Chapter 1 -

Deathjumper Faust wasn't flawless -You can't expect that out of a 15-year-old, he'd thought whenever he would screw up.- but he was obedient and respectful.  If you gave him a job or a mission, he'd do it to the best of his abilities.

But there was always going to be that one person who'd put him to shame; that one person is always better than Deathjumper at things.

Deathjumper can't remember when the said person had screwed up, which got him thinking that it was unmanageable; that perfect person was his older brother, Deathbringer, named after his skill to kill people with ease. 

He was heir to the throne, and Deathjumper was never -that much- envious.

But, Deathjumper, however his flaws, never thought his father would try to kill him.

It was ironic, though, when he survived, especially since his father named him after his 'talent,' which 

was 'possessing unbelieveable luck at evading death,' as said by the incredible father figure himself.

Deathjumper coughed as the smoke entered his lungs.  The rain had extinguished most of the fires, and the lightning had ceased.  The air felt humid and slightly breezy, but the wind wasn't raging as it was before.

His palms were resting on the ground and some debris.  The sky was clear and intense, the cold weather gone.   

"It was a spell," Lydia had said.

"Your daddy wants you dead!"

The words were ringing in his head, repetitively like a broken soundtrack.  His father had trained him for nothing. 

Deathjumper briefly wondered if his father even cared about him ever.

The metallic smell of blood made Deathjumper gag, but he staggered to his feet, his head feeling light on his shoulders.

Silver.

His eyes scanned his surroundings, looking for the familiar blue eyes and gray hair.  His eyes settled on the bar that was still burning, ashes circling it and rising to the air, a dark pillar of gray smoke emerging from it and into the sky like a smoke signal.

People are going to be here soon, Deathjumper realized.  

He stumbled in the direction he saw Silver last, sighing in relief as he caught sight of her.  Silver was down on some debris, curled into a ball, clutching a dagger in her hand.

She looked peaceful as if she was sleeping, and Deathjumper smiled slightly.

Deathjumper leaned down on his knees, grabbing her shoulders and pulling her up, the blade limp in her hand. He was about to say something before his eyes caught on something red.  

Silver was bleeding badly from the head.

"Cheesus Christ," he muttered, panic filling him, glad for once of what his father had taught him about wounds like this.  He pushed all thoughts of his father behind, focusing on Silver solely.

He pulled off her jacket, which was covered in dust, dimming the usually vibrant colors, briefly wondering when she had the opportunity to change.

Deathjumper dusted it off in a quick matter before pushing it against Silver's wound.

He reached forward to feel her pulse, his heart slowly steadying when there was one, no matter how slow.

Silver's eyes fluttered open, and Deathjumper's heart started to continue its fast pace.  "Deathjumper?" she asked, her voice hoarse.

Her voice was like music to his ears, hoarse or not.

"Yeah," he was unable to contain his smile, his eyes scanning her dusty face. "Yeah, it's me," he whispered.

"Hmm," she hummed before her eyes started fluttering close. 

"Silver?" he said, panic cracking into his voice as he shook her. "You have to stay awake!"

"Me awake, I was-" she broke off her a couple of seconds, "just resting my eyes," she stated.

"Oh-"

 "You're a maniac, by the way."

Silver knocked his hand away that was tending to her wound before pushing her hand on her jacket. Her blue eyes were slanted slightly.

"Thanks," Deathjumper said sarcastically. "I-" before he could finish, Silver wrapped an arm around his neck, pushing herself against him. After a second passed, Deathjumper was still confused, "What are you doing?"

"Hugging you," Silver responded, burying her face in his neckline.  He sat there limp, unsure of what to do.     

Silver pulled away. "You're also an idiot," she said, dabbing at the wound, her eyes searching her surroundings. "What about my-" she broke off, attempting to stumble to her feet, forcing Deathjumper to jump up and steady her before she fell, "brother," she coughed out, "the royals are they-"

Deathjumper stared at her as she passed out in his arms. She had a brother?

Deathjumper would have to figure it out later as he dragged Silver across the debris, taking what remained of the black denim fabric and the knife Silver had wielded.

 He listened to her hoarse breathing as the sunsetted, a chill settling into the night air, the stars shimmering brightly in the night sky, the moon's pale light shining down into the forest he was in, some of it blocked by the barren black trees as he continued to travel through the night.

Chapter 2 -

One week later.

Deathjumper has never gone a week without killing or training since he was six. He had never gone a week of domestication before.

It was boring, but at the same time, he enjoyed going to sleep without any threats or guilt on his shoulders and seeing Silver made it even better.

Silver's recovery was going well, and she stayed awake longer each day.  

They currently were resided at Daylight Hotel in the Daylight village, the safest and closest village to Sunlight village.

The Daylight Hotel had taken pity on them because of what happened with the Sunlight village.  It had been a couple of days since the news got out, and Deathjumper still didn't have any information on who survived the accident.  He didn't know the royals were leaving early or about the flock of people 

following the surrey, and he had set the bomb off before its detonated time, so any deaths were his fault.

Deathjumper distracted himself by staring at Silver as she flexed her fingers around the cup filled with water, her eyes pinned on it.  Her other hand was up in her hair as if trying to hide the healing scar.

It was the shape of a moon's crescent and was on the side of her face.  It was usually hidden by her hair or Silver's hands as if she was embarrassed by it or upset even.

