Chapter 21

The Twins

"I was just a boy then. No Mother, No Father. I did not know them but I always longed for them. The days in the Cathedral passed like a waterfall. Always churning, never ending. The only true family I had was my twin sister. The Guardians said that we were special. Not like the other Arael children. Me and Azriel became a duo, a force so strong as children, we were unstoppable. Inseparable. This however would surely change, for I was now tasked with a mission. A solo one. One my sister would surely disapprove as she wasn’t apart of it."

Sariel begins to pack his things when his sister barges into his chambers with a huff. "No fair. How come the Guardians only want you to go?! Please Brother, Convince them otherwise." She holds onto his wing and shakes it pleading her brother to let her go with him. He flicks his wing. "Even if I tried you know Lord Wrath would lay into both of us Sister. The five have made this decision and we must uphold it." Azriel crosses her arms and pouts. Sariel sighs and places a hand onto her shoulder. "Please sister, It will only be for a few hours then I'll be back and we will do what you wish." Azriel looks to her brother with a raised eyebrow. "Promise?" Sariel nods and ruffles her black and white hair. "I promise." She pouts more and then flies off her black feathers flutter in the wind. Sariel finishes his pack and flies towards the top of the Cathedral. There he meets another Guardian a slender and beautiful woman but do not let her looks deceive you for she is about eight feet tall her long white hair flows down to her shoulders her name is Endurance the inventor of Arael Combat. but for Sariel her name is Al'iel. All five guardians are born with a criteria. Their given name is their trait, a gift from their Mother. Wrath, Compassion, Envy, Trust, and Endurance. Al'iel closes her book as she see Sariel fly in. "Ah finally, the boy arrives." She stands and motions him forward Sariel bows in respect too her. "I know you and your sister are intertwine but we need only you for this task. You’re the strongest of the two in my eyes." She places her hand onto a table and a map appears out of thin air. She then points to spot not to far from the Cathedral. "Compassion needs you take care of some Arael adolescence they seem to, as he says, Not care, for their duties. See to it you 'persuade' them otherwise." Sariel bows and stands "Yes My Grace." He stands and begins to fly down to the main city of Solstice. Al'iel watches the boy as Wrath enters the room. "Do you think the boy will be able handle those children" Al'iel smiles and crosses her arms. "I taught him well. This will test if he remembers my teachings."

Sariel glides through the city scanning his surroundings he then spots a group of Arael boys that do not look much older than him. With him just being fifteen years old the trio of boys look no older than twenty all together. At fifteen Arael children go through Arael Military Combat Training. But even as they are born they are trained till that very moment to survive. While the standard arael girls and boys train with instructors within their ranks. Sariel, however, has been trained from the source. He lands and the boys turn there heads to look at him. One of them stands and eyes Sariel up and down then looks to his group and laughs while the others join in. "Did you need something? Or are you lost?" Sariel stand straight and eyes all three of them "It seems you are the ones that are lost. It is best you all to go back to your duty stations" The trio look at each other than start to laugh "And what if we don't" The biggest of the bunch begins to walk up to Sariel. Sariel stands about six feet for his age and this Arael boy stands about six foot four. It seems to be a stand off and the boy then begins to push Sariel's shoulder. As soon as he makes contact Sariel with break neck speed grabs the boys hand twist him around and pushes him causing the boy to fall on his chest. Dust kicks in the air and the other two boy take a step back and snicker as the biggest one falls to the floor.

The Arael boy huffs blowing the dust from the ground below him and shakes his head and pushes his body up using his wings to rebalance himself. Turning to Sariel and twisting his neck cracking it. He then raises his fist and gets into a stance "You just made a big mistake, 'Floo tlonn'.." . He throws a flurry of consecutive punches. Sariel dodges the first and slaps the second and weaves past the third. He then lands a hit onto the boy to the body. The arael boy closes his arms to late to block it and curls into the punch wincing from the blow. He continues to jabbing but Sariel on full defensive countering almost every swing and connecting a few to the arael boy. Staggering the boy wipes his lip showing visual blood. Cursing to himself he looks to the others who are in awe at Sariel's moves. This infuriates him, which causes him to become sloppy. He charges Sariel full force using his wings to try to tackle Sariel at full force but Sariel has an advantage. He is smaller and slimmer than the broad and furious arael boy. He dodges with ease not even using his wings to gain the distance. he trips the boy and the boy flips crashing into the dirt and skidding a few feet. Sariel lands on top and twist the boys arm behind him just enough for the boy to start tapping and yelling in pain. Sariel let's him go and looks to the other 2 in the group they take a step back and murmur to each other.

