Chapter 10: The Change (1)

| The entire Chapter 10 will be AERON's POINT OF VIEW.

"Aeron, you will protect your sister for me, wouldn't you?" Papa beamed at me. His big warm hand patting my head gently while his eyes quietly focused at me as if he already knew the answer.

Uhn—!

I nodded,

"I will always protect Aerra."

That was a memory from when I was younger.

However lately, I began to feel it's the other way around.

My name is Aeron Leingod, young Lord of Greenrun. I live in the castle with hundreds of servants and soldiers alike that surround and serves me —but the hand that truly held mine, from the farthest memory I could recall, belongs to my twin sister.

For that, I believe I am never truly alone in this big castle because someone is beside me smiling brightly like the sun.

But that smile slowly began to change.

I always believed then that my twin sister is dimwitted. She's naive and gullible but she won't listen to anyone except me.

She's hopeless when I'm not around.

But despite being such a handful, I can't help but to worry if she's not by my side. Being who she is, I know she won't survive a day without me. She cries easily but grins back more after.

And no matter how much I allow her to tail me around, when I glare at her from my back she would always say the same thing, "It's alright, Aeron. I'm here!"

As if I'm lost. As if I'm the one who needs the company. As if she's the one who's looking after me. I hated it when she say that.

But to my ears it was an assurance she always utter to let me know I'm never alone.

"I know."

I always answer and with that she will grin at me contentedly.

But after she woke up from the tree incident, she began to act differently. Her wondering eyes became watchful and brooding. She never followed me around anymore and she became more composed and mature.

And as time passed, she become more and more distant.

It scared me honestly.

It scares me that she's no longer dependent on me. That she began to consider things without me. But if she's out of my reach, how would I be able to protect her?

Instead of letting her grow independently, I admittedly became stubborn and assured she's always around me and never out of reach. I was insistent to keep her close.

But despite all my efforts, she was kidnapped. Both of us were taken. It irked me that I wasn't able to do anything amidst all the precautions I did to assure she'll be safe as long as I'm around.

It was then I learned, especially from meeting Stray, who now we call as Eriol, that everything around us is changing and if I really wanted to protect my sister, I needed to grow as an individual first as much as she needs to learn to grow on her own. And that the stubbornness I was honing was only hurting her more than protecting her.

In the end, I concluded, the change is essential.

••▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅••

"We need to see what type of powers you have. It's important that we monitor you and your sister before letting her go off traveling again." Says Uncle when he summoned me few days before the day Eriol was asked to leave without us knowing. "Why, uncle?" I asked, "Prince Aldrey is already the scion to the crown. And Greenrun is independent from the entire seven domains of the Kingdom. So why are our powers needed to be monitored?"

Uncle smiled, perhaps pleased to hear my inquiry, and then explains how he's sure that our powers will awaken within two years time. Since we are the remaining Arcanian descendants of the latest generation, it's essential to monitor our state and assure that the Ouboros won't be hunting us back again. Not just Ouboros, perhaps any one at all that is interested in 'harvesting' someone like us.

I find this bothersome to the fact that uncle keeps snooping around our own affairs. How did he even know that we plan to leave for Nora's brooches anyway?

Uncle is a respectable man but cunning. He's manipulative as he is keen. I understand why he keeps us safe as much as he does with his own children but it's honestly bothersome that he has to decide things for us when even our own parents are never that strict.

However...

With the unexpected turn of events though, Eriol became part of our Household, holding a title as a Lord under his god awful House name 'Windstray' which he got from adding both mine and Aerra's suggestion. After that, we all went back home to the Dukedom of Greenrun, a peaceful Southern nation.

I watch the white world outside from the windows of castle Greenrun as the ice slowly melted back to water

I watch the white world outside from the windows of castle Greenrun as the ice slowly melted back to water. The cold became warm. The twigs and bald branches up in the trees slowly grew back their leaves and flowers once again bloomed.

The valleys were once again rejoicing with the warmth of the sun and lush prairies, under the clear blue skies stretching far and vast over the summer atmosphere that has returned.

