CHAPTER 5: The Solveigs'

"YEY! DISMISSAL TIME! LONG LIVE, INDEPENDENCE!" I groan as I woke up to the loud shout of some creature. I opened my eyes and the first thing I saw the smiling face of the person sitting next to me.

"Goodness me, Adhira! You just sleep the whole time and wakes up at dismissal time." He said while still shaking his head. 'He looks stupid.' A voice inside my head said. It's true that I just slept in class and just wake up by dismissal. I was so bored in class because I learned all that in the library at Solveig Fortress. Who would not be bored if what they taught you is what you already know?

"You too, Shiloh! You just woke up when the bell rang." Gertrude said who was also the one shouting like a madman earlier. Shiloh turns his gaze upon her as he pouts his lips making him looks like a duck. I just shook my head and decides to go home. I might just strangle someone annoying if I stay a little longer.

"Let's go, Matt. Emma." I said as I call the twin. I turn my gaze on them, and there I saw the twins yawn in unison. Emma was still stretching her arms as she got up and followed me out of the room. I was about to step out of the room when Lace calls out my name.

"Uhm, Hira, wait!" Lace calls me out making me stop. I gesture the twins to come out first and I would just follow. They just nod in response as they sat on the bench by the hallway. When the two of them left, I turned my gaze upon Lace who's patiently standing in front of me.

"Why?" I said with a sweet smile plastered on my lips. Likewise, she smiles at me sheepishly before she speaks. "Come with us to the mall tomorrow. Please?" She said with matching puppy eyes. "Please? Come with us. It'll be a girls' bonding too. Please?"

It was also more than a week since the first time they befriended me. And, within the past days, I can say that I have no regrets about befriending them and staying here at Mortal Realm. 'I think I made the right decision.' I said in my thoughts as I smile at her and give a small nod.

"Sure. Just message me when and where."

******

"Where are you going?" Emma says with her arms crossed on her chest while leaning on the stairs' railings. We have been here at the mansion. Since it's the weekend, we have nothing to do. And, guess what? We've been up since four in the morning!

Why? Well, it's just because of one creature named Matt who has insomnia, so he turns on all the lights and plays rock music in full volume. And because of that, everyone in the mansion is awake. And if I was just not in a bad mood, I may laugh at them all, because almost everyone has a dark circle around their eyes. They even walk like zombies!

But then, I'm not in the mood. So, I decided to just stay in my room in the meantime. Since I have nothing to do this early, I took a glimpse of myself in my full-length mirror. There I see a teenage girl with chestnut hair that is perfectly matched to her brown orbs. She smiles at me, yet her eyes are screaming longing for the unknown.

'This is not me.' I said in my thoughts while looking at my own reflection. I miss my golden hair and blue eyes. I miss my ability. I miss who I was. But my smile fades as I remember what power has done before. I remember how the fragile girl with golden hair turns into a monster that killed almost everyone.

I just stare at my own reflection the whole time, and a moment after, someone knocks on my door. "Breakfast is ready, Adhira." Lia, one of the maids, said from the other side of the door. I look at my window and it was then I realize that it was already sunrise.

"Coming," I answer as I wear my maroon cardigan. I open my door and Lia immediately greeted me good morning. I just nod at her in response. I took the stairs and midway to the ground floor, the usual scenario greeted me.

Emma was just reading her favorite book on the sofa, while Matt was really bored so he decided to count all the leaves in the garden. As for me, I just went down and go to the kitchen, planning nothing aside from eating breakfast.

I was about to sit on the kitchen island when my cellphone screen lit up, signifying that someone texted me. I pick it up and I saw the caller ID. 'Lace,' I said in my mind. 'Good morning, Hira! Are you up? Hihi. See you tomorrow at 10 am at Tully's Restaurant. See ya!' She said in her text message. As of cue, I took a bite of my pancake and went up immediately to my room.

I got dressed for a walk since I don't want to go with Matt to count the leaves in the garden. And now, Emma is here in front of me, asking which continent I am going to.

"So, Adhira Solveig, the last-born Igetes, where are you going?" Emma said which also brings me back to reality. And right now, she is like a strict mother scolding her troublesome child. Psh.

