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The day began peacefully, the soft morning sun lighting up my room.
The warm atmosphere seemed to relax my muscles. I got out of bed, still a little lazy, and went to the wardrobe. I grabbed a black t-shirt and pants of the same color—simple clothes, but comfortable. I didn't feel the need to wear my jacket today; I preferred the sense of freedom those lighter clothes gave me.
As I approached the kitchen, I heard the creak of the guest room door. Burst appeared, still yawning, with messy hair and half-closed eyes.
"Good morning, Sir Victor," he mumbled, rubbing his eyes while trying to fully wake up.
"Good morning, Burst," I replied with a slight smile. He looked completely at ease, which was a good sign for what I had in mind today.
Thankfully, this house came fully furnished—it was a relief not to worry about that. For someone who had nothing, the comfort of a soft bed and a warm coffee in the morning was a gratitude I didn't expect to feel so soon.
"[Good morning! What are we doing today?]" — Merlin floated quietly out of the room. She didn't need to sleep, but she seemed to make a point of keeping some kind of routine with us.
Today would officially be the first day of our coexistence with this runaway prince. I had spent the previous night thinking about how to deal with Burst. After all, he was young and impulsive, but I needed to know him better to understand how I could help.
"Let's begin Victor's Super Efficient Learning Plan!" I exclaimed, raising my arm as if declaring the start of a great mission.
"[Oh! 'Super efficient'! That sounds important…]" — The energy around Merlin seemed to vibrate slightly, as if she was eager for some significant action.
I let out a short laugh and looked at Burst, who was already serving himself a cup of coffee.
The first step of my plan was simple: a genuine connection. And, like any brilliant plan, it began with something basic—cookies and coffee.
"I think the one in blue will win," I commented, watching the TV screen where a women's fighting tournament was taking place. The two fighters moved quickly, trading precise blows.
Burst nodded, looking as focused as I was. "Maybe… but I think the one in red is more agile."
"[This won't help at all…]" Merlin projected, floating around us as if trying to understand the point of all this. Her light swayed back and forth, clearly confused.
It was obvious Merlin didn't get it, but there was logic in what I was doing. Burst was interested in the fighter in red—a strong, aggressive woman with an oppressive presence in the arena. He was probably used to that kind of figure. Jane, his sister, had that same dominant aura. That revealed something about how Burst saw the world.
As for me… I was interested in the fighter in blue. She was more focused, strategic, calmly observing her opponent, analyzing before acting. She wasn't the fastest or the most imposing, but she had a silent strength. That also said something about me. In the end, both of us were making choices that reflected our instincts and experiences.
"I see…" I murmured, thoughtful.
"[See what?!]" Merlin seemed genuinely perplexed.
The next step of my plan was simple: testing how Burst thought. And for that, nothing better than a good game of chess. We sat at the table with the board between us.
"What will you do now?" I asked casually, while moving my knight to take one of Burst's pawns.
Burst frowned, clearly pondering his move. He ended up moving another pawn, without thinking much of the consequences, leaving it right in the line of my rook.
"Damn…" he muttered, realizing too late. "Lost another one…"
"[You're playing chess?!]" Merlin vibrated so intensely that her light almost flickered like a tiny bolt of lightning. Her surprise was palpable, even without a face.
With just that move, I realized something important: Burst was the type to attack directly, without thinking much about the consequences. He didn't see the board as a whole, only focusing on the immediate move.
I, on the other hand, thought two or three steps ahead. Cautious, observing the whole scenario before acting. And that didn't just apply to chess… that difference revealed something about the two of us.
"I see…" I murmured again, this time with more conviction.
"[What are you seeing? This makes no sense!!!]" Merlin, agitated, kept floating in circles, unable to follow the flow of my thoughts.
And so, between cookies, coffee, and a chess game, I began to unravel what was going on in Burst's head. He was simple, straightforward, but with much to learn. What I still had to discover was how I could teach someone like that…
Hmm… This was harder than I expected.
The first hour of the day passed surprisingly quickly and comfortably, despite my intense mental efforts in my elaborate tests with Burst.
"Very well, Burst, we're making progress," I said, feeling a slight pride.
"I noticed," he replied quickly, also proud of himself.
"[You two are just sitting around!]" Merlin was glowing brighter than usual this time.
That's when it hit me: I had almost forgotten—I needed to go to the service center today to obtain my new citizen document.
Without wasting more time, we headed to the center. Burst decided to come along, which I considered a good idea. I still needed to watch him more closely, to understand who he really was.
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Upon our arrival, the sight that greeted us was of a building that blended the traditional and the modern in an impressive way. The exterior walls were made of gleaming silver metal, reflecting the sunlight in an almost blinding manner. Yet the architectural features resembled an ancient era, with carved stone arches and stained-glass windows that told stories of legendary heroes. The sliding glass doors contrasted with the imposing structure, opening to a crowd of beings of all races.
Elves, with their elegant garments and pointed ears, walked with light, graceful steps. Dwarves, sturdier and with thick beards, argued animatedly about business. Humans, always diverse, mingled among them. There were even some less common races, such as a few lizardmen.
"The kingdom really is a melting pot of races," I commented, impressed by the variety of beings.
The interior of the building did not disappoint. The polished marble floor reflected the bright lights from the ceiling, and large digital panels flashed in multiple languages, displaying queue numbers. Everything was efficient and clean. The waiting areas were neatly arranged with cushioned chairs, and the attendants, in their impeccable uniforms, moved swiftly among the service desks.
"Well, the place is busy today," I observed, watching the constant flow of people coming and going, everyone seeming to know exactly what to do.
