“Oh! You’re finally awake.” A small woman with bumblebee wings was hovering in the air, peering down at Aeric as he opened his eyes. She had silvery, white hair around her petite face. Her skin was slightly golden, giving her an overall look resembling precious metals.
Warm sunlight streamed through the window; the curtains were drawn to the side. In the other bed, Elsie had also opened her eyes at the same time. Both of the twins attempted to sit up at the exact same moment, and both of them fell back against their pillows a moment later.. The bumblebee woman looked with curiosity.
“Don’t try to get up just yet. You’ve been going through some intense trauma these last two days,” she said.
“Two days?” Aeric and Elsie said at the same time.
“You arrived here two days ago, though you’ve been entirely unconscious during that time. My name is Marcelle. I’m the head doctor here.”
“You’re a talking bumblebee woman,” the twins said in sync. They both turned their heads to look at her, then closed their eyes again. The bumblebee woman looked between them, bewildered at their perfectly matching behavior.
We’ve got to stop talking at the same time, Elsie.
Agreed. From now on I’ll do the talking.
Not exactly what I meant, but I’m too tired to argue.
“Hmm. For your information I am a Sylvan,” the doctor said.
Why is there a small, talking bumblebee woman?
We’re in a different world now, genius. Why wouldn’t there be talking bumblebee people here?
“I’m not a bumblebee, though I have heard from other summons that my wings resemble a type of insect found on your home planet.”
The twins’ eyes shot open.
“There are--” Aeric and Elsie both said. Then Aeric stopped himself and Elsie continued. “There are others like us?”
“Oh yes, quite a few. You’ve been summoned to the Royal Academy of Astraeus. There are about two dozen summons currently enrolled, with probably one to two hundred more Earth summons who have already graduated from the academy. I’m sure you’ll meet some of them soon enough. But I expect the headmaster will want to explain all that to you.”
The twins both scratched their heads at the same time.
We should try to act like we’re two different people. Try to do things differently from each other.
I know, but it’s hard. It feels unnatural to move our bodies out of sync with each other.
Aeric put his hand back down while Elsie ran her fingers through her hair. Their motions were slightly mechanical, though Marcelle didn’t seem to notice the oddities in the humans’ behavior.
“Now tell me, do either of you have any lingering pain anywhere?”
“No,” they both said. Elsie glared at Aeric.
That’s the kind of question that is normal to respond to at the same time anyway! Don’t glare at me like that.
You could at least wait half a second, you dolt.
Seriously? With name calling? I’m rubber and you’re glue, Elsie.
Please just try to give the appearance that we’re two different people, Aeric.
“Do you remember anything about what caused you both to fall unconscious upon your arrival here?”
“No,” Elsie said. Aeric just shook his head.
That’s better!
“I’ve been told there’s a trial you have to go through during the summoning process. Did anything happen during the trial that might have caused lingering trauma?”
“Do you count being eaten by wolves as something that would cause mental trauma?” Aeric said.
You’re really not very good at this whole “let Elsie talk first” thing are you?
“I was also injured,” Elsie said. “and I tried to heal myself with some pink wand I found. It ended up putting me in some sort of coma for a few hours.”
Marcelle flitted over closer to Elsie and raised an eyebrow. “You figured out how to take a fairy’s flight on your own? Just to be clear, that sort of spell is not permitted at the Royal Academy of Astraeus. It’s considered addictive, you know.”
You’re going to get us kicked out before we even figure out what’s going on in the first place, you drug addict.
“I didn’t figure it out, exactly,” Elsie said. “The pink wand, uhh, broke, and the explosion that came out of it forced me into that state. It wasn’t anything intentional.”
“You do realize how expensive those wands are, don’t you? Regardless, experiencing a fairy’s flight like that could certainly do a number on your mental state. I’ve never heard of it putting two people out of their minds for two full days though.” She turned to Aeric. “And it doesn’t explain why you would have been knocked out either. Did you take a fairy’s flight as well?”
“I, er… It was the wolves?”
Marcelle studied him for a while, then shrugged. “Just to let you know, I will be monitoring how often you both request access to Sylvan magic. At least for the time being. I wouldn’t want someone under my care to form an addiction to it.”
“Of course,” the twins both said at the same time. They both glared at each other this time.
