The day the whole family gathered at the table for breakfast. Well, everyone except Losward, who was never home.

  Dad was seated at the end of the table, as the family leader. Mom to his right and Maki o her. Across from Mom was Sarka, who seemed down after being grounded for what happened yesterday at the party. She was giving Dad a few gnces as if asking for help, but he wasn't even paying attention to her. Whether it was deliberate or because he seriously didn't notice, I didn't know, but she definitely wouldn't get any help from him.

  Zenya, oher hand, was sittio Sarka, pouting. Why? Well, it was because she found out that all of us, except her and Dad, met Duchess Katarina st night. She was very happy with the earrings she left her as a gift, so much so that she had them ht now, but she was still upset that no one woke her up so she could at least thank her.

  Apart from them, my parents were all smiles. Mom for beied with her great friend, and Dad because he now had a colle of lumigraphs of me and Zenya. Of course, he already returhe Kadotype to Zenya, but he decided to keep the lumigraphs he already had done.

  Where was I? Well on Maki's p, where else?

  "Open wide Nita."

  "Ahhhh. Hmm."

  "Yummy?"

  I nodded vigorously. It really was. Maki had taken it upon herself to feed me that delicious ky pe they started feeding me for breakfast tely, and I was more than happy about it. A little embarrassing to be fed that way, but hey, she was happy doing it and I was happy eating it. So, win-win.

  Oddly enough my teeth had started to e iy quickly. I ted them. I had 8 in total and I was already able to chew quite well even though they were few... and they were mostly es. Yes, you heard right. Of the 8, 6 were es, whily meant that I was mostly ivorous, something that made me feel amazed. Meat, of any kind, is a real pleasure to e.

  Things were going pretty well this m.

  "By the way, Fia, what happeo the girl you've been taking care of? Ameli was her name, wasn't it? I heard she'd been feeling bad, to the point where she couldn't leave her bed, but hasn't it been too long already? What did the physi say?"

  Maki sighed sadly and wiped my mouth befiving me another spoonful of that delicacy of the gods and answering Mom.

  "The physi said she wasn't sick, but that she seemed exhausted. Nothing beyond that. I assigned her easier jobs. I was looking forward to seeing how she progressed. I was just pnning to talk to her iernoon and see how she's doing."

  Hearing that made me feel sorry for Ameli, as she used to be the most eid cheerful of the maids in charge of taking care of me. Learning that she'd been feeling unwell, preventing her from even w was w.

  "Hmm. I hope it's not too seriously a problem. It's about time to assign Zenya a personal maid, and I was hoping to give her that position."

  "My personal Maid!?" Zenya asked a little too enthusiastically, causing some of the food oe to spill onto the table. The very impolite act did not go unnoticed, and Zenya earned a disapproving look from Mom, causio sit up straight with a stiff expression.

  Mom sighed before answering. "Yes, now that you've reached this age it's time to assign you one, and that girl was one of my didates. But, if she doesn't seem to be up to it, it would be best to assign another. I'll see that iernoon."

  Zenya's mood seemed to ge pletely after those words. She seemed to be extremely excited about it. Although I didn't uand why it was such a big deal.

  "Speaking of maids," Dad said, drawing everyone's attention. "The festival is in 3 days. Have you already thought about who will take care of Orinthya while we're gone?"

  "Right. At least one of us should stay with her."

  "I nning to stay." Maki immediately offered, as if it were the most obvious solution, but Mom immediately refused to let her.

  "No, I need you to apahis year. Baroness Orsant will be among the helpers, and you know how plicated it is for me to deal with her."

  "Couldn't Hal help you with that?"

  "No. Unfortunately, I have to be in the pces of honor. Besides, if I'm not there, who would take care of Zenya? It's her first festival, I 't leave her aloh Sarka. I don't pn to leave both girls alone."

  Maki sighed, feeling somewhat defeated. She wao stay with me that day, but her pns were quickly shattered.

