Up close, Nero observed Invictus fully, and took in the boy's powerful frame. He was even more muscular than Nero, which was rare in their age group, and stood slightly taller as well. His metallic grey hair was neatly combed to the side, which made him appear simple and straightforward.
But the man was far from simple. Even if Nero knew nothing about him, the overwhelming confidence in his eyes was a clear indicator of his personality. In this world, where anyone can die at any time from something unpredictable, unblemished confidence was incredibly difficult to nurture. After all, who hadn't experienced failure?
Nero himself, during the vine incident, had been confident in his own survival, until a creature that was far more powerful than it should have been appeared. It ultimately led to his failure. Although that did not kill his confidence, Nero did learn the value of having an adequate escape plan. But the gleam in Invictus' eyes was different.
