Chapter 2: Chapter 1: The truth

"Alicia...I'm scared," sobbing as the girl said. I looked from behind to find where the cute voice came from and spotted Licia, who appeared to be afraid, wanting a hug. She jumps on me as I catch her and give her a hug in return. Her small arm touched my waist, and I felt it. It was soft and a little cold. Was it because she was an ice spirit? Never mind about that. She seemed to be scared of that dream again, like always. Licia and I both often dream about the same boy and girl. Our dreams are usually the same, and it also feels like we were in one dream.

 

"Shhhhh, don't worry, it's just a dream, nothing bad will happen," I said, caressing her. Licia, she's usually cheerful and a bit mischievous. This personality of hers always made our mother worried and scolded her for doing something dangerous. She was also faced with four near-death experiences, but what was weirder here was her being unafraid of death. But, when it comes to a fire, she's too terrified. Of course, it's not just a fire that we usually see, but a blue fire. It feels like she experienced it first-hand, which is impossible. I was with her all the time. I had never seen a blue flame until that man showed it to us.

 

Speaking of that man, I never saw that side of her. It's different from her kind and innocent side that everyone knows. I'm the only one who knows it; not even my mother, brother, or sister know it. Just trying to think about it makes me tremble and worry for her. Is she even normal? No, even though we are identical, we are not even related. Mother deceived everyone. Lucia was not her daughter, and I do not have a twin sister. It was all written, written in her diary. I didn't mean to read someone's diary, but I happened to hear from my mother that Lucia was not her daughter. I was too desperate to know the truth and tried to search for an answer in her diary. Wait... Am I even normal? How could an eight-year-old like me know more? Strange... It doesn't matter; I only follow my instincts. What matters now is that Licia is the result of a curse...

 

The day before the truth was heard. I was reading a book, a book about this world. I'm interested in the outside. Someday, I would be able to leave this village and go on adventures like those described in the stories of travelers who passed through our village. I want to discover new places, raid dungeons, and much more. I've never stepped outside this village. The dangers in the outside world, according to my mother, are everywhere. But, according to my brother, who was an adventurer, "Danger is not the only thing the world has to offer." I once read a book written by a certain adventurer who recorded everything he saw and experienced during his journeys, and that book is what really inspired me to want to embrace an adventurous life. Unfortunately, that mysterious adventurer suddenly disappears on... on? What, again?

 

I tried looking for continent names in this book I was holding, and oh, here it is. There are three continents called Flora, Hubi, and Elisian. Flora, the land of magic and also where I currently live. This continent is inhabited mostly by a race that specializes in magic. Flora was also home to a wide variety of strange animals, beasts, and monsters. This was due to the fact that these creatures' ancestors had been exposed to powerful magic for a long period of time, which gave birth to strange abilities. These abilities were passed down through the generations, just like with other races who have no aptitude for magic.

 

Hubi, the land of monsters. If Flora was mostly inhabited by a race that specializes in magic, this continent would be inhabited by a race that has low magic power. At first glance, you would think how weak they are, but that's not the case. That continent had been creating various technologies and techniques that had been helping them fight people with high magic powers, like elves, fairies, and spirits.

 

Elisian, the dark continent. For some reason, every person who tried to explore this continent didn't return for some unknown reason. "I think that's all for today," I said as I closed my book.

 

"Alicia," Licia called my name as soon as she opened the door. She walked over to me and said, "Why didn't you tell me that today is the New moon?"

 

"New moon? What is that? " I questioned her about what she meant by the new moon.

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She feigned laughter, "Hahaha." She grabbed my hand and said, "Seriously? We have no time for your jokes. We really need to go now or else mother would scold us like forever."

 

I asked her again, "I'm serious. What do you mean by new moon? What exactly is the new moon?"

 

"Hahaha, it would be funny if you actually didn't know about..." she chuckled as her voice grew softer. "You're joking, right?" I shook my head in denial.

 

"Let me explain it. We have ten days in one week, we have three weeks in one month, and we have twelve months in one year. First, we have the new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, yellow moon, red moon, purple moon, blue moon, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter, and waning crescent. From what I have been telling you, today is the preparation for the new moon festival. Today is Day thirty of Waning Crescent, and tonight is the start of the festival. "

 

Ohh! I see, so that's why it sounds familiar. I'd better thank Licia for reminding me. It would be embarrassing if I still didn't know about it. "Licia, I would like to thank y-" As I was about to thank Licia, her laugh cut my words.

 

"Pfft, hahahahaha, you truly have no idea about the common knowledge. This is too embarrassing if it were me. To think you, who frequently brag about your intelligence, lack the basic knowledge. I wonder what will happen if I leak what happened today. Of course, there is a means for you to seal my mouth," Licia said as she pushed me onto the bed and crawled on top of me. Now I was stuck between her two short legs, while her two soft arms were on top of each side of me.

 

No! She would ask me that in exchange for her silence! I can't let her!