EPISODE 63: SUN AND MOON UPON THE VALLEY

— Edryan Queendom, Year 7291. Season: Central.

Selene Romus stretched, her moon-silver eyes open as the young woman rose from her slumber. She stood at 165 cm with a petite, athletic frame. She was shorter than her older brother by just over forty centimeters. In their shared room, her brother did the same. The twin's movements were nearly identical as they begin their morning with a few actions. The first was to make their bed neatly and orderly as they prepared themselves for the day. They moved silently and from the outside perspective, their movements would seem to be in perfect conjunction. Once finished, they began their day with an overview.

“Status,” they said in unison.

Selene Lila Romus – Level 25

HP: 360/360 (+75)

SP: 360/360 (+75)

MP: 534/534 (+75)

Base Atk: 36 (+8)

Base Def: 43 (+18)

HP Regen: 30/Hour (+15)

SP Regen: 30/Hour (+15)

MP Regen: 45/Hour (+15)

Bloodline: [+]

Main Class:

[Imperius Ward Master Trainee]

Perks:

Power: 120 (+25)

2nd Class: [UNLOCKED]

Core Skills: [+]

Vitality: 120 (+25)

3rd Class: [LOCKED]

Racial Skills: [+]

Endurance: 120 (+25)

Faith: Goddess Madris

Status Effects:

Mind: 178 (+25)

Affiliation:

Imperius Academy

Equipped:

Imperius Academy Uniform

Self: 120 (+50)

2nd Affiliation: House Romus

Skills: [+]

Intent: 70 (+35)

Achievements: [+]

Active Quest: -

Magic Affinity:

Attribute Points: 0

Helios Ra Romus – Level 25

HP: 348/348 (+75)

SP: 318/318 (+75)

MP: 438/438 (+75)

Base Atk: 56 (+22)

Base Def: 32 (+10)

HP Regen: 39/Hour (+27)

SP Regen: 36/Hour (+27)

MP Regen: 49/Hour (+27)

Bloodline: [+]

Main Class:

[Imperius Spell-Sword Trainee]

Perks:

Power: 186 (+75)

2nd Class: [UNLOCKED]

Core Skills: [+]

Vitality: 116 (+25)

3rd Class: [LOCKED]

Racial Skills: [+]

Endurance: 106 (+25)

Faith: Goddess Madris

Status Effects:

Mind: 146 (+25)

Affiliation:

Imperius Academy

Equipped:

Imperius Academy Uniform

Self: 84 (+25)

2nd Affiliation: House Romus

Skills: [+]

Intent: 68 (+25)

Achievements: [+]

Active Quest: -

Magic Affinity:

Attribute Points: 0

Both the young man and woman took in a deep breath. As all scions of a reputable house, they were granted a +25 to every single attribute. A standard amount for any High Noble House. The twins sighed, a strange and confused expression appeared on their faces. Together, they rose and left their room. There was only one destination on their mind, and that was to see their mother.

They pass through the base of operations to respectful nods sent their way. Several subsidiary members of their house or lower organizations sent them greetings as they made their way through the growing extension of Edrya. Helios sent numerous wayward glances to his little sister. Her thoughts disorganized as they travel forward. It showed as her steps were a half second quicker. For either twin, this was unacceptable. The young man paused and then came to a complete halt. His lips pursed into thin lines and his golden eyes frowned in concern.

“Ugh, what is it Helios,” Selene’s voice questioned. It was light and soft but held a tone of irritation. Both twins felt a nagging, uncomfortable feeling when they did not act in unison. This would not help Selene’s already troubled heart.

A mental itch appeared in the twins' mindscape that further caused irritation to Selene’s mood. The early morning light bath the two in a picturesque setting as the warm yellow orange light of the rising sun settled upon Helios. The light of the sun seemed to invigorate the youth as he confronted his sister. Only a dozen or so feet away was their mother’s compound.

“You’ve been irritated since the coronation, the season is at its end and mother has found us… wanting ,” the words erupted from both Selene and Helios simultaneously.

The twins were far too in tune with one another to not know exactly what the other would say. However, one spoke in a mocking tone and the other… concerned .

“Is that so,” they questioned. Both once again spoke in synchronization.

“ Sister/Brother ,” their voices overlapped as they addressed each other. Helios face morphed from concern to annoyed, while a small giggle escaped from Selene.

“Thank you brother, truly, but this task is my failur-“ Selene began.

“No… We are One . Together, we rise, and together we fail” Helios interrupted. The young man appeared giant compared to his vastly shorter twin. Yet, his younger sister returned his stare down in challenge. Both siblings folded their arms and neither backed down. Neither backed down, that is, until a voice, one ever so familiar, spoke.

“ Child , we should not be fighting,” a warm motherly, yet commanding tone came from the direction of their mother's compound. Outside the small manor stood Camilla Romus, Head of the Romus House, and also… their mother.

Both twins acted instantly. Their clothes straightened out as they seemingly stood at attention. It didn’t stop the hints of annoyance that showed on each other's faces. Together in unison once more, they followed behind their mother.

