The Conqueror’s Sister

hand in that, ” Nana chimed.

”Well, I mean… ”

”I would be fearful if he had your level of intelligence, Aymer. ”

Momma and Curtis giggled. Papa bowed his head in defeat.

”You don gotta be so mean, Elora. ”

Nana ignored Papa. Instead choosing to stare intently at Curtis, who Momma put on the ground. Curtis stood still while being examined by Nanas eyes, which were the same color as Nanas light blue hair. All elves eyes are the same color as their hair. Like how Daddys eyes are light green because his hair is light green. And how Papas eyes are light yellow because his hair used to be light yellow. I have blue eyes, like Nana, but they are slightly darker, and my hair is golden brown, not blue, since I am a half-elf. Or at least that is what Daddy told me.

”You really do have magic, and you
e a water elemental too. Thats amazing, ” Nana said after a few seconds of silence.

”But I made house go boom, ” Curtis responded guiltingly.

”Oh, thats alright, ” Nana reassured him. ”It was just an accident and honestly, from what I have heard, quite impressive for a kid your age. Your Papa was right about you being a little genius. Trying a spell from a picture in a book takes skill. You just need a little help with mana control, which I would be more than happy to teach you. ”

”Mom, you aren the best teacher, ” Daddy said beside Momma, carrying some luggage.

Papa tried to stifle a laugh.

”What was that, Son? ” Nanas threatening tone was hidden behind a small smile.

”Oh, well… you… you see… ” Daddy stammered.

”We were planning on getting Curtis a tutor, ” Momma finished for Daddy.

”Why waste money on a tutor, when I could do it? ”

”It is just, ” Daddy spoke up, a step behind Momma, ”you don really know how to put things into words. We think you might confuse Curtis. ”

”I am one of the best in water elemental mana manipulation on this side of the Celtera forest. While you guys are here, let me try to teach Curtis and if he doesn learn anything then I will accept you guys getting him a tutor. How about that? ”

Daddy thought for a moment.

”You want Nana to teach you how to do magic, Curtis? ”

Curtis is lucky, I thought. Although I could still listen to her teachings.

”Yeah! ” he responded.

A few days went by. Curtis and I learned nothing.

***

About a week later, we returned back to our house. Good as new. The window and wall that Curtis had blasted off were back, except the window seemed smaller and the entire study was now painted a darker blue. There were no books on the bookshelves yet, since Daddy had to move all the surviving ones to a different room during the construction.

When we arrived, everyone on our street was either watching or waving. Curtis had become kind of famous because his story appeared on the local news. Apparently, on one of the days that Momma and Daddy checked on the progress of the house, some reporters asked them questions about Curtis. They appeared on television, and now almost everyone in town knows about the miraculous three-year-old magic-user. Even though he is almost four.

More people at school are making fun of me because of it. Saying that I am lame, weak, a loser, a Weddler (an insult used for those that can use magic). Darra doesn of course, but it still hurts. Why do they make fun of me? It is not my fault I do not have magic yet. Theyll be sorry once I do.

All I can do now though is watch Curtis as he gets ahead of me.

His tutor is going to be arriving in about a month. Apparently, the tutor is my older cousin, Daphne Matale. She is eleven-years-old and my Mommas sisters daughter. I only met my Aunty Jessica and Daphne once when they came to visit us. Although, I do not remember much because it was when Curtis had just been born. Momma told me they live in a city on the other side of the Celtera forest, which is why they do not visit us all that often.

Now, however, Daphne is going to be staying with us for a year or so, while teaching Curtis the basics of water magic. She is already a dual-elemental magic user, which I have heard is impressive for a girl her age. Momma called her a prodigy. Everyone in my family seems to be special, except for me.

A month later, a few days after my birthday, there was a knock on the front door.

”Daphne! ”

Momma opened the door quickly. Her shout stealing my attention away from the book I was reading.

”Hello, Aunt Ilene. ”

”Hi… Your Mom told me you weren arriving for another few days. ”

I can not see Daphne. Momma is blocking her from my view in the living room.

”Yes, Im sorry. My Mom thought it would be funny to surprise you. I would have warned you, but she didn give me your number. ”

She sounds sweet and has a cool little accent.

Mom sighed.

”That does sound like Jessica… Well, come on in. Do you have all your luggage? I feel bad. If I had known you were here, I would have picked you up from the airport. It must have been tough getting here all by yourself. ”

Daphne assured Momma that everything was alright as she stepped into the house.

The first thing that caught my eye was her height. She looks possibly shorter than me. Isn that small for her age? Oh, right. Momma told me she was a Half-Dwarf. I was not expecting her to be that short, though. Darra is a Mountain Dwarf, but she is taller than me right now. Maybe Mountain Dwarfs are taller than normal Dwarfs are. Ill have to ask or look it up later.

The next thing that stood out about Daphne was her appearance. From what I have seen, most Dwarfs have round faces. Yet, hers was more human-oval like. With warm brown eyes cased behind glasses, and curly black hair neatly tightened into a bun making it easier to see her small ears. Her dwarfness showed through with the sturdiness of her body. She was not big, by any means, but I could tell there was no way I could push her off balance.

Momma helped haul in the rest of Daphnes luggage as I got up to greet her. Behind me, I could hear Curtiss footsteps leaving Daddys study, in which he had promised not to use any spells inside again.

”Hi, ” I said, waving.

Daphne paused.

”You remember Zaya, right? ” Momma said as she closed the door behind her, carrying the last piece of Daphnes luggage.

”Oh, right. Yeah, of course. Hi, Zaya. ”

Curtis was now standing next to me. A head shorter.

”And this is… ”

”Curtis. ”

Of course she remembers his name.

”The one that I have come to teach. Hi, Curtis. ”

”Hello, Im ex-cited. ”

Curtis was practically beaming rays of light. Momma and Daddy had forbidden him from using magic until Daphne arrived, so he was probably overjoyed by her early arrival.

”Thanks for agreeing to live with us and teach Curtis for a year. ”

”Oh no. I should be thanking you. I need the money to go to Tryxa Academy in Glam-Hale City. I have enough school credits, but Mom doesn have the job to support it. ”

”Well, it is good that it benefits us both. Now, feel free to unpack or just relax. You are going to be staying in our spare room, which I will lead you to. ”

Mom led Daphne upstairs while explaining that the room was not completely ready for her yet, as she had been waiting to clean it the day before she arrived. Curtis followed behind them, but I went back to the couch in the living room. Just so I could listen, but also think. I do not know how I feel about Daphne. She seems nice, but also a little stuck up. I guess as long as she does not annoy me too much, things should be alright. Right?