🏰 Pyxis - Not So-Happy Ever Afters

1 - Surfaced - Aphrolici

"When there is a pair it will inevitably become one"

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Once upon a time, centuries ago, the underwater cavern kingdom of Aphrolici was cursed with infertility. Only once every year would the cry of a newborn baby be heard. Through wars, famines and flooding, the population quickly depleted. Just as all hope seemed lost for Aphrolici, a warlock of an unknown origin reversed the curse. It gave the kingdom a miracle they'd never seen before, twins.

It would've been a miracle if it was all there was to it. This blessing became an affliction very quickly. From one pair of twins, only one can turn of age. Deemed unfair for this to be up to be a roll of a die, the Council of Pyxis decided it could instead be up to a match of wits, strength, and talents to see who is better fit to live. Heartless, barbaric, and against all morals it was, there were no other choices. The people couldn't possibly risk population depletion again. The people couldn't rebel against the council.

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Thus a few days before the Shortflair twins' sixteenth birthday, they sit back to back enjoying their last few moments together.

"Is this really how it's going to turn out?" Doreen 'Dorsey' flips a page of her book, Night Lilies by Aubrey Riverink.

"I don't want it to be that way, but it's not as if we have any choices," Mallory dips her brush back into her watercolour.

"Excellent thought, do we have any other choices?"

"Of course, we do, COP."

Dorsey turns to look at her sister with a raised eyebrow, "and mind explaining what an unethical council might have to do with this?"