They were in the middle of the cafeteria at a table, the cafeteria silent because no one was around. After all, Silver preferred to go when no one else was around; Deathjumper didn't ask how Silver knew the times of the Inn, but he knew Silver did run away, and this could be the possible village she had run away from, and he hated to think he dragged her right back into it.

"You okay?" he asked her, tapping his fingers against the wooden structure of the table, his eyes scanning her face for any source of emotion.

The cafeteria room was large, and the windows showcased the bright sunset that lit up the room and 

the Inn's decorative yard.

"Yeah," Silver responded, her eyes tracing the design of the transparent cup before taking a sip of it.  "why?" she asked.

"I was just wondering.  What happened to you was pretty traumatic."

"Us," Silver breathed, bringing her eyes to his. "What happened to us was pretty traumatic," she corrected. 

He was about to protest that he's used to death, but Silver stared him straight in the eye, cutting him off, "Your father wants you dead, and if Neal is alive, he would've made you an fugitive.  I'm wanted dead by any of the royals or people that survived because I 'killed Claire.' It'll be only a couple of days before we have to leave," Silver said, drawing the words out.

Deathjumper felt sudden guilt strike through him as if Silver's current state was his fault because, in a way, it was.  Silver was right; they did have to leave soon.

"I want to know what the spell was," Deathjumper blurted.

"I do too, but-" Silver said.

"Because my father won't hesitate to do this again." Deathjumper said, interrupting her.

"I know-" A flash of annoyance twinkled in her eyes at the interruption, but Deathjumper didn't care.

"Silver, my brother is in danger."

Silver dropped the cup she was in the middle of bringing it to her mouth, the cup hitting the ground with the splat. Water splashed everywhere, and Deathjumper ignored it as it hit the edge of his jeans.  

Deathjumper's eyes flashed to it, ignoring the urge to throw it away as he learned to as a kid.

"What?" she said, her hand finally dropping from the scar unintentionally, revealing the moon crescent shape. "You have a brother?"

"Yes, and he could be in danger, and there is no way I'm letting him get hurt for something I was too scared to face!" Deathjumper stood up, and Silver stood up right along with him, planting her hands on the table.

"Deathjumper, I'm pretty sure everyone is scared of death; I'm not losing you because of some feeling

you have," Silver tried to reason, her eyes desperate for him not to leave.

"Just because you lost your brother doesn't mean I have to lose mine," Deathjumper snapped, and Silver flinched back, hurt dartling over her features.

As soon as Deathjumper said those words, he regretted them. He knew he was being unfair, saying an accusation like that.  He had watched her talk to him with a twinkle of happiness in her eyes before she stamped it out, pushing him out of the way like she didn't care about him.

Deathjumper honestly believed Lydia would've had better luck if she held a knife to the throat that Silver cared about most.

"I lost him because of you!" she shouted, rage entering her eyes, and she dug into her jacket pocket where Deathjumper knew the black fabric of Claire's was; Silver did that when she was upset or angry. "And I said that because I care about you because I'm a decent person who cares about others lives, unlike you, who detonated a bomb in a village to save your own life! So go, look for your precious brother without me, because I don't need you, and you clearly don't need me!"

Deathjumper glared at her as she stomped off, not even bothering to correct her that he detonated that bomb in the chance to save her life.

Chapter 3 -

Deathjumper didn't want to get up today. The only thing that motivated him to get up with his father's face, constantly yelling and criticizing him.

"It was a spell," Lydia had said.

"Your daddy wants you dead!"

Deathjumper wished he knew why. He thought he and his father was on good terms. So why would he try to send him off to his death? Maybe it was a good spell. Like to end world hunger and things like that.

Deathjumper banished that thought once he remembered he was there to detonate a bomb, not a peace treaty.

He shifted slightly, feet touching the ground barely, rubbing his face before getting off the bed.

A peace treaty between the Sun Kingdom and the Moon Kingdom wasn't necessary anyway. They 

only got into small quarrels about insignificant things, like the borderlines. 

It's like fighting over a plaything, and then whoever's fighting with you suddenly pulls out a bomb.

Deathjumper ran his fingers through his hair, sighing as he leaned against the doorframe.  He stayed there for a couple of minutes before moving towards the door, leaving the room.

The plan was to be gone at noon so he would have everything prepared, but he had nothing to take with him.  The sword he brought with him for the mission? It's gone. Shattered into a million pieces and burned, most likely.

Silver had kept the dagger that killed Claire for some reason, keeping it in her inside pocket at all times.

His mind flashed to Lydia.  He knew she probably didn't survive, but she wasn't there.  There wasn't a burnt-out corpse or anything like that, but he didn't want to bring this up to Silver, especially after yesterday, which he still didn't apologize for, but he was too prideful to apologize.

It was 9:32 A.M. -his watch read, which still somehow functioned during the storm and heat, 

especially since Silver's doesn't anymore- when he walked downstairs quickly and into the main room on his right.

The main room was just the check-in-or-out room, with a couple of waiting chairs and a desk.  Behind that desk is a responsible person who hands out keys for money or because he's ordered to by his boss!

Deathjumper didn't understand hotels that much, but he's never bothered to learn.

He stopped, his heart sinking when he reached the main room to see Silver casually sitting on one of the chairs, just waiting for him to screw up.  She was reading a magazine with the front title of "The explosion of Sunlight Village!" her brows furrowed in concentration, her eyes narrowed.

He wasn't that surprised that there were newspapers out.  He had read that yesterday as soon as it got traded in; It was worthless. It didn't give a kill count or any suspects or even if the royals survived. It was for people who didn't get the news or even saw the smoke from miles away.

