Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Cale scoffed as he heard the black haired swordsman rambling about the Harris Village getting massacred in one night by assassins. such a cursed village. seems like anyone who goes and live there ended up dead.

His mother had said she will come back after a week.

She didn't.

That village is cursed.

Why should they investigate it? 

Well, sure maybe they should since it'll be dangerous if the assassins also aim for the other part of the territory. but they should just deleted that village from the map all together. no more blood need to be shed. the villager could get buried somewhere else in the territory instead of that cursed village. 

His head throbbed. did he drank too much after all?

He had thought 7 bottles in a day was too much, that's why he went to this alley which barely had any people in these times.

If he's really drunk his aim will be more shit. and he can't hit anyone intentionally after all.

yet he found someone here. And he's trying his best to listen to whatever this person is saying.

His head throbbed again.

The swordsman kept rambling. it felt he already listened to this once anyway, why is he repeating it?

ugh-

"why should my father care whether or not some useless villager are dead? This bottle of alcohol in my hand is worth more than all your useless lives combined."

wait,

no-

that's not it- that's not what I meant-

"what an interesting thought. I'm very curious to know whether you will change your mind or not."

"shall we test it?"

I didn't mean that-

not again-

Choi Han raised his sheathed sword. Cale minds flashed with image of that same face beating him up over and over again with that sword. He can feel each hit filled with all the pent up frustration that had been accumulating for the past week he's running all the way from the village.

Cale raised his arms to his head in reflex to protect it.

But it didn't came.

He's not hit.

"Try hitting him, and I'll make sure none of the villager got any proper burial."

who..?

Cale eyes fluttered opened, and what he saw was a blinding light. this never happened before. who is that familiar voice?

Strand of redhair appeared in his line of eyesight, and he froze. Nobody's in the county had redhair except him- who is this person?

"that guy insulted those who had passed away!" Cale blinks, only then focusing back to Choi Han. 

The black haired is still visibly upset. the blinding light is nowhere to be seen now, Cale tried to peek at the redhair in front of him. but he saw.. himself?

his own face is looking at Choi Han with stoic expression- he can't make that kind of expression, while protecting him. no- that's.. not it. both of us are different person.

"I apologize in his behalf then. But can't you see how red his face is? it's obvious my brother is drunk."

huh?

This guy is his brother?

But he only has one brother, Basen- no.. he knew this person. he knew..

His visions started to blurred.

"..Cain?" he mumbled. Unsure despite already starting to recognize the other redhair.

"yes, Cale. it's Cain."

Cale head throbbed, it felt worse than his most worse hangover. He shut his eyes and started staggering from the intense throbbing in his head. though, before he fall he could feel a pair of slender but strong arms caught him. He tried opening his eyes to see who it is but a voice stop him,

"rest, Cale."

Cale let unconsciousness takes over him instantly after that.

.

.

.

"rest, Cale." Cain stared at his twin and confirmed that he's already unconscious before looking at the black haired swordsman in front of him.

"do you have anything to say?" he asked, voice neutral as he fix his hold on Cale so he's properly carrying him.

"..why do you defend him? just because he's your twin doesn't mean-"

"it's not that." Cain cut the black haired swordsman words before he even finished it. Cain stared at Cale who's unconscious in his arms.

"..what he said is very rude of course, I won't deny that.. but he really doesn't mean what he said. his mind was currently a mess, and he is drunk today. he will apologize to you later, I'll make sure of that."

Choi Han stayed silent as he looked at the redhead who stared at his twin in his arms with stoic look. but maybe. because his mind was currently a mess, and his sense are heightened by the adrenaline rush he's currently feeling, he can clearly see it. the redhead looked.. sad, worried. maybe. He thinks the redhead is looking at his twin with strange look, a mix of sadness, worry, and something that he can't pointed out.

"you want to talk to the count right? as you might've know me and this guy is the count's son. I can take you to him."

right. this is Choi Han's priority. He nodded at the offer. ready to follow him as the redhead turned around and started to walked.

"..the massacre incident is important. but we'll be talking about the fact that you just trespass into a count territory as well. surely you had consider that before jumping over the walls right?"

Choi Han froze for a moment before following the redhead again. He didn't think this guy knew he had jumped over the walls. because he had made sure to do it at the time where nobody would notice. but it seems like he is the count sons after all, to even know that as if the whole territory is within his watch.

"..I understand."

Chapter Text

"young master Cain. Seems like you found your brother unconscious this time. Should I help carry him, young master?"

Cain eyed the old butler and just shook his head,

"No need. He's not that heavy."

lies.

Cale is as heavy as him, if not more. and his arms are shaking from carrying him for so long.

but he won't let anyone else carry his twin either.

Cain ignored the old butler as he got inside the manor.

This old butler had always wait for both the twins to come back each night. It was one of the reason why Cain isn't as scared of him anymore ever since Cain realizes that this butler- who is kind of like his and Cale nanny, is actually an assassin.

This old butler is also one of the few who actually waited longer even after Cale got back from drinking everyday, because this butler know about him always tailing Cale. 

He's been with them ever since they're kids. So it's fine to not be that scared. It's fine to let his guard down a little. 

It's fine to trust a little. Just a little.

ah.

Heart versus brain again huh.

His heart wanted to trust the assassin, it was probably out of empathy. From living most his life with the butler for so long. But he remembers about the exact same person who leaves Cale without a word. Right after Cale got beaten up.

But that was just a false memories. One of the many of his paranoid imagination.

He didn't want to believe his own memories of reading a vicious assassin who leaves Cale after Cale got beaten up. he didn't want to believe that shitty novel.

"Follow me." Cain said to Choi Han, and the old butler quickly follows him.

"Young master Cain, what is going on? I will take care of this guest if you tell me what is needed."

Cain stopped at his tracks, contemplating it. he wanted to bring Choi Han to see Beacrox after he already saw Ron and had them leaves the Henituse just like what happened in that shitty novel.

or atleast, that was supposed to be the plan. He turned to Ron,

"sure, give him something to eat and prepare a guest room for him to rest. and arrange a meeting for him and father right tomorrow morning after he wakes up. Tell father, Cain said the meeting would be important."

Ron nodded at his words, mentally noting all that. Especially that last part, Cain is well known as a serious person aside from his lazy demeanor, so seeing Cain himself using that reputation is quiet amusing for Ron.

"And tell father, that I had some words for him after breakfast tomorrow as well."

"Also Ron," Cain walks up closer to the old butler.

"Don't play around with the guy. you and Beacrox." he whispers. voice neutral and with the same stoic expression. and without Cain notices, Ron eyes widen for a moment before his expression goes back to his usual benign smile as Cain stepped away from him.

"I don't get what you mean, young master" Cain just rolled his eyes.

"Whatever. Do as I said." Cain turns away and started to walked toward Cale's room.

Ron bowed at his retreating figure before focusing back on the guest who had been observing their interaction.

"shall we go?"

.
.
.

Cain had his eyes on Cale as he massages his slightly aching arms. Cale looks peaceful unconscious like that as long as he ignored the flushed face his twin currently had from the alcohol.

Cain isn't sure what happened. 

It felt like he knows everything that will happened but he's not sure when it will happened. 

It was just the usual day, he had followed Cale as he goes to the bar to drink. Except today is a little different. Cale drank more. It was their birth mother death anniversary and Cale usually drank more than usual, and today Cale definitely got drunk. Intentionally or not. His mind must've been a mess.

And what Cale said to Choi Han was definitely influenced by the alcohol. No matter how rude Cale is, Cale won't say bad things to people who's grieving. He just got a bit annoyed because he's drunk and because he heard about that village. 

Cain knew this. He had lived and observed his twin for his whole life after all.

But not to the point he can predict what would happened either. Yet somehow, he knows exactly what Cale is going to say to Choi Han in his drunken state. He knows each line. And he somehow know what Choi Han will said to Cale as well. And he knew what Choi Han will do to Cale. He never met Choi Han before.

It was just a fleeting moment. But it felt like he's watching a show. A show adapted from bunch of lines that he had already read as some kind of spoiler.

And maybe if he's not fast enough to react after knowing what will happen to Cale. Cale would've gotten hurt. Maybe Cale will actually got beaten up. That's why he used his shield to block that swordsman attack.

And he definitely noticed it earlier..

Cale was looking at him as if he didn't know him.

He didn't like that.

And that was it. He pushed down any of those false information he knew and just does what he want after that. Blocking the swordsman attack, even though he know it might hurt him. And even threatened the swordsman. Which is very unlike him to do so.

But now that he's alone with Cale. It felt like he should start properly facing all the thing he's been denying for this last 18 years he had lived in this world.

Cain leaned back on his chair and stared at his twin for a bit before closing his eyes.

Kim Rok Soo.

That was his name.

He was a 36 years old man, who lived in Korea.

He was an ability user, a team leader.

He was Kim Rok Soo who had died after the sudden monster attack, in his day off.

It was a typical day off. It had been awhile since he had last read an actual book instead of on his phone, so he went to the library to check out some books. He borrowed the entire series since he planned to read all day long. But a monster suddenly appeared near his apartment and he had immediately go to the location after he got the news.

It was a very large monster. The good thing is that there's only one. 

But that monster. The moment Kim Rok Soo had got to the location, its eyes immediately set on him. As if choosing him as its target. 

And it does, it ran after Kim Rok Soo, and Rok Soo, with every survival instinct he had also started to ran away from it. He ran and ran, he uses instant a couple of time to avoid the debris that the monster is throwing at him, but he continue running. He ran without really thinking about anything and where specifically he should ran. Just anywhere far from the bustling civilization.

Because somehow he knew.

He was fated to die that day.

He didn't want to die.

He didn't believe in such a thing called destiny either.

But, he knew.

It was as if the world was telling him that,

He should die.

Even if the monster chasing him got killed by other people who tried killing it from behind him. He just knew somehow, another monster will appear. 

Just to kill him.

It was probably because he already faced death more often than anything. It was probably just a hunch as well. But he can't ignored it.

He will die.

He used the radio as he ran, the radio immediately connecting to anyone nearby which catch his signal. He told them to not attack the monster unless the monster had killed him. He told anyone who listen, to tell Min Ah to became the next team leader. He told anyone who listen, about the weakness of the monster chasing him. 

And then he died.

He got far from the bustling city and finally allowed his battered body to fall. Which immediately made the monster catch him.

He faintly heard some familiar voice, but it's fine. He already told everything to them.

He was Kim Rok Soo who had died in the age of 36 years old.

Killed by a monster.

And got reincarnated as Cain Henituse. The younger twin brother of Cale Henituse.

Yes, reincarnated.

As someone who shouldn't have exist.

Why? because the novel series he was reading right before he died. The one that he only managed to read up to the fifth volume. A novel series called [The birth of a hero]. That novel was this world. The world he lives in right now.

That was probably why, the moment he's able to actually think. He always had a hunch of the series of event that would happened. But he didn't know how or when that would happened. 

Kim Rok Soo was an ability user. He had an ability called Record.

And Record is a passive ability, despite some people belief. Kim Rok Soo remember everything that he sets his eyes on.

So why didn't he know how and when some series of event in this world will happen?

He's not sure. But his best guess is that all his ability and his memory as Kim Rok Soo is sealed. And for the reason? he didn't know. He didn't want to know either

But he's also sure that his ability is too deep embedded into his soul. That although it was sealed, it was trying to crawl back to him. Giving him some sort of hunch of what will happened in the future. Although it wasn't detailed, because [The birth of a hero] is a novel that revolves around Choi Han. And the Henituse barely got mentioned.

And about a week before this day, he remembers. finally. About the person named Kim Rok Soo. Him before Cain.

Though, he had ignored it until this day. Because what he remember from [The birth of a hero] is different from what he experienced as Cain Henituse. He thought his mind was just making things up. but when he saw Cale and Choi Han interaction today, he knew he can't ignored it.

And what he notices from that interaction. And from the way Cale looked at him as if he was a stranger. He knows that Cale also know the future as well. Regressor probably. But his condition was the same as him. He just remembered those future today as well. That's probably why he still said those words but he looks so guilty right after saying that as well.

His records play the moment Cale looked at him as if he didn't know him again.

He opened his eyes and pushed down that record. 

His eyes set on Cale. Laying in his bed, looking peaceful. But he knows better, his twin is nowhere near from having peaceful sleep.

"..please wake up, Cale."

"would you like to make a deal with me, Cale Henituse?"

Cale could hear a voice asking in his head. he didn't know who's speaking. Cale eyes still locked on the two people in the air, one with arm twisted in a horrified way, and the other's holding that person person arm.

Choi Han and the Arms leader.

The hero of the Roan kingdom. He had loathed the hero for beating him up and taking his two most trusted people in his life. He really loathed the guy. Even if they had fight together against the same enemies for decades.

But seeing the hero. Eyes full of despair, body filled with injuries all over. And the oh so damned tired look on that face, as if he's ready to gives up any moment.

He loathed that more. He needs to snapped the hero back to reality. He needed to get out of this damned piled of fucking corpses.

But he can't. 

He had to screamed at least. He's good at screaming at that punk of a hero.

But he can't do that as well.

His legs felt so damn hurt. A lot of soldiers didn't want to let go of their grudge and still holds onto their fricking swords even after they died. Heck- some even tied their swords to their hands. 

