eleven years ago, the blizzard and cold wind enveloped around the Northern region. A harsh winter wherein two boys were born inside the Vacarella castle. The older one was born twenty five minutes early. Without inheriting any of the traits of Vacarella; having burgundy eyes and hair. The youngest on the other hand managed to inherit it all.
In terms of skills. Laxus has a strong aura and immense talent in swordmanship, but weak in verse of magic which opposites Lexus. However being twins and all they still have similarity to each other. Their face and them being the sunshine to Patrice.
However, she hid them for three years before she chose to let the twins run along with their cousins. The child who was bubbly like Lexus slowly starts to change and no one knows the reason why it happened.
He no longer smiles and he hides himself to his own family, rarely joining them in. Even if he was with them it feels like Lexus is hiding something from her. Everyone in their own manor was confused, Patrice couldn't do anything but to watch how her son slowly drifts away from her and it happened seven years ago.
The only thing that didn't change must be the twins bonding over mischief.
"The reason he never shows himself is..." Wren paused, everyone is. His burgundy hair covering his eyes concealed his cloudy emotions. He stayed still, slightly shaking and his own breath hitched.
'careless... careless of me...'
it sounds bitter for someone like him. He tried very hard to not let it discovered. Unpredictable. That is the only word that Lexus could think of. His ears ringing inside followed by malicious words he heard before.
"If ya don't fix yourself. I hafta throw ya off here!" Laxus shouts as he shakes Lexus vigorously. His face grim, he too, had forgotten what he looks like.
"this is no time for standin' and lookin' stupid!" he added. Lexus flinches until his emotionless face stares at him.
He tilts his head and looks at his brother whom he never looked in the eye before. However, this is different and he wouldn't want to repeat it in the future. He whisked away his hand and raised his hood covering his head once again.
"Forget whatever you saw." he said calmly, hiding his agitated mind as he leap up to the dragon.
His plan is a mess. More than that, he knows some people saw him without the hood. Lexus then pulled out the sword on its back, inserting mana on the blade as he slashed the dragon with it on the wings.
Lexus then chanted a spell to float above the dragon.
"That bastard interrupted my sleep," Cervi said listlessly, "You have to sort out your priorities." Lexus mumbles with irritation then attacks the dragon again.
Because of Laxus and Cervi's heavy damage on the dragon earlier, it was easy for Lexus to immobilize it. Lexus then ready himself to kill it when someone appears right in front of him. A thin smile spread across his face as he looked at Lexus while floating in the air.
"Your highness..."
"Good work, Lexus. We will handle it from here. It will make a nice pet." It was none other than Prince Asterion who just arrived with his knights. His eyes gleamed in excitement as he leaned in closer to Lexus.
A pet?
Everyone can already guess what he intends to do with it and they are already in tears and praying silently. No good comes whenever Prince Asterion takes interest in something.
"That's not all, isn't it?" a vague question with a knowing smile.
at that moment he sighs in resignation. Even if he knows he will not say it nor press the matter, since the prince is that kind of person.
"Lexus..." Wren called with a worried expression and the indifferent kid, the prince, is looking at him in a different way.
There is one reason that comes to his mind and that is they saw underneath the hood.
For kids like them to sympathize with the teens like him is something... embarrassing and somehow irritating. He doesn't want to see those kinds of expressions from them.
'I can hear them again.'
Even if his eyes closed he can picture out everything.
"You shouldn't hide under the hood." she said which made him sigh.
he kind of expected that this kind of words from Wren. If he wasn't mistaken the next thing she would say...
"why don't you kill whoever insults you?"
it was a cold thing for her to say; she started acting like a Vacarella and not the kid he met four years ago and it surprised him. Like how she suddenly ordered that harsh punishment to the botique owner who insulted Aria.
"are you guys an idiot?" her question stunned Lexus. Asking him whether he was an idiot was totally uncalled for.
"eh?"
"Master you hurt his feelings." arms suddenly envelop around his neck, tightening as if blocking the air, a cold breath was being blown behind his ears. Sending shivers to his weakened body.
"... you should worry more about my anger, Cervi." indeed the spirit Wren summoned is not showing her anger, instead, she is smiling widely when hugging her brother, by the neck.
this scene was being ignored by the 1st prince who was busy examining the immobilized dragon on the ground. Lexus cast a sleeping spell after they landed. His eyes lit up in excitement.
"Seriously, you shouldn't be scared of what others say about you. Even if you change into the way they want, they still have something to say to you."
is this even a 7-year-old would say? These are the thoughts of the knight Milla, Aaron and Theo as they heard her advice to Lexus. Not only the knights were touched with Wren's words. Prince Zairon was rooted in his spot and stared at Wren.
Just like Lexus and Aria—Prince Zairon was also one of their gossips. He just pretends he hears nothing and does nothing.
"... is that so..." Zairon lowered his head and a small smile crept into his face. Sir Theo did not miss the scene, he also smiled as he finally saw something about the prince.
This made him support Wren for the prince. She unconsciously unlocked another supporter.
Lexus lips opened a little and whispered, "you do not know what they say..."
It's been a long time since everyone see him without the hood. It started by when he heard some nobles at the Palace mention his name and made a malicious remark at him despite being there. But what Wren said to him bring small comfort.
"besides that... that kind of face is a waste to hide it away!"
they all looked dumbfounded and stared at her.
"Master... you don't mean that you're most worried is his face?"
"her priorities are all over." Cervi and the land spirit said. Wren glared and tried to explain herself when she turned around and said, "We should leave."
"Already?" Milla asked when Cervi slumped behind her. Sleeping like a log and he turned back to his original form.
"Oi! Are you serious?! Hey... Hey Aaron help me!" Milla shouted at Aaron who was silently walking away when they heard a soft yawn.
