The fire crackle as the night grew darker, trees creaked as the wind blows. The faint moonlight glows creating a veil of silver light, reflecting off of every nukes and cranny.
Darius's purple eyes stared at the twins, he wanted to ask them about their past. But knowing them, they will try to make a bargain about it.
"You look like you have something to ask," Loki stared at him with a mischievous smile.
"No, I don't" Darius looked away.
"We can trade you know, you tell us your story and we will tell ours to you." Luke sat beside Darius wearing the same smile.
"How about it?" Loki came closer, their faces almost touching Darius' face.
"Fine. But only if you go first." Darius scooted away, weirded out by the little space between them.
Loki shrugged, "Good enough."
"Over here!" The guard shouted as they turned to the alley.
The sound of the water hitting the pavement echoes as the rain pours heavily. The sky is dull and gray as thunders rumbles.
Light footsteps tapped in the hidden corner of the alley.
Loki smiled as he held out the bag of gold, his twin brother smiled back as he pats him on the shoulder.
"Let's go," Luke said as they ran back the street.
When the started twins walk through the sidewalk, they came across a man. Wearing a fairly decent suit.
Luke speed up and 'accidentally' collided with the man. Swiftly fishing out his money from his pocket, putting his hand on his back. Luke passed the bag of gold to Loki.
"Watch where you're going you alley rat!" The man shouted.
"I-I'm sorry Sir," He raised both of his hands as if surrendering. His gentle face and innocent eyes, showing a tremendous amount of guilt and fear.
His acting skill was enough to convenience the man that he was harmless.
The man scoffed before walking away.
The twins chuckled as their eyes met.
"Two in a day, nice!" Loki smirked.
Upon reaching the ghetto, their smiles vanished.
"Those scams," Loki mumbled, his light brown eyes staring at the poor living condition of the people.
Neither of the twins likes the corrupted city of Austral because all they faced growing up is discrimination and poverty.
"Let's go," Luke said.
"One day," Loki muttered as they walked further into the area.
Luke nodded, "one day."
"Then you're thieves?" Darius asked.
"Let's make it clear we WERE, but not anymore." Loki waved a finger in front of Darius.
"We did that mainly for fun though," Luke smiled. Before giving his brother a high five.
"And the money?" Darius asked.
"We give them away, see? We're like Robin hood." Loki exclaimed.
"But in pair," Luke added much to his twin brother's satisfaction.
Darius didn't say anything else, he can't really blame the twins. They had to do what they can to survive, besides, he had seen the city of Austral himself. And it was not the most pleasant place to live in, especially if you're part of the lower class.
"Wait, I had been in Austal and there was a rumor about a witch in the area..."
"Ah that, yes, we were actually about to do something about that when we heard the news. But when we came back from a long mission with Miss Ruby, the people said that a traveler killed the witch." Loki explained.
"Wait," Luke pointed at Darius.
"It was you ain't it?!" he shouted.
"Lower your voice," Darius hissed.
"Then... if you killed Black Annis..." Luke muttered then turned to look at his brother.
They both nodded.
"Looks like we owe you huh," Loki said.
"No, that was in the past. You can forget about it."
"No, I insist. You saved the people of the ghetto when the city itself abandoned them. We have to make it even somehow." Loki replied.
Darius sighed, "What about continuing?" He said to change the subject.
"Let me go!" Loki struggled as the woman held him down on the bar counter. Her chest pressed against his back.
"Where's the other one?" She asked, her low seductive voice whispered in his ear. She was wearing a red tight button-up shirt, and black fitted leather pants. A black long coat and a black hat, matched with a pair of leather gloves.
"Like hell, I will tell you!" Loki hissed.
The woman tightened her grip, her free hand grabbed Loki's hair and pulled it back before slamming his head against the counter.
"I'm going to ask one time, where is your brother?" She asked in a stern voice.
Loki chuckled, "Again, like hell, I will tell you."
The woman slammed his head against the counter for the second time.
In a quick moment, Loki was tied down and thrown to the floor.
The woman placed her left foot on Loki's back to keep him in place.
A sigh left her red painted lips, "Both of you are such pain."
From the cold floor, Loki glared at the woman. His blood still dripping from his nose.
"I suppose I will execute you first," the woman pulled out her long saber. The silver blade glinting dangerously as it hovers over Loki's nape.
"Fuck off old hag!" Luke came through the front door, he threw a knife. Aiming for the woman's chest. But it was easily deflected by her long saber blade.
She smirked as Luke went to Loki's rescue.
'Hmmm… just as I thought. The two of them have a strong bond.' She thought.
Just before Luke could cut his twin brother free, the woman kicked him on the side. Sending Luke a few feet away.
