After sleeping in Kyra's room, I returned to my own to find Eskame sitting on my bed. The little girl puffed her cheeks out angrily as she stared at me. Her eyes narrowed as her tail fluffed out in agitation.

  "Eskame, what's wrong?" I asked gently, trying to sound soothing. My voice seemed to have the opposite effect, however, because it only made her scowl darker.

  "You said we'd py!" Eskame huffed.

  "I did say we'd py, didn't I?" I replied, as Eskame's fluffed tail kept twitching in frustration. "But, it's only been a day. I needed time to rest. We can py today though. I was thinking about going hunting for mushrooms in the forest. That'll be fun won't it? Do you want to join me?"

  Eskame's expression didn't change, but her tail stopped twitching as she considered the offer. Her eyes narrowed further, and she crossed her arms over her chest, her small fists clenched tightly as she gred at me. "How are mushrooms fun?"

  "Well," I began, trying to think of a convincing expnation. "Mushrooms are hidden all over the forest. But they can be hard to spot, and there are many different kinds. We could compete to see which of us can find the most? Extra points for having the most variety."

  Eskame's gre didn't waver, but her crossed arms rexed a bit as she considered the competition. Her narrowed eyes still seemed to hold a hint of skepticism, but her tail, which had stopped fluffing out in agitation, began to twitch again slightly.

  "Big Sis," Eskame grumbled, her voice still tight with frustration. "Will you be happy if we get a bunch of mushrooms?"

  I smiled, taking a step closer to Eskame. I'd often wondered what it would be like to have a younger sibling, and now that she was here, I couldn't help but feel happy to have her. Even Eskame's angry scowl was endearing to me, and I found myself wondering if it was normal for an older sibling to find their younger sibling's upset expressions so charming.

  "I'll be very happy," I said, my smile broadening. "I really need a bunch of mushrooms for an experiment I'm doing. But don't eat any of them okay! Not until we've had Lulu or Harriette tell us they're safe."

  Eskame's gre softened slightly at my expnation, but her arms remained crossed over her chest. She looked up at me skeptically, still trying to determine if I was genuine in my enthusiasm for the mushroom hunt. I could see the wheels turning in her mind as she considered joining me.

  "Okay," Eskame said finally, her voice a little softer. "I'll find lots of mushrooms, and then you'll have to cuddle me and pat my head!"

  A sense of joy washed over me as I watched Eskame's little scowl break down. I could hardly contain a ugh as I broke out in a broad smile. "Those are some heavy terms, but I think I can live with them." I held out my arms for Eskame to come closer.

  Hoping off of my bed, Eskame cautiously approached me. Before she could pull away I wrapped my arms around her, giving her a gentle squeeze. "I think we have a deal," I said, giggling as Eskame's little tail began to wag happily behind her.

  As I held Eskame close I felt her tiny body rex into my arms. Gently rubbing her back I whispered softly into her ear. "You know, I'm really happy you're here to help me. I was a little sad when mom said she couldn't be with me."

  Eskame's little body stiffened slightly as she heard my whisper, but her wagging tail didn't stop. She looked up at me with a curious expression, her eyes wide and questioning. "Why can't mommy be with you?"

  "Apparently my soul hasn't harmonized. I'm not supposed to be around any of the primordials." Honestly, I wasn't even sure why it was okay for me to be around Eskame, when I couldn't be around our mothers. Was there some trick they'd done to ensure her magic wouldn't harm me? I was full of questions, but I had no one to ask for the answers.

  If I was in danger because the primordials weren't supposed to have children, was Eskame not also in danger? I kept wondering why they'd sent her to me. One of our mothers had told her to protect me, but that didn't feel right. What kind of big sister would I be if I allowed my little sister to risk her life on my behalf?

  As I held Eskame close, trying to process my thoughts, she looked up at me with a mixture of confusion and concern on her face. Her wagging tail had stopped, and she leaned back slightly in my arms.

  "Big Sis," Eskame said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're sad. What's wrong?"

