"Why are you so wet?" Charles hopped off the couch and ran to the bedroom to get towels.

"It rained. Didn't you notice?" JD answered flatly.

"I noticed, smart-ass," Charles yelled from the other room. Once he got out, he threw a towel at JD.

He caught it in one hand. "Thanks."

"Here." Charles walked up to Andrew and gave him a separate towel before turning his head back to JD. "So, what brilliant idea did you get this time to have dragged your brother into the rain?"

"None of your business." JD briefly dried his hair and let the towel rest around his shoulders. "Drew, come here."

"Annoying bastard," Charles mumbled as he crossed his arms.

Andrew walked over to JD but turned slightly to Charles and pointed towards the suitcases on the door frame.

"We took brother's luggage from the rooftop."

"I see."

"Suddenly more polite," JD commented, taking the towel in Andrew's hands and wrapping it around the latter's head.

"He's not you." Charles rolled his eyes and sat on the arm of the couch with his arms still crossed. "I'm sure he's ten times better than your awful attitude."

"Oh, he is."

One of his brows raised at the sight upfront. "And why are you babying him?"

"What's wrong with that? He's my brother." JD answered without looking, eyes only on Andrew, hands rubbing the towel around the latter's head gently.

"Uh huh..." Charles looked away. "Anyway, you two should shower first before we depart."

"That reminds me, where's Ms. Jaser and the other guy?"

"They went ahead downstairs." Charles kicked JD with one foot. "So, hurry up."

"You can just go on ahead, you know."

After a short series of pointless arguments, Charles decided to go ahead and said they'd meet him by Abarly's gates.

"That's a relief," JD mumbled before turning to the closed bathroom door at the little shriek from inside. "Drew, are you good in there?"

"Y-yeah. I won't take long."

As he said, he took little time. JD followed to the showers and finished just as fast.

"The thing that shoots water was astonishing! I suppose the modern world isn't something I can keep underestimating." Andrew said as soon as JD went out.

"You bet." JD smiled as he rummaged through his suitcase. "You'll get to see more awesome stuff once we're over this."

Andrew's eyes sparkled as he shrank in the towel around his shoulders.

"But first," JD threw a long-sleeved shirt and a leather jacket at Andrew. "Get dressed!"

"Oof!"

"You know you can wear any of my clothes, right?"

"I didn't know which ones would go on top and bottom." Andrew's head popped out of the hole in the long-sleeved shirt. "Only the underwear was easy to recognize because it isn't as wide as these other garments."

"You'll get used to it." JD sat beside Andrew to put on his shoes, already fully dressed, other than his feet.

Once finished, JD watched Andrew struggle to wear his black leather jacket, unable to suppress his laughter.

"Stop laughing and help me! How do you put this on?'

"Like this." JD finally helped out, but a grin remained on his face. "Finally get it?"

"I think so." Andrew smiled once he got settled but glared playfully at JD after. "You're still laughing!"

"I can't help it."

"What do you mean you can't help it? I can't help it! I've never worn anything like this before." He pouted, then looked over at himself. "But it feels pleasant."

JD placed his head on an open palm. "You're so adorable."

A tint of red crept up on Andrew's face as he tried to push JD's face away.

"What?"

Andrew pouted and glared. "You do know I look just like you?"

"Well, yes, but I'm not adorable, and you are."

Andrew's blush deepened. "How does that even make any sense?"

JD shrugged, a soft and warm smile still present on his face.

He shook his head. Andrew's reactions only made him smile wider, but as his phone on the table vibrated, he knew he had to stop reveling in his younger brother's cuteness and get on to business.

"Okay, okay. We should go now."

"Hmph." Andrew's eyes shifted to JD's luggage. "What about your things?"

"It can stay here. Charles wouldn't mind."

Charles would, but he'd have no choice once JD leaves his stuff here.

JD grabbed his phone from the table and walked to the door. He turned around at Andrew, who had just finished adjusting his belt with the most adorable confused expression.

He stretched out an arm, prompting Andrew to raise his head and meet his older twin's glowing blue eyes.

"The gates are opened once more. Would you like to come inside?"

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Wordless, Andrew smiled and took JD's hand.

"Come," JD whispered as light consumed Andrew's figure and slowly dissipated, a trace of soft yellow resembling his soul later snaked around JD's arm.

