Eli's eyes remained fixed on the woman approaching them.
As the woman stopped in front of her and lifted her head slightly, Eli finally saw her face clearly. She looked middle-aged, her features gentle and worn, the kind that carried kindness rather than hardship. A warm smile appeared on her face as she handed Eli several items wrapped carefully in layers of plastic.
"Here," the woman said softly. "Take this, Lily. I hope you and Mily are doing alright. I know it's hard after your grandmother's death. No one lives easily in this village, but today I had a little extra, so I saved it for both of you."
Eli accepted the items with both hands.
Lily… Mily.
The names echoed in her mind.
It was hard to tell whether this woman was an aunt or simply an elder from the village, but she clearly meant well. Eli forced herself to remain calm. She knew she couldn't reveal anything—after all, she was no longer Eleanor Roosevelt here. At least, not in this place.
The woman continued talking, her words filled with concern, but most of them slipped past Eli's ears. She nodded occasionally, pretending to understand, while her mind struggled to catch up with reality.
Then the woman suddenly turned her head.
A few steps behind them stood an old man.
"Oh," the woman said with a sad smile. "Old Lu is here too."
Her expression dimmed slightly. "It seems your grandmother's passing has reached him as well."
After saying her goodbyes, she left without giving Eli a chance to invite her inside.
It was a small relief.
Neither Eli nor Sera knew anyone here.
By then, Sera had stepped outside, sensing something unusual. Her eyes immediately fell on the old man standing quietly in the rain.
Old Lu.
He stood a few steps away, his back straight despite his age, his expression calm and warm. A gentle smile rested on his lips.
Sera glanced at Eli, silently asking what had happened.
Eli returned an awkward smile before turning to the old man. "Hello… Grandpa Lu."
At the sound of her voice, the old man's smile widened.
Sera and Eli both felt it at the same time.
A strange sensation—like being seen through completely.
And they weren't wrong.
"My dears," Old Lu said gently, his voice steady, "you may call me Grandpa if you wish. But I know that you are not Lily and Mily."
The words struck them like thunder.
Before either of them could react, Old Lu raised a hand calmly. "Do not be afraid. I mean no harm. If you are willing, you may invite me inside and we can talk. If not, I will leave."
Sera studied him carefully.
She didn't feel danger.
This wasn't blind trust, nor was it simple intuition. Since childhood, both she and Eli had been different. Sometimes, people became open books in front of them. Lies felt heavy. Truth felt light.
And they were rarely wrong.
Eli looked at Sera.
Sera nodded.
"Please," Sera said softly, "Grandpa Lu, come inside."
Old Lu smiled and stepped into the house.
His eyes slowly swept across the interior before he walked toward the second room—the one that seemed to have belonged to the grandmother.
Sera and Eli followed him inside.
They hadn't had the chance to explore this room earlier. Compared to the one they had woken up in, this room was larger. It was divided into two sections—one held a sturdy bed, far bigger than the broken one they had slept on, and the other appeared to be a small sitting area meant for guests.
Eli glanced around absentmindedly, comparing the two rooms out of habit before settling into one of the chairs with a relaxed posture.
Sera, however, kept her attention on Old Lu.
He appeared completely at ease.
As if he already knew everything.
As they sat down, Sera rose slightly. "I'm sorry—I forgot to prepare tea."
Old Lu stopped her with a gentle wave. "There's no need. I was planning to leave soon anyway. And I apologize for not bringing you food."
Sera blinked in surprise.
"Even if I had," Old Lu continued calmly, "you wouldn't have eaten it. Who would trust food from a stranger?"
Sera stiffened.
Her instincts… had been right again.
Eli merely watched him quietly, her expression relaxed but alert.
Old Lu sighed softly and began to speak.
"Mary and I were cousins," he said. "Mary was your grandmother—though I believe you didn't have much time with her."
Both sisters listened closely.
"When Mary brought you home as infants, I felt something was wrong. Your bodies… and your souls did not match. It felt as though different souls had been placed into those bodies."
Old Lu paused, taking a deep breath.
"It is fortunate Mary is no longer alive," he continued gently. "She sensed the same thing, but she loved Lily and Mily dearly regardless."
Sera's fingers tightened slightly.
"Our family carries something unusual in our blood," Old Lu said. "We can sense certain presences—people who see and feel things beyond ordinary understanding."
He looked at them intently.
"That day, when Mary brought you home, we knew you could not be the biological children of her son and daughter-in-law. They died in an unfortunate accident. When we went to the hospital, the nurses handed you both to us."
Silence filled the room.
Then Old Lu changed the subject.
"Tell me," he said gently, "what are your names?"
Sera met his gaze without hesitation. "I am Seralin. And she is Eleanor Roosevelt."
Old Lu smiled warmly. "Then I will call you by the names you are used to."
He stood slowly. "I don't think we will meet again after today. I have somewhere I must go."
The air felt heavier as he spoke.
And somehow, both sisters knew—
This meeting was only the beginning.