Minutes after I woke up, Ellen called us downstairs to eat. The table was noisy and chaotic with the boys catching up with the twins and with the adults gossiping. Iriya probably found the noise irritating as she looks kind of pissed. Across us is Iris eating slowly while hugging her adorable pink bear.
But of course, their unnecessary babying and doting towards me isn't out of the picture. I cannot blame them though, I'd do the same of I were them. Helshyre is just really that adorable and pretty. However, having the consciousness of a socially awkward 18 years old girl, I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable and shy.
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As everyone's getting ready to sleep, Iriya suddenly wailed. The adults immediately came to rushing towards the kitchen. Being the nosy person that I am, I went outside the bedroom to listen to the drama clearly.
"Dear, what happened?" asked the concerned mother.
"Iris... Iris hit me." Iriya answered between her sobs.
"Iris, did you do it?" Hezmyrr asked Iris calmly.
"I-I didn't." she answered.
"Liar! Look at this!" Iriya belied her claims.
I purposely dropped my handkerchief downstairs and went to pick it up. The boys who just came back from washing their hands and feet were lurking at the kitchen's door. Hezborn and Hezmyrr stood behind Ellen who kneeled down to examine Iriya's wrist with a red mark. The twins stood behind Iris with each of their hand on her shoulder.
"Iris, why did you hit your sister?" Ellen turned to Iris, there's a hint of disappointment in her voice.
"I really didn't." Iris answered with her tears threatening to fall from her eyes.
"Iris lying is bad. Violence is even worse." Ellen lectured her.
"Iriya, what happened?" Hezborn asked with a serious look on his face.
I just realized that I never saw Hezborn wear that expression. He's always either in a smiley or his silly goofy mode.
'It's scary.'
"I just hugged her bear because I thought it was cute but she got mad and hit me with the laddle." Iriya explained wiping her tears.
"Iris, apologize to Iriya right now." Hezborn ordered.
Iris wailed as soon as she saw Hezborn's expression. The twins immediately tried to comfort her.
"S-sorry" Iris said between her cries.
"Grandpops, wipe that look on your face. You scared her." Aiden told Hezborn off.
"Shh, Iris don't cry. He's not mad. You're not mad are you, right Grandpops?" Aidan comforted Iris, glaring at Hezborn.
Hezborn panicked and went to Iris.
"I'm sorry dear, I'm not mad alright? I'm just a bit disappointed okay? Ya did something wrong, I just wanted ya to apologize." said Hezborn in a gentle tone, attempting to comfort Iris.
Iris continued to sob, hugging Aidan's leg.
"My, my, Iris dear. Hush... Nobody's mad, we just want you to realize your fault." Hezmyrr said as he approached Iris who refused to part from his brother's leg.
"B-but I didn't really do anything wrong. Sister is lying." Iris protested.
"No, you're lying! Look at this!" Iriya showed her wrist as she cried once more.
Ellen sighed. "Now, now, let's talk it out again tomorrow. It's getting late. Iris I want you to reflect on your behavior. You're sleeping on Iriya's bed tonight."
"But mom-" Aiden protested.
"Iriya dear, you sleep with us tonight." Ellen said as she picked Iriya up.
"What?" Ellen uttered as Hezmyrr's face showed dissatisfaction.
"Even if Iris didn't do anything today, Iriya's still going to sleep with us. It's been so long, don't you miss your daughter?" she explained.
"But dear, you know Iris' constitution. What if she suddenly has seizure in the middle of the night? You know we shouldn't be complacent just because she didn't have any seizures this past few months." Hezmyrr reasoned.
"I was about to say that." said Aiden.
Ellen paused for a few moment to think things through. "Alright, Iris dear, you'll be sleeping with us tonight but only if you apologize to your sister and only of you let her borrow your bear for a while."
Iris wiped her tears and held out her bear towards Iriya. "I-I'm sorry big s-sister."
Iriya grabbed the bear without saying a word.
"Great job Iris, now no more fighting okay?" Hezmyrr said.
"Don't be sad now Iriya. Your big brothers prepared a present for you." Aidan comforted Iriya.
"You idiot, it was supposed to be a surprise." Aiden elbowed him.
"Really?" Iriya asked.
"Yes of course." Aiden answered.
