—Good afternoon! What will your order be? —the cashier greeted with practiced kindness.

  —Oh… yeah… hmph… everything looks incredible… —Seiyi murmured, overwhelmed by the holographic menu.

  —A Wind Box with wedge fries! —Miyu interrupted, raising her hand with the excitement of someone who hadn't eaten in years.

  —Very well! Would you like to add our seasonal drink, the “SpectDrink,” to the combo? —the cashier asked with an automatic smile.

  Seiyi looked with suspicion at the can's design, saturated with colorful propaganda and flags.

  ?Why are they putting this on a drink for kids? Are they insane??, he thought with his usual cynicism.

  —We have a special discount! —the girl insisted—. For Pride Week, if you order the Spectre combo, we’ll give you an extra burger for free. Would you like to add it?

  Seiyi went silent for a second. His principles fought against his stomach.

  ?Free?... dammit.?

  —... Yeah, give me the combo —he yielded, defeated by hunger.

  A few minutes later, already seated, Miyu looked radiant with her Wind Box in her hands. Seiyi, resigned, set the tray on the table and opened his burger, which was decorated with flags and colored bread.

  —Ksk… I’d do anything for free food…

  —Enjoy it! It’s very brave of you to come out like that —Miyu teased, letting out a laugh.

  Miyu pulled the toy out of her box: a replica of Wind-Breaker’s wand. It was pink and made of plastic, but as she waved it, Seiyi noticed a trace of magic essence. A light gust of wind messed up his bangs.

  —Well? —Miyu asked, aiming another playful gust at him—. What’s wrong? You haven't even taken a bite of your burger yet.

  —I’m not hungry; the basilisk left me full. I only wanted the toy.

  She tucked the box into her backpack and pointed the wand at her brother again, making the air mess up his hair even more.

  —Hey, aren't you going to talk about what we saw? —Miyu asked, resting her palm on her chin.

  —The runes?

  —Yes! Didn't it seem strange to you? Maybe there are more people who know Gronk’tar.

  —I thought about it, but I have no idea. Even if I search, there’s nothing related; it was most likely a joke. Besides, we can't go around asking people when we know no one else speaks the language.

  —Pff… you’re right. Though I don't understand why Mom won’t let us talk about it. I could show Ana that I know more than her!

  —No clue. But I don't care right now. Even if I don't like the design… this thing is delicious —Seiyi replied, taking another bite.

  Miyu began to spin her toy wand distractedly.

  —Hey, did you know I almost revealed it today?

  —Huh? Revealed what?

  —A woman with red marks on her eyes was carrying books, and I said out loud that they meant “Master.” She looked at me weird… really weird. As if she didn't expect anyone to be able to read the runes.

  —A woman with Master books? —Seiyi repeated, swallowing quickly—. Was she a principal?

  —No. I’d never seen her before. But she was carrying several books. Is that bad?

  —It’s not normal. Teachers are only allowed to have one, and the guards watch them. She was carrying more than one?

  —I think so… do you think she was a thief?

  —I don't think so, unless she bypassed security. Only one group would do that and be interested…

  —What group?

  —Do you really not know? The enemies of the F.O.W.: the Legion of Mages.

  —Oh… are they very bad? I barely find any information about them.

  —Yeah… it's not like there's much out there. I can only see incidents that happened because of them, and the last one was over five months ago.

  —Hmph… I wonder if the mages know about book absorption…

  —No idea. Although, speaking of mages, while searching the internet I found images of a raid on an Aether shipment; it’s from about three years ago…

  —Ah, so what? —Miyu asked, grabbing a fry from her brother’s combo.

  —Well, in that photo, you could see a phoenix accompanying a mage. It’s curious—that phoenix looked almost like the ones on the internet; it was giant —Seiyi replied, taking a sip of his soda.

  —Oh, do you think it’s related?

  —You know, it’s not impossible. They steal books and destroy places controlled by the F.O.W. They’re like terrorists!

