Sensation

Chapter 2

“Diane, how’s your brother doing these days?”

“He’s doing fine,” Diane replies. Holding out her hand as she accepts the slippery cylinder given to her.

“Thanks, Cana.” 

“No problem.” 

Diane can imagine a sweet smile from her face. A smile that blooms on her beautiful face. She had always liked her. Not just because Cana is a friend of her brother but because she’s kind and sweet. Always taking care of her in place of her brother whenever he goes to work.

“Cana! Tell us something about that thing in the Council.” Cecil butts in. 

“Ah? I can’t. It’s confidential.” Cana replies to the demand. 

“Stop pressuring her, Cecil. You know that working in the Council is a tough job.” A low baritone reprimands what Cecil did.

“Fine, fine. You win. Give me a cup of juice then Sebyl since you’ve ruined my mood.” She demands.

“Yes, yes. Here you go, your HIGH-ness.”

This made Diane smile wider. It’s just another day for them to hang out in the woods near her home. It’s like their own weekly meeting. Their friendly meeting.

Arcana works part-time in the Council since she’s having her final year in the Arts Academy. On the outside, the Academy is a regular place for studying Arts. More like special training for those who want to deepen their creative roots. But deep in the Academy is only for witches and warlocks who’re studying in their special fields.

While Sebyl and Cecil are siblings. Both twins, which are rare for people who have manas and their condition is also rare. Sebyl has zero mana in his body, that’s why he’s not fit to be a warlock. His body somehow rejects mana no matter what he does. But Cecil has excellent mana in her body. A much greater amount than their parents.

Yet she became a cripple after an accident which led her to use a wheelchair and her mana became so little that she’s unable to continue her studies to be a witch. Since then, the twins are inseparable.

“Stop teasing me, doofus!”

“Ow! Ouch! That hurts!”

Diane sips another drink to her cup while hearing the sibling’s brawl. Just like any other day during their time.

“Diane… does your brother not tell you anything these past few days?” Cana asks while taking the cup in her hand and replacing it with a small plate.

“Ah? No…” this made Diane doubt her answer.

Trying to recall everything that happened this past week but nothing came to mind. Diane didn’t even feel that her brother is troubled. This only meant one thing, he became better in hiding things from her.

Since when they were little, Diane could tell whether Theo is hiding something or not. But somehow since she turned eighteen, she felt that he also changed.

He became stricter when it comes to her protection. He even demands more of whatever he likes, he’ll bribe her if Diane won’t budge do his bidding… just like yesterday when it was time for her medicine.

Theo is a good brother; he just became hard to read these past few years. His wall that’s impenetrable to strangers’ crumbles in front of her. Diane knew this… and it made her fear for his future.

“Is that so?” Cana asks, she seems like laughing at something… but what?

Diane couldn’t decipher what Cana is thinking sometimes. She knew that Cana likes her brother… but there’s something that’s been forcing her friend to always stay at the side. Not telling her feelings to her brother.

Diane knew that Cana is the most suitable candidate for Theo. It’s not just because Cana has been taking care of her whenever her brother is working or her friend takes most favors coming from Theo to heart. It’s because Cana understands Theo more than anyone… even herself.

But the problem lies not with this precious woman beside her right now, it’s her brother who’s the problem. It’s like he’s either too devoted in his role as her big brother or he’s just dense as hell.

‘Who wouldn’t like a woman like Cana?’ she thought to herself.

Cana had done many things that Theo had wanted… even being a mother figure towards herself sometimes.

Sometimes she pictures the three of them like one of those families whose parents are busy earning money for their expenses. The father is a workaholic while the mother is doing whatever she’s capable of balancing her work from her duty as a mother to her handicapped daughter.

‘It seemed just like those dramas I hear from Cecil.’

“Why do you ask?” Diane asks. Holding the already stuck out fork sticking from the dessert on the small plate.

“Nothing special.” Cana weirdly says making Diane all the more curious. “I won’t tell if he didn’t say anything to you.”

“Fair enough,” Diane tells her. Deciding to drop it since she knows how stubborn this woman can get, especially when it comes to her brother.

“Hey, hey… that’s enough.” Sebyl interrupts.

“Yeah, yeah… it seemed strained for a second there.” Cecil finishes.

“What are you two talking about? It’s not like that.” Cana says.

“Says the witch who tries to seduce the warlock of every girls’ dreams.” Teases Sebyl.

‘May the dark force be with you.’ Quotes Diane silently in her mind.

Sebyl might be an ordinary human being among them but he’s a troublemaker just like any of their ancestors.

“You wanna die Sebyl? I’ll make your death a little bit quicker right now…” Cana says.

Diane can imagine her pissed off face while Sebly is having a frightening face. This made her giggle.

“Hey, hey… my death sentence is not funny Annie.” Sebyl calls Diane by her childhood name.

“Yeah, yeah… it is, doofus.”

“How so!?”

“You’ll die in the hands of the most beautiful witch, i***t! It’s most warlock’s dream!”

“Well too bad I’m not one of them!”

The twins start to bicker again. Making the said strained atmosphere around them go away

***

In the end, Arcana needed to go to the Council for an emergency. So, the twins have the task to take her home.

“Hey, hey Annie,” Sebyl calls out to her while they walk to the path going to Diane’s home.

“Yeah?”

“Do you truly trust Arcana that much?” he asks.

Diane nods. “Yeah. I trust her, so does Theo.”

“Well, well we don’t trust her much,” Cecil says which shocked her.

“Why would you say so?” she asks. Curious as to why would they not trust one of the most powerful witches among them.

“We just don’t…”

“Well, not when it comes to you.”

Diane did not say anything after that. But it did make her question Cana’s attitude towards her earlier.

It’s like Cana was telling her to burden Theo any longer.

‘Like she’s threatening me…’