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Anya stared intensely at herself in the mirror, turning left and right, jumping up and down, and stretching as far as she could. But she couldn't see anything.
“Operation Soul is at a dead end,” she muttered into her non-existent beard and turned to her partner, Agend Penguin, who was watching her very closely. “Anya will continue researching her files. Keep an eye out for when Dad gets back,” she ordered her partner sternly, who, as always, remained reliably silent. His way of saying yes.
She grabbed her school bag, took out a thick book, and threw herself face down on the bed. “Now, that was on the page where Anya had drawn the Stellas,” she murmured as she flicked through the book.
When she found the page, she scratched her head with a pen and stuck out her tongue as she read. She had seen on TV that this was the best way to concentrate, and therefore it was true. Shortly afterwards, there was a knock at her bedroom door, which opened a moment later.
“Anya, dinner's ready. Oh, you're studying?” asked Loid, raising an eyebrow. Anya nodded and jumped off the bed. As a researcher, she needed to eat a lot—after all, she had to think a lot. So dinner came at just the right time.
“I never thought I'd see the day when you'd study by choice,” said Loid as he sat down at the table.
“ Was isch wema issch wowal”
“Don't talk with your mouth full, Anya,” Loid reprimanded his daughter, who was hastily swallowing her mashed potatoes. “We're talking about soulgates, it's really exciting,” she said with a sparkle of enthusiasm in her eyes.
“It's called soulmates, Anya,” Loid corrected her, and Yor giggled. “I remember when that was a big topic in my youth. All the girls immediately set out to find their marks.” Anya beamed at her. “Will you show me your mark, Mama?” she asked excitedly.
“Oh,” Yor blushed slightly, and Loid intervened. “You don't just ask something like that, Anya. A mark like that can also be in a rather unpleasant place that you don't want to show,” Loid chided Anya.
A soul mark can appear anywhere on the body, Yors mark is probably in a more intimate place than her arm or leg, otherwise she would have reacted differently, Loid concluded mentally, and Anya's mouth fell open.
“Dad, will you look at my butt?”
“I'm definitely not looking at it!”
Anya pouted, “How is Anya supposed to find her soul mark or her soulgate then?”
Yor stroked her head soothingly. “Don't stress about it, most people don't get it until they hit puberty. I didn't find mine until I was 12, so you've got plenty of time.” She pushed the fabric of her red top aside and exposed her left shoulder. “This is my mark,” she said, and Anya was amazed.
Right under Yor's shoulder blade was a small discoloration of the skin. “Half a sun,” Anya murmured, awestruck. “Hmm, a setting sun,” Yor said with a laugh and pulled her top back into place.
“Have you found your soulgate?” Anya asked, full of excitement again. All of this was so terribly thrilling that she could hardly wait to get her own mark. Once again, Yor was embarrassed.
“I don't know actually,” she admitted, looking past Anya with red cheeks. “The soul mark isn't as straightforward as it's portrayed in movies or books,” Loid Yor helped her out of her predicament, and she sighed gratefully. "Some partners have the same mark, others only have a similar one. Yet others find each other through a hidden meaning in their marks, a name or characteristic, for example. It's always different.“ Anya nodded in understanding.
”And what is your mark, Dad?"
Loids left hand twitched undetectably. “I don't have one,” he said calmly, “It's very rare, but it does happen.”
The bandage that wrapped around his wrist like a second skin began to itch, the hidden mark of roses and thorns tingling slightly. But he didn't let it show. WISE-Agents have no markings, nothing that could reveal their identity.
That was part of their job, giving up the search for their soul mates. Even if it would be too dangerous for that person anyway.
Anya got up from the table and patted her father on the back, “Poor Dad.”
“Yeah, yeah, poor me,” said Loid, pushing his half-full plate aside. Talking about soul marks made him feel sick.
“Don't worry,” said Yor, smiling first at Loid and then at Anya. “Even without a mark, you can find the right people in your life. This mark isn't an exclusion criteria that means there's no one else in the world for you.”
“Okay,” said Anya, raising her arm triumphantly, “Then Anya doesn't need to worry.” Grinning, she turned to her father, “Can I watch Bond Man if I don't have to study anymore?” she asked sweetly.
Loid sighed, “Fine, but first clear the table and wash your hands.” Anya let out a disappointed sound but then began to help clear the table.
She would think about all that soul stuff again sometime, but for now she decided it wasn't important.