“Now, before I fetch the headmaster for formal introductions to your new school, there’s something a bit more serious we need to discuss.”
Do you think she knows we’re Twinborn?
Does she even know what a Twinborn is? Also she wouldn’t even have a clue if you’d just let me talk first.
“It’s about the young man that I found unconscious in your room. Do you have any idea what happened to him?”
Oh.
Uh oh.
Elsie tried not to let a guilty look cross her face. Aeric suddenly found the view out of the window very interesting. Marcelle crossed her arms and looked between them. She waited for someone to speak.
“I… think I hurt him,” Elsie finally admitted. “It was an accident though. I didn’t know what I was doing.”
“And how exactly did you hurt him? Any information you can give me will make it that much easier to heal him.”
“I think I took his astra. Somehow. I don’t know, I was barely conscious when it happened.” Marcelle’s wings fluttered slower for a moment and she sank slightly in the air before readjusting herself back to normal.
“When you say you took his astra, can you explain what you mean exactly?”
“I don’t fully understand it myself yet,” Elsie said. “I guess it might be an ability from the class I received after passing my trial.”
“And what class is that?”
“Astral Manipulator.”
This time the doctor’s wings stopped flapping entirely and she dropped to the floor. At standing height her head came up to around the top of the beds.
“You’re an Astral Manipulator?! Truly? It’s been so long since we’ve had a student summoned with this class. Oh the headmaster is going to be absolutely beside himself when he finds out. I’m sure the Leymaster will be very interested to meet you as well.” Marcelle buzzed her wings faster and resumed her usual position in the air. This put her head about the same height as most adult humans’. She turned to Aeric. “And are you an Astral Manipulator as well?”
“No,” Aeric said. He looked away as he mumbled the next few words. “I’m a Nullifier.”
Marcelle looked off into space a bit. “Hmm. I believe I’ve heard of it, but to be honest it’s not a very common selection.”
Sorry you can’t be as popular as me, Aeric.
Whatever you say, drug addict socialite.
“Regardless, if you’ve already learned to use your astral manipulation skill to steal someone’s own internal astra… well let’s just say that’s not going to look very proper on the paperwork, dear. The headmaster will have to decide what sort of punishment is in store here.”
“Punishment?!” the twins both said.
“You can’t imagine that forcefully taking someone’s internal astra is considered legal, can you? But still, you were freshly summoned and probably acted without understanding what you were doing. It’s difficult to say whether you were truly in control of your actions or not.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt him!” Elsie said at the same time that Aeric said “She didn’t mean to hurt him!”
“I’m sure the headmaster will take that all into account. You two dearies just rest while I inform the headmaster that you’ve woken up, though he does always keep a busy schedule so I’m not sure when he’ll be able to visit. I’m sure it will be sometime today though.”
She buzzed over to the door. “There is an attendant, Sapphire, at the front desk who can assist you. She can get you whatever you need. Just follow this hallway and you’ll find help.” With that she departed, closing the door behind her.
Aeric and Elsie looked at each other.
We’re in trouble, aren’t we?
Better to be in trouble than to still be knocked out.
Is it though? What if we did something that causes permanent damage to that guy?
Then we’ll figure out a way to make up for it.
---
“Hi!” A woman in her early twenties was sitting behind the front desk. It had taken a while after Lady Marcelle left before Aeric and Elsie finally felt capable of getting out of their beds. They were both wearing thin, light green robes that reminded them of hospital gowns back on Earth, though they had no memories of putting them on.
This is probably Sapphire, like Marcelle said.
The name doesn’t fit though. Her hair is blonde. Mostly. I expected blue hair like mine.
What about her blue eyes? And her painted fingernails. And her blue lipstick. And the blue tips at the ends of her hair.
I get your point.
“Hi,” Elsie said. “Are you Sapphire? Marcelle told us we could ask you for help.”
“Just to let you know, the proper term is Lady Marcelle when students are addressing her. But don’t worry too much about it; she’s very relaxed about formality. What can I help you with?”
You sure you want to be the one doing all the talking, foot-in-mouth girl?
“Actually we were just hoping for directions to the bathroom,” Elsie said.
“And baths,” Aeric added.
I’m assuming they don’t have showers here. The walls certainly look like we’ve traveled to the past.
Probably a good point. I’ll miss them though.