Yet again, after the warmth came the cold and winter once again visited as expected.

So with that—

...two years has passed.

And tonight we will be celebrating our 12th Birthday party.

Summer time has arrived but in a corner the winter chill is once again dreading to arrive.

I walk the corridors alone that particular day, thinking of calling Aerra out since we don't have morning lectures on the weekend. But it was barely 6 in the morning. During days like this, she usually sleeps longer so I guess I'll go find Eriol instead.

Maybe I can invite him to join me for breakfast.

I eventually reached a hall with lots and lots of crates and boxes. In a corner there was a table filled with glassed containers where round colored candies lie comfortably in its own miniature pillow set inside them.

How odd.

These were never here before.

"Young Lord, please don't eat that!" Hollered a voice when I took one candy out from the glass container. "Why not?" I murmured in a frown. How crude for someone to direct orders at me like that.

"That's for research. It's from Osteell's newest projects under Alchemy. I believe they found these in some ruins. They wish to share the project with us for research purposes regarding these candies although unfinished. Hopefully our scholars can study it and extend the help they need." She replied, fixing her glasses while holding few papers and a pen in her hand. I remember her name is Cidd, the ambassadress of Osteell. She bears no other title aside from that. She has a reddish chestnut hair and eyes of hazel which was framed behind those big round glasses which she shifts in place by the bridge of her pointy up turned nose. She stood way taller than me but I'm confident I'll pass beyond her height someday. But for now, I stood just below her shoulders and my eyes are currently aligned directly to where her big bouncy woman thingy is placed. I just closed my eyes to avoid eye contact with it.

"Lord Levi and I arrived few hours ago with these parcels." she added beaming. "I was suppose to be alone today but Lord Levi seems to have finished his work early so he insisted to come along in the spur of the moment. He must be really excited to visit you and Lady Aerra."

I set the candy back down.

"AHHH!!!! OH NO!" she shouted.

"What?!" I asked in utter surprise, her expansive reaction made my heart jumped out of place, but eyeing her made me realized she was looking at something else. "The special kinds... one is missing!!! I-i-It must have fell out here somewhere during the d-delivery! This is bad. We haven't even tried fully testing each of these yet."

Her eyes widened and abruptly covered her lips with both her hands and then slowly sweeps a glance at me as I stared at her with narrowing eyes. I can grasp how grave these matter will be if something went out of hand because of this.

"You lost what—" I began but she cuts me off

"It's okay, miLord! I w-will have it found soon! B-but don't worry— these things are not dangerous! As long as you don't consume it that is."

I sighed. I finally remembered Miss Cidd's infamous reputation being a cluts and an airheaded at times . I wonder why Lord Hansem choose her of all people. "Leave it to me! Don't worry!" She reassured, pumping one fist up as her chest bounces along where my line of sight is aligned with. I looked away abruptly. Maybe it's that. But Lord Hansem never strikes me as a perverted geezer.

"Well I'll leave you to it then." I replied as she went on talking to herself. I walked off but paused midway, "Do you know where Levi is?"

"Afraid not, your grace. But I saw him with Lord Eriol earlier."

Oh. I know where they are then, I told myself.

I thanked her and went off after that. Eriol usually hangs out at one of the northeastern towers because he can view his land from that place and watch over it. Papa granted a fief to him, an orchard and a farm land to be specific.

The workers and farmers liked him and he seems to enjoy managing the harvest the previous years. He also began taking morning lectures with us and he helps me with my elemental magic during afternoon.

Aerra rarely participated, she insisted that she's not ready to choose any element yet.

I noticed, ever since we escape from Ouboros, my sister is slowly transitioning. She became more silent and brooding than before; her eyes became colder and she always walks the halls with head held up high like a snob but whenever I call out on her or when she's joining conversations, she seems pretty normal. It's just the silence somehow changes her. There's an atmosphere around her that I can't figure what. Maybe it's just her way of maturing since we are technically twelve years old now but I just can't help but worry. The Aerra I know is the person who smiles so brightly like the sun.

