9 Night Talk

I used teleportation at once after I far enough from anyone eyes and appear at the familiar field. She always cry here, whenever she got a problems as we visiting Duke Rames Manor. It is the archery range of Duke Rames mansion, she is crying while knocking a bow and shooting the target. If it was when we were 10 to 12 she would throw a pebbles to the target.

She haven't change on this habit too. In our mansion she also do this to calm herself. I keep standing on my spot while leaning on the wood 20 step away from her. Until she take a deep breath and wiping her tear off. She turn around and screaming when she sees me. She scream because I used my fire ball, and split it to 5 small fireball while making a scary face. She stumbling a rock when she took a step back, I catch her since she almost falling down. I grin at her when I catch her. She look at me blankly.

"Hi there twin."

She frozen still on my arm, until few moments she finally snapped, and punch me full power. I accept it without dodging which make me flying for 2-3 meter away. That really hurt. I can feel a furious emotions flow from her, as she dashing to my direction. Well, I let her hit me the first time, but I didn't plan to be a sandbags. Since I would be half dead if I let her. I used magic on the ground and change the surface to sleeky making it slippery. And yep, it was successful. Her dash making her slipping all the way to me without any real momentum. I catch her in my arm again.

"Hi again twin."

She look at me surprised, but it change to fury once again. Yep, she definitely using silent treatment right now. She send me another punch in a close range. I dodged it by moving my head slightly, she followed with a elbow when I dodged it. Well I make her lose her balance by hooking her legs with mine. Hmm, this won't work too. I could tell since my arithmetics keep working 3 step further, making me able to see her future response.

Feeling the hook, she continues the momentum of the hooked leg to try kicking my face acrobatically with her heel which I dodged by crouching down. She changed her posture and angle at once and changing it to drop kick, I jump backwards at the same time I see her changing her posture to make a space between us.

She look at me with surprised, because I could dodge all her close range attack. Well it the effect of arithmetics skill, I could calculate her every move. Also if it not for those, I definitely couldn't keep up with her close range movement. I could dodge it just because I already know where she would throw the attack.

"Anyway, could we talk now?"

She only stare at me annoyed, then she make her move again. Sigh. . . This won't end, I decided to used magic and trap her inside a cage. I make a granite cage  instantly on all 4 direction. She slammed at on of the granite cage, since it appeared suddenly. Anyway I am reinforcing it with 20 point of mana, so it would be 6 to 7 times tougher than normal granite. She try to punching, kicking, firing magic and many other to no avail. It won't work because I keep dispersing the momentum of her attack with my mana.

I also reinforce the ground, well she can't used earth element anyway so she can't dispel it. I sat down on the ground, as I gaze her. I could feel she got a messy feeling right now, and I am sure she could feel my sadness, and constrained. I keep my silence while staring at her, then I lighten up a cigarette with a small fire magic. Whoa, this cigarette is so strong, it wasn't bad tho since I like a strong taste. Looking at me smoking while sitting in silence Lein furrowed her brow even more. She finally opened her mouth.

"Just... How did you able to do this kind of magic? If you can trap me inside like this, doesn't that mean you will be able to win the battle competition from last year? And since when you're smoking?! I'll definitely tell mom, that you're smoking! Also what more secret have you been hiding from me?"

"Sigh... Why are you feeling so agitated, expectingly, bewildered and surprised at the same time? Did you miss fighting against me that much?"

"Who miss you! You jerk!"

"Come on, we both know how much you like competition. That also one of things that put me in despair before. I can't stand head to head with my twin anymore."

"Then why are you stopping your hard work before! Dumb brother! You even able to achieve this kind of competency and you still jealous of me! You are just a jerk after all that never considered his family and friends feelings."

"Easy there my twin. I achieve it after almost dying okay?!"

She flinched when she heard my words. Technically that the truth.

"What did you said?! See! You never told me anything about you! I don't even know if you're in that kind of situation, and you still call me your sister and twin?! Egoistic bastard."

"... Can we called it truce already?! How could I told you that when I ran away from everyone?!"

"Huh, details and reasons all the time! You could always send me a letter."

"Are you dumb?! You would come chase me at once before."

