There was a vast realm riddled with various terrains and cultures all woven together with the threads of magical energy, making the lands lush with life and bountiful in resources. The land was made up of various Kingdoms and Duchies, bordering one another and working together through trade and other variations, the leaders of each area met regularly and were social creatures as well as caring towards their subjects. Each held it's own standards on policies such as policing and health care, and although the ideals were not always shared they were accepting of the difference. This indifference came from the long history of the realm; riddled with nothing but war and carnage, the land itself still remains scorched and the wounds shone through as uninhabitable areas. Such violence was not wanted and many would use the past as examples of misbehaviour. As such the land in the present was experiencing an age of peace and thus set to work improving their lives.

Magic was a large staple of the lives of those who lived there. Those without the natural ability used enchantments, potions and powders to help them through their work, of course these came at costs but the long term benefits were plentiful for the penny. Those with natural ability did not need to spend money on such things and tended to make businesses from their mana, the only real cost being to their energy levels. The magically endowed could easily be identified by their eyes. The iris would have at least flecks of vivid green within it and at most possessed fully green iris'. It was a rare colouring and as such can be unnerving to those unused to seeing them. It was like looking into a dangerous animal, some would say.

And they were not far from the truth for some individuals. The ones driven mad by their own blood and seek only for chaos across the land. The ones the Dukes and Kings try their hardest to suppress.

One of the more important Duchies was ruled over by the Duke Carriedo. The Lord Carriedo had two sons both to the same woman however both were assigned with very different last names. His eldest was called Gabriel De Silva; a tall tanned male, with long brunette hair tied back in a ponytail down his back, and large blue eyes. Gabriel or Gabbie as he was known, was born before the duke's marriage to his wife and given her maiden name as a tribute to her father in the neighbouring Duchy, he was a bright young man with a knack for swordsmanship and an interest in trade. As the eldest he was in line to take over the lands once his father felt he was ready for the opportunity.

His younger son was called Antonio Carriedo. Born within wedlock, where he did not gain his mother's name, he gained her eyes. Bright vibrant green and his fate was sealed with them. Being the youngest he had no ties to being the Duke, yet his father spared no expense in his education. He didn't want to leave his little mage with no way of controlling his powers once they erupted, and for the most part his wife took care of their son. He felt content knowing his family was in good hands.

Both sons however were about to be thrown into a tangled web that started with a letter to their mother.

Antonio found himself stuck within sleep, unable to stir from the abyss of his dream. He stood there confused and fully aware of his surroundings shining white against the black backdrop, with no indication where the ground ended and the sky begun. The sound of hooves slowly began to fill the air and a light appeared in the very distance. Antonio narrowed his eyes and tried his best to see the pin of light before him as the sound stopped. Whatever it was had seen him as much as he could see it, and after a few moments the sound came back and was getting louder. The hooves went from a canter to a full on run and Antonio felt his heart drop as the light morphed and transformed itself to be a large bull, horns down and charging. The boy's legs locked up and he didn't know what to do, or at least he could control himself enough to move out of the way. The creature came closer and closer but all Antonio could do was raise his arms in preparation for the impact.

As the bull struck, his eyelids forced themselves open and he was left staring at the wooden panel ceiling of his bedroom leaving him staring at the wooden ceiling of his bedroom. Again confusion overtook him as he panted, mentally exhausted, and trying to bring himself clarity by picking out the small details in the panels he was looking at until, eventually, he convinced himself he was awake. He rose, bringing a shaking hand to his face and wiped away the sweat. Perhaps that had just been a nightmare, more likely than not it wasn't though, madre had always been clear that a mage's mind was fragile; to feel like this meant it had to be something. Something was coming for him...

A small rasping of knuckles on his door brought his attention and he pushed himself up clearing his throat.
"Ah si? Who is it?" He called as his voice broke, attempting in vain to correct his appearance, unfortunately he looked like a drowned rat but he still tried. The door slid open reveal a woman with soft set features and long brunette hair down her back. "Mama…sleep well?" Antonio laughed nervously.