Although sometimes, I feel like it has something to do with the training Faram did. I already asked her what kind it was but she never shed a single detail.

I sometimes find her meditating alone in the gardens or in the study room wearing a blindfold. She can even tell things before it can actually arrive like who is going to come knocking on the door or even as far as hearing what people are talking about even from the farthest corner of a hall.

The sharp and cold gaze in her eyes are alienating. The innocence in them seem to slowly vanish as time goes by and morphing into a vigilant watcher.

Perhaps I should have asked Eriol what Faram's element is anyway. They say the element you choose has something to do with your personality too. I wonder what Faram's element is.

He is blindfolded all the time.

What type of element where one does not need their sense of sight?

—Wind?

Eriol doesn't seem to need a blindfold though.

I wonder.

Honestly speaking, I wish something comes up unexpectedly that might be able to revert Aerra back to her normal cheerful self. I'll grab any opportunity if any is presented to me at all.

••▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅••

When I reached the top of the tower, I saw Levi and Eriol by the battlements. Levi stood near a crenel while Eriol sat on one merlon just beside Levi. There is this sense of serenity between them as they just gazed at the scenery below.

Now that is something I never see everyday.

"Good morning!" I greeted as both of them just turned to me.

"Heeey! Good morning, kiddo! Happy birthday!" Eriol greeted back, leaping high from where he sat and landing down on his feet just beside me, grabbing me with one arm and messing my hair with his other.

"Is Aerra awake as well?" Asks Levi as he searches the blank space behind me, hoping she will pop out from where I came from.

"Good morning to you too, Levi." I murmured. "I don't think she's up yet."

"Oh." he responds curtly and then turns his head away. Shutting me out.

This guy... seriously. 💢

I pushed Eriol off me mildly and fixed my hair. "What are you guys up to anyway?"

"Just watching over the orchard" replied Eriol, pointing down at its direction with his thumb.

"With him?" I asked, jerking my head to where Levi stood in silence. "That's a surprise. I never knew the two of you became friends already"

As far as I know, Levi only regards —chose, rather, me and Aerra as his friends.

Even two years has passed, Levi was distant to Eriol. The reason is obvious. These two guys both like my twin sister, Aerra. While Levi doesn't shy away from expressing his feelings to her, Eriol on the other hand is dense enough to not recognize he has feelings for her at all. And Levi seems to notice that as well. Only time will tell when he might finally acknowledge it and might even act on it.

"Friends? Of course! This guy is my buddy!" Eriol grins widely, walking to where Levi stood and wrapping his arm around his shoulder.

"Unhand me, you oaf!" Levi murmurs, pulling away from Eriol. "I won't have any buffoon as my friend!"

I suppose that's a compliment for me then. He does regards me as a friend... right?

"What are you talking about? You've been hanging out with me since this morning! He's just shy to admit it!" Eriol laughs.

Levi finally breaks free from him, "It's not as if I wanted it..." he says calmly but I can see his brows furrowing while he dusts off his shoulder.

"Then why are you here?" I asked, perching by a crenel beside Levi.

"To help me watch over my orchard!" Eriol supplied in a smug.

"I came here to push him off the tower." Levi replied. I'm not even sure myself if he was joking or not. He maintains his deadpan eyes and blank facial expression so it's hard to read him.

I just crunched an eyebrow.

Levi eyes me and realized I'm trying to read him.

He sighed.

"I already did but he came flying back"

"...."

Was he seriously trying to get rid of Eriol? 💧

Eriol bursted out laughing. "We have a tough love like that!"

"Don't declare something so disgusting and unthinkable." Levi scoffed, crossing his arms together and just closing his eyes while perching by a crenel as well.

"Aww, stop denying!" Eriol kids in a wide grin, throwing both his hands to the side of his waists.

"I'm not denying. I'm rather declaring that I hate you, you dense parasite!"

It's not hard to imagine these two will come into terms someday though. I mean their age are close too.

Eriol is four years older than me, while Levi is just three— narrowly.