  The 3 of them were silent as they sidered what solution they could give to this dilemma, given that, for some reason, I could not attend. I would o be at least 5 years old to be able to do so if the fact that it was Zenya's first time attending, was the norm and not a fluke.

  Even if there were a rge number of maids in the mansion who could take care of me, it was much more reassuring for them that at least one member of the family would stay with me. At that instant, the only person who could take that role spoke up.

  "I... could I stay and take care of her?" Sarka, doubting her proposal, raised her hand. Mom narrowed her eyes suspiciously. She seemed to be trying to find some ulterior motive for why she would offer to stay. A doubt that ut into words by Maki.

  "Lara, why would you volunteer so suddenly? You've never liked to miss any of the winter festivals, much less this one."

  "There's no one else who do it. Besides, I... I don't want to go this year after what happened with the Eleios family."

  Sarka lowered her head, looking depressed. Mentioning the Eleios, caused Mom and Maki to share a gnce, before diverting to Dad, who did nothing but sigh somewhat sadly and nod to both of them.

  "I uand. You stay this time." Sarka nodded in relief and thahem.

  "But," Maki added in a warning tone. "If we find out that you have done something simir to what happened yesterday, I won't be as gentle as your mother was, uood?"

  "Y-yes, Maki! I promise." Maki nodded in approval, shared a look with Dad and Mom, and tio feed me. Dad gave her a few words, mostly telling her about what to do and who to send in case something happened.

  Breakfast ended shortly after that. Everyone ended up splitting up to do their things. Dad went straight to his offid Mom along with Maki left together to work on things reted to the festival. Sarka went off to do her things while Zenya and I were taken by the maids to the room that had bey pyroom.

  The rest of the m Zenya was helpio walk.

  Surprisingly enough, she was very patient. She was guiding me from the front, close enough to catch me if I fell, which happened quite a few times. The fact that I made it to her without failing the day before was a miracle. My sister kept giving me words of encement like "You're doing great Tya, keep it up" or me dy if I made it a certain distahout falling.

  …

  It was a great motivation. They were pretty tasty dies, what I say?

  After all that exercise, which Zenya called "walking lessons"; we rested for lunch. The maids brought the food up to the room. They said everyone was still pretty busy, so everyone would eat where they were.

  This time it was Zenya's turn to feed me. She was very careful. Or well, as much as a 5-year-old could be. It was a bit of a mess, but I mao eat enough to feel satisfied. It was lucky I had a bib to keep me from getting dirty.

  After lunch, we took a little nap together. Zenya has a habit of cuddling me very carefully even while she sleeps, so having these naps with her; apart from being incredibly special, is also very fortable and one of my favorite things to do together with her.

  I woke up a couple of hours ter, in the middle of the afternoon. Zenya was already awake and one of the maids, whnized as Tina, was showing her how to feed me better without spilling half the pte on me... or on her. She noticed me almost immediately and ran to me as fast as she could.

  "Tya! Hi, did you sleep well?" she asked in a soft voice as she gently stroked my head.

  I nodded immediately, elig a cute smile on her face.

  She was about to say something else to me when we heard a kno the door.

  "Young Lady Zenya, it's me, h."

  "h? e in."

  h, Sarka's exclusive maid, came into the room, gave us a little greeting, and then approached Zenya to deliver a message from our older sister.

  I had seen this girl only a few times, maybe 2 or 3 times. She was almost always running an errand for my sister, and those few times I got to see her it was in passing. Only now could I see her iail.

  She was not very tall, just a few ialler than my own older sister. Her jet-bck skin, impeccably manicured, plemented her bright purple hair, which was short a a touaturity to her appearance. Or at least that's what I thought. She was very different from anyone I had seen so far.

  A sort of ask covered most of her face, leaving her ears, nose, and mouth barely visible. She had no eyes, or at least it seemed so.

  How did she guide herself through the world then? Well, she had two long appendages on her head that protruded from her forehead. A bination of moth antennae and peacock feathers. They were very smooth-looking and moved above her head as if they were sing everything around them.

