"Sin. Get up, Sin. I was joking when I said you'd sleep on the floor."

I opened my eyes, drowsiness covering my being. I was worn out, all of my limbs feeling strained. My back hurt, as I slept on it weird. Hex was above me, looking energetic and worried.

"What do you need?... I want more sleep."

"We've got to get moving. We should leave this town right away," Hex insisted, motioning me up.

"Huh? Why?"

"Someone found two corpses in an alleyway, along with that destroyed clothes shop. Rumors are spreading, and it's only a matter of time until they send a professional to try and kill us. I rather avoid a fight."

"Crap. I'm up."

I rose, rubbing my eyes. I quickly got dressed, then brushed my hair with great speed. I'd usually take my time with it, but I didn't have a choice. I tied it up, sighing. Hex was standing by, as he was all prepped. He looked over at the corpses, gulping.

"We have a little time. Hurry and drink some blood. It will take a while until we reach the next town. I'm clearing out mine," Hex declared, walking to the bodies.

"Yeah."

Hex bent down, holding his corpse's neck toward him. He bit hard, sucking with a lot of force. He was chugging, blood dripping from the corners of his mouth.

I sat down next to him, biting mine. Her blood would've been good warm. It was sweet but coagulated. I ignored it, clenching my teeth harder. I was gulping down as fast as I could, not stopping to breathe. I finished quickly, licking my lips. Hex was still drinking, though he had less. He gasped every few seconds, bending his head back down.

Hex finished up, letting out a huge gasp when he stopped. Blood was running down his face, but he wiped it on his arm and licked it up.

"Are we good now? We need to leave," Hex asked, looking around the room.

"Yes. Let's go."

I stood up, stretching out my limbs. Hex looked impatient, so we were clearly in trouble. We rushed out of the inn, going out into the streets. The sun beat down on me, but I ignored it. We quickly walked down the streets, leaving back into the forest we came from. At least I had shoes, so I didn't need to worry about the ground any longer.

"Listen. We should stay in the wooded areas. Staying on the main road is a threat."

"Let's get to the woods, then," I agreed, running out of breath.

Hex nodded, so we went off the main dirt road, the trees over us. We were walking quickly until we were far enough into the woods. We stopped, taking refuge under some trees. The running had made me exhausted, so it was nice to stand under the trees and relax. Hex was calmed down, breathing heavily.

"We should be good... We're heading to a town near here. I recognized the name. It has a vampire hideout, so we'll be safe there."

"Good. How long will it take to reach?" I questioned, relieved we could be with our own species again.

"About a day. We'll reach it tomorrow morning. Let's take a break here."

"Yeah. I'm exhausted."

I sat down, my back against a tree. Hex did the same.

"Let's talk. Everything's going by fast. We might die, so we should know more about each other. Though I saw you last year, it was only for an hour. We used to hang out, but you stopped when you turned thirteen. Why did you hide away in your room?" Hex asked, sad and curious. I felt like cold water was in my stomach, the feeling of small snakes running down my back. Nerve and fear filled me.

"I'm... not sure. I was told to study, but it only took me a week to memorize it. I read over it so many times it stuck. I realized that I'd be pampered if I was thought to be studying, so I stayed. I didn't just want a week of indulgence, but I planned to stop after a month. I grew too fond of living easy, so I never ended up leaving, I suppose."

"That's it?! You never came out because of sheer laziness! You had no other reason..."

Hex stared at me, his eyes showing anger and despair. I didn't want him to look so sad, so I breathed in and out a few times in preparation for the whole truth.

"I didn't want to mention this, but there is one other reason... It's embarrassing... Don't laugh," I muttered, unable to look him in the eyes. Hex turned serious, hoping I had a good reason after all.

"I won't laugh."

"I-I gained... a lot of... w-weight... At the month mark, I considered going out, but then I looked at myself... All I did was sleep and eat, not even bothering to remove myself from bed unless I went to the bathroom, but I didn't realize I let myself go. I only gained fifteen pounds at the time, but it freaked me out. My stomach wasn't flat like it used to be, so I didn't want to leave. If you remember, I didn't even leave for sword fighting practice until I was fifteen. I used a ring of invisibility whenever I left, making sure not to bump into anyone. I was depressed, so I ended up drinking even more..."

"Why weren't you seen for two years? What were you doing? You looked good when you started appearing again," Hex mumbled, feeling sorrow.

