Solis, this is Keilan and Damien, our saviors. If it hadn't been for them, Uncle Xi would probably not have found us, and we'd still be stewing in an Aveanii mind prison."

As soon as Vanis said this, his twin brother, Solis, turned towards them with a scrutinizing look.

Although they looked nothing alike, Damien still detected some little resemblance in their features. The identical and perfectly symmetrical jaw. The way their eyebrows seem to curl in an S-like way. Their curly hair, except where Vanis's was groomed and smoothly swept back, Solis's was the opposite, with a puffed up unruly hair.

Their bearings, although mostly different, still had some things that was identical: the squared shoulders, the raised chin, and the look in their eyes, like the world was beneath them.

Vanis was more subtle, hardly to be discovered if one didn't notice his bearing when speaking to other Spirit lords compared to when he conversed with both his Uncle and Mother. Solis, though... His open disregard was plain, unhidden, as he turned his gaze on both Keilan and Damien.

For his part, Damien simply met the gaze steadily. He didn't smile, neither did he frown or show any sign of displeasure. His return stare was neutral, with a subtle message conveyed within.

Do not think yourself greater than me.

Their stare down was only a few moments long, but that was long enough that the other people in attendance started picking up on the low current, and with a parting smile, the other man turned his gaze on Keilan...

Who simply scrutinized him just the same and then swiftly turned his attention away in an open display of disinterest.

"We should get moving," Vanis interrupted. "Governor Turen, I want a place prepared for both my guests," he gestured at both Keilan and Damien, "Preferably one close to the main family house."

Frowning, the Divine King bowed. "Forgive me, lord Vanis, but is that wise? Housing guests at the family home is—"

"—unheard of. Yes, I know," Vanis interrupted. "But they are special guests, saviors of mine and the lives of other scions too. A debt is owed and I will see mine repaid with utmost zeal. Do as ordered."

The governor grimaced, seeming like he wanted to say something more, but eventually, he gave up, acquiescing with nothing but a nod.

Out of nowhere, two tiny coins appeared on the man's hands, and with a flip, he passed them off to Damien and his brother.

"Those are your entrance tokens," he said. "As guests of lord Vanis, your abode has been arranged near those of the young lord."

Damien scarcely heard the man, his eyes trained on the token. The bronze coin looked ordinary, smooth and round. There was an etching on both sides that Damien had to look closer to identify: a rune.

Damien rummaged through his memories for any identification of what the rune was and what it did, but he came up short, which, he sighed inwardly, was no one else's fault other than his. He hadn't exactly been diligent in his runic knowledge.

Unable to find the knowledge on his own, he looked to his left, meeting the eyes of Vanis who was already looking his way with a knowing smile.

"The entrance token is the key to your abode," he explained, ignoring the confused look directed his way by both his brother and the governor. "It is meant to be used by you and only you, with no one else having access to your personal quarters except through an invitation."

Damien nodded in understanding. This was similar to the security systems used in vaults and secret rooms back on Ra, where energy had to be channeled into a certain object to grant access.

Except, as Damien soon realized, he wasn't keyed into the token; at least, he knew he wasn't. So how was it supposed to work for him?

Looking back at Vanis, the other man simply answered without any prompt. "A drop of both your blood and essence is enough. The house enchantments will take care of the rest."

Damien nodded in appreciation, and then did as told. That was when he realized there was a bit of a dilemma here: his skin.

The body fortification of Spirit lords was definitely nothing to laugh at.

The skin of a spirit lord was equivalent to some of the most powerful metals Damien had ever come across. This had caused no small amount of problems when searching for armors capable of surpassing that which had been granted naturally. Damien had been fortunate enough to come across a lone Sea dragon, probably banished from the nest, which had helped him create his now obsolete armor.

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Of course, by creating, he didn't mean he had any personal effort in making the armor, just his luck in providing the materials, and the payment.

Fortunately, he had a weapon capable of easily parting Spirit lord flesh.

With a swirl of energy, Gray appeared in Damien's hands, except instead of looking like a spear — Damien's usual — he manifested in the form of a tiny dagger, more a throwing knife than an actual dagger, really.

"Now, how does a no name lord acquire such a weapon?" Solis asked, with a sharp gaze directed at the knife. He wasn't the only one who looked eager to know, judging by the questioning looks thrown his way by the governor and the others.

Damien ignored them all, and with little hesitation, he slashed, drawing a sharp, thin cut on his thumb. It was deep enough to draw blood, but not so much that it became a major issue like the dozens of broken bones on his body. He was thankful that the cuts accrued from the battle had all closed.

With a pinch of his thumb, Damien directed the drop of blood onto the token, alongside a thin strip of essence.

The rune on the token lit up a deep crimson as soon as it encountered both, and then settled back into its dull, unassuming nature.