But because of that, those swords are stabbing his legs right now. He couldn't tell how many or how deep any swords were stabbed to his legs but he still feel how fucking hurt it is to be in this state. 

And it might not only be just his legs. Probably some part of his body got stabbed by these piled of swords and corpses as well. 

He wanted to screamed, to the hero. But every time he tries to even speak, he started to cough out blood. 

He had to get to that hero. Surely he'll be able to ignore some more pain from ripping his own flesh just to get out of this pile of corpses.

"Cale Henituse, you pitiful mortal. Are you going to keep ignoring me?"

He had to go and snapped their hero back first. Voices in his head be damned.

"You.. time is warped oddly for you."

what?

what did he just hear, coming out of that bastard mouth?

"Cale darling, let me tell you a secret. It's a secret just between us! so you can't even tell your father, alright?"

Choi Han times is.. warped?

"have you learned about a tree's annual rings?"

"mama had an ancient power. Mama can see the annual rings of all living things. Mama could see the entire annual rings of a person from birth to death."

That white bastard..!

"My dear Cale. Sometimes, there are people whose annual rings are warped. In that case, it is highly likely that- that person has a peculiar experience with time."

"Cale, you are a child who will have a peculiar experience with time."

He had his mothers power!

He gets it now. That village massacred, the number of trees being burned down on that village.

His mother had gone to that village. Her power must've been there. In that damned village.

The white star had his mother's power!

"yes, that is correct my child. But you know, even if you managed to get to our dear Choi Han. Your kingdom wouldn't win."

The voices in his head made him froze instantly. Even the hero can't kill that bastard..? Then, how is anyone's going to be able to-

"let's make a deal."

Cale listened. Or at least he tried. His eyes that were still stubbornly sets on that two strongest people he knew must've made the white shit notices his presence.

"Ah, a rat's still alive." 

He saw an arrow. And a fire. And Choi Han who looked in more despair as he realizes it was him that the white star noticed.

why is he looking at him like that..?

The arrow hit Cale. and-

It burns.

It burns. It hurts.

It hurts.

It hurts.

It hurts so much.

It's hot.

So hot.

Too hot.

His vision blackened and when he jolts awake. He was in an office. 

The burning feeling from that arrow is gone, the stabbed wound also didn't hurt anymore.

He looked down at his body and realizes, there's not a single open wound in his body.

There's scars, everywhere in his body. But scars is nothing if compared to an open wound, or a fresh cut. 

"are you done admiring my work?"

Cale flinched, only then he looked around the room. It was a very strange room, he didn't know a lot of the things here. He just knew the basic things in this place, such as the couch where he woke up and currently sat on.

And there.

Behind the desk.

Sat a man with tan skin and white hair. Though what catches Cale eyes the most was the man's eyes. Which is black. 

It was not like Choi Han black eyes, it was just pure black. Cale felt like staring into the abyss the longer he stared at those eyes. 

He's not human.

The person in front of him is not human.

He's sure about that.

"Who are you?" He managed to asked. Even though it's hard to keep his gaze with this person.

The person in front of him smiled, he looked amused. Even.

"I'm death. The god of death."

The god replied, and Cale felt chill running down his spine at his answer. 

He's talking to a god.

"You're still alive by the way. I just took your consciousness here to offer you a deal."

Ah. So he's not dead yet. That means if he didn't accept whatever this deal the god kept talking about, he will go back to reality.

He will go back to continue burning slowly.

He shuddered at the thought. It was not a good experience. He didn't want to continue that. He hoped what the god offered will be good enough for him to accept.

"..what is the content of the deal?" He asked cautiously. Eyes still locked with the god in front of him.

The god of death smiled and replied,
"simple concept. You will regressed. No, your world will regressed. And I will help you to keep your forty years old memories."

Regressed..? But, how is that gonna change much..?

"and in exchange. Stop the white star."

Cale clenched his fist. That's what he wanted too. that bastard took everything he had. 

And worst, he only realized he had something after that bastard took it.

His family. His Henituse.

"can you fulfill that?"

Cale looked away finally, his fist clenched hard. his nails are digging into his palm. If not for the god of death power and the effect of being in his domain, his hand would've bleed. 

"..If the hero cannot kill him. What makes you think I'm able to do that..? Why don't you send Choi Han back instead?"

He asked, the hero, in a sense would use the information he knew more effectively than him. He's the hero after all. And he's nobody. He's just a trash who had even insulted the hero.

"Choi Han, huh. I don't think he can. He was much more inefficient than I thought after all. He can't even figured out the white star biggest secret in 20 years."

The god tone was full of dissatisfaction, but he looked like he pitied the hero at the same time.

God of Death had thought about another Choi who had helped him before. He was efficient. but not quiet so, because that Choi still ended up alone.

the white star biggest secret.. what would that be?

"What makes you think I can?" Cale asks again.

The god smiles,
"If you think you can't then I will send someone to help you. But if you took that offer, your memories in which I was planning to give you back at the age of 8, I will have to gave you when you're 18. Right before you meet Choi Han."

Cale looked back at the god. He's contemplating it.

"He will be a really great help, I'm sure of that."

The god is talking as if this 'someone' isn't from their world.

"So. What do you think? Ah, of course I will made you have the thought of not stopping your studies both swordsmanship and your regular studies. Atleast in secret. Have your soul remembers your goal."

That was a good enough deal. Cale really thinks so. But.. in the end, he still can't saved his mom. In any of the two deal, he can't.

"Cale Henituse. Choose. Will you go back in time without a helper, or with a helper?"

Cale bit his lips. 

What a bastard of a god.

he didn't have a choice in the first place. he wanted a revenge after all.

"Second option."

The god of death smiled in satisfaction. though before the god can do anything, Cale speaks again.

"..you know..."

"...the bastard mentioned about Choi Han's time. how it was warped oddly." Cale pauses,

"..my mother had said a similar thing to me. what does that mean? two people can't have the same ancient power. how come that bastard had my mother power?"

The god looked thoughtful for a bit before making an 'ah' noises, and leaned back on his chair.

"I guess I could tell you about that. in exchange for the deal. a deal had to benefit both party doing it after all."

Cale listened attentively,

"Do you know the real reason why your mother died? it was not because of that carriage accidents."

Cale knew that.

because in that accident, nobody else died except his mother.

"it is not commonly known in your time because people with ancient power rarely got any attention. but the way a person can get an ancient power is not just by getting it from sheer luck."

The god face was neutral. but it felt like the god pitied him.

"People can snatched an ancient power too. But by doing so, the person plate would break"

Cale heart was beating so loud.

"And your mother. she was a one peculiar woman. she destroyed her own plate. to burry her power in that village."

when a person plate break. they would die. he had learned that after he resumed his swordmanship.

The god of Death is saying that his mother planned her own death.

The god of Death is saying that his mother leaves him to killed herself.

It was because she knew how this world would end. she did it for the world and him who lives in it.

He understood that. Too painfully well actually. Because the rest of the family he had also did the same thing.

As Cale got engrossed in his thoughts, he didn't know that the God in front of him smile.

And before he realized it, Cale could feel something cold already enveloping his body. And his vision started to blackened. He's slowly losing his consciousness. But he can still faintly heard what the god say,

"Don't worry. because your going back to prevent those fate, right? and you'll get help. you're not alone."

Cale felt like the god of death is trying to reassure him. This bastard was quiet considerate of his feelings after the entirety of this conversations.

"That person who'll help you was supposed to be born in your world anyway, he was just going to go back to where he belong."

Cale could see the god smiles turn sorrowful at the mention of that helper.

"Cale Henituse, I hope you fulfill your end of the deal."

His vision completely blackened.

Cale eyes fluttered opened. It was still dark in his room.

He tried to sat up but his head started to throbbed real bad, he groans and falls back to his bed. though once again, he felt a hand catches him. A strong and familiar hand catching his head.

"Cale." 

Cale opened his eyes again and looked towards the owner of the voice.

He saw Cain, looking at him with his usual stoic look but he could see the concern in those eyes.

The reddish-grey eyes that mirrored his own.

Cain, his twin.

The twin that he didn't have in the previous round.

The person who will help him.. is it his twin?

"..Cain, are you the one that the god of death send to me?" he can't help but ask,

His twin eyes widen comically, he's looking at him as if he's insane.

"..Cale are you that drunk?"

"..Answer me."

Cain expression goes back to his usual stoic expression. And Cale saw the way his twin sighs.

"..Cale. I don't know. what's with the question?"

Cale just let out a quite huff and looked away from his twin.

"Nothing."

It was silence for a moment before Cain speaks again,

"..If I didn't follow you, you would've got beaten to death."

Cale snorts and looked back at his twin,

"Well thankyou for saving me then, Mr. Stalker"

Cain frowns at the tittle, his expression looks funny to Cale.

"..Apologize to that man, Cale."

"..Hmm.. sure. I'll do it in the morning."

Cain huffed but he looked quiet satisfied.

"Good."

Cain stood up from his chair and walked over to the other side of Cale bed and flopped down. And Cain sighs like an old man as the soft mattress made contact with him.

"ah.. bed."

"My bed."

"Bed."

Cale just sighs at his twin antics. What a lazy cat. 

Though, seeing how dark it is yet his twin only lay in his bed now, that means..

"..Have you been sleeping while sitting in that chair?" waiting for me to wake up? goes unsaid, but Cain could still hear it.

Cain is silent. Is he asleep? He turned to looked at him but Cain had his back on him, strange. 

"..Cain-"

"You were looking at me funny earlier." Cale shut his mouth,

"..Like you don't know me. Am I a stranger to you now, Sir Cale?"

Chapter Text

"You were looking at me funny earlier." Cale shut his mouth,

"..Like you don't know me. Am I a stranger to you now, Sir Cale?"

With Cain’s back turned to him, Cale couldn’t see his expression. But the way Cain kept addressing him with honorifics— that “Sir Cale”—made him feel more and more like a stranger. Cale didn’t want to say anything about it. Cain was just eighteen, the twin his body from this round had.

He felt like if he answered truthfully, Cain might get upset. But if he lied, it would only widen the gap between them even more.

He didn’t like that distance. Sure, he had his memories back now, but he’d still spent eighteen years growing up alongside Cain. One of his greatest regrets back in the war had been not knowing his family better. He didn’t want to be distant from his own twin.

But Cain... Cain hadn’t been there.

Cain didn’t exist for those forty years. Out of the total fifty-eight years of Cale’s life, Cain had only been with him for eighteen. He wasn’t by his side through all those long years. And Cale didn’t want to imagine what it would have been like if Cain had been there. He would’ve either died along with the rest of the Henituse family… or been forced to fight beside him.

No, he didn’t want that.

Cale stared at Cain’s back, the silence between them stretching on. Normally, before he got his memories. This kind of silence was something he really loved. Cain had always just been there for him, never demanding explanations or pushing him for more. But this… this was different.

This was not that familiar, comforting silence.

“…I’ve been thinking about it,” Cain finally broke the silence.

“That look you were giving me back in that alley with that swordsman—if I had to guess, maybe… a regressor. Am I right, Sir? I didn’t exist before, did I?”

Cale flinched, and Cain noticed. He turned to face his twin.

Cale’s heart throbbed at the way Cain called him 'sir' again, but he chose to ignore it.

..Ha!

“…What a perceptive bastard,” Cale snarked, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “I guess that’s to be expected from a stalker like you.”

Cain smiles. but how- how does that usually warm smile that always makes him feel at ease looked so foreign? does having his memories back affected that much with his relationship with Cain?

"..it's still 2 in the morning, go back to sleep. let's play our game when morning comes." 

Game.

Right. that was how they always called it. Their little game is pretending- acting. and by the morning, they would play their game. pretending everything is fine, and that there's nothing wrong within their relationship. He used to loves playing pretend with Cain, he was the one who invented it when they were kids after all. 

They would pretend to be sad so the servants would gives them sweets. they would act cute so their parents would ditched their work and play with them. they would act like a kicked puppy if their second kitchen little chef doesn't want to play with them.

these past ten years, their little game changes bit by bit.

Cale started acting out and Cain started to ditched his studies more and just hole up in his room. And whenever Cale looked like he's so out of it because of alcohol, Cain would carry him back home. all while looking annoyed. everyone assumed that Cain hates having to look for his older brother, when it should be the other way around.

Though, it was all an act. 

Behind the act? Cain would scold Cale for drinking, and Cale would always thanked Cain for taking care of him and even playing along. though, Cale had always told Cain to not also ditched his studies and to not ruin his reputation like him. but Cain would just said, that he didn't care about reputation nor did he care about his studies. all this is done in private, only the two of them would know. 

And just now. Cain was saying that they would act again. but behind the act? they would be strangers. that's how Cale took it. and it's correct, of course. 

Cale bit his lips. he didn't want that. but how is he supposed to tell Cain that, when Cain looked so ready on doing just that? all for his sake. because Cain knew that Cale is not used with his presence now.

"..Cain-"

"and about me being the person that the god of death send to you." Cain cut him off again. 

"...I want to ask about it.. Sir. did that god promised you something?"

..Sir.