“Of course,” Sapphire continued, “I can show you to the restrooms. As for washing up we have communal baths available, but most students just prefer to take a shower. You can find shower stalls at the back of the restroom.”
Oh.
I feel betrayed by all the fantasy stories I’ve read where the only way to clean up is with a bath.
“Thanks,” Elsie said brightly.
“Sorry that we don’t have private bathrooms here. This is the secondary medical ward and it was only recently built when we needed more rooms for patients. We keep submitting requests to have the castle Leymaster install bathrooms in here, but she’s always busy doing work on other areas of the grounds.”
Sapphire stood up from the desk and led them outside. It was slightly chilly in the late morning air. The hospital gowns provided very little protection against the cold. They entered another hallway. Sapphire showed them to three doors in particular.
Each door had a symbol drawn on a placard. “This one is for men,” Sapphire said, pointing at what looked like a lightning bolt. “And this one's for women.” She pointed at what looked like a cloud.
“What’s the third door?” Elsie asked. It had a symbol of a triangle with three lines coming straight out of its base.
“That one is for Treewardens. I wouldn’t recommend going in there, even to sate your curiosity. It’s not pleasant.”
“Right…” Elsie said. “Well thanks for showing us--”
“What about breakfast?” Aeric interrupted.
“Oh! It’s actually getting closer to lunch time.The dining hall always sends over a cart at meal times. I’ll make sure you two get first pick of the options today. I’ve heard summons typically find our food fairly normal. Some people might try to trick you into eating something you’ll find gross just so they can laugh about it. I saw it happen with a few of my summoned classmates when I was in school.”
How much do people know about summons? It seemed like Marcelle was pretty familiar with the summoning process. And Sapphire seems to have plenty of experience being around other summoned students too.
I don’t think we even know that much about being summoned in the first place. She probably knows more than we do.
“I’m sure whatever food they provide will be good enough,” Aeric said.
“Thank you for your help,” Elsie said. “I’m sure we’ll learn to love being here in no time if everyone is as friendly as you.”
Sapphire smiled back. “What are your names, by the way?”
Oh right, we only knew her name because Marcelle told us.
“I’m Elsie and this is my twin brother, Aeric. We’re fraternal twins, obviously, since we don’t really look anything alike.”
“So Lucian was right,” Sapphire mumbled.
“What was that?” Aeric said.
“Nevermind. Get freshened up and I’ll make sure your lunch is delivered when you come back.”
Aeric waved and entered the door to the lightning bolt bathroom.
“Thanks again,” Elsie said, then opened the door to the lightning bolt bathroom as well. Sapphire gave her a puzzled look.
“Oh that door is for--” she began, but Elsie had already realized her mistake.
“Sorry! Just not used to these door symbols yet.” She closed the door and entered the one with the cloud symbol instead.
---
Nice going trying to use the mens’ room. I bet Sapphire didn’t think that was weird at all.
It was a simple mistake, no need for sarcasm. It’s hard to break a habit you’ve formed over a lifetime.
I’m sure there will be plenty more of those going forward.
Being a girl will certainly take some getting used to.
I’m so glad this place has warm water with indoor plumbing.
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Do you remember how awful the cold water was that I used to wash up during the trial?
I do. It was awful. I bet some previous summon from Earth introduced these concepts to the people here. I’m glad they did.
It looks to me like it’s all using magic to power everything, rather than machinery. Try using your new trace sense. Do you see the connections?
I haven’t tried using it yet. I don’t even know what it feels like to make an astral connection on my own. You’re the one who connected us together while we were healing.
You do know how to form them because I know how to form them. Don’t try to pretend like you don’t experience everything I do too. Use our shared experiences to your advantage. Look back to what it felt like when I learned to establish astral connections during the trial.
This seems like you’re directly contradicting what you told me before. Didn’t you say we should be trying our best to be different? Not to mention it’s a little embarrassing to intrude on what you experience as Elsie.
You know I’m rolling my eyes at you right now.
I know.
Look, even though I suggested we act as two individuals, it is still helpful to act as one person sometimes. In a physical sense, we have one body. It’s just split into two separate parts. We have one mind, it has just compartmentalized into two identities.
I’m still having trouble wrapping my head around being two people in one. Not to mention I’m still getting used to being in Aeric’s body instead of what we used to have.