"It's different from what I imagined," Burst said, eyeing the place with disdain. Clearly, he was not someone who appreciated bureaucracy or long waits.
Merlin, floating at my side with her ever-bright aura, watched everything with curiosity.
"[Are there citizen documents for spirits too? How does that work?]" she asked, more to herself, trying to understand the purpose of something so mundane. Her confusion was adorable, considering she barely grasped these bureaucratic concepts.
After a few minutes of waiting, we were finally called. The attendant, an elf with silver hair and sparkling green eyes, welcomed us with a polite smile.
"Citizen documents? They should have given you a card. Do you have it with you?" she asked in a soft and pleasant voice, clearly accustomed to the diversity of beings passing through daily.
"Here it is," I replied, handing her the card I had received earlier when I opened the request.
The process was incredibly fast and efficient. The elf manipulated the data on her terminal with skill, her agile hands gliding from screen to screen. In just a few minutes, Merlin and I already had our documents in hand.
"All done," the elf said with a slight nod. "Welcome officially to the kingdom."
We thanked her and left, satisfied with the efficiency of the place. It wasn't the kind of experience I had expected, but it was exactly what the kingdom promised: impeccable organization amid diversity.
As we stepped out of the service center building, we were greeted by the gentle breeze of early afternoon.
The streets were teeming with life. Human, dwarven, and elven merchants lined the markets along the sidewalks, offering their goods. The smell of exotic spices mingled with the aroma of freshly baked bread, while small groups of people gathered for lively conversations.
Children's laughter could be heard in the distance, running in groups through the squares, where fountains of magical water danced in the air, reflecting colorful lights. Elves in long robes walked gracefully among the others, while dwarves in rustic armor passionately discussed metals and craftsmanship.
"This place really is lively…" I commented, observing the bustle around us. The market was full of life, with people of all shapes and sizes passing by. Races I once considered legendary here seemed as common as any citizen.
"Yeah, ever since the Great Union, this kingdom has become home to many species. Of course, that was well before I was born," Burst replied, his eyes scanning the various stalls around us.
"So the races were separated before?"
"Yes. From what I know, the dominant races—humans, elves, and dwarves—used to consider the others as mere creatures, almost like monsters. But after the Great Union, that changed. Some monsters are allowed here too, but only certain species. Like Merlin, for example. She's a spirit, so she can wander freely or bond with someone. In her case, that would be you." He glanced at me sideways, suggesting this was quite a peculiar situation.
"I see. So that's how it works."
"[So I'm like a pet now?!]" Merlin wrote, glowing with irritated light.
We laughed at her reaction. Merlin had that strange gift of turning any situation into something lighter, and, surprisingly, even Burst laughed. It was the first time I'd seen him truly relax. The laugh was short but genuine. It sounded like something that didn't happen often.
My curiosity about him grew. Not just about the person himself, but about what he represented in this place. And almost naturally, his sister came up in conversation.
"Hey, Burst, if you don't mind… what is your sister like?"
"Jane? Well…" He paused for a long time, as if searching for a neutral definition but finding none. "I don't know. She's resolute, very determined… She prioritizes rules and order above everything else. Sometimes it seems like she thinks she's a warlord. Most of the time, she acts like a dictator and despises any kind of weakness."
The restrained irritation in his tone was clear. It wasn't just resentment—it was worn-out coexistence.
"Do you know why she's like that? She sounds difficult to deal with."
"She is difficult to deal with. But why? I don't know. Jane doesn't talk about what she thinks. I gave up trying to understand. I just accept it and do my own thing. My father keeps sending her after me, like a guard dog."
The comparison made me smile inwardly. I could imagine it—she had all the posture of someone who followed orders with military precision. And it made sense, since she called herself the kingdom's general. But maybe… maybe there was something I could use.
Not because I cared about her. But because understanding Jane might help me understand Burst. And if I could get the two of them to reach an agreement, I could avoid getting directly involved with the kingdom's big players. If they resolved things on their own, perfect. I just needed to find the right opening.
As that idea settled in my mind, a far more random thought surfaced.
"Your sister… she's pretty tall, isn't she?"
"Pfs! Hahaha!" Burst tried to hold it back, but the laugh escaped easily. "For sure."
Okay… I wasn't expecting that reaction. What did I just say?
"You're probably 1.76," Burst said, recovering. "I'm 1.78, and my sister is 1.79. It's not that much of a difference. But considering I'm 15 and she's 19… I guess she's kind of short, for our standard."
Short? At 1.79?! Where do you people get this standard from?
Still processing that revelation, I noticed Burst looking toward one of the market stalls. A sturdy dwarf was selling handmade weapons, his calloused hands running the edge of a sword with precision.
"It's been a while since I practiced fencing," he said, distracted.
"You know how to use swords?" I asked, curious.
"Of course. As heir, I was trained from a young age. Jane too. But she started much earlier than I did, so she's still unbeatable at it."
An idea immediately formed. A simpler way to get closer to what I needed to know.
"How about we train together tomorrow?" I suggested. "I've always wanted to learn."
"Hmm…" Burst thought for a moment. "That sounds fun."
"[Cool! But you need to buy a sword first. And Burst doesn't have one either!]" Merlin warned, already excited.
We headed toward the weapons market. Burst had a sharp eye for quality, recognizing good blades as if he'd been doing it all his life. After a while, we found two perfect swords for training.
With the weapons bought and the promise made, I felt the day had been more productive than I expected. Understanding Burst was a good start.
Now, if I'm lucky… tomorrow I'll meet Jane to ask her a few questions. Hopefully, she'll answer…
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