The transparent, barely visible soul reached JD's nape, and in an instant, JD was left alone, his soul scarcely flickering any light at the reunion of their souls inside him.

"We'll do this together, Drew."

"Mhm!"

-

"Where's your brother?"

JD reached the others by Abarly's gate, black hair in a low ponytail while wearing a cap and a mask to obscure his lower face.

"I didn't want to involve him."

"Eh? You didn't bring Drew with you?" Nicoli sighed. "I thought he seemed pretty stron-"

In a blink, JD's hand had traveled centimeters away from Nicoli's neck, his face close, and eyes shining in the bluest form Nicoli has ever seen.

"Sir St. Michael!"

"Don't call him that," JD said softly in contrast to how sharp his gaze pierced into Nicoli's.

"Eh..." Nicoli raised a brow, careful not to step on JD's buttons. "You called him that, so I thought that was his name. Wasn't it?"

JD leaned away, the navy flare on his hands fading.

"It's Andrew," JD paused. "Or AD for everyone else."

"Ah..." Nicoli looked at the sky, an unsure glint playing in his eyes. "I see. Andy, then?"

"Do you mind?"

"Do you?"

"No."

"Then, it's fine with me, too!"

"That's fine," JD answered after an awkward pause. "Enough about that. What have you guys talked about earlier?"

Fareeha, somewhat confused and lost at JD's recent behavior, cleared her throat.

"According to Nicoli's clairvoyance magic, most of the other members are outside the building or in their chambers, but we've spotted certain people idle in the halls to where Brother Zed's soul is."

"Clairvoyance magic, huh?"

"Hm? Yes..." Fareeha's eyes widened slightly. "Thankfully, most of them I believe I can lure away with Nicoli and Sir Freyda's help quite easily. If things don't go well, I advise you to knock them out as quietly as possible. That is if we're still going for your silent infiltration."

"Of course." JD crossed his arms. "Can you tell me a bit about any possible annoying magic from any of them I might encounter?"

"Well, I would say Reizel Angelos, but she isn't around for all I remember...."

"I can sense and identify other souls' magic, you know!"

JD touched his forehead, "Oh, right. I forgot."

"Hm? What do you mean? Do you know her?"

"Ah, nothing." JD's eyes widened a bit as he waved a hand. "I think I'll be fine after all."

"Are you sure?" Fareeha asked.

"Sorry, I didn't think you could use your magic detection while you're with me."

"I can!"

"It would be advantageous to know beforehand, but I have a feeling I won't have a hard time with your help."

"Of course!"

"JD? Yoo-hoo!"

JD blinked and grimaced, pushing Charles away from him immediately.

"Is there something wrong, Sir St. Michael? Should we postpone this operation after all?"

"No, no, it's fine."

"Maybe he's anxious, my lady," Nicoli said, tilting his head with a finger on his chin. "Though, I don't think so."

"It's nothing, really." JD refrained from smiling at Andrew's little giggle echoing in his head. "I'm good to go. Lead the way."

On the way, Fareeha and Charles kept glancing at JD while Nicoli playfully walked around them to ensure no one would approach any of the three and get in their way. Eventually, they reached the three-story minimalistic building of Zalden. The sleek, metallic finish shone through the letters that made up 'Zalde Enterprise' by the front.

"Remind me why they built a building of their own here," JD whispered to Charles.

Charles raised a brow. "You don't know? They're planning on settling their headquarters here."

"What?"

"Yeah. They're still gonna go on mobile expeditions and advertising, but apparently, this will be their main building from now on once it's finished."

"Isn't this bad?"

Andrew's unsure tone echoed in JD's head.

"Quite. It depends on who Zedekiah really is."

"Fareeha!" Someone floating near the signage cried, slowly descending on the ground. She took her goggles off and shook the can of paint in her hands. "Who are these? New friends you made during your stroll?"

"Yes. By the way, are there any executives in the lobby?"

"I think we're all out here. Why?"

"I'd like to invite them inside if that's not too troublesome for you and the others."

"Oh, of course not!" The lady turned towards the other people in similar construction gear, and they all either saluted, gave a thumbs up, or a big smile. "See? There are only Rei and the boss' guards in there, I think."

