Thank you to Meowthefluffy for requesting this chapter!

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Virgil giggled as he ran around with Roman, a big grin on his face, playing tag. Virgil is 6 and Roman was 7, each of the boys meeting in Pre-K and had been friends ever since, promising that they would never part, even if they died. Virgil's older brother, Janus, being 8 years-old, was hanging out with Roman's twin, Remus, who was currently poking a dead mouse that had a cracker near it with a stick. Virgil tripped over a rock and landed in the dirt, scrapping his arms and knees. Virgil sat up slowly, trying not to cry, blood slowly oozing from the small cuts. 

Roman quickly ran over to Virgil, worry very apparent on his facial features. "Virgil! Are you okay?!" Roman asked, kneeling down next to Virgil, looking at the cuts that were covered in dirt and blood. Virgil sniffled, tears pricking at his eyes as he started crying from the pain. Roman panicked a little and hugged Virgil, shushing him quietly and saying that he will be okay.

The babysitter, Logan, who was about 14 years-old, ran over when he heard Virgil crying, inspecting the situation. "Hey Virgil, come here, let's get you all cleaned up, okay?" Logan said as he picked the 6 year-old up, carrying him to the bench Logan was lounging on with a book. Roman followed, worried for his friend, as he watched Logan sit Virgil down on the bench and go through his backpack, pulling out a mini first-aid kit. Logan pulled out a few band-aids, hydrogen peroxide, ointment, and a small towelette. Logan quickly cleaned up Virgil's cuts while Roman comforted the crying one, holding his hand and talking to him about a knight fighting a dragon.

"There, all done, you can go back and play-" Logan got interrupted when the sound of a car honked it's horn, showing it was Janus' and Virgil's parents. The two said goodbye to their friends, crawling into the car and driving off. Logan sighed softly as he waved the two kids off, sitting back on the bench with his book. "Remus and Roman, don't run off too far, okay? I don't want either of you getting hurt," Logan said while the two boys ran off, giggling, pretending to be playing with swords.

Remus and Roman got close to the edge of the forest where the park ended, inspecting some of the wild flowers that were on the edge, until something pulled them into the bushes, the screaming being stopped by two people.

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Virgil was excited to go to school the next day, wanting to see Roman again. He didn't know what it was about him, but, Roman made a warm feeling grow in his chest and make his stomach feel weird. Virgil waved goodbye to his brother and walked into his classroom, confused when he didn't see Roman in his usual spot with the crayons and paper. He was usually very early to school because his mom needed to head to work at 7 AM and school started at 8 AM. Virgil was even more confused to not see Remus, near the widow with his sticks and rocks.

Virgil walked slowly to the back of the classroom and waited for Roman to come back to the classroom with Remus, they could be in the bathroom. Virgil noticed that neither of the boys cubbies had their backpacks and lunch pails, making Virgil worry more. 'They could be sick,' Virgil tried to reason to himself, but, he knew the other two were very healthy. Sometimes only one got sick and the other would come to school a little later and their mom would stay home. But never both.

Virgil was in his head the rest of school, trying to figure out what happened to the other two, declaring that he would walk to their house after school to find out. With Logan and Janus of course.

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After school, Virgil met up with Janus and told him that Roman and Remus were not at school today and wanted to drop by their house today. Janus agreed and they went to the middle school where Logan would meet up with them to babysit. They found Logan, but in a disheveled state, dark eye bags under his eyes, hair unkempt and his usual tie loosened. Logan walked over and forced a smile to the two, saying, "Greetings Virgil and Janus, where are Roman and Remus?" Virgil gave the run down that he didn't see them at school and wanted to go to their house to check on them. Logan seemed to be lost in thought, biting his lip and looking anywhere but the two children. 

Logan slowly nodded his head, fixing his backpack on his shoulders and pushing his glasses up his nose. "Yes, that seems like a great idea, Virgil," Logan said, reaching his hand out to the both of them, Virgil taking Logan's hand willingly and Janus grabbing hesitantly, able to notice the hesitance in Logan's behavior.

As they were nearing the twin's house, Virgil noticed a police car outside of the house, along with multiple near the park. Virgil tilted his head up at Logan and asked, "Lo-Lo, what's going on? Why are there so many police cars here?" Logan shakily shrugged, telling the boys to stay on the bench that was on the lawn of the twin's house, heading towards the mother of the twins, who was crying hysterically. Virgil looked around, his curiosity getting the best of him, heading to the park,  Janus trailing by closely, also quite curious. 

As the two boys neared the park, they saw caution tape near the deep ditch that was on the outskirts of the forest, where there was a net covering all the sides to show no entry. Janus and Virgil neared closer, Virgil covering his mouth at what he saw, Janus quickly pulling Virgil away from falling into the ditch. What Virgil had saw at the bottom of the ditch were Roman and Remus, blood covering them and the dirt. There was so much blood. Virgil heaved, tears pricking his eyes, falling backwards onto his back, crawling away from the ditch, breathing becoming increasingly difficult.

