The afternoon sun hung over the head of the giant castle, the crisp wind carrying the scent of blooming flowers.
The castle was silent except for the sound of a small boy's feet pattering against the floor.
His black hair flew around wildly as he sprinted down the corridor.
His cheeks were flushed with excitent while his obsidian eyes sparkled with childlike innocence.
"Woah!?"
As he rounded a corner, he nearly collided with a maid carrying a basket.
"Careful, young master," she said with a smile, stepping aside just in ti.
"Sorry, Milda!" Oliver apologized, not slowing down for a mont.
Finally, he burst through the grand double doors that led to the castle's sprawling garden.
"Mama!!"
Scanning around, he exclaid as his gaze landed on a lady sitting on a bench under the shade of a blossoming cherry tree.
Dressed in a flowing gown of deep blue, her pale beautiful face, with hair as black as night itself, was pinned up atop her head in intricate weavings of braids woven with gold ribbons.
Hannah looked up from the book she was reading and opened her arms just in ti to catch her son as he flung himself into her embrace. "... Look who is back!!"
"...Oliver is back!" he exclaid, his voice muffled against her gown.
"...So how was your day?" she asked, her gaze softening as she looked at her son.
He pulled back slightly, looking up at her with eager eyes, "...A lot happened. Do you rember that crying girl?"
"...You told about three crying girls. Which one are you talking about?" Sitting on the bench and placing him on her lap, she asked curiously.
"...The one that throws things at you," he replied, shifting on her lap.
"...Hmm, Christina, right?" Hannah asked, rembering the girl.
"Yes! Her," Oliver replied, looking at her. "...You know, today that new boy got hurt because of her."
".. Azariah?" She asked, her brows knitting together. "...What happened to him?"
"When he tried to get close to her... That weird girl threw a book at him," Oliver mimicked her actions as he replied, "...And it hit him in the nose, and he started to bleed."
"...What happened then? Is he alright?" Her concern grew as she asked.
"...He is weird," Oliver grumbled with a dejected look on his face. "...Instead of getting angry, he walked closer and hugged her, saying 'everything is going to be alright.'"
"...Hmm, he did that?" Blinking in surprise, Hannah asked.
"...Yeah, he is weird," he whispered again before a smile crept on his face. "...And I made that weird boy my friend."
"...I see." Placing her chin over his head, she whispered, "..What about Aimar?"
"...He was upset," Oliver replied, leaning on her.
"...Why?"
"Because when he cried, Azariah didn't comfort him," grinning widely, Oliver replied, glancing at her.
".. Hahaha." A soft chuckle left her mouth as she heard about her other son, "...He wanted a hug as well, huh?"
"...Yeah," Oliver replied, reaching out and touching the two separate handcuffs that fit snugly around her wrists.
"...Why are you wearing this, Mama?" he asked, glancing back at her.
"...Well, if I want to see my little boys, then I have to wear it." With a gentle smile, she replied while hugging him around his waist.
"...Why?" His curiosity peaked as he asked, looking at the handcuffs.
"...You see, these things nullify mana present in soone's body."
Showing the runes that adorned the cuffs, she explained, "...They absorb mana and redirect it back into the wearer as a mild shock."
Even though, due to her strength, the shock that was sent back was unbearable... She didn't tell him that.
"...Is that why your skin has beco so pale?" Oliver asked, noticing the increasing paleness of her skin.
"... Aren't you smart." She smiled softly, grabbing his cheeks and stretching them.
"...When are you going?" Sensing that sothing wasn't right with her behavior, Oliver asked.
Kissing his forehead, she closed her eyes as she whispered softly, ".... Tomorrow."
"... Don't go, please." He pleaded, his expression turning glum.
"....I have to, baby," holding back her tears, she whispered, "...If I don't go, my body won't survive for long."
"...Can't you take them off?" he asked, concerned.
"...No, my son."
"...Why?"
"...Because your grandfather wants to wear them." She inford him, looking at the mana cuffs, "...If I don't, I can't co down from Akasha and spend ti with you."
