Ascension Of The Villain

Surprisingly, it worked.

Aster's breathing began to steady, each inhale and exhale coming more evenly as if he were slowly finding his way back to solid ground. He closed his eyes, brow furrowing with concentration, and focused on the soft pitter-patter of the rain.

It's just rain. Only rain. He repeated it to himself like a mantra, letting the rhythmic sound seep into his bones, untangling the knots of fear coiled tightly within him.

When he opened his eyes again, they shifted to the empty corner the strange man had pointed to earlier.

Vyan watched closely, seeing a cascade of emotions flicker through his brother's gaze—fear, confusion, and something like reluctant acceptance. It was as if Aster was having a silent conversation with the imaginary Vee in that corner, grappling with his fears and finding his courage, just like he used to do when they were younger.

Vyan couldn't quite decide which would be worse: Aster talking to imaginary Vee all in his head, or having a conversation out loud with thin air. At least if it were the latter, he might gain some insight into the labyrinth of Aster's thoughts.

But that was a distant concern. Right now, all Vyan could hope was that he hadn't deepened the fractures in Aster's fragile mind by encouraging his illusions.

"Come on, let's get you back up on the bed," Vyan said softly. He started to rise but felt a sudden tug on his hand. He looked down to find that Aster's tight and almost desperate grip held him in place.

The small gesture pulled at something deep within Vyan—a memory from their childhood.

"Vee! What are you doing?" the twelve-year-old Aster gasped.

Vyan, who recently turned four, continued to walk backward in the snow, his tiny boots leaving a trail of small, uneven footprints. He glanced up with a frown, genuinely confused. "What?"

Aster planted his hands on his hips with all the authority of an older brother. "Don't you know that if you walk backward, you are inviting the devils to follow your path?"

Vyan froze in his tracks, instantly filled with dread. "De-devils?" he stammered, already having a pre-existing fear of devils and monsters.

Aster nodded solemnly, leaning closer to his brother. "Yes, and now it's only a matter of time before one comes and takes you away."

"Wah, Papa, save meeee! I don'th wanth to be thaken by the devil!" Vyan wailed, spinning around and bolting toward their father. He latched onto Xandres' leg, burying his face and sobbing. Back then, he hadn't quite mastered his 't's, especially when speaking in a hurry, and the result always turned out adorable.

"Ash, why are you messing with the poor kid again?" Xandres chuckled, scooping Vyan up and ruffling his hair.

"I can't help it!" Aster laughed, barely able to stand straight. "He believes everything I say!" But when he saw how tightly Vyan was clutching their father, his little shoulders still trembling with fear, Aster's laughter softened into a chuckle. "Hey, you know I was just kidding, right?"

"No, you just wanth thu make me feel betther. Devils will really thake me," Vyan sniffled.

"Gosh, you big baby," Aster sighed dramatically, slapping his forehead. "Father, give him to me." He extended his arms, but Vyan clung tighter to Xandres.

"No, Papa, don'th! Devil will sell me!"

Xandres let out a long-suffering sigh and tried to set Vyan down in the snow, but his youngest son kept clinging onto him like a stubborn koala. With quite some effort, Xandres finally managed to pry him off and placed him down. "You two figure this out yourselves. Don't drag me into it, okay? I still have to find those flowers."

As Xandres wandered off, Vyan sat down in the snow, pulling his knees to his chest and curling up like a tiny ball of misery. "Papa lefth me," he whimpered, his voice breaking with fresh tears. "Devils will thake me."

Aster crouched down in front of him with a mix of guilt and fondness flickering across his face. "I am telling you, it was a joke. Why won't you believe me now?"

"No, iths not thrue," Vyan muttered stubbornly, still hiding his face.

Aster sighed, taking Vyan's small, mittened hands in his own, squeezing them gently. "Alright, fine. Don't believe me on that. But at least believe this: even if the devils come, I will protect you."

Vyan peeked up at him, his big eyes still glossy with tears. "Really?"

"Yes, really. No one can take my cute little brother away from me while I am still here," Aster grinned. "I will slay them before they can even touch a hair on your head. Got it?"

Vyan's face brightened with relief, and he nodded, his trust slowly returning.

"Good. Now, shall we get up and look for those rare snow orchids Mother likes? We don't want Father to greet her empty-handed on their anniversary tomorrow, do we?" Aster began to stand, but a tiny tug on his hand stopped him.

Vyan was still clutching his hand tightly. "Don'th let go."

Aster rolled his eyes, but his smile was soft. "Alright, alright. I will keep holding your hand and never, ever let go. Happy now?"

"Super happy!" Vyan beamed, his fears forgotten.

"Shall we go?"

"Okay. But carry me on your back. I am tired."

Aster narrowed his eyes. "You are such a spoiled big baby," was what he said, but he still hoisted Vyan onto his shoulders.

"I am okay being a baby," Vyan declared proudly, snuggling against his brother's head, one hand still clutching Aster's tightly.

"Huh. If that's the case, how are you going to marry Daphne like you claimed last week?" Aster teased.

Vyan hummed, as if considering a great dilemma. "Simple! You have to fill in for me until I grow up."

"Haha, what an honor for me," Aster cackled. "You will have to grow up very nicely then."

"I will!" Vyan chirped with bright determination. "I will grow up and protect you, Mama, Papa, Tia, Daphne, Granny… but not Mean Grandfather, though," he finished with a pout.

"Wow, what an honor for all of us." Aster's laughter rang through the snowy forest. "Of course, except for Grandfather. He will be missing out big time."

Recalling that fragment of childhood—a memory both fragile and precious—Vyan felt a soft smile form on his lips. How good and simple those days had been, where innocence reigned and darkness held no sway. And yet, it was strange how those childish promises had unfolded into reality.

Aster had kept his word, shielding Vyan from the 'devils,' but now Vyan had grown, and the world had taken so much away. There was no one left for him to protect. Not even Aster could recognize the grown-up Vyan.

"Stay," Aster murmured, looking up from where he sat on the cold floor. He said no more, but the way his trembling hand clung to Vyan's spoke a lot. Even as Aster tried to be strong for the imaginary Vee, his mind just wasn't strong enough to tackle all of his fears alone anymore.

The roles had reversed; the brave protector had become the frightened child.

A warm resolve settled in Vyan's chest. Perhaps, he still had someone left to protect after all. And he was determined to not fail at that.

"Yes, I will stay," Vyan promised. "But let me help you back to the bed first. After that, I promise I will stay right here with you."

Aster nodded, and with gentle care, Vyan guided him back to the bed. He tried to tuck the duvet around him, but Aster squirmed, rejecting the confinement. Vyan didn't push for it; he simply sat by the bedside, holding his hand. Keep exploring on m-vl-em-pyr

As the silence enveloped them, Vyan leaned closer, his voice a soft echo of their past. "I will keep holding your hand, and I will never ever let go. I will protect you from everything that haunts you. So don't be afraid, and let yourself fall asleep without a worry, Ash."

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