“Misera, I need to ask. Why are we named “Shadows”?”

I looked over at Rylan as he continued to watch the sunset over the horizon. The sun was clearly disappearing into the ocean but the water was so clear, so reflective, there was no clear distinction between it and the sky.

“What’s wrong with the name Shadows?”

“I don’t know… It just sounds… like chunni?”

“To be honest you’re not the first person to question it. Though you are the first person to wait so long to ask.”

“It’s not funny!”

“Oh it is. I can see it now, you lying awake at night questioning why we have such a chunni sounding name…”

“So are you gonna answer or what?”

“Hah… Clarins Arc, the current patriarch of the Arc family. Did you know he’s a paranoid bastard? So paranoid he’s afraid of his own shadow. No, more like extremely afraid. Even the word “shadow” repulses him. It makes sense doesn’t it? A newcomer will always try to not stir up too much trouble in order to be able to grow. So what better way to grow under his feet than to be named after something he refuses to even look at?”

I could see the confusion in his face as the gears being to move in his head.

“Why?”

“Because his shadows remind him of what he lost… Do you wanna hear a story~?” I asked in an annoying voice while poking his ribcage.

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Rylan looked at me with a serious face. “This is gonna be another of those sad background stories isn’t it.”

With a sad smile, I responded “Yeah…”

“But whose is it…?”

“What do you know about the Isen family?”

“Well… They’re wealthy and powerful… But as to the specifics I haven’t gotten much…”

“In Clains, the Isen family and the Arc family are both equal in power. They balance each other out. And while the world may see that the two families are always on each other’s necks, they got along quite well…”

“Until…?”

“Until Clarins’ wife, Tally died… during Fein’s birth.”

“Fein is Arc’s heir?!”

“No, his older brother Maddel is.”

“You know I would like to think myself as open minded but the information I’ve gotten these past few days has really made my head hurt.”

“Why do you think we’re on a vacation? An escape? Who was the one who brought up this subject in the first place?”

“I didn’t think that just asking about our name’s origin would lead the damn topic back to the fucking Arc. Why can’t we get a fucking break from them?!”

“I will tell you this right now. We will always be connected to them. Whether we like it or not…”

“… Can we put the story on hold? Please. I just want this escape. Let’s enjoy the sunset yeah?”

“Haha… Yeah…”

“Ha… I feel like I’m starting to really understand why…”

“Why what?”

“I felt betrayed when you told me you wanted to leave. Leave everything behind, even me. But I’m starting to get it now. And this just proves my point. You’re strong. I would’ve packed my shit up and be out a long time ago…”

“No, in some ways, I do admire those who could just leave. Deciding between responsibility to others and responsibility to themselves…”

“Well you know what. If you ever want to leave… Just take me with you. Don’t leave me behind. That’s all I ask. We can escape. Run away. Forget everything here…”

“You know how tempting that sounds. Just like you know it’s not feasible. The only reason we haven’t done it is because this particular problem will always chase us. Might as well deal with it now…”

“… The sun has set…”

“Left?”

“Right. I swear, we can’t even get a damn vacation?!”