The powers of Fenghuang Down were substantial.
In this world, Sirin was only in a dream - her real life self held in stasis by a being beyond her knowledge. Here, she managed to forget some of her pain. Her memories ebbed and flowed - her mind so deeply wrapped within the dream that when there was a moment of inconsistency or falsehood within it, she couldn't pierce through it. She'd started to love where she was - and in a deeper sense, she began to love who she was.
Her caring mother Cecilia, her silly, but well meaning father, Siegfried - and her irritating and clumsy sibling, Kiana.
She was coming so tantalizingly close to accepting this as her true life - a real chance to be with Bella, Galina, Aurora, Agata...as normal, happy girls. She could feel the solid formation of this reality on the tips of her fingertips.
A loud slamming at her door shook her from the vacillation of memory, and Sirin's brow furrowing, nearly touching her snout. She bundled up tighter in her blanket, knowing darn well this was a Saturday.
Why? Why did this idiotka do this every morning!
"It's TIIIIIIIIME FOR BREAKKKKKFASSSSSSSSSSTTTTTTTTT!~~~" The voice bellowed, slamming and haranging the door, without a hint of stopping until Sirin awoke.
Sirin's brow continued to descend, and she felt like her face was going to melt into itself. Why did she have to be related to a moron?
"Okay, okay! STOP IT KIANA! I'm coming."
Sirin hopped up, her purple hair matted and frayed, the look on her eyes as if she had lost the will to care. Her brow quirked and she extended a finger out towards Kiana, who's blue eyes beamed like a puppy who'd just found its way home.
"MOM IS FIX-"
The finger gently sat on Kiana's lips.
"Waffles. I know, Idiotka."
Kiana's blue eyes traced down to the finger and tears emerged.
"I was just trying to help Sirin….you don't have to be so mean all the time…."
Kiana looked away, dejected. This was the problem with those puppy dog eyes - they could look derpy one moment, and sorrowful and cute the next. Sirin's big sister sense began to flow, and she felt her powers broken down by Kiana's silly, teary eyed look. She inhaled deeply, and exhaled with the same exhaustion.
"I-I know you were. You didn't do bad at it either just -"
Kiana interjected, her expression quickly changing - she was smarter than she looked.
"Yay! You are happy then! Let's go down and get some of those waffles then! C'mon, c'monnnn~!"
Before Sirin could realize she was fooled, she was grabbed by Kiana and bounded down the steps. The way Kiana moved was opposite of Sirin's usual approach - booming, loud, it seemed as if she was willing to ignore that Dad had been working all night, and Mom needed to focus while cooking. No consideration.
But, this was Kiana. She didn't do bad things because she wanted to - she did bad things because she didn't know better. And that is another area where her and Sirin diverged.
Arriving in the kitchen, they were greeted by the smiling face of Cecilia. Wearing a black and silver apron, her long, flowing hair - it's shade the color of fresh snow - drifted down her left shoulder. Her warm glance melted Sirin instantly, erasing her bad mood and replacing it with something else. Sirin wasn't sure it was happiness though.
Kiana's hand still latched tightly to Sirin's and caught in a daze, Sirin couldn't detach herself. She knew what was coming, but preferred to just take her lumps.
"Good Morning Girls!" Cecilia cheered, showing exactly where Kiana got her exuberance from. "You two look so cute holding hands!"
Sirin felt her heart throb, and she let go of Kiana's hand, disgusted with herself.
Their smiles are so pure…
"Ugh! I wasn't trying to! She grabbed a hold of me on the way down and basically kidnapped me! I was trying to sleep in be-"
"Mhmm. And miss out on Belgian Waffles?" Cecilia pondered, her wise tone seeming to slice through Sirin's whining like a lance through the sky.
"No…" Sirin muttered, scooting into her seat.
"Oyyy~ I'm so hungry Sirin!" Kiana cheered, her plate already miraculously empty. It seemed she'd snuck nearly all the waffles off the stove as Sirin and Cecilia spoke, her belly comically full and her blue eyes lazy and content.
"Kiana!" Sirin and Cecilia both shouted, balling their fists simultaneously.
"Well you should have been paying attention hehehe~" She chimed, twirling her fork like she owned the kitchen.
Fortunately, being that these were her daughters, Cecila knew best. She'd already made a few extra, and she slid just one or two onto the plate in front of Sirin, leaving Kiana to only stare at the food in front of her.
"Don't even think about it!" Sirin glared, her eyes turning fiery with the passion of hunger. She poked out her fork and furrowed her brow, threatening to jab Kiana right in the arm if she reached over.
Kiana's arm moved slightly.
"Nyet!" Sirin crossed her fork and knife like a blade, lightning crackling in her eyes.
"Fiiiiinnne…." Kiana pouted, crossing her arms and sinking down in the chair.
