We got into the car, and it smoothly pulled away. The city outside the windows turned out to be a strange mix of old and new.

  High-rises with neon signs stood next to crumbling brick houses, everything seemingly frozen in another time.

  I knew this was called "art deco." How?

  From Elliot's head. He'd read about architecture.

  Damn. This was happening more and more often. Foreign knowledge surfaced as if it were my own.

  Crowds of people filled the sidewalks. Some hurried to work, others leafed through newspapers. Cars waited at traffic lights for signals. In the shadows of buildings sat homeless people, watching passersby. Whenever a car drove by or a person walked past, people reached toward them hoping for generous charity—maybe among the passersby they'd find someone who wouldn't begrudge a coin?

  Elliot shivered. I felt his discomfort as my own—a sharp stab under my ribs.

  Through the rearview mirror, the Countess noticed our unease.

  We still hadn't managed to talk properly. I think only after we arrive will we be able to have a real conversation.

  "Scared?"

  I let Elliot answer for himself.

  "I don't know... All this is just... I'm still in shock."

  Dad is dead, flashed his thought in my head. I flinched. It wasn't my father, but the grief felt real.

  The Count decided to break the awkward pause:

  "That's a normal feeling, Elliot. We're all afraid of change. Even adults. You'll be happy here, don't worry. You'll start a new life."

  Elliot burst out sharply.

  "What if I don't want one?"

  I felt his emotions again: anger mixed with fear. I placed my hand on his shoulder. He flinched but didn't pull away.

  The Count smoothed over the situation again.

  "Let's just try it. We're not losing anything yet, right?"

  Elliot didn't respond, but stopped turning away. We drove beyond the city limits, and soon the road led us to the Waldberg estate. It was situated on a picturesque hill, surrounded by a small village with a couple dozen wooden huts. When the automobile stopped before the large gates, I couldn't suppress an admiring gasp.

  " This is your new home, temporarily for now. Who knows, maybe forever, of course. We hope you'll like it here."

  The estate looked imposing. Tall columns stretched toward the sky, supporting wide balconies. Neat patterns covered the facade, while huge windows seemed to watch us with curiosity. Everything here looked old but well-maintained—like a house that keeps its secrets.

  A garden spread before the building, where white gravel paths led to a fountain with an elegant marble figure. To the side, fields with neatly plowed earth were visible, along with a flock of birds peacefully pecking at something on the ground. Near the gates stood a gazebo with a wooden roof, covered by grapevines.

  "We live simply: land, forest, farm, a little trade. Sometimes it's easier to dig in the field yourself than wait for reports from workers."

  "Even with a title, we're not afraid to get our hands dirty, and we expect the same from you."

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  "Though you'd better not look at the Countess in the mornings if something on the farm goes wrong."

  "Ha! You might as well say you don't love giving orders to everyone yourself."

  "You're right, I do. Anyway, we try to keep everything in order. It's necessary here, otherwise you won't last long."

  "Don't be shy. If you need something, speak directly. We're used to honesty."

  "You'll like it here, we guarantee it."

  We got out of the automobile and headed toward the massive doors. Inside was even more impressive: high ceilings decorated with intricate patterns, marble slabs on the floor, and walls covered with paintings in gilded frames. Mirrors were everywhere, making the rooms brighter and more spacious. It seemed every space here breathed with history and mysteries.

  "I hope you'll feel at home."

  The Countess led us to our rooms and introduced us to the servants.

  "If you need anything, you can turn to them."

  Elliot looked at me, and I understood that despite all the new impressions, we both felt a little calmer. There was something about this place that inspired trust and hope.

  We were sitting in my room for some reason, looking out the window. I didn't even know how to start our conversation.

  "Listen... I still don't really understand what's happening, but I'm supposedly your brother now. Do we have any relatives left?"

  " Dad said we were alone."

  "What about a house? Money to live on?"

  "Lately we haven't spent much money. Dad said he sold everything just to cure me."

  "What are you sick with?"

  "I... I don't know. The same illness that killed my mother."

  "Well then, our situation's pretty lousy. But the most important thing now is to stick together, we'll figure out the rest."

  We gradually settled into the new house and began getting used to the new routine.

  In the mornings we were awakened by the smell of freshly prepared breakfast wafting throughout the house. The servants were attentive and caring, which helped us feel comfortable. There was pity in their attitude, but we shouldn't complain about that.

  After breakfast, Elliot and I went to morning lessons. Auntie, despite her stern appearance, turned out to be a good teacher. She explained the basics of etiquette, household management, and grammar to us. Elliot seemed to find this fascinating and enthusiastically absorbed new knowledge.

  Often after lessons or field work, we walked around the estate and surrounding area. Warm sun flooded the green meadows, while a light breeze rustled the tree leaves. We headed to the lake located on the edge of the estate. The water in it was crystal clear, and sun sparkles played on the surface.

  "Luten, look. How beautiful!"

  "Yes, it really is beautiful here."

  We sat on the grass by the shore and began discussing everything that had happened to us. Elliot shared his thoughts and worries, while I tried to support him despite my own uncertainty. In such moments I felt our bond growing stronger.

  Sometimes Aura joined us, the forester's daughter. A girl our age, she had bright auburn hair and blue eyes. She often braided her hair into pigtails. She wore either dresses or work shirts and pants. We could play hide-and-seek or simply explore the area. Lately I'd begun noticing Elliot's interest in Aura, though he tried to hide it.

  This time Aura had to stay home and help her father with household chores. We never asked what happened to her mother, and Aura herself didn't seem eager to tell us. After our walk we returned to the house and went to the library. Here, among the many books, I found ancient volumes describing the history of our world and magical arts. I immersed myself in reading while Elliot sat nearby and listened to me.

  My thoughts were pulled from reading when one of the maids peeked into the library.

  "Time for dinner, young masters."

  I looked up from the book and glanced at Elliot. He sat on the floor, leaning against a bookshelf, thoughtfully staring at the pages of an old atlas. He seemed to finally be feeling more comfortable. But something in his gaze remained wary.

  On the way to the dining room I noticed how he increasingly glanced toward the Count and Countess. As if trying to understand: could they be trusted? Elliot had always been like that—cautious, as if expecting a stab in the back. But this time something new appeared in his gaze. As if he was trying to find something... genuine in these people.

  I walked beside him, thinking about this. I remembered how he'd said we were alone now. Probably he still didn't believe anyone could be trusted. Especially after everything that had happened to us. We went downstairs and entered the spacious dining room. The table was set simply but tastefully: ceramic plates, silver utensils, and a large pitcher of water. The Countess was already sitting in her place, quietly saying something to a servant, while the Count poured himself wine from a bottle.

  "Sit down, boys. We're having a simple dinner tonight. But as they say, simplicity is best."

  Elliot sat down first. I noticed how he pressed his lips together when the Count warmly smiled at him yet again.

  "So, how do you like the house? Settled in a bit?"

  He shrugged:

  "It's... nice here. Unusual, but nice."

  The Countess chuckled.

  "I understand. Too quiet, right?"

  "Yes."

  "You'll get used to it. We once had to get used to this silence too."