Selene was more annoyed than disappointed at the outcome of their small charade. The prince blindsided her, and that was not something she took lightly . She’d have to contact Ade Oni before he did something stupid again. There was no longer a reason to provoke the prince in that sort of manner.

The twins sat on a raised cushion platform, both nearly naked, as Camilla Romus gazed upon them, a calculative look on her face. Only dark underwear covered their privates from her roaming eyes.

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“Mother, we’re fine,” Selene spoke, irritated at her mother's probing.

The twins were undergoing a routine checkup and Camilla Romus tended to be overbearing. This was especially so when it came to her children and their special constitution . There were over ten high-level spells cast by their mother as she monitored various health related conditions of her child. One of the magical screens even held a highly accurate estimation of their attribute points.

Helios was the first to stand. “Enough, mother, nothing has changed or will change. This is how we were born, and this is how we will die.”

Selene frowned at the words of her brother, but she did not disagree. Their issue has been present their entire lives, and not even the greatest [Mage] in Edryan could resolve it. After all, she was the one who caused it in the first place.

Camilla backed away, a motherly frown of concern on her face. She opened her mouth to speak, then slowly closed it. Under the large, billowed sleeves of her robe was a clenched fist.

Sensing their mother's distress, the twins approached her on both sides and hugged her together. The twins didn’t blame their mother, for her love for them was boundless. That didn’t mean they wished to be subjected to her experiments for the rest of her days present.

“When will you journey…”

“…to Redcoomshi,” the twins asked as they pulled away.

“In less than ten years… Her Majesty, the Queen, cannot hold on much longer. Nor can I and other members of the Six . We must make the attempt.”

“Then we have little time…,” Selene began.

“…to build foundations and secure our family,” Helios finished.

The twins' gaze locked, and they seemed to connect to the same mindset. They spoke in conjunction with one another. Both twins asking and responding as they formulated a plan.

“ A decision must be made, although we’ve brought a small-time frame before we answer Lawruthian, we must come to an agreeable resolution. ”

“ The objective? The goal, ” the twins asked themselves.

Camilla Romus slowly left the room as the twins continued their strange way of conversing. The mother held a strange smile on her face. The smile was stretched and the edges of her lips appeared to be connected to her high cheek bones. Camilla’s skin was a patchwork of shades, vitiligo, an effect from her magical experiences. They were shades of browns, tans, pinks, and whites, and they became more pronounced on her face as the woman smiled in this manner. Tears dropped from her eyes, but the [Magi] continued to make her way out.

“I’ve failed you. It is my fault you’ve turned out this way. I am a failure of a mage. A failure of a mother. Your soul…” she trailed off.

“ I WILL MAKE THIS RIGHT ,” Camilla’s face held a strange resolution to it.

----------------------------------------

Viviana's toes curled into the dirt. The warmth of summer and the freshness of nature kept the girl in a light and bubbly mood. The slightly chubby girl skipped her way through the forest humming a merry tune as birds and small animals emerged from the underbrush to join her. Strangely, a black-green grimoire floated behind her. Every once in a while, the book would snap and a creature would disappear. Sharp shark like teeth would snap a creature that came too close with startling efficiency. A large tongue appeared to lick the grimoire’s lips.

Viviana giggled and moved to sit under a large oak tree before a small clearing that held a natural spring within it. A pond had formed at its base, and Viviana was thirsty. Her book snuggled up to her and the young woman opened it and read her status.

Viviana Lola Consus – Level 25

HP: 390/390 (+75)

SP: 240/240 (+150)

MP: 705/705 (+150)

Base Atk: 36 (+8)

Base Def: 34 (+10)

HP Regen: 41/Hour (+27)

SP Regen: 25/Hour (+54)

MP Regen: 75/Hour (+54)

Bloodline: [+]

Main Class:

[Imperius Botanical Researcher]

Perks:

Power: 120 (+25)

2nd Class: [UNLOCKED]

Core Skills: [+]

Vitality: 130 (+25)

3rd Class: [LOCKED]

Racial Skills: [+]

Endurance: 80 (+50)

Faith: Goddess Madris

Status Effects:

Mind: 235 (+50)

Affiliation:

Imperious Academy

Equipped:

Imperius Academy Uniform

Self: 70 (+25)

2nd Affiliation: House Consus

Skills: [+]

Intent: 130 (+25)

Achievements: [+]

Active Quest: -

Magic Affinity:

Attribute Points: 0

The grimoire displayed her current stats to the exact degree. It was her personal way of interfacing with the Prime System. It served as just one of the multiple ways to interface. With this method, she could not only see but control her stats the same as if a screen were floating in front of her.

Viviana, like most of her peers, remained unconvinced by Lawruthian. She’d remained an outsider to Selene’s play for power and Madria’s urging to join them. Lawruthian was… an enigma, yes , but he was not a mystery that drew in Viviana.