"Ziggy won't be home for a bit yet, girls. How do you feel about heading to pick Mommy's weapon up from the Foundry?"
Sirin's eyes widened. A chance to get out of her routine was nice - but she'd always found herself drawn to the Foundry. Kiana too. This was a place where they could try out weapons and pretend they were heroines from those manga.
Sirin felt she could be herself there - a bit more aggressive and forceful, and Kiana could brag and brag about her skill with the weapons there. Inevitably they'd clash - Sirin as the villainess ojou and Kiana as the brave hero, but whether or not the fuchsia haired girl would admit it, she'd rather relish the chance.
"Aw yea! Absolutely!" Sirin yelped, nearly hopping from her seat, before quickly covering her mouth.
W-why am I so happy!?
While Cecilia's face turned into another smile, Kiana inhaled air and puffed her cheeks, stifling a laugh.
"Hahaha! Are you ready to get whacked again? Big sis loves to get a thrashing~" Kiana cawed, snickering to herself, slapping her knee.
A vein popped up in Sirin's head.
"Shut it! We're going on an errand, nothing more! I don't know why you are even thinking about that!"
Kiana smiled a smug grin.
"Oh?"
Further vein popping.
"UGH! Just give me one moment with one of those practice lances and I'll -"
The elder Schariac smiled - it was great to see them bonding. It hadn't always been easy since Sirin was taken into their household.
"Just be careful girls."
She knew they'd spar, it was going to happen no matter what she did. Truth be told, she could have easily gone to get the lance herself. But she wanted to see them together, happy - something she knew was fleeting in a dark world.
Sirin finished her plate, and both her and Kiana rose to put their plates in the sink. It wasn't made easier by the fact that they were locked into a death glare most of the way there, eliciting another chuckle from their mother.
"I'll race you to the door idiotka!" Sirin teased, barely placing her plate before she dashed off.
"Right, I'm already there!" Kiana said, her plate touching the sink in unison.
With that, the girls raced for the door and off to the Foundry - something they always looked forward to.
Each girl had separate ideas of what to do when they reached the Foundry. For Sirin, it was about the chance to get out of the house and sort her mind out - and maybe even cause some trouble. For Kiana, it was a chance to see Mei.
Raiden Mei worked at the Foundry, and was one of its most friendly and accessible employees. She was quick to fill orders and knowledgeable with all kinds of weapons as well. Though none of that mattered to Kiana - the main thing that mattered was spending time around her.
It was clear to Sirin that Kiana had a crush on Mei and the feeling was mutual, though she'd never expect Mei to say that. The girl was professional and studious and treated Kiana as much like a little sister as she could. Still, the interactions could be cringe inducing, so Sirin made a mental note to steer clear of their intimacy.
Sirin's mind wandered as her and Kiana walked down the path from their home, the leaves of autumn rustling at their feet. Sirin thought about the voices in her dreams - the violent thoughts that called her somewhere, to something. She had once thought it was God talking to her, but she tried to push that thought away, as it seemed….ridiculous. Why would God talk to her?
"I wonder what Mei-senpai is up to…." Kiana said aloud, causing Sirin's brow to quirk.
"You always are." She said, crossing her arms, then shrugging smugly.
"I guarantee you when we get in there, she's working with another customer and you'll just rudely interrupt - flinging yourself at her and whining until you get attention~~"
Sirin stuck out her tongue.
"And you know what? That means I win our spar before it even has happened!"
She stopped, crossing her arms again and smirking.
"Grrr! Sirin you don't know a thing! I'm always thinking of Mei-senpai's feelings! I'd never interrupt her work!"
"Except for the fifty other times?"
"W-well! That was because it was a slow day there those days so…..it was clear she needed my help!"
Sirin had mastered the "thonk" expression, and she was sure to use it here. The expression itself was enough, so she moved on, returning to her shrug.
"So, that aside...I win right?"
Kiana's eyes narrowed.
"Pft. I'll tell you what! I'll be all proper around Mei, and you'll commend my manners. Then she'll hand me those blasters and you'll really see something about Kaslana might!"
Sirin shrugged again, her shoulders feeling light and comfortable. Kiana was in some ways her superior, but in other ways Sirin knew she could flex. Conversation just happened to be one. She could poke and prod Kiana all she wanted, and it was a guarantee that the girl would get flustered. Too bad it worked both ways.
"Kaslana might. Heh. Dad told you that myth again? You know he lies all the time right?"
Kiana pouted, stopping to turn and face Sirin, her feet shifting on the crackling leaves.
"Dad wouldn't lie to me! The Kaslana might is real, and that's why you'll get beat to a pulp when we get there!"
Sirin lost her patience in that moment.
"You'd never be able to! Just watch! Ugh, I hate it when you get all full of yourself!"
