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I could only smile as I fondly remember those memories of mine...That was really one hell of a night stroll...
It's been approximately four years now since I met Luna and started the Chaos Brigade. And by this time I was seventeen years old, with my sister being eighteen. Considering the traditions of this world, eighteen was the time in which children of aristocrats would go out to the world and study at an academy
And since we came from a long history of mages, my sister Gemma, was about to go to one of the most prestigious magic academies on the entire continent. The Aracana University. Which is located in the capital city of our country.
Even for aristocrats, getting into such a prestigious school is extremely difficult. After all, the academy runs on a tight system of meritocracy in which only those deemed talented or with potential in magic were allowed to bear their alma mater...
Let's say that there were about a hundred applicants that wanted to study there, with the current screening process, it's said that only twelve would be allowed to enter. And that's being optimistic. Most of the time It's a lower number
But of course, this also means that the school isn't discriminatory to commoners, they're basically one of the very few schools that allow everyone an equal chance...
Normally my sister would also have to partake in those grueling tests and all that, but her talents were already known throughout the Empire. She's hailed as a prodigy by many magic professors that tutored her, and at one time she even won a big fighting tournament against well-trained Imperial mages...
And with these achievements in mind, she became one of the select few people in centuries that actually got a recommendation letter from Arcane University...
Not even my old man was able to achieve that, and he was one of the most powerful mages in the Empire.
So you can only imagine how much of an uproar that caused. My mother was practically bursting with tears as she read the letter, and my old man threw in a banquette so wild that everyone in our entire domain was practically celebrating
Which leads us to where I am now, just chilling in the corner of the room while I silently sip my grape juice. The main events were being held at one of our massive halls that were filled to the brim with so many fellow aristocrats just dying to meet the prodigy of the Lenington family
While outside, I could see fireworks being launched, with most of the people in our city drinking and feasting on the food that my old man gave away for free. They were also singing praises for my sister which somehow reached all the way here...
"Wow, they sure are getting at it..."
Looks like my sis is loved by everyone, huh? I've heard that she would usually go to our city and help everyone out with whatever problems there were, but I never thought they'd be this rowdy about it...
Meh, whatever, I'll just let everyone be for now
I took a sip from my grape juice once more as I watch Gemma from a distance. Over the years she's grown more beautiful with her curves being more refined and her body being a bit more enticing. In fact, there was a time in which there were a lot of nobles and commoners alike who proposed to her
But they all disappeared without a trace for some reason...I'd like to say it was because of me, but it's most likely my old man pulling some strings...Sheesh, and I thought I was the evil one...
Though I guess they dodged a massive bullet there. She may look perfect on the outside but in reality, she could shift moods in a heartbeat, one second she'll be smiling, and the next she's shoving her sword up your bum. And not to mention she also has an ego the size of a mountain, though she never really shows it in public...
Normally a sibling would either admire or be jealous of such an overachieving sister, but not me
If there's one thing that I learned from my previous life, It's that fame is a pain in the ass most of the time. Just take a look at her now, she's literally being swamped by our guest who kept repeating the same praises like a broken record.
I was honestly feeling pretty bad for her in a way, I could clearly see her desperately trying to suppress herself from drawing her sword and cutting down everyone right here and now...
But after I remember the moments of her kicking my ass every day my pitty immediately vanished
"Hehe, serves you right"
I muttered under my breath as I watched her suffer. But it seems that she somehow heard my words because she suddenly turned to me with a menacing smile and a sharp glare. I immediately knew that I was in trouble so I walked out of the room and made a tactical retreat
Now the question is, where do I go?
My room would be a good spot, but my sister would surely check it out first. And while I'm confident that I could hide from her using magic, I, unfortunately, have to save every last bit of mana for a big event that's coming up soon...
I walked into the restroom only to see our servants making out
I went to the nearby barn and saw the exact same sight
I could go to our garden, but something about this tells me I'll see things even worse
"God what the hell is wrong with people..."
I know I'm not one to talk, and I understand that it's the alcohol that's doing the talking, but at least do it in a damn room. Well, my mother would probably catch one of them in the act and scold them so I'll just leave them be...
In the end, I just decided to chill on one of our balconies. There's no one around considering they're busy at the party so this makes the perfect spot. I let out a sigh as I breathed in the fresh air of the night.
I watched as the fireworks go by and everyone partied happily back in our city. Normally I'd go there and wreak havoc, but I'd feel nothing If I crash the party like that so I only kept them bottled up until this was all over...
And besides, I've got my own debut to worry about...
