Chapter 4: Promises
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It was almost one week since Patriarch Shion had assigned Saga and Aiolos to stay in the Island of Milos for Sanctuary business. Shion had started to delegate more of his responsibilities to his favorite apprentices. It was clear that the former Aries Gold Saint was training the two boys beyond the gold-saint track: the path to patriarchy. And with Saga being an intelligent and charming apprentice, Shion had allowed Kanon to travel with them in secrecy. It was only there that Aiolos learned about the existence of a hidden twin.
Up until then, only few people had known and treated Kanon as a distinct individual and a human being, instead of Saga's double. One of the few people was Richard Walden, mainly because in this case the scorpion boy did not know the existence of a Gemini twin brother.
And so Kanon began to enjoy the odd friendship between them.
Richard was nothing like Saga, his charming brother. Obviously not like the kind-heart and patient Aiolos. If anything, the stoic Richard was more like the adorable bookworm, Camus. Of course, without being adorable. Maybe there was a bit similarity with the fierce, readhead girl, Milo, in term of their eagerness to fight a battle. Kanon had found it by Richard's one favorite book that he always brought to the cave : The Book of Military Strategy, written by two great generals and a father of political science.
While waiting for the boy to fetch the Aggeliki ice cream, Kanon usually killed the time by reading that particular book left by Richard. It was actually interesting for him. If Saga were crowned as the ruler of Sanctuary, he definitely need a good adviser and good general. Aiolos would certainly be a great adviser. But a great general next to Saga? Probably that was the whole meaning of his existence as Saga's shadow, after being defeated for donning the Gemini gold cloth.
On the second week, Kanon absolutely loved Richard for being a gullible victim to his trolling behavior. It satisfied the Gemini boy that his victim often growled back to his bullies with the correct name instead of calling him "Saga" with disbelief-eyes, as other people did.
And one more thing that cultivate the friendship, was their pertinacity to achieve their sole goals. As they discovered it in one afternoon break, under the Cypruss tree.
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"How did you find out about your internal power, Kanon?"
"Erm...my older brother told me that I had it, too. He was under some training with the masters at that time." Kanon hid the fact that they were brought to Sanctuary at the age of seven after being told that they possesed some great cosmo and would likely be the next gold saint had they passed the trainings and the tests. Whatever that meant. He also hid his cosmo while practicing the martial combat with Richard. And he had taken another hidden cave to practice his Galaxian Explosion, late in the evening when Richard had to attend the daily family dinner.
"Can you tell me when I have the power?"
"What? Richard, I've told you that our training had nothing to do with it. You will know it if you have it." Kanon sighed. "Why do you insist on having it so much? You will do fine freeing yourself from the bullies at your expensive school."
"You know that I am aiming for the Military Academy of Modena, as Marquess Cornwallis did once. My father would not object it so hard if he see that I have what it takes to be a great warrior and a general."
Richard hid the fact that he was having strange dreams about a black-haired girl calling him her future general. He did not want to mention it to Kanon for the fear of being laughed at. Because it was not about the girl, but somehow what she said really fit to his interest and desire. So it must be his destiny.
"Just keep screaming and he will give what you wish, Richard." Kanon laughed at the frowned monobrow.
"And where do you go from here, Kanon? With that power, don't you want to be a warrior, too?"
Kanon smiled. "I am already a warrior, just like my brother, Richard. I will eliminate all my enemies of this world."
"And your enemies are…?"
"Well, at least I'll knock down the three Judges of Hell for a start. That's what I promised my older brother."
"Interesting, Kanon. They are surely be great enemies. But, do you really only have those mythical figures as enemies? I thought you had some real goals, owning an internal power like that. I would, if it were me."
"You are living in the land of gods, Richard. Never forget that."
"Ah." Richard shrugged in disapproval.
Kanon screamed out with his fist pointed to the sky, where the cruel gods took up residence."Watch me, stars! I will kick the judges of hell's asses and blow them to nonexistence!" He honestly felt as motivated as few years ago when he said it to his older twin.
"Kanon, do you think your brother would be better in training me and recognizing my ability?" Sometimes Richard wondered if Kanon had lied to him about him being five years older.
"He WHAT?" Kanon hit a nearby big stone into pieces, blowing a bit of his cosmos for the first time in front of Richard.
And Richard understood that he should never say it again to Kanon, ever.
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