The sun is hot against Zander's shirt, that unforgivingly burns his pale skin as he walks with his sister, Monica, into town for the normal shopping. He didn't have any thicker shirts, since they were just the children of merchant peasants.
They were in search for the usual items such as, cow tails, frog lungs, enchanted mushrooms, etcetera and so on. Monica was a young witch in training, and one of her many talents was in potions.
She was currently working on an underwater breathing potion that she's been studying for months now. Her test is this coming week, and if she passes, she will become apprentice rank 4 and be the first to reach that rank since her teacher 40 years ago. Not only that, she would be the youngest to receive rank 4 since the second palace warlock, since she is only 23.
It's hard for Zander to hide the pride he has for his sister. She is only two years younger, and yet she is much more successful than him. Pride in not only her success and talent, but in her beautiful and the kind young woman she has become. He gushes over her every chance he gets.
Monica's skin was much darker than Zander's, since she spends much of her time in the sun to practice her magic. She almost always keeps her long brown hair in a tight bun so that it stays out of her way. She resembles many features of their father, with the softness of her mother. She was curvy with a feminine flow, and was considered one of the most beautiful women in the village. She inherited magic from their father's side, although he did not have magic himself, it ran through his blood, and was a very rare trait in humans.
Zander, on the other hand, was not born with the abilty of magic. His skin was pale, which was unusual for peasants. He often worked outside cutting wood, and collecting necessary supplies and ingredients, but his skin has never darkened. His height matched his father's, and he was physically stronger than his sister, but much of his features resembled his mother. His face was traced with black loose curls that reached his shoulders, and freckles across his cheeks and nose. He had a slender but strong build, with strong, calloused hands. One thing that Zander and Monica both shared are their mothers eyes, gold in color and that glistened and shined as though they glow.
Zander's mind drifts to his mother, how loving she was, how caring, happy, and how much he missed her. He missed both of them. His father was so strong and supportive, and was the hardest worker he knew. They did not deserve what happened to them, but there was no way to stop it.
After their parents death, they were able to build a shop with the money their parents left them. Zander works the shop by selling his sisters potions and scheduling appointments for people to see her for magical treatments, charms, potions, and spells. He considers himself simple, to his sister's dismay. She insists that he is the reason the world is still good.
"Zander, what are you thinking about?" Monica says with a mischievous smirk. "Are you thinking about girls?" Her smirk intensifies.
"What, n-no!!!" He snaps back at her with a deep red blush. Monica busts out laughing.
"I was just trying to break the silence, but I didn't think I would guess right" She says, wiping a single tear from her eye.
"You didn't guess right! My mind was blank then you just say something like that from out of nowhere!" He says defensively, his face still beet red. " I'm glad no one was around to hear that, people would definitely be giving me a hard time, especially that one vender with the frog lungs." He says glancing around to be sure no one was there.
Monica starts her laughing fit again, from the thoughts of what he would say to Zander. "Oh ya, that guy." She says through her giggles. After a couple minutes, she manages to get her laughter back under control and calms down.
"Are you finally done?" Zander asks with a hint of annoyance.
"Yea, I had to get the image of frog guy vendor trying to hook you up with is daughter again out of my head." She says holding in another chuckle.
"Oh no, please don't remind me!" He almost gasps out, then releases a small chuckle of his own.
A few minutes later, they arrive into town and start to browse the stalls down the worn cobblestone street. Many of them were produce vendors, but there were some with leather work, wood carvings, handmade farming tools, trinkets and other wares.
Monica seperates from Zander to get the ingrediants she needs, and Zander collects grocerys from the produce and meat venders. When they're done, they always meet by the old evergreen tree near the path they take to their shop. It's the only evergreen for miles, so its easy to find, especially in the fall and winter seasons.
When Zander arrived at the tree, he sat and waited for his sister. A few minutes past, then a few more. All of a sudden, Zander hears a shrill scream from beyond the tree heading away from the path. He wastes no time, he starts running before he even gets up, stumbling on the first few steps, but soon he is at a full sprint.