Viviana skipped deeper into the clearing, she’d returned home as she just reached her first class advancement. It was time to convert her class into her families usual class-lines. Imperius Academy and its classes were interesting. The various classes available on campus held her attention for far longer than Viviana would admit, but , they still did not hold a candle to a class line that’d been developed for thousands of years.

“Lamb-chop, hurry and catch up!”

Her grimoire came floating over like a loyal hound. Its speed was faster than what Viviana could see. A product of her bloodline and more as it instantly appeared next to her.

The pair found themselves at the small pond with crystal clear water and white sand underneath. Black fish swam within, darting up and snatching the dragonflies and other bugs that rested on the lilies pads floating on the surface. Viviana leaned down for a drink, her left hand grasped her monstrous amount of green curly hair and tugged it to the side out of harms way. Her circular glasses with purple frames reflected the light of the sun. After taking in her fill, Viviana stood. She was a chubby girl who stood just a bit over 175 cm. Her grimoire, on the other hand, was thirty centimeters in length and was half of that in its width.

The grimoire turned and left off, a menacing growl. Viviana followed the direction of her grimoire and turned to see an [Iron Fur Bear — ★★ ].

“(Inspect).”

[Iron Fur Bear — ★★ ]

Base Atk: 150

Base Def: 75 (+75)

HP: 750/750

SP: 600/600

MP: 900/900

HP Regen: 36/Hour

SP Regen: 29/Hour

MP Regen: 43/Hour

Power: 500

Endurance: 200

Vitality: 250

Mind: 300

Self: 250

Description:

The Iron Fur Bear is equipped with double defense due to the special properties of its iron-like hide. It roams large forest, searching for magical items that can help increase its iron-like properties.

“Oh, a perfect snack for you Lamb-chop!”

Viviana gestured to her grimoire, and the book flew over immediately. It settled in her palm the moment the [Iron Fur Bear — ★★ ] charged. The beast was a heavyset creature that was easily twice the size of a normal brown bear. Although it held properties of its older ancestor, its fur held an iron, silverly sheen that held value to countless craftsmen.

“ Oh, earth the origin of all… the mother who guides and feeds us… this child has lost its way from your embrace… return her, welcome her with open arms of the (Earth’s Embrace).”

HP: 390/390 (+75)

SP: 240/240 (+150)

MP: 705/705 (+0)

The earth ruptured beneath the [Iron Fur Bear — ★★ ], hands shaped like Viviana’s grasped the creature and dragged it down until it remained in a tightly grasped posture. The powerful restraining spell held the creature in place, but Viviana could instantly turn it into a killing spell with a simple application of her Intent.

She grinned deviously, several tools appeared on the ground before her as the bear struggled in the spells grasped. Its body size doubled as it activated a spell and grew berserk. Viviana giggled and selected one of her sharper carving knives from the floor. It wasn’t just plants she researched, as her class suggested. A wide, wicked , smile covered her face as she approached the squirming bear. Sensing danger, more and more skill lights activated on its body as Viviana grew close.

“Hmmm, let me cover this one’s mouth. It sounds like it can get loud.”

Her knife slowly ran along the fur of the bear. Sparks and metallic clangs range as the objects interacted. Next to her, Viviana’s grimoire bobbed up and down in excitement, knowing what would happen once its master finished her learning.

Just as Viviana reached the center of the captured creature, her knife beginning its plunge, a voice spoke up.

“VIV.VI.ANNN.NAAA,” the voice pronounced each syllable of her name with frustration behind it.

Viviana paused like a deer against a (Mage Light)… her knife, a centimeter from penetration. “Oh, hi, dearest brother!”

Just as quickly as they appeared, the equipment set up before the bear was gone. Viviana turned to see her elder brother standing there with his arms folded. She turned to see the same type of curly hair, only shorter and shoulder-length, on a face that was ever so familiar to their father. Next to him was a green-black grimoire that seemed to follow his expressions, only it faced Viviana’s grimoire who acted just as she did.

Viviana showed a guilty expression as her older brother stood there. Although he was shorter than she by ten centimeters, her elder brother held the same type of presence and weight her father did. Jolly, but deadly within seconds.

“What have we told you about this hobby of yours?”

“…that it’s not necessary to gain our bloodlines class…,” Viviana mumbled before continuing. “… But Vinyard, how can the Consus claim to be the leading experts in both beast and plants if we don’t know what their insides look like!”

Vinyard’s frown grew deeper and the chubby man shook his head, left hand rising to rub his temples. “Come on, let me escort you back home. After your advancement, we’ll return to the school together.”

He turned around and began to walk, but Viviana stayed in place, her eyes flickering to the continuously struggling bear and then her grimoire, who ‘looked’ at her with a pleading expression.

“… Lamb-chop hasn’t had his fill yet…”

A vein throbbed on Vinyard’s forehead, but he hadn’t bothered to turn around. He waved his hand in compliance and spoke. “Hurry it up and make sure you kill it first. My students will miss me if I don’t return in time!”

Viviana rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she gestured to her grimoire.