A booted foot slammed against his chest, pressing ever so slightly.
"Hi," the woman smiled at Luke.
"She captured you?" Darius asked.
"Yep, when she did. I genuinely thought Miss Ruby was actually going to kill us." Luke shook his head.
"But it turns out, she wants to train us," Loki added.
"How did she learn about the two of you thought?"
Luke shrugged, "Rumors spread like wildfire, especially in ghettos."
Darius nodded his head, wondering what kind of mentor Miss Ruby was.
Ruby hit Loki with the crop, "Do as I said!" She shouted.
"Ah! You're so sadistic!" Loki complained for the nth time.
"I swear to god if you complain one more time, I will kill you with my bare hands!" Both the twins only laughed at her empty threat.
"Why are you laughing?!" She hit Loki again. "Urgh! You're making my head hurt." Ruby groaned.
"Want some tea?" Luke asked.
Their mentor glared at the twins, "I want you to do what I told you to do!"
The twins laughed, "Fine." Loki said.
"Let's go!" She commanded, taking her wooden sword out.
In a swift movement, Loki charged in. His mischievous smile not vanishing from his pink lips, his eyes looking straight into her own.
He was taking pleasure in this fight.
Their sword clashed, Loki not giving her enough time to keep up. Forcing their mentor to step back each time he attacks.
She smiled, 'So these idiots had been playing with me all this time.'
With another strong blow, Ruby was forced further into defense. But as she was about to counterattack, Loki sidestepped.
Luke came from the other side, his knife directed at her. He held a more serious face, a frown on his lips, eyes dull and empty.
The face of an assassin.
Ruby felt a gust of wind as the knife stopped just before it stabbed her side.
The tension vanished along with the blow of the wind, her red hair flowing gently as she stared at Luke. Watching the young man step back.
"We did yay!" The twins jumped up and down, both hands are up in the air.
"Well done," Ruby nodded her head.
"Remember this, if the two of you are together… you can accomplish anything." She told them.
"You're stronger together, so never go without the other."
"Eh… even taking over the empire?" Luke smiled a stupid smile plastered on his face.
"Or ransacking Austral?" Loki added.
The mentor groaned, 'But together also means more headache for the people around them.'
From what the twins had told him, Darius can already tell that Miss Ruby is something special. Just the fact that she managed to handle the twins places her on a pedestal.
"She must be an amazing mentor," Darius pondered.
The twins smile, but this time it was different. It was gentle and genuine, without the slightest hint of mischief.
"She is…" Loki nodded.
"Even with her strict demeanor, you will be able to see how kind she is," Luke added.
Darius nodded, "Well it's getting late. I'll stand guard first, the two of you can sleep for now."
"Oh okay," Loki nodded.
But as he was about to lay down, he remembered something.
"Wait a moment…" he furrowed his brows.
"You haven't told us your story!" He protested.
Darius laughed, thinking he could get away.
"Someone thought they are super slick huh," Loki narrowed his eyes while pouting his lips.
"I almost got away you have to admit that," Darius chuckled.
In the end, Darius told the twins about his life. Well, some of it at least.
He told them about his mission in the Kirkland mansion and how he met Oraculi, Brennan, and Alexander. But decided to leave the rest as a forgotten memory.
While the twins and Feli were asleep, Darius was left alone to think about his life. All of the problems that he shoved away in a corner of his mind, coming back to haunt him.
He stared at the flames that had been keeping them warm.
But out of a sudden, he caught a glimpse of something.
In the corner of his eyes, he can see a woman standing very still. Just a few meters away.
He turned, only to see a weeping woman, her image sent shivers down in his spine.
She was doing nothing, yet her presence terrified the young man.
Holding a red piece of clothing, she wept in the middle of the forest.
She has a thin almost skeleton-like body, long black hair, and a faint glow around her.
She pointed at Darius, her red eyes meeting his purple once.
As if he lost control of himself, Darius walked over to the woman. His hand holding the hilt of his sword.
"Who are you?" He asked the woman as came close. His hand aching to pull out the sword from its scabbard.
The woman's gray chapped lips gapped like a fish. She shook her head sadly.
"I can no longer remember my name," she admitted. Her voice sounded like an echo from a far distance.
"Why are you here?" Darius asked suspiciously.
"I came to see you…" she said in a gentle voice.
She handed the piece of clothing to Darius, which he took from her hand. The blood that was soaking the cloth stained his hand.
Darius stared at the woman with petrified purple orbs.
Tears flow down her cheeks, "There is nothing but blood in your future." She warned.
"Death shall come forth, once the gates are closed."
The wind blew and the woman vanished, the cloth in Darius's hand crumbled onto sand.
Leaving the young man nothing but another problem in mind.