The Lost Gifts

Eryn made her way to the library swiftly, making sure that no one noticed her on the way there. When she reached the entrance, she glanced behind her shoulders to make sure no one saw her before pushing open the doors slowly to keep it from creaking.

She closed the doors behind her, still on guard.

The library was rarely used, but sometimes when she came for a book, she would hear another's footsteps tapping against the wooden planks as they wove through the shelves.

She held her breath, making her way towards the back in the dim light soundlessly.

She had heard the baby's cries just then, and she figured it was the perfect distraction for her to snoop through the building without being bothered.

Weeks ago, she had overheard some maids talking with each other while she was sitting in the courtyard reading a novel.

'Do you remember the twins, Elias and Eryn?' one had started. 'I remember that a few days after they were born without a sign of a spirit, a certain grandmaster came by with a gift for both of them.'

'Really?' another one whispered back. 'How could a grandmaster gift them something but nothing for the young master, Edison, and the young miss, Evelyn?'

'I don't know. Maybe it was meant for Edison or Evelyn, but the Madam had the gift taken away. I think it's very valuable.'

Eryn had been searching for it ever since. She had no clue where they would hide it, or if it was sold off, but she knew it belonged to her and her brother. She would do her best to find it. Even if it was useless, a little something would definitely give them a little more meaning to their lives.

Of course, she didn't accept the way they were treated, the way servants walked past them as if they were ghosts, the fact they were never called to a family event, or to even roam the streets.

Maybe the gift was indeed valuable, and they could sell it for money. Or it could be a late birthday token between herself and Elias.

Yes, a late birthday gift would do.

Today, she decided to look through the library. Maybe their so-called mother hid it in here since no one comes in mostly.

Eryn started from the very back, where the dust built up on the floor and shelves the most. She brushed away the dust with her hand while covering her nose with her other, searching for a crack or a possible false base.

She searched every edge and corner, above and below, and at least an hour had passed before she gave up.

She wiped the sweat from her brows and ran a hand through her hair, still looking for possible hiding faults.

If it wasn't in the library, where could it be?

Just when she turned to leave, she caught sight of a doorframe partly hidden behind a curtain near the entrance.

Cautiously, she walked over and brushed aside the old curtain, waving off the dust and debris.

'Restricted', said the sign on the door.

Her heart leaped with hope as she pushed open the door, having to use a little force.

It was small and dark inside and quite dirty as if no one had attended to it for years. She kept the door open to let in the little light there was from the main library, illuminating the few, cracked shelves there was in the tiny area.

She examined the old books and bamboo rolls, probably of ancient literature, and skimmed them over. They weren't novels, instead, they seemed to be books on training and the history of animal spirits.

She lightened up when she saw a thicker book labeled, 'Training Arts', and another labeled, 'Techniques of Bai'. These were techniques left to them by their ancestors, yet no one has touched them at all.

Quickly, she took them and slipped them into the belt that tied her skirt and robes together.

She turned to the opposite shelf, which seemed to be filled with decorations instead of books. None of them caught her eye nor seemed useful, so she turned back around.

Finally, the third shelf stood in front of her, nearly missing all its contents.

It only took one look, and the smooth wooden box on the second row down already stood out to her, as if it were begging to be taken away.

Slowly, Eryn reached out with her hands and picked up the box tenderly in her grasp. It had some weight to it, telling Eryn that whatever that was inside, it had some value to it.

She paused, staring at the filthy yet keen rectangular box in her hands.

This must be it.

Without a second thought, she left the little room, shut the doors, and covered it with the curtains.

She had found what she wanted, it was time to leave.

She held the box tightly in her hands and picked up her skirts, slipping out the exit and back towards their little courtyard in the back. Her heart was pounding in her chest, not daring to look back.

What if someone saw?

She squeezed her eyes shut and bolted, nearly tripping over the hem of her clothes.

She heard nothing except the tapping of her own shoes and the whisk of the grass, nothing until she tumbled through the entrance of their small home.

Elias stood up from under the shade of the tree when he saw her rush through, the concern and surprise clear in his eyes.

"'Ryn? Are you alright?" he asked, coming up to her shortly.

