The walk back home felt much shorter; as they say, time moves faster when you're in a good mood. My hand still clutched the folded letter, the seal pressing into my palm. Tomorrow, I thought, excited. My father will return, and sooner than expected. My chest was burning with excitement.
Beside me, Morad swam through the air in a wide zig-zag, clearly showing off, no doubt rehearsing his "grand introduction" to the family.
By the time we reached the front yard, Astraya's voice rang out from above, as if she had been waiting for my arrival, which was likely since Mother would soon call her to fetch me.
"I thought I was dreaming, but nooo! Is that really a floating fish?" I looked up, catching her grin.
"Yes, Astraya, you won't believe it!"
"—Did you catch the fish or something? No, wait… is that your mana beast? A fish flying?" She looked absolutely shell-shocked.
Morad puffed his chest out or rather, puffed his body up hovering a little higher with dramatic spins. "Flying, talking, majestic fish, if you please! Heheh You may call me Morad." he was clealry enjoying the attention typical.
The door burst open before I could even respond. Astraya stood there, wide-eyed, pointing accusingly at me.
"Mother! Come see what Astraga brought home!"
I grinned extra wide, holding my ground on the doorstep like I'd just won a prize. "You're not dreaming, sister. Meet Morad, my Mana Beast."
Morad swooped down and bowed low in midair, his koi fins spread wide. "It is an honor, young lady of the house! Might I say, you have the presence of royalty! Your brother told me a lot about you."
Including the part about how I like fish meat? Morad, feeling cut, realized his sweet-talking had failed. Astraya was licking her lips! Haha, I thought. Morad looking petrified.
Moving closer to me, "Astragaaa!" he whined as Astraya glared at him like he was a tasty meal.
In a split second, she returned to her sweet self. "Just kidding! Can't eat my brother's Mana Beast. Nice to meet you, Morad."
Astraya narrowed her eyes at me instead of him. "He talks. I never knew they could talk."
"Yes, they can. If you want, I can get you Father's book on them." She waved her hand, showing disinterest in reading. "But I thought Father said he hadn't gotten close to getting one. Have you bonded with it?"
"Yes," I said quickly, before Morad could embarrass himself further by blurting out unnecessary details about the pendant. "But that's not all." My voice dropped lower, becoming more serious. "Father is coming. Tomorrow."
Her eyes widened, her expression twisting with surprise, disbelief, and then a burst of excitement.
"Father? You mean…?" She stepped forward, almost whispering. "You're not joking, right? Tomorrow?"
I nodded, my grin softening into something almost boyish. "Tomorrow. He's on his way. He even got you a teacher."
Astraya let out a half-laugh, half-sob and ran back inside to call for Mother. Morad, of course, whispered loudly in my ear:
"Brother, I think she has accepted me already. Did you see that look? Definitely impressed."
I sighed. "Morad, she wasn't looking at you."
As both of us stepped inside.
---
Inside, the warm smell of spiced stew clung to the air. The dining table had already been set with wooden bowls and earthen cups, while Morad hovered just behind me as I was seated, his fins fluttering nervously, wondering what Mother would think.
Mother sat at the head of the table, her fingers already brushing the wax seal on the folded letter. I passed it to her without a word, and she opened it with practiced hands. The sound of parchment unfurling seemed to still the room.
She read aloud, her voice steady:
"My beloved family,
It has been far too long since I held you all in my arms. I have missed you more than words can express.
I bring good news. After many discussions and a stroke of rare luck, I have convinced one of the greatest Aeromancers of our age — a member of the royal family of Aetherhall itself, a kingdom famed for its mastery of white mana — to mentor Astraya personally. My description of her potential seemed to have caught his interest.
For Astraga, I have not forgotten you either, my son. I have secured a condottiere worthy enough, one who will guard your life as her own. She is an elf—yes, an elf, though I know your mother's thoughts on that matter. Trust me when I say she is among the best.
In 7 days time, everything changes.
Your father."
Mother lowered the letter slowly. Her lips pressed into a thin line, though her eyes softened. A huge smile stretched across her face as she touched her chest. "Good, he made it and will be home safely tomorrow. I'm so happy," she said, gently wiping a tear droplet from her eyes.
"Now," she said, "I told your father no elves, he just won't listen to me," she muttered, clearly forgetting that both Astraya and I were still watching her. "But he always did things his way." She skimmed the last lines again and sighed, then read aloud with a resigned tone, "Not to worry, honey. She is among the best."
Astraya looked my way, covering her mouth with a hand. "What's so bad about an elf? And a condottiere?"
The flicker of the lamp reflected in her eyes as Mother finally folded the letter and set it on the table. "Well," she said, clapping her hands once, "good. Your father is coming back tomorrow. We have so much to prepare before he arrives."
Then her gaze shifted toward Morad, who'd been twirling in small loops near me like a nervous bird. "But before that about this… talking, flying fish. What's its name again?"
"Morad, ma'am," he said, bowing midair and spelling it out with exaggerated care. "M-O-R-A-D."
"Right, yeah, Morad," Mother said, looking from the floating koi to me. "So, Astraga, this is what your father has been working on?"
