These chains... they bind me. Her face... it reminds me. My love was turned to hate, my freedom revoked by those who subjugate. That nightmare became a reality. That fateful day when the blood-red sky wept. And the rest of the world slept. When we...
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_________________________________ Oh God, it's all over! Once he opens that door it'll be the end of me! The end of my freedom! I knew it was too good to be true, I just knew it! They must've tracked me down here somehow! And now, surely they'll...
A deathly silence befell them...
BANG-BANG-BANG!
The unwanted visitor knocked the door with impatient aggression.
"Shhh no! Don't answer it Jinto!" the panicked princess whispered, desperately clinging to his arm.
"Tch... it can't be..." Jinto muttered, nonchalantly shrugging Juri off of his arm as he slowly approached the door.
KACRACK!
A burst of crimson fulmination flashed just outside, causing Juri to shriek.
"Great... it really is him.." Jinto uttered with displeasure as he reluctantly opened the creaky door.
Jinto's face was glowering stone, glaring down at the near identical face that stared back at him, just as fiercely!
"Jaleel..." Jinto growled.
The Prince of Lightning narrowed his eyes and cocked his head back, "Well-well, you've finally decided to open the door, brother..." his voice was like a smooth stream with a fierce undercurrent that silently roared.
"W-who are you?" Juri whimpered fearfully.
But the two brothers ignored her existence completely. For in this moment, the only thing that existed was their rivalry. Verily, a rickety bridge of shallow reconciliation, just barely bridged the gap of hatred that was supposedly left in the past...
"What? Don't look at me like that. Can't I visit my baby brother every now and then?" Jaleel chimed sardonically.
Juri studied the difference between the two of them. This new guy, Jinto's so called brother; his eyes are darker than Jinto's. Jinto's are fiery, but warm. As for his brother... They're... cold.
A petty smile perched itself upon Jinto's lips, "Well, you can but... there's a height requirement to enter here see? Looks like you just didn't make the cut little guy," he sneered, as he mockingly patted Jaleel's head.
Jaleel's fake smile was bursting at the seams, unable to conceal his annoyance at the words that had just assaulted his ears. "Mhm.. I may be shorter than you in stature, but far surpass you in might... It seems you have forgotten the difference between us. I'll have to show you personally, the chasm between us..." he Asserted.
At once, he seamlessly gripped Jintos's wrist and grabbed his collar, aggressively pushing him further into the building.
DM!
Immediately, Jinto's legs dug deep into the ground, tearing through the flooring until they came to a halt. "I thought you was going to show me the difference between us big bro? What happened?"
Crimson sparks lifted Jaleel's tied back hair and caused his four bangs to flutter.
Jinto responded in kind, powering up his flames.
The petrified princess, covered her aghast mouth with her hands, completely bewildered. What is actually happening here!? One minute I'm being cradled in his arms. The next minute, I'm about to witness a twisted death match between him and his so called brother?
"Heh, small talk never was our thing huh? Looks like we can skip the pleasantries and get straight to business!" The Tamer of Flames exclaimed, pumping his fist towards his older brother.
"Indeed-indeed." The Prince of Lightning agreed, as he poised himself for battle.
Jinto's eyes traced downwards. And that, is when he noticed. "Um... What happened to your clothes!? I can't believe I'm only just now noticing! Someone totally kicked your ass! BWAHAHAHAHA! GOOD! Serves you right you pompous plasma ball!" he erupted! Though a bead of sweat formed on the side of his forehead... But who on Earth could best someone like him in battle?
Jaleel's sparks dissipated and his face became serious yet solemn. "Yes... I ran into a strange foe tonight who wields purple lighting. That is actually, the reason for my visit," he revealed, as he slowly perched himself on the edge of the bed, still ignoring Juri.
"Purple lighting?" Jinto repeated.
"Yes brother, purple lighting. Wielded by the Queen of the Origin." Jaleel explained.
"The... queen of the Origin? Just who are the Origin?" Jinto inquired.
The Prince of Lightning paused, "I... do not know. However, their so-called queen is called Haytalek."
"What!? You fought their queen!? This is gonna be Armageddon! Shouldn't we be preparing for their invasion or something!? No nation would accept an outsider laying a hand on their nobility!" Jinto exclaimed.
A strange smirk laced Jaleel's face, "That won't happen..." he uttered smoothly.
Jinto grew irritated at these half-answers from his older brother, gripping him by the collar! "How can you be so sure!? Stop beating around the bush and tell me!" he roared.
Jaleel locked eyes with him, slowly removing Jinto's hand from his collar as he said, "Because... I have known her since we were children."
Jinto's gaze intensified and his chest expanded.
"Haytalek... she was always there somehow. Visiting me, adoring me and even teaching me how to use my Qudra... Though naturally, a genius like me would've reached the highest of heights, with or without her aid... She was like a secret sister. Or second mother... She always told me how I was destined for greatness and how I'll reclaim it all when the time is right. How I'll soon join her and my true people. Naturally, I didn't care much for any of that, I think... Also..." The Prince of Lightning paused. A crack of remorse, etched itself upon his face.
"Also what?" Jinto asked curiously.
"As you know, there has been a great divide between us in the past... sure, there were many factors to that but... Ultimately, it was Haytalek who turned me against you." Jaleel confessed.
