Sword of Flames [Book I] - {#Wattys2017}

Chapter 12 - A Hopeful Request

Chapter 12 - A Hopeful Request

Before she could answer his question, footsteps boomed inside the fragile structure and giggles rang in her ears. Four girls, in which half were taller than Zikarith, entered the main room where they stood. All of them looked similar to him except for the tallest one, who had white streaks in her hair and a nose less pointed than his and the others. Even so, all of them had the same ethereal skin color and gray eyes, except that theirs suited their bodies unlike the boy's.

"Brother!" one cried in glee. Her appearance was a telltale that she was the youngest of the siblings. Although this was true, she still had an astounding height for her age; she was the youngest and shortest, but still taller than Levana. She seemed to have the potential to become the biggest in the family. For a second Levana saw not the girl but Eli instead; she missed his warm greetings and light kisses. The thought of her younger brother made her sad; oh how she wished that she could see how he and the others were doing.

Meanwhile, the young girl sprinted to him with her bare feet. Levana winced in fear that she would give herself splinter, but she made it unharmed and hugged him passionately. Zikarith returned the gesture of love.

"Elanine, why are you so excited?" the one with the unique features asked. She folded her arms together. "Did you not see him just earlier today?"

"It's okay, Ixantra," The second tallest assured. "Let her be." Ixantra sighed in a dramatic matter and rolled her eyes playfully. Only then did the girls notice the guest standing there.

"This is my youngest sibling, Elanine, and the third oldest, Ixantra," he pointed, properly greeting the two. "There is my oldest sibling, Devina," he said while directing Levana to the second tallest who just spoke. "And the quiet one is Matanda." There stood the silent girl that was the fourth largest in height. "She's a lot more talkative than she looks," the boy whispered to the Earthian.

"Who is this?" Matanda asked, taking a look at Levana's clothes. As if a light bulb flashed on in her head, her eyes lit up. "Is she your girlfriend?" She was already living up to her reputation.

Levana and Zikarith both winced in embarrassment, especially since they had not known each other for even a day. The girl stepped away from him in discomfort.

"Now, now Matanda," an old voice echoed from the hallway. "Don't make Zikarith so uneasy again. That poor soul." Ms. Ganim wondered who this heroine was who saved her from a long awkward silence. Matanda could not help but laugh at the tension.

Out came a small, frail woman; the blissful Earthian beamed that there was someone shorter than her in the household. Her eyes were the same color as the others, making Levana speculate that she was part of the family.

"Grandmother!" Elanine shrieked enthusiastically. She rushed towards the woman and helped her sit down in a seat at the set dinner table. As if remembering something from the set plates and utensils, Devina cried "The food!" and went into the kitchen to tend to it.

The elder's wrinkled face revealed her age while Elanine tied her whitened hair into a neat bun. As she was being assisted, she smoothed her soft, magenta pajamas with care. Once the young girl finished her hair, she moved back, letting the old lady look at the visitor. By that time, Devina entered the room with a pan of a slightly burned pastry that smelt delicious regardless.

"What is your name, love?" the woman asked in a sweet tone. She felt Zikarith's eyes on her too, as he had asked her before but she failed to reply.

"My name is Levana Ganim," she greeted. "It's nice to meet you-" She failed to finish the sentence, beating herself up for even beginning it when she did not know her name.