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  —So… it could be that…

  —Yeah… the mages will come out of the rune and kill us all! —Seiyi replied, raising his hands with his dirty fingers.

  —Seriously?! —Miyu responded, worked up.

  —Haha, of course not. It was probably just someone's joke. It’s impossible for summoning spells like that to come out of those runes; the mage would have to be too close or have something connecting him to his channeling object. There was nothing under the table… —Seiyi replied, putting his logic above all else.

  —You dummy! Don't scare me like that…

  Miyu looked down, uneasy.

  —Hey… if I want to be a great mage, does that mean I’m going to be evil like them?

  —Hahaha, no. There’s a difference.

  —But if I use magic, I’m a mage, right?

  —Sometimes I wonder how you get better grades than I do…

  —Hey! —Miyu retorted.

  —Fine, fine… being a mage is learning from scratch. Being a sorcerer is being born with the talent—something like you. Those in the Legion are sorcerers.

  —Then… why are they called mages?

  —Habit. They wear robes, wands… old fashion from like 100 years ago.

  —Still, I love mages. Like Wind-Breaker.

  —Whatever you say. The most powerful mages will always be from the F.O.W., like our dad —Seiyi laughed.

  But the mention of their father erased Miyu's smile. She stared at the pink plastic wand with deep sadness.

  —Sei… Dad was excited for us to be like him, right?

  —Well, at first he didn't want us anywhere near the F.O.W., but I guess he changed his mind after seeing us so determined.

  —Yeah… determined. You have a clear goal, Sei. It makes me happy to see you working so hard.

  —Erm… thanks? —Seiyi murmured, noticing that the spark in his sister's eyes was fading.

  —Is my happiness really based on that? —she asked, and her lips began to tremble.

  Seiyi dropped his burger; it seemed his sister was struggling to say something.

  —Everyone wants something. Ana wants to be an artist, my friends wanted to be engineers, you want to be in the F.O.W…

  —But… you want it too, don't you? —Seiyi asked, somewhat confused.

  —That’s the problem, Sei… I don't know what I want anymore… I realized that even if I like magic, my dreams were always based on what you wanted. At first, it was just to annoy you, but in the end, I realized I needed you more than anything… —Miyu replied, her voice cracking even more.

  —Hey… that’s not true. You even stand out more than I do in everything. That’s why we’re doing everything together, like we said.

  —I don't mind helping you, dummy… but as more time passes, the less satisfied I feel with… everything… —Miyu murmured, looking out the window.

  Seiyi just listened, pushing the burger out of his sight.

  —Staying in Japan, doing what I want, doesn't make me happy without you, but… studying here, with you, doesn't change my mood either… Wasn't it supposed to be different? —Miyu asked, clenching her fists on the table.

  Though he could only swallow hard and listen in silence, Seiyi tried to touch Miyu's hand to calm her nerves, but she kept talking.

  —I’m a dummy! Dummy! Dummy! —Miyu repeated, hitting the table.

  Suddenly, gusts of air began to shake the napkins on the nearby tables. The toy wand was vibrating, expelling what little essence it had due to Miyu’s emotional instability.

  —Miyu… please…

  —So… what do I actually want? If I'm not satisfied with anything… is it my fault? Is it Dad’s? Why am I like this?! Dummy! Dummy! —she kept repeating, her eyes getting watery.

  —Stop! —Seiyi shouted, looking around at the scene they were causing.

  —I know! I do it to see you happy! That must be the reason! Maybe it’s not my problem! It’s that… I’m too nice of a person! I lied to you, Seiyi! We can keep studying in…

  At that, Seiyi grabbed her arm, trying to soothe the pressure she was hiding. Noticing her surroundings, Miyu calmed her panic; though as she looked at her brother's face, she saw how he pressed his lips together, as if hearing those words hurt him.

  —I… sorry… —Miyu replied, recomposing herself—. Forget this! We’ll be the best… We’ll do everything tog—!