Deathjumper didn't dare approach her as he sat down in one of the comfier chairs, far away from 

Silver, and if he saw Silver look at him over her newspaper when he sat down, he ignored it.

The man behind the desk looked bored, his fingers tapping alongside the object they used to keep track of the people who check-in or out, his head in his hand. He suddenly straightened his position, leaning over the desk slightly,  "You guys going to do anything or?" he asked.

Silver looked at him from over her paper, shooting him a sympathetic glance while Deathjumper didn't respond or acknowledge it.

"No? Okay," he said gloomily, slumping back down.

He was too busy wondering how the man managed to get behind that desk but didn't feel like asking, watching through narrowed eyes as the man started spinning around in his chair.

Silver watched in slight amusement before training her gaze back on the newspaper, clearly not noticing Deathjumper's gaze on her before she suddenly groaned, putting it on the newspaper stack beside her.  "That paper's worthless," she muttered, rubbing her eyes with the palm of her hands.

"I could've told you that," Deathjumper thought. He was confused when Silver's challenging gaze 

 now on him.

"Then why didn't you?" she asked, leaning herself forward, her head in her hand, her hair shifting, revealing the pink scar she had on her head.  Deathjumper didn't want to make her feel insecure, so he kept her eyes on hers.

Wait, did I say that out loud? Deathjumper thought. There was a shift in the air, making it awkward, the only noise in the room from the unresponsible man who kept spinning in his chair, unaware of it.

He was going to respond before the man who owns the inn came bounding in. "Hello, hello, my amazing customers! My survivors!" he always said everything with a rhythm to it, like he was singing it. It reminded him painfully of the guy who had told them 'the King is here!' repetitively; Deathjumper hoped the guy was okay.

He tore his gaze away from Silver, feeling her gaze not leave him, as he plastered a curious, happy look on his face.  

The Innkeeper smiled back at him, unaware that the face was fake, before making a disrespectful 

face at Silver, as if not smiling in his presence was wrong. 

Deathjumper had trained his entire life controlling the emotions on his face.  It was nearly impossible to break the appearances he could muster.

"We have just made the news! A news reporter is coming here today!" he walked over to Silver with a look that was oozing with disapproval, "You might want to try to freshen yourself up a bit!"

Silver looked at him like she was about to punch him.

He walked over to Deathjumper, "You might want to get out into the sun a bit! A little sun can't hurt!" he said with a chuckle.

Silver's eyes narrowed as if she resented him instantly.  They only had one conversation with him throughout the week, and that was when they first arrived, and Silver was asleep in his arms.  The Innkeeper had done first aid on her -which, in his case, was nothing more than a bandaid- and allowed them to get a free room when he heard that they had come from Sunlight village, jumping at the first opportunity for fame and money.

Deathjumper felt pity for him because they -he- couldn't stay. He didn't know about Silver, but he hated leaving her, even if she was mad at him.

Deathjumper cleared his throat, getting the interest of the Innkeeper right away, "I'm sorry, sir, but I have to leave in search of my family," Deathjumper said, telling the truth only halfway.

Deathjumper kept his eyes pinned on the Innkeeper, not allowing himself to see Silver's expression.  His resolve faltered, and he cast a glance at her, seeing her expression.

Her expression was carefully neutral, her eyes also pinned on the man, and he briefly wondered when she had learned to control her facial expressions, and he hated that she had to learn.

The Innkeeper's face fell before it rose back up in a smile, "That's alright, family first," he glanced at Silver as if afraid she would agree with Deathjumper and transformed into disgust when she didn't.  It's like you can't please this man, Deathjumper thought. "But some priorities come first.  Goodbye, Ash Mavin, it was a pleasure to me you!" Deathjumper kept his face carefully trained, not showing how that name aggravated him.  He had to give it since he had no other name.  Silver would have to 

find another excuse to get out of the Newsporter interview -even if it wasn't with him- because if anyone of their village survived -and there's bound to be someone- it would be like sending a signal. Silver's here! Silver's here! The possible destructor of the village and murderer of Claire!  

"The pleasure was all mine," Deathjumper said, getting up and performing a bow, "Thank you for your hospitality, and I hope to pay you back someday."

"I'll be waiting!" the Innkeeper said as he opened the exit.  His eyes caught onto Silver's over his shoulder, his facial expressions breaking into a million pieces at her sad face.

But yet, even with seeing that face, he didn't hesitate to leave, slamming the door.

Chapter 4 -

It had been one hour since Deathjumper had left, and he was seriously regretting it.

The sun was intense, and Deathjumper was already sweating. He kept getting sidetracked because despite his skills, frankly, being a tracker wasn't one of them.

All he knew was his brother was doing a mission in no other than Daybreak Village, the dangerous village in the Sun Kingdom.  There had been an invasion there a couple of years ago, and it changed everything. The people there had scars to prove it; They no longer lived by their magic-free law, and a majority of the people were black market dealers, bartenders, the other part being assassins or mercenaries.

The village had gained the rumor that not even the great Inferno of the Sun Kingdom could control it. Its population was also the biggest, and -somehow- it was the most dangerous village out of all the settlements, even more, dangerous than the Moon Kingdom's villages, which a majority of

people are wicked people, and Deathjumper knew that first hand.

