She glared at Feliciano through unshed tears. "Why didn't you tell me?!"

Feliciano cringed slightly. "Monika, I've always kept this a secret. I guess it's because I was afraid that you wouldn't trust me if you knew."

"And you think there's any chance that I'll trust you now?" she asked in a tone that cut his heart.

"I… I just wanted to…You just don't understand how hard it is, being what I am!"

She shook her head slowly and walked away.

"So… you're a sorcerer." It was a statement, not a question, and it made Feliciano look up in surprise. Antonio looked back at him and smiled. "Lovi said you saved me from a curse, that makes you a sorcerer, no?"

Feliciano nodded slowly. "Yes… Lovina is as well."

"I thought so… Um…" Antonio scratched his head and Feliciano was glad to see he was strong enough to perform such simple movements. "How do you become a sorcerer anyway?"

"Well, for people like my sister and I, it's something you're born with," Feliciano explained. "Most wizards draw their power from talismans or charms, which is why they have to study a lot more than Lovi or I ever did."

Antonio nodded, stifling a yawn. "I see. So it's natural for you?"

"Yes, very much so. We inherited the power through my mother's side."

Antonio's eyes suddenly became bright with interest. "Hey, do you know if Romulus the Sorcerer was like you? I mean, was he born with all his great powers?"

A nervous laugh escaped Feliciano's throat. "R-Romulus? Why the sudden curiosity?"

Now the invalid looked embarrassed. "I grew up with stories about Romulus, he was my hero. My mother knew the really old stories too, like how he was raised by the Wolf Goddess."

"Wow, not many people remember that," Feliciano murmured. "Well, um… Romulus is my grandfather." He peeked at Antonio, wondering what his reaction would be. The man's eyes went completely round and he turned a shade paler. Perhaps he should have waited until Antonio was better rested…

"That's amazing! Your grandfather is the Romulus! W-wait!" With tremendous effort Antonio finally managed to sit up. "Romulus is thousands of years old! How… how old are you?" he ended his question in an awestruck whisper.

"We stopped counting a couple centuries ago."

The sudden forlorn look that crossed Antonio's face puzzled Feliciano greatly. He watched the smith let himself lean against the headboard, already tired out. His next words came out slow and self deprecating.

"So… Lovina is not only beautiful, brave, and kind… but also an immortal sorceress? The granddaughter of my hero no less."

And suddenly the problem became crystal clear.

"Hey."

The two men turned to look at the doorway. Lovina stood there, hands akimbo and obviously still irritated. "Why aren't you idiots resting?" she demanded.

Feliciano pushed Antonio's romantic problem from his mind for the time being and raised an eyebrow. "What now?"

"Exactly. You-" she pointed to Antonio "are still recovering from a deadly curse and you-" now she pointed at her brother "-spent half the night traveling and the other half counteracting a spell. It's almost dawn. Go to bed, dammit!"

Antonio bit back a chuckle; Lovina showing her true emotions was something to see.

"You're usually not so concerned about my health, sorella. What's changed?" Feliciano asked coyly.

"We're leaving in a few days and I don't want to be carrying you when we do."

Almost unconsciously, her twin's eyes flickered over to look at Antonio. The smith covered his surprise admirably, but the pain caused by this declaration was evident in his eyes.

"Lovi," Antonio choked out, "You took care of that wizard… why must you go?" he was obviously trying very hard to sound casual.

Lovina looked down and grimaced. "Once his superiors realize he won't be coming back, they'll send others to… collect me."

"Who are these people anyway?" Antonio demanded. For a moment both twins were worried he would try and jump out of bed, so angry was his expression.

Feliciano cleared his throat to get his attention. "They call themselves the Order of Romulus, but really they're misguided fanatics. They take babies and brainwash them into their extremist ideas. That's why I know Lovina didn't actually banish that poor fool to Hell," he added slyly. His sister grumbled belligerently and blushed.

Antonio actually laughed aloud… and coughed sharply right after. He wiped his mouth his he sleeve, pushing it up his arm. Something on his wrist caught his eye and he held his arm to the faint light coming in from the window. A circular, rosy red mark could be seen on the inside of his left wrist. "What's this?" he asked.

Looking uncomfortable, Feliciano immediately began apologizing. "It's my fault. I grabbed your wrist when I was trying to get rid of the spell. You see, sorcerers who are born with the gift - like Lovi and I - have their own, individual aura whenever they perform a spell. The color of my aura is red. I'm afraid that mark is permanent."

Antonio shook his head and let his arm fall. "It's fine, it looks like a birthmark anyway." He looked up with interest. "What color is your aura, Lovi?"

She hmphed. "White."

"White… That suits you." He smiled when she blushed harder. A sudden epiphany struck him and his jaw dropped. "W-wait! Gilbert…?"

Lovina understood the question and nodded. "Gilbert was stillborn so I had to use a lot of my power to bring him back. It was enough to stain his skin and hair, I didn't do anything to his eyes though." She sighed in seeming annoyance. "If he'd been a day older it would have been impossible to bring him back like that. She is lenient when it comes to newborns though…"

"She?"

Lovina hummed affirmatively, looking lost in her thoughts. With a sudden intake of breath she snapped out of it and glared at her twin. "Rest up, we leave in two days."

Feliciano nodded, but stopped her as she turned to go. "Lovi, is there anywhere in particular you want to go?" he asked.

"No… Why?" she responded suspiciously.

"Ah… Well, I was thinking maybe we could travel west?"

"What's in the west?"

Feliciano blushed and wouldn't answer.

"Hmm…" Lovina's eyes narrowed as she studied him. "I'll find out you know." Her eyes locked with Antonio's for an unmeasurable moment before she turned stiffly and left yet again.

Feliciano sighed in frustration. His sister could be so difficult sometimes.

Yeah, Feli, what's in the west? X3 Welp, if all goes well the next chapter will be the last!