51 chapter 51

Bines believed that the quality of training was more important than the quantity of training (such the Gigantos often believed). The first couple years he used only normal time training since the twins were only three years old when they were taught to act in combat.

The next year Bines went up to double training without Rin and Lin even noticing. This process went up to twenty times normal training and no more since the twins did not have strong bodies like those who were mighty in stature. Bines only taught them what they were able to learn or do. The old master judged them only at the level that they were able to succeed at.

One day after one supposed normal day, Bines hug the twins without any provocation. He usually only showed affection if needed or requested, but not for no reason. Rin and Lin accepted the attention but did not acknowledge that they knew that something was wrong at first.

At dinner, Bines was still acting jittery and jumpy.

Lin spoke,"What is wrong Grandpa?"

Bines was crying as he had just lost everything that had held so dear.

The grandfather spoke,"You have left here tonight, because I have to send you both away!"

Rin and Lin were at a lost to how to respond to their Grandfather at being told that they had to leave the only home that they knew.

Lin finally broke the silence as she asked,"What is going on with you, Grandpa? Let us know,

so that we can know what to do to help you."

Bines spoke,"I had been seen by a strange messenger a few days ago. It was revealed to me that

the invisible hand has found out where we live. You two are needing to leave this place."

Rin stood up to his feet and shouted,"We can beat them! We are both strong after all the training you had put us through.

Bines shook his head with his face pointed down at the wooden kitchen table.

The grandfather spoke,"You two do not understand the danger that you are all in! You will die if you stay here! The invisible hand's power stretches beyond this hellish desert! I am ready for them since I had been hardened through many years of battles, but you two are still a bunch of greenhorns!"

Rin and Lin were holding each other's hand as they started to cry a storm of tears.

Bines spoke,"I knew that this day would come and I had hoped that we could somehow avoid it. I will now tell you how you were found by me those thirteen years ago. I had found you as newborns, living with your parents when I had returned back to this home.

Rin spoke,"I thought that you had just found us abandoned in the desert one day during your travels."

The twins' faces twisted from the befuddlement of this recent revelation from Bines.

Lin spoke,"If they gave birth to us then why did they leave us behind to be cared for by you? Where did they go?"

Bines stood up and walked over to his old rocking chair that he used to rest and teach the twins out of when they were just young saplings.

Bines spoke,"Your mother and father were both staying here when I found you. They must had discovered this house by sheer accident. I have more than a dozen such houses sprung about the Socanas desert. I use them during all my travels plus leave some extra supplies for any would be travelers in need. I had done since I started to live in this desert many centuries ago."

Bines spoke,"They were murdered by assassins in this very house!"

Rin and Lin gasped out loud by the surprise of the statement.

Bines spoke,"I never could discovered their names but your names were sewn into your baby clothes with much tender loving care. That much I knew to be true since they had tried to defend you two when I had arrived. I can tell that much from the man's wounds and even your mother. You remind me just now of how they had look like when they had died."

Rin spoke,"Who was behind their murder?"

Bines spoke,"Your parents had the mark of the invisible hand on through some sort of branding process. The assassins that I had killed carried the same mark, as well."

Lin spoke,"They were branded like mere livestock! These people are sick down to the core!"

Rin had been holding his sister while they were both standing.

Bines spoke,"That is how cults are! The ones at the top abuse the ones at the bottom. This group has all ex members assassinated for rebelling. The horrors I had turned a blind eye for the last

few decades was staggering."

Rin spoke,"You are a great master, why did you not intervene grandpa?"

Bines could not look at the twins as he spoke,"

The old man spoke,"Because of apathy I had to those around me. I did not want to be bothered

by others, because of all the fighting had suffered in my youth. I was self-centered down to very core, until I saw you two lying helpless in your mother's arms. Your mom and dad left all that they had known for a better life and I could not be bothered to do anything that can have prevented such an occasion from occurring. Caring for you two was what I guessed a form of penitence for my sins."

The twins jumped into their Grandpa's arms and broke the old rocker in the process.

Rin and Lin were both thanking Bines for the things that he had done for them over the years.

Bines was touched by the act of compassion that he had finally caved in whole hearted to the outpouring of tears.

#

The next morning the family of three packed their bags and started to travel east into the desert, while avoiding as many people as they could on the way.

This went on for the next three days until they were on the Socanas/Lowrado border. It was jarring to behold since it was just desert then suddenly greenery.

Rin spoke,"What is this place?"

Bines spoke,"This is Lowrado, your new home!"

Lin spoke,"But our home is with you, grandpa!"

Bines spoke,"That is enough, child! You are a grown woman, now start acting at like it!"

The twins were stunned by the sudden change from the normally calm tone of their Grandpa.