"Who would chase a bastard like you! You are the dumbass!"

She stare at me furiously. This would never end, we are just talking in a circle of reasoning. I puff a smoke out, as I sighing. She stare at me grudgingly.

"A-also you never told me about Fran!"

"... I only found out about it couple of hours after your spar with her."

"Liar!"

"Hey I never treat a girl that rough alright!"

"What?! You treat me rough enough!"

"We didn't even talk personally for 3 years. When did I even treat you roughly if we never even got in contact personally?!"

"Isn't that rough enough already! Giving your own twin sister a cold shoulder and jealousy gaze! Also that rage inside your head, when did I even wrong you! That making you got that kind of rage?!"

"... Point taken... Still we both know that doesn't mean I know Fran is a girl."

"I don't know! But what I know is you treat me coldly, like a stranger, or even more, like an enemies."

"Lein that was my bad, I am sorry about that. Still that doesn't change the fact you're doing something you would regret. You know that Fransisca never meant it to be like this."

"So what?! She never told me anything about her being a girl! She never knew how I feel about her as Fran?!"

"... You also never told her how much you like her as Fran before."

"Ho-how did you know?!"

"It pretty obvious, after you said your heart beating fast when you seeing him swinging his sword when training."

Her eyes wide open, as her face goes on panic.

"Oh, no... Did she also realized it... Did she know?!"

"That the reason she been hesitating to told you the truth! My God, I never thought my sister is this dumb in personal relationship."

"Who did you call dumb! It my first time to felt this way against the other gender!"

"... You felt something with the same gender then?"

"Yes... Er... No!"

She flustered after she said those. I said meaningfully at her.

"Mmmm..  I see."

"No, I am straight! It just happened that Fran is a girl!"

"Details, details. Then what about Abbie when we're 13?"

"... Fuck your sister! I only think of her as a best friend."

"... Oi, you're my sister remember! Also what kind of best friends imagine to kiss them on their mouth! Oh come on you won't be able to fool me with that."

When I mentioned she is my sister, she flinched and looking down, but as my sentence goes over to fact about her feeling with Abbie before, she started to screaming.

"I can't hear you, nanananana, what did you say again?!"

"... I won't judge you about your preference you know."

She flinched and her face goes flushed. I undo my magic, since I could tell she already calm enough to talk. She bewildered when she look at my magic disappear, since we both know I can't chase her if she ever try to run away. Although I can just caught her in cage again.

"Why are you undoing your magic?"

"Because I know you won't run away anymore."

"Who said I won't?!"

"Oh, come on Lein this conversation won't finish if you keep throwing tantrum like that."

She finally sighing and sit down in front of me.

"How long have you realized that I am swinging that way?"

"Since we're twelve I guess. But at that time I only thought you were so caring with a girl. Then I realized you're a lesbian when it Abbie birthday party. You practice those line and kissing scene after all."

"Awawawa... Don't remind me of those! Anyway what are you doing there?!"

"Checking out my twin, that somehow keep sending anxious feeling over the party. Which then suddenly disappear from the ball."

"Ugh... I hate this connection sometimes, so that what surprised feeling that I felt before."

"Duh, who won't be shocked when they found out their beautiful perfect sister is a lesbian."

"And you never spread it to entire school? Weren't you hating me before?"

"No, I didn't hate you. Never did, what I hate is myself that weak, while I am indeed jealous of your strength. Those rage that you felt also about myself. I am completely conflicting with myself. I hate being a jerk, but I can't stop after all I have done.

"So all those hateful and rage feeling that I felt before when you sees me...."

"That my spiteful to myself and how I act."

"I see... Still I hate you for taking so long to realized all of those!"

I chuckled at her words, since I don't feel any hateful feeling at all. Her true feeling is.... She flustered when she see me smiling.

"Damn this connection! That wasn't my feeling!"

She curse out loud.

"Fine, fine it wasn't yours. It mine. Anyway is this truce?"

She stare at me long enough before she open her mouth.

"It a truce, with one agreement."

"What agreement?"

"You better not hiding anything from me again! Do you know how anxious I was when seeing your blood on the shirt this afternoon?!"