  Arikiail about her was that she possessed a scaly, rather reptilian tail, looking more like a shan a tail, and of a dull bck hue that seemed to absorb all the light around it. It was long and thin, enough to about 2 times around her own body.

  Spoiler

  [colpse]She art of those unusual tribes that worked at the mansion. Ohat I didn't know the name of and would love to learn more about.

  "Young dy Sarka instructed me to inform you that she wishes to have afternoon tea with both of you in the garden annex. She mentiohat she wishes to enjoy some quality time with her little sisters."

  Zenya thought about it for a moment, looking at me, back at h, and then at the other 2 maids who were taking care of us. Then she nodded in agreement.

  "Young Lady, would you like to ge into something more fortable?" asked Seria, one of the maidservants.

  "Hmm. you ge Tya too?"

  "Of course. Tina?"

  "Yes, leave it to me!"

  They both seemed excited about it, but I decided not to make a big deal out of it. One of the two was always there when I was ging clothes, whether it was with Mom or Maki, so they already kly what I liked to wear... or at least what my "mothers" liked me to wear.

  One plete ge of clothes ter, and we were both ready to go.

  Although it was already winter, and the weather was quite cold, it didn't look like it was starting to snow yet. Fortunately, we were wearing quite warm clothes, something to be thankful for. I felt fortable and warm, and, funny as it sounds, I felt like a plush doll, which was funny in many ways.

  The garden had bee a somewhat faded pce thanks to the winter cold. Gohose beautiful and impressive flowers I was used to seeing. Now they were bushes with dull leaves, and pnts that looked dead, being just branches and nothing more. A few of them still kept their green colors; simir to the pirees, but they looked a little sad for not being able to show their usual beauty.

  We walked for a while through one of the garden paths to a small enclosed gazebo, it looked more like a greenhouse than a pce you would go to for afternoon tea. It ce I sometimes visited with Mom and Maki to eat sweets and spend time together. Those few times when they would both walk around the garden with me and take the opportunity tthen their retionship. Which transted into them taking turns attag me with kisses and caresses on my head, then kissing and professing love to each other.

  I'm not saying it's wrong... just, why did they have to do that when they were with me? I'm not pining, I like to see how much they love each other, but... well, it's awkward.

  Anyway.

  We arrived at the small gazebo and saw Sarka sitting on one of the chairs waiting for us. h was behind her, with a ral expression.

  Tina, who was carrying me, immediately set me down on the floor so I could walk on my own. Of course, Zenya took my hand and walked with me. She is a very attentive sister.

  Upon seeing us, Sarka immediately rao greet us both cheerfully. She bent down and gave us both a hug and a kiss. Zenya hung onto her in her embrace, more than happy for the physical tact with our sister.

  I hadn't mentio until now, but Zenya seriously loves spending time with Sarka. After all, before I was born it was just the two of them, so the bond they had formed was already strong enough.

  My arrival, instead of ging that, only strengthe. Now they both had a new baby sister to spoil.

  Also, it seemed Sarka was in a better mood, which was reassuring.

  We moved to the table after that cuddle session. Tina and Seria moved o o serve us tea and snacks and then stood off to the side, waiting for any orders we could give them.

  My two sisters sat across from each other, happy to be able to spend time with the three of us together. I, of course, was on Sarka's p drinking my beloved raval fruit juice.

  "Nya, how do you feel now that you are 5 years old, was it just as you thought?"

  Zenya; Nya as Sarka usually calls her, shook her head. Her expression was thoughtful, as she tried to e up with an answer.

  "It's... just the same, I think."

  "Hahaha, it's just like I told yht?"

  "I guess..." Zenya replied relutly while pouting very prettily.

  "e on, don't be like that. At least you got lots of good gifts, right? Some better than others... and with better iions."

  Sarka sounded like she was teasing her a little, but there was a hint of annoyan her tone. Obviously, I knew why. That jerk who dared that act so... Just remember him, I want to destroy him.

  Zenya oher hand was still pouting, dissatisfied with the fact that things were not as she expected.

