Chapter 6 (Lana) – Twin sister…

“Lana,” Calvin whispered over the Bluetooth earpiece in my ear, “I see three of them approaching your direction. Can you handle them on your own?” he asks.

“Don’t tell me that you are doubting my skills, Calvin?” I ask him smiling to myself as I stood at one of the branches of the tall trees of Purpura forest, “You know me better than that,” I added arrogantly. At first, when Drake told me that he was leaving the south in my hands, doubts filled not only my head but also my heart. But now that I am in the position I was assigned to, I have to admit that Drake boosted my ego.

I am in my zone. No one knows this forest better than I do. I was ecstatic when this was chosen to be the next combat field for us to train with. 

The rule of the game is simple. You need to catch everyone from the opposing team by capturing each one of them and getting their flag. The flag is usually with the team’s leader. He has a choice to continue on even after losing all his team members or surrender when he thinks there’s no other hope. 

Being the top four Alphas of Purple Hill, Drake, Leon, Calvin, and Nori isn’t allowed to be in the same group. Before, Drake and Leon are the usual leaders of one team while Nori and Calvin are the leaders of the opposing one. But after Nori’s announcement of his Chosen Mate. The leaders of the two teams changed. And that’s how I ended up with Drake and Calvin, while Dana is with Nori and Leon.

Dana and I might have the same face and last name but that pretty much ends all our similarities. When we were born one of the most powerful mages in the land visited us and she had chosen Dana as a successor. It was a great honor to be “The Chosen One” and be deemed as the next successor in our Society. But from my point of view, it was more of a burden to be “The Chosen One”, than of it being a gift.

I remember back to the time when my father was still alive, Dana was always stuck at home with my father. Being a successor also meant learning everything about being a mage, which of course includes knowing everything about magic. My father taught Dana everything there is to know about magic and spells. While I, on the other hand, was given the privilege to learn more about the outside world.

I am so glad that I was not “The Chosen One”. I just can’t imagine myself being stuck in a room for the whole day every single day. Don’t get me wrong, I love my father but I don’t think I have enough patience to just stay in one place. I love to explore what the world has to offer or learn new things. And one of the things that I love about not being The Chosen One was being part of Purple Hill’s training academy and of course meeting my best friend, Nori. Well, the Nori that I knew before.

“Lana we have secured the North, and West sides of the field,” Drake said happily, “I leave the South to you. Let me finish securing the West side and I will head your way.”

“I am securing the East, I will go there once I’m–” Calvin says but was cut off. 

“Calvin,” Drake shouted over the line but received no reply. 

“Lana,” Drake started to say, “We might take a bit longer to get there. I will head on to Calvin first to make sure that he is alright and that we have secured the East. Will you be alright?”

“Take all the time you need,” I said smiling, “I got everything covered.” 

Yes, I am that confident, how can’t I be when I learned everything I know from the best? But being confident and knowing that I am that good does not mean that I should leave my guard down. Because the moment that you give your enemy a chance no matter how small it may be, they would definitely grab it and turn it to their advantage. 

“Too much confidence, my dear sister, is bad,” someone said from behind me, with the voice that I know so well since I was young. 

“Confidence is not free, my dear sister,” I replied without turning around, “It’s earned.” 

“And you think you have what it takes to have such a thing as confidence?” Dana asked.

“I think I deserve to have it,” I replied turning to face her this time, “How about you, my dear sister, are you confident enough to face me alone? Or just like before you have someone here to help you out?” 

“What makes you think that I am too weak to be alone with you,” Dana asked, smiling mischievously. 

“I never said that you were weak. I just asked if you are confident enough?”

“Just know this, my dear sister,” Dana said as she prepares herself for an attack, “I love you but I will never go easy on you.”

“The feeling is mutual, my dear sister,” I replied, “I would never want it any other way.” 

I watch her hands as red flames appear. 

“Lana!” Calvin shouted on the earpiece, “Dana is not here, and I am not seeing Nori. There was a surprise attack. I am afraid that I can’t go there yet.” 

I look at my twin sister, who just smiles at me innocently. 

“Losing confidence now, my dear sister?” Dana asks me as she continues to smile at me slyly. 

“Why would I?” I replied casually, “From what I have heard, you already lost the North and West territory and Calvin is clearing the East.”

“Really?” Dana asks, “You really think you’ll win this game?” 

“Of Course,” I said confidently, but my senses were heightened as I anticipate a surprise attack. 

“Do you know what is the biggest mistake a person can make?” Dana asks.

“Being a cheater?” I asked with a smile, “Oh, no not that, how about a thief?”

A frown appeared on my sister’s lips as she hears what I have to say, “Nope,” she answered shaking her head.

“What is it then?” I asked. 

“Underestimating his or her enemy,” Dana answered and I watch as white flames appeared in her right hand, “I’m sorry, my dear sister, but I believe that losing is what you’re good at, so why don’t we continue the trend?” 

And with that, she threw the white fireballs at me. I was about to go jump to the ground when I sensed the familiar Alpha aura that I got to know so well. To avoid being hit by my sister’s fireball, I jump to the branch of the tree that stood beside the tree that I was standing at earlier. 

