NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 4: Chapter 4
{6 Years Later, Storm's Castle}
A top a steep cliff buffeted by fierce winds and surrounded by the silvery sheen of raging waves, stood Tempest Castle, a majestic and intimidating fortress. Its black stone walls seemed to defy the elements, withstanding the relentless assaults of the ocean's storms. This place was not only a symbol of the Runcandel family's unwavering power, but also a merciless testing ground for its young heirs.
The castle's vast corridors, hung with tapestries depicting the family's great battles and legendary exploits, echoed with the sound of light footsteps. A boy with white, shoulder-length hair and a neatly coiffed hairline ran at full speed, his little legs propelling him with boundless energy. His deep black eyes shone with a rare intensity, and though his childish face was marked by youth, it carried a strange, almost disconcerting maturity. This child was none other than Rin Runcandel, our protagonist, now six years old.
The wind whistled through the castle's many openings, filling the air with wild, chaotic music. Torch flames flickered on their supports, casting dancing shadows on the rough walls. But Rin seemed at ease in the chaos. His bare feet tapped the cold flagstones with confidence, while a mischievous smile stretched his lips.
It had been six years since he had been placed in this castle, immediately after the selection ritual had ended. Storm's Castle was not a mere place of residence: it was an arena where the youngest members of the Runcandel family were raised, trained, and sometimes broken. Here, no softness was granted, no weakness tolerated. Each child had to prove themselves worthy of the Runcandel name before being sent to the main house at the age of ten.
The castle was vast, almost labyrinthine, a mixture of oppressive grandeur and military austerity. Galleries adorned with sword carvings intersected dark, narrow corridors.
For Rin, this place had become his world. He had explored every corner of the castle, from the north tower where the winds were the fiercest, to the inner gardens, where a few rare and hardy flowers dared to bloom despite the unforgiving conditions.
POV RIN
It's been six years since I arrived in this world.
Six years is both an eternity and a blink of an eye. An eternity because my previous life now seems blurry, like a distant dream. A blink of an eye because time passes strangely quickly here, in the Tempest Castle. I've gotten used to this place, its dark walls, its winding corridors and the salty air that permeates every stone. I've learned to appreciate the solitude imposed by this place, but also the rare moments of human warmth that punctuate my days.
I must admit that, against all odds, I've acclimatized well to my daily life and my new environment. Everything seemed so foreign at first: this world, this child's body, this family where power and cruelty are cardinal values. And yet, over time, I've found my bearings. Familiar faces. Relationships that matter.
Jin. My twin brother. In six years, we have become inseparable, an unlikely duo in this house where everyone is supposed to fight alone for their place. He is different from me, so different. But despite this, or perhaps because of it, there is a tacit understanding between us. A silent complicity. Jin still has this magnetic aura, this determined look that gives the impression that he knows exactly where he is going, even when he says nothing. I, on the other hand, am more reserved, more thoughtful. Maybe it is because I still carry the traces of my past life, this sense of introspection that distinguishes me from children our age.
And then there is Gilly. Gilly, Jin's nanny. A strong, determined, but also incredibly sweet woman. She takes care of us with infinite attention and patience, as if we were her own children. I have learned a lot from her, especially about the history of our family, about the responsibilities that await us. She has this reassuring way of speaking, a tone that soothes even in the most tense moments.
As for Tia, my own nanny, she is just as exceptional. She is a calm, almost mysterious woman, with a piercing gaze that always seems to read beyond appearances. She is my rock, my anchor in this world. Unlike Gilly, who is very demonstrative in her affection, Tia is more subtle. Her gestures are measured, but never absent. She watches over me in a way that reminds me that she sees me for what I am, not just as a potential heir to the Runcandels.
The most astonishing thing is that Gilly and Tia work together. Jin and I were placed under their joint responsibility, probably because we are twins and, since our arrival here, we have spent most of our time together. It is a detail that still strikes me: despite the rigid traditions of the family, we have decided that we will remain united. Perhaps our bond is more important than it seems. Perhaps it is not a simple coincidence that we were born twins in a family where unity is so rare.
Since the selection ritual, I must confess that I have not been as active as I should be. The system has remained silent since then. Not a sound, not a notification. The reason? I know perfectly well that it is because I have done nothing to activate it. And why? Because I have chosen to take advantage of this calm, this period of respite.
I am aware that this choice may seem cowardly or foolish. But the truth is, I know what awaits me once I leave this castle. The Runcandel main house is a battlefield disguised as a luxurious home. Every smile hides an intention, every word a weapon. The conflicts, the plots, the struggles for power… all of this will be my daily life. So why rush? Why not savor these few years of tranquility?
I spend my days exploring the castle, listening to Gilly and Tia's stories, watching Jin train with an intensity that often leaves me in awe. I prefer to sit on a ledge and watch the waves crash against the cliffs. Or lie in the inner garden, eyes closed, letting my thoughts wander.