"Duh, we share our feeling after all. Also I accept your offer."

"Promise?"

"I pledge on the Dageraad name."

"Hey, that also my family name! It doesn't count."

"How do I pledge then!"

With that both of us laughing out loud.

"Anyway Zein, how did you able to used that magic from before? I guess it should be an intermediate magic at least, also aren't your element should be water?"

"Well should I told you the short story or long story?"

"Hmm... Short, since we have been here for a some time now. We must have made our host worries."

"Then if it short, I met a God and my past life on my death bed. He give me blessing to be able to grow my aptitude, while my past self teachings me his technique and skill."

"No, way?! That can't be real."

"That the truth tho, that why I can predict your movement from before and keep it up before you launch it."

She frown in disbelief.

"But you received my first punch?"

"It because I deserve it. I thought my teeth would fall off! You really didn't hold back at all."

"Umm.. I thought you could dodge it since you able to block my way last night. It your fault for receiving it!"

"Hahaha, well I deserve one or two punch from you."

"Then let me punch you once more, and I will called it even for all those scar you made me through."

"Did you want to kill me?!"

"Oh come on, you can received one punch, another one shouldn't matter."

"Fine... Make it fast..."

"Yush...."

She knock my head down with normal human power. It still hurt tho.

"Don't hide anything anymore, also I indeed miss this kind of talk with my twin."

"I won't Lein. Then should we goes back? We could catch up there."

"Sure."

With that I hold her hand, then using teleportation as we step out, we arrive at the backyard right away. The butler shocked when they seen us appeared suddenly, but they bow down at once. Afterwards a butler guide us to the backyard bungalow. I seriously wondering how could all the noble servant is so proficient like this? The dark bungalow where Elsa kidnapped me away, already become a bright bungalow with a summer decorations. There even a flower arrangement on the table, and dinning set prepared. While Lein still confused of what happened, she look questionably at me. The dinner still going on as we arrive, Ramza stand up at once with a smile when he sees us. The other also look at us at once.

"Have you guys sort it out?"

"Yes, all thing already sorted out. We are apologized for making you worry, brother Ramza."

Then Fransisca suddenly running to Lein, she was really gloomy before. I even see that she haven't touch any food on her plate.

"Leinnnn... I am sorry."

Lein catch her, that basically tackling her with full force. Making both of them fall down. She making a complicated face, then smile wryly.

"Oh hi there. I am sorry for what I said before."

"No Lein, I should've told you before."

She suddenly pull Fransisca face closer as she caress her hair, then whispering something. Fransisca gloomy face change to blush. I could guess what she said, which making Fransisca flustered. Fransisca finally stand up then looking my way, before looking back at Lein.

"Yo-you both definitely a twin!"

She run back to her chair like a scared cat. I help Lein to stand up, whilst whispering to her.

"Did you need to told her now?"

"I guess?! That just happened really."

"Sis, oh my... Have you lost your mind?!"

"I might be! She look two times cuter or even three times after she dress like a girl, and that sad face also hug make my brain freeze."

"It not my fault if she avoiding you!"

"Oh, come on Zein help me! I even forgive you for your 3 years cold behavior."

"Do you even realize you ask your brother to help you hook up with his fiancee?"

"Oh my God, I must have lost my mind."

The other people look confused, when we are whispering to each other, except for our subject of whisper. Her face already flushed like a tomato. Ramza clear his throat to make the attention goes to him.

"Oh, I guess you both finally make up for good. So would you guys take a seat? We can't continue our dinner if you guys keep standing around whispering like that."

"Ah, our apologize brother Ramza."

This time Lein is the one that replying to Ramza. Then we took our seat, before the butler serve us our food. The dinner going lively, as we speak a small things. Then the butler opening a bottle of wine for us while the maid took out all the plates. Ramza stand up and clinking his glasses.

"Anyway I want to give this drink for Zein that finally able to get over his despair and jealousy. Also for his recovery from comatose. Cheers"

"""""Cheers"""""

We drink our wine with that, anyway 15 years old is already an adult in this world so Reiya could also drink. Then next up I stand up.