"As I said go back to your duties." Sariel says sternly. The two arael boys that were watching fly off tripping on each other's wings in the air while the boy on the ground wipes his face looks to sariel with anger and flys off as well to join his band in the air. Sariel watches them as they leave. He looks to his hand squeezing it slightly pondering his own strength but shakes the feeling off as he flies back to the Cathedral. When he returns the Guardian in front him is cladded in polished golden armor. It shimmers in the light as they turn and smile with arms stretched. The Guardian known as Compassion "Ah my boy! what wonders you bring to my eyes. Such progress to your training means no bounds." He stands 10 feet tall, his facial complexion is more "alive" than most and his body slimmer than Wrath and even Endurance. To Sariel he is always smiling. He walks over to Sariel and gives him a big hug almost cradling the boy in his embrace. His laugh is elegant and boisterous. "Yes, My Grace, I did what you have requested." Sariel says with a bit of struggle as Compassion hugs him. Compassion let's go of his embrace and adjust his armor and making sure his hair is straight. "Very good. Very good indeed. My sister has trained you oh so well. You have such a way with your moves that gives joy to us all." He then looks to the a pillar just over yonder of the hall seeing A being standing behind it. In a sing song voice Compassion continues. "Azriel~, my dear little girl, do you think of me as blind to you snooping." He claps his hands twice and motion her over to come. With a sigh, Azriel exits from the pillar and glides over to Compassion and Sariel.

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

Compassion continues to smile as he fixes Azriel's hair. "I was just speaking to your brother about his mission. Oh, look at you, you need to take more care of yourself darling." Azriel embarrassingly nods as she is adjusted "Y-yes My Grace" Compassion pats her back. "Alright now, you two, back to your chambers for your studies. Run along now" Compassion extended his wings and with a huge gust of wind he floats off. Azriel then looks to her brother with fury and intrigue. "Tell me, everything." A few minutes have passed and they are in their chamber reading the vast ocean of scrolls and books at their disposal. Azriel more focused on her brothers previous mission Sariel continues to study while he explains. Azriel is amazed that her brother handled someone older, and essentially, more experienced than him by a few years in the military so easily. It makes her think why she wasn't sent down, and it somewhat bothers her. They continue to study when Endurance appears into the room to monitor them. "Azriel you seem distracted" Azriel sits up and clears her throat. "My apologies, My Grace. I'll try to stay focused." Endurance watches the pair and critiques their work throughout this session.

Both siblings scores are the exact same they are highly intelligent for their age. Even with their scores and practices being equal Azriel still feels like something just feels off. More and more, her brother is selected for missions. Missions that can have both of them, but The Guardians specifically only give it to Sariel. Azriel is told to continue her studies and training alone more often than she wants too. For her brother, he seems unphased by the ordeal. He follows the orders without question and returns without a scratch or a sign of fatigue. Azriel practices seem tougher than usual and her studies are taking its course on her mind. As this conundrum continues to happen in Azriel eyes, she grows more ever impatient over the many years. This impatience begins to show as the twins start to begin there daily morning spar. They are now in their adult ages where their bodies age very slowly. Physically they look like they are in their young twenties. Both Endurance and Compassion are watching from the sidelines. The twins have great definition in their muscles and Azriel's hair and wings now show white tips but still majority black. They are in their training gear as they stand infront of each other with their wooden staffs. They gaze into each other's eyes, not even faltering from one another before Endurance shouts for them to begin.

Their staffs clacking together as Azriel takes the offensive pushing forward, her stance wide and low with each step, her grips on the staff are wide with her right hand at the base, her left in the middle. Sariels stance is higher as he back steps to block each hit. He is hit in the hand and they reset. One point to Azriel. Sariel raises his staff above his head and pokes and sweeps his staff at his sister to gain an opening. She begins to back step and then is hit in the chest once and she is pushed back. One point Azriel, one point Sariel. This spar is a first to three regardless of who has the advantage. Both siblings are fast and pacing themselves. Beginning again to the third round, Sariel again takes the offensive. Their staffs hit each other with effort. Hearing the wind whistle with every strike. Sariel again sweeps Azriel's staff out of the way and hits her in the shoulder to head area. Staggering a bit, with a huff, she stands ready for the presumably final round. Two points Sariel, One Point Azriel. They clash for what seems like minutes and Azriel doesn't let up with her defenses. Sariel continues to batter and strike and Azriel defends as best as she can. This however is making her more frustrated and she needs to let up to not be bested by her brother once again. Her monochromatic eyes glow and forth a split second. Both Endurance and Compassion notice a change in Azriel Aura as she expands her wings spinning wildly causing Sariel to lose his balance from the sudden change in tempo. With that opportunity Azriel puts the staff on his ankle and sweeps him onto the floor she stands on top of him placing a foot on his chest and with a swing she stops just before it hits his face. A knock down is two points giving Azriel the lead and the win for the sparring match. Sariel and Azriel are breathing heavy and she gets off her brother and outstretches her hand. "Not this time brother." She smiles as Sariel is in a bit of an awe as he grabs her hand to be helped up. Endurance looks at Sariel then to Azriel and then looks up to the higher stands. Wrath is standing at the very top with 2 others who are both the same height of ten feet. Envy and Trust. they all nod to Endurance and she then looks back to the twins.

Compassion claps with enthusiasm. "What a wonderful display from the both of you. I am in awe at this mornings performance!" The twins bow in respect as Endurance walks up to them placing her hands on both their shoulders. "A wonderful display indeed young ones." They continue to talk amongst each other as Envy walks up to Azriel who stands in attention. His voice is tactile and posh but with a twinge of deepness it sounds as if it pierces your ears just slightly, "You have done well young one... Your fury to not quit has given you the win today. Remember that feeling. Perhaps we have something for you in time." He walks away with his hands behind his back as Azriel bows as her eyes open wide with intrigue and curiosity gripping her staff even tighter. For the first time in decades, she has beaten her brother in a spar. The Guardians have finally taken note of her.