Chapter 32

(Another story about Sylvie and Zuilly)

Individuals with low social status were isolated and dumped in a small settlement outside the Empire's borders. They are commonly referred to as the Lowborn since they were born without magia or the ancients' blessings. However, Sylvie and Zuilly's situations differed from those of the other lowborn residents. The siblings were blessed by the ancients. Their father learned that they can easily employ Vepo (Water) and Feuer (Fire). Their body's excess of magia distinguishes and empowers them, but it also entangles their lives with Empire matters.

Their father had grown accustomed to the possibility that the Empire may find out about his children. That's why, rather than staying in that area till someone found out, he opted to move his children to another nation. Sylvie and Zuilly embarked on a journey when they were little, but, as their father fears, the Empire began pursuing them as if they were the nation's fugitives.

In their darkest hour, running and hiding became their best friend. They continued to defy fate, despite the fact that they had no one to turn to for aid.

At long last, their journey winded down. The two siblings were finally apprehended after a lengthy chasing game published by the empire. Their only father begged and pleaded with the officials, but because he attempted to take away his children, he was sentenced to torturous death to atone for his sins. While the two children were abducted and taught by the empire's dog, they were brainwashed and turned into soldiers who would only serve the empire.

Zuilly promised himself that he would protect his sister until the end, which is why, despite the fact that it is against the rules for siblings to be in the same cadre, he endured the punishments until now.

***

"Wait, what happened to us?" The mirror immediately illuminated, and we were separated from the rest.

"Z-zuilly?"

The two siblings were transported to another mirror dimension. Sylvie was glancing around, whilst Zuilly was staring at himself in the mirror, lost and out of himself. He seemed to be gazing farther into the infinite deep abyss.

"Hey, what's wrong with you? What are you doing standing there for?" Sylvie yanked on Zuilly's shirt, but she didn't get a response from him; he remained silent until Sylvie turned to see what was wrong with him. She saw how he was out of his mind. With no sign of response, Sylvie shook his brother, trying to make him snap out of it but it was useless.

"Zuilly, what's the matter with..."

When Sylvie noticed a black mist swirling and encircling her brother, she took a step back. "What is this!?" she exclaimed.

The mist continued to engulf him until Sylvie could no longer approach him.

"Zuilly!" the mist has a poisonous smell that she can't stand. It scorches into her skin, leaving marks all over her body. Regardless of how deep and intense the anguish was, she kept calling for her brother.

"Zuilly!" she said again, this time louder, hoping he'd snap out of it. But it didn't happen; instead, she heard a laughing voice and eventually saw herself. The mist that surrounded her brother was gradually taking on its own physical form.

"Hihihi..." says the woman figure, who appears to be embracing her brother and slowly swallowing him.

"What are you?" Sylvie was perplexed by the weird woman who appeared out of nowhere.

"I am the thing that plagues this earth, a malignant that will take the people you hold dear. From the moment you stepped into my dominion, I owned everything you own and leave you nothing in the end."

A dark figure of a woman was smiling at Sylvie. The toxic mist was leaking around them. Sylvie was enraged when she wrapped her arms around his brother.

"A Schatten, huh? Do you think I'd let you take my brother away from me so easily?" From the ground, a droplet of Vepo (Water) began to evaporate. As it comes to a standstill in mid-air. Sylvie smirked as she boldly challenged the Schatten to a duel.

"I will take my brother back!"