The elf, who had been ready to jump at him only a moment earlier, stopped. Like a well-behaved child, he sat back down on the sofa, picked up his cup of tea, and spoke with the gentlest voice he could manage.
"I do need some advice. But more than that... I need opportunities. Starting a conversation without any context is awkward."
The dragon rested his head against the palm of the hand lying on the armrest.
"I don't think you need to be so anxious... or so impatient. Only one day has passed since the entrance ceremony. You have fifty years to reconnect with your sister."
"Who wants to wait fifty years? I want those years to be filled with good memories. I want my big sister back on my side."
"Yes, yes. So you'll win your sister over and your family will become the most powerful one in the universe."
The two human servants did everything they could not to laugh. This elf was... expressive. Still, both of them maintained their composure.
I really can see the resemblance...
Those two really are brother and sister.
"So this is how noble races interact? I wasn't expecting this. The book described them as much more indifferent and heartless outside the Earth Planet."
Hm? Earth Planet?
Is that the homeworld of humans?
I'll look it up later.
[Anka, I told you not to believe everything written in that book. Also, this kind of conversation isn't unusual. But you should know that a deadly fight could begin the very next moment. That is how races behave throughout the universe. There are no eternal relationships—only eternal interests.]
A fight in the next moment sounds a little extreme.
This system is rather pessimistic.
The atmosphere here doesn't feel like the kind of interaction it is describing.
"I understand, but… In this atmosphere, I don't think a fight would happen. They seem to be close friends. And a fight is..."
"You there."
[Anka. They're talking to you.]
The girl hesitated for a brief moment before approaching the two sofas where both men were now looking in her direction.
"How may I help you?"
The elf glanced toward the dragon.
"I told you. Even her voice sounds the same."
This is...
Now I can guess what her appearance must be.
Probably exactly like mine...
"What are those two talking about? Have they met someone who looks like me before?"
[Maybe. Be careful.]
The dragon looked at her as well.
At least, it seemed that way. His mask hid his eyes, making it impossible to tell where he was actually looking.
"They only share the same appearance. But their aura is different. And so is their hair. She has black hair. This one has silver."
Silver hair...?
"Black hair...?"
[Anka, your registry contains no record of a twin.]
"I don't have a twin."
The elf nodded after hearing Fahim's words before looking back at the human girl.
"Little girl. Have you ever been to another planet? Or do you have a lost twin? ...Or perhaps a lost mother/ father?"
"Lost mother? Another planet? He thinks I have a sister?"
Do we really resemble each other that much?
"Zero, what is the probability that I have a sister?"
[Zero percent. The Alpha System has monitored your planet for the past century. No one has entered or left without being detected. If your registry contains no sister, then you do not have one.]
"I'm sorry, but I don't have a sister. And I've never traveled beyond my home planet. This is the first time the Damionus has brought us to another world. I also asked my companion about the possibility of another family member. It answered that the probability is zero."
This human girl is too honest.
Why don't you show them your entire family tree while you're at it?
How naive.
The two young men also seemed surprised by her answer. For a brief moment, they simply looked at her in silence.
"They definitely don't have the same attitude... or the same aura," Tenin finally said, still sounding surprised.
"Did I say something wrong?"
[Ahem... It's not that you said something wrong.]
But you said too much.
[Try not to answer everything so honestly next time.]
"You may go back to your place," Fahim told the girl before turning toward Tenin again. "I told you they were different."
"I know. You're always right. I believe you. But how can two people be so similar... and so different at the same time?" He paused. "Anyway… What do you think about the message in the class group? Do you think it was my sister's idea... or the Black Phoenix's?"
"Probably your sister's. I don't think the Black Phoenix cares that much about teamwork. She probably considered it… But I doubt she cares enough to organize something like that. So yes. I think it was your sister."
"You think so too? My sister is so smart... and kind!"
"I never said that."
"You did."
"I didn't."
"You did."
"Hah…" Fahim sighed. "Believe whatever makes you happy."
"When we get back, we—"
The voices gradually faded with each passing second.
Csendez felt an invisible force pulling her consciousness away from the girl's body.
Slowly, she was expelled from the dream. Just before losing consciousness completely, she managed to turn her head one last time.
She finally saw the girl's face.
She really looks exactly like me.
Only the hair is different.
Another strange experience...