His brother's mission was to assassinate a black-market dealer that gave away private information, but that was around two weeks ago.  Deathjumper wasn't sure if his brother was still doing the mission or if he finished it.  Deathbringer had to get accustomed first by getting a place to stay and acting as though he lived there to gain trust second, he had to figure out who made the deals, and third, he had to find them, get the information how they know the things they do, kill them, then find the lead dealer if there is one.

So, Deathjumper had to find his brother, who was nearly impossible to find, especially on foot.

In a forest. With no idea where the Daybreak village is. He really should've thought this through.

His black shoes were making weird squishing sounds as they pushed into the mud, and sometimes they made crackling sounds if he stepped on leaves; It made it very hard to be stealthy, and heed you, he was trying to be.

He was walking along the path, hidden by the shadows in the woods. Not only for shade, but just in 

case someone came by.

Deathjumper's mind kept wandering back to Silver if she was still at the inn.  Or if she was even alive because Deathjumper knew there were no limits for his father when he wanted something.

It made him stop more than once, debating if he should go back before he would flinch forward, remembering that his brother was in danger -was he really, though? His brother was probably one of the best fighters to exist- and Silver didn't need him. She had made that quite clear.  

Her words nearly stung him more than Lydia's words did.

Deathjumper stopped, suddenly realizing someone else was in the mud with him.  His eyes surveyed his surroundings before he relaxed, seeing a man with two horses, one he was riding, the other he was leading with a rope.

He was whistling under his breath; a kid lullaby, Deathjumper realized; his mother used to sing it to Deathjumper before she died from a plague.

Deathjumper walked over to him, making his face kind and innocent. 

"Hi, sir!" Deathjumper said, walking next to him, his fingers grasping the rein.  The man jumped, pulling out a sword, pushing the tip to his throat.

Deathjumper nearly ripped the sword from his hand as soon as the steel tip hit his throat, but he stopped himself just in time. 

 Relax, he doesn't know who you are.

"I know exactly who you are," the man hissed, pushing the tip further, drawing blood slightly, and Deathjumper winced.

Oh, well, screw it, Deathjumper thought.

Deathjumper backed away, his fingers yanking the rein the man carried, the horse twisting around in his direction with speed Deathjumper could use.

The man yelped, letting go of the other horse's reins. Deathjumper jumped on the panicking horse's saddle, grabbing the flying reins, calming it.

The man on the horse regained his balance, glaring a threat after him, steadying his steel sword.  

Before the man could hit him, he kicked the side of the horse.  The horse, still confused, ran on the path and based on the sloshing noises in the mud, the man had followed him. 

"Get back here!" he shouted, and Deathjumper imagined him raising his sword in the air with a clenched fist.

Deathjumper sighed under his breath before swerving off the path into the woods, dunking over a tree branch that threatened to knock him off the horse.  He guided the horse through the woods, carefully treading through the trees.

Soon after he had made his escape, he found the only dry clearing he could find.  Deathjumper tied the horse to a tree after letting it drink for an aggravatingly long time from a river that was at least a mile away.

Deathjumper sat down cross-legged, his eyes pinned on the night sky, searching for any star that was familiar to him.  The horse neighed, catching his attention; he knew it was dangerous to go into the woods at night because there were any stray Phantoms at night, and he knew it didn't help that 

he was weaponless.

The Phantoms earned their name from their usual black-gray fur and how they blend in at night.  Some have white streaks throughout their pelt, but that was rare; They had sharp teeth and long claws, and usually, some patches of fur are missing from their coat, their eyes white and gray as if they were blind, but Deathjumper knew better. Their pelts usually look deformed by the scars they sometimes inflict on each other, their tongues loosely hanging from their mouths.

Deathjumper hated them, even if they were going extinct, and even if they were the reason the kingdoms arose.

Nessie -which Deathjumper decided was the horse's name- was neighing for attention, her black eyes gleaming in the dark.  He sighed before walking over, sitting next to her, hating how his backside was defenseless as he scratched behind her ear as he would do with a cat.   The horse sneered before laying her head on his lap, passing out in seconds.

He kept his eyes on her brown head, wondering if horses could be lonely, before he tore his gaze 

away from her, focusing on the stars before he stopped, finally recognizing a star that twinkled above the Daybreak village.

It was miles away, based on the distance.

He sighed before leaning his head on the ground, using his arms as support, appreciating the warmth the horse gave, trying to get his thoughts off of one particular person.

Chapter 5 -

Deathjumper stretched, yawning, opening his eyes after rubbing them, his eyes scanning the blue sky.  A grunting noise that came from beside him made him lurch forward, his eyes downcast in confusion that turned into amusement as Nessie glared at him from below.  "I'm sorry, girl," Deathjumper said with a laugh, petting behind the horse's ears before getting a better stretch in.  

His eyes flashed toward the area where the star was before they found themself on the horse.  "You want some water?" he asked Nessie as if she could understand him.

                                                 ---

After around three hours, Deathjumper could see the outline of the village in the distance.  The number of trees has lessened since then, and he had Nessie going at a more comfortable and slower pace on the path to save her stamina.

They hadn't run into the man again, so this seemed like the better alternative to take.

The people within the village had called it a city in the Sun kingdom's region, and as if to prove their point, they built a wall around the city. Only a few people guarded that wall, and you had to have clearance or money to get in, but his brother knew a secret way in the side.  Deathjumper didn't know where or which side, but all he had to do was stay unnoticed.  

His mind flashed to where the Kingdoms originated from' Star City used to be the only city, so they built walls to keep the Phantoms -which, at the time, Valenthia was overflowing with them- out.

