...Did I have a nightmare?
An eery sensation clung to my skin, wiping away the moisture and leaving me dry and cold; even as the aurora shone down upon my face, I felt...
Weird.
Frowning, I shook my head.
Nightmares are common anyway.
Yet, I couldn't help but bite my lips; something was bizarrely familiar about this nightmare.
Whatever.
Agonising over something I can't quite put my finger on is only going to send me into an unhealthy, downward spiral. Lightly spping my face, I finished my routine morning stretch and went to the bathroom.
Clicking my fingers once inside, I observed the crystal light magically turning on; it's interesting every time I see it. Something akin to magic was at py, but I'm not too familiar with this world's structure and systems to comment.
Ignoring the shattered mirror shards lining the bathroom tiles, I went to the toilet, washed up in the bath, and got changed into a fresh pair of long-sleeved white shirt and pants.
My routine is simple: toilet, wash, change, breakfast with mother, education, garden time, repeat.
Simple.
The st time I said that I got...
Shaking the incoming thoughts away, I smacked myself in the face again, rubbed the faint scars on my neck, and exited the bathroom. I made sure to tiptoe around the mess of gss shards I created on the floor.
I should clean that up sometime.
With that thought drifting to the back of my mind, I exited the bathroom only to be met by the sight of...
"Hello, maid."
The dark-blonde-haired maid.
"Greetings, Young Lady. The Mistress won't be avaible for today's schedule. Therefore, I will be taking over temporarily."
I had to go and jinx it.
Inwardly sighing at my luck with announcing schedules and then having them promptly shattered, I nodded at her.
"Understood."
-----
I'll give credit where credit is due; this maid is good.
While the mere sight of her aggravated me into wanting to rip her face apart; she's real good.
Today was a session on etiquette. How should you enter a room when facing an equal, a superior, an inferior, a subordinate, a comrade, or an enemy? In what manner should you initiate a conversation, and when should you start eating?
How should you pour a drink? In what order should you pour the drinks?
Many surprisingly simple tasks, but once you combine them, it becomes an incredibly complex byrinth of procedures.
From what I can tell...
I might never use this in my life.
In what way is etiquette useful in a dead world like this one? In this Dark World?
I shrugged; mayhaps the Empyreans would know, but certainly not me.
"Tuck your belly!"
Pah!
A light stick smacked my abdomen, sending shivers of tingling shocks up my spine and into my tired mind. I had no issues with the teaching methodologies;
Till punishment arrived.
Why the hell do I need to walk in this way?
Pah!
Another flick of the stick sent me curdling into the ground like a ball; I don't get the point of this.
"Do not disgrace yourself when walking."
I get it!
My frustration was rapidly compounding; as usual.
And.
When that happens; as usual...
Thismakes699,501nosense699,509tome.
"Respond!"
Pah!
A stick whipped the back of my head, so I lifted it;
And out of my mouth came:
"Yes700,294Maid701,953."
The maid's face twisted. The strictness bubbling in the depths of those inky eyes faltered with disgust.
"Silence, you thing."
And I aligned with her command.
I shut my mouth.
And followed her teachings.
With my brain agitated;
My mind stretching far beyond where it should;
My emotions sinking to where they should not...
703,342. 703,542. 703,922. 706,666. 708,105.
I let loose.
709,953. 711,961. 713,006. 714,239. 715,098.
I sunk into the comfort.
I followed orders.
And moved;
Like a marionette.
...Ah.
I smiled.
...This is comfortable.
---
Beyond the veil, she watched.
Her gaze observed far beyond where the mortal eye could possibly perceive.
Yet in her eyes was a single girl.
The Mistress gently smiled.
She listened to the numbers.
To the count;
To the creature.
Her lips opened with pleasure and endless love;
"It's inescapable, sweetie."
She tapped the armrest beside her, pondering for a moment, then continued;
"I cannot wait."
Then, her vision twisted to the right; to the other child.
"And you..."
Her smile stretched further, crinkling her eyes with tender emotion;
"...You shall receive the perfect gift."
-----
Sometime ter, amid the scintilting gardens.
Basking in a white haze, I methodically consumed the ever-present fog. The mind-clearing effect was no longer as potent as I remembered, but it aided me nonetheless.
Swivelling and dancing between flowers, bushes, and low-hanging trees ripe with fruit, the white fog trickled cyclically about the garden. And I sat in the middle of this cycle of white fog, absorbing as much as I could through my nose and mouth.
I can breathe it in but not back out.
Meaning I didn't have to optimise breathing through the nose and out the mouth like oxygen; I could absorb it with reckless abandon.
It's funny though.
I smiled whilst ignoring mother's piercing gaze.
I know that this white stuff is good for me.
I know that it's helpful for me.
But I don't know with what.