I kind of feel like what I’ve had to go through by becoming Elsie is probably a bit more involved than what you’ve gone through to become Aeric.
I mean I’m in a new body too. I actually look and feel pretty different than how I used to.
I’m literally a girl now.
Because you chose to become one.
We both chose to become who we are now.
It’s still weird to me. It feels like I’m invading your privacy when I think about the fact that I could sense or control your Elsie body just as easily as my Aeric body..
It’s not like that, and you know it. But if it makes you feel better: I hereby give Aeric full and irrevocable permission to experience everything that Elsie does. I mean, it’s impossible for me to stop you from doing that anyway, so I might as well say you have permission to be doing it.
Why would I need to give myself permission to experience what my own body experiences?
I just said it because it sounded like you were still struggling to let yourself learn from my experiences. Not because such permission was actually required.
I thought you said you wanted boundaries?
I do! I want the boundaries to be set at the level of taking actual control of one another’s bodies. We literally cannot stop ourselves from feeling each others’ feelings, but that doesn’t mean I want you actually controlling Elsie’s actions. And as a similar show of respect I will not try to control Aeric’s actions either. Even if you’re doing ridiculous things like flexing at yourself in the mirror.
Oh please. Don’t pretend like you weren’t looking in your mirror too. Like you said, I can’t stop myself from knowing everything you do. Even if I do feel a bit awkward about it.
And like I said earlier, my transition to becoming Elsie is likely a more difficult experience than your transition into Aeric. So maybe you can cut me a little slack as I try to figure it all out. You already know what it’s like to be a guy. I don’t have that same advantage over here.
Sure, but I didn’t have muscles like these before we were summoned here. It really does feel different.
And I didn’t have… any of this before being summoned, Aeric. My point is we’re both going through this change together in a way that probably no one else in the world can understand. So let’s stick together, be open about our experiences, and see what we can learn as a Twinborn.
Agreed. For the record, I hereby give permission for Elsie to experience what Aeric experiences as well.
Unnecessary. But thank you.
Okay, so help me understand how to use our new trace sense. You said you can see the way the hot water and plumbing works here?
I can. You should be able to as well, since we both have this same new sense. Try focusing on what Elsie is experiencing right now.
I’d honestly rather not. If it’s all the same to you.
Didn’t we just talk about this? Don’t make it awkward. Anyway it’s not a physical sense that you should be focusing on, but something else. Can you feel the internal astra running through my body? It pulses through my chest. There’s some sort of magical center here. Can you feel it?
I feel it.
Good. Then keep following my astra. Feel how it emanates out from the core along these channels throughout my body. Then it comes back in again. It circulates like blood.
I see what you mean. I think… I can recognize it in Aeric’s body too.
So can I. Now, can you feel how the astra in my body is attached to something external? Focus on that attachment.
It’s going off into the distance. I can’t see where it leads.
I can see it, so you can too. Open your mind to what my body is experiencing. Allow yourself to fully become Elsie for a moment and truly feel it.
It’s connected to something here in the castle, isn’t it? Somewhere underground.
That’s what I think too! There’s something powerful here that provides a conduit to form astral connections. Also, you’ve just proven that you can use your trace sense. You felt the connection to the castle, which means you’ve traced it.
That was the connection in Elsie’s body though.
Then reach out with Aeric’s body and connect to that power source beneath the castle.
It’s not working.
Don’t literally reach your hand out, you dingus. You know exactly what I meant. I’d slap your hand with a reed if I had one.
Fine.
…
…
I think I did it.
I can tell you did. I can feel the connection to the castle through Aeric’s body.
How do you know all this, anyway?
Instinct, I guess? I am an Astral Manipulator. I think this just comes naturally to me.
I wish it came naturally to Nullifiers as well.
I’m sure your class will prove useful. The next step is to extend your senses through the castle back up to the showers.
There are too many things connected to the castle. It’s overwhelming.
Just focus on what is right in front of you. Don’t try to channel the path yourself; let your trace sense find its way back here by instinct.
It’s too much.
Try focusing on Elsie’s experiences again. Do you see how I’ve traced it back to my shower?
I do.
Try to mimic that same approach.
…
…
I found it. I’m back at the showers again. How does this connection even work? Why is it making hot water come out of the showerhead?
