The setting sun had recently fallen below the horizon.
Once they were finished eating dinner, the twins disassembled the fire and rebuilt it closer to the Tree of purple leaves in preparation for seasons’ end.
The forest was colder than it had been in recent memory and the twins were forced to huddle together inside the hollow for warmth.
On a normal night, Corvin and Corin slept in shifts to watch their water stones, leftover meat, and keep the fire alive.
Bruised, blood-stained, and aching from pushing themselves even harder than usual.
Neither twin had the energy to stay awake tonight.
So, they sat side by side inside the hollow.
Though they barely had room to wiggle a toe between them, they were warm. And that’s the only thing that mattered.
Vrakhu sat atop a pile of leaves, far away from the fire, deep in the shadows of the other trees.
The cold never bothered him, and staying away from the fire would ensure the twins got full use of it.
He leaned his head back and gazed at the sky, through the naked branches overhead.
His eyes naturally gravitated towards a certain spot in the sky.
His gaze fell upon a collection of bright stars in the shape of a person with the head and torso of a human and the tail of a serpent.
You could tell it was the correct group of stars because the eyes appeared either blue or green, depending on when and where you saw it.
He could still remember the day he learned that constellation's name.
He couldn’t recall the face or voice of the one who taught him.
Those details had long been buried beneath the sands of time.
But he remembered her name, and that child’s striking blue hair.
She was so excited to tell him of the book she’d found.
How it taught her of the beings in the sky, and their names.
And how eager she was to pass that knowledge along to him.
The constellation he saw now was Numael: The Light Bringer.
The Imugi who herald the Dawn.
Vrakhu blinked.
He pulled his gaze back down to the realm of mortals and wouldn’t look to the heavens again that night.
Something he hadn’t considered was now swimming throughout his mind.
What happened to the rest of those children?
He’d buried one, but the rest… He didn’t know.
But he knew a way to find out.
Vrakhu smoothly stood and took a few steps closer to the twins.
They were asleep, truly asleep.
They both had a habit of feigning sleep whenever they had something to hide.
It never worked, but they tried anyway.
Vrakhu lifted his foot a few inches off the ground, then — Thump! — he lightly stomped the ground.
The ground trembled, the water stones rattled, even the Tree of purple leaves shook its branches.
The twins’ eyes snapped open and they hoisted themselves out of the hollow in a matter of seconds.
Corvin’s hair was wild and matted from sleep.
Corin had a line of dried drool running from her mouth to the side of her neck.
Neither looked even half-conscious, yet they were standing and awaiting direction.
A cold breeze drifted through the camp, causing Corvin to shiver and Corin to perk up.
“Master?” She rubbed the sleep from one eye, then the other. “What’s going on?”
“Make yourselves a torch. We’re going for a short walk.”
The twins glanced at each other, then at the fire.
None of the old man’s walks were short.
They doubted he even knew the meaning of the word.
But neither were willing to correct him.
Corin turned around and leaned into the hollow for a moment…
“Got them.” She pulled herself out with two long sticks in hand; the ends of each one were wrapped in thick leaves they’d soaked in sap and dried over the fire.
Corin handed one to Corvin, then stuck her own into the fire.
A moment later her torch was complete, and the top of the stick burned with a bright orange flame.
Once Corvin was finished doing the same, Vrakhu turned and headed into the dark forest.
Corin walked behind him and to his left.
Corvin walked behind him and to the right.
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They both carried their torches in their outer hands, so neither would be blinded by the light.
The forest was vibrant and alive tonight.
A thousand lives moved around their group.
None of them could afford to miss an opportunity to store one last morsel before the long sleep took them.
Hundreds of small orange eyes peered down at them from the trees — Only to scatter before the torchlight.
Dozens of insect colonies fought for space and food beneath their feet and around the bush beds.
A pack of wild dogs and a family of feline spirit beasts watched them from just beyond the circle of light.
A single massive boar followed them at a distance; its presence was as oppressive as gravity to the other creatures.
But one source of energy superseded all else.
It could be felt in all directions at once.
What was this source of energy?
It was the forest itself.
And, at its center, was the Tree of purple leaves.
It trailed them through the forest by weaving its bright green energy along miles and miles of interconnected root systems.
Vrakhu could see its unique energy form as easily as he could feel the wind on his face.
