The Twin's Tales (Part Two)

"…la, wake up!" The sun begins breaking through the window as Caula finds herself shaken awake excitedly.

"Finally, you're awake. I thought you might have died or something with how hard you sleep. Gildar came in a few minutes ago and wanted us to come downstairs, and you slept right through it." Maroka jokes as she sits down on her bed. She gazes through an open window across the room upon the sun low on the horizon casting beautiful colors across the sky. Caula had already rolled back over and pulled the blankets up, covering her head, attempting to ignore her sister and drift back to sleep. After a few quiet moments, the shaking resumed.

"Fineee, I'm getting up," Caula states through a long yawn as she sits up in her bed, pushing Maroka back and stretching towards the ceiling. "I'm hungry. I hope it's breakfast," she mumbles through another yawn while rising to her feet from the bed. After several minutes spent fixing their hair from the night's sleep, they head downstairs to find Gildar.

"About time y'all got to movin'," Gildar shouts from across a table he is seated at as the sisters make it to the bottom of the stairs.

"Good morning, old man Gil," Caula and Maroka both shout back and smile as they approach the table.

"Ha! I'll let that slide, seeing what day it is. Have a seat, girls." Gildar laughs in response, gesturing towards the two chairs across the table.

After looking at each other, confused for a moment, the sisters take a seat across from Gildar.

"Y'all went and forgot, didn't you?" Gildar laughs again.

"Did we forget to do something?" Caula asks, seeming slightly nervous.

"No, No, relax, girls. Today is both of your birthdays. You're both seven now, so I wanted to give each of you something." He states while reaching down to his side and retrieving three books and a small wooden box. "Maroka, this is for you," he continues sliding two of the three books across to her, one black and one dark blue. "And Caula, this is for you," He finishes, sliding the remaining black book and small wooden box across to her. "First, both of you get a copy of Simply Magic. You both seem to have some interest in magic, so start there. I'm not very good with spells or the sort, so I won't be much help," he finishes with a laugh, fully aware of his capabilities and limits.

Caula and Maroka both look down to the black book they had each just received. A simple black book with silverish white text in bold lettering across the front that read Simply Magic.

"Thank you, Gildar," Caula responds. "But, I don't think Maroka knows how to read, and you gave her two books." She laughs and smiles towards her sister.

"Ha, ha! Funny funny," Maroka smiles back, elbowing her sister in the process. "I just don't read a lot. I can read just fine. Thank you, Gildar, but is this blue one what I think it is?" Maroka asks as she holds up the other dark blue book. More faded and worn, almost like a journal, she begins flipping through the pages excitedly.

"It is. I asked around, and no one seemed to think it was dangerous. They all think the traveler was just a little wrong in the head." He responds.

"Thank you! This one I'll definitely read," she shouts with excitement.

He smiles and says, "I'm glad you like it. For you, Caula, a faerstone necklace. Eleayne said the light red gem reminded her of you and your fiery personality. I think she'd be happy to have you have it."

Caula opens the small box to find a beautiful gold chain necklace fitted with a small light red gem. "Gildar, It's so pretty I'll treasure it forever. Thank you so much," she replies, looking up at Gildar, who she catches momentarily drying his eyes after thinking about Eleayne, and a calm silence sets in.

Not wanting to worry the girls, Gildar breaks the silence with, "So who's ready to eat?".

Having not looked away from the book Maroka simply nods her head, lost in thought.

"I'm starving!" Caula shouts, closing the wooden box and placing it on top of her copy of Simply Magic.

"Well, both of you go wash up, and I'll make breakfast," Gildar states, standing up from the table and making his way towards the kitchen.

"…ka, snap out of it," Maroka finds her concentration on the book broken from her sister shaking her. Happy to return the favor, Caula continued shaking before Maroka finally waved her away. The two sisters share a laugh before heading upstairs with their birthday gifts.

---Author's Note

I want to thank everyone for their continued support. To those who find themselves celebrating today, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. I hope everyone has a beautiful day and a fantastic rest of the year.

-Whyzee-