"From when I was thirteen to fourteen, I was completely indulging myself. I was saddened by my appearance, so I made it worse by blocking the pain with blood... I gained one hundred and ten pounds in a year... I made sure the servants wouldn't tell anyone, threatening to kill them if they did. This is one reason I hung around my room naked, as I didn't wear clothes at this point. I grew used to living without clothes. I couldn't let anyone know that I needed bigger outfits..."

"You should've come out at the month mark! I really wouldn't have cared that you gained weight, and I could've helped you!" Hex shouted, looking down at the soil. He was filled with guilt, and I was filled with regret. I sighed, as I wasn't done.

"Let me finish... I was pissed off at myself, so I ended up taking it out on others. That's why the servants had broken limbs and bruises, as they can't heal as fast as us. I injured them whenever they did something slightly off, which is probably the start of when I became wrathful.

I ended up killing one of them when they brought up losing weight, but I started thinking about it. I couldn't live in the room forever, so I started exercising when I was fourteen. I skipped my birthday celebration that year, as I was out of shape at the time. I still kept my binge eating problem, but I worked the blood off. I didn't bother sleeping for many nights, just exercising. I was thin after five-sixths of the year, but I continued to build muscle.

I appeared at my fifteenth birthday, but I was extremely nervous. Everyone was surprised since I was slightly muscular and I grew out my hair. It was probably a shock that I even appeared after two years. I started appearing more after that," I finished, sitting quietly. I looked down, unable to face Hex in my shame.

"I didn't know that... Why wouldn't you stay out for long?! It was shocking when you turned from scrawny to somewhat muscular. You were kind when you were younger, but then you were suddenly aggressive. You used to go outside with me, but you turned extremely slothful and never left the castle, if your room at all."

Hex looked upset, and I was equally as sad. I felt cold.

"Yeah... I changed a lot. It was easy to realize when everyone tried to avoid me. I saw you around occasionally, but I didn't want to talk. I stayed in my room, as the time distanced me from everyone. I didn't know how to function outside of it."

"Why wouldn't you want to talk?!" Hex yelled, enraged when I told him. I accepted it, sighing. It was understandable for him to be angry, as I didn't bother to talk to him of all people.

"It was a little awkward. Everyone was afraid of upsetting me, and you were different as well. You were decent with your magic when we were younger, but, out of nowhere, everyone started calling you gifted with it. You seemed busy with your studies, so I didn't want to bother you."

"I didn't try to talk, either... I hadn't even checked on you, though you were in your room for so long," Hex muttered, putting his hand on his forehead. We sat in silence for a minute, pondering the past. Hex looked up, appearing as if he was going to speak. "I have a secret, too. I haven't told anyone, as it's pretty bad."

"I don't think it's worse than mine..."

"I know... forbidden magic."

"Holy crap! That stuff is supposed to be difficult to learn. What kind?" I questioned, gaping at him.

"I dabble in time magic. It's not supposed to be used, as it could lead to all sorts of madness. Youth magic has been created, but no one knows there's one to age. I have one other original spell. I lied about that last one being my first."

"You could've been banished for practicing with that! I guess it doesn't matter, now. On the other hand, you created a freaking aging spell?! That's amazing!"

"There's a problem with it... There isn't a way to reverse the spell... That week I spent "lost" was actually when I was searching for the incantation for youth. I snuck out so no one would find out I was older. I read that it was buried, so I found it. I can place youth on myself, and take it off, but I can't undo the aging spell," Hex explained, looking ashamed. I, on the other hand, was proud. It's an amazing feat.

"You're definitely going to be a general! I'll make you one myself! It's crazy that you could do that. If you undo the youth spell, how old will you be?"

"Twenty. That's why I'm in baggy clothes. I don't want to struggle in this world at my current age."

"You'll be older than me?" I asked, nervous. I didn't like the idea of Hex being older.

"Yeah. Sadly, I don't look it, though. I thought I'd look older when I grew up... You look like you're twenty, but I look like I'm seventeen... It's not fair..."

"Heh. The ages are backward. At least you'll look older than you currently do," I replied, finding the irony funny. I've always looked older than my age.

"I suppose. I'll release the youth spell. It's comfortable to be small... I wanted to grow up naturally, but I guess magic gets in the way of that."

Hex stood up, ready to reverse the spell. I stood up too, wanting to see it at a level view. I watched in anticipation. I know it's forbidden, but I'm perfectly fine with him having it. I'll become king, anyway.

