Born In Ashes: The Enigma

"What is your favourite food, doggy?" Azrael asked as he rubbed the giant head of the monster, who was sticking out its tongue and wagging its tail.

Rawr!

The monster growled softly, seemingly protesting Azrael's choice of words. It immediately pulled its tongue back into its mouth and stopped wagging its tail.

Knock! Knock!

"Young Lord, I have brought your breakfast," A sudden knock followed by Lia's voice pulled Azrael out of his thoughts.

"Come in," He responded softly. As he turned around, he saw Lia entering the room with a food trolley.

Her walking style had changed again—she was once more making the sound of footsteps as she approached, bringing the trolley beside his bed.

"Coco, go down. I have already told the servants—they should be bringing your food soon."

Rawr!

The monster let out a low growl upon hearing Lia. After taking one last look at Azrael, it flew back to its previous spot.

'So its name is Coco, huh.' Azrael made a mental note and walked toward his bed.

However, he had no plans to eat breakfast in his room. This was his chance to carry out the plan he'd made earlier.

"Kael hasn't had breakfast yet either, has he?"

Lia, who had just begun arranging the dishes, paused upon hearing Azrael's question and shook her head.

"Although he was wearing his protection prop, he still lost consciousness due to the pressure and only just woke up a short while ago."

"I see," Azrael nodded and walked toward the bathroom.

"Bring my breakfast to Kael's room. I will eat with him."

Lia watched Azrael as he entered the bathroom to wash his face. Then she replaced the lid she had lifted earlier and responded respectfully,

"As you wish."

Azrael glanced at Lia leaving the room from the corner of his eye before pulling the towel down to dry his face.

The reason he had come to wash his face while instructing Lia to take the breakfast to Kael's room was so that he could follow behind her instead of leading.

He wasn't certain where Kael's room was located, so he planned to use her as a guide.

After quickly wiping his face, he hung the towel back in its original place and immediately left the room.

It was the first time he had stepped outside the room, and the interior was completely different from the house he remembered.

As he exited, Azrael found himself in a long corridor. The polished wooden floor gleamed, and the painted walls were adorned with elegant patterns. Expensive-looking paintings hung at intervals, and ornate jars that looked like they cost a fortune were placed strategically for decoration.

Azrael took it all in briefly, memorizing every detail and copying it into his mind.

His room was at the far end of the corridor, and as he looked for Lia, he saw her standing in front of a door just two rooms away from his.

'Though this corridor is completely different, Kael's room is still in the same place, I guess.' Azrael thought as he began walking toward her.

Before he could reach her, she had already received permission to enter and pushed the food trolley into the room.

"Shouldn't he be resting in his room instead of walking around after what happened earlier? If he wanted to eat with me, he could have just asked and I would have gone there."

A voice suddenly reached Azrael's ears, halting his steps.

"Don't worry, Young Lord Kael," Lia replied calmly. "I have already examined Young Lord Azrael. Aside from feeling a bit weak, he is completely fine."

"Still... why did he even take off the pendant Mom gave us?"

'How long has it been since I last heard his voice?' Azrael looked down, his eyes hazy as memories flooded back to him.

'Brother, look! A sparrow made its nest on the tree right outside my window.'

'Brother, the eggs hatched today!'

'I really want to go outside and play with them.'

'They all look so happy playing outside.'

'I'm scared. I don't want to meet them.'

'I'm sorry... I just can't take it anymore.'

Azrael clenched his fist as the last memory of Kael surfaced in his mind.

'Not this time... If they even have an ounce of ill intent toward Kael... I will kill them before they can lay a hand on him.'

"Brother."

A confused voice pulled Azrael back to the present. As he raised his head, he saw a young boy slightly shorter than himself.

The boy had silver hair and ocean-blue eyes—completely different from Azrael's black hair and purple eyes.

Seeing the familiar face, a long-forgotten memory rose in his heart.

'I am envious of your hair and eyes, Kael.'

'Why, Brother?'

'Because they are completely different from those people. Unlike you, my hair and eye color match theirs, and every time I look in the mirror, I'm reminded of them.'

"Why are you standing outside?" Kael asked.

Azrael could feel the cheerful energy around Kael, which sharply contrasted with the fearful, depressed version of him in his memories.

His lips arched into a genuine smile—one he had long forgotten how to make.

After losing Kael—the only person he had ever truly considered family—Azrael had often wondered what he would say if he ever got the chance to meet him again.

Should he apologize for failing to protect him? Or hit him for taking his own life without thinking about what he would feel?

He had rehearsed many such conversations in his head over the years.

But now, looking at the boy in front of him, only a few simple words came out.

"I am glad you are safe."

"Huh?" Kael looked confused when Azrael suddenly pulled him into a hug.

"What are you talking about? I should be the one worried about you. Unlike you, I didn't toss away my protection prop before sleeping last night."

"I didn't toss it away. I just took it off before taking a bath and forgot to put it back on," Azrael said lightly, regaining his composure.

"Yes, yes, I understand," Kael said, rolling his eyes as he couldn't understand why he even needed to take it off before taking a bath. "Just come in already."

He turned around and walked back into his room.

Azrael didn't say anything more. He simply watched Kael enter the room and quietly followed him inside.