I brought Andre and Richard back to the House Sturm townhouse and got them settled in, before I met with my parents and explained the situation. Mother couldn't contain her disgust for Clan Leone after hearing about what happened.

"It appears that they've dropped all pretense," she said. "Twenty years ago, they would've at least pretended to be righteous. I guess they don't want to bother anymore. All they care about is their own self-interest."

On the plus side, Father and Mother were more than willing to host Andre and Richard. My cousin and his bodyguard wouldn't become members of Clan Sturm, but they wouldn't be complete outsiders either. Half members, I guess? I wasn't sure what to call them. Not that it mattered. Andre and Richard were family. That's all I cared about.

With the addition of Andre and Richard, life at the House Sturm became more lively. Andre, in particular, was a loud and boisterous person. While the events at the Icefall region had matured him somewhat, this part of his nature remained the same.

Andre and Richard also joined us for training, making it more fun, for lack of a better term. No one slacked off, goofed around, or anything of the sort. However, training time became more spirited with them around. Andre threw himself into training with enthusiasm, which lit a fire in everyone's hearts, including my own.

Andre also kept challenging me to duels. I defeated him every time, but his mastery of martial arts surprised me. He was far above his previous level. Training with Grandfather Gabriel benefited him immensely. At this point, he could defeat an average Third Star martial artist with relative ease. For someone who wasn't a transmigrator, and didn't have the advantages that entailed, this was an impressive feat.

The others weren't far behind either. Training with me and Mother, when she had the time for it, helped improve their mastery by leaps and bounds. At this point, if I pitted Leroy, Lorelei, and Corrie against a group of Third Star martial artists, it would be an even fight.

After returning, I also decided to share the iron-backed turtle heart with my family. To my surprise, my parents and I got into an argument about it. I wanted to share it with them and Kaylee, since eating the heart would benefit wizards as well as martial artists. In fact, wizards benefited even more than martial artists since they were physically weaker to begin with.

However, my parents resisted my attempts to share the heart with them. They told me that Grandfather Gabriel gave the heart to me, so I should eat it all myself. While I understood where they came from, I didn't need to eat the whole heart to benefit from it. We argued back and forth for hours, with neither side willing to give in.

The stalemate ended when Kaylee came up with a compromise. I would get most of the heart, about two-thirds, while my family would share the remaining third. No one was happy about this. My parents thought their share was too large, while I thought the opposite. However, we accepted Kaylee's compromise.

We made soup out of the heart and ate it. It had an effect right away. I felt the heart strengthening my body, increasing my endurance and vitality. Not only that, but after I refined the mana contained within the heart, I neared the threshold to Third Star.

If it weren't for my contract with Aurora, where I shared some of my cultivation with her, perhaps I would've reached Third Star outright. A shame. However, I didn't regret it. Considering the benefits I gained from our contract, I thought it was worth it.

As for Aurora herself, she fell into a deep sleep. The heart benefited her as well. I had a feeling that when she woke up, she would be much more powerful than before.

Afterwards, I sent a message to Grand Elder Luther so I could settle my debt with him. I used the token he gave me, so there was no going back on my word now. Not that I planned to in the first place. After all, helping Grand Elder Luther benefited me as well, since he wanted his great grand niece and great grand nephew to join Clan Sturm. What we needed the most at the moment was people.

So, with that in mind, I arranged a meeting with Grand Elder Luther before heading over to Clan Thorne.

It was mid-morning when Leroy and I arrived at the Clan Thorne estate in Layer Nine of Sunheart Undercity. The two of us carried our respective weapons and wore First Murim robes. Mine were blue with silver accents, while Leroy's were black and red. To my surprise, when we arrived, Anna greeted us at the front entrance instead of a servant.

"Hello, lover," Anna said with a smile on her face.

She gave me a deep kiss, one that left me a little breathless.

"Someone missed me," I joked after we pulled apart.

"Of course," Anna said. "We haven't seen each other in almost a week." She leered at me. "If we were alone, I would've dragged you off and had my way with you."

I glanced around. There were several Clan Throne servants and warriors nearby. They all gaped at us. I resisted the urge to sigh. Word of this would reach Lord Trevor. He already despised me enough as it was, and this would lower his opinion of me even further. Still, that was a small price to pay.

"Tempting," I said. "However, I have an appointment with Grand Elder Luther and I didn't want to be late. Maybe later."

Anna grinned.

"Promises," she said, before gesturing for us to follow her. "Come one. The old man is waiting for you in the training hall. He reserved the whole thing for the entire morning."

I raised an eyebrow at that. I guess Grand Elder Luther wanted to keep this whole affair somewhat private. Regardless, it worked out for the best. I planned on testing his great grand niece and great grand nephew's martial arts skills.

Leroy and I followed Anna through the Clan Thorne estate. As before, the smell of roses inundated the entire place.

"What can you tell me about the twins?" I asked. "Last time, you said that they were a bit… much. What did you mean by that?"

Anna glanced back and flashed a grin at me.

"As I said back then, you'll see when you meet them," she said. "As for their martial arts skills, the twins are decent considering the handicap they're working with."

"Handicap?" I asked.

Anna nodded.

"Their elemental affinities are incompatible with Clan Thorne's techniques, including our cultivation techniques," she said. "They're also unsuited for Clan Thorne's fighting styles." She glanced back again and gestured to Leroy. "It would be like if you tried to fight like Leroy."

Leroy and I shared a look. I was lean and slender, while Leroy was big and muscular.

"While I'm sure you could pull it off," Anna continued. "You wouldn't be as proficient."

I nodded. Fair enough.

The three of us soon reached the training hall. It was a large wooden building with a rough stone floor. The training hall was divided into two sections: one filled with training equipment, while the other was set aside for sparring matches and duels. Unlike the rest of the Clan Thorne estate, the training hall smelled of sweat.

When Anna, Leroy, and I arrived, we found three people waiting for us. I saw Grand Elder Luther with a young man and a young woman, who looked almost identical to one another, standing next to him.

They were both about my age, or maybe even a little younger, with androgynous features. Both had sun-kissed skin, blond hair, and amber eyes. The young man kept his hair short, while the young woman's reached the middle of her back. Both wore crimson and gold uniforms with rose motifs. The twins both had bright and cheerful smiles on their faces. For some reason, looking at them made me think of a pair of Golden Retrievers.

Grand Elder Luther greeted us and we greeted him in return. Afterwards, he gestured to the twins.

"Lord Gabriel," he said. "May I introduce you to my great grand niece, Evelynn, and my great grand nephew, Everard."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lord Gabriel," the twins said in unison.

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They walked over to me and embraced me, which caught me off guard. By the time I thought to evade them, it was already too late. Anna and Leroy stood off to the side. The former smirked at me, while the latter looked confused.

"I apologize, Lord Gabriel," Grand Elder Luther said. "The twins are rather… physical when it comes to showing affection."

"I realize that now," I said in a strained voice.

The twins pulled away from me, but still remained well within my personal space.

"Great-Grand Uncle told us that you defeated Young Master Miles in a duel," Everard said in an eager tone. "Is this true?"

"Can you show us how you did it?" Evelynn asked, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Will you teach us how to fight like you?"

I looked between the two, feeling a little overwhelmed. So this is what Anna meant when she said that the twins were a bit much. I agreed with her assessment.

"Alright," Anna said, amused. "That's enough you two. Stop crowding around my fiancé. Give him room to breathe."

She reached over and pulled the twins away from me, giving me some space. I sighed with relief.

"Aw, but Young Mistress!" the twins whined.

"Enough!" Grand Elder Luther scolded. "Lord Gabriel has graciously agreed to take you in. The least you can do is stop acting like a pair of spoiled brats."

Well, I hadn't agreed to take them in yet. I still needed to see if they suited Clan Sturm, and if Clan Sturm suited them. However, considering the circumstances, it was basically a done deal at this point.

"Yes, Great-Grand Uncle," the twins said in a contrite tone.

They hung their heads and wore sorrowful expressions on their faces, like a pair of Golden Retrievers that had just been scolded. My lips twitched as I resisted the urge to smile. The twins were rather expressive. It looked like Clan Sturm was about to become even more lively.

"To answer your questions," I said. "Yes, I defeated Lord Miles in a duel. Yes, I can show you how I defeated him. And yes, I will teach you the Mist Sword style."

At this point, I didn't think I could reject the twins even if I wanted to.

"Really?" the twins asked, their expressions brightening up.

"Yes," I said with a nod. "Though, before we begin, let me take a closer look at you."

I circled around the twins, studying them with a critical eye. Both had lean and slender builds, which made them suitable for the Mist Sword Style. However, to my surprise, they were only at First Star. Then again, Anna told me that the twins' elemental affinities weren't suited for Clan Thorne's techniques, including its cultivation techniques. This would've made it difficult for them to make progress.

"What do you think, Lord Gabriel?" Grand Elder Luther asked.

"They have potential," I said, giving him a sideways glance. "However, I'm concerned. They're only at First Star. Didn't you say that the twins are talented when it came to martial arts?"

Grand Elder Luther gave me a mysterious smile.

"Their cultivation is lower than that of their peers," he said. "However, their mastery of martial arts far surpasses their level." He paused. "Would you like a demonstration?"

I nodded and gestured towards one of the arenas in the training hall.

"Come on," I said to the twins. "I'll be your opponent. Show me your skills."

The twins gave me eager nods, before rushing over to the arena. They stood at one end, while I stood at the other. For this match, I kept my sword in my sheathe, to avoid risking any serious injuries.

The twins took a stance. Their expressions hardened and their cheerful demeanors disappeared. The Golden Retrievers disappeared, replaced by a pair of martial artists.

Anna, Leroy, and Grand Elder Luther stood at the edge of the arena to observe.

"On your signal, Grand Elder Luther," I said, before taking a stance myself.

The grand elder nodded.

"Begin," he said.

The moment he finished speaking, the twins rushed towards me, moving in unison. Everard came at me from the right, while Evelynn came at me from the left. I decided not to use [Concealing Mist], or its Ice variant, since the whole point of this match was to assess the twins' skills.

Everard launched a kick at my upper body, while Evelynn aimed for my legs. I used [Elusive Mist] and contorted my body to evade their attacks. Despite this, the twins recovered right away and attacked me again. Once more, they moved in unison. I evaded one attack, while blocking the other with my sword.

As we exchanged blows, Grand Elder Luther's words proved true. It soon became clear that the twins' mastery of martial arts surpassed their cultivation level. Both of them were Second-Rate, which put them above most other First Star martial artists. While they weren't equal to Andre, they were on par with Leroy and the others.

I sparred with the twins for a while, pushing them to their limits. By the time we finished, the two of them laid on the ground, out of breath. Meanwhile, I hadn't even broken a sweat.

"So," Grand Elder Luther said with a proud smile on his face. "What do you think, Lord Gabriel?"

I nodded.

"Everard and Evelynn are talented," I said. "With a proper cultivation technique, and some training, they would make for superb martial artists." I paused. "However, while I know they're good at kicking, how skilled are they with the sword? Enough to teach them the Mist Sword style?"

Grand Elder Luther nodded.

"Yes," he said. "I tested them myself. That is one of the reasons why I asked you to take them in. Under your tutelage, I know they can soar."

I decided to trust the grand elder on this. He hadn't led me astray thus far. I faced the twins just as they stood up.

"What do you two think?" I asked them. "Are you willing to join Clan Sturm?" I held up a finger. "Think carefully before you answer. You'll have to leave everything and everyone you know behind. Your mother, Grand Elder Luther, everyone. While you can still visit Clan Thorne, it wouldn't be the same. You'll be outsiders."

The twins glanced at each other, before they both gave me self-deprecating smiles.

"We're already outsiders in Clan Thorne," Everard said.

"While most of our kin are kind and supportive," Evelynn said. "It's clear that we don't belong. Perhaps with you, we'll find our own place in the world."

"Even if it doesn't work out, that's a risk my sister and I are willing to take."

Evelynn gestured to Anna.

"Besides," she said. "You're marrying the young mistress, so there will be at least one familiar face around."

The twins looked resolute.

"Very well," I said. "In that case, welcome to Clan Sturm. Can you leave today, or do you need more time to get ready?"

The twins' both gave me a bright smile.

"Really?" they said in unison. "Thank you, Lord Gabriel."

The two of them rushed towards me and pulled me into another embrace, knocking me over in the process. I found myself on the ground, entangled with the two of them, struggling to break free.

"You won't regret taking a chance on us!" the twins said.

I looked over at Anna, who looked like she was holding in laugh.

"Help," I mouthed to her.

Anna covered her mouth and turned away, her eyes dancing with mirth. Traitor!

"That's enough, you two," Grand Elder Luther said, grabbing the twins and lifting them up. "You need to pack your things and say your goodbyes. Or did you plan on leaving without seeing your mother first?"

While the grand elder scolded the twins, I stood up and scowled at Anna.

"I'm glad that you found my suffering amusing," I said in an acerbic tone.

Anna gave me an innocent look.

"I don't know what you mean," she asked. "You looked like you were having fun. I didn't want to interrupt." I gave her a flat look. "Look, if you want to blame anyone, blame Leroy. Isn't he supposed to be your bodyguard?"

I looked at Leroy. While he wore a neutral expression on his face, I noticed the corners of his lips twitching.

"You weren't in any danger, so I didn't see the need to intervene," he said.

I rolled my eyes at them.

"It's good to know that I can rely on you two," I said.

Before either Anna or Leroy could respond, Grand Elder Luther called out to me. I looked over at him. He was holding the twins by the scruff of their outfits, their feet dangling in the air. Despite this, they wore bright smiles on their faces.

"I'll make sure these two troublemakers get ready to join you at the House Sturm townhouse," Grand Elder Luther said. "They'll arrive at early evening, if you're amenable."

I nodded.

"That sounds perfect," I said.

With that, Grand Elder Luther dragged the twins away.

"I should get going too," Anna said, sounding reluctant. "I've been busy these past few days, getting ready to join you in Eastwatch."

Kaylee and I told Anna about my deal with Crawford some time ago. She decided to come along with us. While she despised Crawford, she understood the need to work with him. Besides, this involved the invasion from the Infernal Lands, so there was no way she would miss out on it.

"Thank you," I said, giving her a smile. "I much appreciate it. We don't know what we'll encounter, so we need all the help we can get."

Anna nodded.

"It would help if you told me when you're leaving for Eastwatch," she said.

I mulled it over for a bit.

"It should be soon," I said. "Mother and I have already done most of the work necessary to found Clan Sturm. Other than that, I don't have anything else that I need to take care of."

Well, not quite. After finishing with all the paperwork, we needed to go to Sturm Hill Hall and set things up over there. However, I planned on leaving all that to Mother and Caitlyn. Dealing with the situation in Eastwatch took priority.

Right now, things were peaceful, but that wouldn't last long. This was the calm before the storm. The invasion from the Infernal Lands was in its early stages, but it would soon ramp up and engulf the entire world. The more we derailed the demons' plans, the better.

"In that case, let me know when you go see Crawford," Anna said "I want to sit in on the meeting."

"Of course," I said.

With that, Anna gave me one last kiss before Leroy and I left the Clan Thorne estate.

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