Entwined Destinies

“So you have a twin sister, and both of you came to this world. Isn’t that way too convenient?”

Riley glanced at her twin and back at Ren. She felt slightly reluctant. Does she have something to hide? I don't want to make her uneasy.

"It's fine if you don't want to talk about it".

Riley's eyes widened for a second before she began giggling. Vivian looked at Ren, then back at her sister. She scowled. Riley sneaked a glance at her sister and noticed Vivian's frown. Riley ignored it and looked back at Ren.

"I am okay to talk about it, but the thing is that it sounds suspiciously convenient, but that's just how it is".

Vivian took out her mobile and began scrolling and typing. Ren looked up in his thoughts while Riley kept her gaze on Ren. I didn't think it would be suspicious; maybe all the others felt it this way.

"Are there any other pairs of siblings here?"

"No, we are the only ones." No wonder others thought it was suspicious because they are the only pair of siblings here.

“Yeah, everyone in Star Awesome were surprised when they found out that the two of us are not only from the same world but are sisters and we are the only ones who came on the same time”. Vivian added in a bored tone, her words lacked emotion. She probably said those words so many times that it was a boring speech, effortlessly plastered in her mind.

Riley shifted from one foot to the other, "There are people in Star Awesome who are from the same dimension". Tucking her hair behind her ear, she spoke, "And there are four people who know each other from their past lives".

Those words struck him. I hope no one I know from my past is here. I wonder if these two know about the door or what their lives were like before coming here. But how do I ask about the door? I don't even know if that even happened.

"Riley, did either of you have a memory of your past?”

Riley leaned back; she felt distant, her gaze thoughtful. “As far as both of us remember, when we understood our surroundings, we were in that verandah just like you”. She took a pause, then began talking, “We clearly remember what our lives were like before we came here, but the details about how or when we arrived here are completely absent.” She looked at the floor, and there was a moment of silence; only the tapping sound from Vivian's phone remained audible.

Vivian added, "It was like we just woke up one day, and boom, we were here."

Riley raised her hand and touched Ren’s shoulder gently, patting him. “There is something common amongst all the Star Awesome members.”

Ren looked at her. “What is that?”

“Everyone here has a hazy memory of our past lives, somewhat like when a person grows old and thinks about their past; they can recall major events but not the minor ones."

She looked at him with a faint smile. “When we all try recalling people from our past lives, there are faded images that we cannot even describe.”

Ren thought about his parents; as she said, they existed in his mind, but he couldn't remember what they looked like. Ren stood there, puzzled, and looked at her. “Y-yea.”

Riley continued talking, her head tilted; she felt lost in her words: “Though your memory is still uncertain and fuzzy, you have accepted it all, moved on, can't even think about it, and don’t even want to”

Her words struck deep his eyes widened. She is right, even though I couldn’t make out my parents’ faces, but I have already accepted it. I couldn’t care less for how I came to this world, even though it was my dream to be isekai-ed, but accepting it this easily is still absurd.

He looked at Riley and then at Vivian.

This acceptance is unnatural and unbelievable, but I am still okay with it. It feels…it feels—

"It feels empty.” That was the only thing he could say.

“That is mind manipulation“. The deep voice called out, which slightly shook him up; he was getting too comfortable with feminine voices. A tall, dark-haired guy walked up to them. Mind mani.... Ren noticed that Riley's shoulders felt tense. What’s wrong with Riley? I think she doesn't like this person.

The newcomer took a glance at Riley but seemed more focused on Ren. Did I do something wrong? His eyes are too intense.

He walked up to them, while Riley didn't utter a single word but stood there focused on him. He tilted his head slightly and glared down at Ren. His glare is way too intimidating. The silence that followed his initial words lingered until he continued.

“Amanda noticed that it was a common thing in all the Star Awesome members, so she assumed this to be either deliberately done or a side-effect of entering another dimension.”

Ren was too dumbfounded to say anything; I don't understand why someone would even do that, but if it's a side-effect...there might be more....but what my biggest concern at the moment is.....this guy, he had already noticed that Riley's silence and change of behaviour when this guy came.

This person looked at Riley, “You were showing him around, right? I saw the post Vivian made about the new member".

Post? Could it be possible that these people have social media?

Riley looked back at this person, making a firm eye contact, but her hands seemed a little shaky.

If she is afraid of him, should I interfere?

Sen continued talking, "I knew Dacoria and Amanda weren’t here to show him around, so I came to help.”

I have so much to ask, I am so confused, and this person seems too creepy. So he came to help...but why is Riley behaving like that, and Vivian, she clearly doesn't care, she has been on her phone the entire time.

Riley looked at him, slightly irritated, “No, sen, I can do this.”

“Riley, just let him do it so we can go shopping,” Vivian added, grabbing her sister.

Sen added, “Is there a problem?”

Riley looked towards Ren, then back at Sen, biting her lower lip. Is she bothered by him? Ren mustered some courage and spoke.

“Riley was doing fine, I think she is-“

Before he could continue Sen interrupted him.

“Where is your room, your bed in the combination room? Name a few lands or species in this world. Did you see the town yet?”

Sen shot a bunch of questions at him, his eyes glaring as if penetrating his soul. Ren looked at Riley, who was looking angrily at Sen, Vivian, who just took a selfie, and back at Sen, who narrowed his eyes in disappointment. The atmosphere felt heavy. I don't know anything he said, and he is looking at me with too much disappointment.....I wanna drown myself.

“I knew it…” Sen turned to Riley, “You are a really bad guide.”

“As if you are better, your ways of teaching are too intense,” Riley shot back.

Sen and Riley glared at each other while Ren felt as if he had disappointed generations of his family.

“You lack knowledge.” Sen added

“And you are rude.” Riley shot.

The two continued glaring. Vivian looked at Ren and chuckled.

“The thing is, Riley always wanted to show around Star Awesome, but she is not too competent and lacks a lot of knowledge."

Ah, no wonder she didn't know much about powers.

"Hey!....... I just wanted to be helpful," Riley looked at Vivian sadly while Vivian continued.

"And Sen wants to properly explain everything for his own satisfaction, but his ways are too intense,” she chuckled and walked past the glaring Sen to the dining table. Riley went to Ren while pointing at the Sen, and she spoke.

“This is Sen, he is too intense but isn’t a bad person, I think.”

“You think?...” Ren spoke