Zafira Moonchild

I watch as Carnelia cries in mom’s arms. While I’m happy that she was able to return to her family with minimal problems, my own fate is still uncertain. Dad will follow whatever mom decides, I’m sure of that. Even though he might grumble about it. But while I consider them my parents as much as Carnelia does, they don’t even know me yet. And seeing them with her, I realize that I too desire their acceptance as much as Carnelia does. And I’m afraid that they will always see me as an outsider instead. So I stop watching for a bit, and do my best to settle my feelings by repeating a small mantra: Let go what was, accept what is, trust what will come.

By the time my anxiety has settled down, Carnelia’s tears have also dried up. And dad takes that as his queue to speak up. “Well, I’m glad Martha is able to magically tell you two apart. But how am I supposed to know when I’m talking to my daughter?” I wince, his off-hand remark cutting into me deeply as Carnelia explains to him the significance of the little stick she put in her hair. Which leads to another uncomfortable discussion about why she was comfortable being open about her condition to a stuck up noble. While she hid it from her own family and is planning to hide it from her brother and friends. She does her best to explain it without giving away Kathy’s true identity. While also making sure that they know how dangerous associating with that noble can be. Luckily, they don’t need any prompting to keep their distance from her. Nobles are bad news, everyone knows this. And for once, I’m glad for a bias to work in my favor.

It was getting late, and I expected everyone to turn in for the night, but Carnelia surprised me by stopping her mom when she suggested they go to sleep. “There is something more we need to talk about”, she said while fidgeting. “I know that this is the first time you’re meeting Zafira. But a part of me has merged with her. And she loves you all as much as I do. For us, you all aren’t just my family, but our family. And I hope that you’ll be able to see her as my sister going forward.”. My heart stops, as a feeling of immense gratitude overwhelms me. Anxiously I look at mom, as she remains quiet, in deep thought. And at dad, who looks at mom too, trusting her judgment. It doesn’t take long before mom smiles at me. “I believed that I would never see my daughter again. And now, I am blessed with two of them. Thank you Zafira, for returning Carnelia to us. If Carnelia views you as her sister. Then you are family as far as I’m concerned.” She looks at dad with the same lightning in her eyes as before. Making it very clear that there is no room for discussion on this. But his gaze softens too, as he says: “Welcome to the family Zafira.”

Mom smiles too now, and Carnelia hugs them both. I’m too overwhelmed with happiness to think straight. Glad that I can leave everything to her for now. And simply bask in the feeling, considering my blessings. Despite the hardships, I wouldn’t want to trade my life right now for anything in the world.

“So what do you want to tell Timothy?” mom asks as we head off to bed. Carnelia proposes not to tell him anything for now. And if he discovers it on his own, explain it as a side effect of how we gained our magic. She does admit that she’s not just worried he won’t understand. The little twerp will probably like his new sister more than his old one, she adds wryly. But if he knows, the entire town will know by the end of the week. And she is not looking forward to that. Something mom agrees with. As we get into bed, I share all the plans I’ve thought up so far to motivate our little brother to keep quiet if he ever does find out. Making Carnelia fall asleep with a smile on her face.