“Don't get so excited, I'm going to let you see the letter, but first, what do we o do?”

  The way and tone Ki used to ask me was the kind that adults use to talk to young children. While it still felt strao be treated that way, there was nothing I could do because I WAS a three-year-old girl.

  Did I ever mention I'm 3 years old? Hehehe!

  Anyway, I had no choice but to py along. Besides, I o keep up my act, for some reason, Ki sometimes looked at me with suspi when I didn't act as expected of a girl my age.

  “Finish the lesson.” I finally replied.

  “Hmm, good girl. So.” After leaving the letter there, Ki returo the desk, picked up a stack of papers, auro her inal position. “Let's go over the months.”

  The months in this world were named after several of the Pilrs, separated into groups acc to the length of each season, 2 for spring, 4 for summer, 2 for autumn, and 4 for winter. It should be hat, in this world, the year begins in spring and ends in winter.

  Ki brought up the first image, ohat represented spring in its full splendor, along with several rays of light desding from a cloudless sky illuminating the entire ndscape.

  “Alirys, Pilr Alika” I stated fidently. The first month represented Alika, the Pilr of life and light, very mu keeping with spring.

  “Very good Nita. Now the one.” Ki left the first image on the desk and showed me the sed one. In this ohere was a new field, with crops this time, some animals walking around the pce with their young, and fruit trees full of colorful flowers. Likewise, easy, so I answered immediately.

  “Manarys, Pilr Mara.” Mara, the Pilr of agriculture aility. I remembered once seeing an artistic representation of this goddess and, to some extent, she reminded me a bit of Demeter, the Greek goddess who shared the same domains as Mara.

  The resembnce was so great that Mara was also depicted wearing a white dress, very simir to a Greek chiton, and holding something very simir to wheat or barley. The big difference is that Mara had a lot of dirt on her hands, clothes, and face, and she also usually carried a hoe on her shoulder to work the nd.

  “Excellent. Now we'll go faster.” Ki pulled up the image. This time it ortrayal of a lush forest, with luscious greenery, trees full of beautiful leaves, and some small animals scampering about. A person, off to the side with a bow and arrow ready to hunt down one of the unwary animals.

  “Hals... Hell... Halras! Pilr, Hari” I said, trying very hard to remember its pronunciation. That first part of the name sometimes be pronounced as “Hell” or even “Hill” but that's because of certain dialects. Ki had taught me, I guess to keep it in mind, but that very faded up fusing me when it came to remembering it. Back to Hari, she is the Pilr of Beasts and Hunting, and it is this month that summer starts.

  “.” So said Ki, as we quickly went through each of the months and their representations.

  Fourth month, Riora, for Riodr, Pilr of the sea, rivers and kes. Fifth month, Ashnir, for Ashana, Pilr of prote, justice, and ce. The sixth month, Eldaris, for Eldelgard, Pilr of Fire and War, and the month in which summer ends.

  The seventh month marks the beginning of autumn with Galntar, fana, the Pilr of nature ah, and the eighth month, Num?ran for Numa, the Pilr of motherhood and sexuality.

  For some reason I don't uand, they had no problem telling me about that domain, but they seemed to have problems talking about sexuality itself... sometimes I don't uand them. They are open about some subjects that in my old world were taboo, but for others, they are not...

  Finally, winter begins in the ninth month with an old acquaintance. Obaniel for Obana, the Pilr of the seasons and in of the winds, also known as the White Lady. She is who is said to be the one whs the white mantle of the first snowfalls of the season.

  Tenth month, Kzafor for Kzafaro, the Pilr king of elemental spirits and magical beings. Kzafaro seems to be the only one among all the Pilrs who decided to remain on the mortal pne. Some cim to have entered him and say that Kzafaro is an incredibly friendly being. Someone who likes to talk a lot and listen to the stories of those travelers who mao meet him. It is also said that he has even taken some mortals as wives/husbands, but no one has been able to verify these stories.

  For the eleventh month, we have Vhalit, for Vha, the Pilr of the stars and divination. One of the most mysterious Pilrs as you don't hear much about her and when she appears before her oracles, she always brings both good and bad news. Never ohout the other.

  Finally iwelfth and st month, Nyntras for Nyntir, the Pilr of death, darkness, and the underworld. Very appropriate to represent the end of the year, and for the o begin with its terpart, light and life. Although both Alika and Nyntir are said to get along incredibly well. Something that, from my point of view, makes philosophical sense. Nothing could get aloer with life thah itself.

