Beginnings

The table was quiet, save for the clink of cutlery on dishes and the sound of chewing. It was the most silent breakfast Beon has ever experienced. Conversation naturally emerged in his family, and if there was a lapse, he would bring up a new topic as he always did. But not today. He was still shocked from last night's events, and as he glanced around the room, he was not alone in that experience. There was one person he could not look at, however. Beon feared if he did glance at Khai, he would storm out of the room again in silent fury. Even thinking about it now...Why him?

"I noticed something strange in my battle at Jero." Meiri started, no doubt attempting to ease the tension. It was no surprise he resorted to war discussions when he didn't know what to say. "The opposing general had Pyre soldiers in his ranks, and the two worked well together. Are these two countries that familiar, father?" While their father paused to think of a response, Beon used this chance to stand up.

"I'll take my leave. I don't have an appetite." Without waiting for a response, he turned and left, unable to stand any small talk. No doubt Meiri has made peace with the gods decision, Beon thought as he walked to the highest tower in the castle. His two younger brothers were always closer to each other than to him, and Meiri was the forgiving type. But for him, Beon thought, for him, he was not so kind. This city deserved better. Their kingdom deserved better. Someone better than Khai. 

The wind was cool at the top of the watchtower, carrying the faint sounds of the city that surrounded his home. The markets, from what he could tell, seemed to be moving much slower than usual. No surprise, as the rest of the kingdom likely had chattier mornings, with every citizen asking the same question to each other: Why him? Why was the youngest prince selected as the chosen one, and not his brothers? The prophecy, nay, the gods, had three sons to pick from, to select one whom they would bless, one who would end the war. But it's as if they picked a candle to warm themselves instead of two crackling bonfires. Why was Khai--

"Beon."

"Ha, with how quiet your movements are you should be an assassin, Mei, instead of a general." The second prince stood behind him, with an expression Beon didn't care to read. "What is it?"

"...You know what I want to talk about."

Beon turned away from Meiri, returning his gaze to the grid of buildings below. "About Ka, of course. Everything seems to be about Ka now that he's the chosen one. Well, I think with his scholarly dedication Ka has a good general knowledge that he can use--"

"Its just us, Beon. I think you can speak more truthfully instead of all this flowery language you usually add." His brother joined him at the windowsill as he spoke, mimicking his pose and looking at the houses below.

"The truth?" Beon spat, now glaring at one of the roof tiles of a house, "the truth? Sure, I'll tell. When I was born, this prophecy was already spoken. So I thought it may be about me, and I tried to study everything to be useful. Policy making, leadership, negotiating, politics. I found my skill in speaking, and I put my all into honing it. And then you were born, and I could see your potential. I saw you training until it was dark, I saw you buried in war plans, and I knew you were bleeding in battlefields. When this war started, the two of us were busy securing allies and reinforcing borders. I think without the prophecy, we could have won this war anyway. But who did the gods pick? They picked Ka. Ka, who only locks himself in the study to read, Ka, who never leaves this castle, Ka, who hasn't contributed to the war effort at all. And the gods chose him to be the one who ends the war? To take credit for our blood, sweat and tears? Why a recluse over me, an orator, or you, a general? Why him?" He was nearly shouting by the time he finished, his speech fast and passionate, and at some point he had pushed away from the window, staring at Meiri as if he had all the answers. It felt like his last question echoed around the chamber, and when it finally faded away, Meiri turned to meet Beon's gaze.

"I don't know why." He started softly, his volume a contrast to how Beon finished his spiel. "But I trust Khai. Just because the gods chose him doesn't mean our efforts are in vain, or that we can sit back and watch our brother fix everything. We have different strengths, and the two of us have used our strengths to get our kingdom to this point. It's now time for Khai to use his strengths and see us through to the end." Beon turned away, biting back a retort to ask, 'what strengths?' He knew Khai didn't ask for this, but he still couldn't settle the tight sensation in his chest or loosen the tightness in his jaw. There was a sound of footsteps walking closer, and then a hand on his shoulder. "...I know how you feel Beon. I was upset too. I was bitterly disappointed. Jealous. But we're brothers. We've always supported each other. We don't just cut our connections to each other just because of a prophecy, right?"

Beon said nothing. For the first time in his life, he had no words to say. Meiri made fair points, but to trust the kingdom's future to a boy who has achieved nothing...

"Right?" Meiri repeated, this time with more hesitancy.

Beon brushed off Meiri's hand, turning once again to the city as he made up his mind. "I won't shun him. I have to be there after all, to clean up his mistakes."

"Beon--"

"We're still brothers, but not in the same way. Not anymore."