Looking at Evelyn, I decided to start off slow. “I realize that your talent is a big part of who you are," I began, pausing to let my words settle. "Just to be clear, your talent doesn’t make me trust you less. If I had an ability like that, I’d try to use it to its fullest. So, who am I to judge you for using what you have available to you?”

I took a breath before continuing, “Next, I’ll give you a bit of information that will hopefully keep you from asking too many more questions. In the future, if you want a team-up to work, I’d appreciate it if you held off on your questions until we’re alone.”

I explained that I possessed a variety of skills, but at the end of the day, that’s all they were, skills. I clarified that I only had a single talent, but unlike most, mine functioned in a way that set it apart from the usual abilities people possessed.

As I spoke, she nodded along. I was hoping to give her enough information to be less curious about my ability without giving her too much information.

Evelyn’s POV

He was interesting—at least, that’s what my talent was telling me. It was an unfamiliar sensation, one I couldn’t recall experiencing before. For my brother, my talent always settled on a single word: strong. For other family members, it simply indicated whether I could trust them or not. But with Jace, it was different. The word 'interesting' lingered in my mind, making me wonder what exactly set him apart. It wasn't just curiosity—it was something deeper, something worth paying attention to.

My first thought when I passed by him and my talent rang like a bell was that I might finally break the stigma that one of the twins was less than the other. Throughout history, twins have always been opposites. If on twin was physical in nature the other was more abstract. If one twins ability the other was weak. Robert’s ability was strong and physical, while mine is abstract.

At first glance, my talent might seem incredibly strong, a gift that tells you exactly what to do to get the best result, right? But it didn’t actually work like that. Instead, it provided a general feeling, something I had to interpret and make sense of. Like when I passed Jace, it gave me a curious sensation, similar to the anticipation of something good about to happen, but without any specifics. The feeling was unlike anything I’d experienced before. In contrast, my brother always felt like a solid, pulsating pressure in my chest, like standing too close to a blacksmith hammering away at molten metal.

I haven’t had my talent for a full year yet, but I’ve come to realize that a talent becomes an intrinsic part of who you are. It offers an understanding that no outsider could ever fully grasp. Still, there have been times when its signals confused me, like the persistent low hum in the back of my head or the strange, vibrating sensation deep in my bones. Even now, I struggle to interpret these feelings, unsure whether they serve as warnings, guidance, or something else entirely.

Most nobles looked down on me, rather than my brother, when we worked together because everyone acknowledged his strength. In their eyes, his abilities overshadowed mine, making it seem like any success I achieved was solely due to his talent, not my own contributions.

This was why I started seeking out people I could truly work with, and Jace was one of a kind. He managed to fight my brother to a standstill, something unheard of for anyone who hadn’t been absorbing essence from dungeons. What made it even more impressive was that he wasn’t just holding his own, he walked away without a scratch.

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I could see someone with a speed-based talent being able to hold my brother back without getting hurt. Robert, even though he tended to act like a dumb brute, was quite clever. He had a knack for reading situations and finding unexpected solutions, like the time he turned a seemingly trivial sparring match into an opportunity to test his opponent's patience and adaptability. But Jace was able to stand still and just go blow for blow with someone who was invulnerable.

After it was done, I couldn’t help but wonder what other skills he had. I mean he had magic armor that practically made him invulnerable, that weird skill that let him know who I was, and don’t get me started on his fighting talent. It looked like he had been learning to fight for years even if he was still a little clumsy with his two shields. Which was interesting in his own right.

That’s when I remembered he knew I was following him all night the night before. I wondered if that was another skill and asked out loud if he had anymore. As the words came from my mouth my talent gave me a feeling of all my surrounding closing in and a bitter taste in my mouth at the same time.

The tension quickly faded, as if Jace realized it had been an accident and not an intentional attempt to reveal information to Robert. I felt relieved seeing Robert and Jace growing closer, their friendship developing naturally. If Jace ever confided in Robert, I could easily imagine him becoming my brother’s right-hand man in the future. Surprisingly, my talent remained silent on the matter, perhaps because it didn’t directly involve me.

Now here I was listening to him tell me about his talent. I knew he was keeping things from me, but even what he told me made me a little envious. Not in the way that made me hate him, just that I wished I might have something similar. With that, I had a flash of a feeling so faint I almost didn’t notice it, like standing on the edge of a cliff, the wind tugging at my clothes and the abyss below pulling at my senses. The weight of the moment pressed against me, leaving me breathless as if one wrong move could send me plunging into the unknown.

It took every ounce of will I had not to react, but despite my best efforts, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had slipped through. Jace's eyes narrowed in suspicion, his sharp gaze cutting through my composure as if he sensed the tiniest crack in my defenses.

“What did you just think?” He asked. “And please be honest. Your talent should tell you that if you ever want me to trust you fully, you will need to be completely honest.”

I sighed, already knowing he was right before he even said it. Reluctantly, I told him about my thoughts and the strange feeling I had experienced. His reaction, however, caught me off guard. Instead of the serious contemplation I expected, he burst into laughter. When his laughter finally subsided, he gave me a warm smile, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

“I have never heard of a way to give someone, someone else’s talent. Though I am just a lowly son of a Knight, and you are a princess, so maybe your family knows of a way. I’ll be honest though, if I have to lose my talent, I will not give it to you. Otherwise, maybe in time I would be willing to share it with you.” He smiled at me, and I felt the truth of his words. Not only from my talent, but from the royal ability to know the truth of words.

It made me wonder what my talent was trying to tell me. Was it warning me to tread carefully, or perhaps pointing out something I had missed? I considered asking my father about it, hoping his wisdom might shed light on this peculiar feeling. However, the idea was quickly dismissed as my talent gave a clear signal of stop.

The sudden clarity of its warning made me pause, a stark reminder of just how much my talent shaped my decisions and perceptions. It wasn’t just a tool; it was a guide, an unseen force nudging me in directions I didn’t always understand. This time, the message was clear: stop. Taking the hint, I decided to hold off and think it through further. Maybe a trip to the library would shed some light on things. My talent remained silent, and for now, that felt like the right call.

I started to bid farewell to Jace when I realized I never asked him for his schedule. It turned out that I had the same schedule as him and my brother, which gave me some comfort. I didn’t want to admit it out loud, but I was worried about being alone for the first time in my life.

A worry both Jace and Robert apparently did not share, stupid boys.