  After a lo; which Ki took the opportunity to extend by pulling out random representations to see how well I had learned each of the months and the Pilrs that represent them, we moved on to the races. Fortunately, this part went much faster, as I only had to name each of the few that I know and that are part of our family.

  Ki showed me a Lumigraphy of Dad, a Friasan, of Mom an Atenosia, she poio herself, a Vulpan, then to Ameli, a Valven, and curiously, instead of pointing to me as usual, she showed me the one image; in this case a painting, of a young Aunty Ven, a Revant, which, for some reason, she kept hidden on one of the shelves.

  She looked very different from how I remembered her. Her red hair was loose and straight, she was wearing a rather simple blue dress, something that surprisingly matched her violet skin tone very well. She had a demure smile, and there was real joy in her eyes. She didn't seem unfortable itire, which surprised me a lot. Aunty Ven looked like that cssiboy who would scream that she would never wear a dress because it was unfortable to fight in. But this painting made me realize that I was pletely wrong.

  “Surprising, isn't it?” ented Ki, seeing my shocked expression. “Believe it or not, Anven really enjoys wearing dresses, fixing her hair, and maintaining proper etiquette. The only reason she didn't stay as part of the social circles and the fashion world is because she enjoys her life outside more, traveling.”

  I looked away from Ki, and her expnation, to see that image of Aunty Ven again.

  I remembered her with some sadness, I hadn't heard from her yet and that disappointed me greatly. I was very mindful that she warned me that her return might take several years, but I wished she would at least send a letter.

  Ki suddenly sighed and put away the pictures and materials we had been using, while Ameli, who had been silent for most of the lesson, came over to me, set up a small table; matg my small chair, a do of tea made from the leaves of my favorite fruit tree, along with some cookies.

  “Senkyou, Ali.” I thanked her cheerfully, as she walked a few steps away with a smile on her face.

  Last year they started giviea once every few days. This type of tea was made from the leaves of the rava tree which, uhe fruit, was very good for health, especially for very young children, which is one of the few reasons why rava fruits were growhough they were dangerous to most Asherians.

  Once I was doh this little snack, Ki lifted me into her arms and, sitting down at her desk, pced me on her p. She took the letter I was so eager to read, or rather be read to, and opehe envelope with quick, precise movements.

  Ihere were three sheets filled with a lot of text that I could hardly uand. I could reize some of the written words, but since I had not been taught properly, it was still impossible for me to uand even a little of the tents.

  “All right, let's see what we have here.” Ki pulled out the first sheet, preparing for aensive reading. I never expected to receive such a lengthy letter. Maki must have thought the same thing, her eyebrows raised in amazement at the amount written ohree sheets...on both sides. “Looks like someone really wao talk.”

  With that said, Maki began to read the letter to me.

  The tents were ly what I expected. It looked like it was Katarina who wrote it, which makes a lot of sense, and at the same time a bit surprising when I thought about it.

  She started with a formal greeting, some nice words about the curreher, her own and her family's health - and then proceeded to ask about our family, with geerest. She followed with the state of business, her own and ours, telling us about her pns and wishing my mothers were as good or better.

  All that on the first sheet...

  The sed, w about my sisters and me, our health, academics, etc. The importaail here was that she revealed that one of her sons would be attending the same academy as my sister Sarka.

  To give some text, Yuliana has 5 siblings, the oldest of them all, Maynard, is a simir age to Losward. He was followed by 2 twin sisters, Jessa and Tessa, just a couple of years youhey were followed by the brother Katarina was talking about iter, Raleph about three years youhan Sarka, and the you about 10 years old, named Kein. He was the only one I got to know on one of my visits to the Nazzik house, and he seemed like a nice boy.

  Finally, the st page was tered on Yuliana. She reted about her growing up, what she's learned so far, and how well she speaks, something that made me feel like I was somehow losing against her... she also talked about Ginevere, which didn't surprise me, and she also mentiohat Aria had e to visit them a couple of days ago.

  Now, that was important. I pouted in annoyance. Ki noticed my expression and started ughing. None of the three of us were supposed to see each other until we were five years old. We were told it was some sort of tradition that I holy didn't fully uand, only that we could see each ain until then. Aria has a bit of an advantage because she just retly turned five, but that wasn't enough of an excuse for me. It was supposed to be until all three of us had do.