  She didn't finish the sentence. Seiyi had understood everything from those few words: the way she almost didn't talk to anyone, the reason Miyu preferred to stay home even if people reached out… A small puzzle had formed in Seiyi’s head. Though he didn't fully understand what was going through her mind, he knew what he had to do.

  —You know… after all, Japan has good schools too, you know? —Seiyi replied, offering a small smile.

  Hearing his words, Miyu only sat in embarrassment, trying to sort out her emotions.

  —That doesn't matter! Heh… we can just keep going like nothing happened!

  —No… I tried to ignore it, but I think you’re right. What would you actually like to be? —Seiyi asked, still confused because he knew that, in the past, she had agreed to come with him.

  —I don't know… I wanted to be in the F.O.W., my dad was in it, but seeing what they did to people, I don't know… though I could try if—

  —Say what you want to be, not what Dad or I want —Seiyi replied with a somewhat authoritative tone.

  —I…

  —You must have something you like. Try thinking about professions.

  —I… I’m sorry, I don't know… —Miyu replied with her eyes on the floor.

  —Miyu…

  —After what happened today, with that evil cyclops… I don't know if I want to stay here anymore. I’m only motivated by seeing the dogs on our street again, or the stupid neighbors who played music…

  The restaurant fell into an overwhelming silence. The neon colors of MysticBurgers kept flickering, indifferent, while the people around them talked behind their backs. Seiyi couldn't believe what he was hearing. The same sister who always encouraged him, who made him laugh even on the worst days… now she seemed empty. Perhaps, he thought with a knot in his chest, the dream they shared was never really shared. Perhaps Miyu only followed him because she didn't want to be left alone.

  Seiyi stood up from his seat and, with a firm but serene voice, said:

  —Let’s go home.

  Miyu looked at him with empty eyes, dimmed by doubt. However, after a moment, she reached out and took her brother's hand.

  They left the restaurant without looking back, leaving behind the smell of fries and the murmur of customers. Outside, the sun was beginning to set. The bus moved with a soft rattle. Seiyi watched his sister in silence; her gaze was lost, empty, as if the world no longer managed to spark her curiosity. Trying to coax one last smile from her, he took the pink wand and waved it. A small whirlwind messed up Miyu’s hair, and she let out a timid laugh.

  —Hey… —Seiyi said, looking out the window—. How about we get out of here?

  —Huh? —Miyu watched him with a hint of doubt.

  —Let’s go back to Japan. We can tell Mom the school isn't working out.

  —But… what about you? Mom says this is the best school to get into the F.O.W.

  —I can be in the F.O.W. in another country. —He smiled, trying to sound convinced—. I’ll just have to work a little harder.

  —I… I don't know… —she murmured, looking down.

  —Don't worry about me. I’ll talk to the school. Maybe tomorrow I can mention it to the teachers. It’s still the beginning of the semester; I don't think they’ll care too much, I promise…

  —Sei… you don't have to… —Miyu whispered.

  —I do… if my dummy sister isn't happy, I’ll try to find something that stops her from feeling this way. Though you should start by not eating so much —Seiyi countered, trying to joke.

  —Ha… maybe I can work as a professional eater!

  —See? Not that hard.

  A small silence filled the bus as Miyu rested her head on her brother.

  —Hey… thanks… really.

  —I owed you a favor; you encouraged me before. I don't want to stay in debt to a kid like you.

  But before she could respond with her usual attitude, Miyu fell asleep on his shoulder, resting her mind and the thoughts she carried within. Seiyi watched her for a moment with a slight smile.

  ?She always falls asleep right away… she only followed me here. I don't even know if she actually likes this. I need to worry more about what she needs… Besides, this school isn't all that incredible. Maybe I should just come back for university.?

  The bus continued its way, disappearing into the evening mist, while Seiyi thought in silence about how to resolve it in the days to come.