The Phantoms eventually got in through an area of weak walls -that wasn't found until later on- trapping them with the people of Star City.

 The municipality was a wreck until three people united together to guide the people out.  Darkdiver, (he named the kingdom after his wife, Moon), Sunce, and Storm.

They all went their separate ways to do what they thought was best for their people at the time, and it was only a matter of time before the kingdoms arose.

Deathjumper guided Nessie into the woods, careful not to hit any trees as Deathjumper examined the 

'City' from afar.

There were four towers at the corners, the whole wall forming a square around the city.  There were two people in the two front towers, and Deathjumper guessed there were two in each in the back towers.  

The walls were a plaid gray -that made his mind conjure up a face with similar hair- made by stone.  There was a wooden door in the middle of the front towers that had a metal lining, the color of the door brown as if they didn't bother to decorate it.

Deathjumper ushered Nessie further into the woods, trying to get farther out of sight. He leaned down to Nessie's ear, his eyes scanning the forest floor, "Let's go slow, girl," he said.

The ground wasn't as muddy as before, but it seemed more accustomed to traps, so he slid off of the horse.

Deathjumper grabbed her rein, guiding her past the parts he was suspicious about; Doing this took him until sunset, and Nessie was starting to think this was a game and started to perform random 

moves at times that made Deathjumper laugh.

When he finally made it to the side of the city, two guards had left, leaving two on this side.  They looked pretty bored, and they had started waving to each other and saying words in sign language Deathjumper couldn't decipher.

When Deathjumper believed they were distracted, he rode Nessie towards the wall.  The walls' were slanted slightly at the top before they reached the towers to create a walkway to connect the obelisks, offering Deathjumper good enough shadows to hide within.  He reined Nessie in the most abundant part of the darkness he could find, motioning her to stay there.  She gave him a look that said, 'feed me.'

Deathjumper first looked for blemishes, his eyes flashing up to the roof above him when he heard any sounds. He growled when he couldn't find anything and walked over to Nessie, who neighed sympathetically quietly at his demeanor.  

Deathjumper leaned on the wall next to her sitting body, crossing his arms. "It's like I can't find a- 

woah!" Deathjumper said as he fell on his back as the stones shifted behind him without warning.

Nessie was upon her hooves immediately, pushing at Deathjumper's shoes.  He scrambled back, letting Nessie in who, for some reason, followed him, even if he had set her free a while back.  

Deathjumper rubbed his back at the sudden pain, wincing.

Deathjumper was inside the wall.  He stared at the stones he had pushed over, and Deathjumper realized that Deathbringer had deliberately arranged them like that.   He couldn't help but smile as he thought of his brother. Stupid perfectionist, Deathjumper thought affectionately. 

Nessie shoved his shoulder, and Deathjumper laughed, "Alright, Cheesus Christ, we'll find you some food!"

Nessie let out a satisfied grunt as she pulled away.  Deathjumper stood up on the gravel, once in his life feeling as though he chose his last name right; When he was younger, his father refused to give him his last name, leaving Deathjumper to create his surname.  His father had given the same treatment to Deathbringer.  

Deathjumper had taken pride in the forename his father had given him -before he realized how horrible it was- and had his surname as Faust, which means fortunate. 

Deathjumper, after 30 minutes, finally managed to arrange the stones back in their intended places and led Nessie away, examining the area around him.  

The sky was dark, and the star that had guided Deathjumper here was a line of stars with a circle that formed a head at the end. Daybreak City considered it a viper, waiting to strike its victims.

Deathjumper considered it a worm, which seems much more friendly than a viper.

But then again, the city wasn't supposed to be friendly.

Before he could stop it, Lydia's words echoed in his head: "I'm not supposed to be nice," Lydia had growled.

Deathjumer had only stared at her that day, unsure of how to respond to that, and having Silver on the other end made it more difficult.

Deathjumper knew Lydia from the classes he took when he was younger. 

She was the idol, the star student in all of them.  She would always beat him during training, tests, and she called him Deathblunder Faucet -Deathjumper didn't know why; It didn't even rhyme, and it wasn't funny!- throughout kindergarten and first grade, because Deathjumper, when he was four, separation from his six-year-old brother wasn't easy, and he ended up crying in the middle of his class when his history teacher was discussing the strength in the Moon Kingdom's people.

That was the first and last time he had ever cried.

It didn't help that Deathbringer had arrived that day, and instead of yelling at him or even hugging him -which he never did- he awkwardly patted his back, saying, 'It happens.'

Then Deathjumper didn't see him for another two years. It happens.

Deathjumper once again was pushed by Nessie, who was glaring at him with her black eyes. Deathjumper sighed, "Come on," he said, before leading her out of the alleyway, "Let's go get an apartment."

Chapter 6 -

There was one issue with his plan.  After visiting an inn and making the unfortunate -Screw his surname- discovery that he didn't have any money -and he wasn't giving up his horse because that was an alternative- and then it started to rain.

Nessie let out an unimpressed and sad snort at Deathjumper's abilities to get them a record of getting kicked out of the hotel as she ducked under the nearest shade, which was under a closed awning as a vain attempt to avoid the rain.

"You know," Deathjumper said, not trying to hide from the rain, "you should like the rain.  I named you off of a sea monster."

Nessie's head shot up as if offended, letting out a loud snort.

Footsteps interrupted him before he could respond, and Deathjumper twisted around as a boy leaned on the side of the gray walls of the alleyway near the spot that Deathjumper had entered the city 

through. "Frankly," he said, amusement oozing into his tone, "I don't think she understands you," the boy threw an apple at him that Deathjumper caught.

