Work Text:
Legends are stories history cannot erase.
Black eyes stared back at the reddish-brown eyes of the enormous portrait. The fringes of hair magically dyed to brown stuck to the forehead of the black eyes' owner as he looked up to gaze at the hero.
The man in the portrait had red hair that blazes bright, sharp eyes that seem to penetrate one's soul, a gaze that held lethargy, a face formed into a stoic expression, and a medal-less uniform so black one would not be able to distinguish the blood splashed onto it.
Under the photo, carved into the golden frame, was the man's name: Cale Henituse. Under that was a golden pedestal with a book encaged in a glass box on top of it. The book was a rose-gold color; even preservation magic wasn't able to hide its age and gloriousness.
That book was the first and complete original record of the achievements and the contributions Commander Cale Henituse had brought to his home country together with his fellow heroes centuries ago.
Five hundred years. That was how long the Great War in the Western continent has passed. It's been a long time since the defeat of the great villains while the revered heroes won--regaining the peace that once disappeared.
That event stirred a significant change in the continent and also to the neighboring Eastern continent. A new and brighter powerhouse arose: the Roan Kingdom became the Roan Empire--replacing the once Mogoru Empire that had now turned into a kingdom.
It was an undeniable historic moment. The Roan Empire continued to prosper under the rule of its first emperor--who united the nations to better the Western Continent together with his sworn brother, who is considered the greatest hero among heroes.
The Roan Empire then decided to build the Roan's Grand Museum after Cale Henituse's death and the succession of the throne from Emperor Alberu Crossman to his nephew.
For five centuries, the Roan's Grand Museum continued to store the records of the heroes inside its colosseum-sized edifice, storing every information discovered by the scholars who dedicated themselves to studying the lives of the great heroes of Roan.
Inside the Roan's Grand Museum were three floors. The first floor showed the history of the Great War and the conversion of the Roan Kingdom into an Empire. The second floor housed the famous heroes who protected and fought to bring back peace. Finally, the third floor stored the records of the two individuals who played the most significant roles in shaping the Roan Empire into what it is today.
The owner of the black eyes currently stood in front of one of those two people in the third floor's painting. His gaze clouded with a nostalgic gleam as he stared at the red-haired commander.
"Cale-nim..." the man muttered under his breath.
The man was none other than Choi Han--history's youngest swordmaster to ever exist in the Western and Eastern continents and was also believed to have disappeared after the death of Commander Cale.
He had come to this museum for the umpteenth time to behold his liege's face once again. For the past centuries, he kept on returning, hoping to see his companions' faces similar to how he kept on repeating his name during his darkest days in the Forest of Darkness, refusing to forget.
He was not the only one.
A young teen with bluish-black hair and dark blue eyes approached and stood to Choi Han's right. The teen's eyes trained on the portrait, a glimmer of affection directed towards the red-haired commander.
"You're late," Choi Han commented, glancing at the youngster.
"I had to settle a few issues in the Dukedom," the younger boy replied, gaze lingering on Commander Cale's face. "The Henituse Territory's become vibrant this autumn again."
Inside Choi Han's mind, he heard the lad added, 'It's almost the weak human's 520th birthday, that means the Shield Festival is also coming.'
The Shield Festival is a celebration that will take place in the entire Roan Empire to honor the birth of the famous Commander of Roan. The festival begins on Cale Henituse's birthday and lasts for a month.
Foreigners from all over the other kingdoms flock to the Roan Empire to partake in such a merry gathering. Sometimes, even citizens from the neighboring continent attend such an occasion--the majority were from the Endable Kingdom and the Molden Kingdom.
Choi Han placed his scar-filled hand on top of the boy's head and patted his hair.
"You're working hard, Raon."
"Of course!" Raon's voice filled with enthusiasm and determination. "After all, I promised the weak human to keep the territory peaceful."
Raon had promised Cale to take care of the Henituse territory--its citizens and the Henituse family. He can still remember Cale's warm hands on his reptilian head as he requested while the life in his eyes slowly faded away. He can vividly remember the teardrops that landed on Cale's pale skin as Raon wept and promised to keep on living.
For 500 years, he fulfilled his vow and became the Dragon Guardian of Henituse. Together with Choi Han, they protected their home just like how Cale shielded their family members.
Silence enveloped the two beings while the sightseers in their surroundings continued their bustling and praises for the influential figures of the Roan Empire. Proclamations and gasps of admiration resounded around them, yet neither Choi Han nor Raon paid heed to any of it and instead studied the phlegmatic expression on Cale's face.
It was Cale's signature look, calm and composed even in the face of a disaster. The gears of his brain always whirring rapidly, recording information, processing facts, and forming brilliant tactics and strategies to smack his enemies extremely hard.
Cale Henituse. He was a liege, father-figure, young master, sworn brother, eldest son born with overflowing wealth, commander, shield, and a weak human.
An oddball.
A frustrating person.
Imperfectly perfect and strongly weak.
They can still feel his warmth like a permanent tattoo on their skin. His voice laced with boredom still vividly resonating in their ears.
Their last memory of him was his faint smile--so different from his usual scammer smirk, his weakening breathing, and his dwindling life force reflected in his reddish-brown irises.
Even with tears blurring their visions, Cale's last moments were vivid in their minds, an everlasting scene etched onto them that they'll carry on.
