It was 7:30 a.m. on November 21st, six years ago, in Oakney, a small village ruled by the City of Ticu. The young twin brothers were sound asleep in their room when they were suddenly awakened by shouting from outside.
Kye sits up in his bed and yawns. "What's with all the noise?"
Kian rubs his eyes. "You heard that too, Kye?"
"Yeah, what's going on?"
"I don't know, let's go see."
*The 10-year-old identical twins with wild black hair and bright blue eyes head out of their room and down the hallway. When they reach the living room, they find their father and mother talking with a man at the doorstep.*
"What's going on?" asks Nicholas.
*Nicholas Carter, also known as Nick, is a 29-year-old Warrior of Oakney. Nicholas is 6 foot 1 inch tall and has short, black hair and brown eyes.*
"Is something wrong?" asks Kira.
*Kira Carter, a 28-year-old stay at home mother. She is 5 foot 7 inches tall and has long, dark brown hair and beautiful bright blue eyes.*
"It's the Night Riders; they're attacking the village! Nick, we need your help!"
"The Night Riders… How many are there?"
"Not sure, they came in full force! The biggest attack they've ever launched!"
"Damn, this is bad…"
Nicholas turns and faces his wife. "Kira, I must help in the village's defenses, take the boys to the shelter, and stay there until I return."
"Oh, Nick, please be careful!"
"Don't worry, I'll be back before you know it." Nicholas kisses Kira on the forehead and begins to head outside.
"Dad, wait!" shouts Kian.
"Is everything okay?" asks Kye.
Nicholas turns around and sees his sons standing before him. "Don't worry, it's just a few bandits, that's all. Go with your mother into the shelter, and I'll be right back."
A loud explosion is heard in the background.
"C'mon Nick, we really have to hurry."
"Right, sorry. Let's go! Boys, listen to your mother!"
Nicholas runs off to protect the village, and Kira hurries the boys into the underground shelter, which consists of a couch, a clock, and multiple racks of food and water.
"Stupid bandits, this is the second time this month." says Kye, "Why can't they leave us alone?"
"It's just their way of life, I suppose." says Kira, "The Night Riders believe that the world is not worth living in without conflict, so they base their lives upon it."
"Dad will take care of them again, right mom?" asks Kian.
"Of course, honey, your father is a strong Warrior. I'm confident that he'll stop them again."
"I can't wait until I have my Trait awakened. Then I can help Dad beat up these bad guys!" says Kye.
"Yeah, me too!" Kian agrees.
Kira giggles. "I'm sure you boys will be great Warriors, just like your father."
A second loud explosion is heard from above.
"I'm going to grab a few things from the house. Do you boys need anything?"
"You're going up there?!" Kian shouts, "But Dad told us to stay down here!"
"I know, I know." Replies Kira, "It'll be quick, I promise. I need to grab a couple of things."
"But-"
"No buts, Kian. If I don't return right away, do not come out."
"Yes, ma'am…"
"I'll be right back." Kira kisses the twins on the head and leaves the shelter. When she reaches the top, she looks around and is surrounded by fire and smoke. "Dear god, it's crazy out here! All this in five minutes?!"
After grabbing some essentials, Kira heads back to the shelter when she hears a voice behind her.
"Stop right there!"
"Who's there?!" Kira turns around, looking for the voice.
A man in a dark coat walks out of the smoke. "Hey there, pretty lady! Why don't you come with me back to our camp?"
"Who are you? S- Stay away!"
"Who am I?" The man laughs and continues to walk forward. "My name's Rio, the leader of the Night Riders. And you are?"
"Kira.."
"Ah, Kira! Such a pretty name! A perfect name for a wife."
Kira begins to back away slowly. "Are you out of your mind? I'm happily married."
"Now, Kira, I'll give you two options. You can leave here with me, ditch your most likely dead husband, and become my new bride, or you can die right here, right now. What's it going to be?"
"Burn in hell! My husband is not dead!" Kira picks up a piece of debris and throws it at Rio before turning and running.
"What a shame…" Rio sighs. "Get her."
Two more men jump in and grab Kira, one taping her mouth shut and the other tying her up with some rope.
"Oh, I was never going to kill you, Kira." Rio snaps his fingers. "You two, tell everyone to gather all the valuables and head back to camp; I'll take her."
"Affirmative, Captain Rio."
"I thought this place would've put up more of a fight. The only strong person here was that Nicholas guy, and even he died in less than three hits."
Kira starts to cry as Rio carries her away. About thirty minutes later, Kian grows impatient, listening to the repeating sound of the ticking clock.
"It's been thirty minutes… where's mom?" asks Kian.
"Mom's tough. She'll be back."
"You heard those explosions earlier. Whoever is out there is strong, and Mom never awakened her Trait."
Kye sighs. "We can't do anything but wait, Kian. I'm scared too, but we have to listen to what they told us-"
"I'm going up there." Kian interrupts.
"What, no!" Kye grabs his brother by the shoulder as he tries to climb the ladder. "Did you not just hear what I said!?"
"What if she's in trouble? Waiting here isn't going to help her!"
"Going up won't help either. We haven't awakened our Traits!"
"But I-"
"No, Kian."
The two brothers sit silently for a minute, the clock's ticking echoing inside their heads.
"If we don't hear anything for an hour, I'm going up." insists Kian.
Seeing he won't take no for an answer, Kye glances at his twin brother and sighs. "Fine, we wait one hour."
An hour later, the twins emerge from the shelter to find nothing but dead bodies, fire, and blood. They each look around in shock, crying but not saying a word. As they walk around, the boys stumble upon a body they recognize immediately.
"Dad!" shouts Kian, collapsing onto his father's body.
"N- No…" mumbles Kye, tears flowing down his pale cheeks.
In a display of both anger and sadness, the boys mourn their father, shouting and crying at the top of their lungs, not caring if anyone hears. During the shouting, their Spiritual Energy begins to seep out of their bodies, ending with a climactic burst in which Kye's left eye turns pure white and Kian's right eye turns pure red, each with a sort of aura emerging from it. The aura grows stronger and stronger until it overwhelms the twins, and they collapse due to exhaustion. Little did they know this moment would change their lives forever.
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