Death Defying Book: The Devil Watches

Amidst the swirling snow of the far north, a small town stood tenaciously. In one of the largest building of the town, inside one of its warm rooms...

Darius sat near the closed window, a small book on his lap, he seemed fully absorbed and unaware of his surroundings.

He is a young man nearing his late teens, possessing a jet-black hair. He had a well-defined jawline with a pair of beautiful sleepy blue eyes.

"Brother, you still haven't burned those books as father ordered?" A handsome younger boy with dark brown hair and dark brown eyes asked in a tone that is almost a whisper.

At the mention of their father, Darius shoulder's shuddered for a bit. He could still rememberhis father's stern words during their last meeting.

"There is no room for cowardice in my house! We are men! And men fight, got it?!"

"Ah what a fine piece of irony" He inhaled deeply and closed the book, his eyes lazily drifted to his younger brother. "Look, Leon." He started calmly, "Swords and power alone cannot change the world"

Leon seemed unconvinced, he sat next to his brother, "Father said you will said that, father said you'd lie" Leon stubbornly said.

Of course he could vividly remember all of the time he spent with his father, especially the time spent on training.

He valued the little time he had with his father and the memories are ones he cherished deeply... Because not everyday did he wake up with his father's presence in the house.

Darius forced a smile, "Why will I need to lie to my beloved little brother?" He asked, turning his eyes to the burning coal on a plate which was at the centre of the room.

"If Honour, Power and swords are going to change the world... Then why is it still the same since the time His Majesty, King Blackfyre the 1st founded this kingdom?" Darius asked.

"He said you'll said that too" Leon seemed unconvinced making Darius sigh for the third time, like an old man.

"Then What'd you think could change the world, eh, my 'wise' little brother"

Leon grinned, stood up and unsheathed the wooden sword he always carried with him for training.

Pointing it at the a 90 degrees angle to the sky, he adopted a heroic pose, "I, Leon of Witford, shall use my sword and strength to protect the masses! And I shall follow in my father's footsteps, restoring peace to the land and protecting it's people!"

"hahahaha..." A small chuckle interrupted his heroic moment making him from, Darius tried to muffled the chuckle but he just couldn't stop it.

"What's funny?" Leon asked, annoyed.

"Nothing nothing..." Darius hurriedly reply and finally stopped his laughter.

He stood up and patted his brother on the shoulder, "Look, you're just afraid of change, brother" He smiled kindly, "But you and the heavens shall bear witness, as I become the greatest man to ever walk the face of the earth"

Darius is sure of his philosophy, and truly a change of tactics might be what this kingdom of Drakemoor needs.

With that he walked away, towards the distant door, that led to a hallway.

Leon stared at his back and wondered how could a man be great if all he did is sleep, write nonsense all day and tell lies?

And the greatest reason that this dream seemed absurd to him is that, how could the said man be great if he doesn't even took Arkyn's matters seriously?

"Delusional, truly delusional..." He thought, "'...truly the correct way of life is to follow the path of righteousness, uphold Arkyn'a teachings and learn the way of the sword.'

"Is that a line from one of your made up tales?!" Leon shouted at the departing figure of Darius, but he was simply ignored and Darius continued towards his destination.

He had a matter to talk about with his mother, the weird uncanny dream he had yesterday was truly appalling and he wished to converse with her, as that have proved more than once to give him comfort.

A dream of a weird book, seemingly made from the skins of humans. A red heart or eye, pulsate at its centre.

Besides the cold, something just felt off in this village yet he couldn't pinpoint what it is neither does he have any hint, probably the dream isn't simply a dream.

Just as he reached the door to the most spacious chamber of the house which is also the one located in the centre, he heard a pair of two voices seemingly conversing about something... Yet he haven't had a chance to hear what is it.

But he picked up a few words though, "Cryptic, Godforsaken?" He smiled as he tried his best to minimise the sounds his footsteps make.

"That sounds completely like my thing..." He smiled slyly.

The hallway was quite, a nice and tidy work of wood. Though the ground is made up of well-cleaned stones on which Darius walked upon with a little mischievous thought in mind.

"Maybe I should eavesdrop" this random idea popped into his mind, and he seriously consider it.

"Let's just do it"

With that, he made a quick scan of the surroundings and silently made his way closer to the room.

"Well..." He softly said, "Arkyn I pray nobody should see this or else this devout one will be in a hell of an embarrassing situation" He smiled wryly as he playfully made this short prayer and now connected his ears to the door.

One of the voices is his mother's, no doubt about it and that made him even more curious.

As for the other voice, It sounded deep and a little... Apologetic maybe?

Or is it persuasive?

Just what could possibly be going on?