"Hey".
Hearing the familiar voice call out to her, Sophia raised her head up to look and she was right, it was her twin brother.
Noticing that she suddenly stopped working, Gina and Tina also rose up to inquire but they paused on noticing the short boy.
Yes, Paul was short. The only reason why his friends didn't tease him about it was his short temper and a lesson he taught a bully when he was just 5 years old.
The 2 girls waved at him in greeting before focusing back on their farm work, giving the twin some space.
"Umm, Tina, Gina, I'll be back". Saying this, Sophia dropped the hoe with which she worked before walking towards her brother.
On getting close, she called lightly. "Paul".
"Follow me," Paul smiled. "Let's go on a walk round the farm".
"Do you remember when we use to fantasize about coming to Aunt Ariel's farm? We always said we'll go on a walk round the farm to see how big it is".
Sophia smiled. "You remembered".
"Of course, I did, what do you take me for?" Paul laughed.
This time, following behind them, the lean man kept a respectable distance as he gave the twin all the privacy that they needed.
Of course, it didn't mean much though, he was a Heimdall after all, he could hear them clearly even from such a distance.
For the first few minutes, none of the two siblings said a word as they simply strolled through the massive farm, paying attention to the crops and the animals.
They let themselves be soothed by the natural ambience of the farm.
At some point though, the silence was finally broken.
"It's a big farm". Sophia commented. "It has such a serene atmosphere".
"You're right". Paul agreed.
Paul didn't know if he wanted it. Perhaps, he wanted and just denied it in his mind but about a dozen minutes into their stroll, they finally arrived at the mound of earth where their mom was buried.
Silently, the twin siblings stared at the last memento of their mom.
Paul chuckled slightly. "Mom sure went out with a bang, huh? Just like she always boasted she would".
Sophia silently looked at him.
He looked ahead. "You know, she always talks about how she doesn't want to die like a housewife but rather wants to die valiantly on the battlefield".
"Who would have known that her wish would be fulfilled someday? Wishes do come true".
As if he just remembered something, Paul shuddered. "I'm suddenly glad I never annoyed her more than necessary".
"Who knew that mom kept demonic Wolves hidden in the house?" He stared at his sister. "Seriously, that's scary, I can't imagine sleeping with demonic Wolves in the same roof with me".
Sophia chuckled.
"Mom really was a fierce woman". Paul sighed.
"You're just like her". Sophia said suddenly.
"Huh? Wait, what?" Paul stared at his sister incredulously. "Are you for real?"
She chuckled at her brother's reaction. "You didn't know? She always said you are like dad but it was just a distraction, in reality, you are just like her and she knew it, that was why she always tried to deny it".
"She didn't want you to be like her but well, mere mortals can't dictate that". She laughed cutely.
Saying to this point, Sophia could no longer hide it, she wiped her tears before they could overflow and sully her face again.
She sniffed and said in a low tone. "Paul, I miss her already".
"I know". Paul dragged his little twin sister closer and hugged her. "I know, I'm sorry I couldn't protect the both of you".
"It won't happen again".
In her brother's embrace, Sophia let it all out as she cried again. "I can't believe her; I can't believe she left us just like that".
"She promised to always be here with us after dad died".
"I hate those people who killed her".
Paul consoled his sister, expertly masking his emotions and covering the deep hatred and rage that currently simmered in his heart.
A few minutes later, Sophia calmed down, wiped her tears and forced a smile as she looked at her brother. "Aunty told us," she said. "I still can't believe that you were actually acknowledged by 5 different Divine Gods".
"Paul, you're incredible".
Paul smiled bashfully. "I always told you so, you never believed". He boasted.
"Whatever," Sophia shrugged and laughed lightheartedly, but then she rubbed her chin. "Something baffles me though".
She looked at her brother. "In the night, when mom was killed and you were overwhelmed by rage, while you manifested your powers, I could swear that you were also factioned to the Divine Dionysus".
"Huh? Why?"
She stared at him. "Remember mom's anger fits? How the house becomes shrouded in wine-colored mist, I also saw it yesterday with you. That's why I'm baffled, are you sure you were acknowledged by only 5 Divine Gods?"
This question…, well, it sent Paul's head racing.
In the end, with no suitable answers in his head, he steered the conversation. "Well, I'm sure you don't know yet but I already grasped 3 of my powers".
"Really?" Sophia's eyes lit up. "Which one?"
Paul struggled but he was able to display his 3 different God powers to his twin sister. Sophia was excited, vocal with her exclamations and praise as he showboated.
He could not keep it up for long though, his God essence was soon exhausted.
Afterall, he had been stressing it since morning.
Paul and his sister found a flower before placing it on their mom's grave. After that, they continued their stroll round the farm.
When they got back to where they started, Sophia joined Gina and Tina to wrap up their work for the day while Paul left with the lean man.
On the way, they engaged in a conversation again.
…
By exactly 6 in the evening, Aunt Ariel finally came back after her long journey since morning. She was not alone; she came back with 8 new people following her.
Aunt Ariel came back with reinforcements. 5 apprentice awakened and 3 intermediate awakened; it was a sizeable force, more than enough to defend a farm. They were not going to defend a farm though.
Rather, they would be defending the Cosmopolitan, Paul Arrakis.
Meeting her husband, her nephew, and the lean man in their apartment in the farm again, she told them about her endeavors.
"The 8 awakened warriors outside are the ones I was able to get immediately, but they're not all". She smiled tiredly.
"Other of my powerful customers promised me. One of them, an intermediate awakened factioned to the God of War, Ares promised to come before 8 tonight".
"Others also promised me 4 more apprentice awakened and an intermediate awakened".
"This should be more than enough to fend off the assassins of the order".
"They were 6 originally and 1 was killed by my sister. With this force, we should be able to fight and force the 5 assassins to retreat".
She smiled at her nephew. "Paul, don't worry, feel at home, you're my son".
"With your parents gone, I am your mother, I will protect you".
Paul forced a smile. "Thanks, aunty".
That night, the atmosphere in the farm was tense.
The hours crawled forward at a snail's pace; the night seemed even longer than usual. No one could sleep, everyone in the farm was on watch out.
8:00pm…, 9:00pm…, 10:00pm, still no assassin.
It was around after 11 in the night that the assassins finally made an appearance. They didn't mask their presence, they infiltrated directly into the large sitting room where all the awakened warriors were gathered.
"Hand the Cosmopolitan over to us".
'Such confidence? These bastards!' Aunt Ariel gritted her teeth.
She got prepared to tell her warriors to get ready for battle but instinctively looking around for her nephew, Aunt Ariel was stunned.
"…"
"…"
"…..!"
Paul was nowhere to be seen!