Lionel went to Jane and Trent, in their usual playing spot, where they hung out, played and sometimes trained together, apart from the training done in Dojo. As a child Trent was somewhat similar. Back then, he was not as tall as he was currently, but he was still a slim man who was pretty lean. His short, coarse-looking dark hair that reached to his neck and his eyes, which were small and piercing were still the same though. On the other hand, Jane was pretty similar looking to young Madelyn. Fairly tall and well-toned woman, similar pale skin, black eyes, and shaggy black hair that was long. It was clearly visible Jane was Madelyn's mother.
When Lionel arrived, he saw Jane and Trent practicing sword fighting with their wooden swords. By the time Lionel reached, Jane pushed Trent and he fell, and started crying, saying his sister is always harsh on him.
"I am not harsh on you, I intend to make you stronger Trent." Jane said.
"But your ways are harsh on little Trent." Lionel said, while going near Trent and picking him up.
"You know it as well Lionel that he is a weakling, I can't let my brother be a weakling." Jane said.
"Even I'm a weakling. Go harsh on me as well." Lionel replied.
"You are someone different Lionel. He is someone different." Jane replied.
"How come?" Lionel asked.
"Trent's an incompetent child." Jane said right in front of Trent.
"Jane! That's not the way." Lionel said with a little loud tone, trying to act angry. Hearing them, Trent ran away. "Trent! Wait!" Lionel cried to stop him but Trent ran away.
"See what you did." Lionel said and ran behind Trent.
"Why you always like my brother and not me?" Jane asked, running behind Lionel.
"I like you both, but Trent's still a child. He needs more protection than you and me. Saying these would make him feel bad." Lionel replied.
"I wish he didn't existed." Jane said slowly to herself.
"There he is." Lionel said, and ran towards Trent to catch him. "Caught you little one." Lionel exclaimed. "Where were you going? You know how much tensed we were?" Lionel asked angrily.
"To die, not that anyone cares." Trent replied.
"Hush! We care about you. That's why we both came behind. (To Jane) Right Jane?" Lionel said. Jane nodded her head. "Now no need to run away, clear?" Lionel ordered Trent.
"She came because you were coming. She didn't have come if you weren't here. I know this as this has happened every time." Trent said.
"Really? That's very bad Jane." Lionel scolded Jane.
"Not my fault for him being so weak." Jane replied.
"Jane? He's your brother ain't he? If I were in his place, would have you done the same to me?" Lionel asked.
"Never!" Jane replied promptly.
"Then apologise to him. Now." Lionel ordered.
"Fine. (To Trent) I'm really sorry for everything I did brother." Jane apologised to Trent.
"Alright sis" Trent said with a big grin on his face.
"Come lets train together Trent." Lionel said.
"If brother's there, I'll be there too." Trent said delighted.
"Alright." Jane said with a smile.
The trio went to train in their usual spot with their wooden swords. As usual, Jane defeated Lionel and Trent easily.
"Damn you both are too weak for me." Jane said laughing, in order to mock them.
"Yeah you are right Jane." Lionel replied with a bright smile.
"Tsk." Trent grunted.
"Aye Trent, accepting defeat is also a part of training." Lionel said.
"I don't believe in that brother. I will never accept defeat. I will come back becoming stronger" Trent said.
"That's the spirit brother." Lionel said.
"And I will wait to defeat you again." Jane said, "I can't be weaker, I have to be a good Knight and wife to Lionel in future."
Lionel blushed while Jane smirked at him. Just then Howard came and called for the kids since its evening time now.
Time changes and now Lionel is eighteen, while Jane is sixteen and Trent is thirteen. Lionel was ordered by Killian to live in the Duadella City in a rented apartment so that he could learn to live like an ordinary boy out in world. Lionel obliged and went to the city, where he graduated and started to do his part time job. To his surprise, Jane also came and lived with him in his small apartment. She was still in high school.
One day, after completing his work, he went to pick Jane from school, where he saw a kid being bullied. Lionel went to stop them, however, the bullies started bullying him. Lionel could've avoided, but Jane intervened and accidentally hurt the bully. She felt guilty and took him to the Infirmary. Ever since then, she started spending more time with him.
Lionel got jealous of their closeness and spied on them. He found out some details about the bully. His name was Edward Spencer, a womanizer who looks down upon weak. Since he was very popular boy, it was clear that Jane was fully attracted to him. Lionel observed for few days, he even confronted her, but it was of no use.
Lionel remembered the time they promised they would marry each other when they were children. Jane even promised to be his loyal and faithful Knight, since she was an Eagle. Remembering those moments, Lionel called Jane.
When she arrived, he begun, "You like strong men right?"
"Lionel, I swear if you're asking about Edward." Jane replied, when Lionel cut her off and asked again, "You like strong men right?"
"Yes." she replied looking down.
"Alright. Have this." Lionel said while giving his Bat necklace to her.
"Lionel?" she asked.
"I've left my job and going back to father. I will come back being stronger. Will you wait for me?" he asked.
Jane stood silently and then held his hand and said, "Yes I will."
"Its our promise then." Lionel said.
"Yes." she replied.
Lionel left immediately for his father's place on foot, running as fast as he could. He didn't even stop, or slowed down.
"Father!" Lionel called for Killian.
"Lionel? Why are you here at this time? You know its midnight, is everything alright?" Killian asked while Lionel struggled to catch his breath for running like mad man for two hours straight.
"Father. I want to be stronger." Lionel said struggling to breathe.
"Its alright Lionel but for now just come in." Killian said in a concerned voice.
Lionel goes inside with Killian. Killian makes him sit on the couch, and give some of Lionel's favourite Black Tea, and sits opposite of him. He asks Lionel how is life was in Duadella City, Lionel answered them and again asked Killian to make him stronger, while telling the reason, why he wants to be stronger. Hearing Lionel's reason, Killian started telling him about his past.
"Years ago, when we Shiroganes were in a war against Kuroganes, I got to know that father was murdered in the war. I was told to ascend the throne. By then, I was your age. Young Prince, becoming leader of Shiroganes. I was criticised a lot as well, for being young, weak, incompetent.
I was reminded of the words father told me. Every human is passed on the genes of their parents, who got their genes from their respective parents. This way, the line of inheriting genes come from our ancestors. However, our clan is gifted with the ability to use them, only if we truly will to." Killian paused.
"Will?" Lionel asked.
"You see all this training to become strong, method, power, etc, is nothing. The will is the most important of all. If we will to act, our ancestors pass on their strengths, what we treat as superpowers gifted by our ancestors to us." Killian replied.
"I see." Lionel said.
"That was how, no training, practise, punishment, could help me. But the moment I entered the battlefield to fight for our clan, you know the rest son." Killian said, looking at a portrait of him standing on a pile of many dead Kurogane soldiers. "There is a recruitment going on in the army. I'll set up a meeting with James Lopez, the General. He is a friend and ally in army. He asked me to send some soldiers for recruitment. I shall send your name as well son."
"Are you sure I can do this?" Lionel asked.
"There is an ancient saying. In our mythological books, the God said that the distance between you and your victory is 'I can?' and 'I can!' Go ahead son, fulfill your promise made to Jane." Killian said tapping Lionel's shoulders, with a look that showed that he was proud of Lionel.