04: Will I Be Like Mom Too?

Time flew swiftly, as days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and months into years. Eight years had passed by once again in the blink of an eye.

Evelyn, now a teenager, was lying on her bed. She opened her eyes ever so slightly, only to quickly shut them again as the golden rays of light penetrated her room.

She rubbed her hands against her eyes as she sat up in bed, her gaze fixed on the door at the right end of the room. It was the source of the noise that had disrupted her peaceful sleep.

Her frown deepened. It could only be Elvis, her mischievous brother who always managed to find trouble, especially on a day like today, which he deemed special.

She got out of bed and walked towards the door to open it.

"Hey, lazybones... Aren't you satisfied yet with keeping me standing here all day in front of your door?"

"Don't let me break..."

Before the voice from the other side of the door could finish talking, she pushed the door open. The other person almost fell into the room because he was leaning on the door, blabbing.

"You almost made me crash to the floor!" Elvis exclaimed, attempting to regain his balance as he settled onto the bed.

"Oh, sorry, Elvis. I didn't know you were standing so close to the door."

"It's nothing. It's fine. As long as it didn't ruin my handsome face today. I won't be angry." Elvis replied, observing her closely.

"By the way, why the long face? Aren't you excited that today is our birthday? Mom promised us a surprise, remember?" he asked, gazing into her captivating black eyes that had a touch of golden sparkle.

Looking at those stunning yet icy eyes, marveling at her exquisite features: the sharp jawline, delicate facial structure, rosy lips, and long, flowing black hair with a subtle wine-red tint. He couldn't help but be captivated by her unparalleled beauty. Most of the time, he wishes she wasn't his sister so that he could make his advances.

Elvis also had his fair share of good looks. With blonde hair, sparkling brown eyes, a well-sculpted face, and a tall, sturdy frame. He is only a few inches taller than Evelyn. He was the ideal Prince Charming for most girls in their locality, while Evelyn was the epitome of beauty that graced their city.

Evelyn, who has always been indifferent, forced a smile onto her face and said, "Of course, I am happy. It's our sixteenth birthday today."

"Evie, I came here to tell you that Mom left early this morning. She went to get our birthday package from the Zecccamons. So, you should go prepare the meal while I take care of decorating and inviting some people," Elvis informed her as he got up from the bed.

"Okay," Evelyn replied simply.

"Mom also mentioned that we need to pack our clothes and essential belongings. We're leaving for somewhere tomorrow," he announced, receiving another monotonous "Okay" from his sister.

As Elvis left the room and slammed the door shut, Evelyn thought that the trouble had finally disappeared. The door creaked open once more, revealing his grinning face peeking out from behind.

"By the way, your dress is in my room. After cooking and packing, visit your twin brother so we can have some fun together. Or, better yet, practice mana control. "Please?" He pleaded, attempting to look adorable.

"Yes, brother, I'll keep that in mind," Evelyn agreed.

Elvis walked out of the room and headed out of the house as he pondered.

'Why is she always stoic, even with me, our mother, and everyone else? I can count how many times I have seen her genuine smile. I don't know why she always likes to bottle everything up, even when she is bullied by others.' As Elvis walked down the alley, he couldn't help but think about his sister whom he cared for deeply.

As the afternoon sun bathed the surroundings in warm light, Evelyn left her room and walked down the corridor towards the door opposite hers. She raised her hand intending to knock, but instead, she pushed the door open.

Inside the room, a young man sat on a mat in a meditative posture. As she noticed him deeply engrossed in his meditation, perhaps practicing mana circulation, she simply observed the room. It exuded a sense of masculinity and modernity that contrasted with her own.

That was when her eyes caught sight of some pills on the table. She stood up and walked towards them, curious about the pills. 'Where did he get them?' she wondered. 'I remember Mom saying that pills are created by alchemists to improve one's mana core, absorption, and control, heal injuries, and neutralize poisons and toxins,' she pondered, amazed by the idea of such pills.

"Evie, today is the first time I've seen you show interest in something," Elvis' voice startled her. Apparently, the troublesome dude was pretending to meditate when he heard her approaching his room.

"I was just curious. We only saw these pills in the books that Mom taught us. How did you get them? Are they as effective as Mom said?" Evelyn questioned, her straightforward demeanor shining through.

"I'll tell you, but only if you promise to practice with me at Ytris Forest, just behind our house," Elvis proposed eagerly, wanting to share his discovery.

"What about the birthday celebration you wanted and the friends you invited?" Surprised by her brother's change in plans, Evelyn asked.

"Training with these pills is more important than celebrating a birthday. Besides, I discovered the pills before inviting them, so technically, I did not invite anyone. They'll understand once I explain. I even heard that most of them will be leaving for the Rylinth Academia of Mages. I also want to attend that academy." This was also the first time she had seen him so determined and serious about something, but she didn't voice her observation.

"Very well, let's go. I'll follow wherever you lead, brother," Evelyn agreed.

After making the necessary preparations, Elvis left a letter for their mother in her room and set off with Evelyn towards the forest located behind their house, just at the foot of the Rylinth Mountain.

Nature serves as a bountiful wellspring of mana –the world energy that enables humans to use their magical abilities. Their mother had taught them about the profound connection between nature and mana, making it an ideal location for practicing mana absorption and control.

That is why they chose Ytris Forest, which is full of abundant natural resources such as trees, shrubs, wildlife, lakes, and oases.

Finally, they arrived at Ytris Forest. Elvis retrieved the pills from his pocket and handed one to Evelyn.

"I found these among our mom's shelves where she kept her collection of basic magic books and scrolls. I checked the books and discovered that these pills can increase one's mana core and enhance the absorption of larger amounts of mana from nature," Elvis explained eagerly. Meanwhile, Evelyn brought the pill close to her nose, inhaling its fragrance.

"It has a pleasant aroma and a delicious flavor. After taking one earlier, I felt a change in my body. I felt refreshed and revitalized. It felt like something inside me was expanding, perhaps my mana core. I had never felt my core before, but this time, I sensed it clearly and felt the mana circulating throughout my body, transforming into spiritual energy. You should try it and see for yourself," urged Elvis, visibly proud of his discovery.

"But why didn't Mom give them to us when she taught us the basics of mana absorption and control? Don't you think they're meant for her or someone else?" Evelyn voiced her lingering doubts, her mother's cautionary tales still fresh in her mind.

"These pills can't be hers. Have you forgotten about her issues with her mana core? These cannot be hers. I believe she brought them as part of our birthday gifts, especially since I've never seen them before. Whether we take them now or later, it should not make much of a difference... I want to improve my mana control and discover my elemental or variant affinity as soon as possible," reassured Elvis to her.

But it seemed that Evelyn was not yet convinced; she had a strange feeling about all of this. Remembering her mother's story also makes her scared out of her wits.

"Don't worry if anything goes wrong. I will take full responsibility. I'm the man of the house, you know, right?" He said sarcastically, smiling at his joke, while the other fellow's face remained stoic as ever.

Although hesitant, Evelyn mustered her resolve and swallowed the pill.

She settled back into a meditative posture, focusing on her breath, shutting out the world around her.

After a few minutes, she could feel her core struggling to expand, but it seemed that there was a restriction placed on it.

For a fleeting moment, she sensed her core absorbing mana at an accelerated pace, coursing through her body with refined circulation. As the mana circulated, it transformed into spiritual energy, energizing her entire body.

But suddenly, everything came to a halt. All the mana she had absorbed seemed to have vanished into thin air.

"What happened? No, this shouldn't be happening," she lamented, her heart sinking with uncertainty.