Spellbound Empire: Reincarnated in Balance

The front door creaked as Druvenor and Vycanid stepped outside, their voices loud and full of exaggerated outrage.

"I can't believe this!" Druvenor spat, pointing an accusatory finger back toward the house. "You're raising a delinquent, Caelum. That boy of yours- he's dangerous!"

"Dangerous!" Vycanid echoed, clutching his chest like a victim. "The things he did in there-! impossible! I've never seen anything like it. You need to get him under control before someone really gets hurt...!"

Caelum, still standing in the doorway, pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'll handle it," he muttered, his tone weary.

"Handle it?" Druvenor scoffed. "You should've handled it 20 years ago! That brat of yours is a ticking time bomb...!"

Caelum's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond. He just watched as his brothers stormed off into the night, their complaints lingering in the air like a bad smell. The tension hung thick even after their figures disappeared down the road.

.

.

.

Inside, the house was silent, save for the faint hum of the clock on the wall. Caelum closed the door with a heavy sigh, turning back to find his wife, Vespera, sitting at the dining table. Her face was pale, her eyes red from holding back tears. Zyron stood nearby, shifting uncomfortably.

"Zyron," Vespera said gently, her voice breaking the silence. "Go to your room, please."

"But Mom-" Zyron started, only to be cut off by her firm yet kind tone.

"Please, sweetheart. I need to talk to your father."

Reluctantly, Zyron nodded and trudged upstairs, glancing back once before disappearing into the hallway.

Caelum slumped into a chair across from Vespera, rubbing his temples. "I can't believe Laziel would do this," he said, his voice tinged with frustration. "He's always been stubborn, but this? This is too far."

Vespera didn't respond immediately. She took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. When she spoke, her tone was quiet but resolute. "Caelum, do you even understand what just happened?"

He frowned, confused. "What are you talking about? He lost control, he lashed out, and he hurt your brothers. It's not the first time he's let his temper get the best of him"

"It wasn't just his temper," Vespera said, her voice shaking slightly. "Laziel awakened his fourth magic."

Caelum froze, his eyes widening. "What?"

"Reality Warping," she said, the words heavy with meaning. "Caelum, do you know how rare- how dangerous- that magic is? He didn't mean to hurt anyone. He didn't even know he had it..."

Caelum leaned back in his chair, the weight of her words sinking in. He stared at the table, his mind racing. "I... I didn't realize..."

"Of course you didn't," Vespera said sharply, her emotions finally spilling over. "You were too busy yelling at him to notice! Did you even stop to think about why he was so upset? Why he lost control in the first place? He's been under so much pressure... dealing with your brother-in-laws, protecting me, trying to hold this family together and instead of supporting him, you blamed him..."

Her words hit Caelum like a punch to the gut. He opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. He thought back to the look on Laziel's face before he stormed out- the pain, the anger, the betrayal.

"I'll talk to him," he said finally, his voice soft. "When he comes back, I'll make things right..."

But Vespera didn't look reassured. She glanced toward the door, her expression trouble.

.

.

.

The next day came and went, and Laziel didn't return.

Caelum paced the living room, his mind consumed with worry. He'd thought Laziel just needed time to cool off, but as the hours dragged on, unease settled in his chest. Vespera tried to keep herself busy, but her red-rimmed eyes betrayed her fear. Zyron barely spoke, retreating into his room and shutting the door.

By evening, the reality of the situation began to sink in. Laziel wasn't coming back.

.

.

.

Out in the world, the story was much darker. Laziel wasn't the first kid to run away, and he wouldn't be the last.

For many, running away felt like the only escape from the weight of expectations, the crushing pressure of family conflicts, or the pain of feeling misunderstood. But the streets were no place for the young and vulnerable.

Some kids found themselves in shelters, surrounded by others with stories just as heartbreaking as their own. Others weren't so lucky, falling prey to dangers they couldn't have imagined. Hunger, cold, and loneliness became constant companions.

For those with magical abilities like Laziel, the risk was even greater. Without guidance or control, their powers could spiral, endangering not only themselves but everyone around them. And society wasn't always forgiving of those who made mistakes.

The people left behind- the parents, siblings, and friends- struggled with their own guilt and pain. They questioned every word, every action, wondering where they went wrong. But by then, it was often too late to fix what had been broken.

.

.

.

Back at home, Caelum sat in the darkened living room, his head in his hands. Vespera sat beside him, silent. The house felt empty without Laziel's presence- the laughter, the confidence, the spark that had always lit up the room.

"I should've listened," Caelum said finally, his voice barely above a whisper.

Vespera placed a hand on his shoulder. "We both should have," she admitted.

"I thought I was doing the right thing," he continued, his voice cracking. "I thought I was protecting this family. But all I did was push him away."

"He's not gone forever," Vespera said, though her tone lacked conviction. "He just needs time."

But deep down, they both knew that time wasn't guaranteed. Laziel was out there, alone, and they had no idea where to find him- or if he even wanted to be found.

"Did you contact Nerath's family...? Or Nerath himself?" Caelum said in a tired voice.

"I did... But he isn't there... They had to lock up Nerath when he heard Laziel ran away and was missing..." Vespera replied back with a sad sigh.

As the hours stretched into the night, Caelum made a silent promise to himself: he would find Laziel. He would apologize, explain, beg if he had to. Whatever it took to bring his son home.

But for now, all they could do was wait.

.

.

.

_To Be Continue_