Dimly, at the back of his mind, Damien felt something connect to him, a sort of tether. Immediately, he knew what it was, and with a mental command, a crimson purple portal swirled into existence right in front of him.

Of course, like all other portals Damien had previously come across, he couldn't see through its crimson, purple, and black screen, leaving him in the dark about what laid on the other side.

Extending his senses was no better, worse even, as Damien had to deal with the sharp migraine as his senses delved into a realm that didn't conform to the natural order of things.

These other downsides were much more risky, as since you could neither see nor sense the other side where you would be emerging, you could easily fall prey to ambushes.

No one complained though, since a massive amount of power was needed to even be able to create a portal, and if your power was insufficient to deal with anything unfortunate that you encountered on the other side, then you shouldn't be creating one in the first place.

Satisfied that his token worked, Damien mentally switched it off, dematerializing the portal.

Excited, he looked over at Keilan, waiting to see as he summoned his. His smile died down when no portal manifested, and a look at his brother instantly clued him in on the why.

"You'll stay with me," Damien didn't think much of it, placing a comforting palm on his brother's shoulder.

"He has his token," Solis, as usual, butted in. Damien was beginning to hate the guy. "Why can't he use that?"

And again, Damien sensed it as a dozen eyes pinned on them, waiting for answers.

At first, Damien would have preferred to keep Keilan's injuries private, but he didn't know how long they would be staying here, and also, he knew how futile an endeavor it would be to keep something like that private. Eventually, sooner rather than later, someone would figure it out, if they hadn't already.

Damien looked at Keilan, getting an approving nod. "I'll do it myself, Dame," he said, and then turned his eyes back to the nosey lord. "I have a spiritual injury, and as a result I can't access my energy well," he finished with his hand raised, showing the token.

Vanis nodded, probably confirming something he was already suspecting. Damien would be a fool to underestimate that man's intelligence.

His brother, on the other hand, simply shrugged. "How weak are you that you had to suffer a spiritual injury?" And this time Damien lost it.

The air rippled just as he stepped forward, a low howl echoing out of nowhere.

Damien's eye twitched when the other Spirit lords tensed, their weapons halfway out, and then Vanis stepped forward.

"That's enough," he said with a tone that brooked no disrespect. "Put away your weapons before I deprive you of your limbs."

Distantly, Damien sensed as the lord soldiers hurriedly did as commanded, their various weapons disappearing in a blink.

Vanis then turned to Keilan. "I apologize for my brother's disrespect, but I won't lie to you and tell you it will stop anytime soon," Damien's fist tightened as he heard Solis chuckle.

"Solis only responds to power," Vanis said. "And so, to settle this and spare you any future disrespect, a duel has to be called. Keilan, you are the one being disrespected, so for your sake and in regard to your injury, the duel will only be one of pure skill, no essence drawing. Is that okay with you?"

Damien stepped forward. This was absurd. His brother was still healing from his injury and now he was to fight some no brain noble with a jumped up sense of superiority.

He frowned as Keilan's hand fell on his shoulder, stopping him. "No, Damien. I have to do this, otherwise he won't stop."

"Bu—" Damien began.

"No," Keilan shook his head, and Damien's mouth went numb at the finality in his tone. "I'm not a baby for you to pamper. This is my fight."

Grimacing, Damien nodded, and then turned a withering stare at the man in question, who began whistling while playing with his fingernails.

At the corner of his eyes, Damien saw as Vanis gritted his teeth, anger flashing past his eyes. But then he calmed down, gave Damien a pleading look, and then continued.

"As payment if Keilan wins, Solis, you'll have to pay a restitution of three hundred thousand Vicari— yes," the young lord smiled at the choking sound Solis excreted. "Yes, you will pay it, brother, and I'll make sure of that. Also, along with the fine, a promise will be made that you will stay away from both brothers unless you are invited—"

"But Vanis! You can't ask me to pay such an amount just for a single duel!" Solis interrupted, his face still overcome with shock.

"Who said you would be fighting a single duel?" Vanis smirked. "You wanted a fight? Good, now you have it, except it won't just be with Keilan, but also his brother, Damien."

At that, Damien's lips widened. Oh, he could hug Vanis right now.

Solis opened his mouth to speak but Vanis simply rolled over him. "Your only reward, which is contingent on you defeating both brothers, is your simple freedom. You won't be restricted away from them, but that can only happen if you can defeat both brothers, while theirs is contingent on only one defeating you."

"But—" Solis began, an argument not far from his tongue. He was interrupted sharply by his brother.

"It's either you take it as it is or you stay away from them, no negotiations."

Solis stepped back, fuming, and then, with obvious reluctance, he acceded.

Vanis nodded, turned to the governor, and then commanded.

"Prepare the dueling arena."