"Neither do I. But find it. Hmm?"
Keith's eyes shifted to the window behind his brother again, and Killian noticed. He left the doorknob.
Was his brother trying to run out the window or what?
"You accepted a B-tier Realm promotional job. Why?"
"Why?" Keith tilted his neck. "Because I am a B-Rank Warden. That's what B-Rank Wardens do—"
"Don't talk to me like I'm stupid." Killian closed the distance between them. "I ask why you did it when you know our older sister is trying to get promoted."
There was silence, and Killian counted till he'd have to walk out on him and leave him to be handled by Quara when she'd finally snap.
"If that's too difficult a question for you, then let me start softly." He exhaled. "Why didn't you join the training like everyone else?"
"What's so good about joining the training?" Keith's answer came quickly.
Hearing those words from someone who had been enrolled into three after-class practices to handle the training was hilarious.
"If you have gone the normal way, you could've even become something of a Top Scorer." He said.
There was a chance for that to happen since everyone thought his high affinity to lightning was a hell of a potential.
Keith's lips curved to a smirk. "A Top Scorer? So you think I would've taken your position?"
"Well, I'd rather you compete with me than be a coward. It leaves a bad taste."
Keith's smirk faltered.
Killian smiled. Now he finally had attention, he would say everything that he wanted to say all the while.
"Also, you shouldn't go after our sister. She takes care of you and is really patient. But you also know how she is." He leaned towards him.
Keith stepped back.
"Our sister is the only B-Rank Lower Warden from her class. Why? She actively removed… competitions."
Killian's eyes followed his brother's eyes as he looked down. He shouldn't forget that so easily.
How Quara Dominic was accused of injuring three Wardens on the promotional line up during a practice.
Since, many saw the Dominics as power hungry and revolting, even stooping to removing opponents.
Killian continued since his brother's tongue tied. "You can dream big and she'd want you to do better than her, but play fair and don't take her opportunities."
"You understand?"
Keith said nothing. Killian noticed his hand clenched by his sides, and he rolled his eyes.
"Well, I'm done here." Killian walked out the door.
"Father gave me the position."
Killian stopped outside the door.
Is that the excuse he used to console himself?
Blame father for pulling all the strings?
"You accepted it." Killian told him. "And solidified your cowardice. I'm just warning you because we shared a womb. I don't really care what you do."
Killian locked eyes with the butler standing at the end of the hallway.
The man always followed Keith, the treasured son of the family, never speaking to anyone else.
He continued when there was no other reply. He glanced at the butler's wrist watch as he passed.
I should hurry and eat first. I'm so hungry.
"I never saw your sister as so determined."
It was also my father's doing, and her moment of cowardice but she always did everything herself.
"So you scared your brother? She'd never do anything like that?"
Of course. But it might not end there.
If Keith revolts against our father, he'd probably birth another child.
"Family issues are so tiring."
They are.
Killian felt the Void retreat to the farthest part of his head. "This guy just uses my head like his personal mansion."
.
.
Killian stood against a white background, while the designers moved around him.
He watched Quara with a bored expression and lidded eyes as she added even more layers to the projector in front of him.
He had only mentioned garters and now that was the whole outfit. She nodded to the designers and they adjusted it, before taking out the box.
"It's done." Quara stood by him with a puffed chest, looking proud. "You will like it, definitely."
"Right…"
The designs opened the box, that emitted cold air and scented lavender. He collected it and entered the changing room.
When he raised it to the light, his eyes widened slightly. The outfit blended old-world style with sharp modern edge.
A trait of his maternal Ammon old ninja family— The ancestors he prayed to. The black outfit hung on his body in loose sleeves. It was a combination of the random demands he gave to his sister.
A V-necked collar, an inner turtle-neck and large sleeves, then the red emblem of the Dominic family that he could have done without.
A harness cut across his chest, a garter strapped to his thigh for the daggers, and one of his waist for his bat. He should've told her he had a spatial storage.
He walked out after getting dressed. He adjusted the connected gloves on the sleeves on his fingers. It would be hard to take this uniform off.
"Oh my! See, I told you!"
Killian looked up and his frown faded. His mother stood by the window beside their sister. She smiled softly.
"It really came together. You have a talent for this, Quara."
His older sister laughed, and Killian couldn't remember hearing her laugh so heartily. He looked away and checked the mirror.
"So do you like it?"
Hearing his mother's voice made him sour. She was only permitted to speak to him because he had made an achievement. After nine years.
"It's decent." He said flatly.
She didn't ask for more, and left the dressing room. Quara came to his side and pushed something into his hand.
"Good Luck on your first mission, Grim Warden."
He smiled a bit, looking at the card. Now, he could get more dagger and healing strips because he knew he'd need it.
"Thanks."
On reaching the organizations, he felt all eyes on him again. George stood by the entrance with two other Wardens. Killian swallowed hard.
Is he about to attack me?
Did they find out that I am a Void…
"Congratulations on earning the title Triple Realm Walker!" The Wardens besides him cheered.
George clapped calmly.
"You are the first newbie to get the title within three days with two C-tier and D-tier Realms. The last person got it in three weeks. And all D-tier Realms."
Killian stared at them with a flat expression.
And? Is there some type of benefit? The WLog didn't say anything.
The other newbies watched from the window, some speaking in hushes. Killian sighed, and met George's gaze.
"And? What happened now?"
"Well, things have changed."
Killian's posture straightened. George started walking down the steps.
"You will go alone… with me."