CHAPTER 2: The Twins

Weeks have passed and I feel lonely here inside our mansion. My place would be spacious and elegant, yet I’m alone. Every passing day, all I do is watch the clock ticking and let my time be wasted.

I’m here right now, inside our library. Staring at our high ceiling because of boredom. Thinking that it can make me feel entertained somehow.

‘Did I really make the right decision?’ I ask myself as if I can answer my own question. I chose to stay here to start anew. But, look at me right now. Is this how I suppose to start anew?

I close my eyes and try to clear my mind. I feel a  moment of peacefulness, not until I heard the door opens. I immediately open my eyes and saw two strangers.

One is a middle-aged man wearing a butler outfit and one is an adolescent man wearing a royal blue decent polo partnered to his black jeans. ‘Who are they?’ I ask myself.

“Are you alright, Lady Adhira?” The butler asks. They know me. So, my siblings should be the responsible ones for their sudden appearance. They’re protective as always. It’s just suspicious that their faces are new to me.

“Lady Adhira?” I was snapped back to reality when the butler calls out my name once again. That is when I realize that I’ve been staring at them for a bit too long. So, as a response to his question, I just nod twice.

“Who are you?” I ask him while looking at him directly to his yellow eyes which reminds me of the eyes of wolves. He steps closer to me and bows his head. “I am Ulric Easton, My Lady.”

I just nod at him and turn my gaze to the adolescent man beside him. Unlike Butler Ulric, he has a pair of icy blue eyes that are faultlessly matched to his brushed up icy blue hair.

“And you are?” I said while studying his whole being. He just took a glimpse at me and give a timid smile. “Please state your name, age, and mageia.”

“My name is Mather Parveen, but you can call me Matt, Lady Adhira. I’m 17 years old, an Ice Elementalist and agility enhancement is my ability.” He said and slightly bow his head.

“Nice to meet you, Matt.” I said and give a genuine smile. “And please drop the formalities. Just call me Hira.”

“But your one of the Igetes, Lady Adhira. You belong to the highest in the hierarchy. You deserve to be respected.” I flinch when I heard the voice of a girl spoke beside me.

I look at where the voice came from and there I saw a girl which is only about my age. She has a pair of flaming red-colored eyes matching her reddish-brown hair that reaches her waist. Gosh! She looks like a Goddess of Fire!

“Sorry about my twin, Lady Adhira.” Matt said apologetically and slightly bows his head once again.

“It’s okay. No big deal.” I said and assure him with a smile. “And like what I’ve said a while ago, just call me Hira.”

He was about to speak when I interrupt him. “I insist,” I said with finalization in my voice. Then I look at the girl beside me. “What is your name, young lady?” I ask her.

“My name is Ptolema Parveen, but you can call me Emma. I am Matt’s twin sister, a Fire Elementalist and invisibility is my ability.” She answered. So that is the reason why I only saw two persons earlier. I thought. And, just like Matt, she slightly bows her head as a sign of respect.

“Keep your heads up, please. You don’t need to bow down every time you’ll talk to me.” I said and chuckle afterward. “If you always do that, you will look like a chicken.” I joked.

And like what I’ve told them, they raise up their heads. But, there’s still an unanswered question.

“Before I forgot, what brings the three of you here?” They look at each other as if they’re asking who will answer my question. But in the end, Butler Ulric sighs and initiates to answer.

“Lady Adhira, we were sent by Alaric to guide and protect you in this realm. I will be your fortress butler. I’m the one in charge in terms of the household. Mather will be your Phylax. He will be your protector. And, Ptolema will be your Voithos. She will be your aide as long as she has her mark of designation.” Butler Ulric explains.

Well, I partially expect that Alaric will send someone here to be with me. He’s overprotective as always, tho.

But Butler Ulric said that he is in charge of the household. So, “Butler Ulric, you’re in charge of the household. Does that mean that you are  going to clean this whole mansion alone?”

He just chuckle a bit and return to his serious expression. “I’m here with my colleagues, Lady Adhira.” He answered.

And as of cue, the door opens once again and numerous menservants and maids enter the room. They fall in line and slightly bow their heads.

“Good evening, Lady Adhira.” They all said in unison. Butler Ulric claps his hands twice and they return to their normal stance. “They are my colleagues, Lady Adhira. They will be responsible for the household.” He said. Now, everything is clear.

But I need to see one last thing to confirm that what they’ve said is true.

I turn my gaze to the twins once again and command them to show their marks of designation. “Your marks please.” I command.

That is the last thing. Their marks. Those are like some kind of ‘hidden’ tattoo that signifies a specific position or designation in the hierarchy.

Matt unbuttons his polo revealing his well-built body. At the left part of his chest, there I find what I’m looking for. Emma, on the other hand, removed her beige cardigan revealing her bare shoulders when her mark is perceived.

They look directly to my eyes and their eyes glow. Matt’s eyes smolder icy blue luminescence  making it looks like the polar lights, while Emma’s eyes emit red gleam and I’m amused to see her eyes look like flames.

Their marks glow currant red at the same time. It is Alaric’s power color.

Φύλαξ is on Matt’s chest. While βοηθός is Emma’s mark on her right shoulder.

I smile as I’ve confirmed that Alaric is the one who designated their position. I missed my siblings so much. I feel lonely in this mansion that much.

But now, I know from now on, I will never be alone.

******

“Is that your best shot, Emma?” Matt teases his twin sister who’s running after him while throwing small fireballs. Upon hearing what he said, Emma give him death glares and continue running after him.

We are at the basement of the mansion. Our very own training room designed just for us. And we are here to train our combat skills, supposedly. But instead of combat training, here they are.

Emma is throwing innumerable fireballs, while Matt is running around the room, dodging those. When Matt feels tired, he ran behind me and hold my shoulders to use me as his shield. Nice. I’m just sitting on the bleachers and now, he’s using me as his shield.

“Emma, timeout!” He exclaims and raised white cloth. I wonder where he gets that.

Emma just smirk at him and sat beside me. As of cue, Matt sat down between me and Emma, and arch his arms on our shoulders.

It has been three years since the day their sudden appearance in the mansion. And within that time, I’ve been too attached to them. They’ve always been there for me. And prove that I can always rely on them.

I was the worst creature, back then. I killed people with my power. I can’t even control my power, though. I was a monster. But, this twin has been my starting to start anew. They help me be a better person.

“Hey, Hira! I know that I’m handsome, but it’s not right to stare at me that much.”

Matt said. And I laugh when Emma suddenly hit his head. He pouts at his twin, but she just rolls her eyes.

“Hmp! Bad, Emma!” Matt said. Emma and I just laugh at his childishness. He reminds me of Alaric in some ways.

Emma jumps out of the bleachers and ran towards the stairs. “I’m hungry! Let’s race to the kitchen! The first one to come will get the sandwich!” She exclaimed.

In an instant, Matt and Emma disappeared from my sight. I just shrug my shoulders and follow them to the kitchen.

Now, they aren’t just a Phylax and Voithos to me. They are more like my family.