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As the Hag disappeared down the hallway, I flopped onto Nicolas' palm with a sigh.
"That was one tough opponent," I said, craning my neck 180° to look at the angelic copy of Niveus. Nicolas' smile shrunk and now appeared heavier.
"That hag was sniffing something illegal on this planet, probably a whole load of crap. We don't mind them; we spray pest repellent on them, you know," I ranted in my own language.
These are the times when I wished I had a human voice.
In my opinion, Nicolas surpasses Niveus in both looks and personality. Even though they are brothers who resemble each other, they are polar opposites. Niveus does things out of responsibility, while Nicolas does things out of pure kindness.
Unless that witch keeps spouting nonsense.
Nicolas burst into fits of laughter, leaving me dumbfounded. He lost his balance, and we ended up on the floor as he struggled to catch his breath against the wall.
"What was that about?"
He wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and smiled at me.
"You are so funny, Leona."
I blinked and tilted my head.
"I am funny? That's how I thin—
The realization hit me like a concrete brick.
'What did he just sayyyy?' My mouth opened wider than half my body.
"Can you really understand me?" I asked.
He sighed oug a laugh and nodded.
We were frozen for a moment. The chilly wind passed, and what felt like forever was an awkward silence between us. Two lost causes couldn't find a word to bridge the gap.
"So... how do—"
"It's a power I've had since birth."
I nodded. I am not surprised; how could I be? Just a few months ago, I was rotting in my room, and now I am a cute little kitten.
Actually, I've accepted that I am crazy and this world is a manifestation of my craziness.
Another unbroken silence.
"Shit!" I bumped my fist on the floor regretfully. Crying internally "I have been cussing in front of a child. How could I? Shame on me," I muttered dramatically to myself, then looked up at him.
"You didn't hear anything I said earlier," I said, trying to use hypnosis just in case I had a talent for that.
"Oh, that?" He tilted his pretty head and thought. "No, I didn't, I assure you."
Blushing crimson under my black fur, I just nodded. He is so understanding. Like I said, I like him better.
"Don't listen to her. She may be an adult, but she is an idiot," I said.
"Well... she is my teacher. You shouldn't say it like that. She may be harsh, but she is worried about me," he said.
"She is not worried about anything, trust me, buddy," I said as I settled beside Nicolas and chatted like two old friends talking about life problems."she is only worried about herself, her polished image"
"How can you be so sure? She is a very respected woman in society."
"That is absolutely why she is so anxious about everything. Making you into " Ideal" Person like Crown Prince, so the society bow down to her." I said "she just want to use others for her own gain, she isn't concerned at all"
"But society is made of people who knows better. They are adult"
"I know it very well. Many grown-ups are just filled with absolute bullcrap. You don't have to pay heed to them," I said. "If you just observe them, you will realize how stupid, plain, and boring they are. They are all dancing to the same pattern, going through the same loop over and over again, copying each other mindlessly. All while being jealous of others' success and power. Have you ever seen them genuinely happy about something others have achieved, unless they are profiting from it?"
"Umm..."
"Society is only good when you flourish among them, but if they start suffocating you, you must know when to leave that circle. What's so nice about being miserable with a bunch of miserable people?"
"What's so good about that? Being like one of them or being like the Crown Prince?" I sighed a sarcastic laugh. "Why should you? You are a different person. You think differently, you feel differently, you have different struggles and different talents. So why? You have every right to be yourself and be better."
"But my brother is so much better than me."
"Of course, since he grew up learning things that interested him," I said. "You can do the same with the things you actually enjoy, and you have much time for that."
"What should I do then? I don't know anything."
I patted his hand. "It's even better that you don't know. You can explore many possibilities that they never did," I said. "Those who have concreted their beliefs are 'gone' cases. They don't learn. They don't grow. They don't change. Stuck in a loop, driving themselves crazy and making others' lives insufferable. Why would you listen to zombies? They don't speak the language of life."
"The language of life?"
"Yeah... to change. Isn't everything living constantly changing its form? Only the dead remain the same—dead," I said. "Brain dead."
Am I having a deep conversation with a 9/10-year-old?
No. These are my past life's desires. I wanted to say this to my little brother, who was abused in the same way Agatha is abusing Nicolas. Who believed that he was incompetent because of me constantly comparing him to others.
I was an Agatha to my baby brother. Frustrated about things I couldn't accomplish and wanted to achieve them through my brother.
The situation with Nicolas reminded me of myself and him. My heart tinged with pain and disappointment that I was too slow to notice until this scenario unfolded like a mirror peeking at my past self.
My pathetic self.
No wonder he hated me.
"Will I end up like them? Like Teacher?"
Nicolas has the same innocence as him.
"Stupidity IS contagious."
Nicolas' eyes widened in fear. "What should I do then?"
"HOWEVER, use your legendary power as a child," I told him.
"What legendary powers?"
"Be a tattletale, snitch on her," I said, empowering him.
"But snitching is a bad habit."
"All the adults are serial snitchers if you haven't noticed," I told him. "Just be what you are."
"A tattletale?"
"Hah!" I rolled my eyes. "A child. Before you grow up, have some fun, Ryan," I said as I stretched my body and yawned.
He nodded and jumped to his feet. Before turning to me, he asked, "Is it really okay?"
I nodded, giving him a thumbs-up.
I saw him marching toward the other end of the hallway.
"Great. I just corrupted a kind child, and I don't even regret it," I patted my shoulders.
As I walked through the deserted hallway, I felt an ominous presence behind me, followed by the sound of metal-clad footsteps.
Something clanged against the floor hard, nearly making me jump out of my skin.
As I turned, I was met with heavy spears blocking my sight.
"Yo MothaFok—" I looked up to see two knights wearing white armor with blue feathers adorning their helmets. My ears perked up as I felt something off.
Something about their sinister gazes.
Cornered in a secluded area of the vast palace, one of them lowered their huge body as the other spoke.
"Hurry before someone comes this way."
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