The Twins

Arya’s p.o. v.

It’s already six a clock, and it's still dark in Tristan's old room, although it's summertime. The sun's rays can't go through the thick silver forest until late morning. I wonder what Tristan did all night, as the bed is intact. He probably went and disturbed his mother and sister from their sleep. I hear noises in the main room, and Selena and Sonya start chatting. I should do my morning meditation and mana training, as it is still too early for me to go out.

I sit on the bed, cross my legs, and clear my mind. I concentrate on my upper abdomen, where the mana pool resides. I imagine it getting bigger until I feel it expanding and covering my whole body. This is my limit for now. My mana pool is about half a meter from my body. It will get bigger with time. Some S-rank mages are said to arrive up to 5 meters from their bodies. I train like this for a while, expanding and contracting my mana when I notice that the sun has finally brightened Tristan's old room.

I leave the house and breathe in the rich forest air that immediately reinvigorates my body. Everything would be silent if not for the 'shhh' sound of the arrows flying and then a boom. I look around the house and see Selena far away, up to 100 meters shooting arrows at a nearby tree where she has drawn some points and circles. That poor tree must be her target practice. She manages to hit all the points she has drawn from 100 meters. She then pauses and shortens the string from her bow.

"Arya, you’re up. I mean, of course, you're up. How silly of me. “I hear Sonya coming towards me.

"Yes, these forests are great against the summer heat. It's a bit chilly even.”

"Yes, don't forget that eastwards is the frozen desert." Sonya reminds me of the human land's geography.

"I wonder how much eastward Tristan and Selena explored. Tristan said to me once that he reached the dwarf's mountains". I tell Sonya.

“I don’t think so, Selena, maybe. She returned often, almost frozen to ****, but Tristan is slower. It would have taken him a week.” Sonya tries to remember something.

“Selena is really so fast?” I raise my eyebrows in disbelief. “That‘s incredible.”

“Yes, she is. She can keep up with you even if you are on a full gallop.” Sonya says, and I look at her to see if she‘s joking. And I see no trace of a smile.

“This is incredible. Even for a wind mage, that’s hard, but she’s not a mage, right?” I ask.

"No, she's not," Sonya smiles. "I see Tristan didn't tell you. When I gave birth to them, it was the other way around. Tristan was the one strong, and Selena was underdeveloped and weak. Blood transfusion disease is called when a twin gets more nutrients than the other in the mother's womb. And so Selena's bones were soft and had various diseases with blood circulations. The only solution was alchemy, so I gave her every tonic and enhancer I could find. And those I couldn't find, I made them myself. That is why I moved here, as these woods are rich in alchemy ingredients. Of course, that wasn't enough. I made her train from a young age and fully monitored her diet. I taught her all I know about fighting; martial arts, and strategy, not to mention body conditioning and meditation. She is, of course, a hard-working girl and trained hard. As a result, her senses are overdeveloped. Her bone mass is three times denser than an average human's. Her strength is not great, as she always favored speed over damage. But she can **** a full-grown bear if she wants to. Ha, she even did it once.” Sonya laughs.

“Tristan did not tell me about this. “

"Well, he kind of always reproached me that I didn't train him the same, but the truth is I simply did not have time between my job, gathering ingredients, and monitoring Selena. Tristan paid the price of my carelessness. Then I got sick and wasn't there for either of them.” Sonya says with a sad tone.

“He told me that you didn’t want him to become an adventurer and that you hated this job yourself?

"Yes, I did not at first, but later, when I understood his character better, I did not oppose it. As for me and why I hated this job, let's say it's a long story similar to yours when I asked why you decided to become an adventurer last night. “Sony tells me with a mysterious smile.

"I understand what you are saying. He likes to explore and find new adventures. He doesn't like the fighting and the killing part. "

"Whoa, I am glad that you understand him. I’d say one of my kids has too much empathy, and the other completely lacks it. I like to think that the two of them were a single perfect being but somehow got divided when they came into this world.”

“I think both of them are great, “I immediately say, and it isn’t a lie.” In terms of rank, what rank do you think Selena is.”

“I don’t know. B rank, probably even A, she’s much stronger than me back in the day, but if I am in full armor, that’s another story, “and she smiles. “But to be honest with you, I don’t believe in all that rank-shank.”

