The Twin Mage

Arthur and Morgan were so engrossed in their reading that they had forgotten where they were, casting caution to the wind. When Nana caught them red-handed, they startled enough to yelp.

"I thought I knew every rascal in this village, but I fail to recognize these two. What's your name, kid?" Nana said, her voice sharp but tinged with curiosity.

"Arthur. What's yours?" he replied, attempting a disarming smile. Nana, now more curious than annoyed, raised an eyebrow.

"And I'm Morgan," she added, mimicking Arthur's expression.

"Arthur and Morgan? Are you Elyan's little imps? No wonder I didn't recognize you—you were just babies the last time I saw you."

Nana's sudden presence had stilled the room. Some villagers waited impatiently for their turn to speak with her, while others merely watched, intrigued. Elyan sprang up from her chair, eyes wide with worry.

"There's no need to apologize, Elyan," Nana said, waving a hand dismissively. "No harm done. The little imp hasn't damaged the book."

"Yes, Mom, there's no need to apologize," Arthur piped up, hating when adults spoke as if he weren't there. "And I wasn't playing with it—I was reading."

Nana's eyes narrowed. "Reading? Young man, how old are you? Three? If this is a joke, it's not funny. I never took one of Elyan's children for a liar."

"He's not lying," Elyan interjected firmly. "During the last storm, Arthur and Morgan were so bored they asked their father to teach them to read, write, and count. Here's proof." She handed Nana a wooden ruler, a teaching tool crafted by their father.

Morgan glanced at the ruler, surprised at its importance. After a moment, she nodded, recognizing its clever design.

"Tell your husband this is a good idea," Nana said, softening. "He could sell it to Teacher Hawell. Extra money never hurts." But her gaze remained fixed on Arthur, her earlier accusation still hanging in the air.

Nana's pride warred with reason. Insulting Elyan in front of everyone could damage her family's reputation. She sighed, finally relenting.

"So, young man, how much is seven times six?" she asked.

"Forty-two," Arthur answered promptly, a triumphant grin on his face.

Nana raised an eyebrow and flipped through the book he held, stopping at a random page. "Read this aloud, from the top."

Morgan's heart raced as she took the book. With a steady voice, she read, "The first thing to understand while studying magic is that it's just a tool. Anyone can use it, but only a few can wield it properly. In fact…"

"That's enough," Nana said, cutting her off. A small smile, almost imperceptible, tugged at her lips. "I owe you both an apology."

A murmur of surprise spread through the room, and Elyan exhaled, relief washing over her. "It seems your son is indeed blessed by the light," Nana added.

The room buzzed with excitement. Arthur and Morgan's unexpected talent had captivated everyone.

"What does 'blessed by the light' mean? Isn't that just a fairy tale?" someone whispered.

"I wish my son had that kind of smarts," another parent muttered. "Getting him to school every morning is a battle."

Sensing an opportunity, Arthur spoke up. "Can I—I mean, may I borrow this book for a while? I promise I'll return it in perfect condition."

Nana's eyes sharpened. "And what would you do with it? Can you already use magic?"

Morgan's mouth moved faster than her thoughts. "Yes, we can," she said, then winced. 'Idiot! We're in deep now,' she thought.

"Really?" Nana's gaze was both intrigued and skeptical. "And what can you do?"

Morgan hesitated, glancing at Arthur. "I can do wind and water chore magic," she admitted.

"And I can do fire and earth," Arthur added, his voice small but proud.

"I'm sorry, Mom," Morgan said, turning to Elyan. "I know you told us not to learn magic, but everyone else in the house uses it, and we were so bored."

The crowd's whispers grew louder. Elyan's anger was palpable, but she held her tongue, knowing that scolding them now would shatter this moment of admiration.

'If Nana sees their potential, she might offer them an apprenticeship,' Elyan thought. 'This could be their chance.'

"Would you show me?" Nana asked, her tone gentle. For the first time, she smiled, and it was genuine.

"In for a penny, in for a pound," Arthur thought. With a deep breath, he raised his hands. "Brezza!" Tiny whirlwinds swirled around his fingers, sweeping the floor clean in playful loops. Morgan joined in, controlling the wind so it seemed to slip out of their grasp now and then—just enough to awe, not alarm.

Nana's laughter rang out, rich and surprised. "You're just like me when I was your age," she said. "A precocious little thing."

Most men in the room watched with grudging admiration; women's connection to mana was better understood, but Arthur's talents were rare.

"Now," Nana said, eyes twinkling, "show me your water magic. But don't let it fall." She demonstrated, conjuring a flawless sphere of water that hovered in mid-air.

"Jorun!" Morgan called out. A small, wavering sphere of water appeared and trembled in place. It looked ready to collapse but instead circled Nana's water sphere, shimmering with light and rainbow hues. Arthur and Morgan's eyes widened with awe.

"Arthur, Morgan, are you alright?" Elyan's voice broke their trance.

"Yes, Mommy," they said, wiping away the emotion that had welled up unbidden. "The old lady's magic just moved me."

"Why do they call you Nana?" someone in the crowd asked.

"When I was younger, children called me Mama," Nana explained. "But as they grew and had children of their own, I became Nana." She ruffled Arthur's hair.

Turning serious, she addressed the children. "I have a proposal. When you turn six, instead of going to school, come here. Read, learn, and master a trade."

Arthur tilted his head. "I don't know. You don't seem that nice. But I do like the books." He peeked out from behind Elyan, half-smiling.

Elyan's eyes filled with a mix of exasperation and pride. Arthur had no idea what he might be turning down.

"Please, forgive him, Nana," Elyan said. "They're only three. They don't yet understand what an apprenticeship means