The night air was crisp, the silver glow of the full moon spilling across the quiet village. Lucy sat by the kitchen table, staring into the faintly flickering lantern. Amanda stood near the counter, her arms crossed, lost in thought. The silence dragged on until Lucy finally broke it.
"Huh… what was it papa said to you that night?" she asked sharply, her eyes narrowing with curiosity.
Amanda's lips curved into a faint, bitter smile. "Papa and mama… they weren't weak, Lucy. They were warriors. Warriors who refused the title of Shinra even though they both possessed Renshi."
Lucy blinked, tilting her head. "Warriors? But—why refuse?"
Amanda's tone hardened. "Because to them, being a Shinra wasn't honor. Papa used to tell me something strange: 'The title of the World of Chronicles is for the weak.' I never understood what he meant… not until the night our kingdom was attacked."
Her fists clenched at the memory. Lucy leaned closer, eyes wide.
"That night," Amanda continued, voice trembling with both anger and pride, "the Special Darkside Knight and his pro darkside knights were fighting in the frontlines. Meanwhile, the lower Shinras… they fought carelessly. Carelessly! While citizens—our people—were being slaughtered in the streets. They didn't care about those who couldn't wield Renshi. They let the kingdom burn."
Lucy bit her lip. "…So papa and mama—?"
"They went out that night not for glory, but to protect the helpless," Amanda said firmly, her eyes flashing. "While the Shinras abandoned the people, papa and mama fought side by side against the intruders. If not for them, half of Guhan would have been wiped out that night."
Lucy's eyes softened. "…I never knew."
Amanda's voice lowered, almost a whisper now. "Before papa left, he gave me something. He didn't say it in words… it was written."
She turned and walked toward the far wall, where an iron safe was hidden behind a wooden board. The sound of her fingers clicking across the lock echoed faintly. With a final turn, the metal door creaked open. Amanda pulled out a rolled scroll, aged and sealed with wax.
"Come closer," she said.
Lucy hurried forward, her eyes burning with impatience.
Amanda laid the scroll flat on the table. "This took me days to figure out. At first, I thought it was nonsense… but when I uncovered its meaning, I realized we still have a chance."
Lucy bent down, studying the strange ink markings. "I don't understand a thing. How did you even read this?"
"Look closely at the first row," Amanda instructed.
Lucy squinted. "Numbers… from one to four. And… a padlock symbol. Then again one to four, but this time the padlock is locked." She frowned. "What does this even mean, sis? I can't make sense of it."
Amanda smirked faintly. "No need to panic. I already cracked that part. But this scroll holds more than just codes." She flipped it over.
Lucy gasped. "Wha—! Ancient writing?! And… these shapes… like a palm print!"
Amanda nodded. "Exactly. It's connected to the five fingers. Some kind of sealing technique. I couldn't decipher everything… but one thing became clear."
Lucy's voice trembled with excitement. "What?"
Amanda pointed to the numbers again. "These four symbols—1, 2, 3, 4—they spell out a word. 'SEAL.'"
Lucy's jaw dropped. "How's that even possible?!"
"Shut up and let me finish," Amanda snapped, though not with anger—more urgency.
Lucy crossed her arms and nodded silently.
"You have no idea why the citizens hate us, do you?" Amanda's gaze burned.
Lucy blinked, startled. "No… I guess not."
Amanda sighed. "Papa and mama told me to keep it secret. But they're gone now, and the truth can't stay buried. When we were born… we weren't like other humans. We weren't like other Renshi wielders."
Lucy swallowed hard. "…What do you mean?"
Amanda's next words cut through the air like a blade. "We were born with two kinds of Renshi. Both light and dark. That makes us witches."
The word hung heavy in the room.
"Witches…" Lucy whispered.
"Do you know what that means? We descend from the bloodline of wizards—the ones who once tried to destroy the entire universe." Amanda's voice trembled, but she pushed forward. "Normal humans inherit one type of Renshi. But us? We were cursed with both. The moment papa realized, he sealed our power. But even sealed, our aura leaked. The people could sense it. They hated us before they even understood why."
Her fists shook as memories came flooding back. "Three years later, you were born. Papa sealed your power too. They decided never to have more children. To spare the world from more witches like us."
Lucy's breath quickened, her chest tightening. "So… that's why the people despise us."
Amanda nodded slowly. "Yes. But despite the hate, papa and mama always stood by us. Always.… 'As long as the seal remains, we can live as lowly Shinras. Hunt Darkside Spirits. Grow strong. And when the time comes… break the seal.'"
Lucy's hands trembled, her voice rising. "So we're witches? All this time you knew—and you didn't tell me?! It's been four months since papa and mama were killed, and you hid it from me!"
Amanda stepped forward, raising her hand. "Calm down, Lucy! Everything I did—was for your own good!"
But Lucy's fury only grew. "For my good? Or because you were too afraid?!"
Her chair scraped as she stood, storming toward the door.
"Where do you think you're going?" Amanda demanded.
"I need to be alone," Lucy muttered, her voice shaking. She shoved the door open and stepped out into the cold night.
Amanda followed slowly, the scroll still clutched in her hand.
Lucy's boots crunched against the gravel path as she climbed the hill behind their house. At the summit, the entire kingdom of Guhan sprawled below. The moon bathed the rooftops in silver. Her breath was heavy, her fists clenched at her sides.
Amanda stopped a few paces behind, watching her little sister's silhouette against the full moon. The night was quiet and still.