"Wow, she's that strong. I thought that maybe I had a chance to go against her, but now I understand. "

"As a mage, you're at a disadvantage against fast-moving enemies." Sonya reminds me of my weakness.

"I thought that maybe if I chant and shield myself, then use my staff for mell… "

"Who's gonna let you chant?" A whisper came from my back. I freeze in place, hearing Selena’s voice. “You two finish talking about me.”

“Yes, daughter, you suddenly became shy? “Sonya teased Selena again. “Arya was just admiring your dexterity.”

“Was she? From what I heard, she was trying to beat me?” Selena looks at me with a cold face.

“I was just evaluating a future companion. Tristan wanted to ask if you would like to come to the elven kingdom with us. We need a strong range unit for a solid party”. I hope she will say yes.

“Me, in the elven kingdom? What is Tristan thinking? I would never leave my forest,” Selena says with a nearly offended look.” I would talk with him”,

“O come on, he was thinking that maybe you need a change of scenery, and if you ask me, he’s right. You should go away before you kill all the people in the village.” Sonya taunts her daughter.

‘Yeah, amusing, Mom. I told you those two were poaching, “Selena tells her mother.

“We are in the middle of the goddamn forest. Everyone is poaching. I, too, killed a small rabbit that was stealing my carrots. What are you going to do? Shot me?.” Sonya makes a strong argument.

“You don’t understand, Mom. I had to set an example. I am not gonna argue with you every day about this. Let’s go away, Arya. I’ll show you the forest,” and she grabs my hand and drags me away before I can protest.

“Yes, you do that, but you two come back before lunch,” I hear Sonya calling.

Selena rushes in front of me like a gazelle. Her soundless movements are almost magical, with long jumps followed by short sprints through the dense forests. I almost lose sight of her many times, but she stops when I remain too far back, laughing at me, saying I am too lazy. After a while, we arrive at a clearing where two old stone walls are eroded by the passing of time, and further in the back, I see an old tower.

“Tristan told me to bring you here,” Selena says. “He researched these ruins and discovered they were dwarven. And I don’t want to ruin your surprise, but there are living skeletons inside that tower,” Selena tells me without a smile, making me think she isn’t lying.

“Really, living skeletons? That’s a little hard to believe, “I tell her.

“Says the elf that disappears for 6 hours in another dimension,” Selena immediately retorts to me, “ Anyway, you should ask Tristan about them. , he was convinced that only a mage could explore the tower. Something about normal weapons can’t damage the skeletons.”

“Okay, that makes sense. I wanted to ask Sonya, but I forgot. Did you tell Tristan about your theory of the demon?” I change the subject.

“Yes, we discussed it last night. He said you two should depart immediately for that village, but then my mother began being sad and gloomy, saying that he just arrived and the curse could wait. He was going to speak with her again today and said that maybe you two should get back on the road tomorrow. “Selena says with a careless voice.

It seems that they discussed a lot last night, and maybe Sonya is right if Tristan wants to stay a little longer. I am not going to oppose it. I will not rush him after he hasn't visited his family for three years.

"You should tell him that if he wants to stay longer. I won’t be against it."

"Really, if I was cursed like that, I would not be that calm like you two seem to be, "Selena concludes. "Anyway, let's hurry. I want to show you the lake, "and she again begins running.

I watch the sun's position and the shadows of the trees, so if I am ever alone, I know the direction. Until now, we only moved north from the house, so it should be easy to find my way back.

I hear Selena shouting. I hear the sound of water falling. A small cascade that falls down from a nearby hill forms a small crystal lake right in the middle of the trees. Some trees are immersed in water, brushing their branches against the lake's surface. It is a beautiful water sanctuary that claimed a small portion of the forest, giving the place an almost dreamlike appearance.

“C’mon Arya, let’s jump in,” Selena begins to take off her clothes, throwing her garments all over the place like they were an annoying burden that was keeping her body away from contact with the refreshing water. Her agility and grace are gone as she is fighting the irritating clothes.

She finally manages to jump in, yelling in ecstasy, and makes a few strokes toward the middle of the lake. As for me, I am a bit chilly and **** to do the same.