Cale opened his mouth and closed it back again a couple of times before letting out a huff and relaxed back to the mattress and replied,

"..He said that there would be someone to help me if I'm not confident I could do it myself.. and you-" didn't exist before. That's why the first question that Cale asked Cain after he woke up was whether this twin of his is that mentioned person or not. Cain would've guessed all that even without him explaining though.

"..you met a god before?"

Cale nodded while looking at him strangely. how the hell would he even regressed if not by meeting a god?

 "..so you can do that with a god, huh.." Cain smiles is so weird. it looked almost vicious as in the way Cain had once described Ron smiles when they were kids.

Cale gulped. the way Cain was saying that and the way he smiles is very strange. Cain never looked like that when talking to him.

"..let's sleep, Sir."

Cale felt a pang in his heart at that 'sir' again.

..ah. he's used with being called with that honorifics at war, but why..? why does he hate it when Cain is the one calling him that way..?

Cale could feel someone gently tapping his body. it was a rough hand that made him think of the hands of a parent. Not that Cale really knew that kind of parents anymore. But Cale could recognize this voice.

"Young master Cale, it is morning."

Cale eyes fluttered open. he was immediately greeted by the sight of their old butler Ron who's wearing his usual benign smile and a terrible headache. truly the most terrible mix that the world can give him.

"it is surprising to see you wake up after a single attempt, young master."

Cale groans and slowly sat up. he rubs his temple in attempt to ease his headache. He looked to his other side of the bed and find it empty. Cain must've left early.

"Young master, seems like you had a bad hangover. should i tell my son to make you something to ease it?"

Cale scoff and rolled his eyes, the thing Ron is probably going to tell beacrox to make is lemon tea. he hates lemon tea.

"no need."

Ron, as if knowing what his puppy young master is thinking laugh quietly. he knew how much his twin young masters hates lemon. yet the younger one always drank it while the eldest would bluntly reject it. it would forever be amusing.

"prepare my bath, Ron." 

he needed to freshen up a little. that'll do to ease this annoying headache.

"i will prepare it right away."

.
.
.

Cale stared at his reflection in the full body mirror. Nobody in the estate had a mirror like this. The only person who liked seeing their own appearance so much is him.

He's been looking down at the reflection especially on his sides and his whole upper body over and over again for awhile now. Really checking if there's any injuries from where he hit the table on his side and from where he got beaten by Choi Han.

"..it really isn't a dream. I really got my memories back."

Cale leaned back with a smile of disbelief.

An image of himself- his twin. Looking calm, collected, and all his protective actions flashed in his mind and Cale smiled a little bitterly.

"let's play our game when morning comes."

Cale frowned deeply before turning on the sink and splashed water right to his face. He looked up at the mirror again. He saw both his own face overlapping with his twin face.

That's just how similar they are. They're like clones of each other. 

The things that makes other people able to tell which twin is who, had always been their personalities. Cale is lively and blunt, rude even. while Cain is calmer and rarely talk. Cale also likes to dress extravagantly while Cain wears simple clothes. And lately, Cain hair is getting longer which makes people able to tell them apart more.

"Young master Cale, are you inside?" Cale snapped back from his thought at the old butler voice.

"i'm going out."

.
.
.

Cale silently observe the servants helping him change, it was quiet strange. He remember having to do everything by himself after the war broke out and now having people to do it for him is strange, and he didn't think he'll get used with this anytime soon either.

"Ron where is Cain? is that lazy bastard still asleep?" Cale looked at the old butler, and Ron looked back at him.

"young master Cain is preparing to eat breakfast with the others, young master."

Now that's rare. Ever since both of them play this game of pretending to 'ruin' their reputation, Cain rarely eat with the rest of the family, just like him. The only time Cain ever eat with anyone else it would be with him, and if Cain eats with the others then it would be because the other asks him directly. 

But this. From the way Ron had said it, Cain is going willingly.

"I should join then." he murmurs. It was because he want to know what Cain is planning. He didn't notice the fact that the servants around him flinched from what he just said.

"..That's great, young master. The master would be so happy to have the full family having breakfast together after a long time."

Cale hummed. that's probably true. Though, their servants probably wished he didn't go. because every time he did, he'll always caused a ruckus. such as throwing away the food and said it taste like garbage, and make the whole situation felt awkward and uncomfortable.

Cale looked at the mirror one last time after all the servants except Ron leaves the room. he's wearing a simpler clothes today, though this simpler clothes would still be extravagant according to Cain.

"let's go." Cale turned around and walked up to the door, and opened it.

BAAM-

Cale placed a hand over his chest, feeling his heart pounding rapidly. His other hand still clutched the door handle, now firmly closed. He glanced back at Ron.

"..you didn't tell me Cain was waiting."

"Ohoho, young master, are you surprised? I was just about to tell you, but you opened the door right away making this Ron had no chance to tell you."

No chance, my ass, Cale thought. This bastard of a butler definitely did that on purpose. He sighed, trying to calm his racing heart, then opened the door again.

"..what."

Cain stood there with his arms crossed, staring at Cale with a displeased frown.

"you slammed the door right on my face. Rude."

"so don't fucking wait in front of the door without a sound then??" Cale snapped.

Cain huffed, he turn on his heel and walked away. Cale took that as his cue to follow him. Cain probably wanted to walk together to the dining room. Though, as to how his twin knew he’d decided to join the family for breakfast today—despite making the decision only minutes ago—was something Cale wasn’t going to question. Cain was weird like that after all.

Cale walked beside Cain, both hands casually tucked into his pockets, his posture are far from the posture expected of a noble. But if anyone thought Cale's posture was improper, they’d change their mind the moment they saw Cain. Compared to him, Cale almost seemed dignified. While Cain, so lazy even back when they hadn’t yet abandoned their etiquette lessons, had probably forgotten every lesson that was supposed to be embedded as a muscle memory.

Cale glanced at Cain, noting his usual stoic expression. So, they really are playing the game again then. Though now that he looked closer, Cain’s eyes seemed more clouded, and emptier than they had been last night.. Cale wanted to know why, but it didn’t feel like his place to ask—at least not if Cain didn’t plan on telling him anything.

“…Why do you suddenly want to have breakfast with everyone today? You’re usually too lazy to even get up in the morning.”

“Why are you wearing simpler clothes today?” Cain shot back.

Cale frowned. He knew where this was going.

“Because I wanted to,” he replied, his frown deepening as he braced for Cain’s response.

“Same.” Nailed it. He knew Cain was going to say that. This is Cain's old trick to avoid answering questions from time to time.

"young masters, i will now opened the door." 

"sure." both the twins answered at the same time.

The large door leading to the dining room for the Henituse opened. Breakfast started.

Chapter Text

"what did you say?"

Deruth looked at Cale with confusion and looked back at Cain when he replied,

"I said I want to take Basen place to go to the king's birthday this one time. what is it with you?"

Cale eyes shook at the mentioned event. He remembered the bombing incident where his little brother Basen coming home with lots of injuries, and how he never let his guard down and how he flinched to the slightest bit of sound, and how his eyes looked so haunted after that event. 

Cain was talking about taking Basen place. 

"you're not going, Cain." Cale snapped. he didn't know what excuse he should use to explain this in front of their father, but he had to prevent Cain going there and replace Basen, if he were to come home like Basen that day as well. 

he would prefer himself going instead.

Cain turned his body so he's facing Cale directly and Cale in return also did the same. Cain eyes were calm but firm. Cain had set his mind on this.

"I'm going. the invitation doesn't say who should go anyway, and I want to go. don't try controlling me Cale." Cain eyebrow twitched, he's trying really hard to make his expression looked as calm as he usually is. 

"I'm the eldest I should go instead, Cain."

Cain didn't back down. Deruth doesn't even know how he should respond this situation. both his twin are stubborn, he knew that. but he doesn't know why the both of them would want to go to the capital so much at the same time. it's not like there's that much to see for the twins who doesn't like loud places such as noble gathering.

Deruth let out a cough to gain the attention of both the twins, and the twins immediately stopped their bickering and turn their heads to looked at their father at the same time.

“You're both going,” Deruth declared. “I’ll speak with the king about sending both of my children.”

“Father—just me is fine,” Cale protested. “Cain can stay home.”

Cain clicked his tongue, a frown finally breaking through his usual calm.

“I’m not staying,” he said firmly. “Father’s decision is good enough. Thank you, Father.”

Cale opened his mouth and was about to refuse it again but the moment he saw Cain eyes. as firm as a boulder. Cain is for the first time refusing to backdown to Cale, his hyung. that which never happened before. 

Finally, Cale clicked his tongue and turns on his heel and walked out of the room. reluctantly accepting Deruth decision to send both of the twins. Cale didn't care if he looked so childish right now. he might've got a memory worth of forty years, but he was still stubborn—and still, in many ways, the trash he'd always been. He didn’t like that Cain wouldn’t back down, even though Cain must have knew why he's so stubborn on making Cain stays.

The door slammed shut leaving the remaining occupants in the room staring at the door in complete silence.

"Cain.."

Cain looked back at his father on his call. Deruth had worry visible on his face. Deruth had seen both his twins bicker from time to time back when the former countess is alive but never to this extent. Cain usually let his older brother win. but this time he doesn't.

"..why are you like that? it's not like you, Cain."

Cain looked away. his lips pressed into a thin line as he bit the inside of his mouth.

“…Cale can’t win every time, Father,” he muttered. “I want to win this time.”

Deruth didn’t fully understand his words, but he accepted the answer with a deep sigh.

“Alright… just—” Deruth huffed. “Don’t stay mad at each other for too long. I don’t understand Cale the way you do, and I don’t understand you the way Cale does. Do you get what I mean, Cain?”

Cain looked back at his father. his face back to its usual stoic look. of course he understand. His father was saying that the twins only had each other when it comes to understanding each other. It had always been like that.

Cain bit his lips and nodded as a response before excusing himself and get out of Deruth office quietly. He wanted to find Cale.

Cale had no idea where he was going. Somehow, his feet had led him to the shared study he and Cain used as children. He didn’t know why he’d ended up here. His mind kept replaying what had just happened. They were having breakfast, with him not throwing tantrums for once— and their father just announced the kings birthday celebration. And how all the noble child were also invited for the gathering on the palace of joy.

And Cain said he had heard about it and was actually wanting to talked about it with their father after breakfast. And Cale, not knowing what his twin is planning decided to come aswell. Just to listen. 

Cain was getting harder to read. That much is obvious from the result of their talks in the office just now.

Cale leaned back on his chair, eyes still closed. He sighs heavily,

"What, Cain?" He said after noticing the little sound that his twin made when entering the room.

"So rare of you to even set foot in the study. Guess being old does that." Cale mouth twitched as he opened his eyes and saw Cain already getting comfortable on the couch which they both loves as a kid.

"..you knew why I was so stubborn on making you stay." Cale starts, and Cain looks at him.

"I knew. Something bad is going to happen in the future, and you're trying to get me stay at home, away from whatever's gonna happened." 

Cain replied so nonchalantly that it irritated Cale more. He didn't even know why he's not able to control his emotions like this even when he was forty he was basically a master at that. Probably being in the body of eighteen years old does that.

"You knew! Yet you didn't want to back down!" he snapped.

"Are you asking me to let you sacrifice yourself for your own dongsaengs?" 

Cale shut his mouth, lips pressed into a tight line as he struggled to find a response. Cain just stared at him, his expression unreadable.

Then Cain spoke again, his voice steady.

"A bombing accident. Arms first official introduction to our kingdom." 

Cale froze, his eyes widening. How did Cain know about that? His heart raced as he stared at his twin—no, at the stranger in front of him. Cain’s eyes were firm, steady as usual, and for the first time, Cale saw a stranger instead of Cain.

“…You… how do you know that…?” Cale’s voice trembled. “You’re—”

“Not Cain. Yes.” Cain looked away, expecting Cale to jumps at him any moment now.

Cale's hands trembled as he stared at the person wearing his twin’s face. The familiar features—Cain’s face—felt like a cruel illusion at that moment. Without thinking, he surged forward, grabbing the stranger by the collar, his grip tight and desperate.

Chapter Text

Cale surged forward, grabbing the stranger using Cain's face by the collar, his grip tight and desperate.

“…What are you saying, Cain? Stop… stop saying nonsense…” Cale muttered, his heart pounding in his ears. He couldn’t look at this person as Cain.

Cain looked up at his twin whose eyes are somehow glassy. Out of instinct he reaches up and caress Cale cheeks gently. his thumb brushing over his eyelids, wiping away the tears that had fallen without Cale noticing.

Cain had been imagining about this for the whole day. and although it was so unlike him, he didn't sleep yesterday after he left Cale room. He was actually thinking on how he should worded it, but in the end he gave up because his record kept running haywire, and it was getting annoying to dealt with. so he decided to face the problem that's definitely going to happen in the future first.

Taking Basen place to go to the capital. 

Cain is by no mean a hero and if Cain were to be honest, he didn't want to go anywhere near a place that'll have any connection with the main hero as well, like the capital.

But he's Basen hyung as well.

and he didn't want Basen to go.

that's why he told his father that he's taking Basen place this time. the invitation said to send a heir, but the Henituse doesn't have a heir announced yet, that's why any of the Henituse children going will be fine.