Although their personalities clash it does balance out in someway. Eriol is lively and carefree despite any stiff circumstances, hanging out with him makes me feel like I can charge towards anything and he'll come backing me up regardless. Whereas Levi can be silent and reserved most of the time, although his thinking can become dark and twisted sometimes and that he can be irksome but he can maintain a calming aura, he gives me level headed answers when I ask for advices or opinions and he deals with things pretty awesomely. He's the best companion at complicated social situations because of that.

But both of them cares for my twin sister the samely, they're both like two heads of the same coin when it comes to her.

Like a day and night.

I sighed.

It's not that I dislike it.

I'm just left wondering sometimes if these two would even have me as a friend if it's not for Aerra.

The vivacious Aerra before... that is.

Would they even accept or treat her the same way if she suddenly changes and grow up as a cold expressionless woman?

"Eriol, I have something to ask," I digressed, seeing that they won't seem to stop joking around with each other.

"Yeah, what is it?"

"What is Faram's element?"

Eriol studies me for a moment.

He then shrugs as if conceding, "Null." he uttered and went to climb one merlon and sat down with one feet bent close to his chest and the other dangles down freely to the cliff-face of the tower.

"What the heck is that suppose to mean?"

"That's his element— I think."

"Never heard of it" I murmured, glancing at Levi as he just eyed me coolly. "Do you know what that is?" I asked Levi.

He shrugged briefly.

We both focused at Eriol but he stayed silent and gazed far where his orchard is seen.

I jumped up to one of the merlons and sat down, looking at where his eyes stayed. "So... what is Null?" I insisted.

"I just heard it from the other elite mercenaries." replied Eriol without sparing a glance. "Faram is okay but he's not particularly friendly. He almost never talks to me and I never really saw exactly what he does or what he is capable of. But the other mercenaries told me he's the strongest in the group if not for my master."

What a vague answer. He just prevaricated.

"By the way, since you're twelve now, how about we go bounty hunting?" Eriol grins,

He digressed, I noted.

So I decided to go along with it and drop the Faram topic off... for now.

"Bounty hunting? But we have a banquet for birthday party tonight. I don't think getting into trouble today is a good idea."

"Wha— I won't get you into trouble!"

"Says the spider to the fly," Levi interrupted. "How about we just go walk around the city for today. We do have plenty of time in our hands. I also brought some of my men with me, if any chance you want to have them take us to the outskirts of the Dukedom and visit towns beyond the walls."

"The Lord of Osteell has spoken!" Eriol spouted out in a mocking deep voice, "But I suppose that's a good idea. It's better than staying here in the castle all day long, waiting for the banquet."

"That sounds more plausible to me. Let's go then! I'll go wake Aerra up." I replied, preparing to take off.

"Hold it! I just had a brilliant idea." Eriol suddenly stood up.

"And the spider is on the move..." Levi rolled his eyes but kept on watching what was transpiring anyway.

"I was planning to do it tonight just for show but now might be a perfect time just in case we do get into trouble" Eriol tapped at his chin saying this.

"What are you talking about?" I murmured.

"You're not officially my Meister yet. I was planning to make it official. I did said I want the two of you as both my Meister though."

"Exactly how many Meister is a transmuter allowed to accept anyway?" I murmured.

"It usually depends on how strong a Transmuter is. Every soul contract costs an oath to respond. Like a part of you is tied to another person, a unique kind of partnership. Hence every summon must be responded with. Doing otherwise will directly inflict pain to us as a form of punishment and retribution for refusing a summon. Every Meistership after all is a divine bond established during the time of the ancients when the gods and goddesses live amongst us." Eriol elaborated, climbing down from his seat and standing up straight on his feet. "Did you know that the first Transmuter was a human and the first Meister was a goddess?"

"No"

"Nope"

almost at the same time Levi and I replied.

