A blush tinted Aunt’s cheeks as she spoke, “William, get serious. Besides…” She tilted her head to the side while continuing, “Besides there are kids and it’s embarrassing.”

Uncle spoke with a smile, “But Aria, what I spoke were all words which came from my heart.” I could swear I saw an evil grin flash on Uncle’s face for a second.

Aunt turned more red as she spoke, “W-William, enough, stop it!”

Feeling a tugging at my arm, I diverted my head as I looked at my side. Unknown to me when he got there, Samuel was gesturing to me to lend my ear.

When I did, he whispered, “Ignore them. They both can keep it up for at least an hour while they are at it. I suggest getting used to it while you’re here. Sigh… those two are such kids.” He sighed as he shook his head back and forth.

But aren’t you one as well? I thought as I looked him up and down.

“That aside, I have told you about me already,” Samuel continued. “Ain’t that right, Zack? Still, I guess I should follow the trend here. Besides, I haven't told a lot of things now. Why be left behind, right?”

“I’m Samuel, the only son of that bickering couple. I am around an aevum older than you and am ten this aevum. I want to be a knight and best there is. Well, as to why…” His gaze silently shifted towards Uncle, prompting my gaze to follow his.

His voice was full of resignation as he continued, “You see, my dad used to be a knight. But due to an injury he got during one of his battles, he became like this.”

His words prompted me to take a closer look. Although due to the angle I was at made it difficult for me to take a good look at his feet, it could faintly be discerned that he was sitting in a wheelchair.

I couldn’t say anything when I thought of what that entailed. Especially after remembering my condition when I just woke up. The anxiety, fear, pain, I still remembered it all too well. This…

From my side, Samuel kept on speaking, “Yeah, although looking at him now, it wouldn’t feel like it, usually he is a lot more depressed. Whenever he is alone, ke keeps muttering to himself and stares nowhere, as if his soul left his body or something. And even though he is putting on a facade here… It just makes it worse. That foolish old man doesn’t understand that. So that’s why, I’ll become the best knight there is, find a cure for him, and beat him fair and square in a duel. That’ll get his brain straight, right?”

Looking at the kid to my right, I had a newfound understanding of the kid before me. He was way more mature than I was.

Looking at his somewhat melancholic yet resolute eyes, I said, “If it’s you, I’m sure you can do it!”

“Yeah, I will. After all, I am the great Samuel,” his head bobbed up and down in response while a proud expression laced his face.

I nodded in agreement, before my eyes began darting around. Eventually, my gaze settled on a mirror. A mirror… Like this, I wonder how I look…

As if reading my thoughts, he asked, “Should I bring it?”

I nodded. He got up as he fetched the mirror before passing it onto me.

Looking into the mirror, I saw a kid of about 8 or 9. His long black hair covered his head down to his nose. His cheeks sunk in like pits. With a complexion which couldn’t get any paler, I looked like a ghost made of flesh. Lifting my hand, I rolled up my sleeve as my gaze ran down my arm as I broke out into cold sweat.

Yeah, a skeleton with extra skin and hair? Chuckling wryly to myself, I put the mirror down. Sighing, I looked at my hands blankly. This can’t be helped. Sigh… I expected as much. Could’ve been worse.

“Alright! Fine,” A wrathful shout snapped me out of reverie as I looked at where Aunt was standing. Looking at me, she sighed as she said, “Sorry to startle you. Here, listen, this moron here is younger than he looks. He is in his twenties, unlike his looks which make him look like a walking corpse.” Aunt rolled her eyes while pointing at Uncle.

Uncle smiled slyly as he said, “And… what comes next?”

“William, enough. I did as we decided in the bet. Now, hurry up. I have to teach Amelia after this. Oh right, Amelia, you should also introduce yourself. He’s not a ghost or a scary person. He is the same old Zack, just in a slightly bad shape like your dad.”

From behind her legs poked out a small head. The little girl talked with Aunt while pointing at me. Nodding a little, Aunt pushed her forward. The girl had azure eyes and long arctic hair similar to Aunt’s. While her well-defined facial features reminded me of Uncle. Although a bit immature, she still had the same noble air to her as the one Aunt had about her.

She walked up to me as she asked, “B-big brother, a-are you okay? If you’re hurt, sorry for yesterday…” she lowered her head in an apologetic manner.

Looking at her expression, I fell into despondence as an odd expression covered my face. She was looking as if she was staring at something dangerous, like how a prey would look at its hunter. And the word ‘yesterday’ as well…

Do I really look that scary? Now that I think, I probably do. I mused to myself as I answered, “Yeah, thanks for asking. And what do you mean by yesterday?”

In the little girl’s stead, Aunt answered, “You were out for the night. You passed out while holding onto your stomach.”

I looked at her before asking, “What’s the date today then?”

She tilted her head before saying, “It's the seventh of fifth month. Yesterday was sixth.”

Within our realm, the flow of time is different. An ‘Aevum’ – 'Aevis' for plural – is a term derived from the name of an ancient god, representing a period of 48 months containing 30 days each, and a lone month of 31 days, a total of 1471 days.

Furthermore, 8 months of 30 days each, when grouped together, are known as a season. Each season corresponds to a major element, during which, that element is generally slightly stronger than any of the other five major elements. This is also the reason why only 6 elements are termed as major elements, out of numerous different elements which can exist in nature. The seasons go in order as Season of Blossoms corresponding to Water, Season of Gales corresponding to Wind, Season of Scorch corresponding to Fire, Season of Crackles corresponding to Lightning, Season of Wane corresponding to Earth, and Season of Frost corresponding to Ice, containing eight months each.

The remaining month, the lone month containing 31 days, are known as days of nihility. It is a general period where natural energies are at their lowest and natural phenomena are at their weakest.

Looking at me, Aunt continued, “ From the looks of it, you’re well now, right?”

I nodded my head before shifting my gaze back to the little girl. I raised my hand for a handshake. As if her calling had come, she ran and hid behind Aunt, occasionally poking her head out for a peek, as if to keep a lookout for danger.