-two years later-
Valerie and Vincent were sitting in the library flipping through books.
Not long after their rebirth, they noticed That their cognitive function, especially their memory retention, was exceptional. It was borderline photographic. This made their two years on this world extremely productive.
Not only did they pick up the language from their surroundings fast, but ever since they started walking at 9 months old, they started sneaking into the massive library in their mansion to read books.
Although they spent a year and 3 months reading everyday with their eidetic memory, they still haven’t covered a third of the library.
A week after their birth, there was screaming in their mansion. They heard crashing objects and yelling, as if someone was venting his fury. At the time, Valerie was being fed by Kate while Vincent was being carried by Rosie, their other maid. Once the two maids heard the voices they shuddered.
They hurriedly put the infants down as the doors were slammed open. A man who looked awfully similar to the twins walked in. His dominating demeanor and dark surging aura made those who look at him cower in fear. His cold raging eyes merely swept over the infants before locking onto the maids. But that small glance shook Valerie to her core. She instantly knew that her father was a killer. Those eyes, eyes that saw bloodbaths, were awfully familiar to the twins.
Their father grabbed Kate by her throat screaming at her. If not for the twins crying loudly which caused him to pause, and eventually drop the maid, he would’ve probably killed Kate.
Since then, they never saw their father again. That was about to change.
Kate informed them the day before that they’re to meet their father for lunch for their second birthday.
It was still early in the morning. Valerie shut the book she just finished, titled ‘elemental energy theories’, as she telepathically spoke to her brother, ‘you think father is going to approve of us?’
‘I think if he saw you in those pants he won’t.’
Valerie grunted. The world they were born in frowned upon females wearing ‘male clothings’, which is Val’s favorite type of clothes. Everyday was a struggle with Kate over her clothes, well, everyday since her speech was somewhat coherent. Before that she would just cry and throw away the dresses Kate held. That only earned her an eye roll from her brother while Kate sighed over how difficult her young miss was.
Thankfully though, even though this world was similar architecturally to the Victorian era, their clothings style was more similar to the 21st century modern day.
‘We’re a family of assassins, surely he doesn’t expect me to practice assassination wearing a skirt, does he?’
‘I don’t think he expected you to learn at all.’
The sounds of them being called drifted through the mansion; this was their cue to sneak out. Vin put the book he had back as Val went to check if the hall is clear. Not 10 minutes later, they arrived at their bedroom successfully. They could hear Kate’s frustrated voice as she walked back to double check their room.
“Katee~” yelled Val as she went to hug her with a huge smile. Vin was silently sitting near her giving the maid a puzzled look, feigning ignorance on their disappearance.
They practically perfected acting like babies.
“Where were you two?” Kate felt a headache coming on. Her young masters kept disappearing on her every once in a while. It was frightening.
“Rosie! They’re in here!” She yelled before fixing her gaze on the twins waiting for an answer.
“Hehe~ no saying!” Smiled Val innocently.
Kate sighed before carrying the little girl, “we should get you two ready for your lunch with master. Rosie, clean up the young master.”
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Rosie, who just walked in, went to carry Vin. She was panting, clearly from looking around the mansion in panic.
After few hours of dolling them up to look presentable, they were escorted to the dining hall. Kate nervously held Val’s hand escorting her, oblivious to the conversation the twin were having.
‘Do you think he can tell we already started absorbing spiritual energy?’ Asked Val worriedly.
Not long after their birth, they noticed how everyone in their surroundings used magic. This made them ecstatic. They started experimenting every day trying to use it too. After months of constant meditation and attempting to feel the magic, they finally succeeded. They could see and feel the energy particles around them when meditating. These particles would slowly drift into their bodies once they focused on them, so they deduced that it’s how people cultivate in this world.
Only after visiting the library did they learn that their method was crude at best, and that there exists many more efficient ways to absorb energy. Nonetheless, the fact they started to cultivate at such a young age was astounding.