"Mall. I'll be with Lace and Gertrude later." I said jadedly. I don't know why should I explain myself to her. But then, I realize, she is my Voithos and she should be with me every time. And with that thought, a smirk forms on my lips.

"Get dressed, or I'll pull you to the mall in your pajamas."

~

After a few minutes of driving, we finally arrived at the mall. As always, she starts preaching again but I didn't bother to listen to what she's saying because, like me, she's also troublesome. Also, I don't want my life to be stressful.

As we came in front of the restaurant Lace told me, I saw two waving creatures, namely Lace and Gertrude. Lace is wearing a pink off-shoulder blouse matching her pink, above the knee flared skirt. On the other hand, Gertrude is wearing a purple, crop top sweatshirt, and black mini skirt. In short, they're cute and girly!

While Emma and I are both wearing black ripped jeans. The only difference is that I wore a plain white spaghetti strap with a gray cardigan while Emma had an oversized black shirt. We also have our hair in a messy bun.

When we got closer the two girls hug me. As they just smiled at Emma who is standing next to me. 'Do they know each other?' I ask myself as I turn my gaze upon her. She seems shy about the two girls, so I initiate to introduce her.

"By the way, Lace and Gertrude, this is Emma. She's my—" She's my what? 'Goodness, Adhira!' I said as I mentally scold myself. I can't say she's my Voithos. I look at her quizzically to ask for help. And looks like she gets the message when she introduces herself.

"I'm Ptolema Parveen, but you can call me Emma. I'm Adhira's cousin." Emma said while sheepishly smiling at them. And with that, I want to give her an award for what she'd said. 'You're so good at making excuses Emma.' I said as I mentally clap my hands.

After she introduced herself to the two, she extends her hand to them but, without a word, the two embraced her tight. "Lace Philomena, here!" Lace said as she let go of Emma. "I'm Gertrude Tully," Gertrude said with a smile on her lips. Emma just smiled shyly and mouthed 'Nice to meet you'.

But that smile was reciprocated by the smiles of Lace and Gertrude. Smile with intention. "Strolling time!" They shriek in unison. But Emma objects immediately.

"Nah. It'll be waste of time if we just stroll around." She said like a mother preaching her children. 'There she goes again.' I said in my thoughts as I roll my eyes heavenward. But a smirk formed on my lips as I heard what she said next.

"Maybe, arcades will do." She said as she raises her brows. I turn my gaze upon the two girls, and bright smiles are plastered on their lips. "Arcades, here we come!"

********

"So, who will buy the tokens?" Gertrude asks as we came to the crowded arcade. And since today's weekend, I already expected this scene. Congested playing stations, boisterous surroundings, full of chattering noise. Until I saw a large TV screen where there are a group of friends dancing in front.

"Let's shake our body!" Lace said as she grabs my arm and drags me to the dancefloor. Gertrude was already at the center as if she was waiting for us. "What song?" She said as we come near her.

Lace holds her chin as a response as if she's thinking. "Aha! The song they're dancing earlier. I like it!" Lace said and Gertrude answers her with a nod.

Gertrude inserts 5 tokens into the machine and the scene displays changes. She gestures her hands, and I'm amazed that the pictures on the screen follow where she gestures her hand. When she saw the song title, she gestures her hand as she pressed something.

"Girls, it's a 4 players song. We're only three." Gertrude said while pouting. But I was confused when she said that we're only three. I look around, and I notice that Emma is not with us. I was about to find her when Lace pulls me back. "Emma said that she'll go to the powder room." She said with a smile.

"How about our dance? We need one more player." Gertrude said while still pouting. I was about to speak when someone behind me speaks. "Maybe, I could join." A familiar voice of a man said.

I turn my gaze upon him, and there I saw the walking smiley face named Shiloh. He's wearing a plain white shirt topped with a denim jacket, matched to his black ripped jeans and white vans shoes. He smiles brightly at me, showing his white teeth.

"Game!" Gertrude said as she drags him to the center, beside me. Soon enough, upbeat music starts playing. The people on the screen starts to move, and that's when we start following the steps.