Eryn stopped and shook her head, her face pink and gasping for breath. She looked up at her brother, who was a couple of inches taller than her, and grabbed his wrist.

Elias remained silent as Eryn lead him back inside the little home, and they both settled down on the table.

Eryn moved aside the tray and dug the two thick books from her belt, placing them on the table.

Elias raised his eyebrows in interest and slid the two books towards him. He flipped through them to see its contents filled with fighting and training techniques, with or without the power from a spirit.

His eyes widened in astonishment and looked up at his sister, but she was too busy looking down at a thin, rectangular box on the table.

Eryn looked up at met his eyes, smiling. "I found something that belongs to us, Elias," she grinned.

"Are you sure?" Elias asked, leaning over to see.

Eryn didn't answer and brushed a finger across the lid, clearing away the dust and revealing four words:

For the newborn twins.

Elias blinked. He watched as his sister opened the lid, revealing the velvety insides and the note that sat upon the two treasures.

Eryn handed the note to Elias before taking out two crystal pendants attached to delicate but durable, silver chains.

"It...it has our names carved in it," Eryn whispered excitedly. She handed Elias the clouded black crystal while she took the white one, turning it around in her fingers.

Elias held the pendant lightly in his hands, and sure enough, he saw his name engraved on one face of the smooth crystal.

"How did you come about this?" Elias questioned. "Did you know they hid something from us? Who's it from?"

Eryn waved his questions off with her hand. "Never mind those. What's ours is ours, and it's finally in our possession. What does the note say?"

Elias took the piece of paper and unfolded it three times, revealing a few neatly written sentences.

He read it aloud.

"Many blessings have come to the Bai family with the birth of these two children. I have forged these two pendants with my bare hands as a sincere gift and a special guide. May they bring fortune to the children..."

They shared a look.

"What 'special guide'?" Elias peered into the dark gem, but he found nothing noteworthy that could be used as a guide.

Eryn shrugged. "I heard they were gifted from a 'grandmaster' but I don't know who. He must know something about us that nobody knows!"

She lightened up. "Maybe he has the answer to why we're born like this-"

Suddenly, their pendants started to buzz, emitting a faint but noticeable light.

They stared at it in shock.

The rustling and commotion outside their doors jolted them both to life, and Elias sprang up from his seat.

"Do we really have to do this?" a muffled voice from the outside asked uncertainly.

"Hmph," a snotty voice responded. "This is what the Madam ordered. It's not like these two are useful anyway, they were born worthless. What's the use of keeping them here?"

The twins' eyes widened whirled around to face each other, then down at the buzzing crystals.

'Special guide', Elias mouthed.

Quickly, Eryn grabbed the pendant and slid the thin chain onto her neck. The crystal floated in the air above her chest, pulling towards a certain direction.

A fist pounded on the doors, and Eryn saw the many silhouettes standing outside through the bamboo screens. "Elias? Miss Eryn?"

"We have to run," she hissed. She shoved the two books in Elias' arms right when he finished tying the pendant to his belt and turned to search through their nightstands.

"Run where?" Elias hissed back frantically.

"Away!" she responded. She turned back around with a small embroidered pouch in her hands.

"What's that?" Elias whispered as he followed Eryn to the back of the rooms.

"...Money." She pressed her palms against the wooden walls and slipped her fingers through a crack.

Elias heard a click, and part of the wall gave way to a small exit.

"Elias and Eryn! Please come out! If not, we shall enter with force!" the woman shouted from outside the main entrance.

Eryn ushered her brother through the exit before following, making sure the secret door shut and remained hidden.

They were now outside facing the stone wall, breathing hard, clutching their few belongings in their arms.

"Hand me the books and boost me up," Eryn said breathlessly, her head pounding. This was their only chance of escaping, and she didn't want them to be caught.

Elias did as he was told and helped Eryn climb over the wall before letting her pull him up from the top.

They both jumped down and landed on the dirt.

"Men! Break in! If they are not there, don't even think about running until you find them!" the voice shrieked.

The twins glanced at the woods that loomed before them, stretching on and on and on.

And without another choice, they bolted into it.