But Cale just kept telling him to stay home. Cale got a bit emotional because he knew what will happen, and Cain knew that. But Cale kept telling him that as if he didn't know about his shield. The shield that had block Choi Han attack once, and Cain didn't even had that bad of a recoil from it because he had the Vitality of the heart.

Cain is the weaker twin. it was a fact that Cain also very gladly acknowledge. 

But both of the twin is equally stubborn.

And so, Cain didn't back down. he didn't want to back down atleast this once.

Kim Rok Soo was a team leader who had made a 0% causalities on each mission ever since he took that position, he knew his plan.

but telling Cale about Kim Rok Soo or telling Cale about another person inside Cain's body is not on his plan at all.

He was getting carried away.

It was probably because his record was still continued being denied by himself, his eighteen years old self. so he acted a bit too childish, and just kept sticking on his choice without any explaining to Cale.

He was panicking too. Like Cale.

His record kept playing the sentences on The birth of a hero where it says a lot of people and nobles were injured in the terrorist attack. it didn't specified which nobles got injured, but regardless of who gets injured, a fifteen years old who lives in a peaceful territory witnessing a bombing incidents would get a deep trauma. Kim Rok Soo had witnessed similar thing too much.

And it slipped. He kept replaying those sentences that it slipped out of his mouth.

"A bombing accident. Arms first official introduction to our kingdom."

Then he played along with his own words.

“You’re—”

“Not Cain. Yes.”

He told Cale that he's not Cain.

And he knew Cale long enough to figured out that Cale really loves his family. And even with that forty years worth of memories, Cale would still be devastated if he ever find someone else occupying his twin body.

He should've probably worded it a bit better earlier. Because he is still Cain, he is still the twin that Cale had spent eighteen years of his life with. As expected, he's not good with this heart to heart thingy.

He should've tell him that. Especially with how scary Cale looked right now, grabbing his collar as if he wanted to beat him up but still hesitated because he's not sure whether Cain is telling the truth or not.

Kim Rok Soo had never been the type who could express something correctly. he know his own emotions very well of course, but expressing it is another thing. and why should he bother correcting anything that people misunderstand him for? It's not like they misunderstand too bad that he need to waste his time to correct it.

But this is Cale.

Kim Rok Soo was a person who didn't have anyone that he loved to death. That's why there's no need for him to express what he feels most of the time. He just let others took it as it is. 

"Cain, when the time comes, please remember."

"you're Cain, you have a twin. you were never alone since you were born."

That was what his mother told him, back when there's just the two of them lazing around under a tree shade, as Cale is currently with his father. Though, Cain had always been smart, that fact was easily understood by him.

Though, his mother next words- he can't understand.

"Cain please remember, no matter for what reason you were bought here. You are still free, you are not obligated to do anything."

Ah. Why is he remembering that record now? 

Deep down, he knew the moment Cale said that he made a deal with a god and one of the content of the deal was to bought him to this world. as a helper. He was bought here to be some kind of hero, that supposed to be helping Cale. 

The thought of being a hero made his stomach churn.

That was probably why his mother had told him that he's free, he's not obligated to do anything. But, Cale wanted to save the world- or atleast smack the final boss. and he can't let Cale killed himself by doing so either.

"Cain, your time is warped. and so is Cale."

The annual rings of life.. his mother power. he often talked alone with his mother and the first time they did, his mother said that. he doesn't understand but when his mother talked about her ability, he understand a little more.

His mother had also had this talk before, when Cain was ignoring Cale for weeks. unintentionally.

"I've noticed you ignoring Cale lately, that's not good at all."

Cain had reply that he need to do something, and that when he's finished, he will play with Cale again. But his mother had stop that plan-

"Cain, my fate cannot be changed. you can stop trying to work your young brain too much on finding out about that foresight of yours."

His mother had poke his forehead while saying those, as if being playful. and the young Cain also thought she was being playful. But he does took her words seriously.

It was the days where Cain had started to holed up in the study, because in his memories Cale doesn't have his birth mother at 18, and that mean his mother would die. he didn't know when, how, or why, that's why he's been trying to find the reason for that stupid hunch, even if that mean sacrificing his playtime with Cale.

His mother notices this and had Cain had this talk with her. she knew that her youngest had some kind ability that allow him to know something. She can't point out what it is exactly since it doesn't feel like something from this world, but she knew that- that power is sealed. 

and her best guess is that it's not fully sealed, that's why out of the two twins, Cain was the more restless about the future. it's like he always knew something but don't at the same time.

from that she knew, Cain hates being clueless.

and Cale, she knew that he's a regressor. but his memories are fully sealed, though the only thing wasn't sealed is probably his determination, or goal. ever since Cale was a child he always talked about wanting to learn as fast as he could, especially with swords. when asked why, Cale would just say that he needs to.

"I know you had a hunch about my fate, Cain."

Cain eyes shook as he stared at his mother,

"don't try to stop it, please."

His mother had told him to let her die. it was the most cruel thing the little Cain had ever heard someone said to him.

Cain didn't cry though, nor did he accept it openly. his mother didn't gave him an option.

He had not want to listen to her anymore that time, but he stays. they talked about other things and they talked about Cale.

His mother also kept praising him for being more mature and forgiving than his hyung, and Cain just listened. he heard about that too much. and then they talked about the twins game, and he flinched hard when his mother said that she always knew about it. 

Cain had begged his mother to not tell anyone about it, because Cale will be upset if they can't played it anymore. His mother had offered a deal instead when he asked that.

"when the time come, and both of you fights. have Cale read my diary, okay? then i'll keep you guys secrets."

Cain had pouted frowned. because his mother was saying Cale and not both of them. meaning Cale got to keep the diary to himself, and Cain is not allowed to read it too. he agreed though.

But why would they fight anyway?

Cain blinked away from his record and focused back at Cale. Cale is crying. Cale probably already notices now, but he won't point it out if Cale also didn't.

"Let's go to your mother grave, Cale. We need to."

.
.
.

Silence again. The only sound as Cale and Cain made their way to their mother’s grave was the soft crunch of leaves underfoot on the abandoned path—one that no one used anymore. This was the path leading to the Henituse family grave, a gift the twins had once requested for their father. Or rather, it was more Cain’s wish, as he had done all the talking. Cain had even arranged for the servants to clean the path only once a year only after winter, ensuring that no one would see the twins if they ever chose to use it.

Cain’s eyes were fixed ahead, while Cale kept his gaze on the ground, lost in thought. His cheeks are still slightly wet and his eyes sting. And when he finally looked up, he saw Cain’s back—broader than it seemed before. His shoulders, which had always looked like they bore so much burden, appeared even more burdened now.

Yet, Cale couldn’t shake the feeling that the person walking in front of him wasn’t truly Cain. As the stranger had claimed, he wasn’t Cain.

Was his feeling about his distance with Cain widening wasn't because he got his memories after all? but because Cain is not Cain? But- he still acts like Cain, just a bit more distant and more mature than Cain already is.

"we're here." Cale snapped out of his thoughts at Cain voice. only then he realizes that they're already in front of their mother grave.

Cale was actually curious as to why they were here.

"Cale, dig out lady Jour grave." 

what.

Cale eyes shook as he about to lash out for the disrespect this person is showing his mother-

"..there's a box. took out the box, and took her power. it's yours."

Cale eyes widen and he looked at the stranger using Cain face strangely. His mother had talk about her power in this life too, and possibly to Cain as well but.. isn't the power buried in the Harris village and probably already taken by that white shit..?

"..your mother buried half in that village, and half were stored inside her diary." Cain explained as if realizing his confusion. And how did he knew that..?

"..she told me. So hurry up, I believe she writes something important too."

Cale is still very skeptical but nodded anyway before kneeling down and start digging with his bare hands, with Cain— the stranger. Instructions on where he should dig. 

Surprisingly, the ground was not that hard to dig, maybe because it's still taken care of properly or because of how moist it is? Someone probably often pour water on this specific part of the grave periodically.

Cale digs and eventually hit something metal, he didn't even dig that deep..

Cale took out the box, it was made of metal but it's not heavy. Though he wonders how he's supposed to opened this, because he didn't see where the top or the bottom is and he didn't see any keyhole either. And while thinking, he suddenly saw a water bottle in his sight. 

The stranger was offering to let him wash his hands, and Cale did just that. Purely out of habits of always doing what Cain suggested. And Cale watched how Cain dusted off the box a little before taking out a pocket knife— that he didn't know Cain carry.

Cale watched as the stranger sliced their own fingers as if it were nothing. Bloods dripped down out of the wounds and Cain made it dripped on top of the box. 

The box opened with a quiet click.

Cale frozes after seeing the inside. It really has her diary. His mother diary that he often saw her mother uses in both timelines.

The stranger hand the box back to him and Cale watched how he sat down besides him though still with a respectful space. He figured that Cain thought it would take awhile for him to read the diary, so Cale also sat down. 

He took out the book and opened it. The first page,

< Cale, Cain. Apologize to each other >

Cale eyes trembled and his shoulder shook as he lets out a small laugh, making Cain looked back at him. 

"You should read this with me." Cale shoots a smile to Cain. And Cain although hesitant, shifts closer.

He read the first line and Cale watched as Cain eyes widen. Before smiling a familiar smile. Cale watched as Cain turned to look back at him and bow his head a little.

"I'm sorry. my wording earlier definitely causes a misunderstanding. I am still Cain, Cale."

Cale subconsciously sighed out in relief. But with how Cain said that words, he knew there's more. so he waits. he waits just like how Cain usually waits for him to opened up.

"..I was reincarnated, I got my memories back a week earlier than you. so, I-"

Cain scoffed bitterly, he looks hurt.

"I was probably the person send to you just like your previous guess."

Cain doesn't looked happy about it, and Cale felt really guilty. he figured Cain didn't knew anything about being part of Cale and that god deal. He knew ever since they were kids, Cain hates being clueless. and he didn't knew anything about the deal, so it was probably the reason why he doesn't look happy.

Cain told him to continue reading himself, and Cale nodded. 

Cale reads his mother dairy alone, mostly it was about his mother saying that she knew both her child are older than they seem and it also talked about Cain.

< I wanted to asked you a favor, Cale. >

< Cain had an ability that might overwhelm him, please take care of your brother Cale. >

he didn't knew Cain shield could overwhelm him, or was it a different ability? nevertheless, he kept reading first.

His mother talked about variables, reincarnator, transmigrator, regressor, and possibilities of other types of variables that are yet to be named. Cale figured out that the Thames family research those kind of stuff. So that's why his mother had said that he will have a peculiar experience with time in his first round, and said that he had a peculiar experience with time in this round.

He wonders how his mother had said it to Cain. he's pretty sure his mother way on telling him that and the way his mother told Cain would be different. he glanced to his side, Cain is just staring blankly into space. seems like he's either bored or deep in thought.

< Cale, I'm sorry for leaving you again. >

< tell your brother that mother is sorry as well. >

< Tell him that mother is sorry for saying such cruel things that day. >

Cale wondered what these are about. could his mother who had loved both her child so much say cruel things to one of them intentionally? he glanced at Cain again, he doesn't looked like someone who felt uncomfortable here, so Cain probably already forgive her. 

Considering Cain nature, and his obvious loves towards his family, Cale guessed that he already did. He's only 90% sure though. he can't say confidently he knew Cain 100% now after all. Not after he knew Cain also remember his previous lives.

< also tell Cain, to keep his plate balanced, please. that younger brother of yours is as reckless as you. >

< mother also had this last gift for the both of you. the both of you can decide who should take it.>

'ah?'

< in the forest of darkness, I sense two ancient power in there. one in a cave, I haven't go inside the cave but i can feel the power from the entrance. and the other one is located in the lake within the forest. it is actually a swamp covered in dead mana so I shouldn't really call it a forest, but it's there.>

Two ancient power, it might be useful for them for their upcoming fight. ah, is it really their fight if Cale is the only one who wants revenge..? There's a chance Cain doesn't even know about that white shit, so would he even help him?

The god of death had sent Cain to him as a helper, but would he help him? especially since he's coming to this world without knowing anything about his deal yet being part of it anyway?

Cale opened the next page.

< and I should probably mentioned that if you ever felt uncertain about including your brother, you should ask. please remember that your brother hates being clueless about stuff like this. >

< you can rely on each other, Cale. >

< you might think about whether or not your brother would like what you wanted to do and what you want your brother to do. but, it's not for you to decide. so just ask him directly. he'd like for you to do so. >

Cale eyes sting the moment his mother kept talking about Cain. why does it always seem like his mother knew everything? 

He's worried he had to include Cain in his plan, and he's also worried Cain wouldn't like his plan, and not help him. why would Cain helped someone who basically forced him to come to his life and be a helper anyway?

but.. it's not for him to decide whether or not Cain would like helping him.

Cale glanced at Cain, his lips tugged in a small smile before he finally close the book.

the page after that contains more information about variables and he's not finished reading it, but he's more sure Cain would use the important information much better than him anyway. and he can always read it later since he's the owner of the diary now.

He wanted to tell Cain everything his mother had asked him to tell, and he wanted to let Cain read some part of the diary himself.

