I woke up to absolute chaos.
A familiar weight was pressed against my side, warmth seeping through my blankets, while sothing large and scaly was curled around my legs. Soone or sothing was gently shaking my shoulder, their touch hovering between careful and impatient.
"Wake up, darling," a voice cooed. "It's morning."
I grumbled into my pillow, refusing to open my eyes.
A deep sigh.
"Elyzara."
I barely had a second to register who said my na before I was unceremoniously lifted into the air.
"What the—?!"
My eyes flew open just in ti to see my mother, Verania, cradling like a wayward kitten, while Sylvithra stood beside her with a knowing smirk.
"Good morning, little tyrant," Sylvithra greeted, as if I wasn't currently being manhandled.
I blinked. Then blinked again.
"…Why are you two here?" My voice was thick with sleep. "Did soone die?"
Verania chuckled as she set down onto the bed, though she still kept her hands on my shoulders. "Not yet."
[ Concerning answer. ]
Sylvithra sat beside , crossing one leg over the other. "We decided to wake you up personally today."
I frowned. "Why?"
Smaug, who had been happily curled up at my feet, stretched his wings and yawned. "Yeah, why? Usually, it's those two maid girls doing the morning torture routine."
Elira and Mara were nowhere to be seen, which was odd. They were almost always the ones to wake , gently forcing into the cruel reality of existence.
I squinted at my parents.
"…What's the catch?"
Verania feigned innocence. "No catch."
Sylvithra, less subtle, smirked. "We simply wanted to spend ti with you."
[ Also concerning. ]
I stared at them for a long mont. Sothing wasn't right.
But before I could press the issue, a different thought popped into my head one that had been lurking at the back of my mind for years.
One that I had never dared to ask.
Until now.
"…By the way."
Both my parents tilted their heads in perfect sync, like predators sensing movent.
I swallowed.
"How, exactly, did you two…" I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. "…have ?"
Silence.
The entire world seed to stop.
Verania and Sylvithra stared at , their expressions unreadable.
Smaug perked up. "Oh. Oh, this is good."
[ Finally, an important question. Proceed. ]
The air felt heavier.
Sylvithra's lips curled into sothing too sharp to be a smile.
Verania, on the other hand, looked far too pleased.
"Darling," she began, her voice sweet yet ominous, "are you asking how you were born?"
"…Yes."
Sylvithra's smirk widened. "And you're sure you want to know?"
"…Yes?"
Verania sighed dramatically. "Well, it all started when two won loved each other very, very much—"
"NO."
I held up a hand.
"I am not asking for that kind of explanation. I just want to know the technical part."
Sylvithra chuckled. "Ah, so you're curious about the logistics."
"Yes! Exactly! The logistics!"
Verania leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "Well, if that's all you want…"
She paused for effect.
"We stole you."
I froze.
"…What."
Smaug choked on air.
[ Hah. Amazing. ]
Verania shrugged elegantly. "We found a very cute baby and decided to keep it."
I stared at her.
Sylvithra nodded solemnly. "It was quite the heist."
I opened my mouth. Then closed it.
Then opened it again.
"…I don't believe you."
Verania sighed as if disappointed. "A sha."
Sylvithra smirked. "Well, the real answer is—"
She leaned in.
"Magic."
I narrowed my eyes. "That's vague."
Verania waved a hand. "A highly classified spell that allows two people of the sa sex to conceive a child. Only accessible to a select few."
I stared. "That's it?"
Sylvithra nodded. "Yes. That's it."
I waited for them to elaborate.
They did not.
Smaug grumbled. "Boring. I liked the baby heist story better."
[ Agreed. ]
I ran a hand down my face.
"So, let get this straight."
I pointed at Verania. "You're saying that I was born because of so kind of rare, super-secret, highly advanced magical spell that only a handful of people in the world can access?"
Verania smiled. "Exactly."
I turned to Sylvithra. "And you're saying the sa thing?"
Sylvithra inclined her head. "Of course."
I narrowed my eyes.
"…Are you two lying to ?"
Verania placed a hand over her heart, feigning deep offense. "Darling, we would never."
[ They absolutely would. ]
I let out a long, exhausted sigh.
"…Fine."
Sylvithra smiled, pleased. "Good girl."
I leaned back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. "I hate that this actually makes sense."
Verania patted my head. "Now, now. There's nothing to be ashad of."
I grumbled.
Smaug stretched lazily. "So, does that an you can also make another one?"
I choked. "WHAT?!"
Smaug blinked. "What? I was just wondering if they could make you a sibling."
Verania and Sylvithra paused.
Then exchanged a look , a very dangerous look.
"…No," I said imdiately.
