I didn't have many memories of my biological parents. They died when I was just seven, so that was to be expected. However, one memory remained vibrant, haunting my nightmares.
In this memory, I had just returned from school, happy to finally be home and spend time with my father. He had promised me that he would take the day off and not enter the Realm Tombs.
He lied.
When I opened the door and entered the room, I was met with the most horrifying sight a seven-year-old could witness. I saw my parents lying in pools of their own blood, their bodies limp on the ground. My mother was in far worse shape than my father. Half of her face was missing, her brain exposed, with a blade piercing it.
What's worse, somehow they weren't dead. Neither of them was. They were both conscious and suffering.
Light swirled around my father's body, and two knives appeared where his right arm should have been. From the look in his eyes, I knew what I needed to do. I took the ivory knife closest to my mother and moved toward her.
Her singular eye was gentle even in pain. Her lips parted, mouthing the words, "I love you…"
As I stabbed the knife into her heart, her body began turning into mist, taking the knife with it. The same thing happened with my father.
"I'm… sorry." His last words were whispered through tears of regret.
After that, the rest was a blur.
I walked to my one-year-old sister's room, picked her up from her crib, and left the house to find our neighbor. All I remember is handing Amanda to her and passing out.
Three years have passed since that day. I'm now ten years old, though I'd say my mental age is much higher than my actual one. I mean, what child would grow up to be "normal" after killing their own parents at their request?
After our parents' deaths, Amanda and I were taken to the local orphanage and have lived there ever since. At first, the other kids were hostile; they always called me "Murderer" whenever I approached. The little bastards even tried to separate me from Amanda on multiple occasions, saying it wouldn't be long before I tried to kill her, too.
Perhaps that was a factor in my rapid mental aging as well.
Over time, the older kids began to enter their teens and mature. Taking pity on me, they started allowing me to hang out with them, and I eventually grew close to a few.
Occasionally, Am would ask about our parents. She was now four and more curious than the average child. Some of the little devils tried telling her that I killed Mom and Dad. Thankfully, she never believed them.
I had just brushed my teeth after showering and changed into my best clothes. By "best," I meant a pair of baggy grey sweatpants and a plain white shirt. I also dressed Amanda in her best outfit: a red dress that covered her entire body, leaving only her arms and her legs from the knees down exposed.
Today was a very important day. It was the day my sister would get a new family. The day she'd be adopted. But more importantly, it was...
The last day I'll get to see you, Am. I'm going to miss you so much.
Indeed, I would. Amanda was my sister, the only living member of my family, and my only reason for living. Right after our parents died by my hand, I nearly headed to the kitchen to grab a knife and join them in eternal solace. But I didn't. At the time, I had a reason to stay: Amanda.
If I die, who will look after her? That was what I told myself every time suicidal thoughts crept into my mind. After today, however, I'll have no reason to live.
Therefore, it was to be my last day alive.
The decision wasn't hard to make; rather, it felt synonymous with the news that someone wanted to adopt Amanda.
"Brother? Where are we going?" Am asked, tilting her head to the side.
Taking her hand, I mustered the most reassuring smile I could and said, "Well, you see, you're going on a long adventure."
"Really?!" She brightened with excitement, but then it dimmed, replaced by worry. "What about you, brother? Will you come with me?"
"No, I can't."
As tears gathered at the edges of her eyes, my heart shattered. I quickly crouched to her level. Using my index finger and thumb to wipe away the tears, I gave her the best smile my will could muster.
"I can't because this adventure is meant only for pretty princesses and a queen. But don't worry; I'll be watching from afar and will cheer you on as loud as I can."
While my words didn't seem to comfort her completely, they gave her some reassurance.
"Okay."
I took her hand and headed to the Headmaster's office. We walked downstairs, passing playing children. We passed some of Am's friends, and she went to tell them about the great adventure she was going on today. They seemed amazed and sad at the same time.
We climbed another set of stairs leading to the third floor, where the older kids and staff members stayed. Most importantly, the third floor was where the Headmaster's office was located.
Finally reaching it, I knocked twice and waited for permission to enter.
"Who is it?" Her voice came from the other side, as calm and confident as ever.
"It's Amanda, Headmaster!" Am responded enthusiastically.
I heard the Headmaster chuckle with someone at Am's enthusiasm, and then her voice invited us in.
I opened the door. Amanda immediately ran toward the Headmaster, but her steps halted when she saw the person sitting with her.
The Headmaster sat behind her desk as usual, but in front of the desk sat a woman dressed in a crimson gown. She had long, straight, silky black hair that fell past her shoulders, reflecting hints of light. Her eyes were like two pools of blood, swirling in a vortex.