The moment the diary are closed, the ground started to shake.

to be more specific, only the hill where their mother grave is shaking wildly that it made a very loud noise, the entirety of the Henituse household could hear it.

the twins eyes both widen at the same time, and their eyes immediately met. before both looked at their mother grave tombstones.

due to the noises, a lot of the servants in the house and the entire family had gone out of the house. and the family and Ron even used the short route that the twins usually uses so they can get to the source of the noise faster.

once they had arrived, the source of the loud noise was in sight.

the place where Jour Henituse grave had been was gone.

replaced by a very large tree, with red leaves. it was so huge, the base of the tree was so wide that it would take multiple adults to hug it. and even the root coming out of the ground were thick.

though, the one that they focused most are not the tree size but the center of the tree.

on the ground, right on the center of the tree were the twins.

it looks like the leaves were hugging the twins.

the sight was so mesmerizing that they stopped in their track and watched.

Cain stared at the tree with wide, shaking eyes while Cale,

- hm? who might you be?

Huh?

one of Cale hand instinctively reached out to Cain when he heard that voice.

It was definitely his mother voice. Cale glanced at Cain, and saw him looking at him with both worry and confusion. Can't he hear it..?

- who might you be and how are you super cute like me?

he heard it again.

he touched his own ear, to confirm what he just hear.

- you, yes you. why are you so cute?

again.

he was not imagining things. it really is his mother. though-

her voice was more light. like a kid or a teenager voice.

- I have this weird feeling that i would absolutely like you even though we just met! you oddly looked like that half-witted fool Deruth, but you look just as handsome as my eldest orabuni!

that confirmed it. 

she was mentioning Deruth, and her brother. this is her mother younger voice.

"that- miss.."

He didn't knew what to say. can he even call the voice 'mother'?

- ah! your expression is just like Deruth when i rejected him for the first time! but you're- more.. sad.

she told him he resembles Deruth again.

-- anyway, you pass! you looked too cute to not pass this!

pass?

was this a test? for what?

Cale didn't remember that Cain had said that his mother power is in the diary.

Cain stared at his twin. he had already guessed that Cale is currently listening to their mother right now. Cain felt really glad. because judging from his reaction, it was more likely that Cale didn't take his mother power in his previous round. atleast now Cale get to hear his mother voice again.

a small red light were circling Cale.

a lot of those same small red light came out of all the red leaves and started circling Cale, and Cain watched this process with a smile.

the light circling around Cale slowly went through Cale forehead and at that moment, Cale eyes shine more redder than before. it was their mother eye color. red bright like the sunset.

in the eyes of others that's quiet far away from them, those light looked like it would consumed the twins, or rather- Cale. it was blinding and looked so violent, that it made those who were watching wanted to rush in to protect Cale.

but Cale felt something different as the particle were started to get absorbed by him.

'it's really warm.'

Cale eyes sting and tears started to fall again.

'like mother. it's mother power.'

Cale laugh bitterly and his left hand clenched his heart, as it suddenly felt really painful the moment he recognized what the light is.

Warm but painful. that was how his mother always is.

- ..hey cutie, are you and your brother my kin?

Cale stiffen up at the question. he looked down at the diary and smile.

"..yes. yes I am. me and Cain are your sons."

- So that's why you looked so sad when you hear me.

Cale laugh, and nodded. 

- .. That’s a relief. I let you pass because you look so cute, but you need to be a part of the Thames household to use this power properly.

Cale hummed. it was probably similar like the box earlier, because Cain had used his own blood to open the box.

- Cutie- no, my son. 

- sometimes knowing someone fate will hurt you. but someone like you- well, you probably know that more than anyone.

Cale knew. he already witnessed a lot of people dying in front of his eyes in his previous round. and those deaths will be repeated if he didn't do anything. in fact, he's glad that the one who get to take his mother power were him. he didn't want Cain to learn about a person fate with this power.

- that brother of yours. your twin right? he had a peculiar experience with time as well, but I'm sure you both cherished each other dearly. i see the way he looks at you, you know.

Cale nodded. Cain might have stoic face all the time or even a frown, as that was his permanent expression. but if someone were to look more deeply into his eyes, they would be able to see that he's so full of emotion that it might overwhelm the people looking. Cain adores his family more than anything. just like him. both of them cherished the Henituse.

- you're allowed to use this power as you please.

the last particle of light settles into him, he was unable to hear the voice anymore. Cale heart ache. will he never be able to hear her mother again?

Chapter Text

As long as Violan remembers, there's only one time she ever saw one of the twins cry, it was Cale. But after that one time, she never saw any of them cry anymore. Back then, Cale was crying in the study and Violan who were still trying to remembers her way around the estate saw it because the door to the study wasn't closed and the small sniffling sound doesn't escape her ears. And right before she even try coming in to console him, Cain had appear behind her and told her that he'll do it. 

She was a new person, still figuring her way in the Henituse, she can't just interfere if she didn't knew that much. So she watched the twins silently through the small gap on the door. Hoping she'll understand somehow. she didn't. 

Violan watches how Cain got inside and immediately went to Cale with some sweets in his hands, and she watches how Cain hold Cale hand and offered him sweets. and that's it. she didn't saw Cain lips moving, Cain was just there with Cale, holding his hands and sitting in silence. until Cale had calmed down. 

To her, the twins always looked like they had their own world that nobody can enter unless given permissions to.

She never thought she would saw a similar sight again. but this time, she knew her place. she's their mother, she's not gonna watch.

Violan walked up the hill where the twins is slowly and this also snapped the rest of the people there from their thoughts. 

Violan place her hand on top of the twins head. she never did this to them before, even if she wanted to. She watches how both the twins stiffened from the sudden contact before realizing that it was her and looked up. Violan smiles, this was probably the first time both twins ever looked at her properly in the eye while acknowledging her presence. 

"the sun is high up, let's go back inside. I'm sure you're done with your business here right?"

The twins looked at each other momentarily, and Violan saw how Cain immediately frowned after seeing Cale. She watches how Cain took out a handkerchief with practice ease and uses it to wiped the tears on Cale cheeks, and Cale just let him did it without saying anything. Cain looked back at Violan after he's done and said in his usual tone, 

"yes, mother."

"-and when we found both oraboeni, the sight was so pretty! Cale oraboeni looked so pretty under the red tree with those red lights! it was like looking at a red fairy!"

"..ah..haha-"

Cale awkwardly tried to looked at his twin for help, but upon seeing him, Cain was trying to resist smiling a mock smirk and Cale eyebrows twitched a little. if not for the fact that he wanted to get close to his siblings right now he would've throw bunch of curse words at Cain for laughing at his attempt to bond with Lily.

"the red light didn't come to Cain oraboeni but Cain oraboeni also looks like a red fairy that time!"

Cain froze, and Cale burst out laughing. 

"...not a fairy."

Cain try to say.

"looks like one."

surprisingly, it was Basen who replied. and Cale saw how Cain scowled, it looked quiet cute to him and he laugh even louder.

Cain huffed and just accepted the fate of having the tittle even though the one that got the power was only Cale. it can't be helped that he was with Cale and had similar face with the actual 'fairy'. 

"Hyung I heard both of you are going to the capital."

Cale laughs had died down by this time and Cain had looked at Basen before nodding,

"yes. me and Cale. father somehow managed to convince the king to let both of us go."

Cain had exclaimed with a look of disbelief, as if he didn't expect their father to be able to do just that. Cale knew that expression is not real though, because he's 90% sure Cain already expected it. but Deruth children all grow up knowing how weak hearted Deruth is towards his own family that's why Cale just play along with Cain.

"very surprising." Lily nodded solemnly.

"..yeah." Basen added.

"pfft- have faith a little. father is the count." Cale ended up saying. though his playful demeanor made it seem as if his words are not at all genuine.

Basen and Lily laugh at his words and Cale can see Cain smiling. 

This is nice.

Knock Knock

"young masters, young lady. This is Ron, may I come in?" 

just why did he have to jinx it. 

whatever it is that Ron brings must not be pleasant. their snack isn't even finished so he's sure what Ron brings is either a unimportant news or lemons. there's no other things. 

they still let him in though.

Ron walked in with a tray of teas and the twin frown after looking at the color of the tea. it's lemon.

"..young master Cain, the guests from yesterday said that he wanted to speak to you."

Cain blinks and looked at Ron, only then he went 'ah.' as if he just remembered that he had bought someone to the house.

"where is he?"

Ron glanced back at the door of the study and the siblings immediately got it. Cain sighed, and finally sat up properly on the couch.

"..just tell him, me and Cale will be free on the evening."

"..why are you bringing me into your talk?" Cale frowned.

"you forgot your promise?"

Cale frowned deeper before he blinks and went 'ah'. the twins always somehow had a similar habits. 

"right."

Cain nodded and looked back Ron. Ron understood and immediately went out of the study.

and the siblings continue their talk right until evening came. it was rare for any of the twins to even talk to their younger siblings, so having a full conversations that lasted hours made a few maids and servants have a new topic.

not that any of the Henituse siblings care.

.
.
.

Choi Han had really thought that the twins are really similar when he first saw them, but back then one of the twins face were so red and their personality is very different with each other so it was easy to tell them apart. Besides, he's a swordsmaster, a normal young masters who never learned to conceal their presence would be easy to distinguish. after all, no matter how similar one face is, their presence would be different.

Especially now, both the twins are sitting with the same pose in front of him, and both expression are stoic. though, one of the twin hair is longer and had more indifferent expression than the other one which looked more relaxed. 

the one with longer hair is Cain, and the other one is Cale, right?

"state your business." Cain said.

"that- payment.."

both twins tilted their head.

"I want to pay you back for the food and the help."

Choi Han watched how the twins looked at each other, Choi Han remembered how the children in the village who had siblings also did this when they're being asked something. it's as if they had some kind of conversation that nobody else except them would understand.

the twins smirked at each other before turning back to him again.

"there's a way to pay me back so sure. but first," Choi Han watched as Cain turns to Cale and Cale flinched under his gaze before looking away from him and turns to Choi Han instead.

"I'm sorry for what I said in the alley yesterday."

Choi Han blinks.

ah..

Cain-nim really makes him apologized just like he said he would. and Cale-nim also looked so guilty about it,

"..sorry for threatening you as well, Cale-nim."

Clap

"okay, good. let's get down to business now. I'm not going to reduce my sleeping time with longer talk." Cain said with stoic face, and both Choi Han and Cale listened to him.

"Cain looked at this!"

Cain looked up from his book to looked at his twin who suddenly barged into his room. He noted how Cale looked a bit flushed, he must've gone drinking again. no- more importantly, in his hand-

"I found some kittens!" Cale is holding two cats, one red and one silver.

"You know I don't like animals, Cale." He said flatly.

"these one are beast people, don't worry."

..what?

the cats, and Cain looked at Cale with their mouth wide open.

Chapter Text

Cain and me just turn 4 a weeks ago, and we have so many presents! I wonder why the people we rarely meet gives us so much presents?

Cale stared at the mountain of presents in front of him in wonder. there's various kind of presents, big and small. though, Cale cannot open them. not because he can't, it's just that he's not allowed to by his parents. they said he can only opened them if his parents are around.

little Cale wondered why that is.

Cain would know the answer! I should ask Cain!

Cale small feet runs then. he runs out of his room to the twins study. he knew Cain would be there, he knew Cain better than anyone after all. Cain is a lazybum that when he moves, he would only read all day.

little Cale ignored the way the servants in the hallway kept telling him to not run on the corridor.

BAAM

Cale eyes immediately landed on the person peacefully reading a book on the large bean bag, who had flinched so hard when the door was slammed open that it made Cale laughs so hard.

"Aahah- Cain scaredy cat!"

"..." Cain looked at Cale with disinterested eyes, and it made Cale laugh even more.

"..so annoying. you could've come normally." Cain grumbles as he focused back on his book.

"no can't do!"

a giggles came out of Cale's mouth, and Cain pouted. Though, Cale can still saw it. how Cain huff but smile a little afterwards. his dongsaeng is so cute!

"why are you here though, Cale?"

ah! that's right!

"that- Cain! we had lots of presents!"

Cain eyes is still disinterested, but he wait patiently until Cale elaborates.

"many from people we not meet, but why they give so much?"

Cain mouth let out an 'ah' and he sets down his books, and turn his head fully at him.

"first, correct the way you speak, Cale. and those gifts, it was from our relatives."

Cale pouted a little as Cain pointed out the way he spoke was still incorrect, but he's more curious for the answer than that,

"and?" Cale tilted his head cutely.

"..they're trying to win us over with those gifts, because we're father sons. we had Henituse blood flowing in us and they wanted to be favored by us. who's firstborn."

Cale doesn't fully understand but, "why?"

"we're rich." Cain simply said.

Cale nodded solemnly. he could understand that as clear as day. Their family is really rich, it's more easy to understand that than to speak like how Cain wanted him to speak.

Cale didn't fully understand, but he's sure that Cain will explain it in a way that he will understand later. his dongsaeng is really smart after all.

"ah Cale, let go!" 

giggles came out of Cale lips as he tighten his hold around Cain. he knew Cain didn't like being hugged from the side like this, especially since Cale is as big as Cain. but it's fun seeing Cain so annoyed.

"it's uncomfortable, Cale!" Cain tried to move Cale so he hugged him from the front instead, but Cale didn't budge.

"call me hyung!"

"I don't want to, hug me properly!"

Cale laughs.

Chapter Text

Scary.

Why does these monsters kept appearing in his dream?

