn't want to burden Sylvia, especially not financially. She didn't have money to spare.
With a sigh, he turned toward the door. "I'll go help Mira fetch water," he said, and before Sylvia could respond, he slipped outside.
He needed to talk to Mira anyway. Something about her had seemed… off earlier. When he was telling her about Vivian, she just got all serious and left.
Maybe she was upset about something that came up during their conversation. Whatever it was, Kael wanted to be sure she was okay. She was like the sister he never had.
Kael walked along the narrow, dusty road leading to the village well. The air was still, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows. Wild bushes lined the path, and a few sleepy dogs lay stretched in the warmth.
As he neared the old crossroads, the crumbling stone walls of a small, abandoned temple came into view, a little hidden behind overgrown thorny vines.
Just a few years ago, this place had been the gathering spot for the 'Silent Circle,' a cult that had briefly taken root in the village. They claimed to be followers of some god, who they worshiped and hoped to come back and save them from the unbounds.
Kael did not know much about this, however from what he knew, it was known that the unbounds were some rogue magic wielder's, whose goal was to bring destruction to the kingdom of Varnathal and the world.
People in the village still whispered about the Silent Circle and their strange rituals. Some rumors were bizarre. There were even tales of wild orgies, which, unsurprisingly, caught the attention of more than a few curious men. But the cult was highly selective, only allowing in those they deemed 'worthy.' It was said that they only allowed women in.
Beyond the lurid tales, the stories turned darker: chanting beneath the blood moon, animal sacrifices, offerings of fragrant herbs, and deep, unsettling trances were all common talk.
The symbol they used was unlike anything Kael had seen before, a dark sun with twelve slender rays, six bright and six shadowed, fanning out in perfect symmetry. Something about it stirred a strange, hollow ache in his chest. A pull he didn't understand.
He didn't know why… but the symbol felt like it was speaking to him.
That was why he'd been tempted to join. For a brief, reckless stretch of adolescence, Kael had been drawn to the cult's mystique. To their promises of hidden power and a place to belong. It was tempting, especially for an orphaned boy, who always felt like he didn't belong and was desperate for meaning.
But Sylvia and Mira had stopped him.
He remembered Sylvia's firm hand on his arm, her voice was sharp with warning. "Stay away from them, Kael. They're not safe. There's nothing but darkness and trouble down that path."
Her resolute decision on this matter, along with a primal unease he couldn't quite shake, had been enough to steer him clear.
The Silent Circle had eventually disbanded after a series of unsettling incidents and the disappearance of their leader, leaving the temple to decay in silence.
Kael continued on his way, his footsteps kicking up small puffs of dust.
He stopped.
Then turned.
His gaze fixed on the abandoned temple.
He didn't know why, but a sudden, almost irresistible urge washed over him to stop walking, to turn around, and to approach the abandoned temple.
"I'm curious to see what's inside this old place," he mumbled, and slowly began walking toward it. Just a quick look, then he'd leave, he told himself.
If only he knew.