"What the hell..."
The world was still, everyone did not move a single inch, their faces were the same.
However...
"Surprising."
The masked girl... No longer has a mask, she had gray eyes like me and fair and smooth pale skin. Her right eye had a weird pattern on them, just focusing my eyes on whatever symbol was on her eyes made me dizzy.
"You don't seem dazed much, as expected..."
Suddenly, she took a step off from where she was standing but then somehow appeared Infront of me.
Whispering in my ear, she added:
"Brother."
"..."
I stood up and looked around, everything was actually still and unmoving.
She silently observed me while I walked around, I looked out the balcony though, people were moving around.
But inside the elders office, Wang Zihan, Zhao Lina, everyone and even the powerful elder...
"Not even blinking. The steam from the elders coffee are frozen, so... "
Somehow I said my thoughts out loud, prompting the young girl who is apparently my sibling, to speak:
" Time is frozen, only in the old man's office. "
She said evenly, as if it was the most easiest thing that a person would have guessed.
"What a powerful ability. And at a young age, she must have awakened huh? But I didn't notice her anywhere when we were at the cave..."
This time I was able to think to myself without blurting it out.
She then walked gracefully and sat on the elders desk, carefree and expressionless.
pretty much just like me...
"I've been waiting for your arrival you know? I've waited too long, actually."
Giving her a long look, I then replied:
" Sorry but... Who are you?"
Though I didn't want to seem rude, I obviously had no idea who she was but I couldn't help it.
I never grew up with siblings after all and I sure as hell am sure who my parents are.
Sigh...
"It is not the time for you to know my name, our bond was broken and you haven't awakened your true power yet."
She said, sounding disappointed as she hopped off the desk and then walked towards me.
She was shorter than me which was comical, if it wasn't because she had the upper hand in power then I would have let out a small chuckle.
"How small..." I thought in my mind.
She halted her steps a bit then continued walking to me until she's right Infront of me.
Raising her hand....
Flick!
Suddenly flicking my forehead, I stepped back because somehow it dizzied me.
' So even a flick from an awakened like her could hurt...'
"What was that for?" I asked, still rubbing the spot where she flicked my forehead.
She let out a huff as she placed her hands on her hips as she looked at me with disdain.
"You were thinking that I was short, little, tiny, and hurts your neck when you looked down, didn't you?!"
Her voice was slightly raised as she glared at me.
" I didn't think of all of that... "
" Oh so you did think I was little? "
"... "
***
Zhao Lina suddenly looked around, confused and a bit dizzy.
The commoners almost fell of their seats and they felt as though they were about to throw up.
Wang Zihan felt nauseous suddenly, but he controlled himself quite well, not showing the sensation he felt on his face.
The girl who was about to take off their mask from behind the elder was suddenly gone.
The elder was confused as well, rubbing his temples and then turned his gaze.
The girl was masked again, but they can somehow vaguely remember the young girls gray eyes...
" What... Happened. "
Yoru was standing up, when did that happen?
He seemed to have a thoughtful look on his face as he looked at the masked girl, he didn't seem affected by the dizzying sensation though.
" Yoru, explain yourself! "
The eldest twin suddenly yelled as he got up from his seat, his face was pale, probably from the effects of regaining consciousness.
Before he could even get a step closer to the young man, who wasn't even looking at him, the elder suddenly shouted:
"Enough!"
The office shook and everyone suddenly felt compelled to get of their seats, lower themselves on the ground and kneel.
Letting out a hoarse huff, he waved his hands.
"All of you, leave, now." He rubbed his temples letting out another huff as he glared at the now masked girl, he then added:
"She'll explain the real reason why you were sent here, just go."
The girl shrugged and gestured for me to follow, but not even sparing a glance at the other youths.
Nevertheless the ten followed as well, Yoru was walking just a few steps behind the girl who is his sister apparently. He looked like he was still contemplating though, making the others think they must've planned something somehow.
Zhao Lina and Wang Zihan were behind Yoru as well, while everyone else was separated by groups.
. . .
After leaving the elders residence, they followed the girl somewhere far from the village.
Arriving at a forest that's not creepy unlike the last time, the commoners were hesitant at first after the previous fiasco but Wang Zihan was able to convince and encourage them.
They followed a trail that the masked girl somehow knew of, then they crossed a river and the finally found...
"A cottage?" One of the girls asked, curious and intrigued, the farmer was marveling at the sight and it's workmanship, saying:
"A big one too, ah I wish I could live in one, one day..."
The masked girl then turned around and faced them, watching their reactions carefully.
Zhao Lina was beside Yoru, along with Wang Zihan and his group of lower nobles and commoners.
The farmer and the two girls followed behind embarrassingly and went to Zhao Lina's side, the three of them still had curious looks.
Finally everyone's attention was on the masked girl.
She then let out a huff.
" You all awakened something horrifying in that clearing, you know damn well what I'm talking about."
A few youths turned their gazes away, but some stares were directed at Yoru.
Hmm wonder who could it be...
Then, the masked girl added, "But that is not my concern... Yet. That will not be of everyone's concern for now, as for why I dragged you eleven kids here, it's because I need all of you to awaken."
Though at first the commoners wanted to say something back to the young girl after she emphasized the " kid" part subtly, their attention was then diverted.
" Awaken? What could she mean?"
"It's too early in the trials to awaken though..."
"Is she nuts?"
"Here I thought she was just some scary girl, she's crazy too!"
"..."
"Bothersome..."
"How exciting!"
Just before they could say anything else, she then pointed to the youth in the middle, Yoru was still spaced out...
" My main priority is him, I don't care how long it will take, you all will find out yourself how to awaken. I'll help of course, but be prepared for a beating!"
Everyone was forced to gulp a lump down their throat at the sudden threat of being beaten up.
Usual those commoners wouldn't be scared since it's coming from someone shorter than them, but maybe that's why they were scared?
Taking one last glance at Yoru who's still thinking about something, she sighed and invited everyone inside her large cottage.
* * *
The odd feeling...
Back when she flicked my forehead harshly with her finger, something felt hot and electrifying for some reason.
Normally I would've not cared, but for some reason I sensed some weird emotion...
– You were thinking that I was short, little, tiny, and hurts your neck when you looked down, didn't you!?
– Oh so you did think I was little?
Something felt odd about her though.
It's like we've had such a conversation before, but we've never met? And the sudden mother and father thing... And her? My sister?
Sure she looks like me but...
Familiar...
Yes that's the weird feeling of familiarity... But... Something else?
...
Though not realizing it.
A siblings bond...
Such a precious thing.
Yoru may not have realized it... Yet.
But fate has already brought the two together.