Anthony and Johnny didn't often get the chance to speak with one another. At the ripe old age of one, it would be pretty suspicious if the two brothers were using full sentences—let alone in a language that didn't exist in this world.
Nora did what she was hired for and cared for the boys while Serenya returned to her job—whatever that might have been. She kept them fed, cleaned their clothes, and often took them outside for air and sun.
The air outside always felt refreshing. The sky was so clear, the sun so bright, and the breeze so crisp it made everything feel alive. Johnny had grown up in a desert, so this much greenery felt unreal. Winters were freezing, snow piled high, and for once his pale skin actually matched the climate.
One afternoon, Nora had set the boys aside while she hung laundry.
"So… are you really my Anthony?" Johnny asked.
"Are you really my Johnny?" Anthony countered.
The two stared at each other for a long moment until Johnny smirked.
"The mythical righty loosey."
Anthony's lips curled into a grin, and soon he was chuckling under his breath.
Johnny knew it had to be Anthony. That phrase was from a night when the two had been drunk, trying—and failing—to assemble a TV stand. Johnny had stripped a screw and, when it refused to tighten, he panicked and said: Oh nooo, Anthony, it's the mythical righty loosey! It had taken them four and a half hours to finish, only to discover a QR code in the box that linked to a full video guide.
"You son of a bitch—it really is you!" Anthony laughed, hugging his friend. "I thought I got isekai'd alone and wound up with some white boy as a brother."
"You kinda did, dumbass. And guess what? You're white now too. No more blending in with the darkness," Johnny said sarcastically.
Anthony groaned. "Dude… what the hell are we supposed to do? There's no demon lord rampaging, as far as I can tell."
Johnny thought about it. "That's a problem for future us. For now, we chill. Hard to fight a demon lord when we haven't even gone through puberty yet."
Anthony's face twisted. "Ugh, don't remind me. I can't believe I have to go through puberty again. And we're still sharing a room… when my pubes start coming in, youre gonna need to ignore any noises from my bed at night."
"Anthony, think carefully. We're in another world. That means by the time we'd normally be high schoolers, we'll probably need jobs."
"Yeah, yeah, part of the medieval bullshit package," Anthony sighed. "So… what build you going for?"
Johnny grinned. "Magical research. I wanna see what kind of tech I can create with magic. You'll be my guinea pig."
"Wait, when the hell did I agree to that?"
"Think about it. If magic's as flexible as I think, I could make tons of stuff. Like… a penjamin."
Anthony's eyes widened. "Don't. Don't give me hope. If weed exists in this world and you can actually make a magical penjamin…"
"As we grow, I'll figure out what magic can do. But imagine it, Anthony. Magic sex dolls."
"Johnny. Your obsession is showing."
"But think of the money."
"…Shit. You're right."
Both burst into laughter, catching Nora's attention. She looked over at the boys sitting quietly in the grass, then walked over with a smile.
"You two seem to enjoy each other's company. At this rate, you'll make your mother jealous."
The boys stared blankly at her with wide, innocent eyes.
Nora chuckled, ruffling their blonde hair before returning to the laundry.
"Would," Anthony muttered under his breath.
Johnny snorted. "Nahhh, bro, that's wild."
Reincarnation had been boring, but this secret language gave them a way to blow off steam. It felt like a private refuge, a reminder of who they had been.
"Alright, here's the plan," Anthony whispered. "We figure out what this world has to offer… then initiate Order 66."
Johnny raised a brow. "Find a temple full of space wizards and No Russian them?"
"Not exactly. I mean we take over. No more being cogs in the wheel, no more shitty minimum wage jobs. We become the bosses. We run things here."
"So we become the overworking assholes?"
Anthony smirked. "Evil as fuck. I like it."
The two clasped hands.
"By the way," Anthony said, "any idea how we got isekai'd?"
Johnny scratched his chin. "…Alcohol poisoning?"
Anthony grinned. "Best fucking isekai ever."
Nora's first day had gone smoother than she expected. She had worked as a nursemaid for years, but the Eldrin twins were… unusual. They didn't cry for food or attention, and rarely cooed when curious. Instead, they made strange noises, like a language she couldn't understand.
But they were cheerful, easy to manage, and quick to laugh. Strange boys, yes—but a joy to watch over.
Toward evening, as they waited for Zevran and Serenya to return, Nora pulled out a flute and played a gentle lullaby. The tune washed over the room, filling it with peace. The boys didn't fall asleep, but they listened intently.
Moments later, Serenya burst through the door.
"My babies!"
She scooped them into her arms, smothering them with kisses while the boys squirmed helplessly. Zevran followed soon after, smiling nervously as his wife squeezed the life out of their sons.
"Honey, I think their ribs are powder by now. Maybe ease up a little?"
"I missed them so much!" Serenya said, burying her face against them again.
Nora chuckled. "They were very good today. They ate well, had sun, though I couldn't get them to nap. They only listened to the music. Very intelligent boys."
Zevran gently pried the boys from Serenya. "You should clean up first. Adventuring brings home plenty of nasty things."
Only then did Serenya glance down at herself—leather armor splattered with dried blood, plates strapped here and there.
"I hadn't even noticed. Nora, would you prepare supper while I wash up?"
Nora nodded, and Serenya disappeared into the other room.
Johnny and Anthony, finally freed, exchanged a look. Their mother wasn't just any villager—she was an adventurer.
Their new life in another world had just gotten much more interesting.