TWINCEST CULTIVATION: a Tale of Vengeance

Amidst the quiet atmosphere, Zesh suddenly spoke, causing Ayin to look at him in surprise.

he growled low,

Ayin wanted to rebuke, but seeing his gaze, she didn't know how. <…where would we go?>

Zesh answered curtly.

It was evening on their thirteenth day living in this small hut. Outside, the village was still lively as the sun had just set, but Zesh felt something was wrong.

He had bad foreboding that he couldn't explain.

Nakan, sat in the corner, idly playing with some carvings. The chaotic scrape of woods against woods grated in Ayin's ears, a constant reminder of the awkward weight that hung between them.

<…> Ayin couldn't help but feel kinda guilty.

She fidgeting for a minute before asking her brother through their telepathy,

He huffed.

she darted her eyes between the mother and son,

Few moments later, Zesh, unfazed, asked back flatly,

She almost bite that brother of her,

Zesh scoffed, not bother to respond.

In actuality, he liked it. He always hate the ideas of his sister getting all cheeky with that human boy, so their awkwardness and growing distant relationship really lifted his mood. Although the same thing didn't apply for Ayin.

Especially since she wanted to talk with the healer.

But with the awkwardness, how could she even ask Nakan to accompanied her? And don't talk about going out by herself, she's too afraid to do that. With Zesh? He didn't even had a change in expression even after hearing what she said. In his words, so what if the healer was once friend with their kind? What kind of friends that didn't even try to do anything and let their friend's kin extinct?

He has decided.

<….but at least I want to leave good memories..> she suddenly notice something,

He scoffed,

Ayin almost jumped up,

Ayin gritted her teeth,

<…>

Seeing his sister's reaction, Zesh contemplated for a second before sighed and told her everything.

That was barely dawn time, when Zesh awoke to the sounds coming from the kitchen. He knew it's Clara preparing today's necessity, so he didn't really bother. But sometimes, he just got too paranoid so he checked the kitchen and yes, it's just Clara.

Clara saw him and they had a chat for a bit, eventually leading to Zesh telling her that he planned to leave soon. Clara obviously against the idea. Living for more than a week, she had already formed familial feelings towards Ayin, she knows what lies beyond the village's territory, and she wants the best for her.

Zesh let out a bitter laugh.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Zesh said, his voice cutting.

The color drained from Clara's face, but she quickly masked it with a scowl. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Zesh snapped.

To outsider, Clara was talking by herself in the kitchen at dawn. But only herself know just how terrifying the voice she held conversation with right now.

he revealed a disgusted face,

"You don't know anything!" Mei said sharply, her voice trembling as she tightened her legs. "Whatever you think you heard, it's not what you think."

Zesh demanded, growling low.

Clara looked away, her lips pressed tightly together. "It's none of your business," she muttered.

Zesh said, his disgust rising along with anger

"Enough!" Clara shouted, slamming her hands on the table. She stood abruptly, her body trembling. "You think you can judge me? You have no idea what I've been through!"

Zesh said coldly.

For a moment, the room was silent except for the sound of Clara's ragged breathing under Zesh's scarlet gaze. Her shoulders slumped, and she sank back into a chair, her hands trembling as they rested in her lap.

"It wasn't supposed to be like this," she said quietly, her voice barely audible.

"My late husband... when he died, everything fell apart. I had nothing left. No one."

"Do you know what it's like to be a woman alone?" Clara interrupted, her voice rising. "To be treated like you're worthless? To have people stare at you, whisper about you? To know they're waiting for you to fail so they can take everything?"

Zesh's jaw tightened.

"I didn't choose this!" she shouted, tears streaming down her face. "Do you think I wanted to let some stranger into my bed? To let them take what was his, what belonged to my husband? When I married to him, I am all his. My body, my life… it's him, my love. I can't let another man touch me… but Nakan..."

Her voice broke, but she forced herself to continue. "At least with Nakan, he had his blood. And our relationship stayed in the family. At least it was with someone who cared about me. Who... who understood me. And I can gave him more… he should have been enjoying his childhood with father, happy, playing.. but… so I can make him as happy this way. So that he won't be sad without his father… he can take his father role…"

Zesh's stomach churned,

Clara's face twisted in anguish. "He's the only one I have left!" she cried. "Do you think it's easy? Do you think I wanted this? It's not about desire, Zesh—it's about survival! About keeping what little I have from falling apart! And... and, he's happy about it! He kept asking me for it every night… and … and we both happy, so I'm sure my husband is happy as well!"

<…>

Zesh stared, his chest tight with disgust.

Clara reached for him, desperation in her eyes. "Zesh, please—"

"Don't bother," he said sharply, "I'm not so low that I'll spread your dirty secrets around."

Without another word, he turned coldly, going back to his room, not bothering to even take a look back.

<———When was it?>

Ayin asked blankly.

Zesh yawned while answering.

<…>

What should she say to this brother of her?

Few minutes later, Ayin leaned slightly toward him, She whispered even in their telepathy.

Zesh yawned lazily.

Nakan's eyes flicking toward them, particularly Ayin, briefly before returning to his game. It was almost imperceptible, but Zesh who always tense noticed the way his jaw tightened, the way his fingers tensed for a fraction of a second before relaxing again.

"Breakfast is almost ready," Clara announced, her voice strained.

She turned to face them, holding a pot of steaming porridge. Her gaze darted between the siblings, lingering on Zesh for a moment before dropping to the table. "I... I hope you're hungry."

Zesh grunted in response, not bothering to speak.

Actually, he couldn't look at her without hearing her reasoning from this morning, the warped justifications that had left him feeling nauseous.

Ayin, trying her best to act normal, offered a polite smile.

