The room echoed softly with the chimes of a grandfather clock, signaling the approach of evening. Lady Yumiko, dressed in an elegant gown that seemed to hark back to their noble past, entered the room. The weight of their lineage, evident in her poised demeanor, was a stark contrast to the simple surroundings of their current farmhouse abode.
"Ryoko, Kai," she began, her voice firm yet gentle, "I think it's time we had a talk about our world and our place in it."
The two siblings exchanged a curious glance. They had many questions about this strange, new world and their unexpected life as farmers. Their mother's decision to share knowledge seemed like a welcome one.
Yumiko took a deep breath, "Many years ago, our family was one of the most influential noble households in this region. But due to certain events and political intrigues, we lost our status, our lands, and our privileges."
Kai interjected, "That's why we're living in this...farmhouse?"
"Yes," Yumiko nodded. "We had to start over, build from scratch. But it's not just about the past. It's about understanding our world, its rules, and its workings."
Ryoko tilted her head, twirling a strand of her hair, a gesture indicating she was deep in thought. "So, we're like... peasants now?"
Lady Yumiko chuckled softly, "Not exactly, dear. We still have some remnants of our old wealth, and some in the town still respect our old lineage. However, we've adapted to our farmer roles. It's an honest living, and it keeps us grounded."
Kai, his curiosity piqued, asked, "How does this world work, though? Is it different from m-?" Kai stopped as he realized he nearly slipped out....it's a bad thing kai needed to avoid
Yumiko sighed, choosing her words carefully, "Our world is a land governed by magic, alliances, and old bloodlines. Some families, like ours, possess latent abilities, traces of magic passed down through generations. There are kingdoms, empires, guilds, and countless mysteries waiting to be uncovered."
"But for now," she added, "understanding our immediate surroundings, your town, your farm, and your neighbors is crucial. You should look the world on your perspectives. We have a unique blend of our past noble lives and our current simpler existence. It's essential to balance both."
The siblings nodded.
Ryoko shifted from foot to foot, her eyes darting around as if gathering courage. Then, in a sweet voice that held a hint of suggestion and shyness, she said, "Onii-chan, wanna, you know, hang out or somethin'? Like, just the two of us?"
As she spoke, her fingers played with the hem of her dress, tugging at it gently. She looked up at him through her long lashes, a hopeful glint in her eyes. Her head tilted slightly to the side, lips pouting just a bit, making the request seem both endearing and earnest.
Ryoko was a 12-year-old girl with black hair that had a cool silver streak on one side. It was a bit special because you'd only spot that streak if you looked closely. Her hair wasn't too long, just touching her shoulders.
Her eyes were the coolest part: they were this deep purple color. If you stared into them, you'd feel like there was a lot she wasn't telling you. Sometimes, they had this far-off, twinkly look, like a sky full of stars.
She mostly wore simple dresses in light colors, like soft purples or creams. Around her neck, she always had this moon-shaped necklace. It was an old thing she got from her family. If you paid attention, it glowed a bit in the dark, which was neat.
She moved smoothly, like she knew exactly where everything was. But when she was with her family, especially her brother Kai, she acted just like any fun, happy kid would
Ryoko, eyes wide with enthusiasm, swiftly opened up her tablet. As the screen lit up, she gave an anticipatory bounce, her feet lifting off the ground for just a second.
Kai, observing her with curiosity, tilted his head and asked, "What's that you've got there?"
She responded by puffing up her cheeks, a hint of mischief in her eyes, then exhaling dramatically, her fingers deftly dancing across the screen. "It's a life slate, Onii-chan! Super useful!"
Kai leaned in, intrigued by the device. "Life slate?"
Ryoko nodded energetically, her ponytail swishing with the motion. With one hand cradling the slate and the other pointing towards various icons, she began her bubbly exposition, "Yep! This little thingy helps us keep track of our innate abilities! You know, the special skills everyone in this world has?"
Pausing for effect, her eyebrows wiggled playfully. "It's also great for communication, learning, and even gaming!" With a flick, an intricate game interface appeared on the screen.
Kai blinked, taken aback. "Wait, gaming? Here? And is that interface... like a smartphone app?"
Kai didn't bother blending in front of her since he can easily mangae her.....and sugercoat to her
Ryoko giggled, covering her mouth with one hand, the other still holding the life slate. "Well, kinda! It is a life a smartphone but premium....onni-chan You can call me when You feel lonely too." She replied exictely
Kai's brows knitted in confusion, "But... how? This seems so... medieval. And, by the way, what year is this?"
She twirled a strand of hair around her finger, "Oh, it's 2205 AD, why does it matter though"
Kai's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "2205? But everything looks so... retro."
"Ah, well..." Ryoko hesitated, drawing circles on the floor with the tip of her shoe. "Actually, it's not about the year. It's, um, more about our budget? Okaa-san believes in simple living. She says materialistic things cloud our judgment."
Kai, intrigued by the device, navigated to the camera function. Spotting Ryoko's unsuspecting form, he playfully raised the tablet, positioning her in the frame.
Seeing the lens pointed at her, Ryoko's eyes widened a touch. Her cheeks took on a gentle hue of pink as she instinctively brought a hand up to her face, fingers splayed slightly, peeking through the gaps with those big, expressive eyes. "Eh?! Onni-chan, what are you doing? You can't take secret photos of me"
Kai smirked, about to snap the photo, but then his finger paused just above a button on the screen he hadn't noticed before.
Kai, curious and somewhat distracted by Ryoko's cute protest, pressed the unfamiliar button. Instantly, the screen's visuals shifted, and to his shock, it seemed to show an x-ray version of the scene in front of him. Kai's eyes widened in shock as the screen displayed something entirely unexpected. Beneath the image of Ryoko, there was a softer, more delicate outline, hinting at the contours of her undergarments.
His face turned a shade of deep crimson not prepared for this "Wha- What the...?!" he stammered, hastily shutting off the function, the weight of what just happened sinking in.
Ryoko, unaware of the tablet's unintended display, tilted her head, asking with genuine concern, "Onii-chan, is everything okay?"
"Did you have some button in when you opened camera function" He asked...
Ehh?! Let me see," she murmured, her voice barely audible. Her fingertips brushed against the screen, scrolling through the functions. When she couldn't find the same function, her eyes widened.
"Wait... why doesn't mine have that feature?" There was a faint pout on her lips, paired with a look of genuine confusion.
Kai, feeling a bit trapped and not wanting to tread on thin ice, handed her tablet back. "I don't know. Maybe it's just different settings?"
As Ryoko went on about the unfamiliar feature, a notification slid into Kai's screen's top edge, grabbing his attention momentarily. "New User Detected. Please Register."
Kai subtly tapped on the notification, ensuring Ryoko didn't catch a glimpse. A prompt appeared, asking for a name. He hesitated for a second but entered "Kai" without drawing attention to the process.
The slate vibrated softly, confirming the registration. The screen then flashed, "Welcome, Kai."