"Eh? That big crater looks kinda familiar~"
"Hmph↓ Idiot Redhead, we've just walked back to where we started."
"I'm not an idiot, and I'm not 'Redhead'! My name's You Ling! I have a name!"
"We're all called You Ling. As long as you know someone's calling you—whether it's 'Redhead' or 'Idiot'—it's fine."
"Argh! You arrogant jerk, today I'll—!"
The two six-year-olds, who had already woken up halfway through the trip, right away resumed their daily routine—bickering.
The trio spent half a day circling the small island. Unfortunately, they found no trace of humans or intelligent life; the whole island exuded an untouched, primitive air.
Standing once more beside the crater where they had first awakened, Jin You Ling began pondering their next move. But first, there was a smaller issue to resolve.
"Since you two are both so hung up on the name thing, why not settle it right now?" Jin You Ling said, looking at the pair who were busy pulling each other's cheeks.
Red You Ling at once agreed and let go first.
"Haw~ haw~ Good! Saves me from this blue-haired weirdo giving me some dumb nickname again. Guh~ hey, let go already!"
"Tch~"
Blue You Ling released her hand too, flicking off the spit on her fingers with a look of distaste before replying,
"I agree. We do need new names to tell us apart."
"Any suggestions?" Jin You Ling asked once the quarrel died down.
"Hmm… Our original name is You Ling—'You-ling,' 'You-zero'… Hey! Let's just go with 'You-one,' 'You-two,' and 'You-three'!"
Red You Ling announced with great pride in her brilliant idea. The air right away went quiet.
"Uh… what's with those faces?"
"This name's gonna follow us for a long time," Blue You Ling groaned. "Could you maybe try a little harder? That sounds like some random street address."
"Hmph~ Since you're so clever, I assume you've got something better, Miss Genius?" Red You Ling crossed her arms, visibly annoyed.
"But of course."
Blue You Ling, brimming with confidence, said loftily, "I think since we already share the name You Ling, there's no need to pick new ones. We can just use designations—like You Ling Alpha, Beta, Delta, and so on. Simple and elegant."
…
The silence grew heavy again.
"Hmm? Shocked by my brilliance? Don't be. I kno—"
"Pfft—Bwahahaha! That's what you came up with after all that posturing?!" Red You Ling clutched her stomach, laughing uncontrollably. "Even my 'One-Two-Three' naming scheme was better! You're so full of yourself, I'm amazed your brain has room for anything else!"
"Tch. Whatever."
Blue You Ling arched an eyebrow and coolly shot back,
"I've never expected a red-haired orangutan like you to appreciate the beauty of mathematical symmetry."
"Who're you calling an orangutan, you blue-haired narcissist?!
My 'One-Two-Three' system is way simpler and more elegant! Yours sounds like we escaped from some lab as test subjects!"
"Don't use your nonsense to insult my intellect, you red-furred husky!"
"Whaaat?! You wanna fight?!"
"Hmph! Fool! Then I'll show you how hopeless it is to oppose me!"
"Bring it on! Behold my unparalleled power! Hah!"
The two puffed up like a pair of angry kittens, ready to claw each other's faces off—
"Enough. We'll just use the names of the Three Egyptian Gods. The two of you will be Osiris and Obelisk."
Jin You Ling's calm voice—no, Ra's—cut smoothly through their squabble.
"And another thing. I won't forbid you from arguing when you disagree—but I don't want to see you fight again. Can you promise me that?"
Ra's voice was as gentle as ever—no trace of anger or harshness.
Yet the moment she spoke, the two feisty little ones froze in place as if struck by an invisible command—an instinctive obedience, like a bloodline's suppression.
[Wha—what was that just now?! That tone—just like when Mom's about to lose it! She always sounded perfectly calm right before she started swinging!]
Red—no, Osiris now—shivered, rubbing her arms.
Typical sixth-sense accuracy of a hot-blooded fool—she had just barely dodged the first beating she would've received in this world.
For some reason, whenever Ra faced the two of them, her long-dormant human emotions stirred to life.
Normally, she wouldn't have felt anything over such petty squabbles, let alone anger—but the moment they had been about to come to blows, something deep inside her burned. It was as if an old scar had been torn open.
"I understand. I was out of line," said Blue—Obelisk—straightening up obediently.
"M-me too! I'm sorry, please don't be mad, haha~"
Osiris quickly followed suit. "By the way, should I call you… Sister Ra?"
"There's no need to call me 'sister,' nor use any honorifics. We were all born from the same being—there is no elder or younger among us.
I only hope the three of us can live in harmony, without resentment or bloodshed."
Ra's voice didn't change in tone, yet somehow, as soon as she finished speaking, the clouds above parted, revealing a clear sky.
It felt as though a heavy weight had lifted. Both Osiris and Obelisk exhaled deeply in relief.
But the instant the pressure eased, Osiris's eyes began to dart mischievously again.
Never waste a golden opportunity—especially not for mischief.
Casting a sly glance at the still-proper Obelisk beside her, Osiris put on a sugary smile and turned to Ra.
"Ra-jie, you're absolutely right~ But, you know, among three people, there's always gotta be an order of seniority—it makes introductions easier, don't you think?
How about this—you're the eldest sister, I'll be the second, and Obelisk can be the youngest. Done deal, right?"
Osiris kept one eye on Ra as she spoke, gauging her reaction. Seeing none, she boldly finished her little self-serving proposal.
"Hmm. That's fine. I have no objection."
Just as she expected, Ra—who cared little for such trivialities—didn't object.
Obelisk, recovering from her obedient stance, opened her mouth to protest—only to clamp it shut again the instant she heard Ra's agreement.
Meanwhile, Osiris's grin stretched from ear to ear—her scheming face radiating triumph.
*[Heh heh~ Foolish bluehead, you dare challenge me? Now that I'm the 'middle child,' I can call for 'Big Sister's aid' when needed—perfect for outside threats!
And when dealing with this smug little blue brat, I'll pull rank and crush her under seniority!
Hah! Tell me—what force in the world can stop me now?! NOTHING! NOTHING AT ALL!]*
"What's the matter, Osiris? Thinking about something fun?"
Ra's calm question at once popped her swelling delusions. Her exaggerated expression snapped back into an innocent smile.
"Haha~ Nothing, Ra-jie.
I was just thinking—since my and Obelisk's names are kinda long now, why don't we shorten them? We used to have two-syllable names, but now it's four or five. From now on, you can just call us Ossie and Obe.
What do you think, 'little' Obe?"
Facing away from Ra, Osiris looked back at Obelisk with an Anya-forger-grade mischievous grin.
"I. Have. No. Ob-jec-tion."
Obelisk forced the words through gritted teeth, her crimson eyes glaring daggers into Osiris's back as she silently vowed:
[Hmph! I'll endure—for now!]
[Redhead brat, mark my words! The humiliation of this day will be repaid a hundredfold!]
"Hm? What are you mumbling about back there, little sister?"
"Ah~ I said, 'Second Sister, how wise you are,'" Obe replied sweetly, her smile so flawless it could have won awards.
…