WITHOUT A SWORD

Today was the day Vagos gave Mondeigo a gift for his third year birthday.

Seeing Vagos wrap his little arms around Mondeigo reminded Agatha of the night Welsfar had first held Vagos in his arms.

Agatha watched the boys play beneath the trees, but a quiet fear remained in her heart.

Welsfar was no longer simply the man who had rescued them from the forest. Over the years, he had become the father of her two sons and the man who had given them a home when they had nowhere else to go.

There were things about Vagos neither she nor Welsfar could explain.

His senses were sharper than those of any ordinary child, and sometimes, whenever the moonlight touched his skin, the strange mark hidden beneath his clothes would faintly glow.

The little boy who had once run barefoot beneath the trees was now fifteen years old.

Vagos stood tall, brave and fearless, his body hardened by years of training beneath Welsfar's watchful eye.

Tree branches smack against each other as they dug their feet into the wet earth.

Drenched by the tears of the clouds… his sight was the keenest as he swung through every droplet with exceptional ease.

"I'm going to win this one, little brother," Vagos said, smirking at Mondeigo.

"Not so fast, my boy," Welsfar said, throwing a swing directly at Vagos as his eyes caught the attack swiftly, giving him enough time to dodge.

"Mondeigo, do you think your big brother can really beat his old man?" Welsfar said.

Mondeigo chuckled mischievously: "He will, Dad! But not just this war."

"Ahh… ahhh, always speaking in mysteries, ayyy? Watch me take this old timer down."

His crimson eyes narrowed as he tracked Welsfar's every movement. He ran his fingers through his jet black hair as the rain kissed his biceps.

Arrgggh!! He leaped high up in the air, showing the physique of a demigod. It was raining, but his skin somewhat glowed like oil was smeared on him.

Welsfar locked his gaze on Vagos, avoiding the heavy drizzles. He may be an old timer, but he wasn't going to back down on a battle — not on his own doorstep.

Their strength retained on their calves as their feet slid across the ground.

Crack… There was a swing, another and another…

A tree branch was the last thing Vagos saw before his back hit the ground.

"Looks like it's one for the old man again," Agatha said.

"Come on in, boys, it's going to be a cold night! Dinner is ready. I made rabbit soup…

And I helped her," Mondeigo chuckled.

"Alright, love loathes, we'll join you soon," Welsfar said.

Vagos still laid there on the wet soil, wondering what wonder made the sky cry.

His eyes remained still as his long legs remained motionless.

All he could taste was the blood from his tongue. "Bruise of battle as his father would call it," he thought to himself as he chuckled silently.

"Alright, boy!" Welsfar said, extending a hand to Vagos in bid to help him up, but was instead pulled to the ground by Vagos.

"Ahh…ahhh... I see, boy! You do listen, don't you?"

"Yes, father! Lunge at your enemy when you get a chance," Vagos said, recalling the training of his father.

"Hmmm… Not bad for a 15-year-old. By 20, you'd be unstoppable," Welsfar said, pinching Vagos' cheeks.

"Let's go in before your mama lunges at us for not eating her soup."

Both men chuckled as they rose to their feet, all smeared in sticky earth and rain.

"Boy! Do you know one thing?" Welsfar said, catching Vagos' full attention.

"What's that, father?" His curious eyes danced around Welsfar.

"You never dropped your weapon, even when falling to the ground."

Vagos smiled sheepishly as his eyes showed enlightenment: "It just never left my hand."

"No! That's wrong…" Welsfar shot abruptly at Vagos.

"Wrong?" Vagos asked as his eyes widened.

They walked closer to the wooden house and could feel how warm it was.

"It never left your heart!

You see, my boy, a true king never lets go of what he has sworn to protect."

"True Kings?" Vagos blurted out with curiosity. "Aren't they the ones with the big swords?

I wish I could be one! Father."

In front of the house they stood.

Welsfar: "It's okay, boy!" (ruffling Vagos' wet hair).

"Have you seen a true king, father?"

Welsfar stared intently at Vagos with so much compassion in his eyes before answering.

"Yes! I've seen the one without a sword, son."

Those words danced with the wind as the rain dropped on the leaves. Utter silence and confusion fell on Vagos.

