Apparently, my brother frequently trained with an instructor when I wasn't with him. His schedule is usually minimal but as he grow older his time were filled with more training. One day I saw him fighting with guy using his katana near the garden.
The guy he was fighting with have a tan skin and brownish red hair, his eyes were stunningly blue, and he has a bulky form. In his hand is a longsword, thin but sharp enough to cut through rocks. My brother is 10 years old and this guy is a few year older than him, but my brother is still the best and kick that guy as* everyday.
Since my brother was too busy training to join me in library, I regularly visited him during his training to bring sweets for him. I never interrupted him, which is why I was never introduced nor do I know that guy name.
But I started labeling him as "The guy who I should protect my brother from".
He teased my brother everyday! It annoys me how much skin ship he was giving to my brother! My brother never hugged me first, why should this guy be allowed to hug my brother!
While biting on my imaginary napkin, I puffed my cheek and glared at that guy more ferociously than usual. Usually they didn't notice me until the end of the training, where my brother would whisk me away so fast that I couldn't even say a word to that guy.
But today that instructor guy noticed my fiercer than usual glare, then his blue eyes clashed with mine. His hand that gave my brother a side hug loosen, allowing my brother to swiftly escape from his death trap.
"Camulos, is that your sister?" His form slowly approached me as if he didn't want to scare me. My brother gave him a glare and quickly blocked my figure from him.
"Whoa, no need to go angry, I'm just curious of your sister who you never let me meet." He grinned handsomely, patting my brother head.
His touchy hand ticked me off.
"You, hands off my brother!!" I stood in front of my brother, scowling at that guy. He raised both of his hand in a giving up gesture. "Goodness, your sister is exactly like you. Well, except much more cuter." His long hand then pinched both of my cheeks.
My brother abruptly slapped that guy hands away with a glower, before hugging me tightly. I was in heaven, my brother hugging me for the first time!! I hugged him back and nuzzled his stomach like a cat.
"See? the same. How about your talent little girl? Do you also have blood manipulation magic?" That guy squatted to meet my eyes. "I'm not little girl! I'm Chloe! and no, I;m adopted." I stared at him curiously. "Name?"
"Apology for my rudeness, miss chloe. I am Ace of Vaughan, it is a pleasure to meet a beautiful lady like you." He took my hand and attempted to kiss it, but my brother whacked his head. "Hands off." My brother voice was freezing.
Ace chuckled, then his eyes inspected me. His eyes lingered at my eyes before looking at my other features. "Well, she should have some kind of lineage magic. Her core is very stable and its exuding an energy. Do you want to check it out little miss?"
Does that mean I do have some sort of magic? My eyes shimmered in excitement, "can I?" I requested my brother who is looking hesitantly at me. I looked at him with my puppy eyes, begging for him to accept my request.
Brother looked away and nodded in acceptance.
In an unsure manner, I grabbed Ace's shirt after releasing my brother from my hug. My eyes indicating him to guide me. Ace chuckled at me and grabbed my hand, leading me to a small seat in the garden.
I sat like he told me to do, looking at him suspiciously. He bring a piece of paper from his mysteriously appearing bag, then he instructed me to lay my palm flat on the paper surface. I did as he instructed and words began to form on the paper.
Name : Chloe Reins
Age : 4(34)
Magic : Ice rank A
Skill : Intuition rank Z, Luck rank SSS
Physical : S-
Mecha : A+
Fusion : SS-
I didn't understand half of what was written, does this mean I can do Ice magic? "Whats Mecha and Fusion?" I questioned. Ace skimmed the result and whistled in appreciation, "you're quite talented little miss. 1 rank Z and 3 rank S is rare, just like your brother. Well Mecha means your talent with mecha weapon, and fusion is your talent of integrating with a weapon."
He then gazed at my brother in carefree manner. "I could teach your sis-" "No." My brother interrupted Ace speech with murderous look. Unexpectedly Ace argued back, "she has the talent, Camulos. She should be taught to protect herself from this dangerous world. I understand you want to protect her from fighting, but one day you won't be here and she will be alone. Especially when the day come for you to go to the front line, she'll be here by herself. You think others won't use her~?" Ace eyes seemed to linger darkly at me, before shifting to my brother.
My brother is leaving for war in a few year, I know it will happen but hearing it officialy bring sorrow to my heart. War is near and the only precious person I have is going to be taken away.
Just like how my family were ripped away.
I must be strong. So I can follow my brothere wherever he is. Only strength can give freedom in this world, if thats the case, Ill be stronger than fate itself who made fun of my life.
"Teach me, Mr Ace." I eyed him with determination, "I want to be strong so I can protect brother."
Ace eyes shifted to me, with an easygoing laugh he rubbed my hair "Looks like your sister isn't going to take a no for an answer Camulos. No need to use Mr, just call me Ace, little miss. I'm only 13 years old."
I glance at my brother who still looking as if he's going to kill Ace, "sorry brother. I need to be with you and protect you!"
My brother gave a sigh and left.
~~
Brother were in bad mood for several day. Each day I brought cookies and hugged him for a long time in apology for defying him. He didn't ignore but he still have murderous eyes whenever Ace were there.
My training started the day after my skill inspection, it began with stretches and physical training. It seemed like magic weren't going to be taught until I'm fit enough and skills only popped out at certain age or with special circumstances.
Ace was certainly a good and patient teacher, but he has a sadistic side which I sometimes see whenever brother wasn't there with me. He would swing swords behind me just to make me run faster, scary~. He's also very mysterious, sometimes he would stare blankly at me and my brother.
But my much more important mission of protecting my brother from Ace was a huge success! every time he got near my brother I would block him and became the replacement victim. Sometimes I don't know why but he would look even happier when I became the replacement victim, he hugged me regularly and often swing me round. At first I tried to run, but after a long time I just tolerate it and maybe liked it a little.
Not that I'll tell him!