The arrival of Aethel and Thorenz brought immeasurable joy to the humans, as their father's heroic deeds had endeared him to the people. The twins were welcomed with open arms, and their birth was celebrated with feasting, laughter, and an abundance of wine. The hope that the boys represented for a future filled with peace and love resonated throughout the realm, their presence a symbol of renewal and possibility.
As the days turned to weeks, Aethel and Thorenz grew strong and healthy, their presence filling the household with an infectious energy. Fredericko and Roxanne marveled at the tiny miracles they had brought into the world, while Elsa, their grandmother, found herself captivated by Aethel's striking diamond-like eyes, a reflection of her own. Yet, even as the family basked in their shared happiness, Elsa's thoughts often turned to the prophecy, her mind clouded with a sense of foreboding.
On the day of the twins' third birthday, the air was alive with excitement as preparations for the celebration were underway. The boys, engrossed in a game of their own making, were playing with small rocks, while a large, immovable boulder stood nearby.
Aethel, his gaze fixed on the imposing stone, watched in wonder as it began to break apart, piece by piece, as if by an unseen force. Thorenz, startled by the flying debris, shielded his face with his small hands. When the stones finally came to rest, Thorenz opened his eyes, his voice trembling with bewilderment.
"Aethel, how did you do this?" Thorenz asked, his eyes darting between his brother and the shattered remains of the once-solid rock.
"I didn't do anything," Aethel replied, his voice tinged with confusion and a hint of fear. "I don't know what happened."
Seeking comfort and answers, Thorenz turned and raced toward the house, his tiny feet kicking up clouds of dust as he called out for their parents, his heart pounding in his chest.
The atmosphere was charged with anticipation as Thorenz's frantic footsteps echoed through the house, his desperate cries for his parents and grandmother reverberating off the walls. Outside, Aethel stood alone, his eyes wide with fear as he tried to make sense of the mysterious events that had just transpired.
Inside, Fredericko, Roxanne, and Elsa were immersed in preparations for the grand birthday celebration, the enticing aroma of mouth-watering dishes permeating every corner of their mountainous abode. Thorenz's urgent entrance shattered the peaceful scene, his small voice trembling with a sense of urgency as he struggled to convey the extraordinary occurrence to his family.
"Father! Mother! Grandmother!" he called out, his tone laced with a hint of panic. "Aethel..."
Moved by the distress in their son's voice, Fredericko, Roxanne, and Elsa rushed outside, their eyes widening in disbelief at the scene before them. A massive statue, formed from the very rocks Aethel had been playing with, towered over them, its imposing presence rendering the humans minuscule in comparison.
"What in the world happened here?" Fredericko exclaimed, his voice tinged with confusion and awe.
Roxanne, meanwhile, hastened to Aethel's side, scooping him up and whisking him back to the safety of the house. As the family tried to make sense of the remarkable creation, Elsa offered an explanation.
"Our adorable Aethel must have seen your sword at some point, Fredericko," Elsa mused, her voice filled with wonder. "With his imagination and newfound magical powers, he was able to create this statue, a replica of the legendary Oathkeeper's Shadow."
The significance of Elsa's words dawned on Fredericko, his voice barely a whisper as he began to comprehend the truth. "That means..."
Elsa nodded, a mixture of pride and concern in her eyes. "Yes, Aethel has inherited my magical powers, and it's time for him to learn how to control them. However..." Her voice trailed off, her mind drifting to the ominous prophecy once more.
Sensing his mother's distraction, Fredericko attempted to bring her back to the present. "Mother! Mother!"
Elsa snapped out of her daze, a forced smile playing at her lips. "Hm? What?"
"You were saying something," Fredericko reminded her gently.
"Oh, nevermind," Elsa replied, her tone evasive.
As Fredericko and Elsa returned to the house, the statue of the legendary sword, Oathkeeper's Shadow, stood as a powerful testament to Aethel's extraordinary abilities, its presence a silent reminder of the wonders and challenges that lay ahead for the young boy and his family.
As the years passed, Aethel and Elsa forged a strong bond as she guided him in honing his magical abilities. Thorenz, feeling increasingly isolated and envious of their connection, yearned for the same attention and sense of purpose. The boys, now ten years old, found themselves at a crossroads, their relationship strained by the chasm that had formed between them.
On a fateful afternoon, as Aethel and Elsa made their way to their usual training spot, they were surprised to find Thorenz waiting for them. Aethel, perplexed by his brother's presence, questioned his intentions.
"Thorenz, what are you doing here?"
"Isn't it obvious? I'm here to train too," Thorenz replied, his voice tinged with a mix of determination and vulnerability.
