Four weeks had passed since the awakening ritual for the twin. Within those two weeks, a lot had changed in the Terrace family in regards to the twin siblings.
The family head, the father of the twins had given a command that all resources available be focused on the younger of the twins—Damon. Seeing as the older one, Damien had awakened as a failure, the family head had decided to groom Damon into the next family head in place of Damien who should’ve been the rightful heir.
As such, after the talent Awakening ritual, Damon had been given full attention by the family while Damien had been neglected. The twins had essentially been separated from each other through training.
Initially, Damien and Damon trained together under the same teachers but now, Damien was left to train himself. No one wanted to train a kid with an E-Rank talent.
This had led to the separation of the twin siblings who were now forced to live different lives due to their talents. Damon was separated from his brother so he could focus more on harnessing the most of his talent. Damien on the other hand, was separated so he would neither be a distraction or slow down his twin brother.
“I guess that’ll be the end of round three of today’s training according to my schedule.” In the dimly lit confines of a room of about thirty square meters, Damien sighed as he wiped the sweat off his chin. He’d just finished the daily training routine he’d gone through with Damon for the past five years.
The training comprised of thorough physical training as well as combat training which was the specialty of the family as a whole. It usually lasted around three hours and there was no break within those four hours.
“I wonder how Damon is doing right now.” Damien whispered to himself, taking off his top and heading to the bathroom to clean himself up.
Damien shook the thought of his twin brother out of his head. “He’d definitely be fine seeing that he’s been cared for by the whole family,” Damien smiled and then he remembered a certain silver haired aunt of his and his smile vanished faster than it had appeared. “Or not.”
Damien made his way to his bathroom without delay. He’d spent the first half of the day training within his room after all. He needed to clean up and head out. He was out of food and needed to restock. A weekly habit he’d started building up after the Awakening ritual.
After spending minutes in the bathroom, enjoying the hot spring in his room, Damien walked out feeling refreshed. “I only got this room due to mum and uncle’s influence. Thank the Gods for their intervention.” He had a towel wrapped around his waist as he spoke.
“It even has a sound cancellation spell attached that prevents eavesdropping from people with very sensitive hearings like her.” Damien’s smile returned at that thought. No matter what he said, she wouldn’t hear him.
“She better get married or else she’ll become a single grandaunt soon.” Damien chuckled.
He quickly changed into a new set of clothes and without hesitation, he left his room. He didn’t have a window in his room so he never knew how the weather fared. He could only tell by the change in general temperature.
However, today that he’d stepped out, Damien noticed that the sky was rather redder than usual. Indeed, it was sun set but Damien had been around to be able to differentiate between sunset and the current color of the sky.
“It’s that time again, huh?” Damien asked himself as he made his way to the family’s storehouse.
Every twenty years, for a certain period of time, the sky would turn red like this which signaled the start of something every talent user knew either through teaching or experience.
The start of another War of Blood. The war between human and demons that led to a huge bloodshed each time from both side. The sky would turn red for three years and on the fourth year, the war would begin.
“Wish you all the best.” Damien said weakly as he continued his lonely journey. He wouldn’t be joining either way. The talent he’d awakened would either make him the first kill or a bonus kill if he chooses to join the war.
As he strolled through the walkways down to the storehouse, Damien met no one on his path. For a place with over three dozen maids and five dozen guards and warriors, it was eerily empty.
“Or have they decided to leave this building for me too?” Damien asked himself as he thought of how many buildings existed within the family’s estate that spanned over a hundred acres.
Not bothered by whatever the case might truly be, Damien arrived at the building’s storehouse with a smile. If they truly had abandoned this building and have chosen. To let him be alone, he would be more excited.
Of course his training would continue within his room so he didn’t attract unwanted attention but he’d be free to step out more often without having manage the gaze of his disappointed family members and maids alike.
Damien pushed opened the storehouse and soon, his smile turned to a frown. “Do they want me to die soon? What’s with the little amount of food stored here?” Damien’s frown grew worse.
Separating him from his twin was fine. Neglecting him was fine. Partially abandoning him was also fine. But now, they wanted him to starve? He wouldn’t have that.
“They better be providing restocks regularly or I’ll have to visit father soon.” Damien walked into the storehouse and picked a few loaves of bread. The thought of visiting his father played in his head and by the end of his imagination, he shook his head. “I’ll visit uncle instead.”
Picking the few loaves of bread and some other food items, Damien made us way back to his room. He wouldn’t be out for a while again.
As he approached his door, he paused. He’d left his door closed when he left but now, it was slightly open. “It better be you.” Damien murmured and continued toward his door.
There was only one person he knew who would enter him room without a warning and do whatever he wanted.
Damien pushed the door open and found a figure laying on his bed, facing the ceiling.
When the figure heard the door creaked open, he raised his head, revealing a face that was exactly like Damien’s. “Oh. You’re back, Damien.” The figure said with a smile on his face.
“Damon, if you keep doing this, you’ll get caught.” Damien said. Even as he spoke in such a tone that suggested warning, he was smiling. Smiling at the fact that Damon had sneaked out to see him once again.