"How is the sausage?"
"It's good."
"Then have it for tonight, sister? I will wait." the boy said to the girl sitting in front of him.
Annu Winslow, sitting across from her younger brother, narrowed her red eyes. "Arun… why do I feel like you're saying something weird? And you're on your own from now on."
Hearing this, the black-haired, red-eyed teenager placed his fork down and leaned back in his chair
"Necessary?," Arun said "We are living just fine, Why do you have to go to the capital?"
She sighed. "The capital ordered all nobles—big shots and small fry alike—to come. Every family member has to go. You're the only one refusing."
Arun's lips curled into a mocking smirk. "I think you just want to get rid of the family heir. You're planning to take advantage and gobble up all the property, right?"
Annu rolled her eyes. "Then why don't you come with me?"
But Arun ignored her and continued, "Oh, don't tell me—you got a lover and plan to abandon me."
Annu slammed the dining table and yelled,
"What the fuck is wrong with you… weirdo!"
She had planned to have a normal, conflict-free dinner before leaving, but this idiot…
"Annu Winslow," Arun said solemnly, "you just ruined an excellent dining table. And the mood of a healthy family dinner."
Annu exhaled sharply, rubbing her temples before sitting back down. She adjusted her plate, scooped up a bite of rice. Then, in a much calmer voice, she said:
"This is your last chance. You have to consider it. You've had an entire month to think about the shift. Don't you feel it? Something big is happening… but you still refuse to go. Tell me, Arun—why?"
Arun spread his arms dramatically "Let me guess—it's the Second Cataclysm. And this time, humanity won't stand a chance. Something like that..."
He picked up his plate and went toward the kitchen countinuing "Even if it does come… We've lived in the post-apocalypse for a century. Surely, we will get through it somehow…"
Annu followed, stacking the leftovers neatly in the fridge. The kitchen's dim light reflected in her crimson eyes.
"Whatever. I will transfer some credits into your account, and then focus on business in the capital so there will be hardly any time for you"
Arun smirked. "Good luck. Just don't overdo it. Last time you were locked up like a criminal."
"I was the one who took someone under custody. It was the thief next door."
"Who knows? You might be the one who went there to steal, and viciously threw the blame on him. After all, our business has been struggling lately."
Their playful bickering continued as they reached the front gate of small bungalow. Arun stood outside while Annu adjusted her seatbelt in the driver's seat.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Arun glanced up at the sky, while Annu checked the car's systems. Finally, satisfied, she turned to him.
"Don't mess around. There is a wave of Dark Days pulling people into trials. If you are chosen, survive, and go for counselling, okay?"
"Come on, I long passed the age of trials. Do you really think the spell would pull an eighteen-year-old like me instead of a teenager?"
Annu rolled her eyes and said, "I'm off. Keep your comms on. I'll call you when I'm in the capital. Bye-bye."
Arun watched the car disappear down the road. He exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. The house suddenly felt too quiet.
"Hell yeah—freedom at last!" Arun grinned, his voice cutting through the silence.
He walked inside each step echoing in quite hall
Step..step.
The silence braught out old memories from history lessons.
It had been ninety years since the Cataclysm—when the world collapsed, and the first Dark Days arrived.
They were events where people were dragged into supernatural trials by an omnipotent force called Maya Spell.
At the beginning of the Cataclysm, countless humans were chosen for these trials. Those who survived awakened with supernatural powers. Those who failed… turned into mindless, monstrous abominations.
And then,
The chaos shattered everything—law, order, morality, and compassion. Or so they said.
Arun took out an pre catalysm wired headphone, and turned on some music.
"Damn. People back then really knew how to make music…"
It was a song in which two lovers talked about how they would be with each other even if the world ended.
Vibing to the rhythm arun hopped on the sofa glancing at the ceiling.
As lyrics progressed,
The sound became fuzzy
Air glitched.
Heaviness drown him rendering imobile.
Is this paralysis!?
Arun panicked at strange sensation of weakness he felt his limbs but couldn't move them.
His thoughts dragged with his breathing.
Finally.
Arun slipped into a deep slumber.
And then, in darkness, a faint voice echoed.
[Aspirant, welcome to Maya Spell. Prepare for your First Trial.]
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