Telamon ran after his brother, cursing his legs for being unable to fly, as his brother was able to. Weaving between thick trunks, whose canopy reached far into the sky, Telamon navigated the ground covered in thick roots, vying to trip him. He chased the tail end of his brother's flying form, which in turn followed the green blur of the perceptive rabbit. After a few moments, the distance between him and his brother had widened, making him lose sight of him, yet he could still make out high-pitched squeaks coming from in front.

  It appeared his brother had caught up to the green rabbit, just past the tree line within the small clearing that lay before him. Stepping out of the trees, Telamon momentarily squinted and covered his eyes, the sunlight now no longer obstructed by the treetops, temporarily blinding him.

  As soon as his eyes adjusted, he was greeted by a sight that made him widen his eyes in shock. Before him, floating in the air, grabbed by its hind legs, was a green rabbit flailing around and squeeking bloody murder. Positioned between the rabbit and Telamon was his brother, his back turned to him, as he was squaring off against his formidable enemy, a herd of green rabbits.

  All at once, they surged forward, throwing themselves in a wild frenzy at Herodotos. In turn, Herodotos crossed his arms in front of him, releasing a wave of energy directed in front of him. Everything that came into contact with this wave was sent flying backward and away from Herodotos. The rabbits flailed around and tumbled all over the ground. The rabbit that had been previously suspended in the air was forgotten about and was flung backward with the rest.

  As soon as the rabbits fell, they all dispersed, regrouping at the singular tree in the middle of the clearing. Two rabbits landed at awkward angles, one breaking its leg, the other its neck. The one with the broken leg struggled on the ground, but was unable to gain any meaningful distance. With pitiful eyes and mournful squeaks, it stared at its companions, who were all retreating towards the tree laden with the large green orange-like fruits.

  Telamon pulled his knife from his hip and stepped to the rabbit, ending its suffering swiftly. Grabbing the two dead rabbits, Telamon lifted them by the ears and showed them to Herodotos. "Well, guess we know now what's for dinner. You want to hunt the rest of the rabbits over there?" And saying so, he gestured to the remaining herd of rabbits, huddling around the tree.

  Herodotos nodded. "We could get another two or so. Any more and it will be more effort than worth to carry the meat around." Telamon nodded and attached the felled rabbits, who had valiantly been slain in combat, to his hip using a cord of string. Together, the brothers approached the tree placed within the clearing, yet the rabbits didn't scatter as they expected them to. They huddled close together, forming a physical barrier between themselves and the tree. Even though they shook with fear, they refused to move.

  Herodotos and Telamon exchanged confused glances and slowly approached the rabbits. The rabbits bared their little fangs and cowered together, yet they still didn't scatter. Herodotos grabbed two rabbits with his powers, lifting them out of the herd. The rabbits flailed and squeaked, yet they could do nothing to escape.

  This sent the other rabbits into another frenzy, once more charging at the brothers. Using some of the loose soil in their surrounding, Herodotos conjured a chest-high shield, blocking the rabbits' desperate charge. Herodotos mercifully quickly snapped the necks of the two rabbits floating in the air, abruptly ending their squeeking.

  This seemed to be the final straw for the rabbits, and the first one broke off, fleeing towards the edge of the clearing. Once the first ran, soon the others followed, leaving Telamon and Herodotos alone at the foot of the tree. The brothers exchanged another weird look before Telamon shook his head and let out a weary sigh.

  Curiously, he approached the tree that the rabbits had seemingly been guarding. The rabbits, who were now at the edge of the clearing, became more agitated the moment he stepped close to the tree, but they kept their distance, not daring to approach. Curiously, Telamon reached into the tree and plucked the biggest and most-ripe-looking fruit.

