Sunlight stabbed Corvus's eyes. He groaned, shielding his eyes, and realized the cave entrance blanket was now draped over him.

  Why is this blanket here?

  He felt a small tingling sensation permeate throughout his body. He tried to scratch it but could not.

  What the hell?

  Groaning in pain, he sat up when a small, energetic voice came: "Sis, he's awake! Look!"

  Lea... He recognised.

  Two figures appeared in his field of view—one smiling brightly, the other also happy, though not as visibly.

  "Elsyn… Lea… what happened?" He asked.

  "Big boom!" Lea said while emoting with her hands in a dramatic manner.

  Corvus looked at her for a second then focusing on Elsyn, he said, "Translation."

  "Lightning struck near you when you were outside meditating, leaving you unconscious for a day and a half; effectively ruining our travel plans... That's the gist of it," Elsyn explained.

  "Why's my body tingling all over? Do you know something about it?" Corvus asked.

  Elsyn thought for a moment before replying, "Lightning doesn’t leave any residual charge; most of it should’ve passed through you the instant it struck. But in your case—somehow—your body became a source of lightning. You were practically emitting it when I found you."

  Corvus looked at Lea in surprise before remarking, "She really is a nerd, isn't she, Lea?"

  Just as Lea was about to agree, something crossed her mind and she stopped.

  "No, Corvus... My sister’s very cool—and definitely very lean. Don’t doubt her!"

  Looks like she’s still not off the hook for that remark, Corvus thought.

  But he was under no such restraint, so he spoke his mind freely.

  "Don’t be so shy, Lea—you know I’m right. Who else but Mrs. Know-it-all could know so much about lightning?"

  Lea signaled for Corvus to stop, but he refused. His ego had taken too many blows from Elsyn to let this chance slip.

  I’m going all out consequences be damned.

  He pointed at Elsyn and continued, "You couldn’t have been very popular—or popular at all—right, Mrs. Know-it-all... El. Nice! I’ll call you El, that suits you much better."

  Smug over his supposed stroke of genius, he puffed his chest and smiled arrogantly.

  Elsyn, yet to speak a word, appeared unaffected on the outside. But her mind was another story entirely—whether a raging storm or a quiet breeze, she did not let it show.

  If you don't accept your defeat, then I can't stop can I... hehe, Corvus added in his mind.

  With an evil expression he inched closer to Elsyn, and began prodding her with his finger.

  "Ah..." Elsyn let out a low yelp.

  Corvus touched himself but felt nothing. Is she acting?

  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  "Idiot, I told you your body stored some of the residual charge..." Elsyn looked at his confused face, and spoke again in toddler language.

  "Electricity. Your body has electricity in it, so don't go around carelessly touching people."

  "Alright... Wait—how'd you bring me inside the cave then?"

  Elsyn showed her palms, blackened and callused from the burns she had sustained while dragging Corvus into the cave.

  "I couldn't wait, because the risk of second lightning strike is high," Elsyn said.

  Corvus was speechless. But Elsyn was not.

  It was time for payback.

  "If only I wasn't such Mrs. Know. It. All; perhaps, I could've avoided these injuries. Alas, it can't be helped, in the end I'm just a Mrs. Know. It. All," Elsyn spoke.

  She knew her first volley of guilt manipulation had hit home, when she saw Corvus's eyes widen and body shrink.

  Corvus leaned toward Lea and whispered, "Couldn't you have warned me."

  "I thought I did," Lea whispered back.

  Elsyn noticed them whispering and used the moment to fire the next volley: "Pipsqueak, are you perhaps telling him how I chewed meat for him, or perhaps how we had to sleep with that tattered blanket..."

  Don't speak anymore... I give up. Corvus did not have to say this outloud, his doleful eyes spoke it louder than words ever could.

  But Elsyn was not done. She had to deliver the final volley. "Don't fret, Corvus; it's alright—"

  She jerked her hand back in pain the instant her palm brushed his shoulder—a move she’d planned for her grand finale.

