"How could you do this!" a fair faced youth shouted at a much younger Lucius, the reflection between them was startling. Of course it was, the lad was his brother after all and he was confronting the young wizard who had most of his possessions with him in a knapsack. 

It was a another bright and sunny day, just like it always was in the land of light, yet this time there was a stain of darkness that Lucius could not avoid. They were on a porch of a house, a long dirt path was the only way to reach it through the dense patch of forest that it inhabited. Behind the house sat a small pond with a rope swing.

Sir Lucius, as he would one day be called, was incredibly torn. His younger brother had never wanted him to join the army, had never wanted him to leave home where he was safe and he was going anyways. Pride for his country was propelling him to make the jump in the war, he needed to prove to himself that he was capable of never letting his family get hurt again. But the irony was there, he was hurting them by leaving.

His younger brother cried out, "Think of mom and dad! What about them huh. What about me and our little sister, Clarissa! You can't go, not yet, it's too soon!"

The words stung Lucius over and over again. "I have to do this brother," he said while placing a hand on his shoulder, "This is the only way to protect you all, the conflict is now in a distant place but that does not mean it couldn't come here. I have to go to learn, to train. One day you will understand."

Lucius let his hand drop to his side and backed away from his new home and family. He had already said goodbye to his parents, who now waited in the doorway to see him off. His brother's face was blank as he spoke, "Goodbye Lucius."

Lucius spoke, the words were hard to say, "Goodbye, Orion."

---

That was eight years ago, he visited his family as often as he could but the rift with his brother that had began that day slowly grew. What shocked him the most was when Orion joined the army as well, not three years since he had. Seldom did Lucius see his brother after that, he only knew that his talents were being used to full effect all over the world.

---

A warm feeling fluttered over Lucius as he lay dying in the cold. His eyes had been shut soon after he had given up trying to move and waited for the end. The warmth gradually fixed his broken limps and to his astonishment, he was able to breath properly again when his lung also began working again. The only pain he felt was in his arm and leg and of course the killer headache he had going on.

He cautiously opened his eyes to see Octavia healing him. A wave of utter astonishment came upon him, she should have just left him to die and save her precious prince instead. Why bother saving the likes of a [i]human[/i], when the demon was by far more important to her? He grimaced as she spoke of protecting him, when in reality she should have been saving herself. She should have healed herself and flown out of there but no, she had healed him in some twisted display of gratitude. 

[color=gold] "You should have just left me to die in peace, [i]princess[/i]." [/color] Lucius whispered vehemently.

With sudden realization, the words that had been spoken by the phantom back at the capital echoed in his mind. He had almost died alone, but at least he would have been at peace. His family would have grieved for a time but at least they would come to accept that he died for King and Country. Lucius was strangely alright with the idea of death, it was not his first time after all.

But it seemed his wish would be answered after all, the monster was back and its hand was raised for the killing blow. Octavia could only help herself, not the both of them. It would leave Lucius finally able to die, alone and at peace.