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Chapter 17: Sisters, Soup, and Secrets
Mira and Lila were sitting by the pond, braiding grass crowns and arguing over who would marry a prince first.
"I'm obviously prettier," Mira declared.
"I'm smarter," Lila shot back.
Elric, lying nearby with Mossback Sprite perched on his nose, chimed in, "Neither of you even like princes."
The girls glared.
"You don't know what love is!" Mira snapped.
"You think soup is a pet!" Lila added.
"It was a friendly soup!" Elric sat up, indignant. "It bubbled when I talked to it!"
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Back home, Mother was preparing dinner while Elric helped stir the pot—carefully this time, with Mister Pebbles sitting on the floor nearby like a stone watchdog.
The kitchen smelled like garlic and herbs. Warm.
"Your sisters say you talk to your beasts too much," Mother said gently.
Elric frowned. "They talk back."
She smiled. "I know. I've seen it."
He blinked. "You believe me?"
"I believe in you," she said, pulling him close. "Whatever it is you have, it's growing. Just don't forget—strength means nothing without heart."
Elric looked down at his hands.
They were small. But they'd held monsters, magic… and soup.
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That night, Elric sat outside with his sisters, each of them wearing the grass crowns they made earlier—except Pebbles, who had one squashed onto his stony head.
Lila curled up beside him.
"Do you think your beasts will stay forever?"
"Maybe," Elric whispered. "Or maybe I'll meet more."
Mira looked up at the stars. "You're gonna leave someday, huh?"
"…Probably."
Lila held his arm tightly. "Then I'm coming too."
Mira nodded. "Someone's gotta keep you out of trouble."
Elric grinned. "Too late for that."
Pebbles rolled slightly.
Twig howled at a cloud.
Boneclaw coughed up a sock.
Yeah… trouble was already here.
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