The False Twins (Old)

2

The moon sat high above the dark blue sky, its faint light cast above all buildings in Saegmus, where Tuhar, Burce, and many other world-famous cities are located. Tonight is a night of a crescent moon, with the moon smiling mischievously in the sky.

Today is the fifty seventh of the ninety days of the Warm Rains (basically summer. Strangely, the night comes later during the Cold Rains, or winter, and ends later into the morning. Same goes for summer, but the day just starts earlier. It is as if there is always twelve hours each of day and and night, only shifting a few minutes earlier everyday during the First Sprout, or spring, and shifting a few minutes later everyday during the Last Harvest, or autumn. All the four seasons have exactly ninety days each, another fact that still baffles all scientists in the world). Despite the time, which is very late now, many people are still awake. Probably working on their all-night jobs, searching for sinful fortunes in the dark alleyways of the city, or just going out and about for no reason in particular. They are all aware of the fact that monsters go out to play in the night. Though, most monsters are afraid of bright light. Only a handful of monsters strong enough to withstand light go out to feed in the day, like the one Vennael just killed.

Not like anyone, including the twins, would care.

The twins are already in their beds, fast asleep. The same goes with many people, particularly students. Stephanie is busy working on her lesson plan, writing nonstop on her book, and sipping her coffee every now and then.

"I should stop by twelve…." She thought to herself.

She looked far out into the window in her bedroom. The crescent moon, along with the thousands of stars around it, created a beautiful painting in the sky. No matter how bright the building lights are, the stars don't seem to be blotted out by it.

Stephanie returned to her work. Tried to, to be exact.

"Sigh, maybe I'll just continue this tommorrow…. I'm tired."

She arranged her books and glanced at the clock. Fifteen minutes before eleven. She washed her face, turned off the lights, and went to her bed, falling into deep sleep a few minutes later.

Just as she slept, a figure flew past her window. Cloaked in shadow, it flew quickly across the city, jumping on the roofs of houses. It stopped on the top of a building, where no one can see, peering into the vast cityscape.

"Just wait, you people. We will have a fun day tommorrow." It laughed. Surely this one is not a safest thing to be nearby. It continued jumping on the tops of buildings and houses around the city, as if it was mapping out the area. When it was satisfied, it turned itself into a crow, flying deep into the night.

****

"…y."

…

"Hey…"

…

"…ake up…"

"Huh? What…?"
"Xavoss, wake up."
"It's our day off today, stop bothering meeee…" Xavoss mumbled to his twin, dragging the e in his last word.

"What day off are you talking about?" Vennael said in irritation. He has been waking up his twin for the past thirty minutes, and the two are getting closer and closer to becoming late. "We have school today, and it's six already!"

Upon hearing that, Xavoss rose from his bed faster than lightning and ran quickly to the bathroom downstairs, nearly falling down the stairs in the process, not making any sound at all. He isn't in a good mood, it seems.

"That was… fast." was all Vennael could say.

Their classes actually start by seven, but their travel usually takes thirty minutes, which leaves the twins with thirty minutes to prepare. Vennael has already taken a bath, which is a good thing, but he doesn't know how to cook. Last time he tried, he somehow managed to set water on fire. He was outdoors though, so very little damage was done. How he did it still baffles Xavoss to this day, who tried to do it with magic, but failed.