Mystic Twins: Heirs to the Thornbound Curse
Part 2: The Scarlet Thread of Fate: Shadows Meet Before the Dawn
And yet, time moved like a whisper—swift, soft, and cruel. It felt like only moments ago when the world welcomed two fragile babes into the twilight of fate. But now, those very children—Eirionox and Selyndraeth—stood as figures cloaked in legends, carrying titles the empire dared not ignore.
Their beauty was untouched by time, still otherworldly—still breathtaking. They were now eight years old, but their presence belonged to something far older, far deeper.
They were not just heirs to the Vaethiel Family, sole Northeast Imperial branch.
They were legends reborn.
Eirionox bore the title: “Cold-Blooded Beast.”
From the age of three, he had wandered into the unlit corners of the Vaethiel Domain’s dark-type dungeon, alone... or so they thought. By his side, hidden in shadow, was Selyndraeth—now Archduchess, known across noble circles and criminal tongues alike as the “Poisonous Bloody Rosé.”
The dungeon held monsters from level 1 to 1000. It was a grave to many.
But to them?
It was training ground.
It was home.
This world—“Destiny by Fate”—had once been nothing more than an otome game. A game that sang of love triangles, heartbreaks, heroines, and noble male leads. Four common elements were known—Water, Fire, Earth, and Air.
Two rarer ones—Light and Dark.
And beyond them...
An element unknown, unnamed.
An element only the twins possessed.
They had stayed away from the center of the script.
Avoiding the heroine.
Avoiding the male leads.
Avoiding the spotlight.
They even kept their distance from the one destined to end the game—Theodora Nightshade, the villainess. The final boss. The Demon Empress in the making.
Fate had a wicked sense of humour.
That day, the twins were walking through the city under the veil of a commoner’s disguise. Selyndraeth wore a moss-green cloak; Eirionox matched her in dusky black. No one looked twice. No one recognized them.
That’s when Selyndraeth stopped.
Her eyes, cold and sharp, flicked toward a narrow alley.
Selyndraeth Vaethiel
“Eirionox,” 😀
Eirionox Vaethiel
“What?” 🤨
Selyndraeth Vaethiel
“Someone’s in trouble.” 😑
Without waiting for a reply, she moved—her footsteps soundless against the stone.
In the alley, a group of men towered over a small girl with long black hair. Her face was bruised, her back against the wall. She didn’t scream.
Selyndraeth’s pace never changed.
No hesitation.
No mercy.
In one clean motion, she kicked one of the men—hard.
He flew across the alley like a ragdoll.
The others turned. Confused. Angry.
They didn’t get the chance to act.
A second kick. A third.
One strike per man.
Each precise, silent, brutal.
When the last one hit the ground groaning, she turned to the girl.
Expression calm. Cold. Emotionless.
The girl looked up slowly, wide-eyed, trembling.
Her lips parted.
Theodora Nightshade
“T-Thank you…” 😣
That single word shifted something.
Selyndraeth’s frozen mask cracked.
A gentle smile—brief, genuine—touched her lips. It was rare. Almost unheard of.
Selyndraeth Vaethiel
“I appreciate that,” ☺
Selyndraeth Vaethiel
“Now, where are your parents? What are you doing out here? You look younger than me.” 🤨😑
The girl opened her mouth… then closed it again.
Hesitation.
But Selyndraeth noticed something.
There was only one name in all of Destiny by Fate’s twisted world with those eyes.
Selyndraeth’s gaze narrowed, but her voice remained soft.
Selyndraeth Vaethiel
“You don’t want to say it, huh?” 😒
Behind her, Eirionox arrived, his presence steady and unreadable. He scanned the girl once—then leaned in as his sister whispered in his ear.
They exchanged a silent look.
Then Selyndraeth turned back to the girl. Her smile returned—but this time, it was cold.
Selyndraeth Vaethiel
“Your name?” 🧐
The girl hesitated. Then stammered.
Theodora Nightshade
“...T-Theodora. Theodora Nightshade.”
Eirionox’s eyes flicked with unreadable light.
Selyndraeth gave the faintest nod.
They had made their decision.
Selyndraeth Vaethiel
“We’re Eirionox and Selyndraeth,” 😄
Eirionox Vaethiel
“We’re twins.” 😄
Theodora Nightshade
“Twins…?” 🙃
Selyndraeth Vaethiel
“We’re having lunch nearby,” 😁✌
Selyndraeth Vaethiel
“Would you mind coming with us?” 🤗
Theodora opened her mouth, unsure if it was a good idea—but before she could answer, Selyndraeth had already taken her hand.
Warm. Soft.
Theodora’s eyes widened.
Her chest… stung.
No—fluttered?
It was a strange feeling. A warmth that crept slowly to her cheeks.
She didn’t even protest as the twins ran, her hand held firmly by Selyndraeth.
For the first time in so long, she didn’t feel afraid.
Eirionox ran after them, keeping a careful distance. He had always let Selyndraeth take the lead when it came to emotional contact. She was better at it, even if her smiles were rare and her tone cold.
As he turned a corner, he bumped into someone.
Eirionox Vaethiel
“Ah. Sorry,” 😞
Eirionox said quickly, getting up.
The boy—probably his age—dusted his clothes.
Cassian Astraeus
“It’s alright.” 😅
Eirionox turned to leave but stopped mid-step.
Something about that face…
Beautiful grold eyes. Composed air. A noble presence hidden beneath commoner’s clothes.
Cassian Astraeus.
The third male lead.
Eirionox Vaethiel
What is he doing here? 💭
They hadn’t even met officially. Not yet. But Eirionox remembered every character the game introduced. Especially the important ones.
He didn’t speak. Just stared for a moment longer before walking away.
Cassian murmured to himself, watching the boy vanish into the crowd.
Cassian Astraeus
“He looked familiar.” 🧐
Fate, perhaps, had plans in motion.
It always did.
And it never asked permission.
At the restaurant, the trio sat at a quiet corner. The place was small, rustic, tucked in the outer ring of the city—known only to those who didn’t want to be found.
Theodora sat stiffly. She didn’t understand why they were being kind. Why two strangers—powerful, composed, enigmatic—offered her something as simple as a meal.
She wasn’t used to kindness.
Selyndraeth Vaethiel
“Is your food okay?” 🤨
Selyndraeth asked calmly.
Theodora Nightshade
“It’s good. Thank you.” 🤗
Selyndraeth Vaethiel
“You’re welcome.” 😁
Eirionox rested his cheek on his hand, watching her closely.
Eirionox Vaethiel
“You’re not from around here, are you?” 😒
Theodora Nightshade
“I ran away,” 🙂✌
Theodora confessed quietly.
Theodora Nightshade
“From the orphanage.” 😇
Selyndraeth Vaethiel
“Why?” 😑
Selyndraeth asked, her tone unreadable.
Theodora Nightshade
“They hated me. Said my eyes were cursed. That I was born to bring ruin.” 😕
The twins said nothing for a while.
Then Eirionox said something unexpected.
Eirionox Vaethiel
“They weren’t wrong.” 😆
Theodora flinched, but before she could react, he continued.
Eirionox Vaethiel
“But they didn’t understand it.” 😒
Selyndraeth Vaethiel
, “Power doesn’t make you cursed. What you do with it… that’s what defines you.” 😤
Theodora Nightshade
“You talk like you know me.” 😅
Selyndraeth sipped her tea.
Selyndraeth Vaethiel
“Maybe we do. Maybe we don’t.” 😌
Theodora’s hands trembled slightly.
Theodora Nightshade
“I don’t want to be the villain. I didn’t choose this.” 🙁
Eirionox Vaethiel
“Then don’t be,” 😒
The girl looked at him like he had just spoken a different language.
Theodora Nightshade
“But… what if I become her anyway?” 😞
Selyndraeth reached forward, taking Theodora’s hand once more.
Her touch was steady. Confident.
Selyndraeth and Eirionox
“Then we’ll stop you.” 😌
A silence fell between them. Not of fear—but of understanding.
For in that moment…
Three children sat beneath the sky.
And unknowingly…
A scarlet thread was tied between their fates.
Comments