// Virion Leywin //
"Hoh." I gave a breath of relief.
In the depths of my being, hangs two brilliantly shining orbs that would be the determining factor of my fate.
One of them elevated higher, and smaller in size than the other.
Anyway, my parents keeps their eyes on me so cultivation has been reserved for nightly hours.
It couldn't be helped, wasting the glittering sky all by my lonesome.
Moving on, I do wonder why they are keeping tabs on me. Are they suspecting me?
Maybe.
But why not Ellie though?
I open my eyes, falling back on my arms as support and unfurl my legs from one another.
I stretch myself before jumping down from the sofa in the living room. There is rare occasions I can cultivate during the day like now.
Alice, preparing for guests with the help of Tabitha, Lilia is at school, Vincent and Rey hard at work to prepare for this year's annual auction.
"Brotha!"
And Ellie, my adorable older sister (by a few seconds). She sneaks up behind me, pats me on the back and runs away screaming.
"Youh it!"
How can I resist such an offer to torment her.
I quickly speed up after her while she keeps circling objects like the sofa and coffee table to avoid me closing the distance.
This is gonna be exhausting.
And it is.
I mean, acting like a child.
Ellie, being my twin, did not help my case. She constantly wants to play and other than Lilia, I am her go-to guy.
Her only one actually.
It is fun though.
...
"Bhotha, stop. I am thired." she huffs while calling time out. She lets herself fall dramatically, sprawling her legs and arms out on the mat.
I walk up to her, standing just above her head. I bend down down at the waist with my arm dangling over her forehead.
"You're it." I said and poke her forehead with my index finger. I straightened myself and take a step back. To tired to say anything, she just puffs her cheeks.
And I have to admit, she looks even more like a baby now. If I did not have such excellent control over myself, I would have smothered her to death by now.
"Ellie! Virion!" Alice's voice rings through the mansion. She sounds awfully excited. Did something happen?
"We're in the living room!" I yell back. Ellie stands up and shakes herself down, wipes the sweat from her face with the back her hand.
Soon enough, I could pick up multiple footsteps - five or six people.
"Has the other little monster awakened yet?" a crass voice asks from behind the door.
A thud follows quickly after.
"That's rude." A strict and thin tone reprimanded. It reminds of Alice and Reynolds bickering.
"Fine." he resigns.
"No, he hasn't awakened yet." I hear Alice again. "But we are keeping an eye on him."
The door swings open. Revealing half a dozen new figures. Ellie hides behind me, looking over my shoulder. She is a shy one when she wants to be, I chuckle internally.
"So cute!" A green and yellow blurr zooms towards us and before I knew it, I am buried in huge balls of flesh along with Ellie. It feels nice but I could barely breath.
Help!
Unhand me woman!
I'm too young to die now. And too young to take advantage of this. You are just torturing me!
"Be careful, Angela." A deep and soothing voice steps in to save the day.
Angela releases us from her death grip which felt like forever. I look back up to my savior and he was huge. I knew he was huge but seeing it with your own eyes is quite the site. He really looks like a giant teddy bear with his scruffy dark hair, slanted eye brows and dark chocolate eyes.
"Hmph." Angela pouts and stands up. She was moderately beautiful with a very well endowed figure. Silky blonde hair that curls at her waist, a diamond shaped face with vibrant green eyes to match.
"Hey, guys!" Rey bursts through the doors of the entrance of the living room with a broad smile. "It's good to see you all are still alive."
He exchanges a hug with each of them.
"Don't sell us so short, Rey." Helen boasts with a small smile. "Anyway, are you gonna introduce us?" she clears her throat.
"Of course." Reynolds walks over to us. "This is Virion." he pats me on the head with his rough hands.
"And this is Eleanor." he moves his hand over to Ellie's head.
"Virion, Eleanor, this is the Twin Horns." He gestures to the six new faces.
"Hi, there. My name is Adam." he steps forward with a small wave of the hand. "You have quite the cool name for a little guy."
"Yeah. Both of them are just too adorable." Angela dotes on us.
"Nice to meet you. You can just call us Vee and Ellie." I offer an alternative with a smile. And Ellie, on the other hand, is fiddling with her fingers.
"But it fits you quite well." He smiles. "You are quite the reserved gentleman unlike your father over there."
"I'm standing right here, you know." Reynolds comically sobs. "And the jokes is getting kinda old now."
"You're also getting old." Adam snickers. And everyone let out a little laugh at Reynolds expense.
"Why you little!"
.....
"Ah. Reynolds? " Vincent comes through the door along with Tabitha and Lilia.
"Hey, Vincent." Adam turnes around and throws an arm over Vincent's shoulders. "Good to see you again."
"You too." Vincent reciprocates the motion. "And all of you as well." he greets the rest with a wave.
And so, after a light back and forth between them he proposes that they stay over the night for a little feast. And they, of course acceptes the offer gratefully. I have not talked this much and now I have to talk a bunch more.
Sigh.
.....
I had deliberately choose a seat near the end of the dinner table so I could avoid situation where I would get in trouble if something happens like now. Of course, Ellie and Lilia sat across from me and were now throwing peas at me.
The adults have not noticed being immersed in their conversations. On a side note, Adam seems close to Vincent. I guess they both like business but I never took Adam as the accountant for the Twin Horns.
Another green ball hit my forehead while I was in thought.
These little brats.
I look down but my plate was empty so that leaves me no choice. As swiftly as could, I grab a pea from the one sitting left of me, Jasmine. For the most part, she remained in her own world but occasionally joined the conversation between the woman. And now was one of those times.
Lucky me.
I proceed to throw it straight at Ellie's head. This gave her ally the opening to reel her wrist back and throw another but I anticipated the direction. I catch it with left amd without wasting time, I throw it back but she blocks it.
I try and grab another pea but it seems Jasmine took notice of us. She just gives us this blank look before scooting her plate over to me.
She a real one.
Dammit.
I was destracted.
They throw another two but I block in time. On bounces on the table, I reach for it and flick it with my finger but I was too weak for it too mean anything.
I was hit with another one but I already had another pea in my grasp. So, while they reach for another, I throw and hit Lilia while her hands are occupied.
Ellie throws one but I catch it, and counter. She blocks and this gives an opening for Lilia, and she hits my chest.
I reach for another.
"Virion, dear."
I shiver and stoo6in my tracks like a dear in headlights.
Why me!?
I didn't start it, they did! Look! They are snickering at my demise!
It is self defense!
...
"Honestly, your brother is such a handful when he wants to be." Alice vents to Ellie while I pretend to sleep.
"He acts so mature that I sometimes forget he is just a child." I can hear rustling as she tucks Ellie into bed.
Ellie and I finally have our own rooms with two single beds, and two closets. The only thing we share is the room and bathroom.
It also allows for more alone time and that has benefited my cultivation. Besides that, I have been trying to remaster a past hobby to help with the new bodies co-ordination.
Sketching.
"He is a old mhan." Ellie exclaims.
I hear Alice chuckle.
For the record though, I'm not old. I'm not even twenty years old.
Before I died, that is.
"Anyway, good night." I hear her giving Ellie a kiss.
"Night, mom." Ellie yawns.
There is rustling and two clacks of the boots on the tiled floor. "And you too." I feel the bed sinking in next to my head, and her hair brushing my cheeks. Her hand brushes over my forehead, pushing back my hair. Finally, she plants a peck on my forehead.
I hear as she walks away, her steps pause and with a soft click the door closes.
I finally open my eyes.
It is dark but the moonlight blurring through the white curtains didn't make it entirely impossible to see.
I lay still for a few minutes looking at the ceiling.
Then, I sit upright and turn my head to my right. I call out Ellie's name a few times.
She did not respond.
"That's my cue."
.....
// Alice Leywin //
"Ellie, can you please sit still while you eat?" I sigh. "You're making a mess."
"Shorry." she apologizes.
Ugh.
How can I scold her when she is so cute!
No.
Alice, calm yourself. You are not a doting mother.
"Can I go play with Vee now?" she pushes her plate away. Why did you have to go run off by yourself, Virion?
"After you eat your food."
"Okyyy." she pulls her plate towards her with a renewed vigor. I smile, she really is the normal one among her siblings.
That reminds me.
The doctor said Virion has undergone a mutation. That he will without a doubt become a mage.
It is just a matter of time.
So far, he shown any signs... but it is not like there is any symptoms of awakening, silly Alice.
This whole thing is putting me on edge.
I wonder... if Arthur has the same condition. He did not show any 'weird' physical signs like Virion's eyes.
Hm.
The doctor also suggested that Ellie might be affected even though she does not show it.
Agh.
Why my kids?
I just want them to have a normal life but...
... it does not seem likely.
One is in another country, the other could awaken anytime now and this one, I am uncertain.
But... I suppose, I should be grateful that they have such opportunities. It is just that the danger that follows such professions... it worries me.
I know it isn't my fault but still. If one of them were to...
... I wouldn't forgive myself.
If only I was not a mage...
In the end, there is nothing I can do about it now but just move forward, and give this parenting thing my best shot.
On one hand though, I feel bad for Ellie's future love prospects. Just thinking about me makes me laugh.
Suddenly, a tremor shook the manor. The utensils on the table rattled.
Virion!
I quickly jump out of my chair, knocking it back and reach over to Ellie. I lift her into my embrace, she starts crying.
I turn around to the and ran as fast as I could through the long corridors. This is why I don't like big houses! It takes to long to go from one end to the other especially in these kinds of situations.
Please!
Don't let anything happen to Virion. I couldn't hold back the silent tears escaping my eyes.
I push through the last door with my shoulder, coming to a stop on top the flight of stairs.
Ah.
So... I guessed right.
Thank you! I scream internally, and the tears of joy running down my face.
Stupid, Alice.
Who would attack someone in the floating city of Xyrus? Much less, the Helstea manor.
Ellie turns her head, to look at the sight. She stops sniffing almost immediately.
It was just her brother.
He is hovering a few feet above the ground, and in the middle of a shallow crater spanning nearly half the backyard. The beautiful, green blades of grass were uprooted. And as they dance closer to Virion, eventually they tore themselves apart leaving nothing behind.
He has awakened.
The barrier around him is behaving strangely though. It did not push and the pull was too small. There was definitely an outward force to form the crater, and a pulling force to pull in the dust and grass forming the whirlwind.
But, they are gradually slowing down and rather than being pulled, they drift towards him because of momentum.
And once they get close enough, they are torn into nothing.
It is strange.
Wait!
Could it be!?
"Brother!" Ellie struggles in my arms, calling for her brother.
Virion's eyes open and he slowly, he starts to descend. The grass and dust also starts settle down.
Now that it is safe, I let her down and watch her little legs carry her down the stairs as fast they could. I slowly follow her.
After four years.
... I wipe away the tears.
He is a mage... just like Arthur.
Their talent is almost frightening. And I just hope they don't grow up with big heads because of it.
I'll make sure as their mother... that they grow to be responsible and functional members of society.
My little chaos creators, and probably soon to be.
"Hah."
Adam was right.