Remember the wand that had the ability to create water? It converted astra into a chemical element. I think the showers are doing the same thing here: they draw on the castle’s power directly, converting astra into hot water at the very moment we need it.
How does it make the water hot? We couldn’t do that during the trial.
I’m not exactly sure about that yet. We were able to make flames during the trial though, so maybe there’s some way of combining the two powers.
Wait. What is this connection? There’s something else here too. I can feel it.
There is.
A connection between us. It’s different from how we’re connected to the castle’s power.
I’m glad that you noticed it.
You noticed it as Elsie first. Why didn’t I realize that?
My current theory is that while we share all our physical senses, we don’t actually share our internal thoughts.
Are we not sharing our thoughts right now?
I don’t know about you, but I’m intentionally communicating these thoughts to you. It’s different from my own internal thought processes.
So we do have some degree of true individual identity after all.
I think so. We give names to different parts of the brain and they play different roles, yet overall it is still correct to refer to them as a single brain. I think we are part of a single mind much in the same way different parts of a physical brain are part of the same overall thing.
So we’re not exactly the same person after all.
I think we still are. We’re just different parts of that same person like I was saying about how different parts of the same brain are still considered part of the same whole. I don’t think there’s any hard science on what it means to be a Twinborn, unfortunately.
I guess we’ll just figure it out as we go.
---
So Elsie… since we’re talking about shared experiences and all…
No.
Just hear me out, what if--
I already know exactly what you are going to say and the answer is still no.
But technically we’re the same--
This will not happen, and we will not discuss it any further, Aeric. Don’t bother wondering if it’s ever going to happen, because it’s not happening at all. It will never happen.
Why is my water turning cold?
I’m trying out my new skill. I’ve just redirected the astral flow. Honestly I didn’t know if I was going to turn the heat into water or the water into heat.
You could have burned me to death! But you’re not even in here anyway, so how can you access my shower’s astral flow?
Haven’t you followed the connection between us? We’re just on the other side of the same wall. We’re probably only standing about four or five feet away from each other. It wasn’t that hard to trace the astra to-- hey! Did you just turn off my water?!
Nullification power, baby!
Never call me baby again. But for what it’s worth, I’m proud of you. You’ve used your nullification skill for the first time! But I wasn’t finished washing my hair. Can you turn it back on?
I don’t know how. I’m not actually sure if I can turn it back on. My skill didn’t say anything about un-nullifying things.
Aeric… do you realize how much shampoo is in my hair right now?
Of course I do. I have full permission to sense everything you’re sensing.
That doesn’t mean you HAVE to pay attention to everything I physically sense, just that you can. If you want. Especially if you think it will help you as Aeric.
Well I’m all finished so I’ll see you back at our room! Byeeeee.
Come back! Turn it back on! Aeric!
---
None of the other showers worked anymore either.
In desperation, Elsie wrapped up in one of the provided towels and walked around the corner of the shower room into the main bathroom area. She turned the knob on one of the sinks. To her relief, warm water streamed out of it. Hoping the sink had been cleaned recently, she dunked her head under the flow, scrubbing the shampoo bubbles out.
Another girl entered the bathroom at that moment. She had long, emerald green hair, lavender eyes, and freckles in a stripe across her petite nose and cheeks. Elsie screamed and tried to stand up, but hit her head on the faucet, briefly spraying water everywhere. She held up her towel to make herself as modest as she could.
The green haired girl just smiled and waved, seemingly unaffected by any of what just happened. “Sorry for startling you! Don’t mind me. You can finish washing your hair in the sink like people usually do.”
“The showers were out of order!” Elsie said. She waited for the girl to enter a bathroom stall and then quickly rinsed the rest of the shampoo out of her hair. She then ran back to the shower room as fast as she safely could on the wet floor.
She grabbed another towel from the stack and attempted to wrap her long red curly hair in it. Something didn’t seem quite right about it though. Having never had anywhere close to this much hair before, it was difficult to figure out what exactly she needed to do for it. Resigned to her fate, she gathered her things and walked out.
The green haired girl was washing her hands. Elsie tried to sneak past without her noticing.
“Do you want me to help you?” the girl asked. Elsie stopped.
“Sorry, what?”
“With the towel. You look like you tried to tie your hair in a knot. Do you want any help?”