  I guess she thought she would bee a "big girl" once she reached that age.

  "Didn't you like my gift?" asked Sarka, her voice feigning sadness. Poor Zenya almost knocked over her teacup at the surprising question.

  "N-no! I loved it! Kiki is cute, and he's super friendly, and... and..."

  "Pff."

  "..."

  Once again, Zenya had that pout. This time, she puffed out her cheeks so much they looked like they were going to burst. Seds ter, she turned her gaze away, angry at Sarka.

  “Sis, you dummy!”

  Sarka ughed out loud at su adorable sister. It was hard not to. Zenya was dangerously adorable.

  "There, there. I won't bother you anymore my lovely Nya, will you five me?"

  "Hum" Zenya snorted, not intending to answer her. But she gave us a sidelong gnce as if she expected something else.

  "Aren't you going tive your dear big sister?"

  "Hum!"

  "I see, then I guess there's nothing to do. I was going to offer to sit you on my p with Tya, but if you don't wan-"

  "I WANT TO!" without letting Sarka finish speaking, Zenya hurriedly got down from her chair before our sister could ge her mind.

  Sarka simply picked her up, sitting her o me on her p. She immediately hugged us both tightly, rubbing her fa our cheeks, and making us ugh. I felt happy. Incredibly happy. It's o have an older sister who shows this level of affe, and who shows us both the same level of affe.

  Together, we ate several sweets. They both took turns feeding me, although they were warned by the maids not to give me too muy stomach might hurt ter. I uood...I did since I used to do the same with my little sister, but...isn't it okay just this once? I tried to make puppy dog eyes at the maids so they wouldn't say anything, something Zenya helped me by doing the same, but they were tough oppos. And the biggest blow was that Sarka sided with the maids.

  I ged my tactid "attacked" Sarka with the same look, but although it seemed to work for a moment, she mao withstand it. I had no choice but to accept defeat.

  The rest of the time we spent pying and ughing together. Sarka took the opportunity t out some of her storytelling ability. A talent I was not aware of. Zenya liked to tell me stories and things she did duriudies, teag me everything she learned. Maki was more... teical. Not that she was bad at storytelling... No, I take it back, she is very bad at storytelling.

  Maki is more the type to lecture on more serious topics. She has a great ability for that, but for telling stories and tales to a little girl... well, now you know why Zenya and I sometimes "used" her to sleep.

  Dad is surprisingly good. A couple of times he told me some stories while I ending time with him. Many of those were of legendary characters that he himself admired, and the way he told them was almost like being ihe story itself.

  Mom... she had old me a story before. Of course, she made up for it by spending time with me, pying and ughing together, so I had no pints about that. But strangely we rarely did anything together. The few times we were alo was almost always for a fairly short time.

  Actually... I just realized that the person I've speime with since I was born is Mom...

  Uh...

  I... I think I better not keep thinking about it or I'm going to feel depressed.

  Back to the topic.

  We had a good time as sisters. I was able to learn quite a bit about them in that time.

  Sarka was the kind of sister who liked to tease her little sisters a lot, but who was also very affeate. Something I'd already noticed from the first time I saw her. She is very attentive and protective; she makes sure that both Zenya and I are fortable. If she notices that either of us wants something or something is going to happen to us, she acts immediately. If I had to describe her in a few words, I would say that Sarka will be a very good mother. That might be the most correct way to describe her personality. The funny thing is, she doesn't seem to be aware of it.

  Sarka still has those dangerous looks, just like when I first saw her, and I feel that's partly because she wants that from the bottom of her heart; to have a son or daughter. But I also felt that something was wrong with her. Lately, she has seemed down and sad, and I'm not talking about yesterday's events. Seeihis way today, so cheerful and loving, makes me feel relieved.

  As for Zenya, she is, well... a child.

  Okay, I know, I know it sounds obvious, but that's how I feel about her. She is very pyful, eid adorable. If it's about me or Sarka, she will give her full attention immediately. For other things, she is quickly distracted. She is easily impressed, and very giggly.