The tree enjoyed following the twins around these past years.
He knew he was about to upset the creature, but it didn’t matter.
It was time the twins began to understand.
Corin and Corvin shared a look.
They’d been walking a long time.
Too long.
They’d never been allowed to venture this far from the tree.
What was the old man up to?
Why do this now?
Then it happened.
The sound of running water reached Corvin’s ears first, then Corin’s.
The three stepped out of the trees and stood before a monument of water and stone.
For the first time, Vrakhu had brought them before the waterfall.
They’d known he hadn’t been getting their water from the same stream they bathed in.
But this… Was something else.
“Explore as you wish. Come to the waterfall when you’re ready.” Vrakhu spoke without looking at either of them.
Corin and Corvin reflexively nodded and took a few steps forward.
A gust of wind swept past; It blew their hair, ruffled their clothes, and snuffed out their torches.
The loss of light and warmth should have caused them to panic.
But it didn’t.
Their minds were too filled with awe to accept another emotion right now.
The grass felt like pillows on their skin.
The flowers shone like jewels in the moonlight.
The water steamed as if it were heated — but wait, the air here was several degrees warmer than at the tree.
Maybe the water was heated?
Corvin approached the water’s edge and dropped to his knees.
He inhaled, and a wave of heat washed over him, warming him from the inside out.
Corin wandered amidst the waist high flowers.
Though they appeared crystal-like, when she reached out to touch them, they were soft as silk and warm to the touch.
They both turned to look for Vrakhu, and found him sitting beside the huge stone the mysterious water was pouring out of.
They began to march towards him.
Corin had more questions in mind than she’d ever had before.
What was this place?
Why’d he bring them here?
How had he known about it?
Corvin was steaming more than the water.
This place was warm, comfortable, a perfect place for them to stay.
Why had he let them suffer the cold each Moon’s Reign instead of leading them here?
Corin was determined; she would get her answers.
Corvin was determined; he would get his answers.
And that determination remained… until they laid eyes on the ring of soil beside Vrakhu.
No flowers had bloomed there; no grass had grown.
Corvin felt like he’d swallowed a stone.
He couldn’t speak, could barely think.
It was Corin who found her voice first.
“Master—”
“Sit down.”
The twins instantly obeyed, dropping to their knees and staring at the old man.
Vrakhu’s eyes drifted over to the ring of unmarred soil, but the rest of his body refused to move.
“How many living beings did you see tonight?”
The twins glanced at each other.
Corin spoke first, having already recovered wits. “Twenty-four and this gigantic Boar I’ve never seen before.”
A smirk curled Corvin’s lips before he could hide it.
Corin felt her heart sink.
“Twenty-eight and the same Spirit Beast she saw.”
That was it.
Corvin had won the day.
“Better.”
Vrakhu’s voice was another kick to Corin’s gut.
She dropped her chin to her chest and stared at the ground in front of her.
“Both of you.”
Her head snapped up and found their master watching her.
He’d… praised them?
He’d praised her?
She straightened her back and looked to Corvin for confirmation on what she’d just heard.
He was smiling brighter than the moon.
She hadn't seen him smile that wide since the day lord Dryden abandoned them in the forest.
She unconsciously copied his smile.
Vrakhu slowly stood. “The dawn brings a new beginning for us all.”
The twins straightened their backs and looked up at him; both eagerly awaiting direction.
“From tomorrow onwards, you will return to this place and fill your own water stones. You can make this journey together or separate, I do not care which.”
The twins nodded, though Corin’s mind was already forming questions.
“Master? Why this water specifically?”
Vrakhu paused for a moment and considered the best way to explain… “The water here is special. Pure. Energy flows through it easily.”
Corin’s eyes widened and both twins glanced at the pool of water.
“Oh…” She trailed off while her mind conjured more questions.
“You will sleep here tonight. At dawn the three of us will depart on a journey to the nearby city.”
“What!?” They shouted in unison.
Vrakhu locked his arms behind his back and stared at them while they rapidly fired questions at him.
“What do you mean we’re going to the city?” Corvin dropped his face into his hands.
“Which city?”
“Why?” they echoed in unison.
However, Vrakhu answered only one question.
“The time for isolation has come to an end; for you, and for me.”