  I took a deep breath, debating what I could even tell her. It wasn't right to worry a child over something outside her control. But, what if Zrysa and Laurnaja had already told her? If Eskame knew she was supposed to protect me, had they already told her who she would be protecting me from?

  Before I could say anything Eskame's eyes began to well up with tears. "Big Sis," she said, her voice trembling. "Don't be sad. I'm here to help you. I promise I'll find tons of mushrooms! I'll make you happy!"

  Seeing Eskame's little face scrunched up with worry, with tears in her eyes, pained me. Forcing myself to smile I gently mussed her hair. "You already make me very happy. Now come on, let's go get Harriette and then start hunting for those mushrooms, okay?"

  We walked out of my room, Eskame skipping ahead of me. We found Harriette in Otrea's study, engrossed in a book. "Harriette! Eskame and I are going mushroom hunting. Can you come with us?"

  "Mushroom hunting?" Harriette raised a brow as she considered what I'd said. "If you're that full of energy, you really should be continuing to practice your magic. We don't have a lot of time. Lady Otrea is counting on you."

  Eskame's expression darkened, her tail fluffing out in agitation once again. "No! Big Sis is going to py with me! We're going mushroom hunting! Don't be a big meanie!" To add emphasis Eskame stomped angrily on the floor, as if daring Harriette to get in her way.

  I pced a gentle hand on Eskame's shoulder, trying to calm her down. "Hey, Eskame, Harriette just wants to help. It's not that she doesn't want to py, but—"

  Before I could finish speaking, Harriette interrupted me. "Actually, I think I will join you on this mushroom hunt. Though the healing spell is important, it is also important for the two of you to deepen your bond. Forgive me for losing sight of that for a moment. The gods wouldn't have sent Eskame to you if her presence here wasn't important for the future."

  "Really? You'll come with us?" Eskame's face lit up at Harriette's words, her excitement now contagious as it spread to me. We all shared a smile as the tension between us dissipated. Little kids' could really shift between moods so easily.

  Harriette nodded. "Yes, really."

  As we stepped into the forest I felt my mood brighten further as the warm sun shone down upon us. The air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers. At some point, though I couldn't pinpoint when, this pce had become home. I almost chuckled when I thought about how terrified I'd been when I first woke up in these woods.

  Skipping ahead, Eskame's tail wagged excitedly as she searched for mushrooms. I followed close behind, ughing at her antics. I wasn't certain she even knew what a mushroom was, but she was certainly enthusiastic about finding it.

  "I found one!" Eskame shouted twirling around with a big toothy grin. I looked down at the spot she'd found and gasped. Sure enough, Eskame had found what appeared to be a mushroom, though not one I'd ever seen. It was a sickening shade of green, and glowed with a soft iridescence.

  Ready to cim her find, Eskame reached out to touch the mushroom. Before she could y a finger on it, however, Harriette grabbed her arm. "Wait, Eskame! That one's not safe." Harriette excimed trying to pull my little sister away from the glowing shroom.

  Eskame looked up at Harriette, her face scrunched up in frustration. "Fine! But you better count it! I found it, I get a point!"

  "I'll count it," I ughed, shaking my head at Eskame's silliness. "But don't go picking the bad ones. I need only good mushrooms, okay?"

  "Okay," Eskame nodded and Harriette released her arm. Together we continued our search, finally locating some mushrooms I could actually recognize. These, Harriette confirmed, were edible. Furthering my suspicion that much of this world's flora was simir to what could be found on Earth.

  As we continued our search into the denser parts of the forest, I started to feel an uneasy prickling on the back of my neck. The sensation was like a gentle, insistent buzzing, slowly growing in intensity. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched. Though neither Harriette or Eskame seemed to notice anything was amiss.

  My ears twitched as I strained to listen for anything unusual around us, but the sounds of the forest seemed to mock me. Birds chirped in the distance, leaves rustled in the breeze. Had Zaserdizar found us already? I shook myself free of the thought, no one with the power of a god would skulk around after their prey.

