Damien and Damon felt different whenever they were together. They felt like a whole. Like a body with its head intact.
Damien liked it more than anything. The thought of being close to his twin brother but he knew it would be impossible. Fate had shown that it had a different path for them.
Damon seemed to be doing well and Damien was simply happy with that fact. If Damon was in good shape, then it was worth it.
However fate had willed it, Damien didn't plan to let it go that way. Since he couldn't meet up with his brother's talent with his own, he would close the bridge through hardwork.
Clang!
Theie wooden swords clashed against each other within Damien's room. Since it cancelled out noise, it was the perfect place for an activity such as this one.
The twin brothers attacked each other with their weapons, hoping to overpower each other.
In terms of close combat, Damien had always been superior but now that Damon had awakened and S-Rank Talent known as Weapon Master, his talent was starting to show itself. He could wield weapons better, he could see their weaknesses and strengths and knew how best to utilise them all.
Clang!
Crack!
A tear appeared on Damien's sword which led Damon to chuckle. He'd seen the weapon's weak spot and striked. "Hehehe… I guess I've been training a lot more, huh?"
However, despite his words, Damon knew his talent played a major role. He also knew that when it came to hand to hand combat without a weapon, he'd definitely lose to Damien. He'd never won before.
"It seems to be the case. That talent of yours is perfect for you." Damien smiled, changing the way he held his weapon as well as his fighting stance. "Uncle Osbourne sure is taking good care of you."
"Ready?" Damien asked his twin and before he even got a response, he descended on Damon who reacted just in time.
Crack!
Damon's parried strike ended up making Damien's sword crack even more from the force of impact and by the time the third clash happened.
Crack!!
Damien's sword snapped in two, with small pieces falling off as well.
"It was a good fight," Damien said, rubbing his brother's head. "I'm proud of you, little brother."
Damon paused for a moment as he heard Damien's last two words. "You're only six minutes older."
"You should've made it out at the same time or earlier and I wouldn't have to add that." Damien shrugged as he tossed the other half of his Worden sword into a basket close to his bathroom's door. It held a bunch of other wooden weapons as well.
"Whatever." Damon also threw his weapon into the basket and quickly walked into the bathroom to clean up.
"Hey! I'm older so I get to enter first!" Damien rushed toward the door but Damon was faster. The door slammed against his face just as he arrived in front of it.
"You better be prepared for a fist fight when you come out." Damien warned as he walked back to his bed.
Both brothers felt alive when they were together and although they wanted that, they couldn't have it. At least, not yet.
"Hey! You know," Damon suddenly called out from the bathroom,ending the five minutes long silence. It was obvious that he was done bathing and was preparing to come outside.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
There was a series of knock on the door that coincidentally sounded the same time as Damon's three worded sentence.
Damon didn't hear the knock. Damien didn't hear Damon's sentence due to the knock. He headed to the door to see who it was.
Just before he reached the door, it swung open and when Damien saw the figure standing in front of the door, he froze.
Silver short hair, blue eyes, a long vertical scar in front of his right ear, short thin nose, a tall muscular build, silver inner robes, and blue outer robes.
"Greetings father." Damien quickly reacted with a respectful bow. He didn't want to seem suspicious in front of this man.
With a nod of acknowledgement from his father, Damien raised his head and just as he stood straight and met eyes with the man, he heardhis father's words. "Where's your twin?"
Damien froze for a second but just as quickly, he answered. "Not here, father."
He knew what it would mean if their father found Damon here.
Fortunately, Damon hadn't left his clothes in the room when he entered the bathroom.
Unfortunately? Damien was sure the boy was done cleaning up and would be out soon. He could only pray that Damon's luck didn't run out today.
'Please, dear Gods. Allow him spend another minute or two in there!' Damien prayed deeply to the Gods who had blessed him with a talent as weak as his.
The doorknob of the bathroom's door twisted and the door was pulled opened. "Damien, I was said Father has decided I start Essence Train…"
Damon also froze on the spot. His eyes clashes with his father's and both of them engaged each other in a battle of stares.
Their father then turned his gaze to Damien who was standing just a few feet away. He grunted lowly. "You're becoming more useless as the days go by."
With that said, their father turned and walked away. "Damon, you better be at the main building by the time I arrive." He commanded as he walked away.
Without a single word, Damon bolted outof the room. He knew that speaking another word might spell his doom or that of his twin.
"You'll face punishment for lying and trying to cover up for another despite being useless." Damien heard his father's voice one last time just before the man vanished from his sight.
Damien slammed the door shut and rather than shout out to his heart's content, he sighed. "It's one hell after another, huh?"
His mind travelled back to the day after their awakening ritual. Their father had sparred with the personally and Damien had ended up being tossed around like a rag doll.
Damien's talent seemed to continuously irritate their father whenever they came together. He was always reminded of Damien's talent upon seeing the boy.
"I can only wait it out. What doesn't kill me, makes me stronger. Right?" Damien asked himself, hoping whatever punishment his father had, it wouldn't be harsh enough to spell his death.