SPELLBOUND

Everyone had already headed outside the tent and were only waiting for Evie and Vera to finish their conversation in there.

King Belial had to leave for some other important matters, so queen Beatrice was the only one who was left with Gideon and Gavrael.

The two brothers did not speak to each other at all until Beatrice could no longer take their silence and spoke up.

"Both of you…" Beatrice stood before her sons, her voice tinged with warning. "You two are not seriously planning to continue being like this forever towards each other are you?" she asked sternly but then, her face softened and she reached out and took one of each of her sons' hands into her own. She then looked down at both the hands that were clasped within hers and a small smile curved at the corners of her lips.

Beatrice's smile was one that showed that she was remembering something blissful and nostalgic from the past. "I missed those times when you two were the closest of brothers I've ever known." She told them, looking up again at them with a longing look in her eyes. Both brothers could see that though her smile was soft and gentle, there was a hint of sadness that shone deep within her eyes.

"Isn't it about time for the two of you to finally reconcile? The conflict between you two brothers have lasted long enough, don't you think so?" Beatrice added as she pressed down on their hands. She would never forget how Gavrael had adored his brother so much to the point of idolising his older brother, and how Gideon loved his little brother as much, if not more. It was until Gideon started to distance himself from them, only then did it make Gavrael hate him in turn.

Beatrice could still remember the look in Gavrael's eyes when Gideon had suddenly stopped talking to him, and when Gidoen did not even want to spare him a single glance. Gavrael was so heart-broken that despite Beatrice' effort in telling him that his older brother was just going through something serious and that was why he seemed to have changed, Gavrael still could not understand it.

Gavvy was still very young at that point back then, so Beatrice knew that it would not be easy for him to understand his brother's behaviour and decision in doing such things, especially when they could not quite tell him what exactly was going on. Gavvy had grown up since then, believing that Gideon had come to hate and despise him and as the years went by, he had developed a deeply rooted resentment towards his older brother as well.

Beatrice could not really blame her youngest as she had also found out how Gideon had completely ignored his younger brother when he was being bullied for being weak and without strength at one point. She had found out how Gideon had acted like he had cut off all ties with him and had even once left Gavvy in the Abyss all by himself. They had finally found the young and helpless Gavvy covered all over in wounds and blood and even with some broken ribs after a long search was carried out.

That was one of the saddest day in Beatrice's life. Because she honestly never would have thought that Gideon would really abandon Gavvy in the Abyss that was full of monsters back then. She had cried so much when she found out about what Gideon had done to his younger brother.

Gavvy however, had never told them that it was Gideon who had left him there. It was Gideon himself who had later on confessed to both his parents on what he had done. He owned up that it was him who had brought Gavvy into the Abyss and had purposely left him there alone. And thus, that same day, Belial had punished Gideon really severely for what he had done to his younger brother. Gideon never answered the king's questions as well on why he had done that, causing the king to punish him even more.

Since that day, Gavvy had stopped chasing after Gideon. And the brothers' initially close relationship had only grown colder ever since then.

The truth was that this was the first time the two of them were staying this close within each other's proximity without Gavvy being obviously hostile towards his older brother. Somehow, the air around them had changed a lot since the last time they were together, and Beatrice felt really relieved. She thought that maybe, this was now the perfect time for them to forget about what had happened between them in the past and start to forgive each other and move on.

"My dearest sons… I know that you both know we're in a dire situation right now. So I'm really hoping that you both will finally reconcile and be able to work together again." Beatrice continued speaking softly to her sons, trying her best to patch their rocky relationship, "this is the time for us all to fight together as one. To stick to each other and help each other… so…. Giddy… Gavvy… my dearest sons, please let go of the past now, okay?"

Seeing their mother becoming so emotional that tears had started to gather at the corners of her eyes, Gideon and Gavrael looked at each other.

"Gavvy…" Beatrice looked at Gavrael and caressed his cheek. "I know that it's hard for you, but I hope you can forgive your brother for what he had done back then. Hmm?"

Gavrael pressed his lips tightly together as he shot a glance at Gideon. Then he cupped his mother's hand that was on his face in his own large ones before nodding slightly.

"I… I have already forgiven him long ago, mother." Gavrael said, his voice calm and gentle. Hearing what Gavrael said had surprised both Beatrice and Gideon as well.

"What?! R-really? Since when?" Beatrice could not believe what she had just heard.

Gavrael looked over to Gideon again. "Way before I left the Under Lands, I've already forgiven you. Since I had actually understood in the end on why you had left me there, alone in the abyss that day. No… to put it more accurately, you didn't leave me at all, didn't you? You were still there, watching over me but hidden from my view.. You didn't stop the monster from attacking me and hurting me but… you made sure that they would not be able to kill me. Am I right, older brother?"