“In the end, you are a coward, my sister,” Dana snickered. Whoever thought that she was one fine lady because of the quiet and patient-like persona that she portrayed whenever she was around other people is being fooled. But I wouldn’t deny the fact that she is really a fine lady. She was trained to be a princess while I was trained as a warrior. But that doesn’t mean that I can’t act like a princess and her a warrior. 

“Being strategic is different from being a coward, my dear sister,” I said with a smirk, “Oh yeah, I forgot that you were not trained for this kind of thing, but I definitely know that you are so good at pretending and showing people only your good side so that when you do something wrong, you will still be the victim.” 

A frown appeared on my sister’s face and I know at that moment that I was getting on her nerves. 

“Don’t let her get to you,” Nori shouted from below, “Focus on our goal, Dana,” he added with a smile making me snicker. 

White flames once again appeared not only in her right hand but this time they also appeared in her left hand. I watched as she closed her eyes as she gathered the flames in her hands and turn them into a ball of white flames. Her lips move but her voice was too low for me to hear the chant or spell that she was using. 

I look at my surroundings and try to look for a way to survive until Calvin comes. I saw the high boulder on my left. I can stay there until Calvin comes to my aid. The only problem was, I need to go down from where I am to be able to reach it. 

“Feeling scared now?” Dana said happily as she threw the big ball of white flame in my direction. I release the red flame on my left hand and created a shield, unfortunately, the big white ball held so much power that I was not prepared with its strength that I almost fell. It was a good thing that Nori repeatedly trained me to keep my balance to help me bounce back on my feet. I didn’t waste any more time and I let my left hand create my shield once again. The only difference now is that my left hand let my red flame flow through my arms down to my hand as I create a spear and jump toward her. 

“Dana!” Nori shouted, “Jump!” But it was too late, as I land in front of my sister who had her mouth opened in surprise. I stood behind my sister and I know that at that moment we have finally won. 

I hear a howl not far from where I stood. A smile appear on my face the moment that I saw the familiar wolf. I see the wolves shift back into their human form. 

“So it’s a win for us,” Calvin said as he approached Nori who have shifted as well. One of the ushers of the game handed each of the naked men their shorts. 

“Dana is still in training,” Nori said as he put on their shorts.

“Excuses,” Calvin said laughing. 

“Mark my words my dear sister,” Dana said as she turned to face me, “This will never happen again.” 

“Words, Dana,” I replied, “Word doesn’t mean a thing unless they became an action. Remember that, my dear sister.” I moved closer to where she was standing and whispered, “Just like how you said that you will help me become Nori’s Chosen Mate, but then you became greedy and grabbed the opportunity to become his Chosen Mate.” I turned and started to walk away but Dana’s words made me stop.

“He chose me, Lana,” Dana said her voice pained. I turned to face her and gave her the best smile I can come up with. 

“You have a choice to decline for me, Dana,” I said as I continue to smile at her, “And yet you chose to be with him. So don’t give me that excuse.”

Dana was about to say something else but I didn’t want to give her the satisfaction of getting the last word. So before she can even utter a word, I jumped down from the branch where we were standing at.

Calvin approached me and gave me a high-five. 

“I know you can do it,” he said with a wink. He turned and I watch as his eyes linger over my sister who flew down from the ground. If you are asking if my sister has wings, the answer is no, she is just so powerful that she can control the air around her making her look like she was flying. 

Calvin turned his focus towards Nori. 

“Dinner is on you, Nori Boy,” he said smiling. 

“A deal is a deal,” Nori said shaking his head. As the loud cheers of the other trainees filled the forest. 

Drake runs towards us against the crowd. 

“Where the hell is Leon, Calvin?” Drake asked frowning. 

Calvin shrugged, pretending that he doesn’t know. But knowing Calvin, I know very well that he was the mastermind behind poor Leon’s disappearance. 

“Leon is a big boy now, Drake,” Calvin said. “No need to babysit that big guy.”

And with that Drake decided to leave the field as he lead the way toward Purple Hill City. He walked along with my sister and Nori while Calvin took my side. 

“You are getting better and better,” Calvin said to me as he place his arm over my shoulder.

“Of course,” I replied, “I learned from the best.”

“And by the best you mean, Nori, right?” Calvin asked teasingly as I look at the man in front of us. 

“Let’s not talk about someone who isn’t here,” I replied.

Calvin stopped walking, which made me stop walking as well. He placed his hands on my shoulder so that I can face him.

“We won today,” Calvin said smiling handsomely at me, “Our first win against Nori. So today, let’s stop moping around and party our asses off,” he added as he dances in front of me making me laugh.

“With that being said,” Calvin said but I can hint that something crazy is going on in his mind, “I will be your wingman tonight. And meet some handsome Alphas.”

“I am not in the mood for it,” I said as I start to walk away.

“Just leave everything to me,” he said with a wink as he started to run, pulling me behind him. 

For some, it might have been easy to move on. But for people like me, it’s hard. Letting go is never an easy thing, especially when that person you want to let go of is engraved in your heart.