  Herodotos, who had just finished tying the rabbits to his hip, turned a curious glance in his direction. "What are you doing?" Telamon shrugged his shoulders, inspecting the fruit in his hands. "The rabbits seemed extremely protective of this tree, so I want to see what's up with it." Saying so, he peeled the fruit with the help of his knife. The surface was thick and rough, yet it peeled easily, seemingly due to the near ripeness of the fruit.

  After cutting into it and pulling a portion of the outer shell away, Telamon and Herodotos were able to glimpse the contents hidden within the fruit. It appeared as if a newborn rabbit was cradled within the fruit. The umbilical cord attached to the stomach of the unborn rabbit was connected to the top of the inner fruit chamber, where the fruit was connected to the tree. The brothers exchanged an astonished glance and were left confused. Without another word, Telamon carefully placed the fruit on the ground and left with his brother. After the brothers passed the tree line, the herd of rabbits swarmed the tree once more.

  That night, Telamon had a restless night, dreams and memories intertwining, blending into a strange vision. He stirred restlessly in his sleep, his eyes fluttering beneath his eyelids. Confused, he opened his eyes, gathering his surroundings. The expected forest scenery failed to greet him, a long-forgotten yet familiar ceiling greeting him instead.

  Wasn't he supposed to be in the forest with Herodotos? His brother was supposed to be keeping watch, so how did he end up here? And wasn't this- before he could finish his thought, the door swung open, a familiar figure stepping in. Turning his head, only now did Telamon realize that he was lying across a bed, the furniture unusually large, his feet barely reaching the halfway mark of the bed.

  The figure that stepped into the room was a young woman, her beautiful figure marred by the worry and anguish evident on her face. Telamon sat up and turned to her, his brows furrowing into a questioning gaze. "Mom? What's going on?" The woman, his mother, smiled meekly while scooping Telamon up and out of his bed. His small frame easily fit into his mother's cradling arms, her embrace warm and gentle as late spring sunlight.

  Telamon felt the unease plaguing his mother, once more questioning his her. "What's wrong, Mom? Where are we going?" They had passed the household's threshold, the cloudless night sky above him black as coal. His mother pushed his head into her chest, her scent smothering everything else, comforting and calming him.

  And yet, strongly against his small body, Telamon could feel his mother's heart beating frantically within her chest, as her lungs heaved with exertion. They were moving quickly, houses passing by in a blur, as his mother sped through the city, navigating the winding alleys of the southern city. Seeing as his mother ignored him, Telamon curled deeper into his mother's embrace, the anxiety he felt only held at bay by the warmth he felt emanate from her body, protecting him from the cold night air.

  The parts of his body directly exposed to the open air burst into goosebumps, sending shivers across his entire body. Soon they arrived in front of a newly built medium-sized house, a sign bearing the symbol of two blooming and withering flowers hanging outside the front, though Telamon couldn't quite make out the symbols in the darkness.

  His mother knocked on the door, cautiously looking from side to side, her beating heart louder than ever. The door swung open, and his mother, while still carrying Telamon, was quickly ushered into the house. The door slammed shut with a solid thump. The strong scent of dried herbs assaulted Telamon's nose, making him scrunch it in displeasure.

  "Were you followed?" The voice belonged to the owner of the house, a middle-aged man, bearing the markings of a medicine man, a learned and respected member of society, who held the knowledge necessary to cure most ailments.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  His mother shook her head, fear evident in her voice. "No, they shouldn't know that I brought Telamon here." The medicine man nodded, a grim yet determined expression evident on his face. "Very well. What about your husband? Have you heard anything about him?" His mother shook her head while tears streamed out of her eyes. It was the first time Telamon saw his mother cry. A grave sense of unease befell him, yet he felt powerless to do anything.

  "When they stormed into the underground meeting room, they captured almost everyone. I only got away because he held them back for me." At this point, the woman broke down into sobs, her form shaking and quivering with each staggering breath she took. Telamon, with discomfort growing in his heart, hugged his mother, incomprehension and confusion clouding his mind. He felt his mother squeeze his frail body hard, the quivering increasing in intensity. The medicine man patted his mother's shoulder in a comforting manner.

