The night air was cool, the clouds glowing faintly as the last streaks of moonlight burned away into the thick cloud. Amanda stood behind Lucy, her eyes fixed on the horizon as her younger sister tilted her head up toward the sky, silent and calm.
"I know I should've told you earlier," Amanda said quietly, her tone softer than usual. "But trust me, keeping it a secret from you was the best choice I could make."
Lucy's lips curved slightly, though she didn't look away from the heavens. "It's okay, big sis. I think I understand now… why you were always closer to papa than me. If he asked you to keep other secrets, you can keep them too. Just… until the time is right."
Amanda scoffed, stepping closer and grabbing her sister's shoulder. "Hey, hey—don't go talking like a kid, you moron. You just turned seventeen yesterday. You're no child anymore."
Lucy chuckled faintly. "Still feels that way sometimes."
Amanda exhaled deeply, guilt tightening her chest. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. I was just trying to be the obedient big sister for papa. I couldn't break a promise so easily. I wanted to figure things out myself so you wouldn't have to stress about it." She leaned close, whispering, "I hope you'll forgive me, Lu."
Lucy jerked back with a startled laugh. "Stop it, don't whisper directly into my ear, that tickles!"
Amanda smirked. "I'll take that laugh as a yes." Then she stretched her palm out. "From now on, no more secrets. We work together. As a team. Deal?"
Lucy eyed her suspiciously, but finally shook her hand. "It's a partial deal."
"Hahahaha! Whatever—you said deal, and that's good enough." They both burst into laughter, their footsteps carrying them back inside the house.
---
The Journey Begins
By dawn, the sisters were awake and ready, standing at the outskirts of their small home. The kingdom of Eminence was far, their path leading first through the wide barren roads at the edge of the kingdom of Guhan. Traveling on foot was rough—the sun bore down mercilessly and their boots grew heavier with every mile.
"Traveling on foot is worse than I imagined," Amanda groaned, tugging the rusty sword strapped to her waist. "Let's stop and wait. Maybe a traveling merchant will pass by."
Lucy blinked at her. "And what's the plan when one actually shows up?"
Amanda grinned slyly. "We beg him to hire us as guards. Protect his goods, and in return he gives us a ride."
Lucy tilted her head, doubtful. "With one rusty sword? Big sis, we don't even know how to fight properly yet. What if darkside spirits appear?"
Amanda patted her sister's shoulder. "Don't worry, Lu. We'll be lucky enough not to run into any. Just follow my lead."
The sisters rested at the roadside, Lucy dropping the heavy bag with a groan. Hours passed before the sound of rattling wheels echoed across the horizon. A carriage thundered toward them, drawn by two horses, its driver a wide-bellied man sweating under the noon heat.
Amanda leapt to her feet, waving the rusty sword wildly. "Over here! Over here!"
To her relief, the man pulled the reins and slowed. He leaned from his seat. "How can I help you girls?"
Amanda straightened, trying to look serious. "We're undergraduates from the Shinra Academy of Eminence. We came here on a mission but… we don't have the funds to return. If you hire us as guards, we'll protect you from any darkside spirits on the road. In exchange, you take us back."
The man squinted at them, unimpressed. "You're not dressed like students from the academy. Hmmm."
Lucy quickly interjected, bowing slightly. "Please, sir. We'll be grateful for anything. Just give us a ride."
Amanda gritted her teeth at her sister's eagerness. You foolish girl… survival means bargaining, not begging.
But the merchant chuckled. "Generous girls, huh? Fine, get in. Let's go."
The sisters climbed into the carriage, relief washing over them as the wheels began turning again.
---
Hours rolled by. At noon, the carriage slowed beside a shimmering lake. The merchant stretched and hopped down. "Let's rest here. Water's fresh. Fill your throats before the next stretch."
Lucy and Amanda followed, drinking deeply. "Excuse me, sir," Amanda asked politely. "Do you have any food you could spare us?"
"Of course. Beneath the seat in the carriage, you'll find some baked bread," the man replied.
The sisters returned inside, breaking the bread hungrily. Lucy frowned mid-bite. "Sis, why did you ask him for food when we brought our own?"
Amanda rolled her eyes. "Don't be stupid all the time, Lucy. Survival is about conserving what you have and using what others give. You're too optimistic—you'll get eaten alive one day."
Before Lucy could argue back, a sudden scream ripped through the air.
"HELP!" the merchant's voice thundered outside.
The sisters froze for a heartbeat before bolting from the carriage. What they saw froze Lucy's breath in her throat.
Four beta darkside spirits—hideous humanoid creatures with grotesque wide mouths and jagged razor teeth—surrounded the merchant. Their grotesque arms were fused with blades, steel-like and gleaming. Tails lashed wildly, smashing rocks as they closed in.
Amanda cursed under her breath and charged forward, rusty sword raised. One of the darkside spirit swung its bladed arm, Amanda barely parrying. Its tail whipped around, slamming her with crushing force and hurling her across the air. She crashed into the lake with a deafening splash.
"AMANDA!" Lucy screamed, panic surging through her.
The merchant stumbled backward, trembling. "You… you said you were Shinra students! You can't even fight a beta darkside spirit?! We're going to die!"
The spirits' eyes gleamed blood-red as they turned on Lucy and the merchant, jaws stretching unnaturally wide.
Lucy gripped the rusty sword with shaking hands, teeth clenched. Move… move, damn it! I have to protect him until Amanda gets up!
The creatures lunged—
And then, in the blink of an eye, everything ended.
Their movements froze. Heads slid from their necks, rolling across the ground. Their bodies split apart, collapsing into pools of dark mist.
The merchant gasped, falling to his knees. Lucy's chest heaved as she stood still, wide-eyed in shock.
Ripples spread across the lake. Amanda dragged herself out of the water, coughing, hair plastered to her face. She glared at the scene, her voice sharp.
"What… the hell just happened?"