Two years had passed.
Callisto's mother, Luna, was now pregnant with Io.
Ganymede had been born the year before, proving to be an exceptionally bright child.
Callisto was now seven years old.
Europa, five.
Ganymede, two.
And Io, still nestled in Luna's womb—due in just a few more days.
"Mom, I brought you some porridge."
Callisto entered the room, carrying a small bowl. Luna lay on her bed, pale and weak.
"Thank you, Callisto."
Slowly, Callisto fed her mother spoon by spoon.
Luna had grown frailer by the day.
Was it the strain of the pregnancy?
Or was it… something else?
"Could it be Io's power?" Callisto asked. "What do you two think, Europa, Ganymede?"
Europa replied thoughtfully, "Maybe… I heard from the villagers that pregnancy is exhausting. And we Angels never had to experience it before…"
"I agree with Sister Europa," Ganymede chimed in, still speaking with her toddler lisp. "We've lost our Angelic powers. Io probably did too… but we shouldn't ignore the possibility either."
As the three were deep in thought, someone knocked at the door.
Knock, knock, knock!
"Huh? Who is it?"
The three of them opened the door together.
"Oh! Old man! What're you doing here?"
Callisto called out to the village chief with her usual bluntness.
Behind him stood several villagers, none of whom looked particularly friendly.
Ganymede leaned over to Europa and whispered, "Sis… I have a bad feeling about this. Let's not let Mom know just yet."
"Agreed."
The girls allowed the chief and a few others inside, while the rest waited outside.
"What do you want to talk about?" Callisto asked.
Europa tugged on her ear sharply.
"Ow! What was that for, Europa!?"
"I told you to speak respectfully to the chief! Ugh! Just let me handle this."
The chief chuckled softly. The villagers behind him did not.
"It's fine, I'm used to Callisto's… personality," he said, smiling sadly. "But I'm here with unpleasant news."
The three sisters tensed.
"You know this is the fourth time your mother is giving birth. And that… has terrified the villagers. They're demanding that your family be exiled."
"What!?" Europa gasped. "But we didn't do anything wrong!"
Though as she said that, she glanced sideways—at Callisto.
"Well… okay, maybe Callisto isn't entirely innocent," she muttered.
"I know none of this is your fault," the chief said. "But the crop failures and extended droughts… People are starting to blame your family."
Callisto slammed her hands on the table and stood up.
"WHAT!? That's completely unfair!"
Europa quickly tried to calm her down. "Callisto, please… Just listen."
She turned to the chief with a pleading face.
"Sir, please… Mom is pregnant. If we're exiled now, it could be dangerous."
The chief nodded with a heavy heart. "I'll try my best. I've defended your family for years… but the villagers are growing more restless."
---
Just then, Luna appeared, walking slowly into the room.
"Chief… What brings you here?"
"Mom! You shouldn't be out of bed!"
"You need to rest!"
Ganymede clung to her leg, looking up with worry.
"I smelled something burning… I thought you were cooking," Luna said with a soft smile.
But the others froze.
They smelled it too—burning wood.
Smoke wafted through the cracks.
"No… It can't be!"
Everyone rushed outside.
Their house was engulfed in flames.
Angry voices shouted from the crowd.
"Hey! What are you doing!?" Callisto screamed. "Why would you burn our house!?"
Luna collapsed, barely conscious.
"MOM!!!" the children cried.
"DRIVE THEM OUT!"
"YEAH! DRIVE THEM AWAY!"
"GET OUT, YOU CURSED CHILDREN!"
The villagers were relentless.
The chief tried to calm them, but no one listened.
Stones were thrown.
"You people… This is too much!!!" Callisto screamed, shielding her mother and sisters with her body.
"C-Callisto…"
Luna could only watch, helpless, as her child stood protectively in front of her.
Callisto blocked every rock—even with her own head.
"She's not even crying…"
"She's terrifying…"
Her body bled from multiple wounds, yet she stood unfazed.
(Seriously… They didn't even consider we might be gifted, not cursed…)
Luna tried to rise to beg for mercy.
"Shut up, filthy woman!"
It was no use.
"Tch… Enough. You four—run! We'll cover you!"
shouted one of the kind villagers beside the chief.
And so, the four of them fled—into the woods, aimless and cold.
---
In the Forest
"I… I can't go on…"
Luna fainted, and the children panicked.
"Sis! Go get some branches and firewood!" Ganymede shouted.
"I'll try…"
She rubbed her hands together—and a tiny flame sparked to life.
"Whoa! Magic!? That's amazing, Ganymede!"
"I studied Mom's old magic books… Lucky I could still use some of it."
"Sigh… Magic, huh? Back then, we could just wave a hand and everything worked. If only we still had our Angel powers…"
"For now, we need to protect Mom."
"Right!"
They wrapped Luna in the remaining blankets and sat around the small fire to warm themselves.
---
"I've felt a lot of strange things since becoming this creature called 'human'," Callisto said quietly. "Feelings I never had as an Angel."
Europa nodded, staring into the flames.
"No matter what, the warmth we felt serving our master will never be replaced. That's why we have to protect her."
"But now… ever since we became human, new emotions are born. Anger… sadness… regret… jealousy… love…
I'm feeling them all for the first time."
---
The Next Day
Luna woke up, and by afternoon, they resumed walking—without any destination.
With weary steps, they pushed forward, hoping for help.
Rain suddenly poured from the skies.
"Why now of all times!?"
"Quick, over there! A cave!"
They sprinted inside.
"Huff… huff…"
Luna looked worse than ever.
"I'm sorry, girls… I've been useless…"
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
Europa and Ganymede hugged her tightly.
But Callisto didn't cry.
She stayed strong.
"Stay with Mom. Keep her warm."
"Where are you going?" Europa asked.
"Don't worry. I'll be back soon. Take care of her."
And with that, Callisto ran into the rain—without saying where she was going.
---