Si-eun's fist approached Leona with startling speed, but of course she was faster.
Even though the previous Azazel prided himself on his speed, Leona was an A rank ascended, and as such it was almost impossible for anyone beneath her level to catch her off guard.
She caught Si-eun's fist then swept her leg foward aiming to plant a kick on his stomach, but at the very last moment, Si-eun's lips parted.
"Inversion."
As soon as he said that, he and Leona swapped positions.
Now she was the one caught within his grasp and he was the one with his legs against her ribs.
The impact echoed through the room sending Leona through one of the walls which he followed up immediately.
Leona was already rising to her feet when he attacked again.
Surprise flickered on her face but she quickly shrugged it off. Her fist met his in a deafening clash as they punched without care for their surroundings.
Leona was stronger, faster even, intercepting his strikes and landing attacks of her own whenever the opportunity presented itself but Si-eun fought like a cunning beast, constantly attacking the same spot over and over again to wear her down.
Leona growled then thrust her kneel forward.
Si-eun noticed the incoming attack but it was too late to dodge.
He brought his hands together into a guard just before the attack connected.
A burst of pain followed as he tumbled towards the entrance of the living room, coughing up blood in the process.
Their mother was already rushing towards them, her brows drawn in worry, unlike her… Duke Viktor Von Astavore was still watching the entire thing play out with mild interest.
He didn't bother to interfere as he believed it wasn't something he should meddle in.
They were basically letting each other know their stand by exchanging fists, as they should.
A subtle smile tugged at his lips, nostalgia kicking in as he remembered getting his ass handed to him by his elder sister during his teenage years.
To ensure they didn't break anything else within his mansion, he isolated the space where they were fighting and thus prevented his wife from interfering.
Rose turned towards him, her eyes narrowing into a glare as she cursed.
"Viktor you bloody idiot, Leona is going to kill him, release them now or kiss your late night adventures goodbye."
Viktor's expression faltered, his gaze flickering towards Alvina who was staring at both of them with a strange look.
He coughed.
"Language Rose, the kids are here."
His gaze slowly moved towards the isolated space while he spoke.
"You noticed it too right? That unnatural hatred Leona harbors towards Azazel, it's best they fight it out now before it grows into something worse and besides…"
He paused.
"I'll stop it before one of them gets hurt seriously."
Rose frowned.
"What happened to Azazel, he's changed, he would never dare stand up to Leona or attempt a gamble with the king, what exactly happened to him."
Viktor answered with his gaze still focused on the isolated space.
"He met a God" he said with an even tone.
"What!"
"Huh?"
Both Alvina and Rose said in unison.
Even Nathan was surprised besides not knowing what it fully meant.
"A.. god?"
Rose frowned.
"You mean he's an apostle now?"
"Maybe and maybe not." Viktor answered truthfully." I'm not certain if he received a blessing from the god or not but I can sense a faint residue of divinity on him, the king probably sensed it too."
Rose exhaled softly trying to calm her beating heart.
"What god did he meet."
"Mischief." Viktor answered instantly, almost like he'd been waiting for her to ask the question.
"Mischief… you mean—"
"Yes, The god of mischief, lord of chaos… the Trickster god."
Hearing this, Rose couldn't help but worry.
Her Az… her baby boy had been through so much already, his inferiority complex towards his sister pushed him into becoming what he was, although he had loving parents, the extended family weren't so understanding. They never said anything openly, they didn't have to, Azazel wasn't blind… he could see the looks they gave him whenever he met them, A gaze that spoke more than words could ever convey.
He knew there was no place for him because he couldn't awaken the chaos element, the signature trademark of his household and the reason why they could do as they pleased in front of the emperor.
Rose wasn't too knowledgeable about the gods but she knew an encounter like that could be fatal, no one could remain normal after that… not after meeting a literal deity, they were never quite the same.
Her son had been changing, for the better yes but still she couldn't help but worry.
The trickster god as Legends described him was as cunning as a mythical serpent, heaven knew what sort of reason he had to appear before her son.
Suspicions began to fill her mind, thoughts like
What if he deceived her son.
What if something had taken the body of her son?
But more importantly the question that troubled her the most.
"I…Is he still my Az?"
Viktor lingered for a few unsettling seconds, then his voice sounded.
"He is, his soul still remains him, it's just his perspective that's changed, his view on the world changed as well. When you encounter a god, humans begin to have less significance… compared to the fear of meeting a god, standing in front of a king seems trivial, standing up to those you fear becomes a normal thing because you're not just standing, you're looking down on them."
Rose let her gaze wander towards the isolated space where both of her kids were still pummeling each other.
Her lips parted yet no words came, she could only stare and await the outcome.
Meanwhile…
The two siblings Azazel and Leona were still at it.
If anything the battle had become quite heated
Si-eun spat out a mouthfull of blood, his eyes narrowing slightly as crimson obscured his sight.
His body was battered and beaten like he'd been chewed out by some starving hell hound then spat out for not having a remarkable taste.
Leona on the other hand didn't get it better, she was beaten as well… her hand dangling limply at her sides.
She forced a smile, her eyes glinting with malice.
"So you've Awakened hmm? I guess even the heavens favors trash once in a while."
She took a stance then spoke.
"Let me remind you where you stand, peasant."
Si-eun's eyes twitched then he shook his head with exasperation.
"Come at me then, if you dare."