Rebirth System: Blood and Ash

Aric walked into the foyer of his estate, the air tense.

His gaze fell on Sylas, who stood at the center of the room, his face twisted in rage, nostrils flaring like an animal just barely restrained. Behind him were three men—Guards, no doubt—each of them hardened, with cold eyes that never drifted from Aric.

Sylas's presence, fuming and aggressive, made the room feel tighter, the walls seeming to close in around them.

In the corner of the foyer, as if unaware of the storm gathering just a few feet away, sat old man Hitoshi and Serina. The two were engrossed in a chess match, seated on either side of a small round table, their faces inches from the board.

Hitoshi's bushy white brows were furrowed in concentration, his hand hovering over a pawn, while Serina's youthful face mirrored his intensity. The game had entirely absorbed them—they hadn't even acknowledged Sylas's entrance.

If the air was sharp with conflict, they were blissfully ignorant, entangled in their private war over wooden pieces.

Sylas's furious eyes followed Aric as he stepped forward, Mandel close behind him. Blood still spattered Mandel's clothes, leaving a dark, uneasy trail on his tunic. The metallic scent clung to the room, sharp it was. Sylas's expression flickered with intruige, though he masked it quickly.

"Brother," Aric began, a smooth edge to his voice, almost amused. "It's always a pleasure when one of you drops by."

Sylas's hands clenched as he fought to keep his tone steady.

"Was it you, Aric? Did you kill them?" His voice lashed out, each word like a whip.

Aric tilted his head slightly, feigning innocence as he replied,

"Eh, I'm not quite certain what you mean."

"Don't play games with me, Aric," Sylas snapped, his voice rising. The three men behind him shifted subtly, bracing for whatever might come.

Aric's lips curved into a sly smile.

"Games? I have no intention of playing games. I've killed a great many people in my time. You'd have to be a bit more specific brother—perhaps jog my memory."

Sylas's knuckles beached as he clenched his fists, barely containing his rage.

"Do you think I won't kill you for this? Are you truly so foolish? I thought you had changed, become smarter."

Aric's eyes gleamed with something dark, an unspoken challenge lingering in his gaze.

"Oh, I know you would, Sylas. In fact, I have no doubt you'd have already done it." He leaned in, his tone softening but growing sharper. "But here I am, still breathing."

Sylas's face hardened, his jaw locked. Aric watched him carefully, noting the flicker of frustration that betrayed Sylas's thoughts. If Sylas truly suspected him, why hadn't he struck? Aric's smile widened, satisfied by the answer he knew just as much as Sylas did.

"You know," he continued, voice almost playful, "I expected you to have brought ruin to the less known enemies of House Breinne by now—House Varys, Ysmir, all of them—you'd have made a move already. And yet, they're all still breathing aswell"

Sylas's expression faltered, his mask slipping for just a fraction of a second. Aric's gaze sharpened, and he leaned in further, savoring the moment.

"Your hesitation, brother—it tells me something. It tells me that maybe one of those suspects holds something you want." Aric's voice lowered, and his eyes bore into Sylas's. "Or perhaps something that others want, and you need to ensure they never get it."

Sylas's face flushed, an instant too slow to hide his reaction. His eyes flashed with something beyond anger—fear, maybe, or something close to it.

"Oh?" Aric raised an eyebrow, and the look on his face was almost triumphant.

Unable to contain himself any longer, Sylas lunged, his hand outstretched to grab Aric's neck. But in the next moment, his hand closed on empty air, his fingers grazing nothing but a shadow. Aric was already behind him, strolling past, entirely unruffled.

"Come now, brother," Aric said casually, as though nothing had happened. "No need to get so… touchy."

He moved over to where Hitoshi and Serina sat, his eyes landing on the board. The game was intense and both players were entirely oblivious to what had just occurred behind them…or they were not, but did not show it.

Sylas's was confused, his body still tense from the failed strike.

'How did he do that? He shouldn't be faster than me… and that energy—what was it? It wasn't ki, and it wasn't mana. It was something else. Something… worse.' The second prince spoke internally.

While Sylas wrestled with his thoughts, Aric leaned over the table, studying the board. His eyes shifted from piece to piece, following each line of strategy with a small, knowing smile.

"Ah," he remarked finally, "Serina, look—you've left your queen exposed. You've already lost."

Aric spoke to Serina but his voice was loud enough for Sylas to hear.

Sylas took a deep breath, his tone measured but simmering with fury. "Just tell me the truth, Aric. Did you do it?" His voice was low, menacing. "I swear by the gods, I won't kill you."

'Of course you won't, Sylas,' he thought. 'You'll only torture me until you find out how I learned of your plot against the Emperor.'

"Brother," he replied smoothly, "I did not. I gain nothing from such a pointless act of violence. I already have little support in court as it is, and wiping out nobles is no way to build alliances."

Sylas stared at him, searching his face, his expression twisting with doubt and suspicion. Finally, he dropped his hands, letting out a long, frustrated sigh, his shoulders sagging in defeat.

He turned away, moving toward the door, but stopped short and glanced back at Hitoshi and Serina, who were still seated. His face darkened, a flash of vindictive anger lighting up his features.

"You two," he called, his voice cold. "You failed to acknowledge me when I entered. For such brazen disrespect, why shouldn't I kill you both where you sit?"

His ki flared around him, spilling into the room like a wave of choking heat. Hitoshi and Serina froze, their eyes widened, their bodies stiff and motionless. Aric, meanwhile, only smiled, watching the scene unfold with detached amusement.

"Well, your companions failed to acknowledge me aswell, brother," he drawled, his voice casual. "And I'd be more than delighted to see their heads roll for it."

Sylas's face tightened, his fists clenched, but he said nothing. With a furious scowl, he spun on his heel, storming out of the foyer, his men trailing behind him like shadows.

Hitoshi let out a long breath as the tension finally dissipated. He glanced down at the chessboard, a small smile on his face as he moved his piece to take Serina's king.

"Checkmate," he murmured with quiet satisfaction.

"Indeed it is," Aric said, a glint of something dark and triumphant in his eyes.