  “My little Mishka is mad?” Ki teased me, and I just looked away from her. It seemed unfair to me. I wao see my friends again too. “It's okay, Nita, it says here that it couldn't be helped. It olitical issue and they had no choice.”

  “...unfair.”

  “I know, I know.” Ki stroked my head, trying to e.

  She immediately went on to rete the tents of the letter. Whided up being the biggest surprise.

  “Well, this is indeed ued,” Maki said showing me what was there.

  On the back of the st sheet was a drawing. A drawing made by Yuliana. It was simple, some scribbles that I could reize as us pying together in the garden of her house. There was Aria, with her ptinum blonde hair, Yuliana with her beautiful long pink hair, and me, with my bck hair. The three... the four of us; I couldn't fet that there was also Ginevere, we were holding hands with smiles on our faces. And there was something else in one of the ers. Words.

  This was a drawing done by Yuliana and signed with her name and a full sentence. Acc to Ki, it said, “I hope I py with you very soo wishes, Yuliana Nazzik.”

  That little girl had learo write.

  Is that little girl a genius? I mean, I had my adult memories and mind as an advantage, and I still hadn't learo write. I was barely able tnize a few letters and words, but that girl could already write her name, and speak more fluently tha least in that, I had an excuse.

  Anyway, this situation was serious, how could I let my adorable little angel get the upper hand on me? I couldn't! If I didn't try to catch up and keep up with her, how could I call myself her best friend? It was time to get serious. I 't afford to be left behind!

  “Ki, Ki!” I tugged hard on Maki's clothes to get her attention. The time had e to exploit my full potential. “Ki, wanna wead an' wite!”

  “Hee~, you want to learn to read and write even though you 't even speak well?” she replied in a mog tone.

  I knew she was trying to provoke me, but I wasn't going to fall for it, it was about time I started learning the things of this world properly, and this could very well be the perfect excuse.

  I nodded vigorously, almost making myself slightly dizzy from the iy. Ki stopped me as she ughed, and pinched my cheeks affeately. She closed her eyes and put a fio her lips, thinking deeply befiving me an answer, “Hmm, very well, let's do it like this. Why don't you go and tell Dri to teach you the basics?”

  I tilted my head in fusion. I was hoping she'd decide to help me herself since, well, that was teically her duty, and from the way she's been behaving so far, one of the things she most enjoys doing with me.

  My thoughts must have been written all over my face as Maki immediately replied, “As much as I would like to, I think it's better if you ask your sister to help you. You know why?”

  I shook my head, was Zenya better at that than her?

  “Well, your sister has been feeling loely, and I think having her dear little sister might cheer her up. What do you think?”

  Zenya was feeling lonely? It was a little hard to believe, although it made a certain amount of sense. Even though she spends a lot of time with Dad and usually es with me from time to time, the time we spend together is retively sparse. Even when she's with Dad it's only a couple of hours, the rest of the time she spends alone in the library, or her room.

  I thought about it for a sed. It might be a good opportunity to spend time with her, and I know Ki has work to do, so pulling me aside might be good for her as well.

  I ended up nodding in agreement. Maki smiled at me and, l me to the floor, pulled out some sheets of paper from her desk and hahem to me along with, surprisingly, some crayons. Some fug crayons.

  My eyes sparkled as I realized what Ki was tellih that. If Yulia me a drawing she made, why couldn't I do the same, I could even send oo Aria too!

  I was so happy I was almost jumping for joy. Ki oward Ameli as she handed her the letter and motioned for her to lead the way, and before long we were moving through the halls in seary sister.

  --After a long time, we were finally told that Zenya was in the garden. More specifically, in the annex of the garden where we three sisters always met.

  We quickly headed there, with me leading the way. Ameli was carrying the letter, all the materials to write the reply, and the crayons for my drawing. I was already thinking of many different things to do when we arrived at the door of the small annex. Just as Ameli was about to knonoung our arrival, I heard Zenya's voice.

  "I told you I'm fine!" my sister shouted upset, causing both Ameli and I to freeze in surprise. I've never heard her raise her voice before, let alone like that. My maid and I looked at each other for a sed uo know what we should do.

  "My dy, I know perfectly well how much effort you are putting into this. Please never doubt that I will always be by your side no matter what you do."

  "..."