"Turn the clock forward, once again. Take away my youth."

I watched as Hex grew into his clothes. He became tall, though an inch shorter than me. His body grew, so his muscles looked normal. It's weird for a child to have bulky muscles. It doesn't look quite right. His body type is thicker than mine, but it worked. He is really large, his muscle mass partially to blame. His shoulders are broad, mine definitely much closer. His complexion made him seem younger than he was. His shirt was a little loose on him, so I was slightly jealous. His pants fit well, too.

"That's awesome! You just skipped puberty... Lucky you... You were right about looking younger, though. You're older than me, but I'm still taller. Your face looks young, too. You look like an older teen, but I look like a young adult."

"You don't need to remind me," Hex complained, feeling his face with his hand. I stared at him with awe. I felt like I had a heart attack when I heard him speak. It's the same voice from when he casts spells... "Does my voice shock you? Everyone thinks it's deep when I cast because I'm powerful, but it's my actual voice. Since the aging can't be undone, this is my default. The youth isn't permanent, so I don't have my young voice when casting in that form." Hex explained, speaking firmly. His voice was calm and clear, making him seem mature. While talking, he looked at himself, observing his features.

"Your voice is deeper than mine! You look young, but your voice is manly! Life isn't fair..."

"How do you think I feel? I skipped a good portion of my childhood... Also, you look older."

"I don't look much older..."

"There is one thing good about this body," Hex mentioned cockily, smirking. It felt weird to see him eye to eye.

"What would that be?"

Hex took off his shirt, throwing it on the forest floor. He flexed his arms and body, grinning. Hex is extremely muscular... He was staring at himself, observing every part of his person. Thrilled, he gave me a smile and rubbed his abs and chest with his fingertips.

"My muscles don't look odd! It's a little strange to be muscular as a child. It just doesn't feel right... Everyone acts like it's weird... It feels right now, though! I look normal!"

Hex was hyped, but I was jealous. It reminded me that he has way more muscle mass...

"You have a six pack... And it looks normal now..."

"Yeah! It's great! Don't fret about it. You almost have one," Hex replied, beaming. He stretched out, trying to get used to his size. His movements were a little awkward.

"I'm still counted as the oldest, right?"

"You've been alive longer, so, yeah. I'm mentally thirteen. My body just disagrees with my mind."

"Good. Are you going to stay like this?"

"Yes. It feels good to be taller. I'm stronger, too. However, my magic didn't get any better," Hex answered, feeling his face again and sweeping his hair back. He was examining his hand, trying to adjust to its size, which was a good amount larger than my slender one.

"How much stronger? Are you stronger than me?" I quickly blurted. It would be unbearable for Hex to be stronger, as it's my thing. If he had strength and magic, I'd be obsolete.

"I'm not sure... We could test it. I doubt I'm stronger than you. It's weird how much strength you have. Your injuries heal unbelievably quickly, too."

"Yeah. I was holding back at the clothes store, which is lucky. Your regeneration is strong, right?"

"More so now. It's hard to heal from wounds you inflict, though. You've permanently scarred some of our siblings and servants. Why?" Hex questioned, turning his head to face me.

"You break my hand, then I'll break yours. Let's see who can do it faster. Add as much force as you can."

Mild fear was on Hex's eyes.

"I'm not sure if I like that idea... You might make my hand unable to be healed."

"It'll just be crushed into a fine powder. It's not like I'm using fire or a boiling substance... Can you heal from that?" I questioned nonchalantly. It didn't seem like a big deal to me, as I recover easily.

"I don't think so. I don't want to test it."

I sighed, as I thought Hex was a wimp.

"I'll crush my own hand, then."

I held both of my hands up to Hex. He looked nervous. I was calm, as it was highly unlikely he'd permanently damage me. I could grow another hand if I needed to, anyway.

"Are you sure you want me to do this?"

"Yeah. Choose whatever hand you'd like," I confidently told, holding them close to him.

"I'm choosing the left one. Sorry about this."

I put down my right hand, as it wasn't needed. Hex held out his arm, nervously looking at me. He held onto my hand, then squeezed it. His muscles became tense, a few veins bulging. His face turned red, as he put all of his strength into it. My fingers were pushed together, snapping. They broke in all directions, several fractures sprinkled all over my hand. The bone crushed into small chunks in a few places. Hex stopped, worn out from it.