They were getting ready to get into a squabble, but before anything else could happen, they heard footsteps on the leaves, the crack of the dead foliage sounding at a faster and faster rate. Before they butted heads, they glanced over and their eyes widened a bit, the surprise popping up on their face.
"This isn't very effective training…." the voice said, as both of their eyes rose to meet it.
"Mei-senpa-" Kiana started, breaking with Sirin and wanting to leap for a hug, but remembering Sirin's words she restrained herself.
"Hey Mei." Sirin commented, nodding smugly. "Just teaching my sister something about manners…."
Mei was clothed in a simple black dress, something more akin to an oversized t-shirt than anything else. Mei waved a singular time, smiling, before a question mark populated above her head and she cocked it to the side. "Sirin-chan, Kiana-chan. It really is fine, and no bother at all. I'd gotten a break from the Foundry and decided to deliver Cecilia's Lance free of charge."
Kiana and Sirin looked at one another, a bit confused. Mei usually never got a break from the Foundry, and since she'd left, it'd be much harder for them to duel. They didn't have their weapons after all.
Mei noted the look and smiled, her face gentle and warm.
"We can walk back together you know. I know Cecilia knew you all would want to spar - I can watch and we'll deliver the Lance afterwards."
Kiana's face widened, her azure blue eyes with them. Her heart was begging for hug and she knew the only real way to get it would be to beat up on Sirin a bit.
"Hue hue~ Excellent plan Mei-senpai~" Kiana swiped her finger by her nose, absolutely relieved and confident, putting her hands by her side and guffawing.
"Once I get those guns in my hand, I'll be sure to win~"
Sirin looked at Kiana and then back to Mei, and her eyes lowered.
"Not this time…."
Mei laughed, shifting Cecilia's lance in her hand and nodding back towards the Foundry in the distance. The tall white structure stood out from the forested suburbs around them, indicating a clear entrance into the city. The path there did seem rather empty, and that made it the perfect place for a spar.
Approaching the Foundry, it was clear just what a large structure that it was. There were many labs all strewn about that could be viewed through the numerous glass windows. Workers buzzed around, experimenting, repairing, creating, and equipping various arms. At the ground level, the massive lobby and automated door seemed as if it would swallow whoever approached.
As the girls walked forward, Mei stopped before the entrance and turned around.
"I'll go inside and grab your weapons, just sit tight for a moment."
Mei gently locked Cecilia's weapon in a nearby storage container and disappeared into the massive entrance. Sirin and Kiana almost began conversation, but before their mouths could even part, Mei had returned with another lance and two pistols, their builds generic and plain. Since Sirin and Kiana were not officially licensed in any capacity, training weapons were all they could use, at least until Cecilia enlisted them formally.
"Here you are!" The girl exclaimed, her happiness only met with shock by Sirin and Kiana.
"How…" they said in unison, their voices overlapping as if they were one being.
"I have been working here for years now you two, please don't act as if it'd be some long process for me…"
Mei turned away, nearly blushing as she scuttled over and handed the lance to Sirin and the pistols to Kiana, moving back towards the locker to monitor Cecilia's weapon.
"Mei-senpai is mega efficient…." Kiana said, a blush crossing her face. Her hands locked onto the pistols, and her index fingers hovered delicately near the triggers. As barren and normal as they were, Kiana wielded them as if they were Divine Artifacts, the glance in her eyes shimmering with a fiery passion.
"I'll win Mei's attention today, and Mom will love to hear how I bested you~ I'll force her to pick a favorite!"
She struck a pose, clearly not a trained or formal one, but one she'd adopted from countless shonen she'd viewed.
Sirin groaned. For her, it was different. She wanted Cecilia's attention, sure, but this was more about proving to Kiana who the dominant personality was. Who was stronger, and who had the greater will. Nothing bothered her more than being constantly tested by someone who she thought lacked her innate skills. That, and Kiana was way less annoying when she was defeated - it'd be like getting a day of peace.
Sirin's hand wrapped around the handle of the lance. It felt familiar, yet foreign. She remembered, for brief moments, the words of that God. She couldn't speak them, but she knew they filled her with anger, and with pain. She wondered to herself why those were dreams that Kiana was oblivious to, and why when they gripped their weapons that they were just so different.
She could feel an orange glow coming from the lance. It was normal. But it was also something else. The Kaslana spirit….she didn't have it. So was this the power of God? Sirin's pose was elegant, demure, and sinister.
"Hehe. Right~~ I'll be that favorite, idiotka! Let's just see if you can live up to all that smack talk!"
The yellow light hugged the lance - and a blue one rose to match it in Kiana's pistols. Though there were many people around, only Mei's eyes rose.
She could feel it.
Was this….
Houkai?