My smile faltered for a second.
I tilted my head, studying the twins with an expression that was neither playful nor friendly, but analytical.
“You know,” I began, keeping my tone casual, “it’s funny. I used to think you two were untouchable. Perfect, even. But standing here now… you don’t seem all that special anymore.”
Alice’s smirk wavered, just barely. “Excuse me?”
Willem’s brows knitted and a flicker of confusion crossed his otherwise composed face.
“Oh, don’t get me wrong,” I said, my smile returning, sharper now. “You’re still impressive, I guess. But all that grandeur, that perfect twin act you two used to put on? It feels a little… childish now.”
Alice’s eyes hardened, gleaming like embers. “Careful, Sammy. It sounds like you’re forgetting who you’re talking to.”
“Not at all,” I replied smoothly, crossing my arms. “I’m talking to the same two who used to shove snowballs down my shirt and call it a game. Only now it seems you’ve traded snow for fire.”
Willem stepped forward, his easygoing smile gone, replaced by a cool, princely air. “You’ve changed, Samael. You used to be — what’s the word — meek.”
“And you used to not be a slave,” I pointed at his chest, more precisely toward his heart where the BloodWorm should be. “Tell me, Will, how do you live knowing you’re forever at the mercy of someone?”
Suddenly, Willem’s demeanor changed. It was only for a split second, but I could swear I saw his jaw tighten and fists clench like he was ready to throw a punch.
But in the end, he managed to maintain his calm.
Alice did not.
She stepped forward and her mask of regal composure slipped just enough to show her annoyance.
“You know, I heard the rumors about you,” she said. “Being involved in petty crimes, ruining your noble reputation, getting arrested. You grew up to be quite a delinquent. What happened? What are you compensating for by putting on that unbothered tough guy act? Unresolved insecurities? Daddy issues? Inferiority complex? All of it?”
I chuckled. “Wow, Ali. For someone who acts so high and mighty, you sure seem to know a lot about someone as insignificant as me. After all, I’m just a weakling, right? Isn’t that what you used to say?”
Alice’s expression tightened, the smirk vanishing from her lips completely.
“Weakling?” she repeated, her tone sharp enough to draw blood. “Oh, Sammy, I was wrong to call you that. Weaklings know their place. You? You’re just a fool who doesn’t know when to shut up.”
I stepped forward, closing the distance between us.
My voice dropped to a whisper when I spoke again. “I don’t like that nickname. Call me that one more time, and I’ll cut your tongue out.”
Silence.
A heavy, suffocating silence fell over us.
The clash of steel and explosion of abilities happening on the battlefield around us faded into the background, distant and unimportant.
The air felt thick.
The world seemed ready to snap.
And snap it did.
Alice’s Origin Card manifested above her shoulder from a burst of light sparks. Its surface was etched with a glowing crimson rune.
Willem acted next and also called upon his own Origin Card.
But his sister moved first. Flames erupted along her arm, burning fiercely as she thrust her palm toward my throat.
It all happened in an instant.
“Finally!” I ducked to dodge the blow and grinned. “There’s your infamous temper! I was starting to think you wouldn’t make a move.”
From my crouched position, I swung my leg in a low arc, aiming to sweep her off her feet.
But Alice was faster.
She jumped back and summoned a weapon into her grasp mid-air. She was holding a longsword by the time she landed.
That was all the opening Willem needed.
His arm locked around my neck from behind, hoisting me up effortlessly before tossing me backward like I weighed nothing.
I hit the ground hard, the impact jarring but not disorienting.
Rolling with the momentum, I sprang to my feet just in time to see Alice charging at me, her sword ablaze with incinerating flames.
Willem flanked her as a massive battle axe materialized in his hands.
Two against one. And I was bare-handed.
Yeah, the odds were definitely not in my favor.
Alice struck first, her sword slicing downward in a blazing arc meant to cleave me in two.
I sidestepped, the heat from the blade singeing the air beside me.
Willem followed up, swinging his axe in a wide, brutal sweep that aimed to cut me down at the waist.
I jumped up, tucking my legs in and twisting my body mid-air. The axe passed harmlessly below, and I landed lightly on my feet with a smirk on my lips.
“How is this a fair fight? Oh, nevermind. I remember, Drakens never play fair!” I taunted, backing away as they advanced.
Alice’s glare burned hotter than her flames, and she lunged again, thrusting her sword forward.
I twisted to the side, grabbing her wrist and shoving her off balance.
But before I could capitalize, Willem closed the gap, his axe crashing down like a thunderbolt.
I barely managed to throw myself to the side, the ground splintering where the axe struck. Dirt and debris exploded into the air, obscuring my view.
Through the haze, I saw Alice regain her footing, her sword glowing even brighter. She slashed through the air, sending a wave of immolating fire hurtling toward me.
Reacting on instinct, I dove to the side. The fiery blast scorched the ground where I was standing just moments ago.
Rolling to my feet, I threw my arms out dramatically.
“Alright, alright!” I called out in a voice full of mock exasperation. “I get it! You’re both are mad. But could we tone it down with all the fire? I’d like to have my eyebrows intact after this test. In fact, can we continue this later? We have seven minutes before the test ends!”
Neither of them answered. They were already closing in.
The scary thing about them was that their attacks were not only relentless but also perfectly synchronized.
Alice was already a better fighter than me. Actually, it wouldn’t be wrong to put her on the same level as Michael at this point in the story.
Willem was just as good as me if we were talking strictly about battle prowess and attack potency.
Still, I was fairly confident that I could hold my own against either one of them individually. At least for some time.
But the two of them together were a nightmare to deal with.