Other Worlds

"I'm bored."

"Kefi, we are just resting after training for more than six hours." I gasped out, hand resting on my knees to support my body. Sweat trickling down my face and matted hair.

Right outside the training room is a balcony where I go to when I need to rest during training. It's so damn brutal!

"We've been resting for too long."

'It's not even been a minute. Calm down."

"Mis- I mean, Meraki. Would you like some juice?" Aurora came out of the training room, to the balcony. I feel so irritated seeing her still look so fresh while I'm here, like sweating like a pig.

"Lemonade?"

"Orange."

If Kefi and I were in two separate bodies, we would have started fighting and she would win, obviously.

"Girls, girls. Look at what I did." Aurora waved her hand and a tray appeared on the table, in the balcony.

"Orange juice and lemon pie. What do you think?"

"It sounds atrocious."

I quickly clasped my hand over my mouth. At that moment, our voice mixed, throwing me off.

"Wow. This is the first time we melded our voices, right? It feels strange. Don't you like it, Meraki?"

"I don't know," I mumbled, letting my hand drop.

"Well, no matter about that. Why don't we eat now? Sit down, Miss. I will get you a towel."

"She still calls you 'Miss'." Kefi laughed, as we watched her scurry away.

"Well, it's not something that can be changed so easily." I scratched the back of my head and walked to the chairs. My legs almost cried with happiness when I finally sat down.

I, very carefully, laid back against the chair. It still stings but not as much as before.

"By the way, Kefi. The last time I checked the marks, they have started to turn silver. Is that supposed to happen?"

"Oh, those are because of the Magic becoming embedded in your skin. And it's not silver, it's white gold."

"What's the difference?"

"Value. You know, I heard that there is a world besides the one here where the leaves are green and the flowers hold all the colour."

"Such a world exist?"

"What world?" Aurora came and started wiping the sweat off my face and body.

"I was telling Meraki that there is another world that has strange animals in it."

"Oh yes, I heard of it. They have tons of animals whereas we only have, what is considered for them, 'domestic' ones. Some of their animals are like lions, tigers, snakes."

"Wait, you're telling that they have animals as animals. Not a spirit taking form."

"Yes. It is fascinating. They even have an animal called a giraffe. Done." Aurora dismissed the towel and took the seat beside me.

"Giraffe?"

"Yes. It looks like a Pegasus but with a very, very long neck and brown spots covering it. It doesn't have wings."

"Pfft. You are very good at making things up. But we all know that isn't real." Kefi laughed, resting back into the chair.

"Want me to show you?" There is a gleam in Aurora's eyes as she said that.

"Shoot." I can feel the exact same enthusiasm in Kefi's voice.

Aurora's fingers moved like they were stroking the air and formed an image in front of us.

From the string colours flowing out of her hand, a creature formed on the garden below but its neck was long enough to reach us.

"Woah. Can I touch it?" Kefi hopped off the chair and ran to the animal, holding her hand out to pet it.

"This is incredible. Don't you think so, Meraki?" Kefi squealed when the creature brushed its face against ours.

"I guess," I said, patting its head gently.

It just might be cute after all.

We played with that creature for another thirty minutes before we finally started eating.

"That was so fun!" Kefi exclaimed, satisfied.

���I'm glad you both enjoyed it. Now, let's begin eating."

"It's delicious!" Kefi grinned at Aurora, happy.

"Thank you. I have a lot more there so you can eat as much as you wish."

"Ok!"

"Isn't that unhealthy, Aurora?" I asked an eyebrow raised.

"It's for one day. I'm sure it'll be fine. Eat to your heart's content."

"OK~. You're the best."

"Kefi, don't talk with your mouth open," I said, after swallowing the pie.

"Now." I looked at Aurora in a not very subtle way.

"I know. I know. You both have been very patient waiting another week for me to gather my thoughts. Thank you for that."

"Are you ready to talk now? What have you found?"

Aurora took in a deep breath and leaned back against the chair.

"I promised that I will help you, right? So, I have decided to readmit you to your school and also tell the public about you."

"What?" I shot up, "What do you mean? Didn't you say that we have to lay low?"

"I know what I said, things have changed now. You are on the path for revenge and I want to take the path that ensures your success. This is the best option for now. Can you trust me on this, Meraki?"

She looked at me in the eyes, determination flamed inside her.

"Sure."

"Great. Now, the reason I am going to readmit you to the same school is that the golden-haired kid studies there."

"He is?"

"Yes. From what I found out, he was your classmate and the Third son of the Hampton family. Jude Hampton."

"Hampton? Wait, didn't you say that every family can have only one child. How is he the third son?" I leaned against the armrest, my attention on Aurora … and the pie.

Kefi likes sweets and pastries.

"Yes. One child per parents but they have found a loophole to that. Sir. Hampton has three wives."

"How's it going with them? Kefi, I'm still talking here."

Kefi kept trying to shove the pie into my mouth. Times like this, I wish we had separate bodies.

She opened my mouth and took another big bite, almost choking me. I started coughing, but Kefi still made sure that I swallowed the pie.

"Juice. Miss, drink the juice. Here," Aurora was beside me in a heartbeat. She helped me drink the juice and patted my back as I choked on that too.

"Ugh. My nose burns." I gripped the bridge of my nose with my hand, squeezing it.

"Relax. Mi- Meraki."

"Ouch. Why did that hurt more than it should have?" I wheezed out. "I feel fine now. Thank you."

Sitting back onto the chair, I breathed in and out through my mouth.

"Are you ok, Meraki?" Kefi asked.

Ugh. My throat hurts even if she is the one speaking.

"I'm fine." I croaked out. "Shouldn't you both be laughing right now?"

"Laughing?"

"Why would we do that, Miss? I mean Meraki."

"Isn't this s funny situation to be in?"

"If it was anyone else, sure. But not if it's you."

"And why is that?" I narrowed my eyes at them, the burning sensation in my nose subsiding.

"Going back to your question, it seems that everything is tense in the Hampton household. The wives each want their son to be the next successor as the master of the household is getting sicker. And they are all-powerful children, so it will be a tough decision."

"I am just impressed that they are all able to bear sons. Not one of the wives have a daughter?"

These two are completely ignoring me.

"Not that I know of. They are very closed off when it comes to their private life. But their achievements are always the talk of the town. Not just that, they are heard to be affiliated with the underground gangs."

"A powerful family that has connections even to the underground world. They sound like the perfect villains in this story." I murmured, looking to the sky.

"So, when are you going to reveal me to the world?"

"In due time, Miss. In due time. Just concentrate on your training and getting better for now. Kefi, I have something for that hunger of yours. If you won't mind following me, Mi- Meraki."

"What are you talking about, Aurora?"

"Just follow me."

"Let's go, Meraki. I am getting so curious."

"Fine."