For a long time, her mind drifted amongst a vague cloud, stuffed full of cotton. Other than the periodic pains that could be recognized as hunger, it was difficult for her to understand the world around her. Yet, there was something she could understand - a sensation of silvery cold, like a bubbling spring - that grew quicker than all her bodily senses, extending outwards like small tendrils and giving her an awareness of the world around her. Perhaps, because of that, it was possible for her to withstand the first one half year of her life without going crazy, trapped within a lump of flesh that she could barely even move.
As time passed, the black and white world bloomed gradually into colors and her mental acuity improved by leaps and bounds. By one, she rarely ever cried and always appeared to be staring at something curiously.
The home she reincarnated into much different than what she was used to. In her past life, she spent a good deal of it in subpar rundown apartments or motels she never had the chance or inclination to become attached to. Her birth home, was decent, but that was marred by her living situation of being the mistress’s daughter. The luxury of a multi-story penthouse that popped off of interior design magazines meant nothing if the main lady of the house couldn’t stand anyone that wasn’t her blood child. Ah, no, the home she was reborn into, felt closest to those beautiful old Norwegian homes that she often saw in charming winter themed cartoons. The interior appeared to be constructed from a dark and heavy wood, covered in various furs and rugs. The place her parents slept reminded her of large decorative wooden boxes crossed with four poster beds. When one was inside the house, it was very easy to forget how cold the exterior was.
She didn’t spend this period alone, either. Very early on, Rhina noticed someone else, other than the two adults, next to her; a person that brought security to her heart. From the memories of the past, she understood - they were her twin.
They, given the name of Rhiyun, was by her side since birth. And they forged an impossible connection with her, sharing sensory information from the moment they took breath. The two of them existed next to one another, like how they were when they were first in the womb. To not be with Rhiyun, was something she could not imagine.
How time worked in this world differed from time in her previous life. One year equalled to 10 double moon cycles, one month lasting around 50 days; however, each day was divided into nine major periods equivalent to around three hours in her past life. It was further split into two one and a half hour periods, making up 18 medium periods within a day, before finally splitting into another three minor periods, equal to 30 minutes each, making 81 minor periods. A year here totaled up to around one and a half times the length of a year in her previous life.
Around the age of one, Rhina managed to walk. Rhiyun copied her, and soon the two were giving their father heart attacks as they began to explore the home, vanishing from the playroom that they were kept in. By two, Rhina could to discern the language used by her parents and those that visited them, slowly comprehending the unfamiliar tongue. By halfway through two, she exhibited great interest in learning, and her parents taught her some basics of the language, which she quickly soaked up thanks to the mental acuity of a toddler. Soon she could read, and by 3, she could keep up conversations with her parents.
Rhiyun imitated everything she did, and easily managed to keep up. Though Rhina benefited from her previous life’s memory, Rhiyun had none of it, making her wonder if he was the real genius between the two. The two of them shared everything, and no secrets were kept between them.
The 3 year old Rhina also began to learn something else...
...magic.
She first witnessed magic when her father cast something upon her, hiding the small red oval resting upon her brow. Her father called it glamour, a simple cantrip anyone could perform to hide something small. When he cast it, the sensation that existed with her since the time of her birth felt something, like a small flowing breeze. The flow settled upon her forehead, erasing the mark and only leaving behind smooth and white skin, as if such a thing never existed in the first place.
Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.
Soon she realized the house itself did something similar, constantly inhaling something like a living being. In return, it expelled warmth that heated the floors and rooms. Every time her parents used a modern amenity around the house, Rhina found herself feeling a pull. The phenomenon was visible everywhere around her, as long as she watched carefully.
‘Maybe, I could do something like it also?’ Rhina picked up a small colored wooden block, focusing. She mimicked what her father did and tried to pull at the flow, intending to cover one side of the colored block. As if listening to her bidding like an eager child, the flow wrapped entirely around it, causing the block to vanish from sight. Rhina dropped it in surprise, knitting her eyebrows.
Rhiyun bounded over, discarding the book he was reading, pulling a blanket after him. Though he had a weaker sense, he also felt the small tug and became curious of what his sister could be up to.
Rhina pointed at the place where the flow had a noticeable disturbance. Rhiyun kneeled down and placed his hand upon it, stopping right above the floor, at the same height of the block. He frowned a little, and suddenly split the flow, revealing the wooden block.
The two played like this, Rhina hiding something and Rhiyun unmasking it. Sometimes, they would switch roles, both of them becoming increasingly more proficient.
Downstairs, Vel was quietly preparing dinner, unaware of what his children were up to. Rinyan had gone outside to gather medicinal herbs - much to his chagrin - leaving him with the little devil twins. As much as he loved the two, without Rinyan’s ability to quell them, Vel wasn’t sure if his hair could remain the well conditioned auburn it had been for a long time. Letting out a long sigh, he washed his hands and wiped them off, preparing himself to call the two down for their meal. Ah, he definitely aged more dealing with them than he ever did in the imperial court.
Climbing the stairs, he noticed something off. The flow that normally cycled gently throughout the household like a stream, suddenly had small eddies. At first, Vel thought someone from his past life managed to follow them all the way to the far north and froze. However, thinking it over...if someone was pursuing them, it wouldn’t be someone so unskilled that they couldn’t hide their magic.
The alternative though...Vel frowned. It couldn’t be, could it?
Reaching the top of the stairs, he walked through the open frame of the playroom and took a step. Suddenly, a sharp pain lanced up his foot, causing him to let out an undignified yelp and he staggered backwards.
He looked down quickly, trying to find out what he stepped on. Yet, there was nothing there.
Vel narrowed his eyes. No, there was something there.
The flow cocooned around a small shape. Further on, more were scattered around the entrance. He heard the sound of childish giggles, but saw no one.
‘Is this how they’re going to play...’
Stepping through, he avoided the hidden objects, keeping his steps even and kicking the ones in his way or appearing to nearly avoid them. Clasping his hands behind his back, he looked up, speaking in a very obvious tone. “Oh dear, I wonder where my cute little son and daughter have gone to?”
There was no response, only a small laugh.
“I guess...the sweet pastries I prepared...is all for me.”
Vel turned around and quickly jogged out of the room, hearing small yelps as the two twins accidentally stepped on the invisible blocks.
Or, rather, one.
Vel only heard Rhiyun’s voice, and felt a disturbance of flow pass by him. Even if they were talented -
- to be able to constantly monitor the flow, should have been a difficult task.
By the time he thought through all of this, Rhina already had a large head start. However, just as he was about to go after Rhina, Rhiyun burst out crying. Pursing his lips, Vel went over to where Rhiyun fell down and picked up the small boy, the magic dispelling as he easily uncast it. He wiped the fat tears off of his son’s round cheeks and blue-violet eyes with a sleeve, gently rocking him in his arms. Rhiyun rested his head against the crook of Vel’s neck, still sobbing audibly. The flow that cloaked the rest of the blocks in the room dissipated, revealing the colorful hand painted blocks Vel and Rinyan traded from the village woodcutter a few months back.
Patting Rhiyun’s back, Vel missed the devilish smile on his young son’s face.