I replied, knowing that wasn't exactly the entire truth. The real problem wasn't saying Dad was responsible for this to mom, but how I would tell him everything that actually happened once he got home.
"Yes, Mother. I had just been feeding the fishes in the pond and, bam, one of them finally did what Father wanted it turned into a Mana Beast."
"Hmm, I see. I have never seen a Mana Beast like this before, anyway. That is what your father wanted. How would a fish protect my son? Sigh, your dad and his plans." She shook her head. "Well, I will get more answers from him later, but for now, let's be happy he is coming home."
Astraya, who'd been trying very hard not to smile, leaned forward on her elbows. "He looks so cute!" she blurted out.
She then admitted, "I want one also, haha. No more, Astraga?"
"No more for now, Astraya. Maybe Dad will fill me in more on it if another is possible."
Morad acted for a moment like an only child who wanted no siblings, his fins stiff. "There is only me!" He puffed his gills indignantly.
"But I was actually hoping you brought fish meat," Astraya added, trying to rile him up.
Astraya giggled. "Sorry, Morad. You're just… I just have a thing for it."
Mother corrected Astraya. "I don't think we'll be able to eat fish meat anymore, seeing we have a fish in our home now. And no more joking about eating fish, okay, Astraya?"
"Yes, Mother." Astraya giggled. "Sorry again, Morad, for what I said, but you are adorable, that's for sure."
Morad turned to me with a serious pout. "Brother, this makes twice today I've been considered food."
I nearly choked on a laugh. "Relax, Morad. At least here you're safe."
Mother hid a smile behind her hand but didn't comment, already beginning to plan out loud everything that needed to be done before Father arrived: food, preparing the rooms, securing a proper training space for the Aeromancer, and now apparently making room for an elf bodyguard. She doubted they would stay with us, though, thinking they would probably lodge at the nearest village.
---
The room was dim, lit only by the faint glow of the mana lamp on the desk. Astraya had claimed the top bunk, her legs dangling over the edge as she fidgeted with her blanket. I lay on the lower bunk staring at the ceiling, the folded letter tucked under my pillow like it could disappear if I let it out of my sight.
Morad, for once, was quiet. He had asked for one thing before he became a Mana Beast: he had missed the beauty of sleep. It was evident he needed it, as he was now resting in his new glass bowl I'd filled with water beside my bed. His quiet, relaxed state made me understand that sleep was indeed a blessing. Every so often, he'd release a bubble, the sound soft but steady. He needed water now and then to recharge.
Tomorrow… tomorrow Father returns. The Aeromancer, the elf bodyguard, answers on how to evolve Morad, training. Father was linked to all of it. My mind wouldn't stop spinning.
Above me, Astraya shifted. "Brother?" she said with a slight tone of concern or worry, looking down at me below.
"Yeah?" I replied.
"I've been… having these dreams. About a woman and her twins crying. She keeps telling me to kill all dragons." Hmm, this was oddly specific. If I think about it, it's quite similar to Mother and us, right? It's probably her just manifesting fears in her mind.
I blinked up at the dangling leg. "…Dreams?" I rephrased.
"Yes. It's always the same. I guess something about babies, twins specifically. Her voice is so clear."
I rubbed my eyes, as sleep was already kicking in. "Probably just all the stress. Being cooped up here, not being able to play or interact with others, and especially now that we know why we're in this situation we're in hiding, being hunted by a Drogan Mage. You've been training day and night. Your head's full, that's all." It was only natural she experienced these dreams.
She was quiet for a long time. Then she murmured, "Maybe… maybe you're right."
"Try to get some sleep," I said softly. "Tomorrow's a big day."
"Mm." She pulled her blanket over her head. "Goodnight, Brother."
"Goodnight, Astraya."
Astraya's POV — The Dream
The world tilted.
She opened her eyes and was no longer in the bunk but standing barefoot on a jagged mountain peak. A cold wind screamed around her, yet she felt no chill. Before her stretched rows of peaks, and on every one eyes. Hundreds of them. Red, gold, white, silver, pupils vertical like predators, horizontal like prey. Eyes upon eyes, glittering in the darkness like stars.
When they blinked, the mountain she stood on trembled.
A voice rose, but it wasn't one; it was all of them, speaking in perfect unison, filling her ears like a drumbeat:
"Who must be the one to deliver Vastaava's punishment? Who must punish the Fire Dragon for its crimes?"
Astraya's heart hammered. "Who… who are you?"
"We will grant you power. Your sole mission: find Vastaava and impede him before he gets his way to the Conca Region."
The peaks shifted, as though bowing inward toward her. The eyes drew closer.
"Get stronger. Strengthen your body. Only then can power be granted. If you fail, he will come find you himself, Kikimora Child."
The sky above split like glass. A figure of a woman appeared tall, cloaked, eyes burning bright. Astraya tried to speak, but her throat closed.
"Speak of this to no one. You are now the Kikimora; it is your destiny."
The voice this time was hers alone, soft but iron-edged, echoing deep inside Astraya's chest.
"Wait!" she finally managed. "Who is Vastaava? Who are you? I have so many questions why aren't you answering me?"
The peaks turned away, vanishing. The eyes closed, one by one, until there was only blackness.