Louis was surprised Magnus had no younger or older siblings. As he had just deemed that Magnus shared similar characteristics with his older brother, Konrad. People like Konrad oppressed you every chance they got. Or maybe, only if your name was Louis, and you were his brother by blood. But more than anything, he was just interested in how other siblings treated each other. His older siblings were much older and mature than him and his sister, and while Mathilde expressed love for the boy, Konrad obviously did not. But they had double standards when it came to his twin, Leisel. He wondered if other siblings were like this, with one of them being given a more difficult life. Sure, he had been deaf most of his childhood, but that did not stop him from being given the chance to be loved like any other person would like to be.

"I was just...curious, is all." But while curious took up a huge percentage of the reason why he asked that question, it wasn't merely that. "I also wanted to know how other brothers and sisters were like. Since me and my siblings....it's complicated." All siblings were happy in the same way, and unhappy in their own ways. It was with any situation.

Louis was an eleven year old who was always told to 'size up' and 'act his age'. He didn't want to. He didn't want to have to be strong. He didn't want to size up, he was comfortable just how he was. He was a child, and he didn't need it. He did not need to scurry the other way when his brother was passing down the corridor. He didn't want to have to go to the library to where Mathilde was studying as company in exchange for a few absent-minded sentences that oozed pity. He wanted a childhood, and more than anything, a brother to look up to. He decided to take his chance despite being a timid boy. "I want a brother though, more than anything. Can you...be a brother figure to me?"

Magnus Blackwood!
DURMSTRANG | SECOND | OUTFIT | HEX
Russian/French | 09.26.2025 | WC 498

The boy hadn't noticed that he had held his breath in the windy northern European air until he breathed out. I’ve never really had any siblings..but I guess I can be a big brother for you.. It felt like a physical weight that had been pressed on him for so long had suddenly lifted, and the world suddenly seemed different in a way. Maybe life wouldn't be as difficult as it was for the eleven year old boy. "My big brother." He sighed happily. If you were to ask Louis whether he had hopes of having his 'own' brother, he would've laughed his head off—that was clear as day for the Eltz Fürstenberg boy—not possible. He was stuck with Konrad whether he liked it or not. But now, he had one to look up to, and to be his role model.

Of course, Konrad was the person he was supposed to follow, but Louis did find his idea of fun not fun. He could still remember when he was younger and they were living in Switzerland, Mathilde and Konrad would take him and Leisel to a nearby waterfall to camp and swim, but that version of Konrad was gone, replaced instead by a tall foreboding boy who resented him in every way that Father favoured him. "I'll be your first younger brother, then." Louis said shyly, looking down at his feet for a fraction of a second. He wondered if his doing of this would affect Leisel, his twin, in any way. Leider hast friends, but as twins, they were meant to do stick together. How could he run off and have a secret older brother to look after him when his job was to stand up for Leisel when she got picked on? Only, Leisel didn't get picked, instead he was.

A sudden idea came to him, "Could you...maybe teach me some of those moves? To fend off for myself." If he could learn some martial arts from Magnus, maybe those boys from his class will finally leave him and his deafness alone. Louis could also teach Leisel some of it just in case! He smiled at the idea of being of use to Leisel, as she never seemed to need to depend on him, as he had hoped she would.

Magnus Blackwood!
DURMSTRANG | SECOND | OUTFIT | HEX
Russian/French | 09.26.2025 | WC 498

In families with many children, it was undeniable that a hierarchy would form over time, owing to age, personality, and 'who-favoured-who'. Although in the Eltz Fürstenberg household, no such thing was voiced since his eleven years, Louis had always believed it existed in his family. Konrad, with his tall build and confidence voice; Mathilde, with her calm voice and quick mind; Leisel, with her bubbly personality and emotional intelligence ...and him, Louis, who never seemed to shine apart from choir. Louis, who was born to live in a world where his only voice was the one thing he heard. Louis who needed more help from Mama or Papa more than any of them. Whom Papa had a soft spot for as he was deaf. Konrad topped the social list, that was certain, and he loved Leisel. Mathilde was Konrad's first friend, and they shared everything. They were similar in age, and naturally, they would drift together. That left one of the four siblings—him. Louis always liked to think that he was happy alone, that he enjoyed keeping to himself. He was a faithful and law-abiding boy who never got into mischief. That was enough. Friends come and go, even family goes, and at the end, he would only have himself. But he came to realize in the days he woke up to the late afternoon sun dipping in the horizon shining into his eyes, as he sat under the big oak tree in the garden, a book still lying flat on his knees, watching as three figures sprinted in the distance, completely oblivious they were missing one. That empty feeling he felt, as he would quietly shut his book and go up to the house. He never knew how them four, once united, split, forming three.

Loneliness was like a hole in his heart, a big gaping black void, endless and forever eating at his mind. He never truly realized it, or maybe, he didn't want to face it. He was different from the other boys his age, none of whom seemed to realize he needed and was worthy as a friend. The German boy could never fathom how to make them like him, however.

