The Firstlings

Aaron’s projection sat in his Soul Space staring at the small Soul Flame nestled in its center. It burned brightly with its golden ethereal mist, but he could feel it shuddering. It was in a state of shock, as his emotions were still swinging wildly.

Even his projection seemed less solid as his mental state was consumed by dire thoughts and indecision. It had been a few days since his meeting with Karla and the Council, but he still felt like it was all just hanging in the air, waiting to come crashing in again.

They had celebrated the return of their Mother’s core and those of his siblings. Ciel had sung the most beautiful songs as they danced and laughed at the return of their loved ones legacies. They were of the same mind as Aaron and went through the same emotions he had experienced when holding Mother’s core.

They were again reminded that she was gone and they had to continue onward, bringing tears to their eyes, but they chose to dance and sing instead. Ciel had mentored a small group of his siblings, and they joined her in song, some playing small instruments made from wood and string.

Their mesmerizing sound and joyous laughter attracted small groups of humans, and Aaron was amazed that his siblings chose to let them stay, refusing to deny any from celebrating Mother. Aaron had watched as humans and Firstlings danced and laughed, chuckling at the irony of their situation.

Many of the Hunters and those from the Academy became rather close, accepting them for who they were. Some soldiers had even come to celebrate, warming up to them after fighting side by side. It was an odd sight to see after what they had been through, and it made his body tremble.

Aaron had watched Ciel talk with Bently, smiling brightly, and felt the melancholy in his heart. The man had been training her with a weapon to defend herself if needed. They had become close, and Aaron couldn’t say he blamed her, as the man was just so damn honorable, but he didn’t know how to feel about all of it.

After days of contemplation, he wasn’t any closer to a decision. Looking at his Soul Flame, he could tell by the ripples going through his body that he was in a state of disharmony. Where mind, body, and soul were confused and in discord, losing their sense of center. With a growl, he exited his Soul Space and left the tent, feeling the fresh morning air as he headed to a meeting with Garin and his sister Jessie.

They had some reports that were concerning.

Doubt filled his steps as he entered the meeting tent to see Cornelius and the others talking over a rough map of their surroundings. They lifted their heads as he came into view with both concern and anger in their eyes.

“Not the look I was hoping for; what happened?” Aaron asked, clearly on edge.

“The humans are becoming troublesome,” Cornelius replied, looking at Jessie.

“The humans have begun to take to the forest more, so we’re having issues when attempting to forage or train,” Jessie explained, a dark look in her eyes.

“Issues?” Aaron asked, already having a feeling where this was going.

“Those from the Hunter’s Guild and the Academy may accept us, but most hunters and the so-called ‘Adventurers’ don’t take to us very well,” she replied, with contempt. “They yell foul names, spitting at us, as we train and hunt; some have tried to harm us, but we back off, not wishing to provoke them further.”

Aaron scrunched up his face, as he didn’t quite know how to handle the situation. They could slaughter them all, but he didn’t think that was probably the best option. Before he could sort out his own thoughts, Garin stepped forward.

“We could murder them in their sleep!” He hissed, seething with anger.

Aaron didn’t scold him because he had thought the same thing, but he shook his head, “That would only make matters worse. I will talk to Bently and see what can be done, but for now, adjust the patrols and try to stay clear of them.”

Jessie agreed as she took her leave, but Aaron could see the doubtful look in her eyes as she left the meeting. He instructed Garin to keep an eye on the human’s movements and to warn him immediately if anything was suspicious.

Garin vanished with a hard look in his eye, still seething but also understanding Aaron’s reasoning, so he followed orders without complaint.

“What should we do, brother?” Aaron asked, turning to Cornelius with a sorrowful look, trying to come to a decision about what they should do.

“I’m as unsure as you are, Aaron,” he muttered, shaking his head. “I believe something greater is happening here as well, and human knowledge appears to be endless, making me find myself easily consumed by the wonder of it all.”

“There are great people here, Aaron,” Cornelius stated, his eyes twinkling as he spoke. “Masters of their fields, and they have achieved things we would have never known possible.” He sighed heavily as he continued, “But there are also animals waiting to tear us apart.”

Aaron stared back at his brother, amazed that he could even show such emotions. The guy was always so uptight that Aaron would have thought he didn’t even have emotions, but the brother standing before him was consumed by the same excitement and doubt that he was, and it made him chuckle inside.

Aaron stared wide-eyed, as if someone had taken his brother’s place.

“Idiot!” Cornelius grunted, which made Aaron laugh hysterically, bringing some comfort to his troubled heart.

“If we can’t decide, then we should vote,” Cornelius explained.

Aaron nodded, clasping his brother’s shoulder reassuringly as he wiped a tear from his eye, “I agree, brother. In the morning, we will summon everyone and take a vote to decide our future.”

“Agreed,” Cornelius replied, shaking his head, slightly amused by Aaron’s mirth. “The hunter group led by Jessie is our largest faction, and they are of the mind that we can survive in the forest. We are not the same as we were when leaving the Nest, but if we leave…” He paused as if unsure: “We may create a greater rift between us and the humans.”

Aaron pondered his brother’s words as Cornelius left the meeting, heading towards the Academy tent. He followed him back into the morning sun, heading to his own tent, and performed his morning exercise, knowing it was most likely useless with his unstable condition. When the exercise was completed, he decided to meditate, sitting in front of his tent below the open sky.

