My third brother and I sat side by side, heads lowered, eyes dulled, looking like two empty husks. We had been suspended mid-air for hours. Yes—HOURS. In the sky. Dangling like decorations on a forgotten wind chime.
My patience snapped.
I turned to him sharply, my movements quick and stiff—eyebrows furrowed deep, lips tight, jaw clenched. My pupils subtly shifted, slitting into a narrow glare.
"GOD—THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT," I whispered through gritted teeth, my tone sharp like the tip of a blade.
He flinched slightly, startled out of his daze, and scowled back at me. His expression scrunched in defiance—lips curved downward, brows drawn together—and his pupils narrowed to a thin, snake-like slit.
"HEY, IT WASN'T JUST ME! LOOK AT HIM! WHY DIDN'T HE GET SUSPENDED TOO?!" he hissed back, jerking his chin toward our second brother with a twitch of annoyance.
Sitting not far, our second brother appeared like a picture of serenity—eyes shut, back straight, hands rested in meditative pose. He looked so composed… too composed.
But the moment both our gazes landed on him—sharply, accusingly—his performance cracked.
His closed eyes began to tremble, the corners of his mouth twitching with the struggle to hold in a laugh. Slowly but surely, his lips peeled into a guilty grin, shoulders faintly shaking.
Oh, THAT'S HOW YOU WANNA ACT HUH?!?—
We both leaned closer to him, inch by inch. The more we closed in, the harder it was for him to keep his cool. The louder his breathing became.
The grin widened. His breathing hitched. His composure was dying a slow death, trying his hardest to stay cool…
"HEY… BASTARD…" my third brother muttered in a deep, grim tone, eyes narrowing to a dangerously thin slit. His voice was low and grimy, like storm clouds gathering before thunder.
"YOU THINK YOU CAN ESCAPE, HUH? YOU THINK YOU CAN WALK AWAY FREE, YOU SCUMBAG?" I added, my voice low but loaded—feminine, yes, but cutting. My brows twisted, lips pulled back in a mocking smirk as I tapped his cheek again and again with a clenched fist. Veins popped faintly along my hand and forearm, tension rising. My pupils, too, had narrowed—sharp, vertical slits glowing with hostile playfulness.
Then—suddenly.
"WE ARE CLOSE TO THE SHORE."
The deep, clear voice of our father echoed from the conductor's chamber at the front. He stood with our oldest brother, manning the flight of the Dragorn.
I bolted toward the window at once, heart thumping. My hands pressed against the cool glass.
There it was.
The coastline.
Lively, radiant, and breathtakingly colorful. A blend of vivid figures, vibrant vegetation, and sparkling waters—all bustling and alive with energy. The kind of scene that made you forget you were once dangling above the sea, contemplating your entire existence.
I was brimming with excitement—pure, uncontainable energy. My pupils dilated as wide as they could go, their oval shape stretching further, reflecting the sheer intensity of my feelings. The smile that crept across my face sparkled as brightly as the sky itself, a warmth radiating from my every feature.
Far below, I could see the vast, intricate beach and the strikingly unique infrastructure of the Human's country, all laid out in miniature from high up in the sky.
I wanted to take it all in, savoring every detail. My eyes focused, honing in on the view before me.
As my gaze sharpened, my pupils began to shift, gradually narrowing, constricting until they were small narrow slits—allowing me to pick up even the tiniest details from this far distance under the bright blue sky.
My excitement was almost tangible, the brightness of my smile practically glowing as I revealed my teeth, unable to hide the joy welling up inside me.
"WAHHH!" I exclaimed, my voice filled with pure awe.
My mother glanced at me, admiring my wide-eyed enthusiasm. A soft smile tugged at her lips as her eyelids fluttered closed for a brief moment, soaking in the view as well.
From my vantage point, I could see so much—so many different people. There were those with sharp ears, some small in stature, others with animal-like ears and tails, and, of course, the regular humans. Each person seemed alive with joy and energy.
"They're having so much fun, Mom! Look!" I said, my voice almost dancing in the air as I turned to her. My eyes were sparkling with life, despite their eerie coloring and pupil shape—something that might have unnerved others, but not my mother, not us. The sunlight bathed the left side of my face, casting a soft shadow that accentuated the sharp, defined angles of my features—my nose, the deep-set curve of my eyes, and the feminine yet chiseled jawline that spoke of strength.
The Dark Queen—mother—took in the sight of her son— or daughter with a look of fondness. Her precious son—or daughter—shimmered like the brightest star in the vast constellation of the universe. Her heart warmed at the sight of the joy. She could feel the tenderness of the moment settle in her chest, releasing a wave of oxytocin, the hormone of love and connection, further strengthening her affection.
A secret few knew: Dark Humans were far more attuned to emotional bonds than their external appearances. The connections Dark Human shared—especially with family—were stronger and more frequent compared to any other race in general. But there was also a stark contrast: Dark Humans, despite their sensitivity to androgenic hormones, were incredibly lovely and strong—both mentally and physically.
This balance of body, mind, and soul was what made Dark Human passionate. While the outside world might see Dark Humans as mysterious or dangerous, the truth was that Dark Human Race, in general were anything but unnecessarily violent. The history was marked by an overwhelmingly low amount of violence. That's because Dark Humans were fiercely bonding, protective, and if someone hurt a loved one—even in the smallest way—the retaliation could be swift and absolute. A single scratch could be the end of someone's life.
