Whispers of Stars beneath the Quantum Sea

X-10.

June, 2013

One peaceful evening, Matushka gathered them around the dining table and took out a silver solution. She poured it into their drinks and told them to stir.

Cocolia: My children, I will need you all to drink this. Don't fret, it's beneficial for your growth.

The mixture felt weird. It wasn't the taste, it tasted like lemonade. It was the texture. The viscous substance mixed with water made the texture slimy and wet, Vivere had to close his eyes and quickly chug it down with a frown. After that, they continued with dinner as if nothing happened.

That night, Vivere felt his body burning and his veins glowed purple. He tried not to think of it, but the pain was too much to bear. He bit down on his pillow, trying not to disturb anyone's sleep. Before long, he passed out on the bed.

The next morning, everything was back to normal, the purple veins were gone, but the pain was still there. But he hid it from everyone, praying it was just a cramp.

In the following weeks, all the orphans were taught to manipulate objects using their willpower. Matushka always told them to use their imagination. Yet Vivere and Seele struggled in doing so. But as they were orphans who had yet to see much of the world, they struggled to come up with something original. Adding salt to injury, Vivere would feel that excruciating pain every night when he tried to sleep, and was only able to pray for the pain to knock him out and let him get some rest.

Every time he woke up, he would constantly feel phantom pains, but he pretended as if he was fine to not worry Matushka, Bronya, and Seele, but he knew inside that he wasn't.

August, 2013

They were having their weekly test on mass manipulation. Matushka gave them a magic globe and told them to mold it using their imagination. Unsurprisingly, Vivere and Seele failed as they failed to create anything. Sin Mal, on the contrary, was more talented, making detailed clockwork from the globe.

Sin Mal: Kekeke! This is no problem for this talented Sin Mal!

Other orphans: Wow!/So cool!/...

Sin Mal bore a smug face towards Vivere and Seele, mocking them. Vivere hated her arrogance, but he didn't hate her to the point of physically injuring her. Besides, he did promise Seele to not hurt anybody for her sake anymore.

All attention then turned to Bronya, as she successfully molded the globe to a Homu plushie.

Other orphans: Look, it's Homu!/It is so cute!/...

Seele was exhilarated and hugged Bronya.

Seele: You're so talented, Bronya- Onee chan!

Vivere: How the hell did you do it?

Bronya: The Bronya detects skill issues from Vivere ᗜ˰ᗜ.

Vivere: Your mom has skill issues!

Bronya: That doesn't work, we have the same mom.

Vivere: Shit.

Bronya: Also, Matushka is right behind you.

Matushka stood menacingly behind him with a threatening smile.

Cocolia: Who has skill issues now?

Vivere: I-I'm sorry!

Cocolia pulled his ears while everyone laughed. However, from within the crowd, Sin Mal was biting her nails and glared at Bronya.