It was late summer, and the sun hung high at its zenith. The oppressive heat blanketed everything outside. Merely stepping out the door invited waves of scorching air to lash one's face, as if standing before a blazing forge. The ground itself seared bare feet at the slightest touch. In such sweltering weather, even breathing felt like a chore, let alone working.
Yet atop a wooded hill near a small stream, serenity and temperance reigned. The blinding sun could only pierce the dense canopy in fleeting flashes, painting the forest floor with a magical interplay of light and shadow.
The air here was surprisingly fresh. That was thanks to the stream—a brisk, mountain-fed brook whose cool waters offered much-needed relief to the surrounding glade. Amid the height of the summer solstice, this little creek seemed a sacred spring, sustaining a pocket of paradise.
Not far from the water's edge, on a patch of grass, a speckled cow grazed lazily. Nearby, a goat and a sheep nibbled on the remaining tufts of grass, tethered to a small stake that kept them from wandering into the forest alone. A gentle breeze carried the fragrant scents of freshly plucked grass and wildflowers.
On a smooth, protruding stone lay a thin, slightly pale boy in a simple but neat white shirt. He played a wooden flute, his sun-kissed hands—though appearing delicate—nimbly dancing from hole to hole, mastering the rhythm of his melody.
Beside him sat an enchanting little beauty in a white dress adorned with tiny flowers. Her golden hair framed a cherubic face, dimples blooming on her plump cheeks whenever she smiled. She dangled her slender, pale legs in the cool water, splashing about carelessly, entirely immersed in the moment.
Her presence lent a special charm to the scene, making it even more picturesque. The splashing of the bubbling brook intertwined with the gentle notes of the flute. Their combined resonance evoked the sense that nature itself was composing an atmosphere of harmony and tranquility. Here, time seemed to have stopped. Nothing could disturb this idyllic peace.
These two children were none other than Gray and Grace, who had sneakily slipped away from their lessons to enjoy a well-earned break. Though still young, the twins had already grown accustomed to the endless tutoring provided by the village elders. But like all children, they longed to break free now and then, to savor moments of carefree escape, letting themselves melt into the quiet and calm.
Usually, at times like these, they would run and chase each other across the glade, squeezing every last drop of joy from their rare reprieves. But today, beneath the oppressive summer heat, neither felt inclined to move too much.
When the melody finally tapered off, Grace, true to her nature, couldn't sit quietly for long.
"It's so wonderful here!" she exclaimed, rousing her brother, who had slipped into a light doze mid-performance.
"Mmm, yes... wonderful..." Gray murmured, cracking open an eye.
"Brother, we need to sneak away to herd the livestock more often."
"You know Mother would never allow us to skip lessons. If she hadn't left for the city, Grandmother Cornelia would never have let us out of class. She wouldn't have cared about the heat or your tearful begging."
"Yes, yes, I know. But think about it! If we tell her we're doing something useful, like grazing the animals, she might approve. It's better than suffering through lessons. I can handle Grandmother Cornelia's herbology classes, but Auntie Albedo's lessons—ugh! She promised to teach us magic fundamentals, but all we study are endless formulas. Why on earth do we need to know thirty different versions of a basic fireball spell?" Grace huffed, her frustration mounting.
"I actually like Auntie Albedo's lessons. She explains things so clearly and simply—even I can understand them, even though I can't cast spells myself..." Gray replied, his voice tinged with melancholy.
"Stop. Just stop, silly little brother. Who told you to come up with that insane idea for a magical device that could perform calculations by itself? You said that once we built it, we could just input data and it would do all the work. But what happened? Auntie Albedo loaded us down with even more lessons—now we have to study runes to create the device! I've regretted agreeing to your crazy scheme hundreds of times," Grace grumbled.
When she had first started studying magic, Grace had been enchanted by the process. But over time, her excitement had given way to endless memorization and formula recitation. Her brother's idea had initially seemed like a clever shortcut, and she had eagerly volunteered to help.
But things had only become more difficult.
Auntie Albedo had chuckled at their naivety and scolded them for seeking an easy path. Yet, despite her skepticism, she had seized the opportunity to introduce them to runic magic.
Runes became Grace's nemesis. To her, the symbols were a chaotic mess of incomprehensible variables. The only thing that saved her during these arduous lessons was knowing she wasn't suffering alone. Gray was always there, diligently working through the complex magical calculations.
Even though she often scolded her brother for his wild ideas, she continued to help him with his research.
"Ahem. Little big sister, what's your favorite subject?" Gray tried to steer the conversation to safer waters. He knew better than to delve further into the topic that had caused her so much grief. He had no desire to open Pandora's box and endure another torrent of complaints.
"Mine? Hmm, let me think. I love Uncle Konstantin and Auntie Konstanzia's history lessons most. Every time I visit them, I know I'll get to hear fascinating stories about legendary heroes, gods, angels, and demons. I wish I could meet them all in person—fly through the skies like the Celestials, fight in epic battles, and explore diverse cultures!"
As Grace let her imagination soar, she failed to notice the shadow dimming her brother's eyes.
"I'm sure you'll become the most beautiful of all Celestials someday, soaring over the world like a legendary phoenix. Just... don't forget me when it happens, alright?" Gray said softly, tears starting to form in his eyes.
Sensing the sudden shift in their joyful mood, Grace snapped out of her daydreams and noticed her brother's sad expression. She replayed their conversation in her mind and realized why he had suddenly grown so somber.
"Brother, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to remind you about your injury. I just got a little carried away. Don't say things like that! I'll never forget you. No! Mother and the elders will heal you, I promise! We'll become Celestials together and travel the world freely!" Grace cried, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Grace, it's alright. Please, stop giving me hope. For three years, Mother and the elders have tried everything to help me cultivate. I've trained. I've undergone painful procedures. But no matter how hard I try, I keep failing. I'll continue trying my best, but I don't want to feel hope anymore—only to have it crushed again and again. My injury wasn't just caused by a priest. It was a god. I've accepted that I'll always remain mortal. Just let me live my years with you and Mother. Promise you'll never forget me, okay?"
"Sob... No, Gray! You can't give up! You'll overcome this. I swear I'll become strong and find a cure for you. Just stay with me. Don't ignore me like you did during our journey. It hurts so much when I see you like this..." Grace sobbed, tears streaming down her cheeks.
She sprang forward and tackled him to the ground, burying her face in his chest as she wept. The sudden embrace jolted Gray from his daze. He wrapped a gentle hand around her head, stroking her silky white hair to soothe her.
Only now did he realize how much his sister had suffered whenever he let his despair consume him.
"Little big sister, you know I love you very, very, very much. I never thought of leaving you. Forgive your foolish little brother this time, alright?"
"Sniff... Do you promise?"
"Of course. How could I not? Ahem."
"Sniff... Well, since you promise, your elder sister will be magnanimous and forgive her silly younger brother." She hugged him tighter, whispering in a voice barely louder than a mosquito's hum, "Your elder sister loves you too."
"Well then, we've lingered here long enough. We should head back to our lessons."
"Let's stay like this for just a few more minutes... The lessons aren't going anywhere," Grace mumbled, and Gray decided to indulge her.
But soon, they would have to leave their cool little oasis and return to their studies once more.