Shot Through the Heart

~1~

"You don't have to go, please."

"They will never stop fighting like this Selene! The elves have always been loyal to us and so have those humans. Someone has to stop them."

"Then, I'll do it! They'll listen to me! Just listen to me Leo!"

After giving a sigh, there wasn't much he could do. Whatever she wanted, she would get her way whether he objected to it or not.

"Remember the first time? You were killed and so was an elf in needless bloodshed. You know what to do to fix that!"

"Fine, but Selene, be careful."

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A loud pop noise came from outside the bedroom. The two brothers jumped out of bed just as their sister came in.

"Rose! Why? It's three in the morning," I complain, pulling the blankets back over my face as the light pours in.

"It's three in the morning on your birthday, come on don't be lazy. You both have a big day ahead today."

"I'm going back to sleep," Jackson grumbles in response, turning his back to the light.

Another pop from Rose startles them awake. Reluctantly, I comply and get out of bed. As I walk into the kitchen, I'm greeted by cake and fruits. The ingredients and fruits are very expensive, but the twins are seen as a blessing to the village. I'm used to getting what I want.

I heard cheers from my parents and a half-awake mumble from my friend Aria. She never is up this early, so she probably wasn't thrilled to be here.

"Why were we waken up this early again?"

The grey-bearded, salt-and-pepper-haired man gave a laugh. I rolled my eyes. My dad was always a night owl.

"Well, don't you want to know what jobs you're gonna have? My dear friend Thorton got us the early drawings."

"Isn't that illegal for your 'dear friend' to do?" Jackson never liked Thorton.

Thorton was always close to my father, even when Thorton became the mayor of the village. I love him though even with my brother's disdain. I call him my Uncle Thorton. My dad, Uncle Thorton, and I always went hunting together, but it was more of Thorton just observing.

"Oh come on Jack, at least we're getting this over with," I replied with a sense of relief.

I turned to Jackson with a smile, but all I got in response was a glare and a sigh. My parents brought out two small cards. I saw my name on the first one and my brother's name was on the other. My dad handed me my card and I quickly opened it. I was hoping to be part of the woodsmen so I could help with the winter firewood, but when I opened the card the world stopped spinning.

"What did you two get?" Their father asked with a smile.

"An Alchemist! I know I can be the best in-" Jackson was cut off.

"Dad, you can't do this. Elysia needs you! You can't just quit your job for me to have it!"

I was horrified and nearly speechless. My brother and I had joked about getting my father's job when he got old and senile, but I was never serious about it.

"You've trained for years and you've beaten me a few times. Your old man isn't gonna be around forever. I'm getting rather slow."

I was in disbelief. How could he just give up his title like that? The lead hunter resigns just to give his son the job?

"Besides," his father continues, "Aria is gonna get her job today too!"

I gave a confused look to Aria, who looked just as confused. Aria's 19th was a few months ago during the Scarlet Moon. She already knew who her arranged marriage was, but not her job. I never heard of a woman getting assigned a job.

"It seems Horus hasn't told her yet. Well, I will leave that between them."

"Dad, you have really lost your mind." I stormed out of the house, a cocktail of emotions brewing.

I couldn't believe his father gave his job up. I can't fill the job my father has, how could I when there's such an expectation to live up to?

In my daze, I had made my way into the forest. I saw an old tree that had fallen over the river. This tree was massive before it fell but now, Aria and I use it to get across the river. On the other side of the river were ruins from the war between humans and elves. It was a world that fascinated me. I never have seen an elf, but I have heard the stories. I have heard how cruel they are and how vicious. The history and temples though, were works of art. They were beautiful. I began to climb the fallen tree and cross the river when I suddenly heard a voice.

"Hey, loser! It's too early to track you down! Wait a minute!" Aria shouted.

"You followed me?"

"Obviously, besides, I figured you'd go here anyway."

We had always been close. Our fathers were always competing for the top hunter spot and the two were always training. Before resigning, My father had been the top hunter. Aria and I had always been competing to be better than each other, but the rivalry made our friendship all the better.

We chatted and made our way into the ruins and down to a spot by the river. It had been quite a while since we had really talked or laughed together. As life had gone, we became busy.

Time passed and the sun had come and gone. We had spent the day catching up, talking, and laughing, and it had become dark again.

"Are we spending the night here?" I joked.

"Just like old times, no?" Aria shrugged and smiled.

I didn't mind it and just lied back on the ground. I watched Aria mimic me. Just as Jackson and I were valued for being twins, Aria was also valued for her ethereal beauty. She had naturally silver-white hair and grey eyes to match. As a country that looked to the moon for guidance, Aria was believed to be a gift from the moon itself.

I, however, was the complete opposite of Aria. She was seen as everything pure from her beauty and fashion to her personality. Jackson and I were believed to be gifts of the night. Twins were rare, and we shared black hair and grey eyes. We were said to be in two different parts of the day with one being the early morning and the other being the late night.

It was another reason Aria, Jackson, and I were raised together. All of us seemingly had a weird connection in the village's view.