"Legend has it, when that human received that capability he started taking more Meister just to boast off his powers. But one day his first Meister summoned him and he refused the call because he was with his other Meister while they went on doing irrelevant huntings. He didn't knew that the summon was dire. Turns out the goddess died after that. The other gods and goddess was so furious because of it and assured that every Transmuter must respond that's why if we ever refuse the call, we receive the very pain our Meister experience at that time. Worse, our body will be engraved with a rune— a scar that symbolizes our betrayal. And every night we will bear the exact pain the Meister that had passed received before his or her life ended, like a reminder."

"That seems a bit extreme. We do have Transmuter soldiers trained to be capable of linking with any other soldiers," says Levi. "If what you say is real, then they suffer every night for every fallen Meister they ever had."

Eriol nodded in reply. "That's the consequences alright."

"I never read anything like that from any books before" I retorted. "Never heard anything about it too!"

"I don't know about your books. This land's books are all so lacking if you ask me. If we can travel back to the continent where I came from, you will see so much information we have about Weilders and Transmuters! Especially about the Ancients. We don't have that centennial priestess tradition though."

"So you're implying the published books here in our land are screened?" Levi asks, eyeing Eriol sternly. "That's indirectly stating that the High Kingdom is hiding something if they really are trying to filter what goes out in the public. The main publishing central is Grantzæl city after all. They are in charge of what will be distributed to the seven Kingdoms and what won't be."

"Hey hey hey! Stop! I'm not trying to implicate anything by that. I'm simply saying this continent doesn't have much books of the Old as we do back in Ellemir." Eriol retorted.

"Sounded like a conspiracy theory to me. I would have supported you."

"You would?" murmured Eriol in surprise, raising one brow as he studied Levi.

"Why not. Royal secrets can be deadly. It might be more interesting if the High Throne is suddenly open for a new ruler because of it." Levi sneered briefly and then turns to look at me tentatively, as if waiting for my reaction.

I just shrugged. "What are you saying guys? Uncle is not screening the books! What's the need to filter the truth about. Listening to what Eriol say, I don't think it harms to let others know about it."

"You're contradicting yourself." Levi chuckled, shook his head and then closed his eyes shut as if ending the conversation there.

I was left speechless.

I wonder if Levi is aiming for the throne...

...

"Okay! Back to the Meistership thingy. Setting all that conspiracy talk aside, I don't think having the two of you will be a problem to handle. Since you're both basically inseparable twins. Or we can make compromises regarding the summonings!" Eriol grins.

"Okay? So how would we start the procedure?" I asked as he paces around, with one hand wrapped around him and the other on his chin.

"Ah. I know! We just need something extreme that will challenge how much you trust me!" He pounds a fist on his open palm, realizing something.

"Remember, just trust me and summon me with your mind" he says, as he started to walk to where I sat.

"Okay. So when do we begin?" I asked, as he stood just behind me. I turned about and prepared to climb down from the merlon.

He grins, "Now" he answered as he suddenly shoves me to the open cliff-face of the tower before I could even react.

My breath snagged as I stared at my hands that failed to grab hold on anything to save me from falling. I looked at them as Eriol just grinned while Levi looked surprised.

"You bastard—!!!!" I cursed at him, free falling.

The wind began to rush pass against me, blasting at my ears as I looked down to where my fall was heading.

I realize I was going to fall straight down the pavements in a matter of seconds.

Trust him, he said.

That tricky bastard...

But I already trust him.

'So just come right now this instant before I die, you bastard!?'

I shielded my arms before my face as light suddenly sparked from above me while the circulating wind bursted widly against my fall, making me hover in midair.

A trailing light suddenly rushes forth as the wind around me enabled me to be in a standing position while I remain in midair.

I grabbed at the light and pulled something out.

My lightning sparked surprisingly out from my hands

as I went on further pulling a white long shaft out from the light.

The light bursted for a second and vanishes.

As I finally took the entire weapon out from it.

White long shaft stretching to a bit crooked neck where a cerulean orb is found embedded on it, a double sided silver blade at one end with one cheek had glowing blue crystal-like blade and the other was a honed sharp edge. There are ancient symbols seen engraved on the middle of it too. On the far end of the scythe was a crystal that shares the same color as the others.