"That's enough," Agatha cut in. "The food is getting cold. Vagos, go eat while it's hot. I don't want you catching a cold."

Watching her son's retreating figure, she looked at Welsfar with so much panic.

"Husband, please go eat," Agatha said merely audibly.

"You know, you turn pale when you worry.

I don't want you telling him those things." She finally opened up.

"We might hide the truth, my love, but the moon would eventually reveal the truth," Welsfar said, brushing hair strands away from her face.

"But…" Agatha muttered.

"You worry too much," Welsfar cut in, seeing his wife worry brought him so much hurt.

"Alright, fine… I won't say these things anymore." He reassured her.

Agatha smiled lightly as Welsfar placed a peck on her cheeks as they went inside, holding hands.

The night came very swiftly as Vagos stood outside in the open sky, his gaze following every strange sound the bushes made.

His ears twitched as his fangs slowly sprouted. The rustling between the bushes became more violent as his fingers formed claws, ready to devour anything coming to harm his family.

The forest fell so silent he could hear even the smallest creatures moving beneath the leaves.

His head rotated as softness disappeared from his crimson eyes.

Two tiny amber eyes appeared beneath the bush.

His territorial instinct instantly flared up as he hissed, but was instantly calm when it pounced on him.

"There you are, girl. For a second, I thought you were some wild beast," Vagos said, patting its head as it scurried into his arms.

Then snuggling its head unto the mark on the right part of his chest.

"You're curious, little guy," Vagos said, chuckling lightly (as its eyes flickered with amusement).

Too sad, because I don't know what it is.

He chuckled almost loudly as he placed the fox down. "Come on now, run along."

Watching the rustles in the bushes fade across a distance, he heaved and locked his gaze onto the moon as his ears rang from the screams that came from his home.

For a moment his heart stopped as he rushed inside. Seeing his brother having seizures from one of those nightmares broke him, and he wished to make it stop, but he did not have the power.

Sitting by the side of his brother, he whispered:

"It's okay, I'm here, I got you," pulling his brother into his arms, covering him like a child in a cradle with his muscular figure.

For a moment he held his brother quietly as if nothing else mattered. His gaze stood still on his parents who had just arrived, and he said:

"How can I make it stop?"

Agatha and Welsfar fell silent as they both knew there was nothing to be possibly done.

"Nothing," Welsfar said.

"There has to be a way," Vagos said as his hands trembled.

"I don't think there is."

"Your great grand uncle has the same issues, right? When he was a boy about Mondeigo's age, right? And he lived two centuries, still living! We could ask him for help! Can't we?" Vagos said desperately.

"I'll send word to my uncle tomorrow," Welsfar said, leaving the room.

Agatha stared at Vagos holding his brother tightly, and at that moment she thanked the gods for how blessed she was.

Fifteen years ago, she held him with trembling hands. Now he stood nearly the height of the man who had saved them.

"Alvalgo Res Vagos," she said. His gaze softened, meeting hers.

"Valg…Val…" he tried to repeat the words his mother had spoken.

"Alvalgo Res Vagos."

"These were the exact words that came from my mouth when a kind stranger asked me what I'd call you."

"When your father held you in his arms, he had nothing but tenderness in his eyes. And up till now, that compassion still sits at the center of his heart — not just towards you, but also your brother."

"He is just scared because he lost his own brother to these visions… But before that, his parents tried everything and they failed."

"So don't be too hard on him.

We'll find a solution too, if one exists, but for now, get some sleep," she said, placing kisses on both their heads before leaving.

Watching the candles flicker as the wind blew, he could feel his brother's peaceful breathing and released him from his embrace.

Outside the house, Welsfar stood under the moonlight staring at the stars. He could feel something in the bushes but couldn't tell what it was. His eyes hovered around every corner of the house as he took fearless steps in every direction.

His gaze fell on something, making him freeze. Crouching down to the ground, he let his fingers trace…

He heaved as though his soul became heavier.

Pressing his fingers into the damp soil.

His expressi

on changed.

In a cold wavering voice: "They are here for him, aren't they?" Agatha, who was standing right behind him, said.

Looking at his wife and seeing as she turned white.