  "Your husband is an excellent and strong man. I'm sure he's going to pull through." Telamon didn't know if the man who spoke the words, believed a single ounce of what he uttered. Even as a child, Telamon knew that once captured, there was no escape. Not from the new city lord Feidi's clutches. The man continued nonetheless.

  "You can spend the night here. If they've seen your face, which they most certainly have, then that means that you'll need to spend some time outside the city. A man is living in the jungle, together with another child, whom I regularly send supplies to. After escaping from the city, you can hide out in the jungle with him until things calm down again."

  His mother's jolts calmed down slightly. She nodded numbly while sniffling lightly. The medicine man sighed before turning around, rummaging through his shelves, producing a large woven basket. "We will leave the city in two groups. I will take your son, while you go on your own. If they know who you are, they will expect you to be moving with your child."

  Later that night, after the first rays of dawn pierced through the darkness of the night. His mother, covered in a cloak, stood before the door, ready to depart the house. Telamon walked up to her and tugged anxiously at her cloak. His mother smiled warmly, the smile almost successfully masking her fear.

  She crouched down, coming eye to eye with Telamon, and placed a gentle hand upon the crown of his head. "We are going to split up for a while, but it will only be for a short moment, I promise. Until then, listen to Uncle Paeon and behave yourself, got it?" Telamon nodded his head, his vision oddly blurry.

  His mother flashed a warm smile, containing infinite gentleness. "That's a good boy. If you and Uncle Paeon reach the jungle before me, then promise to get along with the nice man and his kid. We will be staying together for a while, so we will need to take care of each other. Can you do that?" Once more, Telamon nodded, wet warmth streaming down the sides of his cheeks. His mother shushed him, stroking his head. "Don't worry, everything will be alright. At the latest, we will see each other tomorrow. I love you, Telamon." With these parting words, his mother stood up, sending a nod in Paeon's direction. Just like that, as fast and silent as a mouse, she slipped through a crack in the door and disappeared into the night.

  Later that morning, Paeon left the house, a large wooden basket hanging from his shoulder. The top of the basket was covered with a cloth, the distinct smell of medicinal leaves coming from the basket. With unhurried steps, Paeon walked along the main road, leading outside the city. Soon, the city's exit came into view, with various travelers, hunters, and woodcutters waiting in line.

  At the front of the line, guards waved each person forward, compared them to a stone tablet, before searching some while allowing others to pass unobstructed. Paeon calmly joined the line, receiving respectful nods from those who recognized him as a medicine man. A few gestured him forward, allowing him to overtake their spot. Paeon politely refused, as it would seem more suspicious if he was in a hurry.

  The line moved at a decent pace, and soon it was Paeon's turn. The guard waved at him to stop before him, before scrutinizing the middle-aged man. With a polite tone, the guardsman addressed Paeon. "Please excuse my insolence, but I need to ask a few routine questions." Paeon let out a good-natured laugh, waving the guard's concerns off. "There's no need to worry. I understand that you are merely doing your job. What do you need to know?"

  The guard nodded while letting out a relieved breath. "Well then, I need to ask why you're leaving the city and where you're headed." Paeon stroked his beard, feeling the thick strands in his hand. "I am going on a routine visit to a few of the neighbouring villages." The guard nodded, feeling like the explanation was selfevident.

  "Then the last thing I need to know is what you're carrying with you." Once more, Paeon answered in a level and unhurried tone. "Well, as you can see, the only thing I'm carrying is this basket of herbs. In here is everything I need." The guard once more nodded. "Do you mind if I take a look into the basket?" Hearing those words, Telamon's heart skipped a beat. Curled within the wooden basket, beneath the dried leaves Telamon had hidden, a cloth covered his mouth and nose, preventing him choking on the leaves directly in front of his face.