She remained silent and entered the room, gliding in the ladylike manner she always managed to possess, behind her Gabriel could be seen looking worried himself and the younger automatically assumed the worst.

"Are you feeling ok Toto?" She asked taking the jug of water from the side of the bed and pouring it into a bowl "You were screaming"

Screaming? Antonio swallowed to check and his throat felt sore. That would explain the worried looks he was getting and he wondered how loud he had managed to get. He was also coming to realise that he found himself drifting back and forth as he space out and snapped to attention realising that his mother was speaking.

"I asked you if you had been dreaming ok" She repeated softly but with the tiny hint in her tone, she hated repeating herself "Your face is all red"

He wanted to tell her he felt fine but as she placed a cold cloth to his head, the boy closed his eyes immediately feeling soothed. Like a spell had been cast on him, his body sagged and he struggled to stay sat up. Antonio had not realised how hot he had become, it was like experiencing fever, and the pleasant urge to give in swept him up like a pleasant breeze. Near instantly his body collapsed back onto the bed. Gabriel made a noise and rushed forward only to be stopped by his mother with a hand. Antonio's eyes fluttered open again but the eyes were slow and unresponsive.

To say the younger felt fine a moment ago, suddenly he was thrust into a foggy confused again.

The people in the room he could have named just seconds ago were suddenly strangers, and the boy's breathing increased in fear and tears began to form.

Gabriel was unsure what his mother was thinking as she tended to the boy who had gone from lucid to delirious in mere seconds.

"It's just a magical build up nothing to worry about" the woman cooed gently continuing to mop the boy's brow.

The elder made a groaning noise and rolled his eyes. Another magical build up? As much as he cared about his brother he hated seeing such bullshit happening in his own home. Every other day it was Antonio this and Antonio that and it was all because of his ability to do magic. It was times like this he wished he was an only child.

"El…"

This caught his attention though as Antonio fell back under his own magic. El what? What on earth was he doing now

"El Toro…"

And with that he was fell back to sleep. Madre looked over him and smiled. "He'll be fine"

Gabriel was now annoyed and a little bit pissed off. The rest of the day went on as if nothing had happened apart from his younger brother was being fussed over by servants again. He retreated to the garden and turned his attention to a dead tree hidden away in an unused area. Reaching up to redo the ribbon in his hair, he tried his best to keep his hair from his eyes and once he was satisfied he prepared himself in the fighting stance, a hand hovering over the blade in his hilt as he faced the petrified bark.

Each sword motion was precise as he was taught and the bark chipped and cracked and buckled under his assault. He let out his stress away from the public eye until he fell to his knees and dropped his weapon breathing heavily. Papa always said he let his emotions get the better of him, that he needed to learn to let the waves roll around him. He was a brother though, jealousy came part and parcel right?

Jealousy though.

What was he jealous of exactly? Gabbie pulled himself to sit on his behind with his knees up, his arms came out to rest on the knees as he stared at the broken bark on the ground in thought. He was the eldest, he was meant to take over these lands when his father deemed him ready. He was meant to be an expert of military, and law, and trade, and agriculture, and everything else in between! But how was he meant to know when he was ready when his baby brother was the one in the spotlight. His baby brother was the one being fussed over and groomed to be great, maybe even greater than himself. Although no that wasn't it...

His worry and frustration was a byproduct of his jealousy but maybe. Maybe he was jealous of how carefree Antonio could be. Being second born he could be whatever he wanted to be, and being a mage meant he had the pick of anything and everything. He had to find a way to beat the green monster on his back, he didn't want to hate his brother, it wasn't his fault for how he was born. Eventually the elder smiled feeling the tension release from himself.

He would be a good Duke and a good big brother that was for sure.

He recomposed himself and wandered back into the house stretching as he went before stopping himself. Ahead of him, he saw Antonio, just standing there unmoving in his night shirt.