He couldn't believe it. Roman and Remus are dead. 

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Virgil shot up in his bed, sweating and screaming. He heaved, trying to get his breathing back at a regular pace, closing his eyes, breathing in for 7, holding for 8, and letting it out for 7. His breathing slowed, tears blurring his vision. It has been 15 years since Roman's death and Virgil still gets nightmares about it. Virgil looked over at his digital clock, the red numbers reading '6:42 AM'. He sighed, getting out of bed, heading towards the kitchen to brew some coffee. 

Virgil is living in a small apartment by himself, a couch taking up the living room with a TV and a gaming console that can play movies. Virgil started to grind up coffee beans, placing half a cup into his straining unit, heating up a kettle of water to pour over the coffee. The 'Pour Coffee' trick was introduced to him by Janus' roommate, Patton, to get more caffeine and a cleaner brew. 

Virgil leaned against the kitchen counter as he sipped his coffee, listening to the sound of cars driving by every once in a while. Virgil turned on the TV, flipping to the news, seeing the same old stuff that usually came up. A guy robbing a store, old scientific discoveries, and the weather. Virgil heard a knock on his door, making him look down at his phone, a confused frown appearing on his face when he saw it was 7:12 AM. No one in this apartment complex wakes up at this time and he certainly does not receive packages at this time. He doesn't even get his packages carried to his door, they are dropped off the the matrix of mailboxes near the apartment office.

Virgil shrugged on his jacket quickly, peering through the peep hole, his heart dropping to his stomach. It can't be. Virgil opened the door slowly, peeking his head into the opening, cautious about this whole thing. The thought about 'this is the day I die' briefly crossed his mind as the person started talking. "Hey Virgil, long time no see?" a deep honey-like voice erupted from the man, running his hand through his dyed red hair that was styled to perfection, wearing a red and white wind breaker, blue jeans, and black converse. 

Virgil blinked shutting the door quickly, leaning against the door. He put his hand up to his mouth, eyes wide, a million thoughts running through his head, the loudest one being 'How. The. Fuck. Is. He. Alive.'

Virgil picked up a banana that was on the kitchen counter, opened the door, and through it at the man, it bouncing off his chest and landing on the floor. "Y-You are not a ghost... holy shit, what the fuck, how is this possible?!" Virgil mumbled, staring wide-eyed at the very mortal person in front of him. The man smiled sheepishly and said, "Yeah, I'm very much alive, even though they very much declared us dead. If you let me come inside, I can explain everything?"

Virgil nodded stupidly, leaving the door open for him as he treaded to the couch, falling onto it, eyes wide as saucers. Roman closed the door behind him as he walked in, sitting on the other end of the couch from Virgil, wringing his hands together. "So, where should I start... probably at the beginning, huh?" Roman said, Virgil nodding slowly at the rhetorical question, bewildered as all hell.

"Well..."

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Roman's and Remus' screams were stopped by two people quickly placing chloroform cloths over the twin's mouths, making them pass out quickly. The two people carried the boys deeper into the forest to a large cabin, weird emblems carved into large pieces of bark placed in a circle around the cabin. Many herbs and flowers were hanging outside on string, creating a floral aroma as they walked into the house. The twins were placed in a room with two beds, a written note on the table. 

"Hello Roman and Remus, we are very aware that you are scared and confused, but, there is a reason why you are here. We have found magical capabilities within the two of you and would like to train you to control your magic and use it wisely. If you do not want to learn, we understand, and will take you back to where you belong. If you do accept, we will need to make copies of you and have people presume you are not alive anymore. Magic needs to be held secret from the rest of society, as they still cannot handle its' power. You are free to wander the forest and learn every skill that everyone in society expects of you when you leave your studies here and join back with society."

The two people were both women, Tu and Helter, both strong in wizardry. They did studies in magic, brewing potions, and harmonizing with their environment. Roman and Remus had decided that they wanted to learn their magic, knowing the consequences, but were promised to be properly taken care of while under the witches guidance.

Roman had focused on herbal and elemental magic, fire being the most easiest to learn for him. Remus had learned manipulation and herbal magic, being able to manipulate anything into what he desired, which was either morbid or not, but, he did not use it against breathing things, knowing the consequences the nature of magic would give him. He once did it on a mouse as a test subject and was ill for weeks.

They were both there for 15 years, celebrating 15 birthdays there and learning as much as they could until Tu and Helter said that they were ready to leave and be in the world, knowing how to control themselves now.

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"And that's how I ended up here. The witches had kept tabs on everyone that was close to us and gave us addresses if we wanted to reunite with any of them," Roman finished, looking over to Virgil, who's eyes were wide, not able to believe a single word he said. It was magic for fuck sake. Magic is fake, a folk tale. 

Or, was it?

2,054 Words