After trying several different ways to nurture his soul, he found one that was extremely comforting. Clearing his mind, he entered a state of meditation, closer to a trance, blocking out everything around him until he was bathed in what he could only call one of the purest sounds.

Silence.

It was odd to think of the lack of noise as a sound, but he couldn’t help but make the reference. Silence itself, just like the loudest noise, seemed to reverberate and have its own presence. It was like the sound of the void screaming for the world to hear, but it was hollow and empty.

The sound of empty.

And it was extremely comforting, as there was no cacophony of the world around him, no more thoughts or doubt, just the reassuring sound of nothing. Aaron’s soul bathed in tranquility as it trembled as if purring from the embrace of silence itself.

Aaron lost track of time as he soothed his soul, finally opening his eyes to see the darkness of night with stars shining overhead. He took deep breaths as he enjoyed the beauty of the scenery before rising and walking to a ledge overlooking the slums.

The humans had become overly active more recently as it was becoming safer to traverse the wilderness with the patrols and hunters becoming more effective. Aaron could even see that they were expanding outward, which was absolutely a good thing.

The close living conditions had made it horrible to pass through, and with access to the river again, things would improve quickly. Aaron was more than grateful for their efforts, but he was also worried. The more they were spread about, the more they would push back at him and his siblings. Sighing, he went back to his tent for the night, slowly drifting into a fitful sleep.

He felt a ripple through the Bond.

Aaron’s eyes shot open as he jerked awake, grabbing what he could as he scrambled out of the tent. Something bad had happened, and fear gripped his heart as he ran to the outskirts, heading to the main crossroads of the city.

He stopped abruptly as his heart fell into his stomach and his legs felt like lead. Stepping forward slowly, his soul trembling, he looked down at the horrible sight before him.

One of his brothers was tied to a post, beside the road.

With a dagger in his throat.

A sign written in his own blood was pinned to his chest.

MONSTER

Aaron reached out with trembling hands to cut his brother loose as he growled in anguish. He could see the claw marks where his brother had torn at his own throat, a look of horror frozen on his face. Aaron held his brother, wailing to the world, unable to hold back his tears as grief consumed him.

Shame boiled in his gut at his stupidity for ever believing there could be hope. Hot rage coursed through his veins, but not at the humans, not Karla or the Council, only at himself, for he was the one to blame for this. He had brought folly to his Nest again, even going so far as to sacrifice his own.

Enough was enough.

They were leaving.

Aaron carried his brother back to the camp as his siblings gathered around and began to weep at yet another loss of life. They wrapped their brother in the finest cloth they could find, as his sister Nara decorated it with flowers and leaves.

He had Ciel sing a happy song, a song full of life, as he refused to send his brother off with something sad. They would remember his life instead, so they sang about the thrill of the hunt and the excitement of ever being born.

Aaron answered their questions as best he could as tears streamed down his face. They wanted to retaliate, but he absolutely refused, as he wouldn’t let them stoop to their level and it would only mean their annihilation. There were too many humans who could easily overrun them. It was time to leave and separate from their so-called humanity and make their own path.

With heavy hearts, they began to pack and prepare for their journey into the forest as the sun started to rise above the trees. Aaron went to his tent to be alone, falling to his knees, breathing deeply, consumed by thoughts of rage. He couldn't believe it had come to this and regretted his decision to come to this filthy City. Growling, he entered his souls space attempting to calm his weary heart.

While they were singing and mourning their brother.

Before the sun had risen above the trees.

A dark figure stepped from the shadow of a post.

Garin inspected the footprints throughout the area and began to shift to various places, shadow-stepping in short bursts. He wore a dark cloak stained even darker from the Plane of Shadows and blended in with the darkness seamlessly.

He was not Aaron and refused to abide by some principles of theatrics. A life for a life was the law of the land, and brother wasn’t coming around so well. Garin knew Aaron’s stance but was not of the same mind. They had to keep the humans in check or it would never end, so he took it into his own hands.

Grey eyes stared at a small house near the edge of the city, before the slums. Garin could hear laughter and talking echoing from within, and he smiled wide. He watched as a small figure wearing a cloak left the house, heading towards the city.

He nodded at one of his underlings, who hid in the man’s shadow to trail him. Turning to the house, he crept forward, slowly peering into the small window. Two men stooped over a table, looking to be playing some kind of game, as Garin eavesdropped.

“Did you see the look on that bugger's face?” The big man roared with laughter.

“My brother will get you for this!” The skinny one laughed as he mimicked his brother's dying words.

Garin stepped into the darkness and appeared in the large man’s shadow, looking around the room. He noticed only three men: a large man, a small, skinny man, and a quiet one leaning against the wall watching them play their game.

Garin reached out of the shadows and stabbed the big man in the throat as he lurched over, gurgling, blood gushing from the wound. The skinny one tried to stand, but Garin stepped out of the shadows and punched forward.

He shoved the skinny guy’s nose into his face, hearing teeth crunch as he somersaulted to the side and kicked at the quiet one. The man was ready and blocked the kick as he tried to retaliate. Garin chuckled as he activated [Shadows Helper], and arms rose from the man’s shadow, grabbing him tightly.

They pulled him to the ground with a muffled cry as Garin plunged his dagger into the man’s heart. Walking over to the skinny one still reeling, holding his nose and a few teeth, Garin slit the man’s throat and watched as he took his last breath.

He leaped through the shadows away from the scene without even a hint of remorse, thinking of his brother and wishing he could see the truth. If only Aaron could understand that the world was dirty and dark.

And that only might made right.

It was the ugly truth of the world.