What do a bunch of teenager with little worry for their own upkeeps do when they get a windfall of cash? They go to town to burn it all. That is apparently a universal truth in both worlds. And the story begins like this.

Once upon a time, in a place known as the Kingdom of Light, four noble ladies, an elf, a beastkin, and two human princesses went shopping with a chest of gold. A boy by the name of Aidan followed them and was marveled by the delight those young women showed at every new trinket that caught their eyes. The boy had a special power, he was also one of the princesses. He could hear, see, smell, feel and think everything she heard, saw, smelt, felt, and thought. And he was marveled at how every glinting thing, every new and shiny thing delighted their eyes.

She could see color, detail, and nuances better than him. Colorful shoes they bought. Frilly dresses, full of lace they bought. Elegant gowns and silken gloves. And as the pinnacle of their shopping trip, the four ladies were currently in a jewelry shop, picking earrings.

The owner and master of the shop, a middle-aged woman well known for her skill among the nobility of Yutis greeted the girls. "Welcome, your Highnesses and mistresses. Feel free to browse and try on my wares, and ask me anything you want." She blatantly ignored the well dressed but unassuming boy following them.

They browsed and selected several pieces, necklaces, rings, earrings, wristbands. At the end of their session, the princess with long hair attempted to try a small earring.

"No, you cannot wear such tiny earrings, Dawn my dear," The smaller but older princess told the bigger, younger one. "Your hair is long and luscious. You have to wear larger earrings so they do not disappear behind your lovely locks."

The princess with smooth skin attempted to try a big golden earring.

"Plain gold does not suit your complexion," The tiny elf told the girl. "Your skin is smooth and unblemished. You must wear something that comes out and is made of intricate craftsmanship so they do not disappear against your lovely skin.

The princess with sparkling eyes tried a big, silvery, and jeweled earring.

"Small gems won't do your eyes justice," The beastkin told the princess. "Your eyes are so bright, colorful, and alive. You need bigger gems that catch the light and shine bright, sparkle as much as your lovely eyes.

The princess with chiseled ears picked a large earring, with large gems and made of a strange metal. She disliked the things greatly but allowed her other self to voice it.

"This thing is so big its ends could be tied above her cleavage." Clamored the boy. "This metal is so heavy they will drag her earlobes down until the point they will keep her shoulders warm in the winter. These gems are so large they will double up as a spyglass if need be." And he finished his speech with confidence, "This is an awful earring."

Four women, the three with the princess and the shopkeeper stared at the boy with befuddled and disgusted faces.

"These are necklaces," Said the jeweler after regaining her wits. "It would be most strange and painful to hang them on the ears."

A brief and instantaneous reflection of a mind in two brains decided to put the male half as the butt of the joke, for the sake of saving the princess' face.

"Lord Aidan, it is most untoward of you to barge into our consultation and offer such senseless guidance. I was about to ask Pearl which necklace she favored the most when you interrupted us."

The boy gave a meek smile, masterfully crafted through visual input from his female half. "I am sorry for my confusion. I noticed not that the subject changed from earrings to necklaces. Apologies, princess."

"You are forgiven. It will do well to study your battlefield before stepping on it, milord.  And jewelry is not one you are schooled in."

The boy bowed, "I will take your Highness' wisdom into consideration."

After a pause indicating the exchange ended, the jeweler pulled a rectangular suede case from a drawer in the back. "Princess Lumina, I have here one of my favorite creations. If you will, let me show it to you."

The jeweler lady opened the case and light caught the white metal earrings and matching necklace. Red gems gave the metallic white of the pieces a lively tint.

"They are made of mithril, your Highness!" The shopkeeper exclaimed, trying to rouse the interest of the girls. Which she did, but for a different reason.

"Very interesting," Dawn replied. "Is this your own work?"

"Yes, your Highness. The rubies are my own secret cut and the metal is also my own work. This is my greatest work to date. I've made other pieces with mithril, but the metal is hard to come by."