For what reason am I doing this?
...I'm not sure.
Yet.
I am here.
I am consuming it.
And mother is allowing me to do so.
Is the fact that I'm permitted to consume it a positive or negative sign?
No idea.
But.
I have a faint feeling that, even if it's a negative sign...
I'd consume it either way.
A facet of this white haze is attractive to me. I sense a not-so-clear palpitation in my chest whenever I gaze upon it, a palpitation of intrigue, or perhaps...
I pondered upon this emotion inwardly.
What is it?
What attracts me to this white haze so much that I've made it a routine to absorb?
Why do I have to do this?
It feels like...
Water?
Or...
Food?
Something like that?
But then, it clicked.
Food, water;
Neither is a want.
They are needs; they are necessary to my existence, my survival.
A need?
I feel like I need it?
My eyes further observed this ever-present white haze, this beautiful, picturesque fog quaintly aligning itself between the shrubbery and flowers, dripping from leaves.
Why do I feel like I need this white haze?
An inevitable curiosity arose.
A curiosity that was likely to remain unanswered for a long time to come.
"Having fun, sweetie?"
Mother's voice came from the side. She was still resting on the grass with her arms pced beside her and legs overpping to the side; her loose, flowy dress blended well with the scenery, being composed mostly of natural colours except for the gold leaf embroidery.
Pausing my breathing for a moment, "Yes, mother."
"Good!" Her smile outshone the flowers' vibrancy.
The smooth swaying of her chestnut-coloured hair fpped elegantly in the wind, forcing her to tuck it behind her ears with a simple, dignified movement.
This day had been peaceful so far, a normal day with no abrupt changes.
And not just today either, the past 5 days had all been like that;
Nothing surpassed themaid's991,004stick995,632from6daysagothatwas997,990theworst.
However.
Alora;
For what reason does she deserve peace?
Alora;
For what reason is she allowed to exist in this world?
Alora;
For what reason was she born?
Not for peace.
Thus.
The few days of rexation.
The few days of learning, exploring and coming to understand this world.
Were to come to an end once more.
"Unfortunately, sweetie, I won't get to be with you tomorrow..." Mother abruptly stated with a mencholic tone.
I tilted my head in response.
She wouldn't have said that for no reason; she didn't warn me of her departure st time, so why this time? What changed?
"Oh... Are you curious, sweetie?"
I didn't nod to her; because those eyes-
"You're curious, right?"
Those eyes-
"Right?"
I nodded.
"Yes, mother."
Mother smiled, "Good!"
Gently cpping, mother stood up and patted her clothes off. Looking down at me, the familiar tender emotions oozed outwardly, filling her eyes to the brim with familial love and...
Regret.
"You see..."
I held my breath.
"Your sister..."
My heart tightened; sweat unknowingly lined the back of my neck and chillingly dripped.
Those eyes-
"She did an oopsie."
I know them-
"And girls who have an oopsie..."
I know what will come-
"Deserve punishment."
Memories overwhelmed my brain; emotions scattered my thoughts; only those dampened, restricted memories came shooting back up.
I stepped forward towards mother, and as she stared down at me with curiosity, I raised my fingers...
Grip.
And clenched the hem of her dress.
"No."
Mother tapped her chin at that word, "What do you mean, no?"
But I.
"Nonononononono."
I repeated.
"No punishment, you mean?"
I flinched, bit my lips, and nodded.
I couldn't let her be punished—never, not her, not my sister, not the one I love;
The one I love shouldn't be-!
Because-!
Because!!!
...
...Because I don't want her to become what I have become.
Pat.
A hand gently smothered my head, a warm hand.
"But, sweetie, bad children must be punished."
Tug.
I pulled harder on her hem.
As I did so, she crouched down to my eye level; her stern, yet loving blue eyes stared worryingly into mine.
"Surely you don't think bad girls shouldn't be punished?"
...
I should nod.
To say yes, they shouldn't be punished.
But I...
I shook my head.
"See? You also think they should be punished, right?"
...I nodded.
"Then why don't you let go?" She moved her spare hand over mine and gently tugged it, she began plucking my fingers off, one by one.
But I tightened my grip; I couldn't let go.
"Sweetie?"
Why?
Why am I opening my mouth?
Am I truly about to say this?
But I didn't stop.
Staring straight into mother's eyes, my quivering, fearful voice cracked with utter terror;
And I-
I-
"Sister is my twin."
I-
"So, her oopsie is my oopsie."
I-
"Let me take her pce."
I cried.
And mother pulled me into her arms, her arms embraced me, pulling me into her peaceful, loving arms...
Then;
Into my ears she said;
"My sweet Alora, you are as perfect as can be... Right?"
I sucked in the sweet scent of my mother.
...And nodded.
