She sat in silence. Her hair fell loosely as she rested her head in her hand. Her eyes remained tightly shut until the warm light slipping through the window finally forced her out of her slumber.
"It's morning already, huh?"
Her eyes scanned the room. Nothing had changed. Quiet and tidy, as always. She let out a deep sigh.
"In the end, I didnât get any answers all night, did I?"
Her encounter with the Hero yesterday afternoon had shaken her faith in the dream she once sawâwhen he told her to follow the Hero, who might bring them closer together.
"He's just a naïve and foolish man who judges others without ever seeing them for himself. Can a man that stupid really lead me to you?"
Elysia stared closely at her necklace, as if the path laid out before her was a treacherous one that might not lead to her true destination.
She picked up the crystal ball lying on her desk and poured a large amount of mana into it. The crystal ball lit up brightly. Elysia placed her necklace atop it. "Hey, you dumb crystal. You better give me a hint on where he is."
The inside dimmed, revealing a thick fog that seemed to block Elysia's desire.
"This is pointless. I'm getting tired of this annoying thing."
The crystal ball was a magical item Elysia had created herself, combining a cheap divination crystal with soul resonance magic. It was meant specifically to locate her beloved soul, but it had always failedâas if the world's fate itself was trying to keep them apart.
Crash!
"Elyyyyy!"
Someone barged into her room without permission. The way she called Elysia made it clear who it wasâthe Summer Rabbit, Irine. The scream pierced Elysia's sensitive ears.
"Could you at least lower your voice in someone else's room?"
Irine was panting, eyes filled with worry as she stared at Elysia.
"That's not important!" she said, gripping Elysia's arm tightly.
"What happened yesterday afternoon? What did you do to the Hero? Father... Father looked really mad today!"
"I just tested his head, both figuratively and literally."
"Aaaargh! I donât understand what you're saying, but Iâm sure thatâs not a good thing."
She ruffled her shimmering golden hair, her face twisted in panic.
Elysia sighed, tired of her antics. "Tell me what happened?"
"I donât really know, but heâs definitely mad at you. I haven't seen Father this angry since Brother Leonas ran off with someoneâs fiancée a few years ago."
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Irine glared at Elysia, then shook her hard. "Father's looking for you right now. Tell me exactly what happened yesterday. I donât want him to scold you like he did Leonas!"
Elysia sighed again and began telling her about her encounter with the Hero in the garden.
Irine listened closely.
After hearing everything, she covered her mouth in disbelief. "You... you really did all that, Ely?"
Elysia nodded slowly. "Whatâs wrong with that?"
Irine puffed her cheeks in frustration at her stiff younger sister. "Ely, you need to take responsibility. Go see Father, and also... that Hero. Apologize or at least explain. We canât keep living in conflict."
Elysia turned her face away. "Youâre taking an outsiderâs side."
"Itâs not about sides, but... if you keep acting like this, no one will ever understand you. Not even me."
Silence hung between them.
Irine lowered her voice and sat on the edge of Elysiaâs bed. "Ely... I know youâre always strong, always independent. But sometimes, I wish youâd open up just a little. If you could talk to me, even just a bit... maybe Iâd understand, and stop bothering you so much. Or... do you still not trust me?"
Elysia looked at her twin sister for a moment. Her gaze was hollow, but no longer as sharp as before. Then she murmured quietly, almost as if talking to herself. "I once lost someone. And since then... Iâve been searching."
Irine stayed silent, listening without interrupting. Her fingers moved restlessly over the bedsheet, as if wanting to ask but unable to speak.
"I know it sounds foolish. But... thatâs the truth. Itâs the only thing that keeps me going in this world."
Irine clutched the edge of her shirt, unable to meet her sisterâs eyes. "That person... meant a lot to you, huh?"
Elysia gave a small nod. "More than anyone."
Then she stood up and looked back out the window. The morning breeze stirred the curtains gently.
"You know, the only reason I agreed to meet that foolish Hero was to get a clue about him, the one Iâve been looking for. I donât really care about that stupid prophecy, this world, or the people in it."
"I see... that explains why youâve been acting the way you have," Irine muttered. "I... I think I understand a little now."
Elysia gave a faint smile. "Hey, didnât you just tell me to apologize to Father and that foolish Hero?"
Irine nodded slowly, her eyes softer and more concerned now. "Yeah. But I wonât force you, Ely."
Elysia was silent for a moment, then smiled faintly. "In that case... Iâll do it. Not only that, Iâll join his party, just like in the prophecy."
Irineâs eyes widened. Her mouth dropped open in disbelief. "What?! Seriously?! But thatâs so sudden. Why? I mean... didnât you not want that?"
Elysia took a deep breath. "Donât get me wrong. I donât believe he can save the world, or even understand the true meaning of justice. I just want to know... if this path might bring me closer."
Irine tilted her head. "Closer to what?"
Elysia didnât answer. She simply picked up her necklace and tightened the knot around her neck. A thin smile formed on her lips. "To him, of course."
Irine smiled too. "Is that necklace also a gift from him?"
Elysia nodded.
In a world that knew nothing of her past, she still clung tightly to the last remaining proof of their bondâa necklace that would never leave her neck.
Silence returned once more. Only the soft symphony of nature played with the window curtains through the morning breeze.
Elysia lifted her head. Her gaze was sharper again, though softer than before. "In that case, can you take me to Father and the Hero, Irine?"
Irine nodded eagerly, a wide smile blooming across her face.
The two of them stepped out of the room together. They walked side by side. Their natures and appearances stood in contrast, like a snow rabbit and a summer rabbit. Yet, they seemed closer than anyone else in the palace.
Irine bumped her shoulder lightly against Elysiaâs. She whispered softly,
"One last question. Do I know this him you keep talking about, Ely?"
Elysia shook her head gently. A delicate, beautiful smile bloomed clearly on her face.
"He... is a shadow of the past that always lingers in my memory. No one has ever met him but me."