  She is also a lot smarter than you might think. This is something I noticed since I said that she usually gets to tell me all the hings she learns. It takes her a while to describe them, but it's pretty obvious that she uands them. She is quite good at math, ing to uand basic operations quite easily, and she uands music to a good level, something we already know is one of her hobbies. And, above all, although she acts childish, she has a serious side that is quite... mature? I think that's what best describes her. There are moments whes quite mature and lucid, something that was very noticeable at her birthday party.

  And speaking of which, Sarka brought up the subject about it.

  "Nya?"

  "Yes?"

  "Thanks for helping me yesterday."

  "Oh, hehe, no problem sis. Sorry, I couldn't stop Mom from finding out about it."

  "That's okay. I already k was hard to get away with."

  Sarka sighed resignedly as she stroked Zenya's head. That little escapade yesterday nned by both of them.

  "Did you get a ce to see her?"

  "...Yes. I was able to see her."

  Sarka blushed a little, remembering the perso st night...or what she did with her. I didn't know, but I could see the smile she had on her face, which gave me enough clues to know that this was the person she liked.

  "Is she your lover?"

  The question caused her eyes to widen in surprise, also causing her face to redden even more than it already was. She immediately coughed to try to disguise it, but it was obvious she hit the nail on the head.

  Oh ho! So, my big sister has a girlfriend, huh? I guess the situatioween Mom and Maki doesn't seem to be uo them. Still, if it's more normal than expected, then why do they seem to hide all the time?

  "S-something like that." She replied nervously blushing. She averted her gaze as she had a smile on her lips aed the word "lover" in whispers.

  "When are you going to see her again, I meet her?"

  "Oh... I was... actually, we were going to meet on the day of the festival, but..."

  Did something happen?

  Zenya tilted her head and frowned, perhaps asking herself the same question I was.

  "She invited me, but...I didn't answer her." Sarka mented with a sad smile, perhaps trying not to worry Zenya. Though she failed miserably, the girl became just as sad.

  "Why, don't you want to see her?" asked Zenya, curious and worried. It seemed that she was wishing that things between our sister and her girlfriend would go well.

  "It's just... things happened retly and I don't feel fortable attending this year."

  Those words only caused Zenya more , but before she could ask more about it, Sarka stopped her and added with a reassuring smile.

  "But it's all right. We'll both go year and we'll all have fun together, shall we?"

  "Really?" asked Zenya, a little doubtful if she would keep her word.

  "Sisterly promise."

  Sarka put her forehead against Zenya's, closing her eyes and giving her one of those Eskimo kisses, rubbing the tips of her nostrils. I guessed it was their "pinky promise" version.

  At least the act was enough to reassure Zenya and she resumed her previous cheerfulness. But she couldn't fool me. Something was b her, but I couldn't tell if it was because of that girl or what she said happeo her. At least with that, I had figured out why she seemed so down tely.

  "What's wrong Tya?" asked Sarka, realizing I was too quiet and pensive.

  I hugged her and stayed glued to her. That was all I could do for now. I promised myself to find some way to help her. I definitely will.

  "Ah, me too, me too!" Zenya immediately jumped in, hugging the opposite side of sister. The three of us ughed together. So much so that we ied even the maids who were watg from the side of our sisterly moment.

  Our day ehat way. In a good mood, and with me uanding a little better how my sisters were.

  I just hope that on the day of the festival, things go well for everyone.

  Friasan Race:

  SpoilerThey tend to be much taller than the average Asherian, also having much greater strength, vitality, and endurahe most striking characteristics of their race are the horns on their heads and their skin color, which usually goes in quite varied dark aallies, ranging from copper, violet, jet bck, and gray.

  As with the hair color that usually varies between the colors white, gray, ahe sclera of their eyes is usually pletely bck, along with golden, intense red, violet, and green irises. The only exception, like the rest of the races, is usually the "cloudeyes", those with gray eye color.