In this world, people started cultivating once they awakened their soul-bond at the age of 5. A soul-bond is an otherworldly creature who’s bound to a person’s soul. Everyone in this world was born with one, although their strengths differed greatly. Soul-bonds are like your soul companion who’re linked to you due to your souls being highly compatible. They exhibit characteristics similar to their owners, and due to them being from different worlds, they vary greatly. From demonic creatures to Faeries, all types of soul-bonds existed.
Although soul-bonds are present since birth, they lay dormant until their owner turns 5 year old, and once they’re awakened, they unlock their owner’s spiritual sea, making them able to cultivate. What Val and Vin did, however, was akin to cracking their spiritual sea’s gates slightly open themselves, allowing them to cultivate.
Another thing they learned was that spiritual energy varied. Each person had certain affinities to specific elements. This affinity stems from the reflection of their soul. The element they use correlates to the type of person they are.
Usually, people could only absorb one element, while geniuses absorbed two. Rarely would people absorb three elements, while absorbing more than three was unprecedented.
As the twins came to learn, they each could absorb three. Valerie’s elemental affinities were fire, darkness, and space magic. Vincent, on the other hand, had wind, light, and mind magic.
‘I hope not. Even if he noticed, we can just act dumb. We’re two years old, remember?’ Replied Vincent.
“Master.” Kate bowed as they entered the dining hall.
“You’re dismissed.” A thick voice said.
The twins bowed at the same time, “father.”
They walked slowly to the seats prepared and sat down.Their father kept his eyes on them studying them.
“Hm? You can cultivate already?”
Their hearts dropped.
‘Of course he’d see through us. The infamous Shadow Killer, the head of the assassination guild, wouldn’t be fooled by our sorry attempt at holding our spiritual energy back.’ Thought Val in a sigh.
She still tilted her head and looked at her father puzzled. “Cultivay?”
‘You sure know how to act cute.’ Thought Vin.
‘Excuse me! I am cute!’
Their father frowned before extending his hands. “Give me your hands.”
They reluctantly obeyed. A few minutes later, he let go of them.
“Did you naturally open your spiritual sea’s gate? Not bad. Ken.”
A shadow flashed before a man appeared next to them kneeling, “sir.”
The twins went on high alert. As former assassins, their instincts had them scan their surroundings at all time. The fact they haven’t sensed this man till now frightened them. It also came as a slap in the face, waking them up to the fact they’re powerless in this world. All they learned as assassins barely had any use.
“I want you to start training the twins.”
Ken’s eyes widened, “m-master, their bodies are too young to handle the burden of training.”
“Start with the least physically demanding training then. Build up their poison, temperature, and pain resistance for now. Have them start cultivating using high grade manuals as well.”
‘Is he crazy?!’ Shrieked Val.
Building up their resistances meant that their everyday lives for the foreseeable future would be torture. Having gone through similar training before, they knew the terror of it. No person in their right mind would subject their merely two year old children to such pain.
‘… It’s good news though. We’re bound to rebuild our resistances anyway to get stronger in this world. Might as well start now.’ Replied Vin after a moment of silence.
Val had a lot to say to her sadistic father but she held back. Vin had a point. They were too weak right now, and if they want to hold any sort of advantage at all, they need to start training seriously now. She just never expected her father to be so heartless to little kids.
“Y-yes sir!” Ken replied. His eyes reflecting his shock. He glanced at the twins with slight pity before flashing away.
Their father started eating as if nothing had transpired just now. They too ate a little, though they were clearly absentminded.
At night, by the time Kate knew the master’s orders, she was sobbing. She held Ken’s clothes trying to keep him away from the twins.
“No! They’re just kids! You can’t do this to them! You must have misunderstood master! He would never do this to my lady’s children!” She begged.
Ken sighed before he ushered to a few of his subordinates to hold her back.
“It’s masters orders. There’s no misunderstanding. You could either let me take them to train in The Shallows with you, or we’ll go without you.”
Kate forced herself to calm down. She needed to be there for them at least.
The twins looked at each other in confusion, ‘The Shallows?’