  His heartbeat quickened, yet he didn't dare to breathe, lest the guard heard his breath. Above him, Telamon heard Paeon's voice. "Of course you can take a look." Telamon heard the rustling of cloth, sending warning bells ringing in his mind. Did the medicine man betray him? He was covered in herbs, but there was no way that the guardsman wouldn't see him. Even so, he didn't move, gripping tightly to the faint hope that somehow the guard wouldn't see him.

  A second later, Telamon heard another rustling, indicating the cloth once more covering the basket. Telamon let out a slow breath. "That should be it. Sorry again, I know that it's inconvenient, but everyone must get checked." Telamon tentatively inhaled a shallow breath.

  "There is no reason to apologize, I'm sure you have your orders, though if it's not too much to ask, why are you checking everyone?" Telamon wished for nothing more than to leave now, and yet it seemed as if Paeon was taking his sweet time talking with the guard.

  "You haven't heard? Suppose the rumors haven't spread so far yet. Yesterday, a lair of heretics was routed, leading to many heretics getting captured. A few escaped and have been trying to flee the city. Word has it, these heretics might even know something about the child of the leader of the heretic rebellion." The tight feeling in Telamon's chest intensified, making him feel choked and short of breath.

  One detail, however, did catch his ear. 'The child of the leader of the heretic rebellion'. The guard was probably referring to his brother, Herodotos. A wave of confusion overcame him as he remembered that he was an only child and didn't have any siblings. Then where did that thought come from?

  "Oh, that sounds terrible. Did anyone already try to sneak out here?" An image flashed in his mind of a young man wielding Minsol given powers.

  "Something did happen, but I'm not supposed to speak of this. Well, it should be fine if it's a respectable man such as yourself." Powers that he himself lacked. He remembered now, the feeling of being unable to do anything, the moment another mythical being appeared.

  "Oh, please do tell." The frustration at the one wielding the power, for if it were him who was born with such powers...

  "Earlier today, a woman was captured, who turned out to be the wife of one of the heretics captured yesterday. They will be executed tomorrow." If he had such powers, then he could have saved his blood parents instead of cowering in a wooden basket, holding his breath.

  Suddenly, Telamon felt strength well up within him, and he burst out of the basket, flying into the air above the entrance to the city. The guard and the medicine man stood there with shocked expressions, the former pulling out a spear. Telamon's eyes ignited in flames, and he lashed out, scorching the guards and a few of the onlookers.

  Panic broke out, people were running and shoving each other, trying to escape quickly. Telamon's form burst entirely into flames, his destructive powers lashing out at everything around him. His heart burned with rage, converting hatred into hot flames. A beastly roar escaped Telamon's throat, the tears shed from his eyes evaporating as soon as they formed. Everyone would pay for what they did. Telamon reveled in the strength he felt coursing through his vains, laying waste to the entire city, burning away the injustice and filth. Hollow laughter echoed over the burning buildings, accompanied by a cacophony of screams.

  A hand suddenly gripped Telamon's shoulder, shaking him lightly. Telamon startled from his dream, pulling his trusted knife from its sheath. "Whoa there, calm down. It's me. I woke you up because it's your turn to hold watch." Hearing Herodotos' familiar voice, Telamon ceased his attempts at self-defense, finding himself in a makeshift camp in the middle of the forest.

  Telamon's heart was beating unnaturally fast, the edges of his eyes were moist, yet the cool night air and the solid earth beneath his lying form grounded him. He looked at his brother, who had backed away from him once he started flailing his knife wildly. Telamon nodded his head, an apologetic tone in his voice. "Thanks for waking me up, and sorry for trying to stab you. You can go sleep now." His brother shrugged, muttering something about how it wasn't the first time and probably wouldn't be the last time. Telamon shook his head and sighed helplessly, settling in to keep watch of their surroundings, ensuring nothing would get the drop on them.

  A massive tree loomed in the distance, seemingly gazing upon the brothers.