On her shoulders was the unconscious body of Yessenia with Boaife. Everyone thought that Yessenia was in Aaron's arms and they all look at him. Their eyes asking why Yessenia isn't with him.
Aaron pursed his lips as he looked away and fear is eating his system up as he break into cold sweat. He's clueless on how Boaife ended up with Yessenia and tries to think of what should he explain.
*****
(earlier)
Aaron is intrigued with what's happening outside. He saw how fast Wren walks and he's debating whether to follow her. Since he was carrying Yessenia and Theo was blocking outside.
as he was trying to figure it out, a sudden realization hit him.
"Shoot. I am the only one accompanying the young lady." he ran full ahead. No Yessenia in his arms because he carefully laid her on the wall with the spirit.
Of course, the spirit just let him and remembered Boaife in the Library. She dragged him to where Yessenia is and stayed while humming.
So, that covers the forgotten young lady Yessenia.
"Uh..."
"he left the young lady..." Milla said with such a disappointment sigh he ever heard for the day.
"Now carry Cervi and Boaife." Both Wren and Laxus nods. A fitting punishment.
Aaron only sighed in surrender as he carried the two on his back.
"Your Highness we are looking everywhere for you!!" A servant runs towards them, as soon as it sees the dragon it froze.
Prince Asterion smiled with his reaction which earned another horror for the employees.
"do not worry. I can fix all the damages by today." he sounds confident that every servant present looks up to him right now as a dependable prince.
This made Zairon grimace with the sight. Obviously that smile of his means he will do nothing.
Just like him, he also hates doing duties. "hmmm..." he hummed happily at the dragon, then at one snap of his finger, the dragon vanished into thin air.
everyone was quiet and then...
"what did you do to it!??" Wren was curious with what magic he used that caught her attention before leaving. He did not even chant a spell.
Prince Asterion smiled as he turned around, "I will excuse myself. Be careful on your way home."
"hey, you summoned a spirit. Is it fine for you to let her stay here?"
Wren wondered if Zairon had hit his head to ask like this. His question really caught her off-guard. Thinking backwards he was being nice whenever they met.
Thus, the only logical reason came to her mind was...
"He's still grateful because of my mom." even though it only alleviates her symptoms for a short period of time.
Every one can see Wren's thoughts as they sigh. Wondering why their Young Lady is oblivious and if it is the right thing.
"How cute~" the spirit says cheerfully at the sight of the two children. Alas there is nothing more pleasant than to see young love!
"Sister can you go away please. My master might die if you stay..."
the spirit suddenly looks at the sleeping face of his brother as he continued to mumble. She chuckled with such an eerie atmosphere. Aaron felt his hair rise up as he sees the spirit looking menacingly at his spot.
Despite the chaos in their surroundings. Wren answered, "Don't worry. We formed a contract earlier and her name is Adara."
Suddenly, Boaife jolt out of Aaron's grasp and run towards Wren. They were surprised because the phoenix is awake, but it feels like she's in the right state.
"Why?!"
Boaife heard her alright and felt like another headache is coming to her now as her brows creased. She expected it, but was not prepared. No matter how much she warned her not to rashly form a contract with a spirit, she knows she will not listen.
To top it off, she even made a contract with Cervi's sister. She force herself to wake up to nag Wren. But it was futile as she dropped to the ground.
"How come you two are siblings?" Zairon asked Adara.
There is such a huge difference between the two that they have a hard time accepting it.
"Oh, I did not know Cervi has a sister. Is she a foreigner?"
Milla raised her hand and popped a question that buried the first two questions. Her eyes are sparkling in anticipation as she awaits for the answer and everyone froze.
"Cervi's form earlier is different. What is he?"
... Wren tried to think of a plausible answer when Adara yawned and pulled her towards her.
"oh my, looks like she's tired after all. Please excuse us, Your Highness. My master is grateful for letting us in the Imperial Library..."
"w...wait!" he tried to stop Adara, but she is already dragging Wren far from him.
"Somehow, that woman reminds me of my mother back at home." Theo commented.
Zairon then recalled the times Boaife became more like a parent than a pet. Every time she opens her mouth it is about Wren. Maybe Adara will be like Boaife soon.
"..." his mind is wandering further as he unconsciously thought of Wren being the daughter of the phoenix or that other spirit.
he learned that the dragon and the spirits are like siblings, the spirits do have siblings... he shakes his head as his thought being weirder.
Just at the thought of it is making him pale.
"Your Highness... I do hope you are not thinking of anything weird..." Theo sighed and escorted him back inside the Palace.
As soon as Wren came back, they were being greeted by Lady Mavis who was pacing back and forth on the foyer with the Duchess.
"How is she?" luckily, Adara lessened the pain she was feeling.
Meanwhile, Patrice looks at the twins who were silent with an awkward silence. Her motherly instincts tell her something happened between the two of them.
"She gained her unique magic..."
"their unique magic is early to manifest since they mostly experienced death." the Duchess explained which made Wren flinch.
She has a vague feeling that this conversation is going somewhere else.
"let's forbid the kids to go outside until they leave for the academy."
with what the Duchess said, it was being agreed on by the Duke. Upon learning what happened in the Imperial Palace, he smirked at Wren and he spent at least 2 hours having a talk with his daughter—more like he annoyed his daughter.
"it was... nonsense." she said after she came out. Cervi was waiting for her. Adara goes back to the spirit realm since the human world is too boring for her.
It made Boaife happy though. They only slept for atleast half a day.
Wren stopped in her tracks and thinks of something, "reversing time huh. I wonder what the conditions are..."
Cervi's face became dark as his voice became cold, "Master, going back and forth in time is a grave sin."
Wren looked at him. If it was a grave sin, then why Yessenia's wish to reverse time was granted?