Mystic Eyes

-Hoshino Ai-

She didn't really know what to think after meeting her ex elder sister, her first impression of her is that she looks intimidating as she could be, even those managers and directors that she has a 'pleasant' of working weren't as scary as Lorelei.

She thought that she would be cold and uncaring, but that changed when she saw her gently handling her children, heck she's even better than her in some way of handling them, despite the permanent cold exterior that she was showing them, her actions were the opposite.

While it did make her less wary of her, she's still a bit intimidated, as the aura around her was that of a person screaming 'superiority', her actions are measured, perfect, and refined to perfection that even someone like her could only watch her in awe.

Now that Lorelei was finished giving advice to her children, her attention was finally on her, to say that she wasn't nervous was a lie.

"So you're the one that my brother impregnated," Lorelei said in a neutral tone, but it came out as cold instead.

It wasn't her asking a question but merely stating facts, and with that alone, Ai immediately wore her 'idol' persona, a fake personality that she wears like an accessory.

"That's right! Though you don't have to be so blunt about it Alex sister!" Ai said with a cheerful expression.

Lorelei however didn't say anything about it and just replied. "Girl, others might not notice that 'mask' you're wearing, but to me it's obvious, I've seen a better facade than yours."

Ai's smile froze for a bit, before quickly answering. "What are you talking about! This is how I normally act!"

She wasn't lying when said that this is how she normally acted, every single day she wore a face filled with lies, and so far no one else noticed her fake idol persona, aside from the people she's close with, like the president.

This is the first time someone immediately realized that her idol persona is a facade, a fake that was filled with deception and lies.

And to think she figured it out the first time they met.

"Hm, I see you've been using that facade personality of yours every day to the point, you think it's real, not the worst case I encountered." Lorelei crossed one of her legs to the other.

Hearing that Ai was a bit confused and thought. 'Not the worst case? What does she mean?'

"Anyway, I'm not here to talk about your fake persona, however, I'd like you to talk to me, with the real you, it is rude to talk to me with a fake personality, so what is it going to be?" Lorelei stared at her directly in the eyes and made her decide to drop all pretense and increasingly became more stoic.

As soon as she dropped her idol persona, there was a hint of approval in Lorelei's eyes, but Ai didn't pay enough attention to notice.

"Is this what you want?" Ai didn't sound cheerful or joyful at the moment, as her voice was pure monotone.

"Indeed, yes this is a better alternative than your fake persona, frankly it was disgusting, however, I like you better this way." Lorelei used her thumb to support her chin as she was looking at Ai.

"Funny that you mentioned that, most people dislike this personality of mine, as it's sad, cruel, and depressing." Ai let out a humorless laugh.

Lorelei let out a 'hm' and replied. "I'm not most people, I like it better when I see people show me their true reflection."

Ai couldn't help but let out a chuckle at that, she honestly likes Lorelei's blunt honesty, it was refreshing.

"I like your honesty."

"That is given," Lorelei said a bit arrogantly.

A normal person would have been uncomfortable, however, it made her smile even for a bit, as Alexander's sister's personality is quite unique, even in the entertainment industry.

"So, why do you want to talk to Barthomeloi-san?"

"I'll give you permission to call me Lorelei," Lorelei answered, not realizing how amazing that feat is, to be given a person to call Lorelei by her first name, as only a handful amount of people could call her by her name, heck even Shirou was only allowed to call her by her given name after a few years of knowing her.

"Lorelei-san, then?"

"Hm." Lorelei nodded.

"Alright then, what do you want to talk about?" Ai asked once again.

"I'm sure you know by now that my brother and I aren't from a normal family, no?" Lorelei mentioned.

Ai nodded, it was hard not to when her ex flat-out told them that he's from an aristocratic family, so they definitely weren't normal.