Deathjumper walked over to his horse, feeding her the apple before Deathjumper glanced at him.  The boy had dirty blonde hair and dark brown eyes that nearly looked black.  "Yeah?" Deathjumper said, scratching Nessie behind the ear as she neighed a sound that Deathjumper decided resembled pleased.

"Yeah,"  the boy said, yawning.  Annoyance flashed through Deathjumper, hating how this boy reminded him slightly of his 'Ash Mavin' personality.  The boy examined the wall where the entrance was for one too many minutes, making Deathjumper's heart pound faster with fear.   "You put that stone in wrong," he said, extending a finger towards a stone that's undoubtfully wrong.

"What?" Deathjumper asked, feigning innocence.  How'd he know?

He casually slipped his hands into the pockets of his black jeans, and he narrowed his brown eyes.  "The wall. You know, the one you climbed through?"

Deathjumper shrugged, unsure of how to respond.

"Dude. You're lying to the person who found the error in the first place," the boy said, pushing himself off the wall with his shoulders.

Oh. 

"My apologies, sir, I didn't know the wall had a code," he said sarcastically, feeling grateful as the boy turned around to fix it so he couldn't see his red face. 

Deathjumper watched him take the stone from the bottom away and carefully but quickly switch it with the correct stone. "Woah," Deathjumper blurted out, "how'd you do that?"

"It took years," the boy said, dusting his hands off on his jeans, as he turned to look at Deathjumper again.

"Took years of what? Training?" Deathjumper frowned.  He wasn't sure even he would train that long on block switching.

"It took years of Jenga to master the skill," he said with a lazy grin, and Deathjumper stared at him

through slanted eyes.

When Deathjumper didn't respond, still petting his horse, the boy offered his hand, "The name's Cole."

"Mine's Night," Deathjumper offered instead of his usual name Ash, completely done with it.  When Deathjumper didn't take his hand, Cole let it drop, a glare on his features.

"So what's Night doing in this city? Magic? Money? Or is it a girl? It's a girl, isn't it? It's always for a girl," he asked, a curious look on his face.

Deathjumper briefly imagined telling him it was actually for a boy -it was, in a way- just for his reaction.  "I'm looking for my brother, actually," Deathjumper said, deciding to tell him the truth because Cole seemed to know his way around.

A mischievous glimmer flickered in his eyes as he leaned back against the wall. "Oh? Then maybe you should be looking to see the Mage," Cole said with unneeded emphasis.

"The Mage," Deathjumper said flatly, removing his hands from Nessie's thin mane, who gave him a 

devastating look.

"The Mage!" Cole said, moving his hands around in an upside U form as if forming a rainbow.

 It was rare in these parts, and it means magic comes naturally to them, while those born without magic spend years just perfect on a spell.

A flash of panic shot through him when he remembered his father was one of these rare individuals. 

Cole shrugged, moving his gray shirt in the process. Cole looked older than Deathjumper by at least a few years; Cole was also a couple of inches taller. Deathjumper realized that Cole was probably the height of his brother.

"You don't know?" Deathjumper asked.

"No."

"Hmm," Deathjumper hummed, keeping his gaze adverted so Cole wouldn't see his anger.

"But I do know where his apprentice is!" Cole said, pulling his hands out of his pockets to make finger guns at Deathjumper, a grin plastered over his face.

"Where?"

                                                                                  ---

Deathjumper stared at the building through slanted eyes, disbelief flooding through him. A light flickering on and off beside the building was the only light near it, hardly allowing Deathjumper to have the ability to read the sign above the awning.  "He works at a bar."

"No, he goes to the bar!" Cole said, wrapping an arm around Deathjumper's neck, and Deathjumper dunked under it, shooting him a glare that Cole didn't see.

Deathjumper had left his horse in the alleyway, obscured by a shadow, and after promising her more food, she gave a grunt of approval and allowed him to go.

"Why?" Deathjumper briefly wondered if there were some secret ingredients in there or if someone was necessary for a spell.

"He regrets his life choices. Then again, most people here who aren't black market dealers, mercenaries, assassins or aren't apart of a family do," he mused.

Deathjumper stared at him in disbelief, wondering how he could say that.

"Well, there you go, buddy!" he said, gesturing Deathjumper in before he started walking away.

"What?! You're leaving me?" Deathjumper shouted at Cole, who spun around so slickly during the rain, Deathjumper thought he was going to slip.

"'Course, I am! I have a date!" he said with an amused smile, and Deathjumper wondered who would date him or if he was lying, using an excuse to leave him.

Before Deathjumper could protest, Cole ran in a direction far away from Deathjumper, leaving him in the rain and the dark.

Deathjumper sighed before preparing himself for the worse, pushing open the door, ignoring the way his heart was sinking with each step.

Chapter 7 -

The bar was just like any bar; Crowded, loud, and dark.  It was bigger than the bar Rhydian had, but instead, it had a second downstairs floor.

Deathjumper had to dodge the two people who arm-wrestled nearby, evading the flying feet of the man who had lost, the winner being as strong to flip him over, breaking the table.

Deathjumper's eyes widened at this and contemplated helping him up before he decided against it; pushing past the people, he sat down at the front bar, his shoes tapping on the supports of the stool. He leaned over the long wooden counter that separated them and waved to the bartender, who had just finished serving some other guy. 