Magnus did not seem to be against teaching him self protection, and he lowered his body by spreading his legs apart. Louis hastened to follow, but he was clumsy, and spread his legs too far, nearly falling. When he finally stood upright, and moved his legs slightly closer, he was ready. He bent his knees, feeling stupid, and out of place, and raised his hands to his face. He didn't have the energy Magnus seemed to produce so easily, and his hands limply closed into fists, level to his eyes. He had never dreamed of himself fighting. While he cheered both literary and historical heroes and heroines alike, he himself could never dress in iron-clad armour to fight. Nevertheless, Louis thrust a fist forward, in a feeble attempt to 'fight'.

Magnus Blackwood!
DURMSTRANG | SECOND | OUTFIT | HEX
Russian/French | 09.26.2025 | WC 498

His lame, half-hearted punch stood no chance against Magnus, for he easily caught his fist in his hand, but he was smiling. After he thrust his hand, a cold shiver ran down his back. For reasons unknown to even himself, he felt scared. If it was his own brother in the place of Magnus, he would've smacked him hard, and ran around the garden in full pursuit, not stopping until the boy was out of breath. Sometimes, he would tackle Louis to the ground , but at other times, he'd make it living hell. But luckily, Magnus smiled, and Louis felt relieved at once, letting out a small sigh. He even complimented his punch. Was he dreaming? But the wind rippled as Magnus moved forward, a punch already formed, and he seemed it real enough, that he didn't need to pinch himself to see if this was a dream of reality. Luckily for him, Magnus stopped before he could crash onto the little boy, and he flicked his cheek.

Louis didn't quite understand what he said next. Was he to run at someone then only flick them? Was this the element of surprise? It seemed smart, to catch people off guard, but shouldn't they hit people harder? What if he was being charged at? How was he to defend himself? But Magnus carried on, answering his question. Sen...sei Sergei? What's a sensei? It didn't sound German or Russian, so he didn't really know what it was. But Louis didn't want to ask Magnus, in case he thought he was slow.

Magnus then moved back, mystifying Louis further. But then he kicked in the air, all while explaining what he was doing, and the boy was in the clear again. Louis, desperate to show Magnus, his new brother, that he was capable of things he could do, tried to copy. But he wanted to show him that he could be innovative by jumping while kicking. Surely that would be cool and creative! He remembered when he and his siblings went to the waterfall near their home in Switzerland. There, when Konrad was younger, and their father hadn't started showing favourites, and when Konrad actually loved his little brother, would mime being a 'ninja', whatever that was, and jump in the air while doing all sorts of tricks while his siblings cheered him on, laughing. But when Louis secretly tried it out himself, it did not go well, but to his relief, Konrad never knew. And Louis would really like to keep this away from Magnus, as this was irrelevant and he was older and more mature. He could do an easy jump in the air.

So he jumped, stretching out his left leg, kicking it upwards. It actually went well, and for a second, he was airborne and felt like he was the most professional 'ninja' in Durmstrang. "Like this?" Louis asked breathlessly, a smile creeping upon his face that he couldn't smother. "This will keep the boys in my class from jumping on me?" His eyes shined with hope as he looked up at this boy who knew so much about self defense. "You're the best!" He ran to quickly hug him in the middle for the second time today, happy and content. But Louis wanted to give him something back in return. "I know another trick! My brother taught me!" He said brightly, straightening and stepping back. Then, he mimed locking the crook of his arm on an invisible person, and pulling back his arm.

Magnus Blackwood!
DURMSTRANG | SECOND | OUTFIT | HEX
Russian/French | 09.26.2025 | WC 498

Louis was delighted when Magnus let out a whistle and was actually impressed. He grinned from ear to ear, feeling euphoric and pleased. The boy wanted nothing more than to please Magnus, and was elated when the older boy's hand ruffled him hair. It was something he'd read in books, and seen in illustrations, and the few times progressive parents at their church would organize muggle movies to be played at a muggle spot they would take all the church kids to for fun. It was the kind of thing he fantasized late at night in bed. And today the fantasy wasn't fulfilled by his brother, but by a boy he'd never met before. How blue in the face Konrad would be, if he heard. Or he could only imagine. "Thank you!" Louis's voice was filled with joy. "You'd have to teach me more, so I can be more like you!" Louis's hunger for knowledge could hardly be waned, and he was more than eager to learn more.

Louis didn't know how Magnus felt with him as a younger brother. He was only one year Magnus's junior, but he felt that the boy was much older, for he had a whole year more of experience than him. He vowed that he would be strong, and rid himself of the crybaby title his older brother gave him. Magnus wouldn't like to be around such a crying child, so he was going to become an independent human being—someone Magnus, and himself would be proud of. Thinking this, a sensation washed over him. A warm sensation that was oddly comforting. "Mein Bruder."¹ He sighed happily.