Aaliyah has always been below average in everything.
No matter if it's in the past or present, the only special thing about her was that she was a little more sensible as a kid.
She knew she lacked her race's inherent physical prowess.
She knew her magic capability was pathetically absent.
She knew she wasn't exactly intelligent.
Compared to her practically all-around genius sister Sadine, she boasted a value even lower than trash in their clan.
She knew she wouldn't survive if she remained all the same.
That's why even if it wore her to sickness and even death, she must spare no effort to read, to learn, to utilize everything possible.
She learned every trick a weakling must learn.
She read every book she could read while sneaking into the clan's storehouse.
Every day, even if her progress is nigh insignificant, she exhausts her body's Ether practicing small spells and tricks despite the risk.
Of course, the day of her "exile" was nigh.
Even though her value did rise a little, it was nothing compared to the prize she could be sold for.
That was where Sadine's insistence came in.
A widely recognized prodigy by then, her words held surprising weight despite her age.
She was given a chance to prove herself.
And she managed to prove it.
Against the infamous cannibal Jayi, their seamless cooperation put the monster in human clothing down for good without the clan's interference.
It was a turning point in her life.
As years passed and achievements racked up, Sadine rose through the ranks of heirs at breakneck speed and became a potential direct successor to the clan. Meanwhile, she sank into Sadine's shadow, becoming what can be considered an advisor.
They were unstoppable.
Just as the saying goes, she was the brain and her sister was the brawn, even if the duo was a myth due to Sadine always taking the limelight solo.
However, she always knew...that she was her sister's weakness...that the clan never really took her eyes off her. Her "father" especially.
Sadine also was well aware of this. As such, heeding their mother's words, they began a plan to permanently leave the clan.
Normally, leaving the clan for a faraway place alone is unthinkable - a luxury reserved only and only for the clan's ambassadors. Fortunately, when an Astrea professor and his student expedition group came by, they managed to grasp the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Sadine, impressing the professor with her rare Ether talent, managed to receive a direct enrolment offer with the possibility of a scholarship. She, on the other hand, convinced her "father" to become an agent who secretly reports Sadine's behavior, using her lack of talent and extreme envy for her sister as a base.
And so through negotiation, they both were successfully enrolled.
It was all going very well. Too well.
The train was running along smoothly, despite the station's extreme distance from her clan.
People were friendly, even though she was separated from her sister, probably intentionally. In a good way, she thought.
She did become an object of curiosity due to her rare beastman trait, but that's fine.
Their first step was complete.
Just as she could really breathe a sigh of relief, however, everything came falling down.
First, a mercenary group called Kreuz came crashing in, clearing out carriages and forcing the students into a big concentrated mass. There, she met Harry Lambert.
A small group of rich students then went to negotiate with their leader.
Second, before she knew it, almost everyone went mad and wrecked everything.
Another group seeking rescue effort went first but as time went on, she had no choice but to escape.
Along with Harry, she utilized everything she learned until now to evade and break through the madness that filled the train.
Third, as they stopped by an empty carriage, they met another student who seemed...a little too average.
To properly describe him, he was so forgettable she almost forgot he existed. His stares, nevertheless, were strikingly uncomfortable as if digging at her heart.
"Weak."
That's right, it was the empty eyes of a weakling who gave up on himself.
Ironically, she felt called out.
"We're the same kind, are we not?"
It was scary. The notion that she could become like him. It made her skin crawl.
That's why she threw out the "creep" excuse, and for some reason, Harry's agreement with her made her feel light-hearted.
The conversation became awkward, especially for the guy, but who could help it?
Obviously, things didn't end there.
Enemies came.
The guy collapsed trying to shield them.
A gorilla-like powerful monster blocked the door, seemingly non-hostile if unprovoked.
And last but not least, Sadine came for her.
Together, they confronted the freakishly strong monster as she left the guy to Harry's watch.
Perhaps this was the walls destiny set up for them. A test of their resolves.
Strangely though, she managed to grasp the monster through dizzying visions, just like Sadine who was surprisingly able to dodge things that she should have to tank.
A path to victory as always...
Ridiculous, fate thought.
Just as victory was within grasp, the monster suddenly became miles stronger.
The dizziness didn't help, only getting stronger over time.
As Sadine fell trying to stop the monster, she powered through with an "All-purpose" grenade, only to be caught midway.
She thought that if she could escape the monster with her sister using tricks, they could make a comeback.
She was too weak and pathetic, regretfully so.
If only...If only...she had more...
"Weak."
That was why...it was hard to accept what she saw next.
"It's time to [Sleep]."
The monster was cut into innumerable pieces...and what stepped out was...
"No...way..."
Those empty eyes...it wasn't that of a weakling who accepted his fate.
That was merely her arrogant projecting.
"If it breaks someone like that, is it truly worth wishing for?"
They were of a monster who lost his "self".
"The Memoria here's quite thick, isn't it?"
'?'
"Well, it can't be helped. [Sweet Dreams]."
As warm memories brought her away, a gentle smile made her heart flutter.
...
Cough!
Blood was spat onto the floor.
Blood was slowly leaking down a smile.
"What am I to do with this? We still got things to do..."
Certain things were gained.
Lost were others.
Changes are inevitable in the cruel passage of time.
Many embraced it.
Many hated it.
Many, fearing it, avoided it and ran away.
For one who knew "Naught" and pretended not, a budding happiness bloomed inside their heart.
But wait...it is yet time to be happy.
There are still youthful smiles to be saved.