As they soon got to learn, The Shallows was an enormous underground space that belonged to the assassination guild. It was separated into different sections, and had many new recruits training in them.

Almost three years have passed. The twins underwent an unimaginable amount of pain everyday struggling to live. They spent nights shivering and seizing on the cold damp ground, and days screaming their lungs out in pain. Burnt skin and blood were the only prevailed scent in this place. They were rarely allowed to go outside, and only got to do so after Kate insisted that they need the sun or it’ll affect their growth.

Along with meditating everyday absorbing spiritual energy, they would practice magic every other day. During that time, Ken would allow them to roam The Shallows and practice with the other recruits, which made the twins popular in this place. Vin would practice his light magic by healing the other recruits’ minor wounds, while Val would get mentored by them on how to optimize her attacks.

The other recruits were all young, with almost all of them being orphans who would’ve died in the streets if the Arkens didn't take them in. Not all orphans taken in became assassins, rather, they were given the choice. They could work administrative jobs in one of the many branches of the guild, or as staff in one of the family’s mansions. The recruits were also given the chance to leave if they wanted to, however, if they chose to stay, they needed to sign an oath of blood.

Such an oath is bounding to the souls of the the people involved, and breaking it would cause damage to the soul, or even death.

During these three years, the twins' mind and space magic had no improvement at all. The two elements were even more rare than light and darkness, and there were virtually no books on them. They only hoped to figure something out themselves, or look it up once they went to the academy. Other than absorbing the elements while meditating, they didn't figure out how to utilize it efficiently yet. After all, a deeper understanding of an element is needed to connect with it and use it.

Their fifth birthday was merely few days away. It was a big deal in this world, even more so than the coming of age ceremonies. Families, especially esteemed ones, would throw a celebration. The assassination guild, being one of the top guilds in the kingdom, was no exception.

‘We’re finally allowed out for our birthday. I wonder what’s my soul-bond.’ Said Val as she redid the bandages on her arm.

‘Here, let me.’

Vin took her bandages off before closing his eyes as he held her bloody arm. Bright light flashed for a second, before her wound slowly healed.

Val smirked as she punched his shoulder playfully, ‘not bad! You’re getting better at control!’

‘A little. Let’s get going, Ken’s waiting.’ He replied looking away quickly.

Val followed him out smirking. Her younger brother was just so cute when he tried to hide his embarrassment.

During their time here, they were only allowed to be healed with healing magic once a week. This was essential for their training, so it wouldn’t go to waste. They needed to suffer to build tolerance.

As they reached Ken, they saw a middle aged man standing next to him. His white robes gave away his healer status.

“Mister Ronald.” The twins nodded towards him in acknowledgement. Have they been any other five year olds, this gesture would’ve been extremely rude.

However, they were the heirs to the largest assassination guild with thousands of assassins working under them. Bowing down to a mere intermediate healer was a disgrace.

The healer nodded back before he started treating them. Water covered the twins for a minute before their wounds started to heal.

Elements that have healing properties were, in order of strength, light, plant, water, and earth. Earth magicians barely counted as healers since they have weak healing abilities.

“Hm.. your wounds have lessened greatly. I take it your practice with light magic is going well, young master Vincent.” Ronald said in approval. His eyes shone brightly when looking at Vin.

It should be know that light and darkness magicians were scarce. They represented the epitome of healing and destruction. Having a light magician in front of him, Ronald couldn’t help being riled up. He saw himself how fast this young master progressed, and it boiled his blood with excitement. To be known as someone who guided a light magician was a great honor.

“It’s all thanks to mister Ronald’s advices.” Smiled Vincent politely in response, even though he inwardly scoffed.

‘Careful now, or he’ll sense how much you’re looking down on him and the bullshit he spewed to you as a so called guidance.’ Smirked Val teasingly.

The twin spend a lot of their time reading before coming to this hellhole, so when Ronald “guided” Vincent on using magic, they could spot so many errors in his methods that they nearly accused him of attempting to ruin them. However, based on how enthusiastic he seemed when teaching, they realized he’s just an awful teacher with very bad techniques. They were bewildered by the fact he even made it as a mage at all.

After they bid the healer goodbye, as well as payed him his fees, they headed out.

After walking for a while, Val said, “Ken, terminate our contact with the magician Ronald. He’s not qualified enough to work with the Arken family.”

Ken looked at his young miss in surprise. His master have ordered the same thing the day before, having discovered that the magician Ronald spread the news on the twins’ abilities.

It took him a second before he replied, “yes.”

Their mansion was huge, and the shallows’ entrance was located in the outskirts of it’s perimeters. It didn’t take them long before they reached their home.

