Chapter 135: Tension Between Brothers.

Helios agreed they should head back, and they did.

The walk back was quiet in a way that didn’t feel peaceful. It felt heavy, like everyone was holding something in but refusing to say it out loud.

Helios and Kaelis didn’t speak to each other at all. Not even a glance. Not even a word.

’It’s weird…right? Well, Kaelis not speaking in general is weird.’ Ezra thought, walking just slightly ahead, his mind still trying to catch up with everything that had happened.

Behind him, the knights started asking questions.

Mostly Guy Man.

“What even happened back there?” Guy Man asked, his tone confused but curious. “One minute you’re suspended, then suddenly there’s a kid getting kidnapped?”

Ezra didn’t answer.

He couldn’t.

“Let’s talk about that later.”

Not because he didn’t want to, but because he didn’t know what he was allowed to say yet. Too many things were tangled together now.

The Cultists. Lior. What they knew.

’I wonder what Kaelis will let everyone else know.’

It was Kaelis’ investigation. That meant it was his decision.

So he stayed quiet, letting the questions pass him by without response.

No one pressed too hard.

And soon enough, they reached the camp.

Ezra stopped mid-step.

“Uh.”

The sight in front of him made his stomach drop slightly.

It was a mess.

Injured knights were laid out on the ground, some groaning softly as medics worked quickly, hands moving with urgency.

Others sat nearby, catching their breath, their armor dented, stained. The ones who had fought earlier were still tense, still on edge.

And not far from them—

A few knights who were originally dealing with the Fleur De Lys Dark Ones were tending to their own injuries while waiting for the medics.

Ezra’s eyes moved across everything, taking it all in.

’There aren’t any Dark Ones from earlier anymore.’

His jaw tightened slightly.

’So the Cultists either left…’

Or they were just waiting. Again.

“Captain Ezra! Brother Kaelis!”

Another voice broke through the noise.

Ezra turned, his eyes widening just a bit.

Aurien.

’Prince Aurien’s here too?’

Aurien approached them quickly, relief clear on his face as he looked between them.

“I’m glad you’re both okay,” Aurien said, his gaze shifting briefly to Lior. “And the little kid, too.”

He gave a small wave toward Lior, who was still in Kaelis’ arms.

“Aurien,” Kaelis greeted, his tone noticeably lighter as he stepped forward. Even with Lior in one arm, he reached out and ruffled Aurien’s hair with his free hand. “Why are you here?”

“When brother Helios and I found out what happened, we came back,” Aurien explained. “We brought a few injured with us. We thought we might need to help, just in case.”

He glanced at Helios for a moment before continuing.

“But it looks like things are settled now.”

“How are things on the other side?” Kaelis asked. “The Fleur De Lys horde. Did you help deal with the ones here, too?”

Aurien smiled slightly and pointed toward Helios.

“Brother Helios and I used our Sunlight Rays on the horde here,” he said. “They were gone after that. As for the rest… they’re mostly cleared. It should be finished by tomorrow.”

Ezra frowned.

“Mostly gone? How?” he asked. “That’s an entire population.”

Aurien didn’t hesitate.

“Brother Helios used purification.”

Ezra froze.

So did Kaelis.

Their gazes shifted at the same time, landing on Helios.

Helios stood there quietly, his expression unreadable.

“Brother… you used purification?” Kaelis asked, slower now.

Lior shifted slightly in Kaelis’ arms, looking between them, clearly not understanding why the mood had changed.

“Yes,” Helios answered.

That was it.

No explanation. No hesitation.

Now that Ezra was really looking at him, he noticed it.

Helios looked pale.

More than usual.

There was a slight strain in the way he held himself, something subtle but there.

’He pushed himself too far…’

Ezra’s chest tightened.

’And he still came after us.’

After Ezra.

“Why would you do that?” Kaelis said, his tone no longer light. “You know you should only use that in emergencies. It drains you. That could’ve been dangerous.”

Helios didn’t look at Kaelis.

He looked at Ezra.

And Ezra felt it.

That direct, unwavering gaze.

“Ezra was in danger,” Helios said.

Ezra blinked.

’What…?’

The words landed harder than they should have.

He said it out loud.

In front of everyone.

Ezra became suddenly aware of the knights around them. The shift in the air. The silence that followed.

It was tense.

Awkward.

Very achingly awkward.

Before anyone could react, before anyone could say anything—

A small hand raised.

“I was the one in danger.”

Lior’s voice cut through everything.

His tone was simple.

It was honest.

And mostly, unaware.

Ezra’s breath caught as he looked at him.

’Lior…’

Lior didn’t seem to notice the shift around them. Or maybe he did, but didn’t understand what it meant.

Either way, he had spoken, and now everyone was looking at him.

Kaelis glanced down at Lior, a small smirk forming on his lips. “Seriously, kid?”

“What? It’s true,” Lior said, like it was obvious.

Helios’ eyes widened for a moment, caught off guard, but then he stepped closer, his expression smoothing out again. “Right. How could I forget? Silly me.”

“Uh-huh,” Lior replied, completely unfazed.

Helios stopped just in front of him, his posture lowering slightly, his tone gentler now. “How are you doing, Lior? I’m sure you must be… more or less shaken.”

Lior shook his head right away. “I wasn’t shaking. I was brave.”

Ezra almost let out a breath at that.

’Of course you were.’

Helios smiled faintly. “That’s rare. Not many kids your age can say that.”

“I’m special,” Lior said, shifting a bit until Kaelis let him down, his small feet touching the ground.

“That, you are,” Helios said, watching him carefully. “Do you need anything? Anything that might make you feel better?”

“Nuh uh.” Lior shook his head again, then turned to Kaelis without hesitation. “Kakay made everything feel better already.”

Kaelis blinked.

For once, he actually looked surprised.

Ezra did too.

’…What?’

His brows furrowed slightly, something uneasy stirring in his chest.

’It’s not like Kaelis changed his whole life.’

Helios’ smile didn’t disappear, but something in his gaze shifted as he glanced at Kaelis.

“Did he now?” Helios said, his tone light, but not entirely.

“Well, you know me, brother. I’m a kind soul,” Kaelis replied easily, though there was humor in it.

Helios let out a quiet breath. “Didn’t think you were the type to like kids.”

“I don’t need to like kids to help one,” Kaelis answered, just as casually.

Aurien stepped closer to Ezra then, lowering his voice as he leaned slightly toward him. “Did they have a fight?”

Ezra kept his eyes forward, watching the two princes more than anything.

“I honestly don’t know, Your Highness,” he whispered back.

’I feel like all they’ve done this whole mission.’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep