Chapter 1. Episode 4. Ken Novien and Keir Novien

"Well, it's called a spiritual stream for a reason," Bryan said, shrugging.

"Tito!" "Tito!" two boys shouted, running towards us.

"Ken and Keir? What are you doing here? Where are Mom and Dad?" Bryan asked, ruffling their hair. Such fair, chubby, cute kids.

"Meeting," Ken said.

"Tito, is this Tita?" Keir asked, pointing with a cute little finger. I wanted to bite it. Hey! Why not bite the finger of your own child? Tita? My ears felt warm at the thought.

"Yeah! This is your Tita Fel. Behave with her," Bryan said, introducing me as Tita. Well, it doesn't necessarily mean I'm his girlfriend, but also as a Girl-Friend. That's the rules; your friend will be Tita and Tito to your nieces and nephews. Heh! Don't be assuming.

"Hi, Tita," the two boys said, waving.

"Oh, so cute!" I said dotingly. It wasn't obvious, but I liked kids, especially these cute ones. Who could resist?

"Here, this is for you two," I gave them each a basket full of fruit and candy. Their expressions were blissful. Ohh, I couldn't resist; I wanted to give them everything just to see them this happy. Their eyes were sparkling!

"Fel? Were you carrying those around? I never saw you with them; where did you keep them?" Bryan asked, a series of questions, shock and awe visible on his face. "Heh," I chuckled softly.

"Tita Fel, we've never seen these fruits before, and ohh, never tasted such sweet fruits," Ken said, munching on a fruit. A Knowledge Fruit.

"Fel! These are treasures! These fruits grant spiritual growth, physical enhancements, and knowledge! Those candies are healing and buff candies! Oh my god! And you casually tossed them like that?" Bryan exclaimed, flustered and disbelieving.

"Oh, those are fruits I personally cultivated in my spiritual space, and I made those candies from high-grade and supreme herbs," I said calmly.

"Where is your spiritual space?" Keir asked innocently.

"Is it in your backyard garden?" Ken asked, still munching fruit.

"It must be, Ken! Oh, it would be so good if I could go there; I could eat as much as I want!" Keir said happily, looking at Ken.

"Oh, you pig! How can you eat as much as you want? Won't you be fat in no time?" Ken said disdainfully.

"Haha, you two are so cute! Of course, you can go there whenever you want. Here, take these rings. You must treasure and protect them at all costs. Call out to me through the ring when you want to come, and you'll get to my garden instantly, okay?" I said, ruffling their hair. Meanwhile, I glanced at Bryan; his eyes were wide with shock and disbelief. "Oh, some drool, heh," I teased, chuckling.

"Fel!... you!" He was speechless.

"Wow, it changed color! Ken! Ken! It changed colors!" Keir shouted, jumping and slapping his brother's shoulder.

"I know! I know! I can see; mine did, too, but it's a different color," Ken said, much calmer than his brother. I gave them each a diamond ring; whoever wore them bonded with their spirits, revealing their affinity. Ken's had azure and crystallizing droplets; Keir's had scarlet and a hellflower.

"How about we take them to the stream?" I asked Bryan. Isn't it possible? I thought.

"Well, we need to ask their parents," Bryan replied.

"Up, Tita?" Keir asked, raising his hands. He wanted to be held up? They were still children, about three years old.

"Okay," I said, scooping him into my arms. Such a cute baby; I wanted to take him. Hey! Why not just make my own! Haha, I laughed at my own thoughts.

"Where are you going, Tita?" "We're going swimming. Do you know how to swim?" I asked Keir, so comfortable in my arms as if it were his own.

"Upsies," I heard a soft whisper from Ken, bowing shyly. Oh, he was so cute! He was shy to ask to be held up because he considered himself "grown-up." Haha, I wanted to laugh at his silliness. Of course, he wanted to be held up; he was a child!

"Oh, I'll carry you," Bryan said, scooping Ken into his arms, still blushing. "We'll ask your Mom and Dad if they agree to let you come with us," Bryan said, heading to the meeting hall. We followed, the servants/nannies behind us carrying the baskets. When we reached the meeting hall, I stopped Bryan from entering. "Isn't it improper? They're in the middle of a meeting, right? We'll be disturbing them," I said.

"It's fine; they're just talking about little things," he added. How would he know? I thought.

"Father," he called out. Shit! Did I forget his father was the king? Ughh. I wanted to slap myself for being so forgetful. How could I come here so nonchalantly without even considering gifts for his highness!! Ahh.

"I didn't know you were coming," the king said.

"Who is this young lady? Even carrying Keir?" the king asked without waiting for Bryan.

"Well, she… is Feliese, my childhood friend. Don't you remember her? Back then? She's my class—"

"She's Tito's girlfriend," the two boys said, cutting Bryan off.

"It's me, Fel, Your Highness!" I bowed in shame. How could they say that? I'd never even dreamed of being his girlfriend! My face burned. These kids really know how to bluff!

"Fel! As in the daughter of Que—er, Dela Cruz!?" The king's eyes widened in shock. I thought he didn't know my real identity. How did he know? He knows exactly who I am. I met his gaze; doubt flashed across my face. "Oh, I remember now. You've grown up, Fel," he said, calming himself and smiling amiably. "What brings you here? Anyway, you're very welcome in my kingdom anytime! Hehehehehe!" he asked, laughing heartily.

"We're just here for the weekend, Your Highness," I said simply. "Oh, forget the formalities; just call me Father; we'll be family in the future anyway, heehee," the king said charmingly. I didn't know what to say. Could I say I wasn't actually his son's girlfriend? Yet? Or not?

"Keirpot, come here. Don't make your Tita carry your weight, you pig," said a gentle man, approaching to take Keir from my arms. He wasn't heavy at all; even if Ken called him a pig, it didn't matter; it wasn't true; he was just chubby. And even if he were a mountain, I could still hold him firmly.

"No!" Keir said, hiding his hands.

Gentleman: "!"

"Tita and Tito will take us swimming," he explained, hugging me tighter.

"But…" the gentleman didn't know how to argue, looking back at the man behind him.

The children's father; he was quite handsome; the children inherited his features.

(Pics)

"Uncle Kieth Novien, can we take these two to the stream? It will be good for their spirituality. Although it's their first time, they're at the age for such rituals," Bryan said to his uncle, his father's youngest sibling.

"Of course, just ensure their safety first; if the ritual goes wrong, my children's lives come first," his uncle said. Although serious, he trusted Bryan. The twins were doted on; they were the first children of this generation.

"Of course, Uncle," Bryan replied, eyeing the child in his arms.

"I trust you, Miss Feliese," he bowed. He trusted me that much? I thought. Or maybe they knew me thoroughly? If so, of course, they'd trust me? The princes of Place.

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Spiritual Stream

We traveled some distance; upon arrival, the cool breeze hit our faces. It was a sky-high stream, its source hidden behind the clouds.

Our group consisted of five elite royal guards, ninjas on standby (for emergencies; it was a forest, after all, inhabited by animals and monsters, which wouldn't attack unless provoked, but accidents happen), servants and nannies, Bryan, and me. We encountered some beasts, but we didn't kill them; we left them be. Since it was the twins' first time, we marveled at the creatures—beautiful but dangerous: a snake as thick as my waist, a Komodo dragon as big as a house. They were far away; we didn't approach, nor did they. People and beasts coexisted here; even the beasts didn't fight among themselves.

The servants arranged blankets on dry land for food and supplies. Although I had the space to carry everything, why should I lend a hand? Wouldn't it make them useless?

"Tita, I want to see the garden," Keir whispered, chuckling.

"No, Keirpot; we have something to do here; you can't go anywhere. Besides, you're just going there to eat; you're hungry again! You're really getting fat!" Ken reprimanded him like a little adult.

"Keir, listen to your brother. We're here not just for swimming, but for your apprenticeship ritual," Bryan said, putting Ken down and walking toward me, getting too close. I looked into his warm, tender eyes; it was as if he were looking at me as something more. My heart started beating abnormally again. I felt like being pulled in; I couldn't look away.

"Ahem," said the gentleman—the same one who'd tried to take Keir earlier; he'd been with us the whole time; I hadn't realized.

"Here, Keir, eat this first; we'll go another day," I said, tossing something to Keir and averting my gaze from Bryan. Gosh! What was he doing? I bit my lip in annoyance.

"The apprenticeship ritual is like a test to see if their powers have awakened and are potent. Awakened power doesn't mean it can be used immediately; however, the earlier the power awakens, the more potent it will be," said the gentleman—Prince Xavier, the only son of the previous king and Bryan's cousin, a year younger. He was conducting the ceremony.

"Should we start now?" he asked. I looked at Bryan; I was just a visitor; I had no say. "Sure, it's best before we touch the water," Bryan said.

By the water's edge sat the twins. This part was separated from the pool that directly received the streaming water; it wasn't disturbed, not even by the wind. Prince Xavier chanted the ritual; when he finished, pure white light emanated from the water's surface. Keir placed his palms on the water, immediately causing ripples that spread to the edges, wetting those nearby.

"Very potent!" Prince Xavier exclaimed, jumping with happiness. The ripples were strong. Everyone was happy for the child. Next, Ken placed his palms on the surface; seconds passed, and nothing happened. Prince Xavier's disdain was evident; Ken looked at me reluctantly. This couldn't be good; it would give him a demon heart, making him lose faith. Seconds passed; he was about to withdraw his hands when something happened.

Bryan: "!"

Prince Xavier: "!"

Everyone was astonished. The water from the pool surged from below, rising and freezing. A bone-chilling wind emanated from the frozen pool. Everyone was quiet; no one understood this phenomenon; it was the first in history.

"Well, Ken Novien… you're truly talented; you even outdid your twin brother," Prince Xavier said, surprised by his first impression of Ken.

"Liar," I commented calmly. How was it right to compare the brothers? Was he sowing discord? How ridiculous! He wasn't a good person! He might be a prince, but his status was far lower than mine; I wouldn't show respect to such a despicable personality.

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