But I know that this time is coming to an end.
It's not just a hunch; it's a certainty. The moment when the twins Haytona and Daytona kill a bird and place it in our bedroom. Normally Jin will use some of his shadow energy I will take advantage of it to activate the system at that moment maybe I could benefit from it too.
END POV
Rin arrived in the library where he found Jin trying to grab a book on a shelf that was too high.
Rin pushed open the massive door of the library, a creak resonating in the vast room where the familiar smell of old books and waxed wood filled the air. Sunlight pierced through the tall windows, creating dancing shadows on the shelves filled with knowledge.
In the center of the room, he saw Jin, his twin brother, who was jumping in vain to try to grab a book placed much too high for him.
Rin sketched an amused smile.
- Need help? he asked, arms crossed.
Jin stopped, looking up at his brother, and frowned slightly.
- If you just came to make fun, you can leave.
Rin approached, a teasing look on his face.
-Me? Make fun of me? Never. Let me show you how it's done.
With a nimble leap, Rin climbed onto the bottom edge of the shelf and grabbed the book effortlessly, before handing it to Jin with a victorious smile.
- There you go, little brother. Jin took the book with a slight groan.
"We're twins, idiot. If I'm small, so are you."
Rin shrugged, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Maybe, but I'm the one with the skills to climb. So, what's this book? "The Art of Clan Warfare"?"
Jin opened the book and leafed through it absently.
"Nothing too bad. I just want to understand how our ancestors managed their conflicts. It's always good to know."
Rin sat down on a wooden chair next to him.
"You mean how they killed each other? We won't need to read that, we'll see it live soon."
Jin smirked, but before he could answer, a high-pitched scream rang out in the hallway, breaking the peaceful atmosphere of the library.
The two boys exchanged a look.
"What was that?" Rin muttered, straightening up.
"We should go check it out," Jin replied, quickly closing his book.
They ran out of the library and followed the noises to their room. There, a young maid stood frozen in front of their door, her eyes wide with terror.
"What's going on?" Jin asked abruptly, startling the maid.
She pointed to their room without saying a word.
Rin stepped forward cautiously and pushed the door open. An unpleasant, metallic smell immediately filled his nostrils. In the center of the room, on their bed, lay a dead bird, its feathers scattered and its neck twisted at a grotesque angle.
"What's that?" Rin muttered, frowning.
Even if Rin knew what it was and who had this bird here he still had to play along.
Jin stepped forward in turn, observing the scene with apparent calm, although a flash of anger crossed his eyes.
"It's a warning," he said simply.
"A warning? But from whom?" Rin asked as he looked around.
Before they could elaborate further, heavy footsteps were heard in the hallway. Two identical figures, dressed in training uniforms, appeared at the entrance.
Haytona and Daytona, the nine-year-old twins, their older brothers, stood there with smirks. Their striking resemblance was only softened by their cruel gazes.
"Oh, you found our little gift," Haytona said mockingly, crossing her arms.
"We figured you needed a reminder about who's in charge here," Daytona added with a chuckle.
Rin felt his anger rise inside him.
"Explain to me, I can't understand why you'd do this?"
Daytona shrugged.
"Why not? You're starting to attract too much attention. You need to know where you belong: behind us. Always."
Jin stepped forward, his fists clenched.
"If this is a lesson you want to teach, you'll learn that we don't get intimidated that easily."
Haytona burst out laughing.
"Oh, look at that, Daytona. The baby wants to fight."
But before he could finish his sentence, Jin moved. Fast as lightning, he jumped on Haytona and threw a punch in his stomach, making him bend in two. The power of his blow was abnormal and it was all thanks to the shadow ki he used.
"So here is the famous shadow ki, it's quite interesting. I have to learn it but for now let's take care of these two." Rin thought
Daytona tried to react, but Rin was already on him. Rin, formerly Paul, had spent his previous life defending himself, even if he is a child at the moment, this is not the case for his mind. His movements were fluid, precise. He hit Daytona in the jaw, making him back away.
"You shouldn't have come here," Rin murmured, his gaze dark and determined.
Haytona tried to stand up, but Jin grabbed him by the collar and threw him against the wall.
"What did you think? That we were weak because we are younger?" You really are stupid.
Daytona tried to defend herself, but Rin easily dodged her blows, counterattacking with disconcerting precision for a six-year-old.
In a few minutes, the two older brothers were lying on the ground, groaning in pain. Jin and Rin, out of breath but triumphant, looked at them with contempt.
"Next time," Jin said, wiping his hands, "think before you bully."
Rin added, a cold smile on his lips:
"And clean our room. That's the least you can do, right?"
The twins had no answer, simply crawling out of the room under the amused gaze of their little brothers. Once alone, Jin and Rin exchanged a knowing smile.
"We make a good team, don't we?" Rin said.
"The best," Jin replied.