Chapter 4: A Lore Heavy Bathtime

“Stop splashing. It’s wasting water.” Zone said.

“Isn’t Sol going to provide money for the village? That’s why we’re going on this journey, isn't it? Wasting water isn’t going to be a problem for us from now on, right?” Aria asked.

“Yeah, I think Aria has a point, Zone. We don’t need to worry about that stuff anymore.” Mom said, splashing Zone.

“You guys are too carefree.” Zone said.

“No, you’re just too uptight. Relax, we’re all family here.” Mom said.

“You’re both girls, do you have no shame?” Zone asked, rolling his eyes.

“You’re my brother. I don’t think it matters if you see me. It doesn’t change anything. You’re still going to be my brother.” Aria said, laughing.

“You two are like the guys who say ‘don’t worry, we’re all men here, right?’ Whenever there’s a public bath. Except even more shameless.” Zone said, grumbling.

“If it wasn’t you, I’d be freaking out. But it is you, so why worry?” Aria asked.

“Exactly! Aria is right. Why does it matter so much to you? We’re family. Unless…. you’re thinking something dirty..” mom said, a devious gleam in her eyes.

Aria saw the gleam, and it spread to her, too.

“Yeah, Zooone. What are you thinking about, huh? You wouldn’t have those kinds of thoughts about us, would you?” Aria asked.

The both got up, advancing towards him menacingly, with an evil grin.

“Eek!” Zone squeaked.

They pounced, tickling him viciously.

“Ahhh, stop stop stop, I give, I give! Haaa… haaaa. Jeez. Fine, you two win.” Zone said, quivering.

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They high fived.

“You really are airheads.” Zone said, recovering.

“So, what’s our mission thingy, anyway?” Aria asked.

“It’s about defeating the demon king.” Zone said, frowning.

“Isn’t that something you always complained about? Why accept a mission that goes against your beliefs? Even if it is for the village, it wouldn’t sit right with us if we knew you were doing something you didn’t want to.” Mom said.

“Sol seems reasonable. She agreed that I had a point when I told her about my thoughts. I may be able to strengthen the relationship between humans, Demi-humans, and demons if I go.” Zone said.

“Ohhh, I never would have thought about that.” Mom said.

“It’s not something most people would. Getting this kind of chance is something most people can’t even dream of.” Zone replied.

“Then grab a hold of it! Oh, wait… You did already. Silly me. In that case, I wish you two luck on your journey! A little parental advice, before you leave, though!” Mom said, splashing both of them.

“Advice? From you?” Zone asked.

Moms’ face turned from a happy smile to a hardened frown.

“Yes. From me. Zone, you know the stories about me and your father, right?” Mom asked.

“Of course I do. I love those stories.” Zone said, smiling.

“They aren’t just stories. They're all real. Will you listen to my advice seriously now?” Mom asked.

She summoned dark magic, temporarily engulfing the whole room, then purifying it with holy light magic.

Zone and Aria looked as if their life had just been flipped upside down and inside out.

“W-what? N-N-no! That’s impossible! For one thing, there’s no such thing as other worlds in the first place, so it can’t be true!” Zone said, stuttering, an unbelieving and shivering smile on his face.

He backed up.

“For a kid that’s so smart, are you really saying that now? You know what it means to be able to use holy light magic. I’ve told you the stories myself, after all. I’ll meet you outside when you two are ready. I have things to give both of you. Well, from me and your father, I should say.” Mom said, drying off and heading into the back room.

Zone and Aria sat there, dumbfounded.

“You heard her too, right? I’m not going crazy, am I, Aria?” Zone asked.

“Nope, I heard it too… And I definitely saw her magic. I knew she was strong from when we sparred, but that was on another level.” Aria said, awestruck.

“You know what, it’s a bad idea to sit here not believing it and wasting more time. It’s mom, after all. I actually should have expected this. I don’t know why it came as a surprise. Then again, while I knew she had secrets, I never expected… That Mom was really a hero from another world.” Zone said, getting out of the bath. Aria did the same.

They went out to find their mother, desperate for more answers.