I knew her, of course. She was...
"Who is that, brother?" my sister asked, shyly hiding behind me.
"That's Eunbin, the Queen of Oath," I whispered back.
At the mention of the Queen of Oath, a smile lit Amanda's face with joy. She was slightly nervous, but the Headmaster looked even more nervous—though for a different reason, I didn't know why.
"What a daring child. Not even a greeting, and you're already calling me by my name."
I looked at Eunbin, unable to feel anything but the numbness burying my indescribable sorrow. Her title didn't matter to me. I didn't care if she was offended. I didn't even care if she existed. That is what it feels like to have no reason to live.
That is what it feels like to be an animated corpse.
"An interesting one, at that," the Queen said, standing up and approaching us.
I moved to the side, letting her stand in front of Amanda. To my surprise, she bent down and picked Am up as if she were already her daughter. The sight filled me with anger and envy. Anger that she would take Am away from me, and envy that she would get to watch her grow up.
But I also felt relief, relief for the bright future Amanda was fated to have once the Queen adopted her.
At least she'll be happy... I thought, burying my emotions under a veil of numbness. It was ironic, really; a child no older than ten thinking like that.
Eunbin talked with Am for a few moments. I didn't listen, however, as I was deep in thought about the quickest and most painless way to die. I also began hesitating about the idea.
Do I really want to kill myself? The question was like a sun shining after a cloudy day.
"Child? Child, answer me." I heard the Queen's voice beckoning me out of my thoughts.
I scowled at her, the numbness disappearing with the thoughts of death. "What?!" I spat.
I saw the Headmaster visibly pale from the corner of my eye, but I paid it no mind.
The Queen's smile grew strained. "I asked you for your name, boy." She stressed the last word like an insult.
"Aether," I answered.
"Well then, Aether. Would you mind if I became your and Amanda's new mother?"
***
Three Years Later
"You nervous?" a female voice asked from beside me.
"Nah," I replied dismissively, waving a hand in the air.
I was sitting on a bench in the underground area of the Oath Facility. It was dark, covered in shadows cast by the massive Gate that floated over the ground like a crimson fissure in reality. Next to me was Caera, my older sister.
Well... not officially.
When Eunbin adopted us, she only officially adopted Amanda. I was not announced as the Queen's son, but I am her son as much as any of my adopted sisters. The reason was that the House of Oath needed an unknown "wild card." I didn't understand it at the time and still don't, not fully. From what I gather, the House of Oath needed a secret agent to combat their enemies—someone the Queen trusted fully. And who could she trust more than her own son, even if adopted?
"You think Am will be lonely?" Caera asked, sounding worried.
I thought about it for a bit. With Caera and me entering the Realm Tombs, Amanda would be the last of our siblings to enter. She wouldn't enter until she was at least thirteen—maybe younger, if Mother allowed it.
"Yeah, but at least Mother's puppet will be with her." I looked at Caera and said, "I'm excited to reunite with Seris, though." Smirking, I added, "Or should I call her 'Lady Song of Solace' now?"
Caera smirked back. She was about to comment but then yelped, surprised by a voice coming from behind us.
"I don't think she'll appreciate it," a boy's soothing voice said from behind the bench.
"Hello to you too, Mother." I looked over my shoulder to see the corpse of the child Mother controlled as her puppet.
"Am?"
"Brother!" she shouted, running from behind the bench and throwing herself into my arms.
I hugged her back until she went to do the same to Caera. I looked at Mother's puppet, confused.
"Uh... what is Am doing here?" I asked as the puppet sat beside me.
Mother looked at Caera spinning Am around. I smiled at the sight, thankful that Am was having fun.
"Don't fret, son. She will be heading straight toward the Ivory Palace," she reassured me. "I didn't want her to feel lonely, so I thought she'd feel better if she was with me, Seris, and Laila when she comes back from the Second Recording."
She stayed silent until Caera put Am down. Then, the puppet got up and took Am's hand. I stood and walked toward the Gate but stopped when my mother's puppet spoke through the boy again.
"Caera, Aether, are you sure you don't just want me to give you a Scroll?" she asked.
When neither of us responded, she sighed and turned away.
"Just as stubborn as your older siblings, I see."
We reached the Gate. Caera and I stood next to each other in front of the crimson tear in reality, while Mother and Am stood a short distance away.
"You'll be transported to a random area in my domain. I cannot control where, but I will ensure you are close to one another." She paused, looking at us through the puppet's lifeless eyes. "Your objective is to retrieve two Scrolls and earn a Scripture each."
"Good luck!" Am shouted, waving at us.
With that, we entered the Gate.