Kate had left earlier that morning to clean up their rooms for them before they got there. Although the mansion was filled with maids, she insisted on doing it herself.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

As soon as Val walked into her new room, a room for her alone, she crashed onto the soft bed. Not long after, the expected scolding arrived.

“Young miss! Don’t lay down on the bed without bathing first! You reek of sweat!”

“Yes yes.. just a few more seconds.” She mumbled closing her eyes. Kate had to drag her half asleep miss to bathe by force. After cleaning her up, she finally allowed her to nap.

Ken met up with them at night in the study room. This time of night was usually when he taught them how to cultivate and use their magic, however, his topic today differed.

“Young masters, as I’ve told you before, in a few days you’ll awaken your soul-bond and have to attend the celebration held the day after. Today I’ll teach you what to expect when awakening your familiars.”

The twins sat across of him listening attentively.

Ken went on to explain how the process went. “Although the awakening is going to be painful, it’s nothing you can’t handle. The most important thing though, is how the awakening would affect your spiritual sea. Most kids faint as soon as the awakening occurs from the pain, which limits how much their spiritual sea opens. However, since you two went through your training, I expect your results to be even better. After the awakening, not only would your elemental control increase, but how much energy you have will multiply as well. This is related to how long you hold on during the awakening and how efficiently you’ll redirect the energy released into your spiritual sea.”

Ken kept emphasizing his words as he looked at his young masters. He only hoped that they at least understood a part of what he said. Although these two gave him a huge shock during training, with how smart and strong willed they were, he still couldn’t help looking at them as five year olds.

“Alright you’re dismissed now. From now on, your training schedule is going to change. You’ll continue your tolerance building, but it won’t take up as much time as before. After your ceremony, we’ll start physical training. You’ll also start limiting how much sleep you get everyday till you can function well in the least amount of sleep possible. Assassins might need to monitor their targets for long periods of time with minimal sleep, so this is crucial. Master hopes that by the time you’re sent to the academy, you’ll be done with your trainings. That gives us five years. Here’s your training schedules.”

Val groaned internally.

‘Looks like we’re fated to always be training. That’s alright though, the stronger we are now, the more carefree we get to be later on.’ Said Vin trying to reassure his sister.

After Ken left the room, she hit her head on the table and stayed there. “I have to say goodbye to sleep! That’s sad Vin!”

She added mentally, ‘I thought for sure I’d get my break in this life at least! We keep jumping from one hell to another.’

She kept complaining and nagging, not noticing how Vin’s face darkened at the mention of their previous life. He clenched his teeth in rage at what little memories flashed before him, before his sister’s voice brought him back to reality, ‘Vin? Why are you quiet.’

Val had her face on the table the whole time, so she didn’t see his expression. After questioning him, she turned to look at him puzzled only for his rage to subdue. He smiled sadly at her before saying, ‘nothing, I was just thinking. Don’t worry sister, I’ll be here.’

He added internally, ‘we can suffer together this time.’

‘Of course you’ll be here, where else will you be? Stop acting weird now, let’s go eat!’ Val got up as she dragged him with her to beg Kate for food.

——

The morning of their birthday came. Val barely slept all night, partially in preparation to ken’s upcoming absurd sleeping schedule, and partially because of her excitement. She was looking forward to her soul-bond’s awakening.

After they woke up, they headed to the spiritual pool in the back of the mansion. The opening of their spiritual sea’s gates was an opportunity to amass as much spiritual energy as they can. This pool was extremely beneficial to them. It also helped reconstitute their bodies, infusing it with as much energy possible. Ken warned them though that it’ll be extremely painful, so no normal kid would dare do so on top of the awakening's pain.

‘Why does it feel like they’re gambling with our lives? Surely this was never tested before.’ Grumbled Val as they were guided to the pool.

‘They probably are only speculating that it’s beneficial, but what’s the harm in trying? It’ll help strengthen our bodies. Maybe we’ll have a breakthrough due to it.’

In the five years they’ve been cultivating, they have only reached the third level of the novice stage, which happened a long time ago. No matter how much they kept meditating, it was no use.

Magicians were separated into 6 different stages: novice, intermediate, advance, master, legendary, and transcendent. Each stage contained 10 levels. The stronger the person gets the harder it becomes to advance further, making those who’ve reached the legendary stage extremely rare. Transcendent magicians were even more scarce, and only huge empires had one.

“Alright, although awakening could happen at any time on your birthday, once you get into the pool, it’ll catalyze the process. Many families have their own potions and techniques that catalyzes their children’s awakening too. It helps them be in control and prepared. Get into the pool and practice the meditation technique I’ve taught you. Push through the pain.”