'Whew, they handled it really well.'
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It's kind of refreshing seeing how the Frost family handle a child's fight. Although they clearly have their own favorite out of the two, they never let it cloud their judgement that much. Iriya still got the apology she deserves and got the bear as a compensation. Although it would be nice if the Frost never showed any favoritism. Favoritism is a child's greatest friend and their siblings' greatest enemy.
Back in my previous world, me and my siblings fought and argued occasionally. We always found a reason to argue over everything. But even since we were kids, we were never thought to apologize whenever we did something wrong. We were only thought not to repeat the same mistake again.
It was always just 'What did you do? Why did you do it?' and 'Don't do it again.' then followed by a series of nag. No 'Say sorry' or whatsoever. It was probably the reason why me and my siblings grew up with such high prides and ego.
Crying was viewed as annoying in the household too. Whenever we cried, our parents would always told us to stop because of how annoying it was. That's how we started bottling up our emotions.
And as we grow up, we've uncovered a lot of our differences. Differences we failed to overcame, subconsciously distancing our hearts from each other. Before we knew it, we're already like a stranger to each other. Strangers cohabitating.
But that's just from my own perspective. It's just probably me who drifted away from them. I was holding on too much to the old us that I was overwhelmed with how much the time had passed and how much each of us changed.
It's really bothering me how I can't seem to miss them. I always wonder how they're doing but I don't really feel a sense of longing. But I guess it's for the best. It's another weight lifted off my shoulders.
But that doesn't mean I have no attachments in my previous world. I love my cats and my dogs more than I did myself. My furry sunshines. I miss my privacy too. My comfort zone. Of course the modern technology too. Everyday felt like a torture without the modern technology. How I wish this world has phones and internet.
I've been trying so hard to adjust on my new environment. It still all feel surreal. I'm not even sure whether what to feel about this whole thing yet.
I sighed. 'Again, getting sentimental all of a sudden.'
It's already past 11 and I'm still very awake. I wanted to sleep but I'm not sleepy, not even a bit. The kids are already fast asleep. I wonder how can they sleep again after sleeping this afternoon. Hezborn and the twins are sleeping in the living room.
I wanted some fresh air, however, there's not a single window in the room. I gently opened and closed the door to the bedroom. I tiptoed downstairs, all the way to the front door then slowly opened the door.
I sighed in relief seeing Hezborn and the twins sleeping soundly. I then slowly closed the door as I went outside.
'It's probably fine if I just stay close to the house.'
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The full moon was shining bright along with the beautiful starlight. There's no light pollution in this place so the night sky is very clear. It's the first time I've ever seen such a beautiful sight at night.
The trees stood firm as their leaves and branches were dancing with the wind. The surrounding was very quiet that the sound of the bugs and crickets seemed so loud. Even the cold air that brushed against my skin was pleasant.
At times like this, it feels good to be alive. But it's the best time for overthinking too.
I just need food and a bonfire then everything would be perfect.
'Wait, fire?'
The dream I had before flashed on my mind. I looked at my palms and pondered.
'Maybe I can. Well, it doesn't hurt to try.'
I headed towards the forest cautiously. I looked back and saw the house in the distance.
'This is probably far enough.'
"Take a deep breath and focus. Feel your energy flowing through your veins then to your hands."
I took a deep breath and focused my mind on feeling my energy.
'Wait, how is energy supposed to feel?'
Oddly enough, I felt a warm sensation flowing through my body almost immediately. I almost panicked but managed to collect myself.
"Now imagine a flame arising from your palm."
'Flame, flame...flame'
I flinched when a flame suddenly appeared on my palm. I shook my palm several times in panic but the flame never wavered. I even tried blowing it but it also did nothing.
'Damn it! How do I put this off?'
It feels really warm. However, my mind is yelling 'Fire! Danger! Danger!'.
'Thankfully it isn't big.'
I panicked once more when the flame grew bigger.
'Oh no stop stop stop!'
"Uh...?" I uttered when the flame stopped growing.
"Disappear"
The flame immediately disappeared.
'What the Flame!'
I stood still for a minute with my mouth hanging open in awe. The panic I felt earlier was replaced with excitement and joy.
'Alright, calm down Yumi.'