  Like most Asherians, they have "rutting" periods, which are the shortest iween pared to other tribes. sisting of 2 weeks every 6 to 9 years, they are some of the most abundant.

  At present, there are very few purebred Friasans. When they first arrived in these nds. Through a deal with the Revant, they decided to interbreed, trying to save the Revant, and also, to improve their lineage by taking advantage of the strength and magitained in them.

  Unfortunately, the pn did not work as expected, and the Revant ended up beiinct.

  Even so, the current Friasan tio honor those who gave them a home by holding a festival in their memory.

  Although they are currently a rather diluted race due to interbreeding, they have retained many of their aral characteristics. Also, their children, even if they are born of a couple from aribe, usually keep some of these characteristics, be it their horns, hair, or skin color. They are also one of the 3 races that have a small probability of giving birth to dual mages; children born with 2 intrinsic attributes.

  Their life expecy is currently around 220 years, and it is believed that in the past it may have been less, around 100 years, but thanks to the Revant, their life expecy has skyrocketed.

  [colpse]

  FivesZeta

  Now yes, this goes in spoiler because it tains quite a bit I want to say.

  First things first. This is good news. Last Thursday, while I was struggling tirelessly with chapter 15... to make a ge of pad maybe find a new idea to use, I decided to reread my old ROTDM chapters. And guess what? I became fond of my baby Reinis again. The creativity bug bit me pretty hard and, just to see how things were going, I decided to try to rewrite that first chapter. It was a success. I rewrote it pletely and... I don't know, I feel it was much, much better than the first time. With that same energy, I tinued with the one, and I ended up rewriting up to the 4th chapter. It's very different. They still keep a simir line, but you tell it's now something new.

  I also removed some things from the story, like events, versations, and information (that I definitely shouldn't have given at the time), ged some facts that, to be pletely ho, gave me a lot e, and there was a name ge for a character. Yes, she is one of the main characters, but I feel that now her name is more... poetic. You'll uand.

  Oh, also, for those who read it, and know how cruel I be to my characters (something I'm not very proud of, but I'm gd to know I do), there will be much worse things. Yes... much worse than what already happened in the first version. So be prepared for what's ing in the new one.

  The purpose of telling you all this is because not only do I pn to seriously start rewriting ROTDM now that I have the inspiration and good spirits, but also to warn you that the other story I promised may be deyed much lohan expected or could have ged.

  Of course, that story will be made, but it may end up being much shorter than expected, or I will publish its chapters on a less regur basis than the Orinthya story and the Reinis story.

  My iion currently is to keep Wednesdays for Orinthya, rewrite the entire Arc 0 of ROTDM, which used to be 19 chapters, and once finished, publish o a time perhaps on Thursdays, or choose another day, I don’t know yet.

  Thanks to this I have now decided to keep a writing schedule, which should make things easier for me so as not to get fused.

  Also, I am gradually geing new images of Reinis' family. She was the first, though... it fits well, but she's a lot taller than she should be, and I'm doing my best to correct that... although it takes quite a bit of a struggle.

  Oh, o thing... this may sound a little stra... did I ever mention the name of the suns in Life of ge? I vaguely remember doing it, I even remember putting a note or ent talking about how long it took me to hem, but no matter how much I search through the chapters, I 't find anything about it. I found the first mention of this in the chapters that I have not yet published. Am I suffering from any Mande effect? Am I imagining things? If anyone remembers it and point it out to me, I would appreciate it, because seriously, no matter how hard I searched, I couldn't find anything even in my personal notes.

  No, well, I do have ary with the names of both suns, but they are different han the ones I remember having "used" and this doubt is driving me crazy.

  Anyway, that's all for these notes. I will only say that for ROTDM the litrpg tag was ged and it will no longer tain almost anythied to a video game system, levels, and so on. There will be very few things that will ever use it, but I will abandon it. I'm terrible at that. I already tried to fix it and made it more plicated than it should be, so goodbye RPG elements.

  [colpse]Thanks, everyone, see you week!