"Did you see that, second sis?" Aurora whispered, her voice hushed with excitement.
"See what?" Muen whispered back, peering around the trunk of the cherry blossom tree.
"Big sis's expression!"
The self-appointed ghost-hunting duo were stealthily observing their eldest sister's meditation session.
Pointing to Noah, who sat perfectly still under the tree, Aurora remarked, "Whenever big sis trains for something really intense, she always has this blank, totally focused meditative look on her face."
"But look at her now—sometimes she's smiling faintly, sometimes she looks dead serious, and other times she just seems... lost, like she's somewhere else entirely."
Muen blinked her large, innocent eyes. "Um... so?"
"So," Aurora declared with the certainty of a seasoned detective, "Big sis must be pretending to meditate so she can chat with that ghost living inside her!"
Aurora's face lit up with triumphant enthusiasm. "Listen, second sis, I recently figured out a surefire way to make ghosts appear. In a bit, we'll..."
The two sisters huddled together, their whispers a frantic, excited buzz as they finalized their mischievous plan.
Then, with the quiet steps of seasoned little troublemakers, they slipped out from behind the tree and crept toward Noah, who remained deeply entranced in her meditation, completely oblivious to their approach.
Their movements were so silent that even as they used a stick to carefully draw a intricate ritual circle in the soft earth around her, Noah stayed unaware.
"Done! The circle is complete," they whispered in unison, standing proudly in front of their unaware sister.
Aurora looked a little worried. "If this doesn't work, we'll be in for another spanking for sure."
"Don't worry, second sis," Aurora assured her with unwavering confidence. "There are bound to be a few bumps on the road to a great discovery!"
Muen, with a deeply serious expression, replied, "Bumps? Aurora, we get spanked at least once a week because of your 'great discoveries.' I think it's a bit more than just bumps at this point."
Aurora shivered at the thought, unconsciously rubbing her behind. "Relax, second sis. I swear on my favorite snack stash, it'll work this time!"
"This manifestation circle is something I learned from one of Mom's secret library books. It's guaranteed not to harm big sis's body, but it should definitely force any ghost hiding inside her to show itself!"
Although Aurora's confidence was steadfast, it wasn't lost on either of them that every single time she'd made similar promises in the past, a parental spanking had inevitably followed.
Muen took a deep breath, her face settling into an expression of grim resolve. "Alright. If we've been spanked this many times already, what's one more? Let's do it!"
"That's the spirit, third princess of the great House Melkvey!"
"So, what do we do now?" Muen asked, cracking her knuckles.
"The book says this manifestation circle needs an infusion of two specific magic elements to activate."
Aurora explained, pointing to different parts of the drawn circle. "We'll start with a controlled burst of lightning magic right here to kickstart the circle's energy core. Once it's powered up and glowing, we'll finish with a surge of fire magic over here to provide the energy needed to make the ghost materialize."
Muen nodded as if having a grand epiphany. "It almost sounds like this circle was made just for me!"
Both lightning and fire were her natural affinities, a unique combination inherited from their parents and wondrously awakened within Muen herself.
"It's probably just a coincidence," Aurora shrugged. "The world's full of weird and wonderful things. There's bound to be a ritual or two out there that uses lightning and fire to get going, right?"
"Oh, I see~" Muen nodded, her understanding now complete.
"Alright, second sis, let's get started!"
"Alright!"
Following Aurora's pointed instructions, Muen focused, her small hands glowing as she channeled a precise thread of lightning magic into the circle's starting point.
The intricate markings began to pulse with a vibrant blue light. As the energy stabilized, she gradually wove in a stream of flickering fire magic.
Aurora watched, her eyes wide with excitement. "Second sis may be a laid-back slacker most days, but when it really counts, she's unstoppable!"
The brightening, swirling light of the active circle finally pierced through Noah's deep concentration.
She slowly opened her eyes, blinking away the remnants of her mental journey. "Muen... Aurora? What are you two up to now?"