  With no reason to believe Zaserdizar was following us, my thoughts shifted to the other horror living within the woods—Theodora. The giant hairy spider that lurked somewhere within the woods was Otrea's pet. I trembled at the thought of it coming out to greet us. How exactly could a spider know friend from food? Would Harriette be able to protect us from it?

  But there was no sign of Theodora either. No giant webs stretched across the forest floor, no threads glistening amongst the trees. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts. It was irrational, I told myself. After everything I'd been told, I was on edge. I hated having an enemy I couldn't predict.

  As I continued to scan the forest floor for any signs of danger, Eskame squealed. Jolting in terror I looked up at her, only to find her chasing a butterfly down the trail.

  "Look, Big Sis!" Eskame excimed, her eyes wide with excitement. "It's so pretty! I want to catch it!"

  I smiled as I watched Eskame's attempts to capture the butterfly. She was so focused on her mission that she didn't even notice when Harriette quietly picked a few more mushrooms for our collection.

  "You should let it be," I giggled. "Butterflies aren't meant to be caught."

  Eskame's face fell, but only for a moment. Then her eyes lit up with a new idea. "Ooh! Maybe I can make butterflies!"

  The decration left me stunned. I'd already seen Eskame cast magic I didn't know. Despite being younger than me she was already far more powerful. How she'd obtained such power I didn't know. I was almost envious of her. It was as if she'd been born with all the knowledge in the world, while I was forced to study for every little thing.

  The stones on Eskame's bracelet began to flow as she waved her hands in the air. "Big sis! Watch me!" A shimmering silver-gold light began to emanate from Eskame's fingers. The air began to hum with power and suddenly a delicate golden butterfly emerged.

  "You really did it," I couldn't believe my eyes. Eskame hadn't chanted a single word, but she'd used intricate magic. How was that possible?

  "I made one! Isn't it pretty, Big Sis?" Eskame beamed with pride, her eyes shining with excitement.

  "Those bracelets," Harriette held her chin as she looked at Eskame in consternation. "They're a relic. I believe they impart the caster's will on primal magic in the air, creating phenomena without the need to speak a spell."

  As I watched the golden butterfly flutter around Eskame's head, I felt a surge of curiosity. I had so many questions about Eskame's abilities, but one thing in particur caught my attention.

  "Harriette," I asked, wandering over to her so I could whisper into her ear. "If I were to borrow those bracelets, could I use magic just like her?"

  "I don't believe so," Harriette shook her head, continuing to watch Eskame py with her summoned butterfly. "Casting spells without an incantation is possible for magic you've used repeatedly, but it requires precision. These bracelets, they remove some of the need to be precise, but you'd still need to exert some level of control. I'm unsure of the mechanism, but I believe there is more to Eskame's abilities than just the relics she wears."

  Once Eskame had her fill of pying with the golden butterfly, she dismissed it and we continued our hunt. We found several varieties of mushrooms before I once again began to feel as if I was being watched.

  Turning to gaze at the shadows beyond the tree line, I finally decided to tell Harriette what I'd been feeling. In response, she just chuckled.

  "I'm telling you, Harriette," I said, my voice low and serious. "I feel like we're being watched. It's not just a feeling, it's a presence. Something is out there."

  "Something is indeed out there," Harriette grinned. "Come on out Lulu, you've been spotted."

  A figure emerged from the shadows. Sure enough, it was Lulu. With an awkward smile she ran over to us, her eyes fixed on me like a predator stalking its prey. "Bunny!"

  "Is it just me," I started, barely avoiding getting tackled by Lulu. "Or is she bigger than she was yesterday?" Though Lulu was no taller than when I'd st saw her, a certain part of her anatomy had definitely ballooned in size.

  I'm not jealous, those things probably hurt her back! I grumbled internally as I watched Lulu's breasts sway with every movement.

  "No, don't run away!" Lulu shouted, finally catching me in her embrace. My body heated as her gluttonous chest swallowed my arm between its mounds. "I missed you!"

