Chapter Text
Morning broke over the camp, golden sunlight filtering through the leaves and illuminating the still-sleepy faces of the ancient heroes. Kinich yawned loudly, stretching as he poked at the remains of the fire. Mualani sat cross-legged nearby, absently weaving flowers together, while Xilonen perched on her usual tree branch, her tail flicking irritably.
The quiet was shattered by the sound of approaching footsteps.
“Oh, great,” Xilonen muttered, her ears twitching. “Just when I thought we’d get a peaceful morning.”
From the treeline, Lyney emerged, his signature smug smirk plastered on his face. He strolled into the camp with an almost theatrical air, clearly aware of the stares he was drawing.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Xilonen grumbled, hopping down from the tree. She crossed her arms and planted herself squarely in Lyney’s path. “What are you doing back here?”
Before Lyney could respond, a new figure stepped out from behind him. A girl, arms crossed, matching his confident stance. Her dirty blond hair caught the sunlight, a dyed streak standing out against the natural tones.
Xilonen blinked, doing a double take. The resemblance was uncanny. “Oh no,” she muttered to herself. “This must be—”
“Hello,” the girl said, her tone calm and composed. “I am Lynette.”
Kinich, who had been mid-stretch, nearly fell over in surprise. “Wait, your sister?!”
“Brilliant deduction,” Lyney said with a dramatic wave of his hand. “We’re not exactly subtle about it.”
Xilonen rolled her eyes, already exasperated. “Why are you here, magician?”
Lyney turned to her, his smirk fading into a flat expression. “Save it. I’m not here for you.”
The camp fell silent for a beat, the tension broken only by Mualani stifling a giggle.
Xilonen’s tail twitched furiously. “Well, I’m not here for you either!” she snapped, turning away but throwing one last glare over her shoulder.
Lyney ignored her completely, walking straight up to Ororon, who was sitting on a log with a faraway look in his eyes. “I need to ask you something.”
Ororon blinked, startled, and looked up with wide eyes. He seemed surprised someone was actually talking to him. “Oh, uh, sure?”
“It’s about Citlali,” Lyney said bluntly. “She’s been threatening me, and I want to know if I should take her seriously or just chalk it up to her being overprotective.”
At this, Xilonen spun back around. “She threatened you? Good. Someone has to keep you in line.”
“Thanks for the unsolicited commentary, again,” Lyney said dryly.
Lynette, standing quietly beside him, suddenly tilted her head. “Do you always argue this much, or is this a special occasion?”
Mualani snorted, covering her mouth to hide her laughter. “I think it's just a them thing.” she whispered conspiratorially while pointing at Xilonen and Lyney.
Ororon finally cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention back to him. “Citlali doesn’t make idle threats,” he said slowly. “If she warned you to stay away, she probably has her reasons. But...” He paused, as though choosing his words carefully. “She’s not unreasonable. If you haven’t done anything wrong, you have nothing to fear.”
“Reassuring,” Lyney muttered sarcastically.
Lynette, who had been examining the camp with mild disinterest, suddenly piped up. “This is a strange group. Very mismatched.”
“Thank you?” Kinich said uncertainty.
“It wasn’t a compliment,” she replied, deadpan, earning another stifled laugh from Mualani.
Xilonen groaned, throwing her hands up. “Oh, great. There are two of them now. This is my nightmare.”
“What happened to that apology?” Kinich spat.
“Absolutely not,” Xilonen retorted, her tail lashing as she climbed back onto her tree branch. “That was before Lyneys other personality showed up.”
Lynette glanced up at her brother. “Do you always leave this much chaos in your wake?”
“Of course,” Lyney replied with a mock bow. “It’s part of my charm.”
Kinich sighed, rubbing his temples. “Can we just get through one morning without an argument?”
Mualani patted him on the shoulder. “Not with this group,” she said cheerfully.
As the siblings settled into the camp, the group exchanged wary glances, each silently wondering what new complications they were in for with two magicians in their midst.
---
Lyney was unusually animated, practically bouncing with energy as he introduced his sister to the group. The flirty smile never left his face, his charm dialed up to an almost comical degree. Kinich couldn’t help but silently notice the difference in his demeanor—Lyney was always confident, yes, but this felt different. There was an almost desperate energy to him, something that didn’t quite match the easygoing, laid-back persona he usually exuded. He was masking something, Kinich could tell, but he didn't speak up.
Xilonen was, as usual, less than impressed. She crossed her arms, eyeing Lynette with suspicion. "So, this is your family, huh?" she asked, her voice dripping with skepticism.
Lyney gave her an exaggerated shrug, clearly unfazed. "Yes, my dear, meet Lynette, the one person who’s stuck with me longer than anyone else.” He shot a grin at Lynette, who stood beside him with her arms crossed, looking far more composed than her brother. "Not everyone gets the privilege of knowing my charming side."
Lynette, who had been silently watching the interaction, rolled her eyes. “Please. You’re embarrassing yourself.”
Lyney’s grin widened, clearly not bothered by her remark. “Ah, but it’s what I do best.”
Kinich, who had been quietly observing the interaction, couldn’t help but notice how exaggerated Lyney’s behavior was. He was putting on a show, but for what purpose? It wasn’t like him to act so over-the-top unless he was trying to distract from something. But what was it? Kinich didn’t know, but there was something about this whole exchange that didn’t sit right with him.