He doesn't like it, no- he hates it. He hates running, he hates exercising, he hates being out of breath, he hates feeling hungry and in need of so many calories, he hates the rubles, he hates jumping, he hates monsters.

His feet are sore, he wanted to stopped running. His eyes sting, too many dust flying around and the air is filled with stuff he didn't even know. His throat felt dry, he wants food, he wants water. He wants to stop and closed his eyes to sleep.

Please let him rest.

..

No just- please wake him up.

He knew this is a dream. Wake him up.

Anyone please wake him up. Shook his body, dunk his face in cold water, pinch his cheek- whatever! please, this is a nightmare. He's not alone, he had family, this lonely and sad running away is not real at all.

"..!"

ah.

"..-up!"

Someone's waking him up.

"WAKE UP!"

Cain jolted awake at the loud voice, his eyes wide open and sweat covered his whole body. His breath is shaky and his vision is still blurry. His already pale skin looked even more pale.

"..Cain? wake up!" Cain eyes darted to the source of the voice.

He could slowly saw a face like his own, staring back at him with wide eyes. He looked so full of energy that it actually hurt his eyes a little, but his stupid expression kind of make him a bit more relaxed.

Cain controlled his breathing carefully and wipe the sweat on his face while slowly sitting up. He looked down, his hands are still shaky and he's pretty sure he doesn't look like a person who just had a good rest at all, he can't have that.. Cale is here.

"Cain? nightmare?"

Cain looked up to his twin. That bright, energetic face had worry etched on it, yet hesitant also very visible to his eyes. as if he wasn't sure of how to respond to any of his twin action.

"..yes." he decided to just said. Even though something in him kept telling him how wrong he is and that it wasn't a dream.

Cale worry got more visible and he's no longer hesitant, he got closer to him and slowly wrapped his arms around Cain. Hands caressing his back, body pressed close enough to have him felt his own warm, and his head tilted a bit, allowing Cain to rest his head on his shoulder comfortably. Just in the way Cain liked to be embraced.

Cain eyes sting but he doesn't feel like crying, he just wrapped his arms back around Cale and buried his face on his shoulder while kept steadying his breath. His ragged breath slowed down and he started got less shaky.

"I hate monster." he murmured into his twin shoulder.

"I'll fight the monster for you, Cain!" Cain doesn't want that. Cain doesn't want Cale got even the slightest bit close to those monster. It'll be good if he just stay hidden with him and run away with him. The monster was scary.

Besides, a four years old without any martial arts experience fighting 15 meters high monster? it's just plain stupid.

He doesn't say anything though and just clutch the back of his twin shirt tighter. Cale is trying to comfort him after all, and he won't reject any comfort from his hyung. Not this time, not anytime soon.

Chapter Text

"is it just me or does their seat looks better than ours, Cale?"

"hehe young master nim, shouldn't our kittens-nim deserved the best of the best? they're super duper cutee!"

"Look at this mere butler playing favoritism with a mere cats" Cale scoffed as he sat down at his own seat, followed by Cain who sat down right beside him.

The cats in front of them were naturally the beastman that Cale had bring back like 4 days prior. The twins are damned sure the deputy butler won't even think on acting like that if he knew that they can make fog filled poison. Right, they're the fog cat tribe which specialize in creating fog and poison and apparently, these cats are a runaway.

"Cain-nim."

!

"What?" Cale eyed his twin and Choi Han who's right outside the carriage. 

"Is it really okay for me to not be inside with you and Cale-nim to protect you guys better?" Cale saw how his twin eyes looked as if he's asking whether the swordsman planned to destroy the carriage while fighting inside, and it made him had to hold back a snort so bad. It's bad- knowing his twin facial expression too well is bad.

"huu.. how the hell are you gonna use swords inside a small carriage, huh?" Cale decided to save his twin the trouble and speak on his behalf.

"young man, I don't think this is your spot."

ah. 

that saves the trouble for the twins. Hilsman is quiet the ambitious person. so Cain who sat closer to the carriage door just slammed the door closed himself, not wanting to hear anymore of it.

oblivious to them, the people outside actually took them slamming the carriage door as them being pissed because they took too long to prepare their departure.

"Pay the toll if you want to cross this mountain!" 

"Take out everything you have! If we find anything after you claim to have taken everything out, it will be 1 slap for every 1 bronze we find!" 

Bandits.

No, probably it'd be best to call them mountain bandits.

There were tens of them surrounding the carriage. They probably relied on their numbers to attack this carriage, which only had 10 knights. 

Cain looked at them from his side carriage window, both Cale and the cats also glanced out briefly before sighing.

"Idiots these days. Who in this kingdom doesn't know our family crest?" Cale remarks as he leaned back comfortably. 

"Idiots! Beginners!" The twins nodded their head at Hong's assessment. They were not afraid of bandits. Why would they be?

bandits are no match to their knights, who trained in one of the most dangerous forbidden region, forest of darkness. beside there's that new rabid dog that they got. the twins don't even need to pay them any mind.

Knock Knock.

The knocking came from the small window by the driver's seat before the window slightly opened, and Ron looked inside. 

"Young masters, it looks like we will need to take a break. There seem to be quite a lot of rabbits here." Rabbits. Cain shook for a moment. 

Ron went, 'Ah!' before smiling and added on. 

"Ah, this rabbit is different from the rabbit I was going to catch for you, young masters. Of course, these rabbits will not be caught by me but by other people." 

silly old man. Cale thought.

scary old man. Cain thought.

Cain stared at the bowl of rabbit stew in front of him as if it had been spit on by someone, which obviously cannot be, considering the one who made it is a clean freak.

"..You can't be picky with your food, you know." Cale whispered to him. It was half teasing the miserable Cain who obviously got reminded by Ron teasing earlier and actually wanting Cain to just eat what was given to him.

Part of him want Cain to not be picky with food, because back then too, food was a luxury. But part of him want Cain to do whatever he wants as it is not war time, and the war this time would be different.

"Shut the fuck up, you literally throw your plate everyday saying the food is trash." Cain snarked back to the older twin with equally quiet voice as he kick Cale shin lightly out of spite.

Cale laughed softly at the response, really glad that Cain responded to the teasing even if he surely knew the depressing truth from what he just said. his twin really act stoic like a stone all the time but he is quiet perceptive. (him? perceptive? really? r we talking abt the same krs, Cale?)

Cale just ignored his twin mumbling about how vicious Ron is and how Choi Han and the butler chemistry had started showing up as shown with the food. he tried to focus back on his own food, as he listened to his twin (keyword: tried). if only not for the obvious stare that he and Cain had been receiving for quiet awhile now.

"..what are you looking at." Cale called out to the swordsmaster sitting near them.

"was that your first battle?" Choi Han voiced out.

"what battle? you mean the bandits?"

"yes, Cale-nim."

Cale thought about what he should say for an answer. he can't just said that it's not, right? his eighteen years old self had never got engaged in a battle like that after all. of course, he had thrown bottles to thugs before but that can't count as a battle.

Cale glanced at his twin. he doubt Cain had peaceful lives either in his previous life, considering he got called to this world to fight in a war. Cain, as if sensing his stare than looked back at him for a moment before replying in his stead,

"it is our first time seeing so many bandits."

"I see, then it must be your first time facing a near-death experience."

"ha!" Cale scoffed at the swordsmaster. now he suddenly lost his appetite, and he could see Cain pushing his bowl away, likely losing his already barely there appetite as well.

truthfully, the twins knew that the swordmaster didn't mean anything hurtful, he didn't knew after all. nobody would.

but for someone who had fight tooth and nail in a war for 20 years, being called never facing death is a bit annoying. Cale even face the god of death himself to make a deal once, what else could he call it if not being familiar with death?

and mind him, Choi Han had almost beat him up in this life, if that's not a close call to death than what else?

"..Choi Han." surprisingly it was Cain that spoke first.

"..yes?"

"you nearly beat my hyung when you first met. are you gonna call a normal person getting beaten up by a swordmaster not knocking on death door?"

Choi Han eyes widen and he bit his lip at the sudden reminder, obviously still guilty about it. of course, this 'obviously' statement only apply to the older twin. who is actually quiet taken aback by the slight hostility in his twin voice, who other people might not notice if they didn't knew him enough. like Choi Han.

'shit. I messed up. I shouldn't have opened my mouth. he looks so scary.' Cain looked away from the swordmaster with a frown-disguised nervousness.

Cain knew it too, Choi Han didn't mean anything hurtful and he himself didn't really care about what he said. mostly because Cain had been living with an assassins, a vicious brother, and had blocked a swordmaster attack once, he was too damn nervous about the people around him to care about the words of an old man who's also still teenager at heart.

But hearing the words being addressed not only to him but also Cale probably play part in his response. 

'This damn teenager body..' Cain cursed inwardly as he crossed his arm.

"Ah- gasp! you call me hyung!" Cale actually, for the first time in front of everyone- beamed. he closed the small distance between himself and Cain and hugged his twin from the side.

"Call me that again! face me while doing so!"

Cain turn to looked at his twin with shock that quickly turn into an irritated look, before trying to get him off of him.

"Hell no! get off, Cale! it's uncomfortable!" Cain shout back.

Cale giggled at his response. for once, free. he truly did felt happy that Cain called him hyung to Choi Han, but more than that- he want to distract Cain. after all, it wasn't the first time Cain had been mad in his stead. and Cale never liked it.

And it seems like it works as Cain had became visibly more relaxed.

Choi Han seemed to fidget with his own bowl before setting it aside, he stood up and walked up to them before bowing his head to the bickering twins,

"I'm sorry Cain-nim, Cale-nim. I haven't thought about it that way."

Cale, still smiling a little even when it's not directed to his twin, replied him before Cain opened his mouth even more,

"it's fine, technically, you're not wrong either. we were never been in a life and death battle, so it counts!"

Cale leans his head on Cain shoulder in which Cain just let him, his arms still wrapped around his twin. while the said twin just look anywhere but Choi Han's.

"we stopped all of our lesson including sword lesson when we were little so there's no way we'll be in such situation." Choi Han looks taken aback with that.

Choi Han might've forgot almost everything about his previous world, and all the fictions work that he read back then that includes nobility but he learned. he had learned it all over again. he knew nobles as rich as the Henituse would have the highest quality of everything. clothes, food, education. the twins must've had a great teacher too. yet they stopped their studies.

Choi Han knew the life of aristocrat is complicated, and if one doesn't know how to atleast defend themselves then that'll be a problem right? not to mention the location of the Henituse county which is right beside a forbidden region.

"Don't you guys think you should have some ways to protect yourself?"

one thing Choi Han had been really grateful for when he was still stuck at the forest was his family swords art that all of their family member learned. if he didn't knew anything on self defense and was thrown to a forest full of monsters, he's surely be dead.

"Look around Choi Han." Cain said as he finally looked back to Choi Han.

"These knights are here to protect us. the servants in the household also knew martials art to protect their masters."

"And more so, I had a way to protect myself and Cale. you knew right?"

The shield crack a little back then when it receives Choi Han attack. the twins also knew that attack was not even a quarter of his power as his sword still sheathed and he didn't use aura.

But they had a way to protect themselves.

"And I trust my heart, I'll live."

There was probably no one in the whole world that had a vitality as good as Cain. He trust the vitality of the heart to kept his heart healthy.

Choi Han stared at the twins in silent for a moment after Cain's words then he suddenly stood up, and walked away.

"Where are you going?" Cale asks.

"I felt like I need to get stronger." with that he's gone.

"..Does he planned to destroy the planet or something?" Cain muttered as he scoots away from Cale and lay Cale head down on his lap, which Cale didn't resist to.

"Pfft- no he definitely just think we're too unreliable." Cale said as he let his twin hands ran through his hair.

"Young masters, this is the best room we have."

"Not bad." Cain looked around his and Cale's room. Cale also followed behind him and went to the bed immediately. while the kittens began exploring the room.

the room were just simple room anyone would expect in this kind of village. no any eye-catching furniture, simple large bed that barely fits two adults, but it would probably be really comfortable for one person.

"This is the first time we have had a noble staying with us. Please look favorably upon us, even if it is lacking quite a bit, and just consider it as a place where lesser beings live. we only had one room like this as well, so forgive us for not being able to give another room worthy enough for you, young masters" the old man anxiously said. 

he looks far more comfortable than when he was talking to Venion earlier before they knew this place, but he still seems scared with talking to a noble, as if whatever he did could end up with him losing his head.

the old man must've also thought that he and Cale wouldn't like having to share a bed. might be because of their tall stature, or because both of them are nobles.

anyway, It was fine for him to have a little bit of anxiety, but too much was uncomfortable for the twins as well.

"relax, old man. me and Cain shared room all the time." Cale said as he sat down on the bed before laying down.

"right. I also don't like people who put themselves down like that. This is the place that people who come and go from our territory stay to rest." Cain continued.

"this is a perfectly fine place." Cain eyed his twin who already lay down on the bed.

the old man stared at the twins for a moment before asking, "Young masters, are there a lot of good people like the both of you in the Henituse territory?" 

"What the hell are you talking about?" the twins asked at the same time.

"Excuse me?"

"that guy's a trash, and I barely even go out of my room except when I want money from the count's." he pointed at Cale while saying so, looking at the man as if he had just ask something really ridiculous.

