This is a story just slightly before the brothers of Sorciana met the Princess of Traumere…-.
The night was quiet as the stars and moon twinkled in the sky.
That faint light fell on a library in the Land of Sorcery, Sorciana.
Miya: “Hmm, this part is hard…”
Within the silent library, Miya scratched his head as he read a grimoire.
He was open to a page with an explanation of a high-level spell.
Miya: “Fua… my vision is swimming with letters…-“
Miya let out a yawn, and suddenly his head dropped.
But his eyes snapped open and he shook his head as if to shake of the tired.
Miya: “Aah, no no! Don’t fall asleep! You have to keep going and learn how to use this amazing sorcery like Iria. If I do… I wonder if everyone will need me more.”
Miya twirled his hair around a finger as his expression clouded with sadness…-.
…
……
In the dimly-lit corridor, a single set of footsteps echoed.
Iria: “It’s gotten pretty late…”
Having finished with his official duties, Iria was headed back to his room as he let out a small sigh.
Iria: “…oh?”
His eyes unintentionally caught on light spilling from the library ahead.
Slowly opening the door, he saw Miya, slumped over the desk asleep.
Iria: “Miya… you’ve been studying hard.”
Iria’s eyes drifted over the veritable mountain of grimoires.
Iria: “You were studying this kind of difficult sorcery…? Even I’m not good enough for that one. …you’re bright and free, and the townsfolk adore you. You already possess things that I never could, and yet…-“
Miya: “…choo.”
Miya sneezed lightly and started to stir, likely from the autumn chill.
Seeing that, Iria grabbed a nearby blanket.
Iria: “It’s fine to work hard, but if you sleep here, you’ll catch a cold.”
Iria gave a wry smile at seeing Miya so deep asleep.
Then, for some reason, Miya’s lips twitched.
Miya: “I’m gonna… be like Iria, someday…”
Iria: “…!”
Iria’s eyes went wide at Miya’s soft-spoken words.
Iria: “That’s what I should be saying, Miya.”
Then, looking down, Iria quietly and gently placed the blanket over Miya’s shoulders.
Iria: “I feel the same way. I want to be like you…-“
His voice was a forced murmur as his eyes flickered with sadness.
The gentle light of the lamp wrapped around the two brothers, unable to tell each other their true thoughts and feelings.
END