"Antonio?" he spoke without realising and the other reacted, he slowly looked over his shoulder towards the other. Gabriel felt his heart pull seeing the other's face; tears were falling and he looked red with fever. The elder moved towards him. "What are you doing out of bed?"

"El Toro" the other muttered shaking as he spoke "El Toro…"

The bull again huh? Gabriel bit his lip "What about the bull Antonio?" He asked slowing reaching out to the other.

"He is going to get me" the younger responded choking out more tears as the elder embraced him "El Toro… El Toro…" He continued to mutter over and over. This left the elder in a bind, there was no bull he knew this, and mama had mentioned that this was all normal so he should leave him right? He began to let go and the other looked at him with large pain filled eyes. Gabriel turned from him and pulled away completely.

"Look, stop being stupid you will be fine Antonio." he began to move away but stopped hearing something crumple down and his heart fell again.

Antonio seemed to regress unable to tell fantasy from reality "D-don't leave me" he begged "He'll get me...El Toro will get me"

Trying hard not to hear Gabriel began to walk away. Antonio was old enough to look after himself he was fourteen years old for heaven's sake.

"Gabbie don't leave me!" The yelling continued "I'm scared!"

The big brother in him stopped his feet, wasn't this what he was just having a mental crisis over? Didn't he promise himself he would be a good sibling? Antonio's fever was making him child like and his first response was to leave him there. He swore he could almost hear sarcastic clapping in his head. Gabriel felt his lip tremble and he dared to glance back at the other. The teenager was on his knees looking at him with hope as their eyes met, he reached out to the other as new tears rolled down his face and he sniffled. Gabriel just stared at the other without a word.
"You know this is all in your head right?" Gabriel spoke with a monotone voice and he watched Antonio possess the words before his breathing began to increase and he began to work himself up.
"I'm sorry Gabbie" he cried "I...I… Don't hate me" He sniffled and guilt hit the elder like a boulder to the gut.
"Just calm down already ok? I don't hate…" The boy started to speak just as Antonio began to hiccup on an account of his tears. The boy had worked himself into such a state even his lungs were throwing a fit. In short he was a mess. Gabriel sighed in defeat, this was getting him nowhere, and walked back over to his younger brother pulling him up and into his arms where he stroked his back.

"Now look what you have done" he joked "You gave yourself hiccups. But don't worry I won't leave you, I won't let that bull hurt you" Antonio calmed in the elder's arms, with just the occasional shudder from the hiccuping. He then grimaced at the wet feeling of the night clothes. Antonio felt like he was burning up and his clothing was sticking to him, there was no way that he was comfortable at the moment. Were the servants not changing his clothing? Where were the people who were left in charge of the younger anyway. Gabriel felt his annoyance build again fuelled by an urge of protectiveness as he gripped the other tighter to his chest despite the affect to his own clothing.

So not changing his clothes and letting him wander off in a haze were what they were paying servants for nowadays huh? He was going to have to sort this.

Seeing as Antonio had managed to somehow traverse half the manor in his state, it took a little time to direct the younger back to his room. Inside he found a maid stammering about how she couldn't find the young master; the girl they had left in charge. She was young and inexperienced and it suddenly all made sense how a fever sufferer could get one up on her. She helped him bring Antonio over to a large armchair by the fire before he dismissed her.

Despite her protests about her job he was stubborn enough for her to admit defeat, this was his brother and his responsibility. He then encountered a new problem, Antonio had become delirious again and every time Gabriel left his sight he began to panic and call out to him.

Gabriel remembered another time like this. When Antonio was eight years old his magic started to come to materialise; he remembered it well as it was also the first night the two were spending in different rooms. Up until that point his brother had been plagued with nightmares that were only soothed by sleeping with another in the room. He laughed to himself remember how naively he though that night would peaceful.

Around midnight he heard screaming coming from the room across from him. At first he wondered if the other was having a nightmare but when he listened the voice sounded more painful and in a panic he grabbed his wooden training sword and bolted from his room. Hesitating a moment as the place went silent, he gently pushed open the door hoping the sound meant the other was sleeping. Gabriel remembered the fear that gripped him in that moment seeing the room.

