"WHAT HAVE YOU DON BROTHER". Came Zavier's voice filled with anger and confusion as he was looking at the lifeless body lying in front of him. The anger grew and his face nearly turned red.
"Ha ha ha ha ha" his brother laughed "weaklings" he said, "that's what all of you are and am going to end all of your lives one- by- one". He threatened flinging of the blood stain from the huge sword he was carrying which looked like it weighed tons he swung it around skilfully – leapt of the ground- with a killing instinct to split Zavier in half Zavier made to move but couldn't he just froze there crouched beside the dead body only thoughts ran around his mind- he knows that was the end of his life but immediately his brothers blade landed on his fore head he woke up.
He stood up quickly and hit his head hard against a wooden drawer filled with pieces of iron.
"Great," he snarled, shooting the wood a disgusted look.
He walked toward the door, opened it, and—
"AAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH!" he screamed, his voice echoing with a bloody sharpness. Birds scattered from nearby trees, fluttering wildly. The noise startled Grandma Choo, who nearly splashed herself with the oil she was using to fry fish. Olivia dropped the two fish she had just pulled from the river. Chloe nearly jumped out of her skin and screamed as well.
"What the fuck is that?!" Chloe cursed, still shivering.
"What's this all over the ground?" Zavier asked, not daring to step out of the house.
"Wait—hold on," Olivia said, hardly believing what she was seeing. "You made me lose two sexy fish because of... snow? Snow on the ground?!"
Chloe slammed her palm against her face."Shouldn't expect more from someone who doesn't even know what planet he's on," she teased, though rather arrogantly.
Meanwhile, Zavier was busy. He slowly lifted his feet and gently stepped onto the snow. As his leg sank into it, he let out a surprised, "Woo!"He bellowed for a moment—he really thought he was going to sink."Mph, it's not that bad after all," he added, walking toward Olivia.
"Hey," he said, sitting on the shoe beside her.
"Hey," Olivia answered after a moment, avoiding eye contact. Instead, she busied herself with the fish she was catching.
Zavier chuckled and picked up a small rock lying nearby. Olivia was confused about what amused him, but Zavier just kept staring at the rock, rotating it between his fingers.
"Your parents—where are they?" Zavier asked, having noticed that only Grandma Choo seemed to be taking care of them.
"Dead," Olivia replied bluntly, adjusting her fishing line. She pulled out a big fish and flung it toward Chloe.
"I'm sorry about that," Zavier said, trying his best to sound empathetic.
"Don't be. We've learned to live with it," she replied, shooting him a sharp glance.
"You know, when I was small, my dad would take me to the river. We'd ride his boat and cast our nets together. Well, the soldiers did most of the casting, but it was fun. Just being with him—it was fun." Zavier spoke wistfully, staring out at the river.
"Where is your dad now?" Olivia asked, flinging another fish to Chloe.
"Dead. Killed by my own brother," Zavier replied.
"By your brother or stepbrother?" Olivia asked, trying her best not to imagine what she'd do to Chloe if she had been the one to kill their father.
"Surprising news, isn't it? Huh?" Zavier replied. "The crazy part is that he was the heir to the throne—he just had to wait for his time to rule," he added, shaking his head in utter disbelief.
"So... you're really royalty?" Olivia asked, now fully staring at him.
"Yeah... I guess I am. Or was," Zavier answered, clearly struggling with self-esteem.
"Well," Olivia began, "never heard of your kingdom—or your world—but I know there's only one world, and that's the one we are in." She stood up as she said it, firmly.
"Ooh no, young lady, there are more worlds out there. I can perceive it," Grandma Choo said suddenly, dishing out the fish onto dark-coated metal plates.
"Yeah, Grandma—you wish," Chloe chimed in.
"No, no, no—I do not wish. I know this. And I'm certain because I can perceive it..."Grandma Choo couldn't finish her sentence—Olivia cut in, tapping her lightly.
"So, Grandma—you're saying there are more worlds out there, huh?" Olivia asked, raising an eyebrow and making a sceptical gesture.
"Ooh, yeah—beauty there is. I read it all in the book, The Four But One. Ooh, an interesting book to read, Olivia. Written by the one wizard of a lifetime—Dimitrius," Grandma Choo narrated, grinning. "Come on now, breakfast!"
"Hold up, Grandma!" Chloe started, wide-eyed. "Did you just say Dimitrius? Oh my God—I've been dying to read any book written by him for years! You should've told me you had one, Ma!"
"Mm-mm," Grandma Choo mumbled, shaking her head and waving her hand dismissively.
"What do you mean 'no,' Ma? I—"
"Hold it right there, Chlo', 'cause I don't have it. I don't have The Four But One. But I do have another of Dimitrius' books, titled..."She paused, her face going blank as if struck by sudden memory loss.
"Well—titled what, Grandma?" Chloe asked curiously, eyes locked on her.
"Yeah, titled... Eat your breakfast," Grandma Choo replied with a smirk.
They all sat together around the table outside the house, enjoying the fried morning fish with some stewy paste.
"So Grandma," Olivia began, "I was thinking… I'll go and find that book you mentioned. You know—The Four But One. So, where do you think it might be?" she asked, taking a bite of her fish.
"Well, it's in your mother's fountain," Grandma Choo replied flatly."Pour me some water, would you?" she added, nodding toward Zavier, who happened to be sitting closest to the jug.
"Here," he said, handing her a bamboo cup.
"Well, that was easy," Olivia said with a smirk. "I thought you were going to say something like, 'No, I won't tell you.'"
"Why would I? What kind of Ma would I be, hiding such knowledge from you?" Grandma Choo said, nearly shouting, before gulping down the water.
"Oh yeah, Mrs. 'I don't have the book'—but you clearly kept it in Mum's fountain," Chloe said, avoiding Grandma Choo's eyes.
"Well, clearly I'm not hiding it with me," Grandma replied, lips curling into a sly smile.
"Wait—your mom has a fountain?" Zavier asked. Until then, it seemed the delicious food had stolen his voice.
"Mmm-hmm," Chloe answered, stretching. "She conjured it. Isn't that brilliant, huh?" she added as she stood up and walked away.
"Wait… what did I do?" Zavier asked, confused, as Olivia just shook her head, clearly just as clueless.
"Damn, this food was good," someone muttered, and for a moment, that was all anyone could agree on.