The Chaim family were famous throughout Temperate Central for being great light mages with amazing healing powers.

Astaria Chaim was born at 11 am August 16th Darnal Chain was born at 11:30.

When they checked the babies over, Astaria’s ears were starkly pointed, the sign of a natural born mage.

Darnal had the bluntest ears the Chaim family had seen in generations.

Astaria was the big sister, but it wasn’t because of that half hour.

Astaria was an outgoing and cheerful young girl.

When she was three and a half, she manifested a ball of light larger than her head. It was one of the biggest the Chaim family had ever seen from a mage so young.

Darnal was timid and shy. After Astaria manifested, the family set to work trying to teach him.

They couldn’t.

It seemed now that Astaria was even older.

Astaria, being the gifted and strong child she was, was taught from a young age that she must look out for and take care of her little brother. A lesson she took to heart. How could she not, with how she was reminded daily.

When the twins were 11, they received a horse. They both took care of her and both rode her sometimes, but Darnal was the only one she really bonded with. So Astaria happily resigned herself that this was her brother’s horse.

Astaria was eldest child and a magical prodigy and Darnal could bond with a horse. And that’s how it went.

Astaria’s magic grew as she did and soon, she was on track to become the most powerful mage in family history.

Sometimes when she laughed there would be a glow. A flash when she was angry. She was overflowing with light.

Her natural charisma and energy made her an incredibly popular young girl. Darnal was too awkward and unsure to have many friends, except as an accessory to his sister.

Some considered him an easy target.

So one day, as he rode down a small forest trail at a gentle pace as Astaria walked alongside him, a few boys from their grade began to throw rocks to try to knock him off.

He weaved from side to side as Astaria yelled an angry warning for them to stop.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

A stone hit Darnal right on his temple. He hit the ground nearly as hard as it did.

Astaria had never been so angry in her life.

Her eyes glowed, her feet lifted off the ground, and her hair blew around her.

There was an explosion. The brightest light either had ever seen.

Darnal woke up all at once aching and numb.

The nurse seemed relieved to see him awake.

“What happened? Where’s Astaria?” he groaned.

“There was an accident.”

“I can’t feel my leg.”

“I’d advise against sitting up. You’ve been through a lot.”

Something was missing. He raised his right hand to the apparent blind spot on his right. It wasn’t there.

He screamed, but was sedated before he could fully go into shock.

When he woke, he didn’t bother to look, he simply slumped onto the bed.

“My leg is gone too isn't it?”

“Yes.”

“Where is my sister.”

In a different ward in a room stamped all over with anti-magic runes, Astaria too screamed, tears streaming down her face.

After about an hour she had tired herself out. The doctors had told her she lost control of her emotions and by extension, her magic. She needed to learn to control her emotions.

Alright, she could do that.

That day she closed herself off completely.

Their father set about getting prosthetics for Darnal. Someone suggested electronic ones may give him the best quality of life, since they had the money. He was hesitant. Darnal was no mage and even if he could learn the lightning magic required to control them, he would lock himself out of learning any other school of magic, including light.

Darnal said he wanted to try.

It was a long, difficult process, but he did it.

While he hid his scars, he wore his new limbs and eye with pride. They were a part of him, but a part of him he had worked for and earned.

Astaria never wore a smile again, or a frown. She believed she earned that too.

****

There was a long silence after they finished their story.

Nyx took a deep breath. “This body is a corpse.”

The twins looked at him, then Sunny. His solemn face confirmed he already knew.

“I couldn’t save him so I took advantage of the situation.”

“I’m sorry.” said Darnal.

“Why are you apologizing to me?!”

“Am I missing something?” asked Hemlock.

“It hadn’t come up yet, but Nyx is the actual, literal Shadow Spirit. Sunny explained.

“The fuck.” they whispered.

A voice called from down the path.

“Hey! This your horse?”