Kenan and Kane have been compared for as long as Kenan can remember.

They would always pit themselves against each other playfully, and it never got serious until they got older. Kenan remembered whenever their first spar got serious. They were around 11 years old, and it was at the Ogun family reunion. It was a huge celebration throughout the city, and every family member was obligated by blood to attend.

His grandfather would talk to his Prime descendants, which consisted of Kenan, Kane, Calypso, and Apollo. Apollo never really cared for combat; he was a pretty boy through and through. He had been praised for his good looks since Kenan could remember. While Calypso admires Cinder, their aunt constantly asks her to teach her some moves with a sword.

“So, have the both of you been keeping up with your training?” Elijah said, holding both of the boy's shoulders.”

Kenan's face brightens. “I have a grandpa. I'm going to beat up bad guys and monsters just like you, Dad, and Uncle. I've been practicing hard.”

Kenan turns to Kane with the same smile. He thought Kane was going to reply the same way he always had, but he said something that surprised him that day.

“I've been training, so I can definitely beat Kenan today. It won't be like last time, " he said, clenching his fist.

At the time Kenan thought he was just sparked to challenge him again

But it was much deeper than that.

“Alright, cousin, let's see how far both of us have come,” Kenan replied.

“That's the spirit, boys. Let's get everyone together and witness this spar,” Elijah said.

They were currently in the Ogun Tower's top floor, which is usually used for large gatherings like balls and weddings. Everyone was dressed in the official family colors of Red and black, and they were also in their best attire. They would be sparing on the main stage for everyone to see.

“Alright, everyone. My grandsons want to show off their might and show us the strength of the younger generation. So let's give them some encouragement and enjoy the show they put on for us,” Elijah said to the crowd.

Kenan didn't know it at the time, but days before the family reunion, Devon, his uncle, had officially taken the Patriarch's position that his father had denied long ago. This meant that Kenan was no longer the True heir of the Ogun Family, while Kane was.

Before the fight began, there were murmurs about who would win and how capable we would have been as an Elder Family if Malachi had been the Patriarch. There was an air of disappointment when Malachi didn't take the position, so this spar would show not only Kenan and Kane's capabilities but also their fathers' abilities in training them.

The person this affected the most wasn't Devon himself but his wife, Korah, Kane's mother. She was an elegant and highly tempered woman, and the one thing she cared about most was her image. She came from a very wealthy aristocratic family, and they would try to make up for what they couldn't match in power in social perception.

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Moments before Kenan and Kane took the stage to spar, Kenan saw Kane getting what looked like a stern talk from his mother.

Korah grabbed Kane by his chin so they could make eye contact. “You are the son of the Patriarch now, do not embarrass me. I will not continue to lose out to that woman and her son. Do you understand me?”

Kane yanks his face away. “You've already said this a million times Ma, I understand.

Korah nods at her and then quickly regains her Noblewoman demeanor as If she didn't just scold her son.

Kenan heard a snapping sound, which brought him back to reality. He was trying to guess what was happening on the other side of the stage with Kane and his Aunt.

“None of that concerns you. Focus on the task at hand, son,” Ashanti said. How do you feel? Are you still up for this fight, or are you having reservations?”As always, his mother's voice was as calming as the rain gently hitting a window, calming him down.

Kenan makes a suspicious face at his mother. “You're not reading my mind are you?”

“I may be a telepath, but more importantly, I'm your momma; I can tell when something is troubling my child,” she replied.

“I just don't want to burn bridges; something seems more off with Kane than usual,” Kenan said reluctantly.

Malachi and Ashanti looked at each other. As always, they looked like they were having an unspoken conversation, which was most likely the case.

Malachi sighed before he spoke as he got closer to his son for a more intimate conversation. “Kenan, I know how you feel about not wanting to make a bigger deal out of something you don't see as a problem. However, we can not base our decisions on how others will respond. All we can do is live our own life. If we based our decisions on those around us, we would live for them, not ourselves. Do you understand what I mean son?”

“I think so, Dad, but. . .”

“Let me put it this way: you wouldn't be doing Kane any favors if you let him win. Would you want him to give up the fight if it were you?” Malachi pointed to his chest.

“Heck no!” Kenan replied

“Then, if you love him, you won't hold back. That's the only way for the both of you to get stronger.” Malachi then flexed his arm muscle.

“So I should use my bo staff then, huh, Dad?”

“Well, actually, that might be a little too.” Before Malachi could finish his words, Kenan was already gone to get it.

He turned around to his wife, holding his face slowly stroking his short beard. “I may have just started a wildfire, but I'm more confident in my brother's teaching abilities than my own.”

“You sealed your nephew's fate once your son decided to use a bo staff. What did you say that he's a once-in-a-100-year genius with that thing?” Ashanti asked.

“Not just the bo staff, all polearms. We should leave right after the match and have someone pull the car around for us in 10 minutes.”

Ashanti nodes and got on her NCD.

Malachi stopped her for a second. “Actually, make it five minutes. He is my son, after all.”

***

It was no less than 90 secs before the match began that Kenan claimed a swift victory over Kane.

For years, they have always matched in skill, so their fights were fun to bet on, and it really could go either way. It just so happened that Kenan won last time. That was whenever they were 10 years old, and now they were 11, and this was the year Kenan wielded a polearm.

Malachi rarely praised his son as his Martial arts master; it was important for him not to let it go to his head. But spear and javelin to his son whenever he introduced the bo staff. Even he was surprised by his son's talent

Kenan was a natural talent able to master all basic forms in 90 days. Once they were spared as masters and students, Malachi saw his son's instincts as a martial artist grow by leaps and bounds.

The fight with Kane Kenan displayed mastery over him so well that Malachi shouted joyfully as Kane's back hit the stage floor. Everyone was so shocked at the precision and mastery of the technique that they could quiet for 2 seconds, and the only thing that could be heard was Malachi yelling “THAT'S MY BOY”

Ashanti put her hand over her mouth, trying to contain a giggle. “My husband is a lion, so it is safe to assume that my son would be as well,” she thought to herself.

***

Kenan stood in front of Kane with anger in his eyes; everything they spared them before was nothing but pettiness compared to the disrespect they showed his mother after her death. It was something that could have to be paid in blood.

Kane looked at the anger in Kenan's eye and matched the same energy. Kenan had no clue what he's been through. Yet he was standing in front of him, acting righteous. For the past five years, he's been living under his shadow. Being belittled by his mother and constantly getting compared to their grandfather. “Your anger could never topple mine, little cousin, because you have righteous anger. But I don't, I despise you and there will be no mercy shown today.” Kane thought.

“You have no idea how long I've waited for this,” Kane spoke and said.

“Those who knew me and disrespected my mother after her death don't get the luxury of thinking they know me. It would do your best not to assume you

know my heart, which was buried months ago along with her, ” Kenan said, raising his spear.