Aela knelt the flame hovering over providing a circle of radiant light, Aela hugged them each one at a time. "I'm sorry you had to find out about my powers this way... and that magic has harmed you two as well."
Aela sighed and continued "Since you know, I might as well tell you." She pointed up at the small flame. It seperated into four each a different color, orange, blue, white, and black.
"Within my family each person born is able to use fire magic with these colors. Each color does different things. Mainly the white flames heal, the blue fire is used for higher offensive spells. And Black...is used for emergencies. However, there is a price to pay in our bloodline. Since mana or the source of magic runs through anyone gifted with magic it has a limit per person. My brother Adian.. his disease is caused by how his mana flows. You see he has so much of it that it's causing more harm then good. And it refills quickly before he can expend much of it. Apparently it is very common in my family for someone to pass away due to this."

"I usually try to expend tons of mana without causing too much damage to the environment around me. I do it as often as I need to keep my mana levels down. However... every time I use magic and when I get older the mana grows and the result of depleting it takes a bigger toll each time."
All I know is there has to be someone gifted in magic at the Capital City just outside the kingdom. I planned on making the journey there to find a solution... and save my brother. He.... doesn't have much time. A month at the most is what I was informed of this mourning." @Vampiretwilight

@Emera Lore
Eric and Emily could not say anything in response. They tended to loose their human voices when they turned into animals. However, they let her hug them. They looked right at her. They acted like they were listening, which they were. Their human-like stares in those animal eyes proved that much.

They would have frowned if they had human faces as Aela told them her tale. They would have hugged her again if they had human arms. They would have also sighed if they were not in those animal bodies. They wished they could do something, but they were helpless at the moment. They would remain so until sunrise, when the curse activated again and they changed back into humans.

Eric looked towards the sky, past the cave entrance. He hoped that sunrise would happen soon, so they could properly talk and comfort their friend. Emily hoped up onto Aelas' lap and curled up. It was all she could do at the moment. Eric, following suit, laid down on all fours next to her, and rested his goat head on her side.

@Vampiretwilight

Aela flicked her wrist the four flames became one again, and returned to a normal flame. Once it finished Aela felt Emily land in lap, she smiled and pet her a few times a way of comforting her.

As Eric rested at her side, she blushed at first. Then she wrapped her arm around him. Comforting him the same way she did with Emily.

“I know I can’t do much when you two are in these forms. But, I can provide light, warmth, and protection.”

Aela began drifting off to sleep, even as she slept her flame burned and remained floating above. It remained so until the sky brightened at dawn.

@Emera Lore
Sunrise would arrive soon enough when slumber was finally granted to them. Emily and Eric would change back as the curse would have activated. They awoke with a start and moved away from Aela. There was a bit of a reaction to pain from them. Within a few moments, they both stood in front of her, human once again.

Emily sighed, and so did Eric. However, they could not help but feel relieved. They felt bad that she got dragged into their problem, but they did not have to keep it a secret anymore. On top of that, they could help her in return. She had a problem of her own and needed help. That was what led them to realize they that both needed help as well.

Eric carefully approached Aela.
"Aela…"
He reached over to touch her arm.

@Vampiretwilight

“Hmm.....?”
Aela slowly opens her eyes and notices Eric she blushed. “Eric...?“
She quickly stands up and brushes off her dress. She was unsure what to say at this point she wasn’t fully awake.
“Emily...so that is how it works... I’m sorry again about last night.”

@Emera Lore
Emily and Eric both blinked. They shook their heads.

"You don't have to apologize."

Eric nodded in agreement.
-"We see now that we should have told you."

Emily nodded in agreement that time. Then, both she and Eric sighed. They frowned sadly as they sat there. Eric still had his hand on Aelas' arm, a kind gesture.
-"We were...cursed...a few days ago."

Eric went on to tell her the tale. Emily sat close by, silent.
-"We were in the middle of spending a day outside with our parents when some strange woman showed up. She was dressed in black. She said something about finally finding us, and something about a war and a prophecy. Then, she demanded that we join her. We refused. She got angry and cursed us, saying we were given one chance to change our minds and that she would give us time to decide before she vanished. The curse would be permanent if we refused again. We began to search for a way to break the curse ourselves. That was when we found out about....HER...some sorceress queen who lived in what was believed to be in a non-existent kingdom. It seems only she has a magic strong enough to break our curse and put an end to all of this."

Emily sighed.
"That was why we are leaving town. We were about to go on a journey to find her."

