~●~After the battle~●~

Chapter 8

Scott, caught in the middle of the clash between fire and ice, tries to weave through the chaos, looking for an opening to counterattack. He notices that ? and Avris are working together flawlessly, their attacks synchronized as they try to corner him.

Scott takes a moment to catch his breath, trying to regroup and strategize while Avris and ? continue their barrage of attacks. The battlefield is a whirlwind of fire and ice, making it difficult for Scott to find an opportunity to strike back effectively.

Scott manages to dodge and weave through the relentless assault, narrowly evading the attacks from ? and Avris. He's starting to sense a pattern in their moves, which helps him anticipate their next attacks.

Scott presses his sword to ?'s neck, his breath ragged from the intense fight. As he prepares to deliver a finishing blow, he's caught off guard by the man's next words.

Scott's eyes widen in disbelief as ?, who is actually his older brother Xornoth, reveals his true identity. The realization leaves Scott momentarily speechless, his sword still pressed against Xornoth's neck, but his grip faltering slightly.

The pain and anger of the past floods Scott's mind, his heart clenching with a mixture of bitterness and hurt as he stares down at Xornoth.

"You," he whispers, his voice laced with a hint of resentment. "You left me all those years ago. How dare you show up now, like nothing happened.”

Scott's grip tightens on his sword, his emotions warring within him. He glances at Xornoth, searching his face for any signs of regret or remorse, but sees only a stoic expression.

"Why now?" he demands, an edge to his voice. "After all these years, why did you come back now?”

Xornoth's expression remains guarded, his silence only serving to fuel Scott's pent-up frustration.

Scott presses his sword harder against Xornoth's neck, his jaw clenching in anger. "Answer me. Why are you here?" he repeats, his demand sounding more like a growl.

Xornoth studies Scott, his eyes searching his younger brother's face. He seems unfazed by the anger and pain in Scott's voice, his expression almost emotionless.

"I never abandoned you, Scott," Xornoth finally responds, his voice calm. "You were stolen away from me, taken from our home at a young age. I've been searching for you all these years.”

Scott feels a pang of conflicting emotions as he hears Xornoth's response. The anger in his expression flickers, replaced by a hint of uncertainty. He wants to believe his brother's words, but old wounds have left deep scars.

"If you were searching for me, why did it take you so long to find me?" he questions, his sword lowering slightly.

Xornoth lets out a sigh, his stoic exterior faltering for a moment. His eyes soften as he looks at Scott, his voice sincere.

"The years following your disappearance, I was consumed by grief and rage. I spent countless days and nights tracking down any lead, any clue that could lead me to you."

He pauses, his expression almost pained. "But the trail went cold," he continues. "No one knew where you were or who had taken you. I was left in darkness, wondering if I'd ever see you again.”

Scott's jaw clenches, his emotions in turmoil. He wants to believe Xornoth's words, to let go of the resentment he's held onto for so long. But he can't help but feel uncertain, his heart filled with a swirling mix of doubt and hope.

"I grew up thinking you and our parents abandoned me," he says, his voice wavering just slightly. "How do I know you're telling the truth?”

Xornoth maintains his calm demeanor, his expression unreadable. "I understand your skepticism," he says, his voice even. "It's natural for you to doubt my intentions after all these years. But I assure you, my intentions are true."