The twins removed their outer robe, leaving their inner white robes on. They only hesitated for a second before submerging themselves in the pool and meditating. Ken was left shocked by their lack of reaction. Though he personally trained them in The Shallows for years, The spiritual pool was infamous for being one of the most painful experiences someone could undergo. The condensed energy was so potent, it would constantly attack and reconstruct the cells that came in contact with it. It was as if your body shattered and reformed.

‘They’re truly amazing’ thought Ken is admiration.

A few minutes later, as the pain intensity grew, grunts of pain escaped their lips as they shuddered. A sharp pain overflowed their bodies as bright light covered them. They could barely hear Ken’s voice urging them to redirect the energy into opening their gates.

It was a world of pain.

The pain dragged on for what felt like an eternity. They felt something shake in their soul. Something that just… connected. They could feel their soul-bonds stirring awake, before they appeared in front of them along with a surging wave of energy. Pure undiluted energy.

The twins quickly redirected the surge, preventing it from dispersing away into the world. They reabsorbed it forcefully through clenched teeth. Ken could only observe the waves of energy wrapping around them in astonishment.

Few hours later, after the last bit of energy was used, the twins crashed down. Ken quickly carried them away away to their rooms, with two small creatures following behind him.

——

“Kyuu~” Val felt a nudge. She frowned in her sleep in annoyance.

“Kyuu~”

She felt something wet on her face. As if someone… licked her? As that dawned on her, she jolted awake. She would usually be hyper aware of her surroundings, even when asleep, but the exhaustion from the previous ordeal knocked her out.

She came face to face with a small adorable black creature. It’s obsidian colored scales were covered by a dark aura that looked like flames. His baby blue eyes looked innocently at her in anticipation as he flapped his small wings in place.

“A- a dragon?? That’s so cool!” She shrieked. She hugged the little confused creature as she jumped off her bed and dashed to Vin’s room. She barged in to find Vin sitting at his desk reading a book, with a white fox sleeping on his shoulder.

“Look look! My soul-bond is a dragon!” Val shoved the poor dragon at Vin.

The fox lifted his head, glanced at the dragon in disinterest, before going back to sleep. Vin also looked at the dragon calmly, a wild contrast to Val’s excitement. Like master like pet.

“He looks powerful. The dark aura around him is interesting though. Maybe you can find out more about him in the library.” He replied.

“Is that your soul-bond? A fox?” Val grabbed a chair and sat in front of him.

“Not exactly. I’m not sure what he is. Oni, show her you original look.”

The fox looked annoyed but he did it anyway. His white fur turned iridescent, almost translucent, and an obscuring fog covered his body, making him appear formless.

“He can change forms on command. I think it’s related to my illusion magic.”

Illusion magic fell under mind magic, and wasn’t it’s own category.

“You named him Oni? As in a demon?” Val asked in confusion.

Vin mentally commanded Oni to switch back to the white fox. “I asked him what his most comfortable form is and he turned to this fox. It reminded me of kitsunes. Kitsune is too long of a name so Oni was my next best shot.” He shrugged.

“Wow you’re terrible at this. You’re saying he reminds you of a fox, so you’ll name him a demon. Where’s the relation? Just because they’re both from the same mythology?” Val was shocked at how awful her brother’s naming skills are.

Vin shrugged, “consider it ironic then. As if I named an apple an orange. Funny, no?”

She felt a headache coming on from this dumb conversation, “alright suit yourself! It’s your familiar!”

“What are you naming your dragon?”

“Hm… Rue!”

“The word that means regret? Poor dragon, his master already regrets him.”

“It’s a cool name okay! Don’t listen to him Rue.”

Rue shrieked in approval jumping up and down on Val’s lap.

“Did you check your spiritual sea when you woke up?” Asked Vin changing the subject.

“… I forgot.” Val replied sheepishly before she closed her eyes and focused on her spiritual soul.

Previously, whenever she meditated, she’d feel energy slowly being absorbed into her. The surge of power she felt now took her completely by surprise.

“I broke through! Though it’s only once, the power I feel is astounding. It’s incomparable to how we were before.” She said in shock.

Vin nodded, “I thought so. I’m the same way. You’d think we would have multiple breakthroughs after all the spiritual energy we absorbed yesterday, but if my guess is right, I think that energy mainly substituted the ones we had, and caused a qualitative difference. So even though we’re just at the fourth level, our foundation is much sturdier now, and it’ll take less energy to produce stronger spells.”

Vin looked at the clock before adding, “we don’t have much time to get ready for the celebration ceremony. You should go get ready now if you don’t want to give Kate a heart attack. After the ceremony, do you want to go to the training room and experiment?”

Val was still gaping in amazement over how good she felt as she absorbed the energy around her. She was too distracted previously by her soul-bond to notice.

“Yes! Too bad we need to socialize today, I’m so tempted to start trying out spells.” Val complained as she put Rue on top of her head while walking out.