Way of the Knights

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"There's bounty on our heads, a pretty high one at that too. Everyone in the Extreme Violet Great World and even the Crimson Demon Star is aware of this, therefore there are mobs of people who were going after us."

"I actually don't even know if I could truly blame Mira's ex-boyfriend for selling us out. The rewards were just too damn tempting. But still, I will never forgive him since out lives became miserable due to that."

"Our adoptive mother was tortured and killed in front of us." Pyra said, her voice clearly shaken as if she's re-living this awful memory. "We were auctioned as slaves, brought by a fat and filthy merchant who has too much money on his pocket. We were then presented to his boss, who later then became our Master. This guy had a son and we became his playthings."

She then looked at Raven dead in the eyes once again and continued: "And this son of his, looks just like you."

This caused Raven's expression to turn a bit ugly, but he remained silent and allowed her to continue her story. 

"He completely looked just like you. The face, hair length and color, voice, everything else aside from demeanor - was similar to you." Pyra sighed deeply and continued: "He treated us like garbage. He used us to relieve his tension and as furnaces to fuel his cultivation. If it wasn't for the fact that he didn't want to break us, he would've sucked us completely dry from day one."

"It was hell. An unforgettable experience for the both of us." Pyra stated, "I forgot how many times I've thought about killing us just so that we can escape this awful fate, but I was never strong enough to do so and Mira is too stubborn to die just like that."

"Even if she doesn't say anything, I know that she kept blaming herself for what happened to us. She always thought that if it weren't for her being dumb and stupid, then we would've probably been able to escape the Extreme Violet Great World, find a sect to take shelter from and grow strong enough to provide for ourselves since that's the only path left for us. However, fate was determined to make our lives miserable."

"Thankfully, the heavens doesn't seem to have abandoned us at all. Don't know if I should be thankful for that or not but well, we were saved by a Senior Disciple from a Righteous Sect."

"They set us free, sheltered us and allow us to experience peace after a long time of misery." Pyra smiled but there was a trace of sadness on her tone. "At some point, they offered us to join to sect in order to find new purpose in life. We accepted a Master, who treated us like his own children. He taught us many things and we even started calling him our Father."

"He taught us how to move on and deal with our traumatic pasts. Mira was strong enough to at least find some success with it but I can't. Until this day, those memories are still haunting me in my sleep, but I'm much better now compared from then."

"Father gave us a new purpose, a reason to live. And thus we did. Our previous sect was our safe haven, and we wanted to protect it. However, we can't do that if we stayed in there since their resources are limiting our growth. We left our nest, explored the world and eventually decided to join this sect. And to our surprise, we found you."

"You triggered many awful memories to us. So much so that we nearly got eliminated from the trials." Pyra said, "It all came crashing down to us just as we thought that we completely got over with it."

"You ask me if we were seriously asking you to return our purity to us." Pyra stated with a firm voice. "I admit, the idea was stupid. So stupidly laughable that it's not even funny. But my answer is yes. Stupid, I know, but yes."

"Can we really help it if your face just happened to trigger those awful memories? Like I said, you looked exactly the same as him, and even though we are demanding something completely unreasonable for you, we still did it since we just wanted to get rid of these awful memories."

"I know. It doesn't work that way. I am aware. You don't have to tell me or my sister." Pyra teared up, "In fact, we are both completely aware now that you are not him. He's not as strong as you. Your aura is completely different from him. Your demeanor is the exact opposite of him. And unlike you, he's nowhere near talented enough to even dream about reaching this place."

"Trust me. We know. We're completely aware of it. We already realized that you and him aren't the same person. In fact, we should've known in the first place since that guy is dead. Our Father killed him years ago and present his corpse in front of us. We were even there when he was fed to the pigs. So trust me, we both know that you aren't him." Pyra stated, lowering her head and pausing for a long period of time.

"Hmm, so you know that I'm not him, but even after knowing that you still went ahead and did all of that to me. I guess all of this, is just for the sake of you satisfying and comforting yourselves, thinking that by redirecting all of your hatred to me, your traumas will be gone and you'll live happily ever after. Is that what you're trying to say?"

Pyra couldn't say anything to that. But she knew that even if she didn't, Raven was already aware of her answer. She couldn't bring herself to actually admit it. In fact, Raven wasn't really asking her a question at this point. She was certain that even if she answered no, there's no changing his mind anymore. 

"Wow. You twins are just the worst you know?" Raven said, his tone sounded venomous. "Man, I can't believe that I was used as a stress reliever without my knowledge. And it was complete strangers who did so too!"

"You know what? I really feel like escalating this issue even more so that now. Specially after you told me all of that. Hmm, what should I now?" Raven said using a cold tone. 

"Oh! I've just thought about a more fantastic idea! What if I completely pretend to be that guy in your memories, eh? What do you think?" Raven stated with a savage smile. "That should be fun, don't you think? At least all this shit that I received from you will be justified unlike what's happening right now. It would even be better if you girls don't say anything about and act completely just like how you did back in those days. You know, when you were still slaves?"

Pyra trembled upon hearing him say that. She knew it. She knew that it's going to be like this. Which is why she's afraid, very afraid of confronting him. Specially without her sister which is the pillar that supports her, preventing her from breaking down, 

"At least I'm informing you about it, which makes me a better person since you guys did it without my active participation." Raven sarcastically remark, completely aware that what he's saying was awful. 

Raven didn't say anything after that. He just stared at the shaking Pyra on his seat coldly, completely ignoring the fact that he's triggering all of those awful memories that happened to them at this very moment. In fact, he's actually thinking that it would be a lot better if the other twin was here, just so that he can watch both of them suffer.

He never really like this vengeful side of his, but sometimes people are just awful. This very situation is the proof of that. Raven couldn't believe that he's being treated like shit by people that he had never met before, this is something that he had shown great tolerance to. The fact that the two of them are still alive and breathing is the best proof that Raven truly held back. 

But after hearing all of this, Raven couldn't find it to himself to easily let this matter go. He's never been a good guy, if it weren't for the rules of the sect binding his actions, best believe that this two would've died awful deaths at this very moment. 

"This is ridiculous." Raven spat, completely irritated about this awful situation. However, he once again held his hand and sighed deeply. 

Instead of hurting her, Raven stood up and said: "What happened to the both of you were awful, that I can understand much."

"What's beyond me, is the fact that even after knowing full well that I'm not the same person, you still went ahead and did all of those acts. Weren't you girls victims? Why am I thinking that you aren't so different from the people you hated?"

Pyra's body visibly shook after hearing that. She lowered her head even more, she couldn't muster any courage to look at him in the eye. 

Raven took something out of his spatial ring and threw it in front of her. He started waking towards the door but before he left, he said something:

"If we were outside, you guys would've been dead from the very first moment you annoyed me. Be thankful for the rules of this sect." He stated, pausing briefly before he exited the room. "Aside from the rules, I held back from hurting you since you two remind me of my siblings."

"I'm expecting a formal apology from the both of you as soon as possible. If I don't receive any by the end of this month. I'll be escalating this problem. That's all." He left after saying that, leaving Pyra alone in the room. 

Moments after he left, Pyra lifted her face. Tears were visible from it as she stared at the item that Raven left for her. 

It was a portrait of him and his twin sisters....