Elsie almost said no, but figured she’d need at least some guidance on some of these things. She smiled in what she hoped was a polite way, despite her strong discomfort at the whole situation. “Sure that would be nice. I just got so flustered after the water stopped working.”
“I can imagine,” the girl said. “What a crazy random chance that it would turn off right when you were still washing your hair as well.” She walked over and took the towel out, then wrapped Elsie’s red curls up properly. “You have beautiful hair!”
“Thank you! So do you. I love the way the green contrasts with your purple eyes.”
The girl smiled. “I thought these colors looked nice together too.”
Not sure what else to say, Elsie just gave a nod. “Thanks again for your help. I’m Elsie by the way. What’s your name?”
“You’re supposed to find that out when we meet for the first time at dinner tonight,” the girl said.
“I… oh. Okay?” Elsie wasn’t sure what that meant exactly. “But didn’t we meet just now?”
The girl shook her head. “This was just me helping a totally random stranger who I just happened to find in the bathrooms right at a moment that she needed a little help. Definitely not a proper meeting.” She shooed Elsie away with her hand. “Bye strange pretty lady who I’ve never met!”
“Right then. Bye mysterious stranger,” Elsie said, feeling even more confused. She left the bathroom still wrapped in her towels.
At least it’s a short walk back to the medical ward.
---
Aeric was dressed in his full black outfit again, leaning against the front desk in the medical ward when Elsie arrived.
“Oh! Hi, Elsie,” Sapphire said with a smile.
“Hi Sapphire. Someone please remind me to bring my actual clothes next time we go to the showers,” Elsie said as she closed the door behind her.
“You uhh, might not want to make a habit of walking around the school grounds in just a towel, sis. Might give some people the wrong idea about you.”
“Oh shut up, Aeric. I’m modest enough. If people are getting the wrong ideas it’s their own fault. Besides, I didn’t want to put on that hospital gown again after I was all cleaned up.”
“Relax, I had to make the towel trek back here as well.”
“You should have seen him,” Sapphire said. “He clearly needs pointers on how to wear a towel properly.”
“Hey I was just letting my rock hard ab muscles air dry, okay?” Sapphire and Elsie both rolled their eyes.
“I’m going to change, let me know when lunch gets here.” Elsie went back to their shared room.
Aeric and Sapphire watched her go back. “Summoned students are always so pretty,” Sapphire said.
“Huh?”
“I’ve heard that you can change their appearance before they arrive. Do you mind if I ask a personal question?”
“Sure,” Aeric said hesitantly.
“Did she change anything about the way she looks?”
Careful here, mister, Elsie thought from the other room.
“It’s really not my place to tell exactly how she used to look. But I’d say how she looks now is a significant improvement over what she used to look like.”
Aeric!
I mean it’s technically the truth.
I know, but you don’t need to go spreading rumors about me!
Sapphire grinned. “I thought as much, but I didn’t want to be rude. I’ve always wished I could go experience whatever it is you summons get to experience. I would change my hair to be blue, though probably lighter than your hair color.”
“That would match your name better, yes,” Aeric agreed.
“Wouldn’t it? I’ve fully dyed my hair before, more than just the tips I have now. It never looks quite right though.”
“I bet it looks great on you,” Aeric said with as charming a smile as he could perform.
“What’s it like?”
“What is what like?”
“Being able to freely change the way you look,” Sapphire said. “How did it happen?”
“Oh. Well I don’t really know the right words to describe it here. Do you know what a computer screen looks like?”
“A what? A screen like something you use to sift soil?”
“It’s… well I don’t know how to explain it exactly I guess. Basically we were just presented with a lot of options for things we could change about ourselves. It was kind of personal though.”
“Oh, I can imagine. Especially if it let Elsie come out looking like she does.”
We really should have gone back and changed that option, Elsie thought.
We also need to get used to the fact that both of us are present for every conversation, regardless of which body is actually having said conversation. Mind your own business, socialite. You’re distracting me.
“And I’m sure you already had those air-dry-only abs since before you changed your appearance. No change needed.” Sapphire winked. Aeric’s cheeks filled slightly with red. Luckily he was saved from having to respond by the door opening.
A cart was wheeled in with several lunch options on top of it. A portly man with a stained chef’s apron and a big beard was pushing it.
“Hi, Wilbur,” Sapphire said brightly. “Thanks for bringing the lunches over.”
