We Two Are One

~4~ Gaining the Kitten's Trust

Artie's hideout is exactly as I had imagined. I clear books off the table and spread out the herbs we collected for his bruises. Artie buries himself in his books as I crush the herbs. I glance at the cover. It reads 'Electricity: An Enigma of Lightning Magic'.

There are two approaches to magic: the traditional artistic approach, and the novel mathematical approach. Artie was excellent at the latter. I happened to be better at the former. Yet, unlike the masses who chose a side, we were able to understand and perform the miracles of both learnings. We could have been great allies to the trusting. I need to build a group that trusts us. Yes, that will be my next goal.

   "Sister?" Artie says, interrupting my thoughts.

I turn to look at my twin. I had noticed he seemed not to be reading but pondering upon something.

   "Yes, Brother?"

   "How... do you know which herbs are medicinal?"

   "Someone read a book to me. '101 Miracle Herbs You Thought Were Weeds' if I remember correctly."

   "I have that book!"

I know. You were the one who read it to me. I smile at the memory. My smile widens at his excitement. I am relieved he is not avoiding such topics.

   "Oh, but don't tell others that, Sister. That book is..."

Oh? I am surprised he brought the subject up. I feel a strange sense of accomplishment akin to earning a wary kitten's trust. Such books are considered taboo in the Red Mansion. Father is a staunch orthodox who raises hell at the mention of such books, after all.

   "Herbology of Magic Science. Herbal Medicine, to be exact. I know."

   "You do? Why did you read it, then?"

   "It was interesting and seemed useful, don't you agree?"

Artie nods and buries himself into his book once more. I have made a fine paste of the herbs and spread it onto washed leaves.

   "Who... read you that book?"

   "Well, someone who isn't around right now."

Artie does not probe and, instead, changes the direction of his questions.

   "Is that... the only book you know? On Magic Science?"

   "No, I've read others, like Medical books. Mathematics and the Spell Coding are not for me, though. I prefer the orthodox Spell Drawing."

   "You know a lot."

   "Not as much as you do."

   "What makes you say that?"

   "I saw the books in your room. Something about Calculus?"

   "Oh, 'Applications of Calculus in Spell Formations'? That was simply a book on calculating slopes and the areas under curves in spell formations so they can be optimized."

   "While that may be as simple as the alphabet to you, to me it is as difficult as burning ice."

Difficult but not impossible. I have had my fair share of lessons from my enthusiastic twin brother. Only, I've forgotten it all.

I find cloth and tear the cleanest parts into strips. If only I could boil water to sterilize the cloth. I must awaken my magic soon. Artie is lost in thought once more. He is overthinking. A change of topic is due. It is getting darker, the sky has turned grey. I notice the breeze on my skin from the lack of windows.

   "What happens when it storms?" I ask.

I noticed a scientific spell formation outside. Did Artie write it or was it someone else?

   "Oh, there was a magic spell. It's a rain-and-wind-shield and a temperature regulator."

   "Who made them?"

   "I don't know. They were there before I found this place."

I move a stool to my brother's side and ask for his arm. He puts the book down and obliges. Applying the medicine-coated leaves, I raised the question that I had been suppressing.

   "What happened?"

   "Nothing actually happened. I made a mistake and got punished."

   "What mistake did you make?"

   "It was silly. I mistitled a colleague."

   "What title does a servant have?"

   "Oh, they were apparently fallen nobility."

'Apparently'. My bookworm of a brother still has his tongue. If I was another child, I would not have caught onto his honest evasion. Having applied the medicine, I begin bandaging to hold the leaves in place.

   "Did the servant's children make up some story to hurt you?"

My brother does not avert my gaze. He does not seem surprised.

   "I thought you might find out, but you found out immediately."

   "My brain is probably the closest there is to yours, silly," I roll my eyes.

   "Even so, how did you know it was the servant's children?"

   "Who else could it have been? Adults are cunning. They would have been discrete."

   "You... seem to speak from experience."

I meet my twin's gaze. It is startling how he reads me without recognizing me. I find myself disappointed at the realization. He did not open up to me because he felt a connection, but because he observed me and recognized my intentions as akin to his. Still, I cannot but hope he has an inkling of what happened in the past now gone.

Artie says no more when I do not answer. He has finished reading his book and sets it aside, shifting his gaze to the cobwebs on the roof. A gentle pitter-patter begins as I finish bandaging him up.

   "Looks like we'll be stuck here for a while."

   "Won't Father worry?"

   "No, he went to visit Lady Elsie. He will not return until tomorrow."

   "What about your maids and the knights?"

   "My maid will assume I'm with the knights and vice versa. They get careless when Father is not home."

I realize that they have always been relatively negligent of me. I should have wandered around more at this age.

   "But surely they will notice when night falls!"

   "Not if my maid retires first instead of waiting for me. When I take trips, my escort knight tucks me to bed instead of her."

If Sir Levithan is still my knight, that is. I do not remember who my escort knight is at this time.

   "Is this really okay?"

   "Yes. If they find out, we'll just blame those kids that hurt you."

The thought makes Artie chuckle and I know Artie had thought similarly.

   "It is a slumber party! Shall we tell scary stories, my brother?" I smile mischievously.

   "Okay, okay, I'll go first. In a dark enchanted woods-"

   "Like the one we're in?"

   "Ack! No. In a bright lively meadow, there lived a mad magician-"

   "Like father?"

   "...Ameya, has anyone told you? You are impossible."

I attempt to stifle my laughter but fail and Artie joins in.

Finally, it feels like we are family.