Crystal was angrily signing about how Maddie needed to be put in her place. She explained what had happened while they were walking, and also a lot of other bottled up things.
I cleared my throat. "When I say 'I', it really means Crystal."
Crystal signed furiously at Maddie, and I translated.
"How dare you threaten Ayro like that! I have tried to be a good friend but all you do is take my kindness and shove it in my face! I'm sorry that you can't seem to get Raven's attention, but that does not mean that you should be rude to me or Ayro! You are being a TERRIBLE friend!"
I looked at Crystal, who was a bit calmer than she was a second ago.
"Did I get everything?" I asked. She nodded and signed a quick thank you.
Maddie, on the other hand, looked very upset.
Crystal walked towards me, pulling me aside, along with Alex.
"I need to tell Alex something, and you have to translate," Crystal signed. I was always very interested in sign language. It was a way for people to communicate without speaking. ASL is technically more American than English is. ASL is a language that was invented in America, unlike English, which was spoken in England, far before it was spoken in America. I should get back on track! I'm so distracted today, its unreal.
Anyway, Crystal explained what the doctor had said to her. It was a story about a young couple who's children were dying in the womb. One of the Forbidden Arts was used to keep them alive. The spirits of evil creatures called Shadow Dwellers were captured and trapped inside Crystal and Alex's minds. The most powerful ones can be heard as voices, while others can make feelings of anger and any violent behavior escalate out of control, as well as spiking up paranoia. But, it also comes with some perks. This includes longer life spans, and abilites of the trapped Shadow Dwellers. Crystal only had time to learn about her situation specifically, and not about other, similar things.
"You must think I'm crazy," Crystal signed. She scratched the back of her neck nervously. I shook my head.
"You're not. And I know this, because I'm not an ordinary person. I'm unordi- I mean- inordinary. I'm sorry, my words aren't working. You'll have to come back later." I struggled to speak. This is common among my people who try to reveal our species secrets to outsiders.
"English.exe has stopped working," Alex commented. I glared at him.
"Not funny, Alex," I said sternly. I looked over at Crystal, who was holding in laughter.
"It'll be easier to write down what I have to say."
I walked into the tent that I shared with Alex, writing down everything I wanted to say. It took me a while to word everything how I wanted to, but it would be worth it. It would be easier to read everything off of a paper than reading it out loud. I stuck my head out of the tent, and motioned for Crystal and Alex to come inside. I read off of the paper, stuttering once in a while.
"The origin of my last name comes from my people. I'm an Animus Holder. this means that a strange power is trapped inside me. this is... is called an Animus. It reveals itself when an Animus's body ages to 20. Animus Holders age 10 times slower than humans do. and my 200'th birthday is in two days. so I'll be summoned to the Animus Grounds, and be placed into a category in my society. Then, based on my Animus and ability it comes with, how long I must train is determined. I will then be returned to where I was summoned from. The main goal of the Animus holders is getting rid of shadow dwellers, and if their soul survives, they are placed within a willing human participant. You two were a victim of this, but it happened to save your lives."
Alex and Crystal stared at me in shock.
"You're 200 years old?" Alex asked.
"That's what you got out of my explanation?"
"Someone who is about 11 times my age has been flirting with me nonstop for weeks," he said dramatically, "11 times my age."
Crystal's eyes lit up.
"That reminds me..." she signed, taking something out of her pocket, and handing it to Alex. I couldn't see what it was, but it made Alex's face turn beet red.
"I'm not going to use this," he said.
"Tell him that he should thank me, and he will use it," she signed.
I said exactly that, adding my own question at the end.
"What did she give you?"