Aethel, unimpressed by his brother's assertion, couldn't resist the urge to mock him. "Right, the one who wasn't born with magical powers."
Thorenz, his eyes pleading for validation, turned to Elsa. "My magical powers will soon awaken, won't they, Grandmother? I'll be more powerful than him, right?"
However, Elsa remained silent, her gaze fixed on Thorenz, her expression inscrutable. Unable to bear the weight of her silence, Thorenz fled into the forest, his sobs echoing through the trees.
Once Thorenz was out of sight, Elsa turned to Aethel, her tone firm and unyielding. "Go and bring your brother back, now!"
Aethel, taken aback by his grandmother's harshness, attempted to interject, but Elsa would have none of it. "Not another word! Go, now!"
Dutifully, Aethel set off in pursuit of his brother, his thoughts swirling with questions and doubts. "Grandmother is so harsh. I wonder why. Well, I will fetch Thorenz and return to my training."
Meanwhile, Thorenz sat alone in the forest, lost in his sadness and confusion. His grandmother's apparent favoritism towards Aethel was a source of constant pain and frustration. As he wallowed in self-pity, he became vaguely aware of Aethel's voice calling his name, but he chose to ignore it.
As Thorenz remained unresponsive, a group of ten lions slowly approached him, their movements cautious yet curious. Surrounded by the majestic beasts, Thorenz was paralyzed with fear, his tears flowing unchecked.
Aethel, having finally located his brother, was horrified to find him encircled by lions. With a mix of concern and frustration, he called out to Thorenz. "Stop crying! You're a man!" Aethel gave his brother a sharp knock on the head, hoping to snap him out of his terror.
Just as the lions prepared to attack, Fredericko appeared, seemingly out of thin air, and dispatched the beasts with the legendary Oathkeeper's Shadow. Aethel, his eyes fixed on the powerful black blade, couldn't help but admire its elegance and strength. He dreamt of the day when he, too, would wield such a magnificent weapon.
As the dust settled, Aethel found himself feeling both relieved and disappointed. "Father, you shouldn't have come! This was a chance to put what I learned from Grandmother into practice, but you've killed all of the lions!"
Fredericko, sensing his son's frustration, offered a sheepish apology. "Oh? My bad. Sorry, son. I'm sure you'll get another opportunity."
Together, the trio made their way back home, their thoughts consumed by the day's events and the uncertain path that lay ahead.
As the moon rose high in the sky, casting a silver glow over the land, Aethel lay wide awake in his bed. The day's events had left him restless, his mind buzzing with thoughts of the Oathkeeper's Shadow and the power it held. Making a decision, he carefully slipped out of his bed, taking great care not to disturb Thorenz, who was sleeping soundly nearby.
Tiptoeing across the room, Aethel silently opened the door and stepped out into the hall. He made his way to his parents' room, his heart pounding in his chest. As he entered, he was relieved to find them both asleep, their breathing slow and steady.
His gaze immediately fell upon the Oathkeeper's Shadow, hanging proudly on a wooden display. With a mixture of awe and anticipation, he approached the legendary sword, gingerly removing it from its resting place. The weight of the weapon in his hand felt both familiar and exhilarating, fueling his desire to test its might for himself.
As Aethel turned to leave, Fredericko's eyes suddenly snapped open, a sense of unease washing over him. Aethel, oblivious to his father's awakening, quietly closed the door and made his way into the dark forest.
Once he was certain he was alone, Aethel began to train with the Oathkeeper's Shadow, the blade slicing effortlessly through branches as he practiced his technique. He gazed at the sword in his hands, a smile playing at his lips as he pondered the true extent of his potential.
"The Oathkeeper's Shadow," he mused, "the legendary black blade that Father used to slay the giants. I heard it's so powerful that it can make the earth tremble. If I were to combine this sword with my magical powers, I wonder how strong I would become. Perhaps I could even surpass Father."
Aethel's musings were abruptly interrupted by the sound of Fredericko's voice cutting through the darkness. "Oh? You think you could surpass even me, huh?"
Startled, Aethel jumped in fear, losing his balance and falling to the ground. As he scrambled to regain his composure, Fredericko approached, his arms folded across his chest.
"May I ask what it is you are doing all alone in the forest this late at night, young man?" Fredericko questioned, his tone firm but not unkind.
"Um... nothing, Father," Aethel stammered, attempting to conceal his true intentions. "I'm not using the Oathkeeper's Shadow for anything."
Fredericko raised an eyebrow, his gaze resting pointedly on the sword in Aethel's hand. "I can see that."
After a brief moment of silence, Aethel sighed in frustration, knowing he had been caught. "Father, I'm just training with your sword. I wanted to see how strong I could become if I combined its power with my own. Wouldn't you like to find out?"
