'Where was I? Ah, right, I remember now.'
He mentally cleared his throat before continuing.
'As I was saying, the family's retaliation never actually stopped, meaning both of us constantly bore the brunt of their malice. Yet, even with all that hostility, my days finally became bearable, because for the first time in my life, I had someone in that house who actually looked forward to seeing me. We always clung to each other because we had no one else to rely on. As a result, we ended up incredibly close, eventually becoming closer than any real siblings could ever be.'
'And, just like that, many years passed.'
'As we grew older, I began to realize that things couldn't stay this way forever. We were getting by, but survival isn't the same as living. I wanted a better life for both of us, a way to lift us out of the dirt. And soon enough, the perfect opportunity to change our lives for the better arrived.'
It was none other than the awakening ceremony.