“You go ahead. I’ll wait for you,” I tell her and sit cross-legged on the ground.

“What are you doing? Come in; the water is excellent.” I hear her yelling and see that she swims and gets out of the water toward me. And then my body begins glowing, and I realize that time flew even faster than Selena this morning.

Tristan’s p.o.v.

I am at the lake. I recognize the sound and the smell before my eyes get used to the midday light, only to see my sister butt naked in front of me.

"Wha the hell, Selena? "I immediately yell at her as I see her just standing there. Like being butt naked in front of your brother is the most natural thing in the world.

"What's the matter, Tristan? It’s not like you've never seen me naked before ".She says to me with a smirk on her face.

"What's wrong with you? We were kids, but I have to admit you developed pretty nicely in some areas but are still lacking in some others, "I say to her, seeing that she wants to fool around.

"I know you are a pervert looking at your sister with impure thoughts," she bursts into laughter, and I, too, can't stop myself from laughing at the whole situation.

She dresses, and we walk home as I still want to hurry and write Arya about Selena's theory.

"So sister, you trying already to hit on my girlfriend when I'm not around? "I taunt Selena as I know since she was a teen she always preferred to spy on the girls taking a bath in the river rather than the boys.

"Well, if you're not around, I try to keep it in the family," Selena jokes again. "Plus, I thought all elven girls like other girls."

"I don't think that's how the matriarchy works, but here is an idea. Come with me and Arya, and you'll see for yourself".

“Yeah, your girlfriend already invited me, and honestly, why do you think I would come? ” Selena seems annoyed.

“Because it is a big world out there, I don’t want you to spend all your life hiding in these forests. “

"Look who's talking. When you were a kid, you used to be the same. What, the big city boy, is too good for country life now." She's getting angry, and I don't want to push it.

"Hey, it was just an idea. If you don't want to come, it's okay." I don't insist because I know she is stubborn as a mule.

“Yeah, I never want to come to your smelly cities. I never understood why people crowd together like chickens in a coop in those ugly cities. Bleagh. “ She wiggles like she is trying to shake off an insect that got under her clothes.

“Because those cities have beautiful elven girls, just waiting for a wild ranger to shoot an arrow right in their hearts.” I laugh at her, and she smiles.

“Ah brother, brother, they will have to come in my forest to see my big dexterity like your girlfriend did today, “She laughs, although I don’t understand what she’s saying.

We are approaching the house, and Mom probably made lunch for us.

“Before we arrive, I want to ask why you killed those men. Don’t tell me all that poacher stuff, “I ask her with a serious tone this time. And her face also begins to darken.

“They found something upstream east of the river. I followed them because I knew they were setting traps. I always set off all the traps the villagers put, but that time, they had pickaxes and shovels, which was weird. And brother, you know how we always wondered why this forest is called Silver Forest? Because there is nothing silvery about it? Well, those two found out. They were digging like crazy, saying how rich they would become and that they would tell the governor about it. I confronted them and told them they would destroy the forest and the village if others found out. And that they should gather as much as they want and don’t tell anybody. I thought maybe they would take as much as they wanted and then leave the village. And so we struck a deal. But they went to the city and came back with some sinister dudes as bodyguards. They even bought some large carts for transport and also a bunch of horses. I waited for them upstream, and we began arguing. And the rest, you know.” She forces a sinister smile

"You've certainly been busy, but why not hide the bodies and tell the village you didn't know anything," I tell her like it was the most normal thing to do. But I know it isn't.

“I took the opportunity to set an example for everyone who didn’t listen to me. I am not saying that is the right thing to do what I did and that I don’t feel bad about it, but I had to do it for the forest and the animals and even the village. She tells me with a sad tone, looking lost for a second, and I believe she’s sorry.

"I am not saying either that is right or wrong, but it is wrong not to tell Mother the whole story. She imagines weird stuff." I scold her." We promise to tell each other everything, remember."

"You're right, Tristan. I will tell her. It already feels good that I told you. "She smiles.

We arrive at the house. We sit and eat Mother's lunch, and then I write a letter to Arya. Explain to Mother why we need to hurry with the curse investigation. And after I train with Selena for a while. Evening comes.