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[WEST]

-Four years ago-

Noisy, full of shouting and crying. That's what I heard when I woke up one night. I immediately peeked out of my bedroom window.

My eyes widened when I saw people running as the wolves continued to chase. I was even more surprised because someone earlier suddenly turned into a wolf and immediately grabbed one of my neighbors.

"B-Brother? W-What's going on?" asked my ten -year -old brother, Aikee.

We kept peeking when the door suddenly opened. Mom and Dad hurried inside. You can see the nervousness on their faces.

"Come down!" Mama shouted and we immediately went downstairs.

"M-Ma? What's going on?" I asked as I continued down to stairs.

"Don't ask too many questions, son. Hide your brother in the kitchen."

We kept hearing screams outside until we heard a loud bang on the door.

"Hurry up!" mama shouted and immediately lifted something under the table. There I saw a dark tunnel.

"Don't go out until you hear the crackles. Don't worry because there's food there," Dad said.

Again we heard the loud sound. Aikee started to cry as I immediately entered.

"Follow what I told you, Felix. Take care of your brother. Don't leave each other," Dad said before finally lowering the door of our hiding place.

*****

Simple life. That is my only wish since I became conscious of this world. But I could not help but feel depressed because everything had come to nothing since my mother and father died.

"Won't you really accept that, Brother?"

I gasped at his repeated questions.

It has been seven days since we received the gray envelope. It has been seven days since we landed in the place where our parents once lived.

"Why? Don't you want to be here anymore? It's much better to live in this place," I replied.

After I got the money equal to that wolf, I immediately bought land here in the west. But our hideout makes a huge difference.

The air here is fresher than where we used to live. There are many trees here in the west unlike in the center where the houses are almost close together. It's more comfortable here but I'm used to that place.

"It's beautiful but it's very boring," he replied.

Because in the center, we can train because of the broken houses. We are not worried because that village has been abandoned for a long time. Unlike here in the west, there are mostly people living in households. We can't just practice because we are also careful somehow.

"Do you want to go hunting?" I asked before laying our breakfast on the table.

Instead of being greedy, his eyes widened and he immediately stood up.

"Of course, Brother! I might be rusting! Are you, brother? I'm sure you're rusting too!" shout it before sitting down and laughing.

I smiled before finally sitting down. "Me? Rusty? That's unlikely to happen, Aikee," I replied.

My brother and I even argued over who was better of the two of us. I just laughed because he wasn’t losing. That’s it, Aikee. Never let that happen to you. In this world the weak are defeated.

We finished eating when we thought about dressing up.

"Brother? Are there any Rouges here? Didn't the hunters in the East say that the reward is higher when they are caught in the west?" he asked when we got out of the house where we were staying.

"Really high," I replied smiling.

He frowned at me. "Don't say you're here hunting when you're not with me?" he asked making me grin.

"Exactly," I replied causing him to snort.

"You're so deceitful, Brother!" he said while pouting.

I turned to him and looked him in the eye seriously. "The Rouges are very dangerous here, Aikee. If the officials hadn't stopped them, would you?" I asked.

He became quiet and preferred to observe the place. There are flying vehicles. There are videos in each building. And most of all are the people who are restless to walk. They are so many.

"I don't think anyone sells newspapers here, Kuya! I only see buildings," said Aikee.

I was just shaken. "It's close. The store is just around the corner," I replied. I turned to him and grinned. "Why? Are you tired already?" my teasing.

He was unbelievable what I said.

"M-Me? Tired, Brother? Are you crazy already?"

"You even called me brother if you say the same thing," I replied seriously.

He stopped immediately. "I-I'm sorry. I was just kidding, Kuya," he said.

He bowed causing me to mess up his hair. "I'm just kidding, too."

I laughed at his pouty again. I am a serious person but not with my brother. I have a weird joke so that's how he looks now.

I stopped walking when I saw the familiar store. Unlike the ones on the side of the building, it is significant that it is older. You'll notice it right away because of the old paint and ashes on top of this shop.

When we stepped inside the shop we immediately stopped. I was no longer surprised to feel the cold tip of the sword against my neck. But I was surprised when my brother spoke.

"Put down your sword, Old man," Aikee said as the small shuriken focused on the man's neck.

"W-What do you need?" Old man asked as if terrified.

"I repeat, put down your sword if you don't want to go down to satan first," said Aikee.

The old man did not budge until I said the word that would calm him down.

"Hunter," I said, reasoning for him to lower his sword. Aikee also lowered his shuriken.

"You're so strong," old man said while looking at Aikee.

"You also shookt me," he replied before putting the shuriken in his pocket.

The old man turned around and started walking. "I'm sorry. I'm just being careful because of the scattered Rouges here," he said.

Nothing has changed in this shop. The equipment is still old. From hanging swords to dusty books.

He bend down at the bottom. And when he got up, he immediately put down what we were looking for.

"Don't come back here agian," he said to my surprise.

I picked up the newspaper and looked at him. "What? Why?" I immediately asked.

His gaze turn to Aikee. "I don't know what went through your mind and you came here together," he replied.

"What are you saying?" Aikee asked.

"Aren't you a Hunter? And you definitely know the The Prodigies brothers?" he asked that made me nervous.

My brother and I looked at each other. Think of preparing for the probabilities.

"Based on your actions earlier, I can't deny that you are those two," he added.

Aikee immediately released his shuriken.

The old man laughed and raised his hand. "Calm down you. I'm not an enemy. I just want to say you're not safe in this place."

"What do you mean, old man?" I asked while restraining myself.

Aikee and I promised that we would kill and strangle people who would find out our secret.

"You are," he said and picked up the small box. "You are the son of Greta and Jose. Your father told me to give you this thing. When you come out of this shop,  immediately pack up and hide. You are not safe in this place because it is not the only one Rouges are looking for you ... even hunters are interested in your heads. "

Sugarmaui-