Speaking of which, I saw a familiar crow descend from the dark sky. I smiled at the sight of it and was prepared to catch it with my hands, but it suddenly turned a complete 360 and flew away. As I wondered what on earth was that about, I felt a malevolent presence behind me for an instant...
I then turned around quickly and caught the blade that was about to cleave me in two using both of my hands. It was the familiar white blade that I was so used to seeing every morning, a weapon that belonged to the devil herself
"Nice reflexes...I suppose all that beating I did to you at least taught you something, huh?"
Gemma said with a smirk as she added a bit of strength to bring her blade down, to which I tightly held it down so as to hold it for my dear life...
"Sis...Please don't do something like that, what if I accidentally killed you?"
And I'm not joking with that one. I honestly would've blown her to shreds had I not realized that it was actually her...
"Haha! I see you've grown more cheeky over the years"
Gemma says as she pulls back the sword and places it in her sheath. I could only let out a sigh of relief as she does so. I'd mainly prefer my identity to stay as the black sheep of the family to cover my tracks, and I'll be a bit annoyed if it ended like this...
"So what's the guest of the hour doing all the way back here?"
"I just wanted to take a break from the tough crowd so I sneaked out when no one was looking. You know, just take a short breather and talk with my favorite lil punching bag and all that stuff"
"There must've been at least thirty people on your tail, with many others looking at you from afar, how'd you manage that?"
"They don't call me the prodigy of this family for nothing"
"Huh, quite impressive. But why are you really here? I presume it's not to tell me your goodbyes, right? I mean, how can someone like you possibl-"
"Actually I am saying my goodbyes, Dante"
"...Eh?..."
Did she just say my name? Gemma of all people? The one who kept calling me maggot or horse-shit throughout my days of childhood?
"A-Are you perhaps not feeling well, sis? D-Do you need me to call the doctor perhaps?"
"Oh shut up, I'm not that heartless you know?"
"You literally forced me to eat beetles for breakfast once as part of your 'training regimen'. You made me sleep outside to 'toughen my spirit' and you'd wake me up by bombarding me with [Firebullets], and this is just at the top of my head, you sure you wanna die on this hill?"
"...Okay, maybe I am a bit cruel, but it's only for your sake since your laziness holds back your talent"
"I told you already that I'm not like you guys. I barely have any mana to qualify as a mage or the skills to be one"
"The fact that you're able to survive my training tells me a different story. Our tutors in the past may have given up on you, but until I'm able to drag that hidden talent out of you then I'll keep pestering you even if you grow sick of it"
"Good grief..."
I'm positive that my disguise of being a 'talentless' mage was perfect, yet Gemma seems to really believe otherwise. I didn't slip up on her so that couldn't be it. So it's probably her instincts?...If that's the case then she's really becoming a force to be reckoned with...
"We may not see each other for a year but don't miss me too much. After all, once you've enrolled at the Aracane University then I'll keep you on a tight leash and we can continue doing our regimen"
"Quite bold of you to already assume that I'll pass"
"Oh, you have to because if you don't I'll fly all the way out here to bury your sorry ass six feet under. And that's assuming that mom and the old man haven't disowned you yet"
Hmmm...Not gonna lie, the prospect of being disowned and coming back to the family stronger sounds like a good villain background story. But I'm already a leader of an underground organization, and in order for that to stay long, having our family name and connections would be very useful...
"Alright, Alright, I'll at least try to get in"
"Attaboy, that's the spirit. So I can rest easy knowing that you'll practice magic, right?"
"I guess, but that'll have to come after my vacation from the Holy lands"
"Hmm? What are you gonna do all the way out there?"
"Just a bit of sightseeing I guess. Also, I'd like to pick up a grimoire or two while on the way, I heard that they're mostly better and more detailed compared to the ones on the Empire..."
"Hmmm, that's kind of true but at the same time, it really depends from mage to mage. But whatever, you've probably already told the old man so it's all good so long as you train hard and pass the exams. Alright, enough of that, I've got a champagne bottle I stole around here so let's get drinking"
"Mom is gonna kill us if she finds out. Especially since you're a lightweight and all"
"Psssh, no way. Look, we'll drink about five shots and you'll see everything would be alright"
My sister popped open the bottle and began chucking it down as we talked about mundane things
And It did in fact, not turn alright
After two minutes she was already wobbling around and speaking gibberish. I tried to sneak her into her room, but our extremely sharp mother caught me and tore me a new one. It was then I vowed to never let my sister get a drop of alcohol ever again