  "However, young dy, while I agree to follow your orders and support you, I do not agree that yiving up your health for it." Kolda's voice sounded ed and firmer than I had ever heard it.

  Something happeo my sister?!

  “You're exaggerating. Nothing's going to happen to me just because I stop sleeping a little.”

  “A little? Lady, you've been sleeping just a couple of hours for over a week. It's dangerous for you to do that. I beg you, please take a break.”

  “‘And I'm telling you that you're overthinking, Kolda.”

  “...”

  There was a long silen which we held our breath waiting for them to say something else. I g to my maid's skirt nervously. I was worried about Zenya and didn't know what to do at the moment. Ameli seemed equally worried, though more about me than whatever was going on behind that door.

  “Fine, I get it. Stop making that face.” My sister finally replied, letting out a long sigh, something Ameli and I shared. The tension in the air dissipated with those words, allowing our bodies to rex again. “But, just for a couple of days. I'm not making any progress anyway, and a ge of sery would be better.”

  “Thank you, young dy.”

  “So... What do you suggest I-“

  Ameli knocked on the door at that instant, announg our arrival. Soon after, my sister's slightly surprised voice was heard, allowing our entrance.

  As soon as the door opened, I rushed out to meet her. I don't know what happened or what Zenya has been trying so hard to do, but if she's been depriving herself of a proper rest, what better time than now to give her one?

  “Shivit!” 1big sister I shouted, throwing myself into her arms.

  “Tya! Shouldn't you be with Maki?”

  Zenya caught me in her arms with a smile. I g to her like a koa.

  “Shivit, shivit, teach wite, teach wite! wana Yuli.”

  “Calm down, calm down. I don't uand you, Tya.”

  Ameli's amused ughter drew my sister's attention to her. She immediately proceeded to do her duty and expio Zenya what I wanted.

  “So, Maki seo me so I could teach her to write?”

  I nodded excitedly.

  "Hmm..."

  My sister went into silent refle. For a sed, I thought she would refuse. I looked worriedly towards Kolda, but she just smiled at me as she always did.

  "I guess it might help me rex my mind a bit." She murmured as she carried me over to the tea table and sat me down in my chair.

  It may not look like it, but Zenya has grown a lot and has bee quite strong. I'd say she's about 130 cm tall, and even with that, she's able to carry me in her arms for a long time. I guess it's reted to her being a part Friasan.

  I fot to mention it, but there are some vestigial horns on the side of her head. They started growing shortly after her fifth birthday. Ki said she might be one of the few perfect hybrids among the Asherians2Perfect hybrids are those children who possess the main characteristics of both parents' breeds. In Zenya's case, she has the horns and physical strength of a Friasan, and the vah and body of an Atenosia..

  I, for my part, had grown up just as fast. However, not as much though. I was very close to 100 cm, but I didn't expect to be over that height any time soon. If Aunty Ven was the standard for how tall I would be as an adult Revant, then I would surely be a shirl all my life. It didn't bother me, but it was kind of funny to have lived a lifetime as a guy over 180cm, and now be a very shirl. It was funny to go from one end of the spectrum to the other.

  Anyway.

  My sister pulled her chair closer to me and, with Ameli pg all the materials oable, began to slowly teach me the written nguage.

  I won't go too deeply into it, as it would be long and b to expin, but the writing system was easy to uand but difficult to do. I don’t really know how to expin it. Some things could remind you of the Kanji nguage, being ‘words’ with a siricate symbol, and others that were simir to written Latin, something more familiar. I could only say that it was a very tidy mess. It doesn't make sense, I know, but it's the best I offer.

  We went for a few hours until I couldn't take it anymore. As much as I was excited to learn it, there was a limit to my endurance.

  When my sister noticed this, she asked me what I wao include iter, which left me thinking for a while, until I decided to do something simir to Katarina, though less extensive. Something along the lines of a report on the current state of the family and my progress so far. Zenya seemed to uand what I wanted so she got on with it, occasionally asking me questions about things I wao include.

  While she was doing that, I was struggling to capture the image I had in my head in the drawing for my little angel.

  My first idea was to try to do something simir, with the three of us... or rather four of us; I couldn't fet Ginevere, pying together, only this time it would be in the garden of my home, but I quickly discarded that idea. I wao do something that would impress her.

  It took me a long time, but I decided to draicture of our future meeting.

