Chapter 12: Twin Hearts, Divided Paths
Long before Dustfall became known for the Farmer Warriors, long before Mia's name was whispered with admiration, there were two girls who looked so alike that even their own neighbors sometimes could not tell them apart.
Luna and Lina.....
They were born under the same moon, minutes apart, their cries echoing through the small village like two notes of the same song. They had the same soft brown eyes, the same dark hair that shimmered in the sun, and the same gentle features that made people smile when they saw them. Everyone in Dustfall called them "the beautiful twins."
But from the very beginning, something about them was different.
Not in their faces but in their hearts.
Lina was drawn to people. She loved laughter, stories, and the feeling of being surrounded by others. Luna, on the other hand, was quiet and observant. She liked to think, to watch, to understand the world in her own way. Where Lina wanted to run forward, Luna preferred to stand back.
They were twins, but they did not love the same things.
And because of that, they often fought.
Growing Up in Dustfall....
As children, they shared everything clothes, toys, even dreams. But when it came to friendships, the cracks began to show.
Mike was the only person they both truly knew.
He was kind, steady, and familiar, someone who didn't choose sides when the twins argued. He would talk to Luna about quiet things, about the wind in the fields or the way the soil smelled after rain. Then he would laugh and joke with Lina, matching her energy.
But when new people entered their lives, especially Mia and later Jaro, things changed.
Mia arrived in Dustfall when they were still young. She was bright, curious, and full of warmth, and it didn't take long for Lina to be drawn to her. Lina saw Mia as someone exciting, someone who made the world feel bigger than Dustfall's fields and fences.
Luna watched from a distance.
She didn't hate Mia—not at first. She simply didn't understand her. Mia's laughter was loud. Her kindness was open. Her presence filled every space she entered.
Luna tried to step into that space, but there was never enough room.
Soon, it became normal for Mia, Mike, Jaro, and Lina to be together.
They explored the village, climbed trees, and talked about dreams of traveling beyond Dustfall. Sometimes, they even stayed up late, sharing stories and falling asleep side by side under blankets.
Luna was invited… but she never felt included.
She would sit beside them, smiling softly, but inside she felt like a shadow. When Mia laughed with Lina, it felt like Lina was slipping further away from her. When Jaro and Mike talked about adventures, Luna stayed quiet, afraid that if she spoke, she would be ignored.
And slowly, without anyone noticing, she began to pull back.
The Feeling of Being Second....
Lina didn't mean to hurt her sister. She was simply being herself—open, joyful, and full of energy. But to Luna, it felt like Lina was choosing them over her.
Every time Lina ran to Mia first. Every time Lina laughed with Jaro instead of her. Every time Lina talked about dreams that didn't include Luna.
Each moment was small, but together, they became heavy.
"I just don't fit," Luna thought one night as she watched them from a short distance away. "They don't need me."
She wanted to be helpful. She wanted to be part of their group. But whenever she tried, the feeling that Mia was liked more always returned, pushing her back into silence.
It wasn't fear that held her back.
It was the pain of feeling unwanted.
The Birth of Quiet Resentment....
As the years passed, the gap between the twins widened.
Lina grew closer to Mia, Mike, and Jaro. They shared secrets, inside jokes, and plans for the future. They talked about traveling, about becoming something greater than farmers and villagers.
Luna listened, but she was never truly part of those conversations.
She began to believe something dark and unspoken:
"They would be happier without me."
That belief didn't explode into anger. It didn't turn into screaming or tears. Instead, it settled deep inside her heart like a slow poison.
She smiled when Lina laughed. She nodded when Mia spoke. She helped when asked.
But inside, something was changing.
Every time Lina chose the others, Luna felt smaller. Every time Mia was praised, Luna felt forgotten.
And without realizing it, she was creating hate inside her own heart.
The Day They Left...
When the day finally came that Mia, Mike, Jaro, and Lina decided to leave Dustfall, Luna felt something inside her crack.
She stood at the edge of the village, watching them prepare for their journey. Lina was excited, her eyes shining with hope and adventure.
Mia spoke of helping people. Jaro talked about becoming stronger. Mike smiled, steady and sure.
And Luna?
She was not asked to go.
Not because they didn't care but because they didn't think.
They assumed she wouldn't want to. They assumed she was fine where she was.
That assumption hurt more than any rejection.
Lina hugged her sister before leaving, promising to return. But Luna could barely hear her words over the pounding in her own chest.
"You're leaving me," she thought. "Just like always."
Two Twins, Two Paths...
That was the moment their paths truly separated.
Lina walked toward a future filled with friendship, growth, and heroism. Luna stayed behind, surrounded by silence, memories, and a growing emptiness.
And though she did not yet know it, that emptiness was becoming something dangerous.
A space where anger could grow. A place where shadows could take root.
The twins were still beautiful. Still connected by blood.
But their hearts were no longer walking the same road.