Death Defying Book: The Devil Watches

'There it is... The book I was looking for,' Darius thought, feeling a flicker of relief that it had landed in Leon's hands rather than elsewhere.

"Listen, Little brother, everyone has their own path," Darius began, reaching for the book.

"Sorry, Brother, but that won't work," Leon replied, his voice tinged with insincerity.

"It's not that I have anything against mages," Leon continued, his expression firm. "But there's something off about this book—especially since we arrived here."

"Exactly! The problem isn't the book; it's this cursed town!" Darius snapped, his hand still outstretched.

"Nevertheless, we burn it tonight," Leon declared, his tone brooking no argument. "Or Mother and Father will hear about this as soon as they're together again."

Darius sighed inwardly. 'This stubborn brother... Once he's made up his mind, there's no convincing him. It's infuriating.'

"Look, let's not do this," Darius said, standing and towering over Leon. His arm darted toward the book. "Give it back!"

Leon saw the move coming. His wooden sword lashed out, batting Darius's hand away with its flat edge.

A sting of numb pain shot through Darius's hand. He took a deep breath to calm the simmering annoyance, giving Leon a sharp, sarcastic glance. "The boy who swore he'd never raise a weapon against family just did."

Leon's face remained stoic, but inwardly, he felt the weight of guilt pressing on his chest. "It's for your own good," he said calmly, though his voice betrayed a flicker of doubt.

Darius's eyes narrowed, his tone turning cold. "Don't presume to know what is good for me—you have no idea." His lips curled into a mirthless smile.

Leon held his ground, wooden sword in hand, even as Darius stepped closer.

Darius chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Can't find the door now, Brother?" he said, grabbing a thick coat from the nearby chair.

Leon remained tense, standing guard. 'Father would be proud,' Darius thought with a hint of bitterness, brushing past Leon without another glance.

He opened the door, the cold air rushing in. "Do whatever you want with it. I don't care," he said over his shoulder, walking down the stairs.

Still, a silent prayer lingered in his mind: 'May the goddess of luck favor me. Let our parents never hear of this.'

From his experience, Darius knew Leon was a good brother—one who wouldn't willingly bring trouble upon his siblings. 'Unless, of course, the sibling in question is Clarissa,' Darius thought with a wry smile.

Leon watched his brother's retreating figure for a long moment before lowering his wooden sword.

"This has to be done," he murmured into the silent room, as if trying to reassure himself that fighting his brother was worth it.

***

Outside the House

The first thing Darius noticed as he stepped outside was how thick the snow had become.

'Yet, surprisingly, it's not colder... Or maybe I'm just adapting,' he mused, shrugging as he trudged toward the town's commercial district.

Few people were out in the streets, most bundled in heavy coats and hurrying to their destinations.

"What a lovely scene," Darius murmured to himself, watching his breath frost in the air. The sight helped cool the frustration in his chest. 'You don't see this often in the south.'

The snow crunched under his boots, and the faint scent of wood smoke and roasted meat wafted through the air.

'Gotta find a good place to eat... maybe drink too,' he thought.

Icicles hung like jagged teeth from cottage eaves, their frosted tips glinting faintly under the gray afternoon light.

At the edge of the village square, a modest chapel stood, its symbol—a golden shield—gleaming faintly through the haze of snow.

"Arkyn," Darius muttered grimly, his gaze drawn to the statue within. Its vivid eyes felt so lifelike that he shivered, as though it were watching him.

But just as quickly as it appeared, the sensation vanished, leaving him confused. 'Just my imagination... or is it?' Darius tightened his coat and moved on, his instincts quietly on edge.

As he passed the blacksmith's forge, a new sight caught his attention—a building standing apart from the rest.

The Winking Stag.

The wooden sign swung gently in the wind, depicting a stag with one eye mischievously closed. Its antlers were adorned with carved snowflakes, the paint weathered but still charming.

The building itself was a sturdy, two-story structure of timber and stone. Snow sagged on its roof, small plumes of smoke curling from its chimneys.

The faint sound of voices and a fiddle reached his ears. Above the entrance hung a mounted stag's head, its antlers wrapped in evergreen garlands and a single deep-red ribbon.

Below it, a sign read: "Welcome to the Winking Stag – Warm Fire, Warm Drink, Warmer Company."

Darius smiled faintly. 'Warmer company... Just what I need.'

Curiosity tingled in his chest as he pushed open the heavy door. Warmth and the mingling scents of mulled wine and roasting meat washed over him.

The common room was lively yet cozy, with low wooden beams and walls adorned with faded tapestries. A massive hearth dominated the far wall, its roaring fire casting flickering shadows.

Rough-hewn tables and chairs filled the space, occupied by patrons bundled in cloaks, their cheeks rosy from the cold.

Serving wenches moved gracefully between the tables, balancing trays of steaming mugs and hearty plates of stew.

Darius chose a seat near the fire, letting its heat seep into his cold bones. Slowly, the tension of the past hour began to melt away.

His gaze drifted across the room until it landed on a figure in a dark, tattered robe seated in a shadowed corne, from the rough build, he believe it is a man. His hair was wild peeking out from under his hood, and with a hunched posture.

Darius couldn't help but think, 'An outcast... Perhaps'

'Might be worth hearing his story... Could be an interesting fellow, maybe even a mage,' Darius thought, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

It's time to make some friends, he believed.

Just then a sweet fragrance couldn't help but waft into his nose, something sweeter than food, and he couldn't resist raising his head.

The sight he saw left him baffled.