Into the spotlight: the half brothers

-

ent trees. Its air carried a timeless stillness, unbroken by the chaos unfolding in the outside

ed into the hills. He had been waiting for hours, a sense of certainty anchoring him desp

are co

sky in hues of gold and crimson. And then, faint b

-

s Jo

er his shoulder. The map from the unmarked package had le

, forcing him to walk the rest of the way. Yet, for reasons he couldn't explain, he

ce. The man's white robes caught the fading sunlight, giving him

lled out, his voice ec

aying on his lips. "And you mu

-

n's A

eran barely noticed. His mind was consumed by the patterns he'd

of equipment slung over his shoulder. He scanned his surroundings, fee

essed casually but with an air of restless energy. Somethi

to greet him. "Kieran," he sa

surprise. "How do

d. "I've been expect

-

ond o

gh they had never met, a strange sense of recognition passed between th

ust skipping introductions, huh? What's the stor

replied. "But the real story

ed, holding it out for the others to see. Kieran's eyes narrowed

ntersecting lines. "I've seen it before. It w

eo added. "Wha

It's a mark left by our father, El

a beat. "Wait. Are you

aid simply. "W

-

g the

in his own way. Reo ran a hand through his hair, muttering curses under

lright, let's say I believe you. W

follow him. "There's some

ed roots twisting like veins into the earth. Beneath its sprawling br

r once stood. He came here to meditate, to connect with something gr

noticed faint carvings etched into the stone-

this?"

sical one, but a spiritual connection

e dealing with ghosts and magic?

ing into gear. "It's energy. This symbol-these patterns-they'r

d we were meant to unlock it. But

-

ng and

ly set aside. Ayden shared the visions he'd experienced, while Kieran explained the p

ind, colder than the night air should have allowed. The tree

ng for the unknown. Then, from the shadows, a voice spoke-a l

not ready

ts clenched. "Who's t

ahead is fraught with danger. Tur

ward. "Yeah? Well, we're

firm. "This is just the beginning," he said, his voice stea

ce. The brothers looked at one another, the we

But none of them wer