"Good, this would be easier to explain, our family is powerful, in this world there is a little we can't have, and because of that you must understand having children from a person that isn't part of our world, isn't going to be well received by my people and it would cause a scandal if it the existence of my brother's children, and it would surely tarnish our family reputation, do you understand what I mean?" Lorelei stared at her directly into her eyes.

Her heart skipped a beat, due to nervousness, she may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but she certainly wasn't an idiot.

She could understand what Lorelei was implying, at least at the surface as she is generally clueless in the world of the rich and their politics.

Concerned with her children's safety, her stoic expression fell and was replaced with worry and deep concern. "W-what are you going to do with my children?"

"That's a complicated question, from your expression, you're worried if I wanted to hurt the twins, but worry not you have my word, they won't be in danger not in my watch." Lorelei was exceptionally serious about that matter.

"I-i see…" Ai let out the breath she was unknowingly holding until now, her worry significantly lessened, however, it didn't completely disappear.

"Either way, I'm not only talking about the twins, but it also applies to you, as they could never know that you aren't part of our world that's why, I'm going to reveal the secret of this world that only a few knows about, the moonlit world before I start." Lorelei suddenly muttered something in a fast-paced and snapped her fingers.

While her action was certainly odd, there was nothing special about it, at least from the perspective of a normal person that isn't part of the moonlit world, however, Shirou who was entertaining the kids, felt the mana in the air, and couldn't stop himself from glancing at Lorelei.

Lorelei just created a bounded field in an instant, it was a feat that not many magus could achieve and she just made it look easy.

Ai doesn't know what Lorelei did but it sent shivers down her spine, she felt goosebumps appear all over her skin.

"W-what was that…?"

Lorelei raised her brow at seeing her reaction and said. "Oh? This is certainly unexpected, a normal person would have never felt the prana in the air, but you did. This is good news because this means you have a high chance of having a magic circuit."

Hearing those words only made her feel confused, and thought. 'What is she talking about?'

"To answer your question, I have created a bounded field for security purposes, who knows there might be people listening to our conversation, but I suppose you don't understand what I'm saving don't you?" Lorelei said as if she was expecting her not to understand what she was talking about.

And she is completely right, Ai absolutely has no idea what the heck she was talking about.

"Very well, I shall explain to you the society that was hidden from the eyes and ears of a normal person, listen well as I'm not going to repeat this to you." Lorelei then started explaining about the moonlit world, the world of the supernatural, and the mage association.

That day Ai's understanding of the world started to crumble, all those myths and legends are real, at least most of them are.

Of course, she was skeptical at first after hearing Lorelei's explanation, but after seeing the undeniable proof the magic existed, only then she believed.

"So all this time…magic is real..?" Ai's eyes widened in disbelief as she couldn't believe a world that she thought was only available in fiction is real.

Gods are real, myths, magics, curses everything that has to do with the supernatural is real, she can't believe that she was living unaware of the dangers in the world.

"That's correct, however, don't call it magic, we call it magecraft nowadays, as we became technologically advanced, casting a fireball isn't magic, it's called magecraft. Magic is a true miracle, a power that can't be replicated through scientific means, anyway enough of that I'd like to see if you truly have magic circuits." Lorelei was blunt and demanding that she couldn't help but unconsciously followed her instructions and to her surprise.

She saw the cold woman look surprised as if she didn't expect it to happen.

"Well, well this is certainly a surprise…a girl from a non-magus family has more than 20 magic circuits than an average magus, not to mention it's only at a high quality, not bad at all, however the most surprising is that you have dormant mystic eyes." Lorelei smiled even for a bit and continued. "Fortune certainly favors us, this certainly would work."

"Ai Hoshino, you are going to be valuable to us."

Ai honestly doesn't know what to feel about after hearing those words, as it can't be good but she also couldn't complain, as for this is the sake of her family that's why she'll play along for now.

—

A/N: Ai had a total of 40 magic circuits and also high-quality ones, if you think about a person that isn't from any magus family had more magic circuits than an average magus, not to mention she also has a mystic eye, a person like that is one amongst billions.

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