Jasper

~~1~~

~~2~~

In this time and day, being an elf was not easy. Being an elf outcast was even harder. It wasn't my choice to be the half-blooded prince of an elf kingdom, nor was it anyone's fault that the elves were at war with humans. Being half-elf half-human(?) almost costed my life at birth, if not for my protective father and brother. The 'prince' title had not earned me any respect from the elves, but at the very least it gave me a chance to live. That's why I chose to leave the kingdom when I learnt that I had another brother. A younger, human brother, born to the same mother.

My departure from the kingdom was welcomed by all but my elf brother as he feared for my safety in the outside world. But I know it was the best for both of us. On the outside I was denounced of my title and 'chased' out of the woods as an outcast, when secretly I left with the blessings of my father and my brother.

To be honest, I think neither my father nor my brother truly knew what my mother was, but they knew she was more than just, human. With blood inherited from her flowing inside me, I knew she couldn't be human. The energy flowing inside me, one might describe it as darkness, or a blackhole that sucks everything in, but I found it to be comforting, and of great plasticity.

*****

When I laid my eyes on him, I knew I had found him.

There weren't many clues to where my half-brother would be, but I suspect with his heritage he would be, well, 'normal', so to speak. It was hard to imagine him living in the middle of the human society without powerful background, which I was told he did not. That meant he would be more likely to live in the outskirts of the human societies. It's not necessarily make my search any easier, but at the very least I shouldn't need to search inside big cities, at a time when elves and humans were at war.

In the end, it took me two years.

I didn't know what he looked like, nor his name, but I believed it would be obvious when I see him. And it did. The same darkness that's in me was also in him, and only visible to us. The look on his face when he saw me was unmistakable - he saw it in me too. But he seemed to put his doubt aside and focused on his job - getting the group to safety of the city. Very well, I had no objection to that.

At last I learnt his name. Void. Very fitting.

At the gate of the next human city, I excused myself from the group leader, threw him a meaningful look, and walked into the nearby bush. I knew he would come after me. So I waited.


~~3~~

~~4~~

Jasper would never forget Void's expression. He retaliated immediately after Jasper told him they're brothers and punched Jasper in the face. But the next moment he was dumbfounded to see the wings, a black pair and a purple pair, with icy blue eyes on them, stretched out behind Jasper's back, all staring at him. Jasper attacked back and they got into a tangled fight. In frustration Void showed his true self too - wings and eyes and all, but the eyes were red as blood and on his back instead. Jasper stopped.

"There there. Isn't that proof enough?" Jasper gestured at Void's back and his own wings, and smiled. "We're from the same heritage, from someone, or maybe something, neither elf nor human."

Everything made sense. Void felt deflated.

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(ghost sword accent should be his... when overlay accents becomes available, if ever)

Art designed by honbie! Thank you!


Jasper: "Hey bro, it's okay~~"
Smiles.
Void: "Of course it's OK for you... You're the culprit... not me....."
Facepalm.