Reiko was sat on a beanbag slowly drinking her tea while listening to her two children talk, if it could be called that.
"You should have used rune-smithing, it's much less expensive and also looks elegant!", snapped Chie.
"Not everyone can utilise a rune! It takes very precise mana control to not cause an accident, not to mention you need to understand how to activate the rune in the first place. Plus, it's extremely time-consuming to make because it needs to be carved flawlessly otherwise it won't work at all.", retorted Akito.
For the last 10 minutes, Chie and Akito had been going back and forth about the way he decided to complete his university project. Chie was arguing that he should completed the task by using rune-smithing for the flask rather than enchanting a sapphire, after all, in her eyes it was a complete waste of a perfectly good sapphire. Akito on the other hand was adamant that his way of completing the task was better, after all not everyone has precise enough mana control to be able to utilise runes. His way allowed for easier use for the average person, since everyone could do something as simple as refilling the mana stored in the gem which kept the enchantment running and the flask refilling.
Reiko didn't particularly feel like joining this debate but still commented internally 'There are loads of ways of completing that assignment, it wasn't even necessary to use a gem for the enchantment… However, Akito doesn't know that yet, it is something that only the few most skilled in magic engineering could achieve in the first place. Humans haven't come far enough with their research to be able to do something like that yet. Even then it only works with certain metals or materials from magic beasts.'
The two continued to bicker for a while and in the end while Chie admitted that a rune can't be used by the average person off the street, she refused to back down. After all the average person off the street couldn't afford such a magical device in the first place, it was a top-grade magical item which would sell at nearly £800,000. They would have continued this pointless discussion if Reiko didn't stop them.
"Are you two done now? You were at it long enough for me to finish my tea", Reiko was getting a little tired of their back and forth, so she decided to finish it herself.
"Of course, we are done mother, after all there was nothing to debate in the first place since I was right", Akito glared at Chie, daring her to dispute his statement, and she was not someone to take such a clear provocation lying down.
"As if! You think that just bec-."
"Enough."
One word… A single word spoken in a cold, commanding voice made the temperature in the room plummet. Like the final condemning verdict handed down by a supreme court, it was settled, both siblings knew that and abandoned any thoughts of continuing the debate. They didn't even dare to speak another word. Even if they did still have the guts to speak up, that courage quickly would have disappeared like it never existed as soon as they looked at their mother. Their usually gentle, loving mother was looking at them with a stare cold enough to freeze the very hottest of stars completely solid in an instant. They simply sat, in absolute silence.
"Akito, the main reason I came here was to talk to you. I was going to let you finish talking with your sister and wait my turn but your 'Does so', 'Does not' conversation was getting on my nerves... You should not have provoked Chie, the debate was practically over before you did. And Chie, you should not have fallen for such an obvious provocation", Reiko continued to glare, her voice cold and emotionless as she lectured them.
""Sorry mother"", they apologised in unison.
"Great, now then, Akito as I said we need to talk. I suggest you pay attention", an instant after lecturing them she was back to her usual cheery self, at least that's what her voice would make you think, her eyes were still looking at them rather coldly.
'Oh, shit did she find my hidden USB at home? I hope not, that would be so embarrassing! Please no, please, please, please, please, please', Akito would rather drop dead on the spot than have 'that' conversation with his mother right now, especially with his sister here.
"So, have you ever noticed anything strange about yourself, either of your siblings or perhaps myself?", Reiko questioned.
"Huh? That's a bit out of left field, what do you mean", Akito replied, he was confused. Why would his mother bring up such a thing, 'Wait hold on. Why did she say 'strange'? … Should I have noticed something?'
Akito sat in silence for a while looking at his mother slightly dumbfounded and in a little bit of shock, unsure of what to say or think.
"H-hold on a second", he managed to stutter out, "exactly what kind of strange are we talking about here."
"Oh, come on brother it's a simple question, have you ever noticed anything strange? Like, anything at all.", Chie decided to prompt him a little as he was pretty flustered.
"Well let's see... The only thing I can think of is probably my skin, I have never gotten a single spot, ever. I know everyone should get them, but I have never had one at all. Is that something relevant?", Akito managed to get a hold of himself and decided to ask the only thing he could possibly think of.
"Seriously? That's the only thing you noticed? Seriously... Nothing about me or your brother?", she had prompted him and yet this was the best he could come up with, she was a little disappointed to say the least.
"Narcissistic much?", she glared at him and then took out her phone while shaking her head.
"Chie, shut up, please. Let your brother think for himself.", Right now, Reiko wanted him to focus and think about anything that might have been strange about any of them. Chies comments would achieve nothing aside from annoying him.
'Let's see…' Although Akito wanted to snap at Chie, he held back. After all he hadn't exactly put much thought into it, so he ended up saying something slightly stupid, 'I have unnaturally clear skin, I've also never really gotten ill before. But what else could they possibly be talking about because that is definitely not it.'
He decided to look at his sister and mother, maybe he could get some clues as to what they might be referring to.
'Come to think of it, has sis ever really aged? I swear she looks the same she did as back when I was ten… That is also true in my mother's case, I never really thought about it. I just thought they looked after themselves well, but it's simply impossible for sis to look 20ish when she is 36 this year now. Mother's case is even stranger, she is 56 yet she doesn't look a day older than 30.'
"Is it something to do with how you two haven't aged a day for as long as I can remember?", Akito summarised his thoughts.
"I suppose it is yes… Tell me, what do you know about this world? And more specifically about humans", Reiko decided to nudge his thoughts in the right direction, although he was getting there slowly, she didn't want to be here all day.
"About the world and humans specifically? Well, let's see... The world has changed since the introduction of mana long ago, humans became able to utilise this mana but it didn't change them in any significant way, at least in terms of evolution that is. We are very similar to the way we were before, the only differences in terms of ageing are that humans with stronger mana are less prone to becoming ill, and live a few decades longer", Akito decided that thinking out loud would be the best course of action.
"Humans with exceptional mana may live longer it isn't to such an extent that 16 years difference would not show up on either of you."
"Correct-amundo", Chie smiled a little and glanced at her mother with a smirk, however all she got in return was a slightly irritated glare.
"Chie stop interrupting unless you want me to shut you up personally."
"Ok, I will shut up now."
"Wait, but the only thing that could affect it to that extent would be if you two weren't human…", suddenly Akito's head snapped up, he had been looking down while thinking. "Hold on..."
After saying that Akito was silent for a while and his face went through a wide variety of expressions which made Reiko wonder what thoughts could possibly cause so many different feelings.
Eventually, Akito looked his 'mother' right in the eyes and took a deep breath.
"God damn… I never thought I was adopted."