Fredericko's expression remained resolute as he shook his head. "No, I don't. Now, give me that sword and go back to sleep. Don't make me repeat myself."
With a dissatisfied scowl, Aethel reluctantly handed the Oathkeeper's Shadow back to his father. He returned to his room, the weight of disappointment heavy on his shoulders as he climbed back into bed, his dreams filled with images of the sword and the potential power it held.
The following day, Aethel resumed his training with Elsa, the rhythm of their routine comforting in its familiarity. Meanwhile, Thorenz remained on the sidelines, watching with a mixture of envy and resignation as his brother honed his magical abilities. Unbeknownst to the boys, Fredericko had confided in Roxanne about Aethel's daring endeavor from the previous night.
"Aethel took the Oathkeeper's Shadow and went to train in the forest last night?" Roxanne's eyes widened in shock as she absorbed the news.
"I'm grateful that I was awake," Fredericko admitted. "That sword is far too powerful for a child, let alone one who is only ten years old."
"True," Roxanne agreed, her voice heavy with concern. "In the wrong hands, the sword could bring about great ruin. Isn't that what your mother said?"
"Yes, she did," Fredericko confirmed.
Their attention was suddenly drawn to Thorenz, who was sitting alone, idly tossing stones around. As they watched him, a smile slowly spread across Fredericko's face.
"What are you smiling about?" Roxanne asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice.
"I'm starting to see a lot of myself in Thorenz," Fredericko mused. "He may not possess magical powers, but he's been blessed with superhuman strength. Perhaps the time has come for me to begin training him. What do you think?"
"That's a wonderful idea!" Roxanne exclaimed. "At least he won't feel left out anymore."
While Fredericko and Roxanne discussed Thorenz's future, Elsa took a break from her training session with Aethel and approached the boy, taking a seat beside him. Thorenz's eyes widened in surprise at his grandmother's unexpected presence.
"Surprised?" Elsa asked with a gentle smile.
Thorenz's initial shock faded, replaced by a hint of skepticism. "What do you want? Shouldn't you be training Aethel? That's what you prefer to do, right?"
"Thorenz, I want you to know that, just like Aethel, you are special to me," Elsa reassured him. "I love you both equally."
"You're just trying to make me feel better," Thorenz countered, his skepticism still evident.
"You're right, but that doesn't make it any less true," Elsa insisted. "You really are special in your own way."
"But unlike Aethel, I wasn't born with magical powers," Thorenz argued. "So how can I be special?"
Elsa's eyes sparkled with a playful gleam as she responded, "Oh? You don't know? Hehe."
Thorenz's curiosity was piqued by his grandmother's enigmatic response. "Know what?" he asked, eager to discover what made him special in her eyes.
"Have you ever heard the tale of the Great Conflict?" Elsa asked, her voice taking on a storyteller's cadence.
"Of course," Thorenz replied. "The human race was on the brink of extinction, but a hero rose from among them, leading them to victory against the giants. That hero was none other than Father. It's a tale so deeply ingrained in our history that I could recite it in my sleep."
Elsa cleared her throat, a knowing smile playing at her lips. "Ahem. Did you know that this hero didn't possess magical powers, but rather was blessed with superhuman strength?"
"Yes, I'm aware of that," Thorenz said, his brow furrowing in confusion.
"Just like that great hero, you too were not born with magical powers," Elsa explained, her gaze filled with love and admiration. "Instead, you were blessed with superhuman strength, just like your father."
Thorenz's face contorted in a mixture of confusion and curiosity, his mind reeling as he struggled to process Elsa's revelation. "Huh?"
Before he could fully grasp the implications of his grandmother's words, a familiar voice boomed from behind them, cutting through the tense silence. "Thorenz! Get ready! Your training begins now!"
Thorenz whirled around to find Fredericko towering over him, his powerful frame a testament to the very strength that ran through their bloodline. Overwhelmed with emotion, Thorenz felt tears welling up in his eyes. "Yes!" he shouted, before rushing into the house to prepare for his first training session.
Elsa watched the exchange with a satisfied smile before turning to Fredericko. "Why did you wait this long to start training him?" she asked, her tone a blend of curiosity and mild reproach.
"I wanted him to mature a bit before we began," Fredericko explained, his eyes following his son's retreating form. "Now that he's ten, it's the perfect time for his training to commence, Mother."
From that day forward, Thorenz's loneliness began to dissipate, replaced by a newfound sense of purpose and belonging. Under Fredericko's watchful eye, the boy's strength grew with each passing day, and the bond between father and son deepened as they embarked on this journey together.