But I laugh my lungs out as I turn my gaze to Shiloh. He dances so gracefully and enthusiastic! He sways his hips like how the girl on the screen dance. "Hey! Follow the steps on the screen!" He said as he sways his hips once again without even looking at me. He may look gay right now, but I can't deny the fact that there are lots of girls cheering for him right now.

A few minutes after, the dance ended while I'm still laughing my lungs at Shiloh. I feel my eyes are already tearing up, but I don't care! I was really amused and entertained by his dance earlier!

"Lace, Gertrude, I think you need to check your friend's mental health." He said to the two girls who are chuckling in the corner. But unlike me, they laugh quietly. "Nah. It's just you're too entertaining to watch dance earlier." Lace said while trying her best to hold back her laugh.

"So, what do you think? Can I apply as a dancer?" Shiloh said while imitating a dance move of a macho dance. And there, I laugh once again. I saw him staring at me, enthralled.

I stared back at him and raise my brows. "What?" I ask him but he just shook his head and give a warm smile. He mumbles words, and I don't know if I just hear it right. And before I could ask, he already bids goodbye. As I watch him walk away, I remember what he'd said a while ago.

"Gorgeous. You're a goddess, indeed."

~

"Kyaaaaahh! He's really handsome, Lace!" Gertrude screamed from the top of her lungs, making me and Emma look in their direction. We are here now at the bookstore. And I'm sulking right now at Emma for leaving us at the arcade earlier. She said that she'll go to the powder room, but we found her here in the bookstore.

Anyway, Emma and I are standing here in the educational books section. Well, this is one of the things we get along with, and that is reading books. On the other hand, Lace and Gertrude, just like a normal teenage girl, they go to the magazines and entertainment section. 'What would they do with the pictures of someone they don't know?' I ask at the back of my mind, but shrug it off later.

"I think they're immortals! Audra's beauty has never faded!" Lace said fanatically while holding a magazine. And also, that made our attention to her. 'Did she just said my sister's name?' I ask myself.

And out of curiosity, I just found myself marching towards their direction. "To whom are the two of you being crazy for?" Emma asked jadedly to the two as we came in front of them.

"It's Alaric is the cover boy of the magazine for 3 consecutive months!" Gertrude shrieks as she handed us the magazine she was holding. My eyes widened when I saw that the names they mentioned earlier are no coincidence. Because my siblings are really the ones on the cover of the magazine!

Alaric is wearing a maroon polo and black slacks. And don't forget that the polo he's wearing is unbuttoned although out, revealing his 6-pack abs! Audra, on the other hand, had her hair loose while wearing a black fitted turtleneck and black wide leg pants.

"OMG! Are you also a fan of Alaric and Audra, Hira?" Lace asked me as I can see imaginary sparks in her eyes. I wasn't able to answer immediately, for I'm still confused. My siblings are busy being Igetes in our realm, how come that they have their pictures on that magazine?

"Huh?" That is the only thing I have managed to say. And also, it's the safest one. "Seriously! Don't that you don't know them? They are the most famous models of our time! Gosh! Alaric is really hot!" Gertrude shrieks as she fans her hands towards her as if it's really hot.

"And Audra's cool!" Lace added with her eyes still glimmering. I just shrug off what they've said. I've been with that two since birth, and yeah. Alaric is hot and Audra is cool. Literally.

"So, are you a fan of them too?" Lace asks avidly as if she's really waiting for my answer. I just shrug off my shoulder before I answer no. But before I could speak, Emma already answers their question.

"Yes, she is," Emma said while still looking at the magazine. My brows furrow as I looked at Emma who answered yes. 'What is she thinking?' Those two are my siblings! So why would I be a fan of those two?

"She just doesn't want others to know she's a fan. But yes, she's a big fan of Alaric and Audra. In fact, her room is full of pictures of the two." She added, and that made my mouth gapes. Audra and I always make fun of Alaric since then, but I never plan of posting their pictures in my room!

I turn my gaze upon the magazine on the shelf once again. I glare at the picture of Alaric and Audra, but I was alarmed when the corner of the page starts to ignite. I immediately turn my gaze in another direction, but I can't help but roll my eyes.

They really owe me an explanation!