"Excellent. I'll take it. Did you girls made your choices? Let's go then. Lord Aidan, please settle the bill."

The girls left the jeweler and the boy behind.

Pearl giggled and brushed her shoulder against Dawn, "You did well shifting the blame to Aidan and saving Lumina's face in there."

"Yes, yes," Dawn answered dismissively, focusing on her other self making a serious business deal.

The next day, Aidan was at his room, studying a few books he could abscond from the forbidden library. A growing wave of squeals from outside the building forced him to stop reading to look. Outside, he saw Lucien in the academy grounds, walking into the building and leaving a throng of swooned students behind.

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'No chance in hell he's not here to see one of us. What is happening?' He thought.

Aidan placed his bookmark and closed the book, setting them inside the magically locked leather bag they came in. Dawn was chatting with the girls and trying their recently delivered new clothes and she warned the girls of the incoming guest. Everyone readied themselves and waited.

Lucien arrived at Lumina's bedroom, with a worried expression.

"What is wrong, Lucien? What brings you here?" Dawn asked.

"Sister, you need to get ready. He is coming to see you." He said using the same tone as one who would sacrifice his own loved daughter to a raging dragon.

Dawn's answer was dismissive, "I have no idea whom you are talking about. 'He'? A man then. Can I have his name?"

"A messenger came from Heath to the north," He took a scroll from his jacket pocket while stating the obvious. The world would be a hundred percent shittier if there were two places called Heath. "Your fiancée, Crown Prince Brody of Heath is coming to see you."

Aidan faltered and his subconscious suppression of Lumina failed. He lurched and vomited, blood oozing from his ruptured vessels. A rage flared through him, threatening to tear himself asunder. Her repulsion for that man was so big he could barely suppress the desire to fetch the vial of poison in her diary. He could feel warm blood trickle from his ears, eyes, and nose.

Dawn stood up and spoke with a trembling voice, "Sora, stop me from reaching the vanity." And her resistance faltered. The urge to escape Lumina's predicament was overwhelming. She ran and was tackled by Sora, the beastkin holding her legs on the ground.

The other three occupants of the room, mages, felt the mana pulse. Lumina was taking over their faculties, their own mana pools.

"Lucien, get ready for counterspelling!" Pearl shouted.

Raw mana filled with intent pulsed from the mages in unison. Lucien was closer to Aidan and dispelled his spontaneous spell, Pearl barely did the same to Dawn.

"What is going on?" Lucien screamed.

Pearl looked at him, at the verge of despairing. "Knock Aidan unconscious! Now! I don't know if I can counter Dawn's next spell!"

Lucien punched Aidan in the nape. Aidan collapsed and the wave of mana dispersed. The prince quickly sent a healing spell his way.

"Healing Light."

With Lumina also back to unconsciousness, Dawn recovered. She looked around, and saw Pearl circling around the messy puddle Aidan made to reach him on the other side, Lucien checking the boy's vitals and Cythrel attempting to use water magic to do something, probably cleanse the carpet.

"I'm back in control, Sora. But please don't let me near the vanity. She found Lumina's brother's eyes, "Damn, Lucien. That guy is a forbidden subject in here. Just tell me, how long do we have before he arrives?"

Lucien was turning Aidan sideways and checking if he was breathing.

"Twenty-two days. They sent a pigeon, it arrived today."

'Fat chance we have to get Lumina back and healthy in this timeframe,' Thought Dawn.

Aidan stirred.

"He is waking up, do we still have a situation?" Pearl asked.

"Nobody mentions our visitor," Sora suggested.

Dawn focused on keeping her mind stable. Trying to reach a meditative state so she could share part of his mental burden and avoid being overwhelmed by Lumina again. Aidan opened his eyes. Lumina stirred but was shunted back in the dark corner of their collective mind.

