Chapter 21 - Truth

"Little Yue, what you saw is not a dream but a memory. My memories."

"What do you mean? But that did not happen right?"

"Yes, It did not happen in this timeline."

"Timeline… you mean that…"

"Nn." Avery nodded. "I am from the future."

"... I figured."

Avery, with a slight surprise asked. "I..."

"I had my suspicion that all that knowledge you had to come from somewhere."

"There's also that sudden change of behavior weeks ago. You looked more confident and had this look of wisdom that a person who has experienced a lot would have."

"You almost look like a completely different person."

"So…" Avery tried to hide anxiousness welling up inside him.

He was afraid that her sister would think of him as someone else because of the change in attitude.

He was afraid that something bad would happen to their relationship.

He was afraid that his sister would look at him negatively.

He was afraid to lose her again.

He was afraid that…

"But, big brother is still big brother right?" Avery's thoughts were interrupted by Yue's sweet voice.

"No matter what changes you are still the big brother that loves and cares for his precious little sister." Yue said with a bright smile, bright enough for it to not lose to the sun itself.

Avery was entranced with her smile and dazed at her. His eyes start to get moist as a small drop of tear flows down his eyes.

"Big brother?" Noticing his current state, Yue asked worriedly.

He snapped out his daze and noticed the drop of tears flowing down his eyes. He quickly wiped them off and gave Yue a smile.

"No. I am not sad or anything. It's just that I am so happy to have been blessed with the best little sister in the entire world."

Understanding that she said nothing wrong and even hearing his compliments made her proud and happy.

She puffed out her chest and raised her chin up proudly and said "Of course! I am the best sister in the entire world."

Avery smiled at his little sister's actions.

*growl*

They then heard a rumbling of a hungry stomach. Avery looked at Yue only for her to realize that it was her who made a sound.

"I-I its n-not my fault I got hungry!"

Avery laughed which made Yue more embarrassed.

"Come on now, I'll go ahead and cook us some food." Avery said and proceeded to go to the kitchen.

Yue stayed there and calmed herself down before running after Avery to help.

---

After preparing food, both sat in the dining room to eat.

They were talking about the future that Avery experienced.

Though he made sure to not talk about some information that he was sure to make her feel sad and guilty.

Especially about the fake marriage with that ugly slut that forced him to marry her. He was glad that he was able to scheme out of that fake marriage.

He then shook his head in an attempt to get rid of those thoughts. He does not want to remember anything about that slut, as just the thought of her real appearance that she hides in that illusion of hers sends a shiver down his spine.

The past is the past and that slut has nothing to do with his life now. He is here now and all he needs to think about is her little sister.

He then talked about his experience in building his empire, his annoyance with the over-protectiveness of his subordinates, and other things that happened in the other timeline.

Yue then asked something that he wanted to avoid.

"Then what happened to me in the other timeline, big brother?" Yue asked in order to know if their relationship progressed in the other timeline.

Avery froze in shock as he heard the question. The atmosphere tenses before Avery decides to tell her the truth.

"I-I... you died." Avery asked with a voice filled with pain and guilt.

"O-oh…" Yue did not expect that answer and was surprised.

"I am s-sorry… i-its all my fault if o-nly I.."

Yue then quickly regained her bearings and proceeded to speak cheerfully in an attempt to change the tense atmosphere. "Well it's all good now right? No need to think of those sad things."

"I am here, happy and alive. I know that big brother will protect me and won't let it happen right?" Yue said brightly.

Avery then realized that she was right. 'Right. We know the future, with the knowledge and experience I have, I'll be damned if I let my sister die again!'

"You're right Little Yue. They would have to walk past my dead body before they can even think of laying their hands on you!"

Yue smiled and was thankful that she was blessed with such a great big brother.

They then proceeded to talk about other things and Yue made sure to not ask about her death as she knew it would only bring back painful memories for her big brother.

Who knows, it might be shown to her just like the memories she saw in that dream and perhaps some other unwanted things…

---

After eating their food they then proceeded to wash the dishes.

After that was done they went back to the living room as Avery proceeded to get his bag in order to inspect the Crystal of Ascension inside.

Seeing the crystal, Yue was mesmerized with its beauty. The crystal looked like a six sided prism in the center with a six sided pyramid on both ends. The side was smooth without a single blemish on it. Along with its rainbow glow that it was emanating it looked totally mesmerizing.

"So that's how the crystal looks like. It looks so beautiful." She said. "It's kinda surprising that it was not damaged considering that it fell and crashed like a meteor."

"Well… considering that traces of pure mana are inside. It would not be surprising that it was not damaged."

"Though, because it used most of its mana in reducing the impact it was not able to nourish our body while we were in slumber." Avery continued.

"Nourish?"

"Yes. Once it is able to generate its mana back, it would help us in nourishing our body while we are in the Ascended world, which in return would allow us to stay longer inside the Ascended world."

"Would it use the mana it generated to allow our bodies here on earth to function properly without food and water?"

"Nn." Nodded Avery. "It would allow us to stay in slumber for a week or two here on earth without dying because of food and water which would mean that we can stay on the Ascended world for a month without going back on earth."

"But.. that would only happen after the crystal was able to generate its mana back." Avery said.

"Wait… does that mean we can't go back until it replenishes its mana?" Yue asked worriedly as she loved that place.

Seeing her worried face, Avery smiled. "We can still go back silly." He flicked her forehead as he said thise words.

"Big brother…" Yue then touched her forehead as he looked at her big brother with teary eyes.

Seeing her like that, Avery could not help but laugh at her expression.

Seeing him laugh at her, Yue could not help but pout while looking to the side.

"Haha..I am sorry… you just looked so cute at that moment."

Hearing his compliment, Yue's lips curved into a smile.

"Anyway, we can still go back though the crystal would not nourish our body so we have to go back here on earth to replenish our energy."

Saying those, Avery did not hear a reply. He looked at his sister only to still see her looking to the side.

"Aww… is my cute little sister still upset that I laughed at her?"

"..."

"Mmm… What can big brother do for her cute little sister to forgive him?"

"..."

"Do you want big brother to kiss you?"

"..." She said nothing but she slightly nodded her head with a happy look in her eyes.

Avery moves closer as Yue turns her head to face him as she closes her eyes.

She then feels something soft and wet touch her cheeks. She then opens her eyes as she realizes that it was not the kiss she wanted.

'Aghh! What did I expect… I haven't even confessed yet. I don't even know if he would accept and look at me that way.'

Seeing her expression. Avery then proceeds to laugh again.

"Mou… Big brother! You're teasing me again." Yue said as her face heats up and becomes red as a tomato.

They then continued to laugh and bicker with one another. Both were happy spending their time in the company of each other.