There are also four tiny glowing orbs hovering around me that minutely sparks that were big as my fist.

It wasn't the dark black scythe I was expecting to see. There was a sense of celestial regality in it.

'Summon me with finesse next time, will ya?'

I can hear Eriol's voice inside my head.

I stared speechless at the white scythe on my hand. It was as light as as air when I spun it around like a baton.

The tiny orbs around me gathers energy and supplies it to the blade when I tried to channel my lightning as I swing it around.

I looked up and thought about going back to the top of the tower to where Levi was gazing at us from.

My body began to flew up and we reached the top in a flash and I took one step forward carefully as I tried to re orient myself from the sudden change of surroundings, realizing I was already back on the tower with Levi.

I held the scythe with one hand, tapping down on its end on the ground to allow it to stand straight beside me. I noticed it became longer too.

"Why are you different from before?" I grumbled, referring to Eriol.

"Your eyes are different too" Levi interrupted, pointing at my left eye with a placid facial expression.

"What do you mean?" I arched a brow at him and levelled the blade of the scythe to my eyes to see my reflection from it.

I gasped.

I studied the image seen from the mirror-like blade intensely and realized I had my normal blue eyes on my right but my left eye was deep purple like Eriol have.

The scythe suddenly lit and turned back to his human form. "Amazing, huh?" Eriol says in a smug.

I opened my mouth but I didn't know where to begin. So many questions are running inside my head simultaneously.

"It's because of your growing power, snow head." he says, "Remember what I mentioned before back in the deserts? Our powers can usually combine. But since you've grown strong, the element you chose has combined with my own element. That's why my form changed."

"And my one eye changing color similar to yours —means what?"

"That means you can control my element as good as yours. If you try to concentrate, it will naturally come to you, how to wield wind as how I do."

"How come that never happened with Aerra?"

"It's because she hasn't really chosen any element yet. Or at least she's not aware how to use it. So there's no elements really to combine so I ended up with my default form which is as what you usually see when she summons me." Eriol shrugs. "The main conclusion here is that you're now my official Meister as well! Now, I can't wait to fight and try it on someone!" Eriol's eyes sweeps to where Levi stood.

"Is that an invitation?" Levi scowled but a subtle sneer escapes from his lips.

"No, I was just checking if you're envious."

"Don't underestimate commoner blood, fool. I can fight as much as you bluebloods can."

"I actually want to validate that. Want to give it a go, Levi?" Eriol sneers.

I tapped at my temples. "Eriol, if someday my real power awakens and I ended up being a Transmuter instead of a Wielder, what happens with our partnership?"

"Nothing will change. You just won't be able to wield me while you're also in a weapon form. That's all. It would be cool if you're Transmuter though. When two Transmuter becomes partners it's no longer Meistership, it is called Gefahrten. I don't know much about it since I never had one but I heard it's a higher tier of partnership. If we can visit the land where I came from, maybe we can learn more about it!"

"That sounds awesome." I replied in astonishment.

I can't wait to show this to Aerra!

"I'll go check if Aerra is awake. She needs to see this!" I said as I turned around and ran to the stairs. "I'll be back!"

"Hey, how about we meet up by the antechamber? Ask Aerra is she would like join us with our plans today!" Eriol hollered.

"I will!" I yelled back as I rushed down and raced across the lobbies as fast as I can.

I'm sure Aerra will be amazed about this news! I thought to myself.

As finally, I reached her bedroom door.

I quickly turned the knobs and pushed the door open, "Aerra!!! Are you awake yet?" I called out, my eyes instantly focusing to where her bed is but it was empty.

"Aerra?" I scouted my eyes around the room.

In a far cornermost of the room near the windows, where a three way vanity mirror stood, I saw Aerra staring at the mirror in silence, she was down on her feet, the skirt of her dress spreads freely around her with her back facing me.

"What's the matter?" I asked, as she slowly turns her head to me while wearing a conflicted look on her face.

"Aeron...." she sighed.

"What's wrong?!" I uttered. My pulse threaded nervously under my careful breathing. "Is everything alright?"

