We are twins.
Since birth, we’ve always been together, growing up side by side. My beloved little sister, my dear little sister.
My sister says she loves me, and I love her too.
Our bond is unbreakable.
But… there are barely any memories of us smiling together.
Right now, we are seated in a dim underground hall.
When we were brought here, we were forced to change into rough clothing, like those worn by criminals.
The floor is bare stone, and the cold seeps through our clothes, chilling us to the bone.
But I think that if my sister and I could huddle close and freeze together, it would be so much better than this.
Surely, our father, mother, and everyone else in the family would be happier if we quietly disappeared.
“The ceremony of banishment will now begin.”
Banishment.
One of the most severe rituals in the family, reserved for the gravest offenders.
The one who announced the start of the ceremony was the head of the family—our own father.
Next to him was our mother, and they had called upon a strange magician, along with several other adults.
Their gaze is cold.
It’s enough to make me freeze.
But… I’m used to it.
After all, it’s been this way since we were born.
We are twins.
To the family, twins are a despised existence.
Twins inevitably split abilities and fortune, causing imbalance, disrupting the family bloodline, and bringing misfortune.
My sister and I don’t believe it, but that’s the family creed.
And so, we are to be banished.
Even though we were daughters of one of the most prestigious families in the country, as of today, we will be erased from the family history.
There’s no way to undo this.
I’ve almost accepted it. But my sister hasn’t.
“Father! Mother! I can’t accept this! Why must my sister and I be banished?”
My sister’s voice echoes through the stone hall.
Oh, how strong she is.
But that strength, that spirit, has sometimes been a blade that wounds her.
So I hold her close, to shield her from the blades of our father, mother, and everyone else.
“Do you not understand unless I say it clearly?”
Our father spoke. I felt my sister’s body tense.
“We’ve already given you more than enough time. Even though you are detestable twins, if you had shown any power fitting of our family, we might have been able to convince everyone. But look at you now. Even at sixteen, you haven’t developed any proper abilities.”
“That… is true.”
Both my sister and I are failures in the family.
We’ve only been kept alive because we carry the blood of our parents.
But now, even that—
“Our children are no longer limited to you two.”
Our mother spoke.
Our younger brother was born just recently. With an heir now, we have no worth left in this family.
Our mother’s tone was even colder than our father’s.
How pitiful it must have been for her, having endured all this because she bore twins.
I’m sorry, Mother.
I’m sorry, Father.
I’m sorry, everyone.
“This is… too cruel… it’s too much…!”
My sister is crying.
I’m sorry. If only I’d been stronger, maybe I could have protected you.
The magician steps forward, the sound of their footsteps echoing like those from a ball… could they be a woman?
A large magic circle appears on the floor.
The time for the ritual has come.
I’ve heard banishment magic is very difficult. For one person to handle it alone, this magician must have an exceptional skill.
…I’m jealous.
My sister is crying and writhing in agony. I tighten my arms around her.
Don’t. If we struggle here, we’ll surely be killed.
Even with the banishment magic, it’s nearly as good as death, but there’s a faint chance. There has to be hope… I hope there’s hope.
Our mother turned her back.
“At least… forget everything. The pain and suffering, leave it all behind here…”
“Mother…”
Our parents walk away.
The magic circle glows brighter.
My limbs begin to go numb. Sounds grow distant, and even my sister’s cries beside me fade away.
My vision goes white.
It feels like my brain is crumbling, bit by bit, from the inside of my skull.
Strength drains from me.
I can’t even tell if I’m crying anymore.
So… this is what it feels like to ‘lose oneself.’
There’s no pain. I feel no suffering.
But there’s an overwhelming… sadness.
Where will we be sent?
What will happen to us?
Will we be left with nothing but memories of pain?
Will I be separated from my sister?
It’s painful. It’s sad. It’s heartbreaking.
Someone—
Just before losing consciousness, my heart uttered its truest plea.
“Someone, please find us. Help us. I’m begging you…”