Her hands trembled slightly as she ladled the porridge into their bowls. "It's nothing special," she murmured. "Just what we had left."

As she set the bowls in front of them, her hand brushed against Zesh's black furs. He recoiled instinctively, the movement small but noticeable. Her lips parted as if to speak, but she quickly pressed them together and turned back to the stove.

Ayin shot Zesh a warning glance but said nothing.

The four of them ate in near silence, the occasional scrape of a spoon against a bowl the only sound. Zesh's mind wandered back to the look on this woman's face, a mixture of shame and defiance as she tried to explain herself.

Ayin's voice pulled him back to the present.

She blinked at him, trying to break the tension.

Suddenly, Nakan chuckled softly, "You two don't have to pretend everything's fine, you know."

He sounded mature and, different.

This makes the twin feel strange; the boy had always been innocent and childish, so what's with this mature demeanor? They couldn't find the answer.

Zesh glared,

"Nothing." Nakan shrugged, leaning back in his chair. "Just that I know you're both judging us. It's written all over your faces."

Ayin said, tone measured.

"Understand?" Nakan repeated, his voice bitter. "What's there to understand? You believe it's wrong. Fine. But don't sit there pretending like you're better than us."

Zesh said coldly.

Ayin hurriedly spoke,

Zesh humphed flatly.

"How can we trust you?" Nakan asked.

Zesh snapped coldly, obviously already accepting this new persona of the Nakan boy.

"You…"

Carla turned from the stove, her eyes wide and pleading. "Please, don't fight. Not here. Not now."

The room fell silent again, tension so thick.

Meanwhile….

Shadows shifted in the alleys and beneath the trees, faint whispers carried on the wind.

In the darkness, a group of young men moved silently, their faces hidden beneath heavy hoods. They carried torches that burned low, their steps purposeful as they approached Clara's hut.

At that point, even Ayin couldn't explain it, but the air seemed heavier, oppressive, like a storm waiting to break. The faint sounds of villagers finishing their daily tasks felt just different.

Back inside the hut, Clara moved about the room, her motions hurried. The tension in her movements didn't escape Ayin's notice.

Ayin asked softly,

Zesh also stared.

The woman froze for a fraction of a second before forcing a smile. "It's nothing. Just a busy day."

Zesh huffed, his tail flicking.

After eating, as usual, the twin going back to their room, but not before Clara told them that she and Nakan had to go out for a bit tonight. Zesh didn't care but Ayin had asked to follow, which surprisingly got rejected. Her brother couldn't help but suspicious.

Zesh said once they inside.

He growled,

Zesh's turned to her, his expression softening slightly.

Ayin's gaze dropped, her heart heavy.

<…no, they won't.> She looked back to her brother,

<…It's not weakness to hope, sis.> Zesh sighed, truly feel helpless about her sister's soft heart,

She nudged at him, her eyes almost glistening with tears.

Zesh placed his head against hers,

…

That night, the village seemed darker than ever.

The air in the village was thick with tension, the kind that clung to the skin and made every breath feel suffocating. Ayin has fallen asleep for the last two hours, meanwhile Zesh still tense beside her.

Something's about to happen.

What?

When?

How?

He didn't know, but he is sure that it will happen.

Thus, he keep tense, ear perked up, muscles ready to explode with strength anytime, eyes sharp.

And it did happen.

However, they must have used some method as Zesh barely had time to react before rough hands grabbed him, shoving him to the ground. A sharp cry escaped from his sister as ropes were thrown around her legs and neck, pulling tight.

He snarled sharp,

Ayin cried in confusion and pain,

"Hold her down!" barked a voice from the darkness.

Villagers emerged, their faces illuminated by the flickering glow of torches. Their expressions were twisted with hate and malice, their eyes gleaming with triumph.

"She's smaller than that one," sneered a wiry man, his teeth yellow and jagged. "Easy prey."

The air was split by a guttural roar as Zesh tore through the crowd. His claws flashed in the firelight, slicing through ropes and sending villagers scattering.

he snarled in fury.

The mob turned on him, their weapons raised.

Zesh moved like a force of nature, his violet eyes blazing with rage as he slashed and tore through their ranks. A man swung a club at him, but he ducked low, his claws raking across the man's chest. Another villager tried to tackle him, but he spun, his powerful legs kicking the man to the ground.

His sister screamed in fear and awe.

But the mob was relentless.

More villagers poured in, their torches and weapons gleaming. And after all, they're in a space-limited room so obviously Zesh's movements grew slower as their numbers overwhelmed him.

A heavy blow from a club struck his side, and he staggered, blood dripping from his mouth as another man slammed him to the ground.

"Enough!" the leader roared, stepping forward. "Bind them both!"

Zesh tried to fight back, but he was after all but one beast, against more than ten peoples holding him together, what could he do?

Ayin's voice cracked as she struggled against the ropes.

"Why?" The man crouched in front of her, his breath hot and rancid against her face. "Because you beasts don't belong here. You're nothing but monsters in disguise, waiting to kill us all."

she cried.

Another villager laughed, a cruel, bitter sound. "Tell that to Carla. You damnable, ungrateful beast."

The crowd closed in, their voices a cacophony of accusations and jeers they couldn't understand. Ayin's heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing.

And then she saw them.

Clara and Nakan stood at the edge of the mob, her faces pale and refusing to meet her gaze. While Nakan…

Ayin's voice broke, tears streaming down her face.

Clara turned away, her lips pressed into a thin line.

Nakan looked at her, coldly.

Ayin whispered, trembling.

The villager are unable to hear their exchange since Ayin always spoke with telepathy and the other party didn't said anything. But Nakan did said something at the end, only their sharp beast ear could hear it amidst the crowd, it something that will be carved in her heart forever along with his cold smile.

"Only the dead are clean."