  I started by drawing the setting. It was a rge room with a long table full of snacks, sweets, and drinks, with various decorations and some flower arras. From the ceiling hung debras with that magic stohey use instead of dles, but these would be of different colors. Elsewhere a group of musis were pying a soft melody while several people were dang happily. Of course, Zenya was there pying her violin, just as she did on my first birthday.

  Sarka would also be together with her girlfriend, dang together on the side, alongside my parents in a dang trio which, when I drew it, I thought was very funny. Katarina and Isolde would be on the side talking. I didn't know what to do with them, but I wao include them. Drawing Ki was difficult as well as Katarina, because of her ears and tail, but I roud of how they turned out.

  Finally, Yuliana, Aria, and I stood together holding hands i dresses. Yuliana wore colorful bows in her hair and oail, and Aria wore a suit with trousers that, to be ho, would look amazing on her and make her look really cool. She gave off a certain tomboyish vibe that made me think she would look amazing in any kind of more mase clothing. And finally, I was in the middle of them both in a red princess-style dress with a big bow on one side.

  I looked at my finished work.

  I'll be ho, I'm not very good at drawing. My skill wasn't the best, although I wasn't at the level of not knowing anythiher. Part of the things I learo do in one of my many jobs was to draw at a somewhat det level. I would say I retty below average, but what I did was easily reizable.

  A I roud of what I'd created.

  "Did you finish, Tya?" asked Zenya from the side. She had fihe letter quite a while ago and was now enjoying some tea.

  I nodded proudly. I got down from the chair picked up my magnum opus and showed it to her happily. "Shivit, you like?"

  Zenya smiled as she took the drawing from my hands and admired it with some surprise in her expression.

  "Wow, you draw very well Tya. Everything is so pretty, is this a party? Oh, there's even me."

  "Umm! Fithday pawty."

  "Eh~ do you wao py at your fifth-year party?"

  My eyes lit up at her offer. " you Shivit?"

  “Hm~ Should I?” my sister replied, pying hard. She doesn't usually behave like this, but I think she does it to imitate Sarka. Adorable, and more so knowing that our older sister loved to mess with her like this all the time. But...

  "Shivit... pwease?" I pleaded with my most adorable, pitiful look. Zenya may think she tease me, but I know she is especially weak to my expressions.

  "I-I guess it's no use. I'll have to prepare a presentation worthy of my little sister." She ceded as she averted her gaze to hide the slight blush on her cheeks. My sister was easy to manipute... perhaps too easily. Fortunately, only with me... I hope.

  I jumped happily towards her, hugging and thanking her for it. Now I had a part of that drawing that would e true. Maybe I could make other things I included e true too?

  I turned my gaze to Kolda who was startled, as if she knew I was about to ask her t me down a star as a gift.

  "Kolda, sing?"

  "E-excuse me!? Y-you wao sing?"

  I nodded firmly. Kolda has a very beautiful voice, although I knew she was a bit shy. But, remembering her performany first birthday, it would be a waste not to hear her on this ooo.

  The tall maid suddenly seemed very small as her brain seemed to overheat, thinking about what to say bae. Zenya made atack.

  "Kolda, don't worry so much, wouldn't it be great to see Tya's smile enjoying your voice? It would be a priceless gift for her, wouldn't it?"

  "Umm!" I replied agreeing wholeheartedly. I would feel very excited knowing that both of them would be me such a wonderful gift for that day. I could als to Yuliana and Aria about how talehe two of them are.

  Having been ‘attacked’ from both sides, Kolda sought help from Ameli who had been silent all this time. But it was in vain.

  "Face it, Kolda, there is no way to deny the dies anything, least of all when they are so eager to enjoy your talent."

  Having been outnumbered, the tall maid had no choice but to surrender and accept my i request. I rejoiced, throwing my arms up in the air, knowing that this day could bee simply unfettable.

  Zenya had to sole her poor maid a little, but she soouro her normal state.

  My sister, after readihe finished letter, making sure it was what I wao vey, folded it together with my drawing and put it in an envelope, put the family crest on it; and put some powder that gave it a sweet floral st, ha to Ameli, who happily ran to hand it over to the courier to be sent the day.

  Now that that was finished, Zenya carried me out of the annex. We admired together the beautiful flowers that were already opening to fill arden with bright colors, while she told me how her day had been, as I told her everything I had been learning tely.

  With that we ehe day, spending time together like we hadn't done in a long time.

  FivesZeta