"Today is really a long day for us. Traveling for three days in carriage, with many kind of infighting between us."

I look at Fransisca and Lein while I said that.

"I want to give this drink to our wonderful host, that opening a warm welcome at their manor for us."

I look at Ramza, Elsa and Reiya as I said that.

"Thank you for your encouragement and support, and please forgive our rudeness. For our warm host. Cheers!"

""""""Cheers""""""

Then with that a another round of clinking, and drinking happen. I could tell that all the drama between me, Lein and Fransisca finally over. Then Elsa open her mouth.

"Hey Zein, since you finally get over your cu... Feeling. Did you finally decided to join our circle in the academy for the annual competition? It will be fun if you're there."

With her words the room, suddenly goes on silence.

"No, Zein will join us again!"

Lein suddenly open her mouth.

"Eh? But I invited him first! He even said he will think about it before."

"Hmmph, but he is my brother. He should join my circle for the annual events. His fiancee also in our circle."

... Okay, I forgot to tell you. The circle that I am talking about isn't just a circle of friends. But it also like a guild or politics party on Earth. Basically when you join the circle, your contribution in annual competition would be recorded as a score for the circle. Then at the end of the competition, a rank of students circle would be announced after the individual rank.

So right now there 3 major circle like I have said before. Artemis with Lein as the vice leader, Demeter which is Elsa circle, then Dionysus which lead by Edgar. There also minor circle outside of them, but most of prodigious noble was there. Also even tho I close with Edgar, I never really join their circle.

With that being said, both of them staring at me. Ramza make a fake cough once again. He could only smile wryly, anyway he wasn't part of those major circle when he was a student. He join his mother circle that called Hephaestus, which full of fire magician. He smile wryly since many people was trying to pull him to their circle before. I guess this made him remember that.

"Who would you like to join Zein?"

"Aaa... About that, I guess I won't join any of you?"

""What?!""

"Hold on, you know I got special circumstances. It won't be good for your circle if you got me as a member. Also I got a special requirements this year from the academy, which make me really grateful for your offer. Still it would make the other think I am only there to survive."

Lein, Elsa and Fransisca frown, while Reiya look confused. Only Ramza still keeping his calm.

"Hmm... You run away 3 months before the semester end. Then fall in comatose, which mean you didn't take the final term."

"Correct."

"So you got the same assignment as Wes from my year eh."

"Wes?"

"Wes van Tiargo, the vice captain of 4th knight division of our kingdom."

We still got bewildered face.

"Basically he is able to complete the assignment with flying colors. He got second place in the main jousting competition."

"Ahh... I see."

When I said I see the other still confused.

"Zein assignment is to be able to reach the main competition in any event. Am I correct?"

"Yes, you are correct brother Ramza."

"What? Zein this is the first time I heard this!"

"Well Lein so do I, right before we depart. Father forgotten to tell me, I just known it from mother"

"Damn, then you must join us in Artemis!"

"Lein. . ."

When I called her name, she realized that her manner was bad in front of our host. This noble mannerisms is really tiresome.

"My apologies for my crude word brother Ramza."

"It was fine, also Elsa, and Lein. What Zein said is correct. With that assignment, he shouldn't join your circle. Because of his reputation, it would smeared your circle reputation, and Zein reputation would goes down even more. "

"Th-then what should he do brother?"

"In Wes case, he just an exceptional knight in training. While in Zein case..."

I cut his words before he finished.

"It is fine, I already made some plan."

When I said those Lein, Fransisca and Elsa flinched as they seems remember something. Right... Lein and Fransisca know about how good I am with magic, while Elsa fey afraid of me, and all my bluff to her.

"So you would join in individual competition and make people know your strength?"

"Now, I can't wait for the annual competition. I must found out how to counter that."

"Zein going to bombarding people with magic like Silva?"

Ask Fransisca followed by Lein and Elsa, making Ramza got a curious look while Reiya confused even more.

"Strength? Can't wait for it? Bombardment? Are you by any chance good at magic Zein?"

"Eh, no way brother Ramza, brother Zein got the worse magic score in our noble school history 2 years ago. If he wasn't the first from bottom then he would be the second."

