Chapter 1 — Before the War Broke the Sky
(UPDATED WITH DAY-TO-DAY BROTHER MOMENTS)
The morning sun rose slow over Kurohana Village, its light soft and golden as it brushed across the tall pines surrounding the valley. Smoke drifted from early cooking fires. Villagers gathered water from the well while kids ran barefoot down the dirt paths.
Inside a modest home at the village edge, Haruto—messy-haired, ten years old—burst out the door chasing after someone.
"Sataro! Wait up!"
His older brother, Sataro, sixteen, calm and sharp-eyed, stood in the yard stretching with disciplined focus. He always looked like he was preparing for something important—even on quiet mornings like this.
"You should've woke me up!" Haruto groaned.
"You were knocking out demons in your sleep," Sataro said, smirking. "Didn't want to interrupt."
Haruto pointed a stick at him like a sword. "One day I'll beat you!"
"You trip over air," Sataro reminded him. "Let's survive breakfast first."
A Normal Morning — Before Everything Went Wrong
After eating steamed rice and fish prepared by their mother, the boys headed outside to start their usual chores.
Haruto carried two buckets of water… well, tried to.
He made it five steps before one bucket sloshed half its contents onto his pants.
Sataro sighed. "Why do you lift them like that?"
"I was testing my strength!" Haruto snapped back.
"You failed."
Haruto rolled his eyes and gave Sataro an exaggerated glare before trying again. This time he nearly tripped on a pebble.
Sataro caught him by the back of the shirt. "That's the air you trip over."
Haruto shoved him playfully. "Whatever!"
Sataro smiled—small, but real. Around Haruto, he always softened.
After the water chore, they headed to help old Lady Nami with her garden. Haruto picked up a basket of vegetables…
…and immediately sneezed straight into it.
"No!" Sataro yanked the basket away. "Don't contaminate the poor woman's food."
"I didn't mean to!" Haruto defended himself. "It attacked me!"
Sataro looked at him. "The vegetables?"
"Yes."
Lady Nami laughed. "You boys always brighten my mornings."
Sataro bowed respectfully. Haruto tried to bow too but bumped into Sataro's shoulder, almost falling over again.
"Graceful," Sataro whispered.
Haruto elbowed him.
A Quiet Moment
Later, the two sat by the river. Haruto skipped stones—well, attempted to. Most of his stones plopped straight into the water.
"One day," Haruto said, tossing another rock that instantly sank, "I'm gonna be stronger than you."
"You better be," Sataro said quietly.
Haruto blinked. "What do you mean?"
Sataro didn't answer at first. His eyes followed the flowing river.
"…Because you deserve a future where you don't have to struggle."
Haruto frowned, confused by the sudden seriousness. "I don't get you sometimes."
Sataro smirked. "Good. Means you're still a kid."
Haruto puffed his cheeks. "Hey!"
Sataro flicked a stone perfectly across the water—one, two, three, four skips.
Haruto stared. "Teach me that!"
"Maybe tomorrow," Sataro teased.
"You always say that!"
"Because you always forget by tomorrow."
Haruto crossed his arms dramatically. "You're mean."
"And you're annoying," Sataro said calmly. "But you're my brother. Comes with the package."
Haruto tried not to smile, but he did anyway.
The Last Normal Evening
As the sun lowered, the boys returned home. Their mother cooked dinner while their father sharpened a hunting spear.
The house smelled of herbs and grilled fish.
Haruto talked nonstop during dinner—telling a story about how he "almost" caught a huge rabbit but "tripped because the ground betrayed him."
Their parents tried not to laugh.
Sataro didn't even try—he started laughing halfway through.
Haruto glared at him. "It really did betray me!"
"I know," Sataro said, patting his head. "Everything does."
It was the last peaceful dinner they would ever share in that home.
Night Falls — And Fate Arrives
The sky deepened into orange, then purple.
People shut their doors early.
Whispers traveled through the village.
"Why's everyone scared?" Haruto asked.
Sataro's brows narrowed. "Something's wrong."
Before he could explain—
Hoofbeats thundered down the main road.
Torches lit up the path.
Heavy armor clattered.
Royal soldiers poured into the village.
At their center sat a pale young man with long white hair and eyes like sharpened ice.
King Sable.
A guard dismounted and approached the brothers.
"Are you the children of Hiroshi and Mei?" he asked.
Sataro stepped forward, shielding Haruto. "Yes."
The guard knelt.
"…Your parents fell in battle. They died serving the crown."
Haruto collapsed to his knees with a broken sob.
Sataro didn't cry.
He didn't move.
He just stared at King Sable.
The king's expression didn't shift.
Not even an ounce of sympathy.
"May their sacrifice strengthen the kingdom," Sable said, voice smooth and cold.
Sataro's fists tightened.
That was the moment something shattered inside him.
The moment doubt bloomed into hatred.
The moment he silently promised to uncover the truth—
No matter the cost.