"Almost anybody you find will have a better personality than us." "right right." Cain and Cale said simultaneously.

"Ah."

The old man let out a gasp. On and Hong, who had taken control of the couch in the room, were meowing and shaking their heads, but nobody seemed to notice. 

"You can go out now, do what you have to do." The old man bowed deeply at Cain's dismissal and left the room. the twins found it annoying that the old man still seemed to be stiff, but decided not to care at this point.

Cain went over to the bed and sat down beside Cale as the said twin just scoots over naturally. Cale looked up at his twin before saying with a smile,

"Choi Han's fired up isn't he."

"ah." he recalled today's incident when meeting with Venion. the twins had handled it easily but Choi Han had still looked pissed when Venion not-so-subtly insult everyone present at the scene.

"he is the protagonist type after all." Cain said with a shrug. he really just can't say directly that in a book of this world that he read as Kim Rok Soo, Choi Han is the protagonist.

"oh you're right. righteous and all that bullshit really is a protagonist type of people." Cale snickered as a knock was heard from the door, followed up with their deputy butler's voice.

they let him in, and Hans came with a box in his hand as he approached the twins on the bed,

"young master Cain, this is the box that you asked right?"

time to start their plan.

snatching that bastard dragon.

"Cain."

"yes?"

"what the fuck is this?" Cale shoot at him as he lifts the arm's look-alike outfit that he place on the bed. Cale expression is too scary for Cain to answered him properly.

meanwhile Cale looked at the outfit with absolute disgust and contempt. it was arm's outfit, he didn't knew how Cain even managed to have one. Cale held up the outfit with just two fingers, as if holding up a disgusting trash.

"arm's look-alike outfit." Cain answered, trying his best to answer in his usual tone despite the scary dude wearing his face in front of him.

"..look-alike?" Cale muttered confusingly.

"yeah. why? does it look real? I'm flattered, Cale." Cale eyes narrowed at his twin words before his eyes went wide open in realization.

"you made it?"

Cain nodded hesitantly, before adding on.

"..just the logo though."

Cale immediately looked at his handicraft with awe. very different from his previous scary expressions. Cain doesn't think it's a big deal but seeing how Cale acts, it probably is one to him.

"It looked like the real thing, Cain!" 

and Cale didn't lie. he had seen the real thing after all. he had fought with the one wearing the real thing. he fought with too much people wearing the real damn thing, he would've recognized it from miles away.

Cale brushed his thumb over the arm's logo, it was quiet neat. though if one were to looked closely they can see some crooked part, but it just show the one making it is still a beginner. and to think his brother actually knew how to stitch is quiet surprising. his brother is lazy after all, so lazy and rarely move unless when stalking Cale.

Cale glanced at Cain and he saw how the tip of Cain ears turns red from what he said. Cain always brush off compliments, unless it's from him. He'll always looked like that. 

Cale smiled as he stare at Cain for a bit more then,

"Cain?"

"...yeah?" Cain eyes turn back to him at his call.

for someone who barely moves, Cain didn't actually looked so frail.. he wondered,

"..I think I just noticed, but have you actually never stopped you swords practice?" 

Cain eyebrow raised at that as if he ask a question with such obvious answer.

"..you never stopped, so I can't stop."

a memories of him, and Cain each holding a thick book in their hands crossed his mind. Their diary, one meant to make their little game more interesting. One he had never held in his hand ever again after they lost their birth mother and lady Violan and little Basen entered their life.

[ "let's write what we do everyday in the books, so we knew what the other are doing before we switch our identity. we can't make mistakes right?" ]

it was Cale's idea. Cain had grumbled about being too lazy to even study, let alone writing what he's doing for the whole day but he does it anyway. Cale knew Cain loves their game more than he ever showed.

because it was fun. fooling other people, perfecting an act. all of it was fun because they were the only one that knows the truth.

they dedicated themselves to this game. when Cale had first picked up the sword, Cain picked up his as well. he said that if only one of them trains then their build would looked different. they can't have that if they want to keep playing their game.

if one of them learn something new, the other had to learn it as well.

to not leave any gaps and doubts when they play.

it was fun.

and Cale remember Cain face whenever he proposed an idea to make their game more serious but more fun nonetheless. Cale was happy with their perfect game and Cain loved how close they are with each other when they play.

Cale lips pressed into a thin line at the memories. one of the content of the deal with the god of death was that he would never forget his desire to study, especially with his sword. so he always train by himself alone at night after another long day of pretending to be the world worst trash. 

but.. was he really alone?

If Cale looked at Cain more closely, he could see that their build was still similar. if the both of them hadn't train with the same time and same pace, they wouldn't have similar build. but they do.

That could only mean that Cain also train at night along with him. Just in a different room, without ever telling him that he was also training with him.

"..I should learn how to stitch then right?" Cale cautiously opened his mouth. Testing the water, see if his theory is correct.

Cain eyes looked at him with no any emotion visible, but Cale knew better. So, Cale smiled. quiet brightly so.

"Because we can't play if we're too different." 

Cain eyes shook with the familiar words. that he had heard countless time when they were young. that he had grown sick of when they were young. that he had missed when Cale had started his trash act.

Cain eyes softened as he smiles back at Cale. less wide, less bright. but it was still Cain's smile. one that differentiate him from Cale. one that others associate him with, the less lively younger brother.

"Yes. it'll be a pain if other people asks us about it." another familiar words.

Familiar and was missed.

Cale had forgotten that he was never truly alone in this round, and Cain had missed the game that made him knew about Cale more than anyone else in the whole world.

For once, they were yearning for that past. The past that's not too far behind them.

"Wear these." Cain, who wore the arm look-alike outfit, handed Choi Han his own arms outfit which Choi Han took with confusing look.

"What is this, Cain-nim?" With that tone, both the twins immediately figured out that although Choi Han had killed all the assassins in the Harris village, there was no any arm member among them, because if there are, Choi Han would've noticed the arm insignia already.

"Clothes idiot, go change." Cale replied in Cain's stead. His hand already holding a glass of wine.

Choi Han said nothing but still went to the bathroom in their room to change.

Cale eyes went back to Cale who's fixing his mask and he clicked his tongue as he eyed his twin up and down.

"It's irritating to see you in that outfit." Cale grumbled as he took a sip of his wine while Cain took his time admiring his face when wearing a mask in the mirror.

"Again, I'm flattered. Seems like you really think highly of my beginner work." Cale clicked his tongue and just enjoy his wine before a knock was heard.

Before he even get to look, Cain had already opened the window where two kittens immediately leaped into his arms. 

"We did what you asked! it was easy peasy, nobody notice anything!" On reported smugly and Cain patted the cats siblings briefly before turning around and had them leaped off his arms and instead land on Cale lap, who absentmindedly petted them while drinking his wine.

Just then the bathroom door opened and Choi Han walked out wearing the arms outfit as well. Cale took a brief glance at him before clicking his tongue with deeper frown,

"It's even more irritating to see him wearing that outfit." Cale gulped down the rest of his wine before he stood up from the bed, while Choi Han looked at him with confusion.

"It takes probably 15 minutes before the mana disturbance tool started to work, so let's get going." Cain said as he fixed his hood one last time before opening the window once more.

Choi Han walked over to the window before stopping when Cain tapped his shoulder. He turned to looked at the younger twin who looked at him with his usual stoic expression. Choi Han also catch Cale looking at his twin in confusion in his peripheral. 

"Carry me, I can't jump from a two story window." 

Choi Han stared at him for a moment before sighing and he could hear Cale snorting quietly at his words. Choi Han turned around and bend down a little, while Cain turn and place his index finger on his lip at Cale without the swordmaster knowledge.

Cale watched both his twin and the swordmaster leaps out the window with the kittens following behind. Once they're out of sight, Cale closed the window they used to go out before he turned to go down to the tavern on the first floor.

Time to put his skill to use once more.

Needless to say that the infiltration was easier than expected. With a swordmaster on his side, and cats specialized in poison fog, it was far too easy. They hid behind a bush and when the magic disturbance tool started ringing loudly, they started to move.

Cain lighten his step, sometimes he wished he had taken the sound of the wind at times like this, well, his steps are barely there anyway. but if he had the wind then he would not only have lighter steps, his feet won't even touch the ground.

Cain presence flickered to nonexistent as he steps into the battlefield after Choi Han had moved ahead of him to knock out the guards around the entrance of the cave. 

The cats, familiar with stealth from their tribe, and Choi Han who is a swordmaster immediately flinched a little when Cain hid presence almost perfectly.

They had been with the twins for about a week after all, they thought they knew enough about the twins who always act the truest to themselves unlike other nobles in front of them. But they were immediately proven wrong at this exact time.

[ "..what? me? hah!" Cale snort at Choi Han question as if he's insane.

Choi Han had voiced out his concern after listening to Cain's plan on infiltrating the cave where the little dragon's at.

After all, compared to his twin, Cale looked more fit with his steady steps and his fiery act than Cain's who wouldn't even move to pick up a sweet which's barely at an arm length and always ask Cale to fetch it for him and Choi Han would always found him slacking around whenever he sees the twins talked at the estate.

"when it comes to stealth, Cain is second or probably on par with that old butler." ]

That's what Cale-nim said to him, but Choi Han didn't really believe him. Because when you thought about it, someone whose steps are loud, walks leisurely and lounge all the time couldn't possibly be that good with stealth. They're nobles, of a knight household too. Choi Han knew knights are capable of stealth but to be said on par with the old butler who clearly reeks of bloods and most likely an assassin?

Choi Han thought it was just Cale exaggerating his twin skill. After all he knew that although they looked like they don't care about each other that much in front of others, they were almost inseparable in front of the swordmaster.

But probably he should've know better.

The twins never gave out praises, only facts.

"No one shall pass this point." Choi Han stood guard in front of the entrance of the cave as his other companions get passed him.

"Why! why isn't it working?!"

"Paralyze." a quiet hushed voice came out of nowhere, and the torturer doesn't even have the time to register the fact that someone had get inside the cave.

"w-who..." 

Thud.

Cain looked down at the torturer who's knocked out cold. The cats poison sure are strong. He proceeded to knelt down beside the torturer and rummaged through his pocket to find the cells key.

"He didn't even realized we had gotten in!" On exclaimed as she circled around the torturer and Cain, while the red kitten rubbed his body against Cain leg.

"Yeah! you were so silent!"

"Hm.." Cain took out the cells key and let it dangle on his fingers as he stood back up.

He looked down at the kittens around his legs, he might need to teach them something. it'll be useful for them to know bunch of things after all.

'And Cale would like it too when he learned about it from the kittens story after this.'

"..That guy would've exploded if he were hit with a certain amount of strength. It was Venion way on making sure nothing would comes out of that guy mouth."

"gasp!!"

Cain looked at both the kittens that looked shocked at his words, and smile at them behind his mask.

"That's why we use poison. You guys did a very good job today."

Cain eyes wandered around the cells in front of him. He, of course, didn't noticed that two pair of eyes are looking up at him after his words just now.

Cain walked over to the cells after kicking the torturers lightly in annoyance as he was in his way. there's three cells in total, but Cain could only feel one cell that had any presence, and when Cain approached. There, with scars all over its body was the black dragon he's searching for.

"There it is."

He opened the cells and got inside before he pulled down his mask, the place where the dragon itself reeks much more blood than any other place in the cave. It made him sick to even think about it.

Rok Soo had always been familiar with abuse. One of his earliest memories that he unintentionally embedded into his record when he just got the ability were of that small corner where the child him would curled up in that square apartment where it reeks of alcohol. 

The small corner where he would try- real hard. To make the damage less severe. He would get beaten, but at least the shattered soju bottle won't get too scattered for him to clean up after. He doesn't want to get more beaten if his uncle steps on a piece of glass that he missed to clean.

That particular corner would always reeks so much blood and soju even after he cleaned it up as hard as he could.

"Hey."

He knelt down in front of the dragon, he could tell it's awake at the moment. probably wary of the new humans that came.

"Let's get out."

The moment he said so, the dragon open its eyes. Looking directly at him, eyes wary, and Cain could see the fire burning on those pair of blue eyes. He really like those eyes.

Because unlike the dragon, he never held onto anything as Roksoo, he never fought back after losing too much, and as Cain, when he lost a part of his world all he felt was mostly numbness. he didn't had the determination to resist anything like that anymore.

"I like your gaze."

Cain scooped up the dragon that was not even a meter long. the dragon glared at him but otherwise just complied to whatever he's doing to him. Cain walked out of the cell with the dragon before putting him down on the ground as he walked around the cave.

"It looks like it hurts." 
"Poor thing."

The two cats circled around the dragon and looked at him with pity, while the dragon glared at them out of wariness.

"It must've hurt." Cain looked down and saw the silver kitten tapping on his legs as if signaling him to use the healing potion he bought.

"I know I know. Just wait." he was planning to use that potion anyway. 

But he can't use it now.

Cain walked away from the kittens and dragon, kicking the torturer once more as he got in his way.

'It must've been here somewhere'

Cain walked around the room with his hand feeling on the wall. it was written that Venion had an emergency escape route in this place. it was said that Venion had a crippling fear of intruders, so he created a way out of this place. a secret passage way that even the torturer didn't know about.