Said Ramza, which replied by Reiya in bewilderment. Making him creased his brow. I look at the three girl whilst sighing.

"Reiya is correct. I am planning to join Blitz and magic debate, which only need a strategy. While I could just hide in Blitz."

"Eh? Your magic theories was only C tho in school before?"

"... I am not that bad anymore."

"But Zein, you got D last semester. Ah... Right it in the past."

Fransisca finally understand, I am not that bad anymore. Hearing those Ramza eyes glimmer, that definitely researcher curiosity!

"Oh seems like you found out something about magic Zein? Mind sharing it with me."

"Brother Ramza must be jesting. I only learn a few things from 'introducing magic for idiots' and it series. Which made by the jester magician Enricho."

"Eh, you found something from that book? No way?! You must explain it to me."

Okay now I tripped myself. With a sigh I told him few things.

"Alright brother. He might seem like a jester but his theories is the real deal."

"Is it? It seems like fantasy to me. Like how he said there a water in the air. How couldn't we seen it if there is a water in the air? Also if there is a water in the air won't we got wet the entire time?"

"Right... About that, it easier if I show you. Imagine if he was correct and there indeed a really small amount of water in the air. Then from that small of water we imagine to pull them together to create a water ball."

While I am saying those, I cast my mana to the surrounding air and pull the moisture to create a water ball. A stream of water dropplet coming out one by one and combining together in front of them. Making a huge water ball, Ramza opening his eyes wide almost making his glasses drop. The other also got senseless when they see the huge water ball.

"And that how his magic works."

"That really intriguing and mind blowing. This could become a ground breaking theories. For centuries people called him a jester of magician world, but it seems like we were wrong this entire time."

"His book name and all sarcasm remark he wrote might be one of the reasons people doesn't believe him."

"Indeed, then that fire magic when you imagine every molecules on the air got burn..."

He close his eyes as he said those, and when he open his eyes a blue fire ball as big as his head appears and hover on his palm.

"Is real! His theories is real! This is a real ground breaking theories. I don't even understand what is molecules?!"

"Ah, in his other book 'Fundamental of Alchemy. Chemistry Lesson for Dogs' he write that molecules as a things that made something. It kinda vague concept, he write it as everything made by a smaller things. And molecules is the smallest things that made something which can't be seen by our vision. Basically what we called as air is a things that made by many kind of molecules that hovering around."

Hearing my explanation Ramza got slacked jaw. While the other frowning their brow. Reiya even starting to massaging his temple.

"I see so you want to say, even a fire is made by those molecules that got burned. Then water is  made by a molecules which got pulled together, which make us able to feel them. But as a single entity we couldn't touch, feel or see this water molecules?"

Whoa.... He is really smart, even with my vague answer he could concluding the theory. Although he frown his brow once again.

"Then what about this table, or sand or any physical things?"

"Ah, it the difference between their molecules bond. The things we could physically touch got many molecules in them and their molecular bond is stronger and tighter then those of air or gasses, even stronger than those in liquid. Making we able to touch them physically."

"I see... This is really ground breaking! I should read all his book. I can't let this kind of ground breaking theories lies aroun covered by dust."

He suddenly stand up, until Elsa pull his hand.

"Brother we still got a guest!"

"What?! No, this is important research theories! I must prove this for our kingdom."

He storm off just like that after he released himself from Elsa, making the other agape. He even jumping around in his run.

"Whoa, I never seen brother like this. I guess brother Zein really give him enlightenment before. Brother Zein you are amazing, as expected from sister Lein twin brother.

Reiya look amazed at me, making me scratching my neck.

"I-I guess we should call it a night. I apologized for my brother behavior. We should rest since we would depart tomorrow morning."

"That was fine. I just never thought that brother Ramza would act like that."

With that we called it a night, the butler lead us to our respective room. I just got inside the room while resting, before someone knocking my door suddenly.

"Young master"

Ah it Rum, I wonder where have he been. He disappear before.

"Yes Rum?"

"Young master Reiya would like to talk with you if you haven't resting yet."

"Ah, sure. He may come for a talk.

Why did Reiya come to visit me right now?