Chapter 14: Blood Brothers First Meeting
After the meeting with the Archadians, Queen Archandia called for Ian to talk to him privately. SpecLady led Ian to the secret room, where the Queen awaited.
"I'm blessed to be here, Your Highness," Ian said, giving respect to the Queen.
The Queen smiled, her eyes filled with warmth. "You are welcome, my Lord. You are here to meet your brother, King Vladimir, and he is the king of Gaia. I'll send you there through this portal. Please stand over here."
Ian stood on the portal, his heart racing with anticipation. As he arrived at the secret room of King Vladimir, he murmured, "Woah! Another test?!"
King Vladimir's face lit up with a warm smile. "No brother. You are finally home."
The first meeting of the two brothers was emotional, with King Vladimir embracing Ian tightly. Ian was taken aback, unsure of how to react.
"Wait a second. Are you my brother? How did I have a King brother?" Ian asked, his mind reeling with questions.
King Vladimir chuckled. "Let me explain, brother. You are known as Ian Whitlock on Earth, but here in Gaia, you are James Stanford, my older brother. We are the sons of Abraham Stanford."
As King Vladimir spoke, the room seemed to fade away, and the story of Abraham and Lara unfolded like a vision.
Five hundred years ago, Abraham Stanford and his allies fought against the dark forces led by Death. Abraham, a powerful warrior, and Lara, a wise and compassionate leader, stood at the forefront of the battle. Despite their bravery, they knew they couldn't defeat Death in a straight-up fight. Lara, with her deep understanding of the elements, came up with a plan to seal Death away.
The battle raged on, with Abraham and Lara fighting valiantly. Lara used her magic to create a soul stone, a powerful artifact that could trap Death's spirit. Abraham, with his Sun attunement, poured all his energy into the sealing process. The ritual was intense, with the very fabric of reality trembling.
As the seal was completed, Chrono was torn apart, creating two separate worlds: Earth and Gaia. Death's body was trapped in the soul stone, but his spirit lingered, seeking revenge. Abraham and Lara knew that their actions would have far-reaching consequences, but they had to protect their people.
Ian's eyes widened as he listened to the story. "And now you're telling me that I'm the son of GrandStan?!! Holy... How did that happen? I'm just a normal teacher from the Philippines, and all I know about history is Abraham Stanford is our hero. Am I dreaming? Can you pinch me hard so that I'll wake up?"
King Vladimir smiled patiently. "No brother, you are not dreaming. Our father is indeed a hero. You were sent to Earth a long time ago after father and his allies sealed Death. You were born as James, but you died in your birth due to a curse. You reincarnated as Ian in this generation, and you are an Earthian, but your origin lies here in Gaia because you are one of us Elementalists."
Ian's mind reeled as he processed the information. He felt like his whole world had been turned upside down. "Just explain slowly, my King. I can't process this fast."
King Vladimir nodded understandingly. "Don't worry, brother. We will know the whole truth once mother will be released from her imprisonment."
Ian's eyes narrowed. "What's the secret behind Lara?"
King Vladimir's expression turned serious. "That's a question that haunts me, brother. But for now, let's focus on helping you master your Sun abilities."
The King offered his throne to Ian, "You are supposed to be in my throne, brother. It is your rightful destiny. Would you like to take it?"
Ian shook his head firmly. "No, my King. It's yours. I'll do whatever it takes to master this Sun ability."