"Oh no, she's noticed!"
"Keep going, second sis! We're almost there! Think of our poor, defenseless behinds and power through!"
"Got it!"
The two sisters redoubled their efforts, pouring more lightning and fire into the circle. The air hummed with magical energy.
Noah's face grew stern. She tried to stand, only to find herself held in place by an invisible barrier of wind energy generated by the circle. "What is this? Aurora, what nonsense are you doing this time?"
"Big sis, just hang in there a moment longer! We're about to make the ghost inside you show itself!" Aurora shouted over the crackling energy.
"There is no ghost inside me. And if you don't stop this instant, you'll both be in for a very serious, very memorable spanking."
Despite the threat, Aurora, now holding the completed ritual circle in her metaphorical grasp, remained undeterred.
"Don't listen to her, it's the ghost talking! Keep going, second sis!"
"O-Okay..." Muen grunted, pouring more of her energy into the spell.
Noah attempted to push against the barrier again but found herself firmly immobilized by the transparent wall of wind. Seeing the determination on her sisters' faces, she eventually ceased her struggles.
She looked at them calmly and asked, "Aurora, are you absolutely certain this circle can manifest a ghost?"
Aurora nodded, her confidence unshaken. "Absolutely! I learned it from one of Mom's ancient and powerful library books; it has to work!"
"And what if it doesn't?" Noah pressed, a faint, knowing smile playing on her lips.
"There's no way it won't!" Aurora stood proudly with her hands on her hips, her small tail wagging in triumphant anticipation.
"If it doesn't work," she declared dramatically, "then our behinds are all yours, big sis. We won't resist our punishment at all."
Hearing this, Noah raised a single, elegant eyebrow. A slow, victorious smirk spread across her face, as if she had been waiting for those very words.
"Well then," Noah said, her voice dripping with sweet reasonableness, "since you're so committed to your scientific inquiry, how could I, as your elder sister, possibly refuse such a generous offer?" She settled back into her meditation pose, looking utterly serene.
Aurora blinked, confusion dawning on her face. "W-What do you mean?"
"Oh, nothing much," Noah replied, crossing her arms and smiling like a cat that had gotten the cream. "I'll just sit here comfortably and watch your little... performance."
"Oh no, the ghost must be fully controlling big sis now! That's why she's talking so strangely! Push harder, second sis! We're almost there!"
"Got it!"
The circle's energy pulsed brighter, lifting Noah's silver hair and the hem of her dress in a magical breeze. The light show was impressive.
However, Noah's expression remained one of calm amusement, completely unaffected by the pyrotechnics.
Finally, with a soft fizzle, the energy dissipated, and the light in the circle faded away completely. No ghost, specter, or spiritual entity of any kind appeared.
Aurora stepped back in shock, stammering, "H-How is this possible? The book said it would work... did I draw the circle wrong? Did I get the elemental ratios off?"
"You could draw that circle ten more times with perfect precision, Aurora, and it still wouldn't work."
Noah stepped forward, the wind barrier having vanished with the circle's power. She wore a patient but slightly smug smile. "And for your information, this is an intermediate-level ritual. Without proper magical training, it's actually quite impressive that you managed to draw it so accurately with just a stick."
Aurora frowned, her lower lip trembling slightly. "Then why didn't it work?"
"Because this circle wasn't designed to reveal ghosts," Noah explained, now placing her own hands on her hips and looking at them with fond exasperation. "It's a basic magic transfer circle. Here, take a look."
With that, Noah raised her hands. One palm crackled with a familiar, vibrant lightning energy. The other blazed with the warm, dancing light of fire.
"So this..." Noah said, examining the fire dancing over her fingertips with an appreciative look, "...is what it feels like to wield fire magic. Not bad."
"Wait," Muen said, her astonishment clear. "But, big sis, how did you...? You don't have a fire affinity!"
Aurora suddenly fell silent, her clever mind connecting the dots. Her eyes widened in horrified realization.