Raon's eyes blinked the impending tears and instead headed over to the large, flat golden plaque glued to the wall beside the golden-framed painting.
________________________________________________________________________
Cale Henituse
He is the eldest son of the first North-eastern Region's Duke, Duke Henituse. At the age of 18, he saved the citizens of Huiss City during the infamous Plaza Terror Incident with his glorious Silver Shield. That was his debut as a hero, and from then on, the titles of "Young Master Silver Light" and "Young Master Shield" were bestowed onto him by the people.
...
________________________________________________________________________
Carved into that golden plaque were a summary of Cale's life and his remarkable accomplishments that played a pivotal role in assisting the Roan rise and bringing back peace.
________________________________________________________________________
Not only was he called the hero of heroes, but even the Guardian Knight Clopeh Sekka of the Paerun Kingdom also acknowledged him as a legend among legends.
________________________________________________________________________
"If the weak human ever read this, he'll probably throw a tantrum," Raon mused.
Choi Han tilted his head to look at him in a query but soon understood what Raon was implying.
A chuckle escaped his lips as he nodded and remarked, "He definitely would. He'd rather have money than this narrative or this museum."
A crowd of students following someone who seems to be their professor was nearing the area around Cale's portrait at that moment. Choi Han and Raon naturally noticed this and decided to proceed to Alberu's record area, throwing a fleeting glance at Cale's image before turning around.
***
"Children!" the professor exclaimed as he stopped in front of Cale Henituse's portrait and spun around to face the students he was guiding. "Behold, the Roan Empire's--and also the Western Continent's--most prominent figure! The legend among the heroes! Former Commander Cale Henituse!"
Soft applauses spread among the students gawking in amazement and admiration at the man with blazing shoulder-length red hair.
However, in between the stupefied group were two lads with chocolate brown hair remaining composed.
"You have quite a disrespectful look in that face of yours, my little bro," the older boy with dark brown eyes quipped at the younger lad with reddish-brown irises.
"This is my resting expression, big bro."
"Still, couldn't you show a bit of astonishment? Hmm? Kyle?"
A pair of sharp, reddish-brown orbs averted towards the older youth.
"Don't wanna," Kyle deadpanned towards his older twin, Ali.
Kyle and Ali. They're twins who are well-known in their academy. Possessing irresistible charisma and intelligence, they left even the professors gaping in surprise and wonder.
Identical but different.
Ali, the older brother, has tanned skin and darker brown eyes. Kyle, the younger twin, has paler--probably the lightest skin tone you've ever seen--skin and brown irises with a hint of red.
The older resembles the beaming sun, while the younger is similar to a mellow moon with a hint of attitude.
Opposite yet similar.
Kyle and Ali decided to ignore their professor-slash-guide prattle on about the greatness of the red-haired commander of the Roan Empire. Instead, they began conversing in their private bubble.
"Do you wish to be as great as Young Master Shield in the future, hmm, my little bro?"
"No, thank you. That kind of life would be tiresome. It's a nuisance."
"Pfft- let me guess, you'd rather have money than fame."
"My big brother, you are as wise as the elders who discovered the secrets of the universe-"
"Cut the bullcrap."
"I was just honestly stating facts, oh great bro-"
Ali's hand lightly slapped his mouth shut at that moment, preventing any more glibness said.
"My dear beloved twin, I'd love it if you stop here."
Kyle raised an eyebrow and gave him a look that delivered a message, saying: 'Weren't you the one who started it?'
Ali relentlessly glared at him in annoyance before retrieving his hand after a minute.
The two's minds completely drifted away from their professor's discussions.
***
"Ah, I'm starving!" Kyle groaned while patting his belly.
"Let's go eat lunch," Ali urged him on and grabbed Kyle's forearm.
It took quite a while for their educational museum tour to end--much to Kyle's dismay.
He wanted to rest, wanted to lie down on his fluffy bed back home. He wishes to fill his empty stomach and put a halt to his hunger. He wanted to devour the scrumptious meals their head chef cooks.
Ali understood this more than anyone else.
The twins followed the band of students towards the stairs, praying that their walking speed quickens.
Chatterings and jabberings entered their ears, yet none of them quenched the twins', especially Kyle's, desire to rush out of that place and take his tempting rest.
In the very instance that Kyle and Ali reached the first step downwards, the two simultaneously whipped their heads towards a particular direction.
Their brown irises met with black and dark blue eyes.
The black eyes belonged to a man who seems to be in his late-30s. Meanwhile, the dark blue eyes were that of a youngster whose appearance was that of an 18-year-old.
Those pairs of eyes held something profound as they stared at the wondering twins who stopped on their tracks to look at them.
Sorrow?
Joy?
Relief?
Whatever those emotions were, it cause Ali and Kyle an unfathomable sensation deep within themselves.
They found themselves longing for something they couldn't understand, couldn't know. The twins felt a connection the two couldn't comprehend.
Unbeknownst to them, at that exact moment, the universe aligned while the galaxies sang their melodies once more.
"Kyle! Ali! What are you two doing there? Come on!"
Their professor's call snapped Kyle and Ali out of their engrossment. Quickly recovering, Ali responded with a "We're coming, sir" while Kyle reverted to his signature stoic expression.
The twins' backs became smaller as they got farther away from Choi Han and Raon, their distance widening yet their hearts beating wildly.
Together, their stories shall never cease.