The Unicorn's Blessing | #ONC2025 ?

Chapter Thirteen: The First Strike

His breath came slower now, but his heart still raced, the aftershock of the lightning's crackle lingering in his bones. The room, once filled with tension and hostility, felt almost suffocating in its quiet. Oskar's fingers still clutched the book tightly, as though it might slip from his hands and vanish in the wake of all that had just unfolded.

As the last of the traitors was taken into custody, a sudden flicker of light from the far corner of the room caught Oskar's attention. The air seemed to hum, crackling with energy. His gaze snapped to the shadows where the disturbance had come from, and the familiar hum of electricity filled the space again.

Then Erasmus stepped forward from the darkness, his presence like a storm breaking the silence. The faint glow of his lightning affinity illuminated his face, and the air buzzed with his power, still swirling around him in crackling tendrils.

Oskar's heart skipped a beat, recognizing his brother's control of lightning, but it was the sharpness in Erasmus's green eyes that drew his focus.

"I thought you might need a little... assistance," Erasmus said, his voice laced with a cool calmness that didn't quite mask the strain beneath.

Oskar opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted as Father's voice broke through the moment, calm but edged with something sharp. "Good heavens," he muttered, eyes flicking to Erasmus. "Your recklessness has actually been useful for once."

Erasmus met his father's gaze without a hint of shame, though a glimmer of pride danced in his eyes. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Father gave a tight, almost amused smile before his attention shifted back to Oskar. "You've done well, son." His voice softened, a rare moment of approval from the king, though it still carried the weight of everything that had just happened.

Oskar nodded slowly, but the storm of emotions in his chest hadn't yet passed. It wasn't a victory he had expected. It wasn't the way he'd imagined this moment unfolding, but it was done. The traitors were bound, and the kingdom was one step closer to the truth.

He glanced at Erasmus, who was already surveying the arrested men, his face unreadable, the air still humming with the crackle of his new power.

But Oskar knew the storm wasn't over yet.

* * *

Oskar remained silent as his mother voiced her relief that he and his father were alright. His mind was still reeling. He had believed their kingdom was just, that those who served the crown upheld its values. But this shattered that belief. If a man like General Corrin, a trusted leader, had been capable of such corruption, who else might be hiding their own dark secrets?

Father let Mother talk, nodding his head. Erasmus sat cross-legged on the floor across from Oskar, watching him closely. Oskar was lost in thought. Completely occupied by the fact General Corrin was the one who killed the Unicorns. A man who was trusted by the king, who commanded a large regime of the army. How could he do such a thing?

"You're safe," he whispered, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.

"I know," Oskar whispered back with a gentle nod. "But that is not what I'm thinking about."

"What are you thinking about then? C'mon, little brother. Talk to me."

Oskar met his twin's gaze and sighed. "How could General Corrin commit such a heinous crime? How long was he hunting before I brought up the issue? And why did he try to keep killing them during an active investigation?"

Erasmus blew a low whistle. "Questions like that would cause one to lose sleep, little brother. I wish I could offer you answers, but they are not mine to give."

"I know... My focus has been to find the one responsible for the killings. It never crossed my mind what would come afterwards."

"You are not responsible for passing any judgements, Oskar," the elder prince said, patting him on the shoulder. "You did your part; you unveiled the deed of a wicked man... granted, none of us would have ever suspected General Corrin. He served the kingdom long before we were born."

Oskar frowned, nodding. He knew he was not going to be the one giving punishment, that responsibility belonged to the king.

"Also," Erasmus went on, retracting his hand. "I hope this puts your mind to ease, but you will never have to worry about a crown being placed upon your head. You will only be next in line to me, should I never produce an heir. Count your blessings, little brother. All will be well."

"Would you want me to say this to you if our roles were reversed?" Oskar asked as a soft smile tugged at the left corner of his mouth.

"Absolutely not," his brother replied—he was shaking his head but his grin gave him away. "I tease; I would definitely want you to say something of this kind to me if our roles were reversed."

Oskar sighed as the weight of the day began to lift from his shoulders. His brother's words were comforting, but a lingering unease remained—this was far from over.