The Swordmaster's Youngest Sons:Twin Destiny

The morning air was crisp as Ethan adjusted his grip on the wooden training sword. The Garden of Swords, once silent, now echoed with the sharp clatter of blades clashing. Today marked the beginning of their formal training as provisional Runcandel cadets.

Jin stood across from him, his stance firm but slightly unrefined. Their older siblings had already begun their practice, each sparring under the watchful eyes of the clan's instructors. Ethan, however, was more focused on the challenge before him—his twin brother.

"Don't hold back, Ethan," Jin said with a grin. "Let's see what you've got."

Ethan smirked, tightening his grip on the wooden sword. He had sparred with Jin countless times as children, but now things were different. Their training as true Runcandel cadets had begun, and every exchange mattered.

He took a step forward, testing the waters with a quick strike. Jin reacted instantly, parrying with ease before countering with a sharp thrust. Ethan dodged, feeling the air shift as the wooden blade missed him by a hair's breadth.

Their movements grew faster, more refined. Ethan deliberately held back, mimicking the natural talent of a gifted child rather than the expertise of an assassin.

Jin pressed forward, his strikes gaining momentum. His form was impressive for his age, displaying the raw talent that would one day make him the greatest swordsman of the clan. Ethan matched his pace, his wooden sword meeting Jin's with sharp, precise movements.

Their siblings watched from a distance, some with mild interest, others indifferent. To them, this was just another spar between two unproven children. But Ethan knew better. This was the first step in Jin's journey—and his own.

A sudden feint from Jin forced Ethan to pivot sharply. He barely deflected the blow, masking his true skill.

Jin's attacks grew more aggressive, his strikes fueled by pure instinct and determination. Ethan analyzed each movement, predicting the next strike before it even came. Still, he made sure to let Jin push him back, keeping up the appearance of an evenly matched fight.

A sudden shift in Jin's stance caught Ethan's attention. His twin lunged with a precise thrust aimed at his chest. Ethan twisted his body at the last moment, deflecting the attack with a well-timed parry. Their wooden swords clashed once more, the impact sending a sharp vibration through Ethan's arm.

Jin grinned. "You're holding back, aren't you?"

Ethan chuckled, masking his thoughts behind a playful smirk. "And what if I am?"

Jin didn't respond immediately. Instead, he pressed forward again, his strikes faster, more precise. Ethan matched him, letting the battle continue at a steady pace. He had to be careful—too much strength would draw suspicion, but too little would make him seem weak.

Their sparring had drawn the attention of their instructor, an older knight observing from the sidelines. Ethan could feel the man's gaze studying them, assessing their potential. He knew that every move he made here would shape how others perceived him in the future.

Jin attacked relentlessly, his wooden sword cutting through the air with impressive speed. Ethan sidestepped a strike aimed at his ribs, countering with a quick slash toward Jin's shoulder. His twin barely managed to deflect it, their weapons locking for a brief moment.

"You're still too hesitant," Jin muttered, pushing Ethan back with a sudden burst of strength.

Ethan let himself stumble slightly, playing the role of a struggling younger brother. He knew he could easily overpower Jin if he wanted to—but that wasn't his goal. His true path in this world required patience, subtlety, and carefully measured progress.

Ethan steadied his breathing, gripping his wooden sword tighter. Jin's strength was raw but undeniable—he was improving with every exchange. That was expected. In the original story, Jin's talent only flourished under pressure, and Ethan had no intention of making things too easy for him.

Jin lunged again, this time aiming for Ethan's legs. Ethan hopped back, barely dodging in time. He feigned a slow reaction, allowing Jin to press forward. Their swords clashed in rapid succession, the rhythmic echoes filling the training grounds.

"Enough."

A deep, commanding voice cut through the air, halting their fight instantly.

The voice belonged to one of the Runcandel instructors, a tall man with sharp eyes and a presence that demanded respect. He stepped forward, arms crossed, as he evaluated both boys with a critical gaze.

"That was a decent exchange," he said. "Jin, your attacks are aggressive, but you leave too many openings. Ethan, your defense is solid, but you hesitate too much. Strength without refinement and caution without decisiveness—both are weaknesses."

Jin wiped the sweat from his brow and nodded. Ethan, meanwhile, lowered his sword, hiding his amusement. If only the instructor knew how deliberate his hesitation was.

The instructor turned his gaze toward Ethan, narrowing his eyes. "You have potential, but you're holding back. Why?"

Ethan met his stare calmly. "I don't want to rely on brute strength alone. I want to learn control."

The instructor raised an eyebrow but nodded approvingly. "A good mindset—but remember, control without decisiveness is weakness."

Jin grinned, slapping Ethan's shoulder. "Looks like we both have a lot to work on."

The instructor glanced at the other cadets before stepping back. "That's enough for today. Rest up. Tomorrow's training will be even harsher."

Ethan exhaled slowly. His journey had just begun.

As the training session ended, the other cadets dispersed, some chatting among themselves while others silently retreated to recover. Jin stretched his arms, still grinning. "That was fun. But next time, I'm definitely winning."

Ethan chuckled, wiping sweat from his forehead. "We'll see."

Despite the lighthearted exchange, his mind was already working. He had successfully maintained his façade—just talented enough to be noticed, but not enough to raise suspicions. His true training would begin later, in solitude, away from prying eyes.

He turned his gaze toward the vast estate, knowing that Cyron Runcandel himself would one day take notice of their progress.

For now, he played the role expected of him. But deep inside, he was already planning ahead.