"GOOD MORNING, sis-in-law." Erkhan greeted, making Elise's finger stop between the pages.

"Are we going to practice now?" she asked without glancing up while she tidied up the books, disregarding the teasing way he called her.

"Too bad, beauty. My duty calls and I need to guard some pigheaded prince," Erkhan grumbled.

Her eyes flickered on him and remarked how he was dressed differently than usual. Unlike Aricson who always had a long coat on no matter the occasion, Erkhan had a more laidback look and only wore linen shirts and pants but today his clothes were similar to when she first saw him.

He had silver shoulder armor with matching gauntlets covering the white uniform and a maroon cape draped on his back.

"Then, I guess I'm off to Master Orin." She stood up and grabbed her books.

"Not too fast, sis-in-law. Look, my brothers are here."

Erkhan held her back and spun her in the opposite direction where the most handsome pair of twins walked like they owned the world just based on their countenance. Even the fluttering winds became special effects and it was completed with the background of the castle and lush bushes of flowers.

It was picture-perfect that Elise had to make sure her mouth was not hung open. It didn't seem like she would ever get familiarized with their ethereal features, specifically when the two of them appeared together.

They all exchanged greetings with both Aricson and Brennan's gaze lingering on her. Aricson made her jittery with just a look but Brennan's probing eyes were akin to a predator.

Brennan gave off amicability and was even more approachable than Aricson. He always had a smile yet hid a threatening tone when he spoke to her, making her feel like she was overstepping her bounds.

"Brother, I was just talking to sis-in-law. I'm returning to the palace since the king sent a missive," Erkhan informed his brothers.

"I thought you had a month. It's only been a week," Brennan said.

"Well, I can't argue with the king. Unless Eldest Brother wants to help me."

"I don't want to interfere with your job," Aricson rejected right away.

"Then, since I have no choice, my training with Elise will come to an end. Such a pity that my days surrounded by a beautiful lady will come to an end," Erkhan lamented and grabbed her hand to give her a kiss.

Before his lips could even come close, Aricson pulled her to his side and Erkhan had a shit-eating grin on his face. Brennan's attention focused on her hand which was held tightly by Aricson.

The twins locked their gazes and they seemed to understand each other with just their eyes. 'Or maybe they can talk telepathically?'

"What about you, Brennan? You could train Elise in the meantime," Aricson queried right after letting her hand go.

"I can't help you, Brother. I am going back tomorrow. Why don't you do it since you're excellent at multitasking?" Brennan goaded.

"If that's the case, you can only be stuck with me, my lady." Aricson nudged her and offered his arm.

She did not expect him to answer quickly and it looked like she was not the only one perturbed with his immediate response.

Aricson had clearly been acting weird these days. He was always gentle towards her and indulged her whenever asked. She wanted to negate but she loved it, particularly his smiles and the spontaneous burst of playfulness. Yet at the same instant, she wanted to smack her head to wake up from reality.

Just when she found someone that fit her, it turned out there was no chance. Nonetheless, she rode along with his antic which she had been doing the past couple of days. Mostly because the teasing always stopped when she proved to them that she was unaffected.

"I don't have a choice, do I?" she said and even sighed dramatically.

"Let's go?" He pulled her closer, acting like he was escorting her to dance rather than leading her to the field.

"Who was that?" She heard Brennan ask.

"You haven't seen half of it! All of us here had become a lightbulb," Erkhan fussed.

This time around, it was Erkhan's head she wanted to smack. He was making fun of them again. There was no way the people around them had become third-wheels when she and Aricson always maintained a friendly distance.

"Don't mind them," Aricson muttered, practically leaning on her.

He was exceptionally close and as usual, the rhythm of her heart could not keep up with the proximity. She let go of him at once and proceeded to the field alone.

THEIR SWORD practice had continued as the sun had gradually set and there was no hint of stopping until dewdrops plopped one by one. The field bit by bit turned to a muddy brown except for where she was standing.

It was only a trickle but she did not feel anything. She glimpsed above. There was nothing covering her yet not a single drop of water landed on her. Instead, it glided on an invisible curve atop her head.

She veered towards Aricson and there was no touch of wetness in his clothes.

"Please get rid of this, Aricson," she requested as she reached out her hand to feel the unexpected precipitation.

It was Elise's first time to see a change of weather in Elith and she had always adored the rain.

"Natural rain could cause sickness for Mundrans," he explained as if she was a child.

"I don't care. I want to enjoy it."

He sighed and spoke those unfamiliar words and she felt the first descent of rainwater followed by another. Then another.

She was fluttering around, completely drenched and a memory resurfaced. It seldom rained in their city but when it did, her family would always run back to their yard and play under the gray clouds.

It was the kind of act that was certainly out of character if an acquaintance heard of it. Most people assumed she and her siblings grew up in a typical strict environment to produce such talented individuals but theirs was not a normal home. Her nosy neighbors could attest to that.

She was able to grow up with parents who were family-oriented and completely understood her perks. She and her siblings were showered with love. They accepted them no matter what choices they made.

'Mom. Dad.' She called in her mind, her eyes fixed on the stormy heavens. A gust passed by and made her whole body shiver yet she remained standing stiff.

Her eyes blurred as the droplets of rain mixed with tears, freely flowing down her cheeks and her legs wobbled.

Aricson quickly caught her but she still slid to the ground. His hand glided on her face and he lifted her chin. He was kneeling with one leg in front of her and there was evident worry in his normally calm eyes. He was covering her again from the rain and now only tears were left streaming.

"What's wrong, Elise?"

She gulped the huge lump in her throat as memory after memory reminisced in her mind. It had only been a month since she arrived but knowing she was in an unknown world and no assurance that she would return sent her to another breakdown.

"I... I miss my family." That was all she said after her lips trembled and could not speak anymore, her emotions suffocating her.

Aricson caressed her head while she continued crying. Without any word, he lifted her and they went inside the palace. She let him as she encircled her arms around him and snuggled into his chest. Her pride would not let anyone see her in such a messy state.

They reached her room and he sat on the bed. She was expecting him to lay her there but his arms enveloped her as he settled her on his lap.

"Ferios." 

'The word he was muttering must be Mago.' Elise surmised as she listened. Just like in her world, they have different languages as well. She had tried to study it in her spare time but it was pure gibberish. It had the same letters but there was no structure with proper vowels to produce a comprehensible word. 

Thinking about it, the weight on her chest became heavier. Her mom was always proud because she could study any language but it was difficult for her to do so in this world.

"Are you well now?" Aricson's mumble was a comforting coax to her ears.

"Y-yeah, t-thanks," she mumbled in between hiccups, only noticing that their clothes dried as if it was never been touched by the rain.

"Tell me about it."

She looked at him, confused.

"About your family. Anything. As long as you would stop crying."

Elise's breath hitched. She was contemplating if she should tell him her thoughts or not. This was the only man who truly knew her in this world and deep inside she was beginning to trust him.

"My family and I loved the rain. We always ran out of our house when it rains and we enjoyed those kinds of simple things. I miss them so much, Aricson. I just can't handle thinking I can never see them again. I did not even tell them how much they meant to me. They may not be perfect but they were everything to me..."

With warm hands caressing hers, she started rambling and letting everything go.