 Deathjumper wrapped his arms around himself, trying to limit himself into a small area of personal space, his eyes flashing to the laughing maniac beside him who had just finished his drink.

The bartender walked over, his brown eyes widening in surprise at Deathjumper. "What do- You 

look a little young to be in here!" he said over the noise, after pouring a cup of an unknown liquid and passing it down to the guy beside him.

Deathjumper's eyes narrowed slightly, "I'm looking for someone. The Mage's apprentice."

"He won't like or want you," the bartender said. "He doesn't like your type."

Deathjumper frowned. "My type?"

The bartender leaned in close, his eyes warily scanning, before his voice was nothing more than a whisper, "Moon kingdom folk."

Deathjumper briefly wondered what Cole had gotten him into.

That Deathjumper could understand.  The Moon Kingdom was known for its stealthiness, untrustworthiness, and assassins since they were the best in the lot. Deathjumper wouldn't be surprised if he lost someone to them.

Guilt shot through him. What happens if the apprentice has lost someone? Deathjumper knew how much rage and guilt could affect people, and if he lost one of the two people he cared about, 

Deathjumper was sure he would kill people after throwing his self-pity party.

"Where is he?" Deathjumper said, ignoring his worries.

Instead of answering, the bartender extended a finger at someone. 

Deathjumper followed his gaze to the redhead, and Deathjumper stared at him as he pulled out a deck of cards and was either playing with the group around him or doing magic tricks.

"Thanks," Deathjumper said before sliding off the stool.  He pushed past even more people to reach the Mage's apprentice, ignoring his heart beating faster.

The Mage's apprentice didn't see him until Deathjumper tapped on his shoulder.  

As the Mage's apprentice turned around to see him, Deathjumper wondered how the man's expression could fall so easily.

His brown eyes narrowed in distrust, one of his hands going to a dagger on his side, the other one clenching. "What do ye want?" he had an accent Deathjumper couldn't figure out.

"I want to find the Mage," Deathjumper responded, his eyes glancing towards the dagger.  The 

man could slit his throat any second now. The apprentice laughed, and when he did, the others at his table did. "So ye could kill him?"

"No!" Deathjumper protested, "I'm looking for my brother, and I heard he might be able to help."

"How mighty innocent of ye!" he laughed, "What's the real reason?"

"That is the real reason," Deathjumper said blandly.

"Aye? I wasn't born yesterday!" the apprentice flicked out his dagger, and Deathjumper resisted the urge to run.  

"Neither was I."

Deathjumper saw the dagger coming for his throat, and Deathjumper closed his eyes.

He never thought this would be the way he would die. Deathjumper always thought he'd die at an age older than 15, with his brother or Silver or just doing something great.

A few seconds suspended in the air before he opened them and his heart gave a sudden jump that made his fear seem small compared to it.

There was a knife against the apprentice's neck, and their area had grown silent.  The others around them hadn't noticed the dangerous shift in the atmosphere, and Deathjumper wasn't sure it mattered to them or if they even cared if it did; they were too focused on each other and their drinks.

The knife had a familiar bloodstain as if the person using it hadn’t cared to clean it.  It made the person wielding the knife look dangerous, even if Deathjumper knew otherwise.

The girl holding the knife had a black mask obscuring half of her features, going all the way up to hide her nose; she had blue eyes, and her light gray hair was in a ponytail.

"If we're talking about birthdays, I was actually born 15 years ago, believe it or not," said the unmistakable voice of Silver.

Chapter 8 -

Deathjumper gaped at her.  How was she here? Why was she here?

Silver dragged the man off his chair, yanking the knife out of his hand.  The apprentice's face looked displeased and infuriated by this.  "Ye will pay for this!"

"Yada, yada," Silver muttered under the mask before forcing him to the door, not even bothering to push back or dodge the people, and she stopped to give him a look, "You coming?" Deathjumper could imagine her throwing him the Classic Silver smile.

Deathjumper could feel the smile crack over his face as the people started gawking at her for just plain out stealing him in view.

After seeing his face, she furrowed her eyes brows, her eyes slanting slightly, "Please tell me I didn't just adult-nap the wrong person," she said, her voice slightly muffled by the mask.

"No," Deathjumper said, following her, before opening the door, "ladies first."

Silver responded with a snort, forcing the man out of the door while he was hissing threats at her Deathjumper certainly ignored.

Deathjumper followed her out and slammed the door, "What are you doing here?" he whispered.

"Saving you. As it turns out, you may need me after all," Silver said before she took her hair down with the knife still at his neck casually. "you're welcome, by the way."

"Were you just following me?" Deathjumper asked, feeling humiliated.

"Halfway through it, yes.  I used mainly clues from Cole, and I talked to the man who's horse you stole," She said.

"Her's names Nessie!" Deathjumper protested, "and I'm technically not stealing her anymore! She chose to come with me."

"That's adorable," she stopped to give him a firm look that only affected him halfway due to the coverage on her face. "I meant the horse, by the way."

Deathjumper stared at her, pretty sure the affection he felt for her was showing on his face.

"What do ye want from me?" the apprentice said, sounding distressed as he sat on his knees as if praying.

"Depends. Dea-"

Deathjumper clamped a hand over her mouth, and Silver flinched back. She was careless with the knife, and the apprentice whimpered as the blade was closer. "Dude, what the heck!?"

"It depends," Deathjumper said, ignoring Silver's glaring. "My name is Night and this is my accompliance-" he stopped, allowing Silver to say her fake name.

