~Replacement~

15

April 17 (any year, because it’s a fantasy world)

Milisa

45 kg

152 cm

He was strikingly similar to Aki: the same facial features, the same coat color, the same graceful movements. Even the slight tilt of his head when speaking seemed to mimic the habits of his late twin. The owners couldn't believe their luck—he was the perfect candidate. When they brought him into the house, Milisa looked up for the first time in a long time. She paused for a moment, gazing at the familiar outline, and her heart told her what her mind refused to believe: "This is him. This is Aki." In that moment, Milisa allowed herself hope—fragile, tremulous, but so necessary. She believed that fate had given her a second chance, and she took the first step toward a new beginning.

The search proved incredibly difficult. They needed to find not just any beastman, but one who resembled Aki in appearance and behavior. Months were spent on meetings, inspections, and conversations... The owners traveled half the city, visited remote settlements, questioned acquaintances—and each time, they were completely disappointed. Some were too tall, some had a completely different shade of fur, some moved abruptly and alien. And finally, after countless failures, they found him.

Milisa's owners were deeply distressed by her suffering. They tried various methods to bring her back to life: taking her to healers, showering her with care, offering her new activities—but nothing worked. Milisa merely nodded politely in response to their efforts, but her gaze was distant. Then, after much deliberation and agonizing doubts, they decided on a desperate step: find another beastman who could at least partially fill the void in Milisa's heart. The idea seemed almost blasphemous, but they hoped that a new creature, even slightly resembling Aki, would help her regain her zest for life.

But everything changed on one fateful day. Aki passed away suddenly, leaving behind only silence and a gaping void in Milisa's soul. She seemed to fade away: she stopped leaving her room, barely ate, and avoided all contact. She used to love watching the sunset from the rooftop, but now she spent entire days sitting by the window, staring into space. Her eyes, once shining with a living fire, now stared off into the distance, as if searching the world for echoes of the one who was no longer there. Sometimes she would shudder at the sound of a familiar voice and turn around with hope—but each time, reality mercilessly reminded her of her loss.

Milisa and Aki were twins—two beastmen whose bond went beyond mere kinship. From childhood, they shared everything: secrets, dreams, fears, and joys. It was impossible to imagine them without each other: where Milisa was, Aki was sure to be, and vice versa. Together, they explored the countryside, sheltered from thunderstorms under a vast oak tree, shared their last morsel of food, and whispered promises to never be separated. Their owners couldn't help but notice this deep, almost mystical connection—and they were truly glad their pets had such a support system. Milisa was always a little more cautious, while Aki was bold and mischievous, but together they complemented each other, like two halves of a single whole.