@Vampiretwilight
Aela smiled sadly at the remark that she didn’t have to apologize. “I almost attacked you two with my own magic. How could I not apologize. Plus... I hid my gifts from you two for years as did my brother.”
Aela furrowed her brow, a signal she was listening intently. As they agreed to tell her what happened. Aela listened to Eric tell the tale she liked how Eric still had his hand on her arm it was comforting.
“To anyone not involved with magic, could make her out to be some strange woman. She is extremely strong to cast a curse like yours. I’m in no way a professional, but maybe I couldn’t sense your mana due to it being dormant? Do you remember what the prophecy about you two was? And with this Queen of a hidden kingdom do you have any leads of how to get there or met anyone who knows how to get there?“

@Emera Lore
Eric shook his head.
-"As we said. you do not have to apologize for the misunderstanding. We did try to hide from you after all."
Emily nodded in agreement.

Eric and Emily both sighed.
"Strong? Maybe."
Eric nodded.

-"Something about a war, like I told you. Something about us being a key to victory or whatever."
Emily nodded.
"It didn't make much sense to us. How can we be a key to some victory to some war? And one we are not even involved in?"
Eric nodded that time.

They both frowned. They were unsure of what to do.
"The book we found out about the kingdom in said it was hidden from the world, but would be revealed to those whose hearts believed in magic and carried no ill will. Basically, the gates would open for those of magic blood who truly needed a place to go."

Eric nodded again.

@Vampiretwilight

Aela thought for a moment, she folded her arms. “Well, I know she’s strong because I sensed her curse you. At least remains of her spell not the full extent. I’m still kinda knew at sensing new magic.
However, from you two I sense no other mana source within you. At least for the time being.”
“Those with magic bloodlines have skips or those extremely gifted like my brother Adian. It seems somewhere in your ancestry was magic and the one who cursed you either knows about what magic you posses or wants it for herself. Either way it’s bad news. Looking out for this hidden kingdom will be dangerous. If you don’t mind me tagging along I can offer protection for you both.”

@Emera Lore

Emily nodded.
"If you believe so."

Eric nodded as well.
-"What Emily said."

They both listened to Aela. They blinked and froze. Then they looked at each other.
"Magic?"
-"In OUR bloodline?"
They both frowned. Eric cleared his throat.

-"Are you sure?"
"It would be very dangerous."
-"Yes, something could happen to you. We wouldn't want anything like that to happen because of US."

Emily nodded.

@Vampiretwilight
Aela glanced at them completely serious, her green eyes sparked with concern. “You told me she said you both are the key to winning a war. I can only assume she means one with magic. Hence, your bloodlines importance. It would add up if you have magic power it’s just dormant due to inuse. Hopefully, your mana can be better handled then my situation.”

“If you want more answers I’d start asking your parents, if they don’t know anything consult your family history records. I’d suggest doing this before you head out.”

“As far as the trip I’m going. How will you defend yourselves if you run into more magic users? And since you both are the chosen ones you will need protection. That being said give me a moment to situate everything and meet me at my home when you two are ready.”

@Emera Lore
"We did a lot of research."

Eric nodded.
-"We did. We went as far back as out great great great great great grandfather who was a stage magician who traveled a lot with his wife and daughter, but that was it. Beyond him there was not much of a record, except that he himself had been an orphan who never knew his parents."

Emily nodded.
"Our parents have already told us everything they no. Nothing that the sorceress would have targeted us over, or anything that wasn't in the records."

Eric and Emily both sighed.
"If you insist on traveling with us fine."
Emily looked at her brother.
-"You can't say we did not warn you. I...um...We like you, you know."

Eric quickly looked away. Emily raised an eyebrow.

@Vampiretwilight

Aela listened to their ancestry story. "There your orphaned ancestor who was a stage magician? Seems he might have had a love for magic. I wonder if his magical bloodline either skipped him or his mana was low enough to do some fantastic stage magic. For now we can assume that is where your magic is. Until you know more that is all the leads you seem to have at present."
Aela smiled toward Emily and nodded "Then it's settled."

Aela raised an eyebrow as Eric said his first half of his comment about being warned. But, as he suggested he liked her she flushed completely. Aela laughed with genuine joy "Well Eric, I am flattered. I tend to like you both too.And now your stuck with me."

Aela moved to the front of the cave. "I will meet you two in a few hours. Spend that time getting ready and say your goodbyes. Meet me infront of my home and we can head out on our journey."

@Emera Lore
Emily and Eric both blinked. They were unsure about what she said about that man. They both simply nodded.
"Very well."
-"If you say so."
They decided not to argue with her or anything.

Eric heard her laugh. He found himself blushing. Emily noticed this and nudged him a bit with her elbow. She spoke to him in a quiet whisper.
"Well? She already knows about our curse, and got us to let her help. Why not just tell her already? You've known each other for a long time, I doubt she'll reject you, at least not cruelly."
Eric frowned and narrowed his eyes at her, blushing. He whispered back.
-"Shut up. I...I can't. J...just be quiet."

Eric bit his lip. Emily sighed and rolled her eyes. They both looked at Aela again and nodded.
"Alright. We will see you very soon."

Eric simply nodded, unable to make eye contact. They left. They packed up. They did not tell their parents anything since the older couple, named Sarah and James, already knew. They hugged their children goodbye for what they hoped would not be the final time. Then, Emily and Eric returned to their friends' home and waited for her.

Aela once home, made a quick breakfast for Adian. And told him about her departure and to behave for her replacement she arranged. The person in question was considered distant family member with knowledge of their terrible magic disease. At one point, she had dated their father and saw Adian's first signs of the disease.
"I won't be gone too long. I promise to bring you back somethnig from my journey. You need to respect Aunt Mary with respect while I am gone. Enjoy some of the pastries. Those were from the party last night freshend up just for you" She embraced tightly.

He held her as well for a few moments. "Just come back home." Adian slipped a ring onto her finger it was their fathers. "Take this with you, it should be your anchor in case things get bad. Remember to not overdo it or you could be a burden to your traveling party."
Aela broke from the embrace a bit to get a look at him. Fixing some of his messy hair."Thank you, Adian even know you are trying to protect me." After their tender exchange Aela left and swore to herself she wouldn't return until she found what she was looking for.

Aela changed her nice dress into an outfit for the journey. She wore a longer shirt that was a dark blue her trousers were a black and sturdy boots also black. She shouldered a plain pack with all her supplies she needed over a violet cloak. Once finished she braided her black hair using a violet ribbon to hold it in place. It was apparently her mother's.

Aela moved downstairs and met with Mary telling her of Adian's routine and all the important information she would need. After that was finished she waited outside her home for Emily and Eric. They didn't take too long to her surprise. Aela offered them two little hankerchief bags. "Here you two. It's breakfeast."

@Emera Lore
Emily and Eric were waiting outside. Eric sighed, but Emily tried not to do that. The twins waited rather patiently. When Aela finally showed up, they knew she finally said her goodbyes and everything. They walked up to her. They both blinked when she handed them those little bags and said they were breakfast.

"um...we kind of already had something to eat at our parents' insistence."
Eric nodded.
-"But thank you anyway."
They accepted the food anyway. They would eat what food she gave them along the way.

"Are you ready to go?"
-"Everything settled before we leave?"
They both spoke in a kind way. She was their friend after all. They weren't going to be rude to her, not on purpose anyway. Emily faintly smiled a bit for a moment and so did Eric.

They would follow her lead.

"Oh. Well that's good you ate something."
Aela shrugged off that they already ate, but was grateful they took the food away.

"Everything is settled on my end. Adian is in hands that I trust. And everything is settled. Let's get going shall we?"
Aela stepped forth on the path and began walking ahead of them through their small village. The sun shone in the morning sky the air had a slight bite, but nothing she couldn't handle. The sun glinted on the sliver band that was now on her middle finger, the band looked pretty thick and held a crest of her family.

@Emera Lore
Eric and Emily nodded.
"If we had known, we could have eaten less, or not at all."
Eric sighed.
-"I...um....we apologize."
Eric blushed and looked away.

Emily looked at Eric. She frowned at him. She nudged him a bit with her elbow.
"Will you just admit it already?"
Eric shook his head no. He looked away. Emily sighed and muttered how stubborn he was.

Anyway, the twins looked at Aela again. They both nodded.
"Very well then."
-"alright then."
They began to walk with her through the small village. Eric soon noticed the ring on her finger. He raised an eyebrow. He wondered if she was with someone or whatever. But, he hesitated to ask.

Emily cleared her throat.
"We will have to camp just about every night though, so the journey will DEFINETLY be a long one."
She gave a gentle warning. Eric nodded as she spoke.

Aela laughed a bit "I don't mind, I was just making sure you had something before we headed off. It's important on a long journey to have all the energy you can muster. Usually means eat when you can."
Aela heard the twins whispering, but was lost in thought as she thought about what laid ahead of them. She hoped that her powers would be enough to be useful.

Aela nodded "Yes, that sounds like the most viable option. Staying in taverns or inns would prove to be difficult. I am fine handling nights in the wilderness on my own. I came prepared."