That's the thing with that guy, he was cautious enough about stuff sometimes, but he'll ignored his cautious nature just because he got a taste of power, in this case- the dragon.

It was stupid.

'there it is.' Cain stopped as he found the surface he was looking for. He remembered the book said to apply some pressure on the wall to break it down. Cain is normal human though, he knew what the him in his previous life consider as 'some pressure' is different to what people- mostly nobleman- here considered, so that means the wall is at least about 15 centimeters thick.

Cain could feel another presence nearing him, and he could hear the now already familiar footsteps, he looked back to face Choi Han,

"Did you get everything done?"

"Yes, Cain-nim." Choi Han can't helped his eyes that glanced at the dragon covered in injuries, some new and some old, but it was clearly visible that it was all intentionally inflicted on it. His eyes landed on the torturer that the dragon is glaring at.

"Choi Han." Cain firm voice snapped him back and he looked back at the redhead who had now faced the wall once more.

"I did everything you've asked me for. I let the menial laborers ran away, and left the guards immobilized" 

"Good job, now come here." but Cain wasn't going to let him loose focus when they're so close to being done with the job. Cain tapped on the flat surface he had found, if he listened closely he could hear the echo from the other side because of the tap. "punch here."

"Pardon? should I use full force?" Choi Han face had the nerve to look innocent while saying that.

Is this guy crazy? "no, don't go overboard. Just punch as if you're creating a ten centimeters hole on a wall." This munchkin protagonist really..

"Hm, so very lightly." Choi Han nodded subtly.

"..Sure." lightly? even if Cain is trained he still wouldn't considered punching a wall fifteen centimeters as a light punch.

Cain stepped back to allow the black haired swordsman do his work, if Cain were to punch the wall to open the passage himself, technically he could do it. But he doesn't want to make his pale knuckles slightly red and made it look like he gets hurt even when he doesn't. He'd prefer to use this op protagonist instead.

And beside, his role had been decided.

WHAM

PURURUK.

"wow!" "wow!"

The wall easily crumbled and Cain stepped back to picked up the dragon before he took off using the secret passage while Choi Han also ran with the kittens in his arms. Choi Han had to destroy another wall, though it wasn't a problem even if he does it while carrying the kittens on his shoulders.

.

.

Tap Tap.

Cain finally slowed down after they got away far enough from the cave. He could feel the dragon looking around curiously towards the night sky and the unfamiliar forests for the first time.

It was the dragon first experience of seeing the world.

Cain bend down and placed the dragon on top of a rock. The dragon looked up at him with that intense gaze that made him uncomfortable now that he's been stared at like that for quiet some time.

"Stop staring at me. I'm literally helping you.."

It was no wonder the dragon got tortured for four years. with his stubborn nature, Venion had probably felt irritated.

Though, that stubborn nature of his was something Cain quiet liked. He could see a part of Kim Rok Soo in this little dragon, but unlike Kim Rok Soo who gave in to the abuse he experienced, this dragon never backed down.

He rummaged through his spatial pouch that the dragon also looked at curiously. It must've figured out that the small pouch that doesn't looked like it could carry anything is made with magic imbued to it.

Cain pulled out a pair of gloves and put it on before pulling out a huge scissors, he bend down and grabbed onto the mana suppressant collar on the dragon neck.

"whoa!"

Ignoring the startled noise that came from his other companion and the dragon that had shut his eyes close as if he was about to get hurt, he just cut onto the collar and took it off the dragon neck. The broken collar sizzled as Cain took it off the dragon neck. He glances back on the dragon, and the surge of mana finally getting freed circling the dragon steadily and slowly.

The dragon looked up at Cain as he finally had a feel of his own mana.

"what are you looking at." Cain snarked as he put the scissor back to his pouch.

Cain took off his gloves and gave it to Choi Han as the swordsman came up to him.

"Use this to pick up the collar. It'll shock you if you don't." after seeing the swordsman nodding at his words, Cain once more rummaged through his spatial pouch.

Cain pulled out a small bottle with high ranking healing potion inside and crouched down in front of the dragon before pulling off the cork bottle with a soft pop.

"Do you know how much money I've spent on you?" Cale grabbed the dragon by his chin.

!!

Do you know how much money I've spent on you?

It was a familiar words.

Venion had said the same thing over and over until the dragon was sick from just hearing the words. It was words connected with pain for the little dragon.

so obey me.

Pop!

Cain placed the bottle to the dragon mouth "so you better healed up properly, you fool." he fed him the potion until all of it was swallowed by the dragon.

Cain stepped back and watched as the dragon mana resonates with the potion. Regenerating and healing all the wound visible on the little dragon body faster than the dragon natural regeneration thanks to the potion.

Cain smiled in satisfaction after seeing the potion capabilities. He could see the dragon looking around on his own mana in fascination as his wound all healed up.

"..hey." at Cain call, the dragon looked back at him.

"what do you want to do now?"

"you're a smart and mighty dragon. I know you can speak human languages, so answer me."

even if he's still young, a dragon is a dragon after all. He ought to learn bunch of things despite being imprisoned by Venion.

Cain lifted the empty glass bottle to his eyes, looking at the dragon through the glass.

"what do you want do once you're free?"

Cain couldn't careless about how a dragon is going to lives their life. They're the strongest being in this world after the gods after all. He's just glad he could at least erase the traces of Kim Rok Soo from looking at the kid being free like this.

"..." The dragon didn't respond at first, but eventually..

"..I"

"..I will live."

"I will live freely. I will not be tamed."

The dragon said resolutely with a determined look on his face and Cain smiled,

"Then do that." Cain put the empty bottle down on the ground in front of the dragon, as a way of saying his cage had been put down. that small bottle that Cain had place on his face and looked the dragon through at, just like the cage that Cain had seen him in.

"Dragon should be free"

"I'm not going to raise you." The dragon jolt at the words. a clear contrast from what he used to hear from Venion.

"Liar! Humans always lies!" He screamed at Cain. The other person present and the kittens all just looked at this interaction rather awkwardly.

and Cain thoughts went to all the time he had played that game with Cale, the smooth way lies rolling off his tongue as he pretended to be Cale, the familiarity that other people show to Cale yet was shown at him without those people knowing. He nodded to himself before replying,

"True. I'm definitely a very good liar."

"but still, you should live the life you want." Cain slowly stood up to his feet, hand on his hip as he turned away from the dragon.

Rebirth was probably what Cain would call it. Cain had experienced it, and had been living in it, and Cain almost a hundred percent sure he liked this new life he's living in. and Cain wished the little dragon could experienced a freedom filled rebirth, and like his new start just like him.

'at least now the village down the mountain is now safe. and our journey would be too. moreover if the dragon just goes away, I won't be responsible for him anymore.'

He had annoyed Venion with this too, even if the said person doesn't know it's him. Cain smiled at the thought.

Cain walked away with his other three companions in silence. thinking he had to go back quickly before his brother drank himself to oblivion at his absence even if it was part of the plan.

"I hate humans.." the dragon mumbled as he stared at the retreating back of the humans who freed him. he looked down at the empty bottle with only a couple drop inside of it left.

"humans are.. bad.."

.
.
.

"I think he's gonna follow us!"

"right!"

"does that mean we'll get a younger brother?" the kittens looked up at Cain with wide, expectant eyes, which Cain tried to avoid looking at.

"no way. dragons are arrogant by nature, and this particular one had been tortured by human all his life. no way he'd willingly go with a human."

Anyone who had been exposed to abuse and had associate other people with pain would would without a doubt feel distrustful of other people, despite those people being the one that helped them. it was annoying fact, but it is like that- a fact.

"aww.." Cain looked at the disappointed kittens awkwardly before saying,

"go retrieve the orbs you buried, we need to go home. I'm sure Cale would scold us if we get back too late."

After all, Cale had always been fond of children and animals. And these kids who are a mixed of both? Cale had probably feel attached to them within a couple of days knowing them. Even if he never said anything or show his affection outwards. And he'll scold Cain too for making children slept too late if they're late.

Cain watched the kittens ran to do their tasks before glancing at the swordsmaster who's looking at him.

"Cain-nim."

"What." Cain turned around to fully face him.

"Hypothetically, what if the dragon started following us?"

Hypothetically? Cain felt a shudder at the thought. no way in hell he's gonna be responsible for a dragon. he had set it free to not have to think about any hypothetical question that might pop up in his head.

"...There's no way that'll happen." Cain denied firmly. He doesn't even want to think about it.

"Hypothetically, Cain-nim"

Cain frowned at him before looking away and shook his head,

"I don't think about the hypothetical, Choi Han." and Cain left it at that.

He doesn't acknowledge the doubtful look the swordsman gave him and looked back at the forest.

'No way, right?'

Cain really doesn't want to think about it. Cain turned back and started to walked back towards the inn, he'll wait for the kittens after he got down.

Really, he doesn't want to think about that possibility.

But since he does think about it anyway, he's just gonna dump the responsibility to his twin if that ever happened. that drunkard had to act like the hyung that he is sometimes right?

Cain had gone down to the bar almost immediately after he got back and change his appearance. his hair slightly messy and he wore his pajamas- as if he had just woken up- as he went to the table where Cale is, still chugging on another bottle of wine. Cain saw a glass on the table, he figured Cale had used when the knights are still on guard while the party had only started.

But now, most the knights drunk and some passed out, Cale had choose to drank straight from the bottle. Cain could see Hans sweating bullet in a corner as he kept an eye on Cale hand on the bottle, and Cain had to suppress a scoff at that. Cale didn't even throw anything yet. and he won't. he promised him after all.

"Come on. You're already drunk. You'll get a bad headache if you drank more." Cain pry the bottle off his twin hand and put it down on the table while also pushing the older legs down from the table. he really looked drunk like this. face flushed, table manner gone who knows where. but Cain knew he isn't that drunk.

"..two more, Cain.." Cale whined at him in that slurred tone that people used when drunk even as he found himself on his twin back dazedly in that effortless way Cain had always carry him.

He really looked drunk like this. Cain sometimes wondered if his whines had meant bottles or glass at times like this. Cale really is a good actor.

Cain as usual, ignoring his words and the looks sent his way from all around the room just started walking to go upstairs with Cale on his back.

"Young master-"

"Shut up." Cain cut off the deputy butler before he even talked, he could see Ron walked up to them as well, without a doubt was planning to offer the same thing that the deputy butler were about to say.

They knew he won't hand his twin over to anyone else anyway, why do they even bother?

He yawned as he opened the door to his and Cale's room and sat his twin down on the bed before running a hand through his hair, and looked back at Cale who looked up at him with clearer eyes.

"What."

"I thought you were planning to play the weaker twin this time?" Cale smiled lightly as he recalled the hushing motion Cain had given him earlier before he went out with Choi Han and the kittens.

"I saw Choi Han in front of his room with the kittens looking at us." Cale continued.

Cain just huffed and went to the bag with Cale's clothes and took out his pajamas before throwing it at him which Cale caught just in time before it slammed on his face.

"You made yourself looked so drunk. can't-walk-without-staggering drunk." Cain said as he went back to the large bed and flopped down face first onto the mattress.

"..I don't plan on having the deputy butler or that old hag bring you back to the room, no way. the deputy butler hadn't know you that well, and the old hag are just simply vicious." I'm the only one that's allowed to carry you, goes unsaid but Cale knew his twin enough to get it.

"So my fault then?" He shrugged as he continue, "I had actually thought on getting drunk for real a couple of time, so it just happen." Cale stood up with a bit stumble, no doubt actually feeling a little tipsy.

"..Dragons are strong." Cale just reasoned, before going to the bathroom to clean up.

His worry are so obvious to Cain sometimes. Cain just hummed to himself as he gets himself comfortable. Cale was worried because he knew there's a really big fire happened in this exact village, and after knowing about the dragon existence, Cale knew it was because of the dragon back then.

So Cale had been feeling uneasy with Cain going to the dragon even if he knew Cain could take care of himself just fine. and what would an alcoholic do when they felt uneasy? get drunk.

Cain turned to his back as he waited for his twin to come back, it wasn't that long since Cain just did what he's best at while waiting. staring into nothing.

Cale face still looked flushed as he gets on the bed, but he no longer reeks of alcohol.

Cain turn to face his twin as they lay there together on the bed,

"I think there's a possibility that the dragon will follow us. I'm dumping the responsibility on you, hyung."

"Why is it that when you're dumping something troublesome to me had you finally call me hyung."

Cain smiled innocently at him, and Cale looked at him with disgust even as he shifted closer to Cain and hesitantly draped his arm on his twin. his twin looked at him with an eyebrow raised but he didn't push him away when he hugged him.

There was only the two of them. The kittens slept with Choi Han tonight. so although it is embarrassing for someone as old as him to seek out cuddles to his twin, he'd rather eat dirt than regret not making sure his twin are safe.

Cain seemed to understood his intention as he wrapped his arm back and pulled his head to his chest. Letting Cale listened to his steady heartbeat to calm his worry mind.

It was like this in the past too.

Cale loves how strong and steady his heartbeat always is, so Cain always let him listen to it to calm down when he's down.

The last time they had done this was when they were ten though.

It had been a very long time.

So long Cale though Cain wouldn't understand it anymore.

"I'm fine, hyung." Cain said.

"Of course you are."