I turned back to the windows, still brimming with excitement—one that I knew wouldn't fade anytime soon. My eyes were wide, unable to tear themselves away from the breathtaking sight. Out of nowhere, I spotted many figures soaring through the sky, wearing specialized equipment. They glided effortlessly through the lively, radiant atmosphere, the scene so different from the quiet, serene place I had come from.
"YOOO! Look, what are they doing??" I muttered in awe, my voice cracking slightly in disbelief.
As I continued to witness the mesmerizing display of figures racing and twisting through the air, each path more unique than the last, I heard the excited cheers of the crowds below. My second brother, who had been quietly observing the scene with a relaxed expression, finally spoke up.
"It's the National Shore Gliding event."
"Gliding??" I blinked, turning to face him, my pupils widening into mild ovals, their shape indicating my curiosity. They gradually dilated as I questioned him further.
"Yeah, it's the annual New Year event they do," he explained, his voice calm and easygoing. His arm rested casually on the seat, the other gesturing as he spoke, his pupils staying in their relaxed oval shape.
"I see... It looks fun... Hope we can have that kind of event too..." I said, my voice trailing off. I glanced back at the window, my expression softening. A slight sadness tugged at my features as my pupils relaxed and returned to their original oval shape. I knew such exciting events wouldn't happen in our island or country, given the current conditions—the sparse population, the harsh and unpredictable climate.
A deep sigh escaped my lips.
My two other brothers shared the same quiet longing.
"Yeah, perhaps it's really fun," my third brother said, his voice thoughtful, yet tinged with the same wistful tone.
The Dark Queen—my mother—watched us all, her expression reflecting the sadness of the moment, but she quickly recovered, her eyes softening with a comforting warmth. She seemed to remember something, and with a small nod, she made her way to the back storage room, returning with a small backpack and a button. Her steps were deliberate as she approached me.
"We forgot something," she began, her voice calm and soothing, the deep resonance in her tone adding a layer of warmth. She paused, her pupils narrowing slightly, taking on a slithering shape as she leaned in closer.
"This meet is going to be more restrictive, so you can't meet anyone through the regular ways if you come with us. You won't be able to meet your childhood bro—the Youngest Heir—like this."
My heart skipped a beat. Shock, disbelief, and a deep sense of disappointment flooded me all at once.
"Wu-wha-wu-what?!" I stuttered, my facial expression shifting erratically, my pupils enlarging and changing shape rapidly as I struggled to process the information. I couldn't hide my bewilderment—how could that be? My emotions were all over the place.
My two other brothers turned to look at me with curiosity, their eyes wide, their pupils dilating into ovals as they took in the situation. They too were wondering what this all meant.
"Th-Then what should I do?! I've never attended any meetings and I—I'M CURRENTLY IN DISGUISE AS A GIRL, MOM!" My voice cracked with frustration, the weight of my situation sinking in.
Seeing my distress, my mother's expression softened even more. Her pupils dilated into an oval shape as she reached out in a calming gesture, her voice carrying a sense of reassurance.
"Hey, relax, relax. I never said you can't ever meet your bro or anyone else!" she exclaimed, her voice full of warmth and understanding.
"B- but you just said?—" I stammered, my expression sinking, lips trembling slightly as my pupils expanded into perfect circles, the dilation at its peak. It felt like the weight of the world was crashing down on me. It's over. I'm finished—cooked, grilled, burned. Not only can I forget about pulling off my prank after all this, but I can't even meet others after being stuck on that damn island for years! And now I have to follow them to some boring meeting!
Ohhhh god…
A small, almost imperceptible tear formed in the corner of each eye, the weight of anxiety and the emotional damage overwhelming me. I could feel the tight knot of depression, like something heavy pressing down on my chest. The loss, the frustration—it all hit me at once.
"Calm!" my mother's voice sliced through the air like a soothing balm, though a slight sigh accompanied it.
"You can go freely! We didn't tell the Human Government. But there's extra steps." She smiled, placing her hands on her waist, her tone light, almost teasing.
"Huhh?" I blinked, still caught in a state of slight denial, my gaze shifting upward as I processed what she had just said. I couldn't quite grasp it yet.
"Everything's already been set. Your backpack's packed with all your equipment, clothes, whatever you need—all in virtual space, using Soulnergy." She opened the backpack, which looked perfectly ordinary, but I knew better. Inside was all my stuff, packed with the magic of Soulnergy. I wasn't too shocked since I had learned about it, but being reminded… alone... made me sigh. Damn it—
She smiled again and closed the backpack, before surprising me by picking me up by the armpits, lifting me effortlessly as if I were a baby.
"H-hey, Mom!" I protested, my pupils constricting and then rounding in embarrassment, the way a cat's eyes might widen when caught off guard.
Though I was taller and definitely heavier than her, she lifted me with ease. My face turned a shade warmer, my eyebrows curving slightly in discomfort. I hate when she does this…
"Pfftt—" I heard my two brothers in the back, clearly trying to hold back their laughter. I shot them a sharp, serious glance, my pupils narrowing into slits, irritated.
They didn't even care. They continued to snicker. My second brother slapped my third, whispering a "Shhh, dude," but his grin never faltered. I swear… I thought, I hope they both fall from this sky.
My mother then gently placed the backpack on my back and handed me a mechanical button with a smirk.
"What's this?" I asked, my curiosity piqued despite my earlier frustration.
Her pupils dilated into a relaxed oval shape, and she grinned. "It's fun and games. Don't forget to push the button when it's time!"
"Huh??"