The Crystal Forest was a place of such great beauty that the sisters, Elina and Vespa Ruvina, at first had trouble comprehending that it was not man-made, but of natural origins. The dark, blue canopy overhead was thick to the point where sunlight hadn't touched the ground there for years, but the bioluminescent plant life, from the underbrush to the venerable trees, illuminated more than enough for the two to navigate without any trouble. Even the mushrooms glowed, and the atmosphere was straight out of a fantasy book. Everything was more or less suffused with beautiful cerulean hues.
Elina loved walks like this one. Vespa did too, sometimes, when she needed to cool off and relax. Often, they weren't together when they indulged in this small hobby due to conflicting schedules, but today it seemed that their free times coincided. So the sisters walked, side by side, silently to an unheard rhythm that only twins could experience. Nothing needed to be said, as they went with a serene grace and elegance befitting witches raised under high aristocratic standards. Both wore long, black gowns with frilled white cuffs that were comfortable and allowed the skin to breathe. Between their long skirts trailed Luna, Elina's feline familiar, who looked at their mystical surroundings with wonder.
While Elina was perfectly content to let the electric, buzzing hum of the Forest continue to soothe her ears, Vespa wanted to talk. Her bright irises like sapphires rolled slowly to the left to examine the figure of her wraith-like sister. Elina's gait was slow and carefree, and her eyes were closed. Her silver hair looked like tresses of mithril under the unique lighting conditions.
"Elina," she began softly. "How are your studies?"
The witch opened her eyes to reveal her crimson irises. Her expression was impassive, but there was a telltale crook to her lips.
"They're going fine."
Vespa sighed. "I know that look. That isn't good. What would Madame Bloodrose think?"
The stare between them lasted for a conspicuous moment, before Elina turned her cheek the other way. Her voice carried sorrow: "I'm not... the kind of person who can kill so easily."
Vespa shook her head. "Sister..."
They both stopped at the foot of a massive tree at the very heart of the Crystal Forest. Truly ancient, perhaps even dating back to that long-forgotten era before man even stepped upon the soil of this world, it radiated an aura titanic power and authority for something incapable of moving. Its bark was gnarled, ugly and thick. This tree had seen the fall of entire races and empires. In respect, the two sisters bowed. Then there was a content silence, as they admired its form.
"Hey Vespa," Elina said, while staring at the massive branches that twisted so high up.
"Yes, Elina?"
"Why were we born witches?"
Ah, that aggravating question. Elina had asked that many times recently, so much so that it was beginning to worry Vespa, but she could never offer an answer that would satisfy her sister.
"I don't know. But I do know that you should continue to hone our art of Blood Magic. I've offered to train with you before, but you've always refused."
There was a lump in Elina's throat, as she turned to meet her sister's gaze. "That's because... you kill the deer. And the rats, and the crows."
"Because death is the very basis of our powers," Vespa said patiently. "You know this."
Elina looked to the canopy again. "I don't like it."
"It's what we were born with."
"Which is why I am asking, why were we born as witches?"
Another sigh from Vespa. "You know I don't have an answer to that question. But we should make do with what we have. Do you know the saying, 'When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade?'"
"Yes?"
"It's what we should be doing."
"... I suppose."
Another silence, before it was Elina's turn to break it.
"Do you think the Hunters will find us?"
"They're not fools. They will find the Coven eventually. Madame Bloodrose is a notorious woman."
Elina's delicate eyelashes fluttered. "Why, then, did we come here, as opposed to returning to our castle, and back to Mother?"
"Because she threatened to kill us," Vespa said, far more brusquely and loudly than she intended.
Silver hair flashed through the air as Elina as she whipped her head towards her sister. "She was just angry because we had let her down. A mother wouldn't kill her children!"
"That-" Vespa hesitated, settling down. "That, I am not so sure."
Elina was about to retort, but restrained herself. Looking down to the ground, she saw a worried Luna. The cat's inquisitive meow made her smile, and she crouched down to scratch her reassuringly. It wasn't long before her familiar was purring.
"So this is what Fate has decided for us, huh?"
"Mhm. I guess so," Vespa nodded. "Kings and queens do what they will, while the rest of us-"
"-do what they must," Elina finished the quote. Luna began to circle her feet, delighting the way the witch's fingers ran across her belly.
"Say, Ellie," her tone was rather hurried. "I plan to begin reading Chapter VII of Alice's
'Further Explorations in the Bloody Arts' later. Maybe, you'd like to join me?"
She blinked and frowned a bit. "Maybe. I'll think about it."
"Alright," Vespa let the matter drop. This was going to be furthest extent at which she'd be able to push her sister. Walking away from the tree, she said, "I'm going back to the Castle. You can find me in my room. Will you be staying here?"
"Mhm. I'll see you later, Vespa."
Eventually, the sounds of Vespa's footsteps faded away, and Elina was left starkly alone, with only a white-furred cat to keep her company.
Ariamis
PrinceAlexus
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