Verania tapped her chin. "Actually, that's not a bad idea."
Sylvithra smirked. "Indeed. Elyzara, how do you feel about a younger sibling?"
"Absolutely not."
[ Oh, this is going to be fun. ]
Smaug snickered. "Oh yes, this is definitely happening."
I buried my face in my hands this was a mistake I should have never asked.
This was, without a doubt, the biggest mistake of my life.
And I say that as soone who once willingly rode a group of criminals like horses and nearly blew up an entire training ground by accident.
Because right now, I was facing sothing far, far worse.
A conversation about siblings.
Verania tilted her head, her golden eyes glinting with sothing far too mischievous to be safe.
"A little sibling wouldn't be so bad, would it?" she mused, tapping a finger against her chin.
Sylvithra smirked. "Yes, imagine it, Elyzara. A younger brother or sister to adore you, follow in your footsteps, and worship you like the tyrant you are ant to be."
I stared at them. "Are you being serious right now?"
"Absolutely."
I felt my soul leaving my body.
Smaug, curled up lazily at the foot of my bed, perked up with sudden interest. "Oh? You an you can actually choose to have another one?"
Verania nodded gracefully. "Of course. As we told Elyzara, the magic we used to conceive her is highly advanced. We can control not just the fact that we have a child, but also their gender, their number, and even to a degree, so of their innate traits."
I squinted at them. "…So, you're telling you could have custom-made ?"
Sylvithra chuckled. "If we wanted to."
I let that sink in.
[ That explains a lot. ]
I turned back to them, exhaling slowly. "And now you're considering doing it again."
Verania and Sylvithra exchanged a look.
Then, in perfect synchronization:
"Why not?"
I slamd my face into my hands.
"NO."
Sylvithra raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"
"BECAUSE I SAID SO."
Verania sighed dramatically. "Darling, that is not a real reason."
Smaug snickered. "Oh, this is good."
[ I approve of this developnt. ]
I ignored them.
"I don't want a sibling," I said firmly. "Absolutely not."
Sylvithra leaned in slightly. "Not even if we let you choose?"
I hesitated.
A mistake.
Verania imdiately seized the opportunity.
"Co now, Elyzara. If you had to choose—" she said sweetly, "—would you prefer a younger brother, a younger sister, or…"
She paused, lips curling into a knowing smile.
"…twins?"
I choked.
"…Twins?!"
Sylvithra nodded. "Naturally. If we so desired, we could have two at once."
I felt faint.
I could barely handle myself.
I did NOT need two tiny demons running around at once.
But Verania, of course, was not done tornting .
She sighed, placing a hand over her heart. "We were thinking that perhaps it's ti for another addition to the family. After all, Elyzara, you won't be an only child forever."
"Yes, you've grown so wonderfully," Sylvithra added. "It would be such a sha for us to only have one heir."
I gawked at them.
"…Did you just call an heir?"
Verania blinked. "Well, of course. You're our firstborn."
I stared.
Sylvithra smiled innocently. "Our eldest child."
"No."
"Your future siblings' role model."
"ABSOLUTELY NOT."
Smaug rolled onto his back, laughing.
[ I have never been more entertained. ]
I scowled at them.
"Let get this straight," I said slowly. "You're saying that not only are you serious about having another child, but you also expect to be responsible for them?"
Verania and Sylvithra nodded in perfect unison.
"Of course."
I threw my hands in the air.
"I AM FIVE YEARS OLD."
Sylvithra smirked. "Yes, and quite intelligent for your age."
"NOT THE POINT."
Verania tapped her chin thoughtfully. "A boy would be good. Strong. Dependable."
Sylvithra humd. "But a girl would be elegant. Graceful. Calculated."
"Twins would be perfect," Verania countered. "One of each."
"I AGREE."
"Of course you do, darling."
"No, wait—" I paused.
Then froze and realized what I had just said.
My soul left my body.
Verania and Sylvithra bead.
Smaug snorted. "Oh, you ssed up."
[ Fatal mistake. ]
I pointed an accusing finger at them. "I DIDN'T AN THAT."
Verania tilted her head. "Too late."
Sylvithra smirked. "We're already considering nas."
I let out a silent scream.
This was a disaster , I had walked into a trap , and I had no way out.
"…I hate you both," I muttered.
Verania kissed my forehead. "We love you too, darling."
Sylvithra ruffled my hair. "Now, do you want to help us plan?"
I groaned loudly, falling back onto the bed.
Smaug, still snickering, curled up beside .
"Well," he said, "at least they're giving you a choice."
I glared at him.
"Shut up, Smaug."
He grinned.
[ I can't wait to see how this unfolds. ]
I groaned again.
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