Wilbur finished pushing in the cart and grunted. “Figured I may as well get some fresh air. This place’s a longer walk than the old medical ward though. I’ll prob’ly just send someone else next time.” His voice was higher pitched than Aeric had been expecting, based on his body size. It had a slight whine to it. He turned to Aeric. “Yer the new summon then, boy?”
“Er, hi,” Aeric said. “Yeah my name is Aeric Stormrider. I just arrived a few days ago, but I spent the first two days unconscious here.
“So I’ve gathered. Yer all anyone’s been talkin’ about since ya got here. Heard there was two of you though.”
“My sister is here too.”
“Don’t think I’ve ever heard of two folks gettin’ summoned at once before. Do you think that makes you special or somethin’, kid?”
“Er, no sir.”
“Good. Seems like folks would be better off knowin’ their place in the world, am I right?”
“Of course,” Aeric said.
Sounds like this guy needs to learn his place in the world too.
Yeah I have no idea what this guy’s problem is.
“Be nice, Wilbur. He only just woke up,” Sapphire said. “He probably has more questions than answers about what’s going on anyway.”
“Yeah yeah, I’m just messin’ with ya, kid.” Wilbur turned to leave with a wave of his big, meaty hand. “Just send a message when you’re done and I’ll have someone come ‘n get the cart.”
“Bye, Wilbur,” Sapphire said politely. She waited for the door to close and watched out the window as he left. “He’s really nice, I promise. You might find it’s pretty common for people to be a little jealous of all the attention new summons get. But eventually you’ll just be part of what’s normal like the rest of us.”
“I guess that’s true on Earth as well to some extent. Unlike the food you have here. I can’t wait to try it.”
Food’s here, sis.
Call back to me you dolt. At least try to pretend like we don’t have a way of communicating nonverbally.
“Elllsieeee,” Aeric shouted. “Food’s ready!”
“Oh!” Sapphire said. “Please don’t shout like that. There are other patients here, you know.”
Now look, you got us in trouble.
You got yourself in trouble. I’m completely innocent in all this.
Elsie walked out from the hallway. “Smells good!”
“Why don’t you two pick whichever dishes you’d like. I’ll deliver everything else to the rest of the patients.”
Most of the dishes were various forms of what essentially looked like meat and vegetables. He saw a few dishes with loose rice-like grains in sauce. No noodle dishes as far as he could tell though. There was also a big tureen filled with a yellow, creamy soup with a stack of bowls next to it.
Aeric picked up a plate with a big purple steak and green vegetables to the side.
“That’s the dish I was going to take,” Elsie said with a glare.
“I know,” Aeric said. “But there was only one of them so I had to take it first.” He looked around to find a table, but the only thing available was the front desk or a few chairs to the side. He shrugged and headed back to their room; he knew he had seen a table in there at least. “Thanks for the food, Sapphire,” he called out over his shoulder.
“Hey it’s all thanks to Wilbur and the other chefs,” she replied with a wave.
Elsie filled up a bowl of soup. “This is the first food we’ve ever eaten in this world you know,” she said to Sapphire. “Our bodies are essentially brand new things since being summoned. Although I did have a bit of wolf meat during the trial. I don’t know if that counts as this world or not though.”
“I’d love to hear more about the trial sometime if you’re feeling up to talking about it. Also it’s not entirely accurate that this is your first meal,” Sapphire said as she came around to push the cart down the hall. “We had a Firefin mage visit while you were unconscious who cast a nourishment spell. You should feel like you’ve been eating like normal for the past two days.”
“Huh,” Elsie said. “Well that’s convenient.”
Aeric ran back into the front room. “Forgot a fork and knife,” he said, then grabbed a set of utensils from the cart and ran back to his room.
Elsie sighed and took a spoon for her soup. “We really do appreciate the help. Thank you, Sapphire.”
“Oh don’t you worry at all. Just doing my job. And of course it doesn’t hurt that I have suddenly become a person everyone wants to talk to, even though I can’t actually tell them any details about our patients anyway.”
Elsie smiled, then retreated to her room with the soup.
---
The soup ended up being way too sour for Elsie. Aeric’s purple steak tasted divine though, so Elsie let herself mooch off of his senses while he enjoyed his meal. She did her best to ignore her own sense of taste as she ate her sour lunch.