Time: Afternoon
Age: Elira – 6 years old (body), Kael – 3 years old (body, 50 years mind)
The palace halls seemed enormous to the tiny siblings. Every chair, every table, even the doorknobs, towered over them like obstacles in a strange labyrinth.
Elira tripped over a stray rug. Kael caught her just in time, muttering, "Bodies too small. Minds too big. Typical day for us."
Elira giggled. "I feel like a mouse in a castle made for giants."
They settled in a quiet corner of the wing, Kael carefully arranging the coins they had earned. Elira watched him, curiosity bubbling.
"Kael…" she began softly. "Can you… tell me about my past? About my father…
and my sister? And… about you. How… how did you become a villain?"
Kael's small face darkened, though his voice remained calm. "Elira… there's a lot to tell. About your father… he was… complicated. He cared in his way, but the empire… it changes people. Your sister… she's clever, but I don't know if she would have understood us."
Elira's eyes widened. "I… I was ignored?"
Kael shook his head. "Not just ignored… you were protected in ways you didn't realize. But yes… many things were hidden from you. And me…" He paused, looking away. "I made terrible choices. In a past life, I was… a villain. I hurt people. I chased power and revenge. I didn't see the harm I caused."
Elira reached out, touching his hand. "But… you're not that person now, right?"
Kael's eyes softened. "No. Not anymore. I remembered everything—the pain, the mistakes, the lives I ruined. That's why I vowed… I will never let that happen again. I have fifty years of memory, Elira. I know what it means to hurt others… and I know how to protect you."
Elira hugged him tightly. "I'm glad you're my brother. I don't care about the past. I just… want to be with you."
Kael smiled faintly. "That's all that matters now. We may be small in body, but our minds… our hearts… they are stronger than any empire or villain."
Suddenly, a servant passed by. Kael froze, then whispered, "Bodies too small. Minds too big. Move carefully."
Elira laughed quietly. "We really do have it hard, don't we?"
Kael shrugged. "Hard, yes. But also… funny sometimes. And necessary. One day, Elira, we'll leave this place, stronger than anyone expects."
They practiced small maneuvers with the wooden sword, laughing when their tiny limbs made awkward mistakes. Even in the midst of palace life, secrets, and past regrets, the siblings found comfort in each other—and in their shared mission: survival, freedom, and growth.