I breathe deeply before attempting to summon the flame again. I was overjoyed when I did it successfully.
'Hold on.'
I closed my eyes and imagined the flame taking the shape of a cat. I slowly opened my eyes. I immediately covered my mouth to suppress my squeal.
'Holy Fire! This is freaking cool.'
However it just feels so warm.
'Can it even burn something?'
I immediately looked for a small grass. I bent down and pointed my index finger towards the grass. A flame then appeared from the tip of my finger and immediately lit up, no, devoured the small grass.
'Ah, shall I ditch everyone and just become a superhero? I'd have to think of a cool name first. How about Firegirl?'
"Fucking lame."
'Blaze, Ms. Blaze, Ember, Inferno, Girl on Fire, Firewoman...'
"Huh?" I uttered when I heard a rustle on my back.
A chill immediately ran through my spine.
'In horror movies, you shouldn't look back at times like this. Nevertheless...'
I sighed in relief when I saw nothing suspicious, just some tall whateverchumacallit plants and trees.
"Come to think of it..."
In my dream, Helshyre's dad was able to summon flames from the ground. I'd love to try it too. However, it's too dangerous. What if I end up burning the whole forest to ashes?
Helshyre's power, I'm not familiar with it yet.
'Huh? Did the plant just moved?'
I'm almost certain it swayed. The wind's not even that strong. Was I just hallucinating?
'Weird...This is just weird.'
Why does it seems like, those plants and trees...are practically begging to be burned down?
'Let's get out of here.'
I turned around and began walking away.
"BURN IT" said by an oddly familiar voice.
I halted and looked behind me.
No one. Nobody's there. I swear, the voice I heard came from behind.
My heart began to thump loudly. An oddly familiar feeling. Just like those times when I drank a cup of coffee.
"Who-"
I wasn't able to continue my words when the plant began swaying once again.
'I knew it wasn't a hallucination!'
I gulped, anxiety began to devour me.
It feels like, it's begging me to burn them down. Moreover, I can't move my feet.
'Mother!'
I struggled to pull my feet from the ground. Something's holding me to the ground. No, it's the ground itself!
I helplessly closed my eyes.
'Please let this be a dream. Please...'
"BURN IT!"
There it goes again. The voice...
I tried fighting my fear and slowly opened my eyes. The plant was still swaying.
I began sweating like crazy when I heard another rustling. It's like a beast approaching its prey and that prey is me.
"NOW!"
I had no time to think and acted on impulse when something lunged towards me. The fire immediately scattered to the forest. I smelled something funny but all I can think was to put off the fire.
'Stop, stop, please...'
It's spreading uncontrollably. However, I never felt hot. It's so warm that it feels so comforting.
At any rate, everyone's gonna wake up. Even the neighbors a few kilometers away.
'I should probably calm down first.'
I took a deep breath to calm myself.
'Stop'
The flame disappeared without any traces, as if it was never there in the first place. The plants, trees, the ground and even me was untouched.
My knees gave out. I was left sitting in the ground trying to process whatever the heck just happened. The voice never spoke again.
'What was all that? A hallucination?'
It doesn't really make sense. The fire was so big that it could devour a house in an instant. So how come everything never sustained neither damage nor burns?
'Are my dreams starting to merge in my reality now? No, this is not even my reality.'
This smell...I guess I was too preoccupied to even notice the smell.
I don't think it's even a good idea to look what's behind the bushes where the funny smell is coming from. But come to think of it, something was definitely lunging at me earlier. If everything wasn't a mere hallucination, then something should definitely be in there.
Whatever is it, curiosity is getting the best out of me. I collected myself and got up. I slowly walked towards the bushes.
'It's definitely coming in there.'
The closer I got, the stronger the smell gets. I stopped in front of the bushes and breathe deeply.
"Okay, here it is."
I froze right on the spot when I saw what's behind the bushes.
'Oh no...'
I immediately ran out of the forest.
'That can't be...How can I?'
"Mayumi? What are you doing outside?" asked Rykan who just got outside the house.
I was catching my breath when I entered the door.
"Are you okay? What happened?" he asked worriedly.
No I'm not. More importantly, behind the bushes lies a severely burnt and lifeless body of a muscular and tall person. The first ever person I killed.