Deus Didymus: Rend

The Original Phantom

"Hyung! Can you tie my tie?" Bae shouted from his room.

Kami lifted his eyes from the book floating in front of him. He walked to Bae's room, observing the messily knotted tie around his brother's neck. "You're almost ten now. You have to be a big boy and learn how to tie your own ties."

While Kami wrapped and folded the tie comfortably around Bae's neck, he brushed the imperfections out of Bae's suit and fixed his collar. "I still have two years," Bae replied.

The sibling pair walked to the first floor where their parents awaited before departing for Chaeyeon's house. The large, lavish home sported three stories, a green lawn, and a pool in the back. Inside, various furniture items and decorations filled the living room where a few guests had already arrived.

Familiar faces like that of Chaeyeon's, Yeeun's, and their family's greeted Kami openly while a few new, intimidating, faces turned their attention toward him. Of the new faces, an especially powerful presence that shared a similar face with Chaeyeon stood among them. None of these people were anything to scoff at. Just by looking at them, Kami knew even their weakest hung around the A-Rank Dunam level.

"Kami, these are your relatives from JYPNation." Chaeyeon gestured toward Ryujin and Yuna before hanging her arm over Chaeryoung's shoulder. "These two are your cousins, and this one's my sister."

She turned to the guests with a proud glisten in her eyes. "Ryujin, Yuna, these two are Bae and Kami--ages eight and thirteen."

"He's strong for a thirteen year-old. And short," Ryujin commented. She scanned Kami with an intrigued eyebrow raise. "What rank is he? When did he enter the academy?"

"He's not in the academy yet, but his parents are going to put him in next year as a formality," Yeeun replied. She proudly rubbed his head with a fire of excitement in her eyes. "I bet he could give you guys a run for your money."

"So he's unranked," Chaeryoung said with her arms crossed. Despite not having much energy compared to the titans in the room, Kami had more than any normal thirteen year old should. Where he lacked in quantity, he shined in quality rivaling low Hanams. "You've definitely raised a monster. Who's responsible for training him?"

"It's mostly Ezaki Hikaru and I, but he's had katana training from my superior," Yeeun replied.

"And here I thought he'd be trained by the alleged new talent of IZLand," Ryujin commented. "He must be a monster if he's got JYP talking."

"Park Ji Hoon?" Chaeyeon shook her head with a scoff. "He's strong, but the last thing he can do is teach. He's only a second year at the academy. I wouldn't trust him anywhere near our pride and joy."

Yeeun turned her head toward the window. She quietly excused herself before exiting the home where a shadow loomed over the entrance. "It's not often you pay me a visit."

"I don't exactly have time on my hands. I made the excuse I was visiting here for business," Hakun replied. The man wore a business suit finished with a rose tucked neatly in his breast pocket. He twirled a pen in his right hand, his signature weapon: Mercurial Cypher. Given to him by the previous commander in secret, only he, the previous, and current commander know of its existence. "Is the boy ready?"

"He's just thirteen. Give him a little bit longer," Yeeun groaned. Her eyes settled on Hakun's costume, eliciting a scoff from her. "This is the most father-like I've seen you be. Don't you have kids of your own? You should know this stuff takes time."

"What's his rank?" Hakun asked.

Yeeun stuffed her hands into her pockets. "He's on the cusp of reaching Hanam. Chaeyeon's teaching him how to sense energy and he'll 'officially' be a Hanam."