"Andrew" Anthony said. He flicked his fingers above Andrew's face. "Wake up."
Andrew opened his eyes. Anthony was sitting and reading some arcane book. The cover was peeling and it has that strong smell of antique parchment.
"Wh- what the fuck did you just make me drink?" Andrew asked. He could still taste the liquid at the back of his throat.
"A potion necessary use the spells in the Arcanum."
Andrew looked at Anthony with a dumbfounded look. He could only recognize three or two words from what he said. "I don't get what you're saying? Is this from one of your cosplay thingies?"
"No. But it would be cool if it is. But it's not." Anthony stood up and walked to a circle etched on his floor. "Do you feel good now?"
"I guess so."
"Okay. Then stand over there." Anthony pointed at a similar circle spaced a few inches from him. Andrew stood and followed his order.
"So can you mind telling me what all this is?"
Anthony smiled. "I found a way to fix all our problems. Your grades, my family, all of it."
"And a this thing is going to do it?"
"Yes!"
"You're crazy." Living under his family must have made him lose his marbles.
"Either that or I'm a genius that you'll be thankful for."
"I'm pretty sure it's the former one."
Anthony raised his book and flipped across pages. He probably flipped for a hundred pages but the book isn't showing signs of running out of paper. It just keeps on going and going. Probably a trick of the light.
"I think we're ready."
"Ready for what!? You're being too vague. You haven't even properly answered my first question."
"No time to talk. Just hold the book with your left hand and hold your right with mine. Then close your eyes. Don't open them no matter what happens."
Andrew pouted. He ignored his words for the third time. Nevertheless, he is his best friend. It wouldn't hurt to follow his instructions.
"Now that we're all set. Here we go. Fratur tenetur in armis. Mutata in maritimos aestus maximos, et sit realis."
A flash of light ignited between the two. Everything was a swirled of wind and screaming voices.
"Open your eyes!" A voice said. But Andrew kept his eyes shut. "Open them!"
"Don't listen to them." Anthony said. "Open them when I tell you."
"Opeeen..." The voice drooled. Only this time, the voice is becoming deeper and more pronounced. "Opeen… them..." The voice is forming to that of Anthony's.
"That's not my voice. Don't listen to it."
Andrew kept his eyes shut. Only the voices and the firm touch of Anthony kept him grounded. His hands were cold and shaking, and so were his.
As fast as it came, it vanished in an instant. The voices and the winds thrashing his clothes ceased.
"I guess it's okay to open them now." A mysterious voice said. It was higher and more child-like. "Andrew, open them now. The spell worked."
Andrew isn't falling for this joke. He kept his eyes shut.
"Andrew open them now. And would you stop squeezing my arms. It hurts." Andrew let the arms go. But suddenly, arms were thrashing his face. Small and nimble fingers pried his hands open. When light filtered through, what he saw made him open his mouth in shock. It was him. The only difference is that he was 16 years younger.
"What the fuck!?" Andrew muttered.
"Calm down. Look at the mirror and see for yourself."
Instead of his usual reflection, Andrew saw his younger self. Ever huff of breath, the reflection mimicked.
"Explain. From top to bottom. And no vague shit."
"Jeez. Sit down."
Anthony paced around the room while Andrew sat at the floor.
"I bought this book at a shop somewhere in the mall. I was looking for a cosplay equipment and I saw this weird shop in the mall. Some old fart approached me and gave me this. He said that the book would help me."
"The guy just gave you this for free?"
"Of course not. I paid 50 bucks for this thing. Anyway, don't interrupt me. So when I went to read it, there was this sort of light that happened just now. In an instant, I learned every content from the book. It's a book of spells and it's quite surprising that it worked."
"So what is the spell that you did just now?"
"A spell to turn back time and to turn me into your twin. I always wanted a brother and family like yours."
"And you did all that without even asking me? Reverse the spell. And give me time before doing shit like this."
"I can't"
"What do you mean you can't?"
"All spells in this book are non-reversible. And besides, it drained my mana. It would be days before I can perform another spell. Probably longer since I'm a child now."
"I can't believe you've done this. Jesus fuck. I have a girlfriend back there and now she's gone."
"Technically she's not. She's just a child right now."
"Are you implying that I hit her? Isn't that pedo-ish? We're 24 year olds in 8 year old bodies. I haven't even learned to masturbate at this age."
"I don't know man. Whatever you choose. The only thing that matters for me right now is you're now my brother and we share the same parents."