  Eskame grumbled, stomping her feet. "Big Sis! Who is this yucky pnt dy?! Can I blow her up?"

  tried to wriggle free from Lulu's grasp, feeling a mix of embarrassment and discomfort. "Uh, hi Lulu," I said, attempting to disentangle myself. "This is a friend of mine, Eskame. I know she's a bit... much... but please don't blow her up."

  Harriette chuckled and intervened, "Come on Lulu, Bernice is spending time with her sister, let her go."

  Lulu finally released her grip and took a step back. Her eyes, fixed on me with an intensity that made me squirm. "Sister? The little fox-eared one is Bunny's sister?"

  Eskame, who had been scowling at Lulu since the moment she appeared, stomped her foot again. "I'm Eskame! And Big Sis is pying with me. Go home yucky dy!"

  Lulu's face fell as she looked at Eskame, but then a sly grin spread across her face. "Oh? I thought I felt Bunny's aether in the air, but it was you?! What a delicious little fox."

  "Don't touch her, please," I could hardly contain my scowl. Even if Lulu didn't mean anything untoward, the thought of a naked dryad cuddling a child set off all sorts of arm bells in my brain.

  Harriette stepped forward, pcing a gentle hand on Lulu's arm. "From your appearance, it's clear you've overindulged in aether, Lulu. I believe you should refrain from any more until Bernice is ready to train again. Lady Otrea would be displeased if you grew any rger than you are now."

  Lulu's grin faltered, and she looked at Harriette with a mixture of disappointment and uncertainty. "Master would be unhappy?"

  "She would be. Even if you can turn Bernice's aether into your own strength, there are limits. Any more and you'll get sick. Lady Otrea would be quite cross if she had to come home and waste time nursing you back to health."

  "Understood." Lulu nodded, seeming to accept Harriette's expnation. Her expression then turned sorrowful as she looked at me. "I'm sorry Bunny, I don't think I'll be able to cuddle you today."

  I could hardly contain a sigh of relief as Lulu backed away. Eskame, still scowling, seemed to rex slightly as Lulu increased the distance between us.

  "That's fine," I said, trying to sound nonchant. "We've got lots more mushrooms to find. So that I can try to make coffee out of them ter."

  Eskame's face lit up at my words, and she turned to me with a grin. "Yeah! Big Sis promised to cuddle me if I found lots of mushrooms!"

  "I did," I giggled and ruffled Eskame's hair.

  Harriette smiled at the sight of us, while Lulu looked as if she was about to cry. The sight of her pulled at my heart strings, but I couldn't let her continue rubbing up on me unprovoked. I was dating Kyra now. The st thing I needed was to expin why I'd let Lulu have her way with me.

  "I'll leave you alone then," Lulu pouted. "Sorry for interrupting."

  I watched as Lulu backed away, her eyes welling up with tears. Harriette pced a gentle hand on my shoulder and whispered, "Don't worry, Bernice. She'll bounce back. A bit of a diet will be good for her."

  Nodding, I tried to contain myself, despite the guilt eating me away from the inside. Thankfully, Eskame was completely unbothered by Lulu's departure. Turning to me with a big grin she threw up her hands in celebration. "Let's go find more mushrooms now!"

  "Big Sis?" Eskame looked up at me curiously as we traveled further into the forest. "Why was that yucky dy hugging you?"

  "Well, Lulu is a dryad who lives in the forest. She feeds off of the aether we release when we cast magic. Because of that, she likes to be around me. But sometimes she can get a bit... overzealous."

  Eskame's face scrunched up in confusion, "Overzealous? What does that mean?"

  I giggled and ruffled Eskame's hair again. "It means she likes to get too close for comfort. Even when I'd prefer she didn't."

  As the sun began to set, casting a warm orange glow over the forest, Harriette suggested we head back home. I agreed, feeling grateful for the opportunity to spend so much quality time with Eskame, my adorable little sister. It had been just one day since her arrival, and yet it already felt as if we were a real family. One with a bond deeper than just our mothers' need to protect me.

  Cossimeri