She pulls her hair to the side and showed me the broken zipper of her dress. The fair skin of her back exposed widely down to almost the end of her spine.

"...!?"

I slammed the door shut behind me immediately on an impulse.

"Dimwit! Don't show your skin like that!!! You know the door is open!" I fumed, marching across the room towards her.

She sighed, her brows furrowing as if she harbors the biggest predicament ever.

"What the heck's wrong anyway? You have lots of other dresses!" I grumbled, finally reaching her. I took off my coat and places it over her shoulder that was almost exposed too.

"That's not it..." she says in almost a whisper. "Look." She added, standing to her feet to face me. She then suddenly took off my coat and peeled her clothes down, I quickly turned around even before she could show me any more skin. "H-ha-have you lost your mind!?!" I shouted.

What the heck—!?

"No, Aeron, you don't understand. Something is wrong." She says from behind me. "Is this normal?"

"The what—!?! Nothing about stripping so boldly like that is normal!!! Even if we're twins y-y-you shouldn't just—!"

"No, I mean... Is it normal to just turn from one form into another? And I don't mean being a Transmuter. Just suddenly become a different person from yesterday?"

My shoulder eases down.

"In what world would that be normal? What are you saying???" I retorted

"Can you just look, please?" She grunted as I slowly turned my head over my shoulder, reluctantly.

I looked at her properly and realized something is gravely wrong.

I gasped.

Her shoulders are wide and rigid,

her collarbone is vivid

and her chest was flat as it was lean.

She has a body of a man.

I turned about to face her.

I opened my mouth to speak but I didn't even know what to say. I left it there gaping wide in shock.

"What should I do now?" she murmurs with despair in her voice.

Her voice sounds the same— quite androgynous enough but there was the hint of masculinity in it.

I rubbed at my nape and sighed. She looked troubled but her reaction is somewhat lacking. She used to be loud and expansive when reacting. Animated, so to speak.

I picked up the coat and covered her with it. "Tell me everything that happened before you sleep until you woke up like this." I told her as she nodded, holding on little to the collar of my coat that I placed on her.

"Last night, after dinner— I just went straight back here like I usually do and then I just read a book until I fell asleep. My dream wasn't particularly peculiar —just the same old stuff. I woke up even before Darion usually arrives so I decided to walk around for a bit. I saw carriages leaving by the courtyard so I went to the main halls, I saw few colorful candies, grabbed one and then went to the—"

"Now hold on just a minute!!!" I interrupted, raising a hand at her. "The candy—!!! Are they placed on a cushion inside a glass box?"

She nodded.

I rubbed at my temples.

"What?" she asks

"Those are research materials from Osteell, Aerra."

There was silence.

I look at her as she just stared blankly at the floor, disheartened.

I heaved a sigh.

"Let's get you dressed first. And then we can look for Miss Cidd." I told her, patting her head.

"I can't fit into any of my dress" she replies, "My shoulders are wider than before and the zippers won't close."

I pursed my lips in a straight line. "Let's see if you can fit in any of my clothes instead then."

She nods once and replied, "Thank you, Aeron."

I crossed my arms together and studied her as she smiled in subtlety.

She still have the same look in her eyes, same length of hair, the same fragile features on her face as I remember, but her jaws seems more chiseled now and angular. Her long neck and wide shoulders framed her posture perfectly.

She does looks like a guy any girl might swoon over at first sight.

I feel like she became more of a man than I am.

I wonder if that's what she would've look like if she was born as my identical twin rather than a fraternal one.

Should I even address her now as HE insisted of 'she', since it only seems acceptable for the time being? Maybe not. Deep down inside, I know Aerra is my twin sister.

"Let's go to your wardrobe shall we?" She stated as I nodded and walked few steps ahead and towards the door, side-long glancing at her as she follows silently.

She looks delicate for a man but charming enough. She's even a bit taller than me.

I just sighed.

This is not the time to be so jealous now, I thought to myself.

Maybe this might be the chance I was looking for! The chance to revert her back to her vivacious self.