  "Ouch, my palm hurts! But that’s alright... as long as you’re safe," she finished with a radiant smile.

  Corvus was done. Utterly defeated.

  Lea leaned towards him, but before she could say anything Corvus muttered, "I don't think I'll resist even if she tried to kill me now..."

  Lea silently spoke, "Don't let her get to you; you did great that day, I'm telling you."

  "Really? How so?"

  "If not for the distraction you made, that ogre would've surely murdered me that night. Thanks a bunch, Corvus. You saved my hide, consider me in your debt."

  "Don't mention it, it's fine."

  Corvus glanced at Elsyn. Debt, huh.

  "Hey, El, I know words are not enough, but I'm thankful that you and Lea saved my life, twice now. So, if there's anything I can do for you, let me know," he said.

  Lea shrugged: "Don't be silly, what do you take us for, right sis... Right?"

  "Actually, there's one thing I need," Elsyn spoke.

  Corvus put a hand in front. "No, I'll not stop calling you El—that name's fixed."

  He was too proud of his creation to let anyone threaten it. Even in his thoughts.

  "I need to rescue my friends."

  Corvus almost stumbled back and Lea began cleaning her ears.

  "Friends? Lea, you heard that too?" Corvus asked.

  Still cleaning her ears, Lea replied, "I'm not sure if these little things are working anymore, because sis has never had a friend, let alone friends."

  Elsyn interjected: "They're real, stop playing guys, this is serious."

  "Sis, answer within two seconds if they are real: how many are they?"

  "Five." Her voice cracked. The image of Gar flashed in her mind.

  "... Four."

  "Five or four make up your—" Before Lea could finish, Corvus placed a cloth over her mouth.

  He realized what Elsyn was talking about. "Do you know where they are being held? Or who's holding them?"

  Elsyn mused for a while, and replied, "I know the insignia their carriage had."

  "That will work. I'll go and inquire. You guys stay here."

  "You don't know what they look like and they don't have much time—those enslavers can sell them any day now... I'm not even sure if they haven't already. I'm coming with you," Elsyn said.

  "Hold on. I can't guarantee your safety if it comes to a fight; don't be reckless."

  "I'll take my chances."

  Lea looked at their exchange in confusion. She had no idea who these imaginary friends were supposed to be, yet somehow they had also been captured and enslaved to boot.

  She planted herself between them and spoke firmly, "What are you two saying? I want answers!"

  Elsyn observed her sister’s adamant eyes that would not take no for an answer. Yet her mind vacillated between telling her or not—between preserving her innocence and preparing her for the world’s cruelty.

  She was torn between her pragmatic instincts and her caring emotions.

  In the end, Elsyn chose truth.

  She described her time with the enslaved children, Lea's rescue, their escape, and even Gar's tragic death. Though she omitted the exact details.

  Each word scraped against her memory as she was forced to relive it. Her heart grew heavy, but her mind eased.

  Lea listened carefully; she did not know how to react or what to feel other than gratitude. She was lucky.

  "Lea, we’re going. You know what to do, right?" Elsyn said.

  Lea felt uneasy. It was the first time her sister had called her by name. She had always wanted her sister’s respect and admiration, but she had not known the cost: responsibility and sacrifice.

  Today, she understood that someday she would have to move forward without anyone holding her hand. Her body shivered.

  Gulping down her anxiety, Lea stepped forward and smiled: "I know, sis. I'm a big girl after all."

  Elsyn patted her sister's head and glanced at Corvus to begin their journey.

  "Sure, let's go but if the mission seems hopeless—we're pulling out. No questions. And I'm in charge," Corvus said.

  Elsyn silently nodded and left the cave.

  Why did I say something obvious like I'm in charge? That's a given—of course I'm in charge.

  Corvus left the cave while waving back at Lea, who responded in kind. But her small hand lingered in the air long after he was gone.