My hand was definitely broken, so we looked at it. I pushed flipped over parts into the normal position, the bones fusing together. I shook my hand, crackling heard. After a few seconds, it was completely restored. I moved my fingers, sighing.

"You didn't even look fazed by that. Didn't it hurt?"

"Yes, but I've felt worse. I've tested out different injuries to see if I'd heal. Fire didn't even work. It took extra long to heal, but somehow it did. I think the only way to kill me is if my brain is destroyed. I punctured my heart and nothing," I explained, thinking little of my injuries.

"You tested with fire?! That's extremely hard to recover from. You should know, as you've burnt a lot of people."

"They asked for it... But yeah. I was perfectly safe. I burnt my leg, so I wouldn't die from it."

"And you didn't move on from there?" Hex asked, moving one eyebrow up.

"I never said that. I tried my leg first, then about everywhere else. I'm good."

"I don't understand you... Are you going to break your own hand?"

"Oh... Right."

I took the hand he injured and used it to break my other one. With some force, I broke through it as if it were butter. My fingers were like worms, as the bones were completely obliterated. The palm's bones were powdered, too. I squeezed a little too hard, as I accidentally broke into my flesh, so the blood started to drip. I showed the hand to Hex, his eyes showing astonishment. It started healing, the fingers flipping back into position. I put it to my side, not caring to watch it while it healed.

"You can do that?! It didn't even look difficult!"

"That's because it wasn't difficult," I mentioned, shrugging.

"You must actually like me. If you wanted to, you could've pulverized me at the clothes store. How much were you holding back?"

"I was holding back most of it. I didn't mean to hurt you anywhere close to how I had... Even in my rage... I have to hold back for everything. I would rip out my hair whenever I brushed it if I couldn't hold back. Also, I've said that you're a good brother. You don't need me to keep repeating that I like you. If I didn't, I would've killed you by now."

"Were you holding back on your hand?" Hex questioned, suspicious. Again, he knew me.

"If I didn't, all of the flesh would come loose and my bone dust would fall out. I'd pretty much tear off my own hand, turning it into ground meat with bone sprinkled on top. Even that far, I would still have strength. It would've all squished out of my hands, what remained just gore falling into the wrinkles of my hand.

"That sounds horrific. Never do that, Sin."

"I won't. It takes a long time to heal a missing hand. About two hours, more or less."

"Only two hours?! I was expecting a month!" Hex exclaimed, completely awed.

"That long? That'd be ridiculous."

"It really wouldn't be... Your healing is amazing."

"Oh. Should we get going now? We've wasted enough time here. Also, I'm hungry," I said, my stomach growling quietly. Hex's impressed face turned unimpressed quickly.

"You realize that you can't eat any more today, right?"

"Huh?"

"You drank all of the blood from one person. You have a one person limit now, remember?" Hex explained, looking matter-of-factly. It was strange to hear him lecture me with a deep voice. I kind of missed his slightly deep prepubescent voice. I felt my eye twitching slightly, but didn't think about it.

"Oh... Right... I can manage with that."

"Can you? Your face is twitching a little."

"Ignore that."

"Let's go, then. We have a lot of walking to do," Hex reminded, bending down and picking his shirt up. He slid it down his body, stretching his arms.

"Your voice is still freaking me out a bit, but yeah."

"Heh. I like the deep voice. It feels good to speak in it. I feel powerful. These clothes were really comfortable when I was thirteen, but I look great," Hex proudly said, puffing up his chest with cockiness. I puffed up mine, as I didn't want to seem weak. I was annoyed by my shirt, as it came up a bit when I stood firm. I slid it back down, sighing.

"They're still looser than mine... My shirt might as well have been painted on me."

"Looks it, too. I wasn't fully sure what size I was, so I estimated," Hex explained. While I need a tight shirt to accentuate my muscles for appeal, Hex doesn't. Though his shirt is loose, his arms and shoulders are so buff that it was obvious the rest of him is.

"When you were "lost," were you outdoors without clothes? You came back your normal size, but your clothes were oddly neat."

"Well, they couldn't fit on me like this, could they?" Hex responded, acting as if it were obvious.

"No... Anyway, let's hurry and go."

Hex and I started walking, the sun blocked by the trees above. It was weird to see an older Hex, but I was getting used to it. He was still shorter, so it wasn't too weird. Besides, he was still Hex.