Chapter 51: Promise
Vanyawn village's color faded into an orange hue in the dark. A few colorful houses had lamps outside since it was the second day of the Evernight festival. The sight was beautiful to see from this corner of the village. Archie was lost in thought, he couldn't take his eyes away. Beside him a small candle burnt inside a cup kept on grass.
"Archie, come inside now. It's getting so late." Leah emerged from the corner with a long candlestick in hand. "See, your father already sent me even before your candle is finished?"
"You two should eat already. I will wait for sister." Archie did not look at his mother.
"Your dad says he is hungry, but won't touch the food without you." Leah closed in and bent down to pick the cup and replaced the candles. "Naomi would've stopped Arnacia for dinner since it's her first time going there."
"I am not hungry right now."
"Your father would have to control her hunger for a little more then." Leah patted Archie's head and left.
***
Meanwhile, Arnacia had just crossed the village market. She walked carefully in the dim light that came from curtained windows. There were very few lamps outside houses in this half of the village. This made her think about her dull house.
'Maybe I should paint it.' She tried to think thoughts concerning this life. Suddenly, she stopped to look back. Her actions weren't triggered by any sound but an instinct, and it was apparently wrong. The only thing that followed her was the dark and dull path.
Eventually, she reached the end of the village. Her house was dark as expected, but a small orange dot signaled her home. She couldn't help but stride forward.
"Sister?!" Archie squinted his eyes. He saw a young man, no, he saw his sister. That was definitely his sister's haircut, but the face was boyish and so was everything else. He wanted to stand up, but thought better of it.
"Archie? What are you doing outside at this time?" Arnacia stopped, completely forgetting about her attire. "Let's go inside…" And suddenly she remembered! "Shush! I went to meet Lylia. She immediately said before Archie could speak another word.
"How did it go?" Archie hushed back.
"I met her and she immediately recognized that it was not you." Arnacia sat down. "I thought the duel was over and you only wanted to meet her but - can you postpone the duel?"
"Don't worry sister, I will be fine for the duel." Archie smiled. He was really happy that everything was working out now.
"Look at you." Arnacia lifted her hand and acted like she was going to touch Archie's leg.
"The duel is not tomorrow." Archie immediately put forward his hand to block Arnacia's hand. "You shouldn't be worried, sister. There's more than a week left for me to get better."
"Is that so? You better not sneak away."
"Sister, I promise I won't sneak away anymore. I feel like everything will be fine now that you are back."
***
Splash!
Bubbles rose as Arnacia found herself sinking inside the water. She had no control over her body as her knees bent more. Luckily, her feet were touching a net, and she bounced to the surface. The overwhelming might of water scared her even though her body swam on its own.
'It's happening again!' Luckily, Arnacia's body got out of the water and her thoughts cleared up. She wanted to check her body but with no control, she could only watch.
At the next moment, she saw a little girl with a ponytail running towards her. No, looking at the clothes, it was a boy with a ponytail. With no doubt it was Archie as a boy aged six or seven.
"Sister sister, mom said I can play water water."
"Did you disturb mom again? Come here." Arnacia chased Archie. "You promised to not go there." She couldn't prevent the little boy from diving into the river.
At this corner of the river, a few wooden bars floated. It sort of created a mini bathtub in the river where the siblings could play without getting washed with the current.
Archie jumped in the right spot and immediately submerged into the water. Bubbles formed on the surface and water splashed like crazy. He couldn't even keep his one hand above water. But Arnacia quickly saved him.
"See, this happens when you break a promise. If you break a promise again, then I am not your sister."
***
The scene suddenly returned to the present. It was night and Arnacia was sitting on the ground. Archie was right in front of her and she had full control over her body. She sighed at this eerie experience and remembered a line.
"Uncountable worlds, unending lives, for your wish to be true, where do I send you?"
"Sister, what did you say?" Archie asked.
"Nothing, nothing, don't mind it. I was just thinking about how you almost drowned once." Arnacia thought she was forgetting something but couldn't point it out, so she decided to focus on the present.
This was a small incident from her life, or the real Arnacia's life. She looked at her brother in this life who didn't break promises because of a minor accident in the past. It was nothing major. She was sure Archie would be fine, even if she wasn't there.
It was just like her own first pool experience. A classmate pushed her into the water and the same person saved her from drowning. Well, not drowning exactly. She would've been fine if she just stood up straight underwater.
'Maybe I would have a trauma if I experienced that at 7.' Arnacia talked with Archie a little more before helping him get up. The brother and sister duo entered the house, and their mom immediately helped Archie sit on a chair at the dinner table.
"Arnacia, what are you wearing?"
A middle-aged man's voice suddenly occupied Arnacia's attention. She looked at her own attire before looking at the owner of the voice. No doubt it was her dad and getting off the wrong foot with her dad in this life was one of the last things she wanted.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
FLYO
FLYO Another flashback/dream. I did dig myself a hole when I first introduced it. Hey, what else can we do now? Let’s just see how things progress.
~
I want to speed up the story from here after.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone