At the tender age of five, Tino and Angie had just about done everything they could while confined to the house they lived in.
Their memories of their past lives came and went without them putting too much thought into them.
From the start, they always got along and went through all the ups and downs together, marking their strong bond that surpassed even that of a new life they were given.
The two lived unremarkable lives in both lives— this being a reason they strived to become Wanderers— but that did not mean their new lives would stay that way.
The twins had acknowledged that they knew about their past lives and that was met with a wave of nostalgia considering their new circumstances.
When their mother, Estoria, came home after her time selling herbs and tonics, they would always jump at her as she was the only person that they were in contact with aside from each other.
From the stories she told them about the world outside of their peaceful home, she had always instilled a sense of importance regarding exploring the woods surrounding them.
"Evil men and women who would threaten your safety and mine live not too close, but not too far so do not even think about running about while I'm not here," she had constantly warned them.
And so, the twins played all throughout the humble abode that was their home.
One such time, Angie tripped over the corner of a rug in the living room revealing a trapdoor with a lock barring those without the key to enter the secrets down below.
Since they had no way of unlocking it, the twins simply put the matter aside and figured that was where Estoria hid the families most precious belongings.
This intrigued them and prompted them to ask about it as soon as their mother came back.
"Mommy!"
"You're home!"
As Estoria walked into the house, the twins immediately jumped at her.
"I'm home, my loves. Now just wait a while for dinner to be ready. Tonight I managed to bargain for a whole chicken!"
Upon hearing the news, the twins gulped down a deluge of saliva that threatened to flood the house.
"Hey, Mommy, what's with that door underneath the rug? I wanna see inside," Tino asked with gleaming eyes.
"Yeah! I wanna see too," Angie jumped up and down.
Hearing her children speak of the hidden door, Estoria's face dropped for a brief moment before returning to her natural state.
"Now I did not mean to keep it a secret forever, but there is a time for everything. Are you sure you're ready to see what your mother is keeping secret? You must keep it a secret as it is very important for mother," Estoria said eerily.
"We promise," the two yelled in tandem.
"Alright then but first let me read you a story."
She then proceeded to head into her room and bring out a worn-out looking book with aged, yellow pages.
"This is a story about a hidden group that performs mystical feats hidden away from the judgmental eyes of the common man. This is a story about witches."
As she read, Tino was rather interested, but Angie was fully attentive throughout the entire story.
Estoria spoke of a people that hid away from the outside world due to the nature of their special talents.
They practiced many arts from tonic and potion crafting to more sinister arts like hexes magic.
People shunned such dangerous potential in the witchcraft, but most witches were harmless and even beneficial to civilization.
Whenever people experienced disaster, witches could either be the saviors or the perpetrators behind the event.
Estoria wanted to teach the truth to her children as the nature of witchcraft was heavily scrutinized to the point of witch hunts occurring at the slightest suspicion.
Since both Tino and Angie seemed more mature and intelligent for their age, she figured she would include them into her private life rather than leave them in the dark lest something happen in the future.
She knew that being a witch is what allowed her to provide for the family without a male figure in the household.
It would also allow her to protect her kids in the event that someone with ill intent pried into her life.
After all, the communities in the surrounding areas did not take too fondly to those that did not immerse themselves in the daily routines that were commonplace in the community.
Before long, Estoria's act of venturing into the town on her lonesome and selling tonics to the local medicinal practitioner or buying groceries for the family before secretly heading back into the woods could be found out and when that happened who knows how the situation would develop.
And so, after telling the story of witches to Tino and Angie, Estoria finally fished out the key to the lock on the trapdoor.
"Now what I'm about to show you is something you must never let be seen by any other person regardless of how secluded this place is."
'She told us about witches and is about to show us something she's kept secret all this time. No doubt about it, she must be a witch herself.'
Tino had deduced as much given the story but was curious as to what exactly she had to reveal.
Angie on the other hand was immediately bounced in joy, "Mommy are you a witch? Is that why you know so much about herbs and tonics? I can't believe it!"
In their former lives, Tino and Angie were normal humans that worked on their skills to be capable of fighting superhumans and power wielding beings.
They were not the strongest out there but were resourceful and worked well together.
Now that their mother had revealed the existence of witches— people capable of concocting miraculous solutions and casting wicked spells— how could they not be ecstatic.
If they could learn to wield the powers of the witches, then they might be able to surpass their past selves easily.
For starters though, they were just about to witness what was hidden underneath the trapdoor inside the living room.
Click!
With a turn of the key, Estoria took off the lock and opened the trapdoor revealing a staircase that led into a large room.
"Watch your step on the way down, children. I have a lot of precious materials and equipment down there so don't touch anything without my permission."
"Okay, Mommy!"
The twins each carefully stepped down each step and were surprised to see that the room was lit by a glowing crystal inside of a lamp that hung from the ceiling.
This was a first as the only light sources they knew came from flames like candles and lanterns.
But that was just the first thing they took in.
After looking around, they saw shelves and counters full of jars and containers with labels on them.
In the middle of the room lie a large cauldron with a mixing spoon inside.
"This is where I make everything from potions to charms and even dolls. I will teach you both the ways of witches, but you must remember to use these teachings for good. Witches already have a bad reputation due to those that fall into temptation of evil."
"So, Mommy is a good witch then?"
Tino's question pierced through Estoria like a needle to her brain, but she maintained her calm countenance and said honestly, "There is a thin line between good and evil, Tino. For example, I would gladly use my powers for evil if it meant protecting the two of you."
"I wanna become a witch so that I can help Mommy," Angie said exuberantly.
Estoria felt her heart warm at the words of her daughter, "You must be diligent while learning about witchcraft. Enthusiasm will not take you all the way."
"I understand!"
"Me too, Mommy! I'll work hard to learn everything about being a witch."
Estoria hugged both of her children while stifling tears, "My sweet children. I will make sure you are able to fend for yourselves in this harsh world."