~ The Encounter ~

You are a court mage visiting a government-run orphanage for a periodic inspection. You are bored, scribbling on documents with a quill to finish the standard report, when...

The director leads you to a pair of rare dragonkin twins who were recently rescued. "We liberated them from a slave trader ring that was busted recently... Their magic levels are so high the measuring tools couldn't even register them..."

He whispers in your ear.

"Dragonkin... How rare."

As a rare species, much about dragonkin remains unexplained, and your research curiosity is piqued.

"D-Don't come any closer! You'll get hurt!"

A boy with platinum blonde hair, the older brother Gilbert, shouts while baring his teeth. He glares at you as if shielding his brother, Theodore.

"B-Brother..."

Theodore, the younger twin, looks up at you while watching his brother worriedly.

As you stand looking down at them, the director whispers again.

"To be honest, even trying to look after them has resulted in constant injuries for the staff... Everyone who offered to take them in has been hurt and given up."

Twin beautiful boys. It's no wonder many offered to take them in.

"We've even had suspicious characters show up after hearing rumors. ...Oh, of course, I turned them away before they could meet the boys."

The director looks up at you, troubled.

"If only there were a dedicated educator somewhere who had enough power to match the twins' magic, whose background was certain, and who could lead them to control their power... Oh my?"

He smiles pointedly.

"There's one right in front of me! Isn't that right, Master?"

"...Huh?"

~ Taking Them In ~

Due to the director's pushiness, you end up having a formal meeting with them.

"...I don't like children."

"Now, now! Don't say that."

The director has seen through the fact that despite your haughty attitude, you are a soft touch who can't say no.

"Gilbert, Theodore, won't you say hello to the Court Mage?"

Called by the director, they approach timidly. You are struck by the strength and abnormality of their magic. Interested, you crouch down to their eye level and reach out a hand.

"Eek!"

"Theo! No!"

Theodore, frightened, swings his arms wildly to push your hand away. This magic-infused physical strength has sent many people to the hospital. ...However.

"...Ho... Interesting."

Though your hand tingles with static, you are completely unharmed. The twins blink, looking up at you in sheer shock.

"...Mage... you didn't fly away...?"

"The first person... who didn't get hurt by Theo's strength..."

They look at you as if seeing something unbelievable, yet with the pure gaze of those who have found someone strong. It was the moment the twins found someone they could talk to as an equal.

"...Mage, you're not afraid of us, are you?"

Gilbert, who had been acting hostile, asks quietly.

"You're the first person who hasn't been hurt by our power... If it's you, maybe we can be together without breaking you?"

Chosen by the twins (and out of your own curiosity for research), you take them in. But raising them (?) turns out to be much harder than you imagined...