"You... you left that specific book in Mom's library on purpose, didn't you?"
Noah's smile turned sly, her eyes narrowing into triumphant crescents. "That's right. Why else would a so-called 'ghost-manifestation circle' require such specific, dual-element activation? It doesn't even make logical sense. It was bait, and you both took it."
"...Big sis," Aurora wailed, "you're despicable!"
Noah shrugged, the picture of innocence. "All I did was leave a random, interesting-looking book in Mom's library. I didn't tell you to find it, read it, or follow its instructions. So, by what logic am I the despicable one here?"
Aurora felt a shiver of both dread and admiration run down her spine. This was big sis's real strategy all along—a masterful trap.
"You're just like Mom; you're full of clever, underhanded tricks!"
"And remember, Aurora," Noah said, her voice taking on a mischievous, sing-song quality. "Didn't you just say something about your behinds being mine if the ritual didn't work...?"
"...RUN, second sis! RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!"
"Big sis, have mercy! Please go easy on us!"
.
.
Ten minutes later.
Two very sorry-looking little dragons lay sprawled face-down under the cherry blossom tree, their behinds throbbing in unison, rendered utterly speechless by the sting of justice.
Noah sat cross-legged in front of them, having administered a firm but sisterly spanking.
After a quiet moment filled only with the rustle of leaves and two soft, sniffling sounds, Noah reached over and gently poked Muen's little head. "You've really become quite proficient with your dual elements, Muen."
"...Mmm..." Muen mumbled in response, burying her flushed face deeper into the cool grass.
Their progress was, in fact, remarkable. Noah couldn't help but feel a surge of pride.
Awakening dual primary elements was incredibly rare, and to demonstrate such control over both at their young age spoke volumes of their dedication and hidden effort.
It seemed that even while lazing about in the sun, Muen was pushing herself hard, determined to catch up to her big sister.
Aurora, too, had shown exceptional talent by successfully constructing an intermediate-level magic circle from a book. Their father had once said that it was often Aurora's unconventional breakthroughs in magic theory that would lead to amazing things.
"Well," Noah mused aloud, "this little ghost-hunting escapade turned out to be far more productive for me than I expected."
"Big sis..." Aurora muttered softly into the grass, her voice muffled.
"Hmm?" Noah responded, her tone softer now.
The little dragoness turned her head, pressing one cheek against the grass to look at Noah with teary, earnest eyes.
"Tell us the truth, big sis..." she whispered. "Is that ghost... is it really hurting you?"
Noah's previously smug face softened instantly, understanding dawning. "So that's why you've been so relentlessly determined to capture this 'ghost' all these months... because you're afraid it might be harming me?"
Aurora gave a small, hesitant nod.
Then, in a flash, she shot up onto her knees, excitement burning in her eyes once more. "So you admit it! There is a ghost in you!"
"You're back to that again?" Noah sighed, though her expression remained gentle.
"Well, I... my behind really can't handle another round tonight," Muen groaned from her position on the ground.
Noah lifted her gaze, meeting Aurora's bright, hopeful, and deeply concerned eyes. "She hasn't harmed me, Aurora. You really don't have to worry. For certain... complicated reasons, I—"
Suddenly, her words cut off.
Noah's expression went completely blank, her eyes losing their focus as she stared straight ahead.
Aurora and Muen exchanged a worried glance. They shook her shoulder gently, "Big sis? Big sis, are you okay?"
"Big sis, don't listen to her! If that ghost tries anything, I'll fight it—"
"Oh, little ones," a new voice—elegant, ancient, and brimming with amusement—cut through the night air.
Aurora & Muen: ?!
When Noah's gaze refocused, her expression was subtly different. The usual serious tenderness in her eyes was replaced by a spark of ancient wisdom and playful condescension.
"I only intended to give this little one a brief lesson in true history," the voice said, the cadence and inflection now clearly not Noah's. She smirked, thumb pointing to her own chest. "But if you're both so eager for knowledge, I suppose I'll share the tale with all of you."