Black burns scorched the walls and the candles were knocked over and sprawled across the floor. The mirror was smashed and even the bed was thrown on its front. In the middle he saw Antonio grasping his hand. Their two eyes met and all they saw in one another was fear.

"Antonio what happened?" he yelled running over as the younger flinched and tried to move away
"I don't know, but I did it…" he cried as a spark of lightning erupted from his hand and narrowly missed Gabriel's face. The elder became fearful for himself.

"I'll get mama" he yelled jumping to his feet

"Wait Gabbie don't go!" Antonio cried "I'm scared please…"

He remembered stopping after hearing the fear in the voice. It outweighed his own tremendously. The inability to control your own body and what it can do. He swallowed hard and then smiled.

"Ok, I won't go" the elder looked around and seeing a large piece of fabric dishevelled on the floor walked over to it. He wasn't sure if it was the curtains from the window, or if it was the bed sheets, he just knew it was perfect in that moment. The cloth was pulled over the two of them in a weird little makeshift blanket tent. He smiled and rested his hand against Antonio.

"Someone will come soon ok? So let's just wait a little longer" Gabbie told him with confidence, using it to trick the other into calm "Just hold on, ok Toto? You'll be fine I promise"

Gabriel returned to the present as he pushed the tin bath in front of the teenager in the chair. He was always there for his little brother in times like this huh? At least no one can claim he isn't understanding of the mage folk. He reached out to Antonio from where he was knelt and took his hand.

"I'm right here ok? Just wait a little longer"

This time the younger seemed to understand and Gabriel laughed to himself. He was always asking for him to wait again wasn't he? Well now he just had to fill the tub with water right?

First he drew the water and heated the stove before throwing off his coat and rolling up his sleeves. He had never bathed another before but if he left Antonio covering in sweat he'd get a chill right?

"All right baby bro, let's get you feeling all better!"

Mama had spent the day looking over her magic books. To hear her youngest speak of an animal from his mind could only mean one thing. A familiar was coming. She herself did not possess one so she could only speculate on what her son was going through. All the text she read spoke of the trial of accepting the animal, how it would test the user as the link was created. The illness her youngest was experiencing was the byproduct of this test and once it passed he would be linked to his familiar. Was it truly that simple? Even if it was, the effect it was having on his body made her fret and worry.

She did know however this was a sign of great things for her son. Antonio was destined to become one of the great mages of his time, one skill in the art of the hardest magic of all, that of spirits. Spirit magic was a dangerous hazard on your health and soul if done without a connection to the spiritual realm. If the mind is strong, a spirit taking the form of animal crosses the planes of existence and becomes a link between both worlds. When connected to their host, the mage can tap directly into the source of magic itself. Once the mage masters this, spell work enters a whole different realm and magic takes on a new meaning.

The books however did not tell her what this meant. Should she find someone more suited to teaching him. Or did this mean Antonio would have to learn this alone. It was a heavy load upon her heart and mind.

Once night fell she decided it was best to check up on the sick one, when a mother spends the day worrying, seeing her child's face usually soothed her some what. She gently pushed on the door frame and slid the door open a peak before pausing.

Antonio slept peacefully under his sheets looking a little more relaxed, he was still flushed however he seemed to be recovering nicely. The candlelight of the the single stick flickered and illuminated his face orange, as well as his hand on his chest rising and falling with his breathing. She noticed it was gently clasped around another hand and following the line of the bed noticed his older brother's who had fallen asleep across the bed next to him. Their mother smiled sweetly, the two of them were going to be ok. She contemplated entering the room and waking the two so the elder could return to his bed. The look on his face was calm and gentle so he was sleeping well. Maybe it would be ok if they stayed in the same bed tonight. What would be the harm?

"Excuse me" a small voice rang out grabbing her attention as a servant approached her. "A letter just arrived for you Duchess"

She took the envelope and her brow furrowed. For a letter to arrive this late at night, it was never a good sign.