"....Why did he do that?" Oliver asked, looking innocently at her, "... He loves you, right?"
She forced a smile as she tightened her hug around him, "...I wish that was true, I really do."
"...Why is he like that?" Frowning, Oliver asked, "...My father loves , why doesn't yours do the sa?"
"...Not everyone is like your father." Getting up from her seat while holding Oliver in her hands, she replied, "...You know, if I had the power, I would have just fought my way to live with you."
"...Is father not strong enough for that?" Oliver asked, looking at her.
"...No, your father is strong." Shaking her head, Hannah replied, "...But not everything can be done with just strength."
"...Is grandfather that scary?" he asked, wrapping his hands around her neck.
"...No, I even punched him once when he ordered not to give birth to my cute little boys." With a light smile, she replied, bringing him close to the cherry blossom tree.
Oliver giggled softly as he looked at his mother before resting his head on her shoulder, "...When will you co back?"
"...I don't know." Hannah replied honestly, shaking her head, "... Maybe next year or maybe ten years...I don't know."
Oliver closed his eyes as he whispered, "...Is there no way for us to be together."
"...There is." Hannah replied, making him glance at her.
"...What?" he asked, his voice laced with urgency.
"...I will tell you when you grow up." Smiling sweetly, she replied, making him pout.
"...I am already five," he grumbled, looking at her.
"...Not big enough." ssing up his hair, she whispered softly,
"...But let tell you this: only you will be mama's prince in shining white armor."
"... Really?" Doubtful, Oliver asked.
"...Really!!" she exclaid, flinging him around, "until then, take care of your brother, okay?"
"Okay!"
...
Buzz Buzz
"...Huh!?"
A startled voice escaped my mouth as the continuous ringing of the alarm echoed in my ears.
My eyes fluttered open slowly as I looked around the place.
'...Right, academy.'
I mushed, rolling on the bed before falling on the ground below.
Ignoring the light pain that rushed into my back, I sat up, leaning against the bed.
'...That dream again.'
....How much ti has passed since I last saw that dream about her?
....Maybe it's because I saw her a few months back I haven't been dreaming about it.
...But why now?
Was it a reminder?
....Of what I will face in the future?
'...What a pain.'
....I curled up my body, bringing my knees close to my face, wrapping my hands around it.
...Fuck, I hate this feeling.
....I am still not strong enough.
....It's been months since I joined the academy, and I have barely advanced.
...I don't have much ti.
"Sigh.." I sighed again as I looked at the table placed beside my bed.
....Reaching out, I grabbed the photo fra sitting on it, bringing it close.
The glass reflected my own face—dark obsidian eyes and black hair.
I moved the fra as the photo of my mother inside beca clear.
....Holding both and Aimar in her arms, she smiled widely.
...She seed happy being around her family.
"....."
But...
....Perhaps she could have been happier if she didn't have us.
....Maybe then her life would have been better.
....Maybe I took her happiness—.
"....Sigh." I closed my eyes as I felt my vision becoming blurred.
....Why am I tripping the first thing in the morning?
.... Opening my eyes, I looked at her once again.
"....Why did you burden with such responsibility, mother?"
I couldn't help but ask, even though I knew she wouldn't respond.
....Still, I waited for the response...as I kept looking at her.
"....."
....Placing the fra back on the table before getting up from the ground.
Walking out of my room, I moved towards the adjacent room before entering inside.
"..."
And the first thing I saw was Aimar sleeping like a horse, half-naked.
"Wake up, little bitch!!" Walking closer, I exclaid, kicking his butt.
"... Arghh." He groaned in pain before his half-open eyes looked at , "...Five minutes."
"Aimar, wake up, or I will motorboat your nipples." I warned him with a smile, extending both my hands.
I know it's weird to say sothing like this to your twin, but...
"I fucking hate you." He grumbled, glaring at as he sat straight on the bed.
It works like a charm.
"...Get ready, or we will be late again." Saying so, I walked out of his room.
....Only to find Ethan in front of .
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