"Reizel? She's returned?"

"Yup! The boss called for her this morning, apparently! You should go greet her!"

"I see. I'll do that. Thank you, Sasha." Fareeha turned around with a gentle smile on her face. "Gentlemen, this way."

Fareeha met JD's eyes, and there was a slight squint as if warning him to be careful. JD gave a brief nod, holding the front of his cap after.

"My lady."

The urgency in Nicoli's voice got Fareeha and Charles turning around, their gazes jumping on everyone around them. All their stances were robotic as they walked toward them with metal rods and other tools in their hands.

An invisible scabbard came to view right at the left side of Nicoli's belt. He held onto something and unsheathed a barely visible sword handle, cold, blue flares of fire swirling across the supposed body of the sword.

"JD, go!" Nicoli hissed as he swung his sword to defend Charles from a mind-controlled executive, the rod against Nicoli's literal fire sword melting. "Now!"

"This isn't right. Something's wrong." Fareeha panicked. "Sir St. Michael, please leave this to us."

As JD and Charles exchanged one last nod, JD sprinted, successfully avoiding every mind-controlled person and reaching the entrance.

Fareeha's twin braids danced with the air her hands produced, and then from the roots of her hair to the tip, her brown locks turned pastel blue completely. Her light blue eyes glowed as strings of air from her figure deflected every attempted hit on her.

"Charles," Nicoli called after transforming his flames into purple.

Charles wasted no time and cast a golden rope in thin air, manipulating it afterward to group everyone Nicoli had pushed into a circle. Once tied to one spot, Nicoli took hold of a purple flame and threw it toward them. A transparent purple barrier spawned beneath them.

"My lady."

"Yes."

Droplets of water encircled Fareeha's arms, then they came whole and traveled to the mindless executives.

With one deep breath, Fareeha whispered, "Cleanse."

"I knew that aid was no ordinary soul," JD said out loud as soon as the double doors closed on his back.

"What do you mean, brother?"

"He doesn't seem to question the idea that Zedekiah is a former god." JD slid around the walls swiftly with no noise, checking every turn for any people. "At first, I thought it might be because he simply believed in Ms. Jaser's words, but now I know why."

"Because he sensed the mind-control magic as active as soon as we also did...?"

"Yeah. No normal human would've been that quick to sense unless they have an inborn magic that would allow them to. Heck, even Charles' inborn talent takes a few seconds before it processes his magic detection."

Andrew gasped.

"I thought his attire was strange! It's almost identical to how Lord Reh dressed in his human form. But I thought it was simply because he was a knight from Lord Reh's continent."

"Yeah, right." JD snorted. "No one dresses like a historical, noble knight in this modern world anymore. Everyone else might've thought he just liked wearing his land's traditional clothing."

"So, you mean to say that he's from Paradise."

"Yeah. I recognize him now, too. He's one of the minor gods in The Firehorn Mountains." JD stopped at a corner and whispered, "Lucanicode."

"I remember him! He's very fond of Julisie and often visits whenever Lord Reh allows him to."

JD shook his head lightly and sighed. The short moments between Fareeha and Nicoli, or Lucanicode, flashed to his mind.

"I may have an idea why he liked going here."

Andrew didn't answer, prompting JD to stop in his tracks.

"Drew?"

"Someone's coming."

"Reizel Angelos...?"

"Brother, now!"

JD's jumped out of the turn and swung his feet in the air, nearly hitting a woman in the face, but she reacted quickly enough to avoid it within only an inch of her nose.

She jumped a few steps back, spinning her entire body away when JD attempted another kick. Bluish eyes, almost indigo, glared at JD.

"Who-"

Her eyes widened at the gray cap that fell on the tiles, revealing half of JD's face.

"You're..."

A mole. He had a mole below his left eye. As if he recognized her, too, he removed his face mask and dropped it beside his cap, revealing his entire face. JD moved his head sideways, showing the woman his second mole above his left jawline. As if confirming her suspicions of his identity.

She had only returned from her week off earlier, and already she had to face the guy who saw through the truth behind her stay at the inn yesterday.

Something about JD seemed different. But besides his noteworthy moles and ponytailed black hair, she didn't remember anything else. She glared, her dark blue eyes glowing indigo.

"Just my luck."