Ch.26 ۞ Aryan ۞ Part III

"IT'S THE ALLIANCE THAT KEEPS THE SCALES of power in the Astra Continent balanced. As we said, there are 6 Kingdom and the Free Lands. Kingdoms of Ceres, Nova, Pravin, Althea, Leighton, and Arik. The alliance is formed by the Kings and Queens of all the Kingdoms, plus the Leaders of the Fae Free Lands."

Just like that, Verena's smile vanished, but Emmaline didn't seem to notice. "You don't expect us to be in debt with the alliance, do you? Because if that's the case, we'll prefer to work and pay for our education elsewhere." What?

Her sister gasped, "We will?"

"Yes," she squeezed Emmaline's hand. "Yes we will. Won't we?"

Verena seemed to have swallowed a frog, "We will." She clearly want to discuss further, but she gave in to her sister again. It would be useless if she did, anyways.

I rolled my eyes, "The alliance doesn't expect any kind payment from you or your sister, darling."

"No one does things without expecting to receive something back from it, Aryan. That's something we know with certainty."

"She's good," Kian seemed amused.

"Too good for her good." I kept a poker face. "They only expect you to understand that they are providing for you and your sister. To be grateful. You know how to do that, don't you? Or do you only know how to complain and be hostile towards those who are trying to help you?"

Before she could say anything, Emmaline squeezed her hand, "We can do that. And we are grateful for the opportunity, despite our first impressions of you all. You are giving us an opportunity we never had, and we'll never forget that. Right, Veevy?" But her sister seemed to be fighting her own pride. "Right, Veevy?"

"Yes. Right," she hissed and I grinned.

"Seems like Emmaline have the heeds of the ticking bomb, um? Our parents all seem amused by that. And she seems easier to deal with!"

"Easier? Yes. But still a problem. Ask them what we should do for today. Shall we let them rest and them test them tomorrow? Or should we do it all today and be done with this?" That seems like the most important now. Given that they are the Asphodel Princesses.

"Tomorrow. For today they are satisfied with this."

I turned to aunt Harper and uncle Madden, "They are all healed, right?"

Aunt nodded, "Yes. Emmaline didn't have any real wounds, so it was easy. Ticking bomb was the one with the most wounds. Her ribs were seemed to have been broken but she healed them and they were just slight bruised. Her nose was also bruised, but healed from a clear fracture. And she had a fresh and deep wound on her wrist," oh, is that why she flinched when I took her by her wrist in the pub?

"A wound that would definitely be deadly for her if she were a human, which isn't the case," uncle added. "But we healed it and at least that one, won't leave a scar. Now the older ones can't be taken away because it's too old, and to heal such a wound, the person needs to want to be healed. If they don't want it to disappear, it won't."

The will of a fae. It's something powerful by itself.

"Kid," aunt turned to Emmaline, "that purple bruise in your throat, was it new or..?"

She seemed uncomfortable, "It was from yesterday."

So, it was done by the guy who Verena almost killed after he tried to abuse her. "We tried to heal it, but couldn't. Why don't you want it to go away?" Uncle asked puzzled.

Verena shot her a questioning gaze and Emmaline flinched, her sister didn't bother showing how worried she was by that. "I… I don't know!" Why is she lying?

"Emma. You are not doing what I think you are, are you? Tell me you are not." What is she talking about?

"No. I'm not. It's just a reminder for me to be careful and don't get lost on my visions, okay? Don't look into it too much. It's not because of that." Because of what?

"Emmaline!"

"Verena, it isn't because of that. Don't worry."

"It better not be," she sounded conflicted. "That's not your pain to take. Nothing happened. I came before it could so don't take such a pain to yourself. That won't be good for you." I don't really get what they are talking about, but it seems like even them have some conflicts with each other despite being so close.

Her sister avoided her eyes, "Oh, because only you can do that?" What does she mean by that?

Verena gasped, "Emmaline!"

She inhaled deeply and pressed her eyes together, "I am sorry, I'm being a bitch. I'm just annoyed. I don't want to talk about this, okay? So, don't press it. I respect you when you are too caught up in your… darkness."

That didn't seem to sit right with her sister, "Don't do that. Don't joke about that."

They stared at each other for and eternity, until the youngest twin let out a sigh, "Sorry. I think I'm too tired."

Verena softened when she heard that, "Of course, you are. It's too much for one day." She turned to me again, "We'll stay in this asylum-like room for today too, or will we be able to leave this dungeon? Do you still need us to do something else, or can we rest?"

"For today this is all." I walked to the door and aunt and uncle followed me. I opened it for them and they left, probably going to the monitoring room to watch us. "You two will be staying on the hotel of the academy. Tomorrow morning you will be tested and we'll resign you to your Academy's house."

"You have a hotel in the Academy?"

I nodded at the youngest twin, "Yes. Many family members stay for a day or two here when they come to bring their children."

That seemed to make Emmaline excited, "Oh. Cool. When are the classes starting?"

"The 2nd year classes start tomorrow. But as you will be staying with the freshman for the 1st semester, you will have two free days before yours start."

Verena got up and she seemed a lot shorter than me now that she was barefooted and with her high-heeled boots in her hands, then she intertwined her sister and they really looked identical standing like that. That is, except for the hypnotizing golden odd eye Verena took from her father.

"Do you have like, internet in here?" The girl who's been habituating my mind spoke.

But the seriousness of her question made me chuckle, "Is that a serious question?"

She blinked, and I realized she was for real. "Yes!"

"Of course, we have internet in Astra. We are a much advanced race than humans are. Everything we have is a lot better than what you are used to." Her question sounded offensive, and I bet the others inside the monitoring room must have cringed at it too.

"You never know," she rolled her shoulders.

"Any more questions or shall we go?"

"You will take us to the hotel?" Verena asked suspiciously as she and her sister walked near the door where I was standing and I had to look down to stare at them.

"Do you want someone else you don't know?"

She clenched her jaw, "No. It's okay!"

As I thought. "Last time. Any more questions?"

They looked at each other and then Emmaline looked up at me, "We are curious about the name of the Kingdom that was destroyed. Of where we… where we came from."

"Do I tell them?"

"They are new to our world, so even if we tell them, they won't know which is it or what that means. Our parents said it's okay to tell them at least that. Be it now or later, they will know about it. The only thing they can't know yet, is who exactly they are. Who their parents were."

I blinked. "Asphodel. You are from the fallen Kingdom of Asphodel. Is your curiosity satisfied now?" They absorbed the name and nodded, and as I left the room first, the twins came right behind me. "Which floor do I put them in, in the hotel?"

"There's 80, but the top ones are occupied, so put them on the 69. It's poetic. And we'll be able to tell if they fear height," good thinking.

A grin took over my lips. "69 it is. Are my parents satisfied with how I approached them?" He's the only person I can talk with about this.

"They are grinning, so yes."

"Good."