"Silver," Silver said loud and clear.  That's not a fake name. Deathjumper gave her a look, trying to tell her to at least try to hide her identity -she had her signature jacket on but instead of blue jeans, she wore black- but even the slightest lie could divert or delay any assassins that might be after them. Silver glared at him before ripping off her mask. "The name's Silver."

"And we're looking for the Mage."

"Yes, we're looking for the- Wait, why are we looking for the Mage?"

"To find my brother," he answered.

"To find his brother," Silver repeated sternly at the apprentice, who gave her an odd look before something clicked in his mind.

He gasped. "Ye are born with magic."

Something unreadable flashed across her face.  "Yes, I am. Now, where is the Mage?" the blade tightened in her grip.

"He's right this way," he said, pointing to the bar.

"He's back where we started?" Silver asked, the blade slightly faltering.

"Yes.  That is why I was there," the apprentice said. After seeing their confused expressions, he added, "What, did you think I regretted all my life choices?"

Deathjumper tried not to think of what Cole said. Desperately.

Silver blinked repetitively, clearly thinking of something similar.

"He's downstairs."

"Okay, you're coming with us," She said, yanking him up from the ground.

"Woah, okay- hey, watch the hair!" he shouted. Silver gave the apprentice an exasperated look as she opened the door, pushing him in before following him.

Deathjumper calmed his beating heart as he followed her in, but not before checking his surroundings, hating how he felt like he was getting followed.

The bar was the same before, loud and cramped as if Silver taking the apprentice didn't happen.  Deathjumper followed Silver and the apprentice through the group of people, dodged them and the tables.

Silver had taken the knife away from the apprentice's neck and instead had it in her hand, hiding it behind her wrist, guiding him through the crowd.

The apprentice waved casually at the bartender, who didn't notice him and didn't seem to care.  Deathjumper followed the two as they walked down the creepy steps and Silver shoved the man forward, "Go ahead, open it," she said, and as she did that, she leaned back.  "I'm trying to be 

intimidating," she whispered before pulling back.

Deathjumper grinned at her before he pulled himself together.

The man shot her a look before opening the door, and Deathjumper winced at the sudden light.  The apprentice walked in first, breathing in the air with a mildly pleased expression.  

The room was large and reminded Deathjumper of a library with all the books.  Most of the books were in their rightful places besides the books scattered on the desks in their separate corners.

There was one hammock beside a torch, and Deathjumper assumed that was the apprentices'.

The room smelled like books with a hint of cinnamon from the candle on top of the bookshelves.

"Aslan, what are you- Visitors!" the person who came into the room from a door on the right shouted, tossing the books in his hands in the air.

The power that seemed to surround him was overwhelming, and Deathjumper flinched away, immediately scared.

Not because of the power, but because the 'man' was a 4-foot boy.

The kid made a mad dash towards them, extending a small hand.  Silver didn't make a move to accept the hand, and her blue eyes widened in surprise and alarm at the kid. He gave her a look before muttering 'meanie' under his breath -Silver was gaping at that- and offering the hand to Deathjumper. 

Deathjumper hesitated before shaking his hand, only four of his fingers fitting in the kid's hand. The kid shook his arm hard before letting go, and Deathjumper and Silver exchanged glances.

He had similar hair to Silver besides the fact that it was entirely white; It was as long as Deathjumper's, and nearly as uncontrolled. The kid had brown skin and purple eyes that reminded him of the queen of the Sun Kingdom -Grief and regret shot through him at the reminder since he still didn't know if she was alive-

Silver placed her hands on her knees after hiding her knife, leaning over, "Hi, little guy," she said awkwardly, "do you know where the Mage is?"

The kid's eyes darkened and there was a gasp from the apprentice -Aslan, the kid had called him- 

"You silly goose," Silver frowned at him, her eyebrows furrowing, "I am the Mage!"

Chapter 9 -

Deathjumper gawked at the kid, and Silver blinked repetitively before standing up straight.  "Deathjumper, tell me he's kidding. Tell me he's kidding, right now," she whispered.

"My liege!" Aslan shouted, immediately getting on one new, pushing his hands together as if he was praying. He bowed his head, "Forgive her for her impertinence! She truly didn't mean it!"

What the heck. How is a kid supposed to help me find my brother? 

"Aslan get up right now," the Mage -kid- said, sounding exasperated.

Aslan hopped up immediately, "Apologize," he said to Silver, a stern look in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, your greatness, for my 'impertinence,'" she said flatly, her eyes slanted, pinned on the man.

Deathjumper elbowed her, and she glared at him. Before he could tell her they should leave, Aslan leaned toward Silver, "Say it with more emotion! With meaning, for once the Great One enters yer life, ye have meaning."

"I will stab you."

Aslan immediately moved away as if taking her threat seriously.

Silver suddenly yelped, tripping forward as the knife ripped itself out of her grip and landed in the Mage's suspended hand, who looked upset. "That's not nice!" he said with a shake of his head. "Hurting people is a no, no."

"Stealing from people is a 'no, no,'" she said, mocking him, moving her finger side to side, and extending a hand as if expecting him to give it back.

The kid gripped the blade harder, pulling the knife closer to him.  Silver honestly looked like she was about to punch someone.

Deathjumper needed to get Silver out of here before she started a fight.

He reached forward to take her hand before the kid's eyes snapped towards him creepily.

"I sense your distress. Whatever is your issue?" the kid asked.

Right now, you, Deathjumper thought, taking back his hand as Silver's attention turned towards