Xilonen, noticing Kinich’s quiet observation, scoffed. “What’s the catch, Lyney? You’ve got us all curious now.”
Lyney gave her a pointed look, his tone still teasing, but with an edge. “Catch? Why does everyone think there’s a catch? Sometimes a family visit is just... a family visit.” He glanced at Lynette again, a silent understanding passing between them.
Lynette, without missing a beat, added, “I’m only here temporarily. I have to return to Freminet after a short while.” Her voice was calm, collected, unlike her brother’s theatrics. She seemed to be the more grounded of the two.
Xilonen raised an eyebrow. “Oh? So, we’re just a pit stop on your way back to Freminet?”
Lynette nodded slightly. “Something like that.”
Kinich, still observing Lyney, noted how his expression shifted when Lynette spoke. It was subtle, but for a moment, the flamboyant bravado disappeared, and something more vulnerable flashed in his eyes before it was quickly hidden behind his usual cocky smirk. Kinich couldn’t put his finger on it, but something about that small moment felt... telling. Lyney was trying to keep up appearances, but there was something he wasn’t saying.
Xilonen, seemingly bored with the exchange, turned her back and walked off. "I’m watching you, Lyney. Don’t think you can pull anything past me.”
“Save it, Xilonen,” Lyney called after her with a wink. “I’m not here for you.”
Kinich couldn’t help but feel a little curious as he watched Lyney. There was definitely more going on beneath the surface, but for now, it seemed like it would stay hidden. He didn’t press the issue, though. It wasn’t the right time yet to ask. For now, all he could do was observe and wait.
The camp settled into a quiet lull as everyone prepared for the night, but Kinich’s thoughts lingered. Lyney’s behavior was shifting in ways he wasn’t used to, and it was clear that something was troubling him. Kinich didn’t want to pry, but he couldn't shake the feeling that Lyney was playing a part in a larger story—one that wasn’t as lighthearted as he made it appear.
---
As night settled over the camp, the crackling of the fire was the only sound that broke the stillness. Lyney and Kinich sat near the edge of the clearing, speaking in quiet tones. They had talked about everything and nothing—trivial matters at first, then slowly easing into more meaningful topics. Lyney, for once, seemed more relaxed than usual, as if the presence of his sister had taken some weight off his shoulders.
Kinich had learned more about Lyney’s complicated family dynamics, how he had grown up in a world of performances and expectations, always expected to put on a show. It wasn’t something Lyney often talked about, but tonight, with the fire casting shadows on his face, he seemed more open, more human than Kinich had seen before.
"Sometimes, it feels like I’m just... living for the audience," Lyney said, his tone more serious now, a rare moment of vulnerability. "I just wish I had more time with you. Like, alone."
Kinich nodded, understanding more than Lyney could know. Sometimes, people needed to just be, without the weight of others' expectations.
As they continued to talk, Kinich couldn’t help but notice the subtle shift in Lyney’s behavior. The usual air of light-hearted teasing was absent. It was as though, for once, he wasn’t performing.
The conversation lingered in the comfortable silence of the evening, and Kinich had almost forgotten about everything else—until he noticed movement in the shadows at the edge of the camp. He glanced over briefly but dismissed it as nothing more than a trick of the firelight or some small animal in the underbrush. His focus returned to Lyney.
Lyney, however, was still unusually animated in their conversation. His gestures were more dramatic, and his smile was brighter than usual. Kinich, engrossed in the conversation, didn't think twice about it. He was getting more used to Lyney’s unpredictable nature and assumed this was just another side of the trickster he’d come to know.
Unbeknownst to Kinich, though, Lyney’s behavior had subtly shifted. He was still charming, still confident, but there was an underlying edge to his playfulness. His eyes gleamed with a mischievous light as he leaned back casually, the faintest hint of a secretive smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Then, in the shadows, Citlali was crouched, observing from behind the bushes. She had been trying to eavesdrop, hoping to get a better sense of what was going on. But the moment she made the mistake of letting her presence be known, Lyney caught sight of her. Without a second thought, he smirked to himself, and with a quick, almost imperceptible gesture, he gave her a middle finger.
The moment passed quickly, and Lyney didn’t give it a second thought. He returned to his conversation with Kinich as though nothing had happened, though there was a trace of satisfaction in the way his grin widened.
Citlali, having been caught off guard, quickly stepped back into the shadows, her surprise barely visible to anyone. She didn’t try to make her presence known again, retreating into the darkness, unsure of what to make of the playful but pointed gesture. But Lyney, of course, remained completely unfazed.
Kinich, completely unaware of the subtle exchange, smiled and laughed lightly at something Lyney had said. "That’s one way to look at it," he said, his attention fully on Lyney. "You know, you’re surprisingly good at this serious talk thing. I didn’t think you had it in you."
Lyney’s grin deepened, his eyes twinkling. "You don’t get to be this charming without a few tricks up my sleeve," he replied smoothly, his voice laced with that trademark flirty charm.
The fire crackled between them as they sat in companionable silence for a while, the cool night air sweeping through the camp. Kinich felt a sense of peace in this moment, the lightness of their conversation contrasting with the heavier topics they’d touched on earlier. He still hadn’t noticed the small figure retreating into the shadows, and Lyney didn’t feel the need to mention it.
For now, everything was easy. Lyney had a feeling though, it wasn't gonna be easy for long.