"I'm good Lucien. Nothing broken. Thank you for punching me." Aidan said with real gratitude.

The prince chuckled, "Anytime you want, my friend. I'd punch you anytime you want," He emphasized 'anytime' in the second sentence too much. The irony was evident.

Aidan took a deep breath, "What I mess I did. I have to apologize to the dorm governess later. Your Highness, could you take your knee off my ribs? I kind of want to stand up."

He did, and Aidan wriggled into a seating position. Only then he noticed the blood he bled leaving his body and joining a wobbling blob of something floating at Pearl's command.

She opened the window and moved the blob outside. Gathering her steam mana, she commanded it.

"Evaporate."

All the moisture left the blob, leaving only a small marble of solid matter that promptly fell on the garden below. The carpet was clean.

She patted her hands, placed them on her hips, and pouted, "The things below my station this captor of mine forces me to do..." Pearl glared at Aidan and then smiled just a little.

A brief silence broken by Cythrel ensued, "About our incoming guest, what will we do?"

That moment Aidan had his darkest thought. A plan started to brew inside his mind and he closed his eyes to imagine the scenes. Yes, he would goad his enemy, trick him and then strike him down at his moment of glory. A dark, evil smile crept in his face. He ran his plan again. His soul-tenant stirred, but this time with curiosity. He fed her his plan.

She approved. She basked in the darkness of his heart and felt delighted in it.

'I will need you to help me. We cannot fight each other if we are to deal with him.' Aidan told her.

She never spoke to him with words. Every time she surfaced, it was with thoughts, images, concepts. This time was no different.

'I approve. He deserves. Truce. Vengeance. Justice.' She communicated.

Aidan came back to his senses, people were shaking him and Dawn. He looked at the prince, worried for his sister.

"Lucien, I have a favor to ask," Aidan stated while getting back on his feet. He looked around, Pearl did a wonderful job of cleaning up.

"What is it, Aidan? What do you require of me?"

Aidan was still with his creepy smile. Dawn could see it, but right now he didn't care. "Train me. Help me get strong enough."

Lucien was suspicious of this request, "Strong enough for what?"

Dawn placed her arms around his shoulders from behind, pressing her body against his back. When she spoke, the haughty and determined tone she used sent goosebumps over Lucien's entire body. "Brother. You know very well I am against that engagement. You know even better what kind of scumbag that man is. Lord Aidan is my champion. Train him, and he will set me free without ruining the commercial treaty. Please, brother. Or do you want me in that man's bed? Can you imagine how much he will hurt me?"

The prince got free from her and turned to look at the girl. "Lumina?"

Dawn gave him a sultry and angry gaze, "Lucien. How far has Yutis fallen, to give away their daughter to a rapist and murderer? Do you want to know why I was going for my vanity?" She tilted her head, never breaking eye contact, "I have a vial of poison stashed there. I will die before he lays a finger on me, that I promise you. The only way to keep me alive is to get away with him. My champion will see to it if you help him."

Lucien glanced between Dawn pretending to be Lumina and Aidan with the wicked smile, going through the scared faces of the other three girls in the room. Dawn laid her hands on him again.

"Look, I know you still haven't forgotten him for beating me. Let's make a deal. Train him, and you can inflict any punishment on him you want during the training. After all, live training with real pain is much more effective in driving the right concepts in a person's mind. You already tasted his heart. Now go for the kidneys, the lungs. So long you train him and keep him without any long-term damage, he is yours to play with."

He caught his breath and forced himself under control. "You are not Lumina." He backed away from her.

Dawn shrugged, "No. Never said so. I'm Dawn, but I know her heart. Oh, Lucien, if you could only see how much your sister loathes that man. If only he was as easy a target as Melissa's fiancée, but that man is vicious and skilled. Aidan has a plan." She touched her chest, "Lumina approved it.

"Help us goad Brody into a deal, kill him, and set Lumina free, Lucien."