'So…cold. Where am I?'
As the chills engulfed his entire body, the man belatedly opened his eyes.
'Ugh!'
It felt like he had just woken up after a nightmare, his body fatigued and his mind dazed. Or rather...
'Like training with that monster...'
In the corner of his heavy eyelids, he could barely spot a figure. This chilling sensation alongside his exhausted self...there could be nothing more familiar.
"More like a merciless beatdown instead... every single time..."
He muttered powerlessly, thinking of the past. The pitiful sharp glance shot at him, the ridiculously powerful ice magic that easily subdued his flames, the relentless objection of him participating in anything combat-related, the countless talk down of his abilities and competencies...
Much an unreasonable, arrogant person.
'Nevermind. I might be hallucinating...Better get warm first.'
His Ether began to spread all over his body, turning into that akin to small flames to warm him up.
'Aaah...That's a little better-'
Swish-
'Huh?!'
"Hey!"
Something just scratched his cheeks, bringing him back to reality.
"Think you can pull one over me, little shit?"
It was an all-too-familiar voice. One that shouldn't be there unless emergencies occur.
'Wait...Wait! What happened-"
His eyes, like a door swinging open violently, looked anxiously around. His mind, yet clear, only managed to grow more confused.
With his body stuck to the train by thick ice, he could barely move an inch. The surrounding areas were frozen indiscriminately with layers of frost, suggesting a large-scale fight.
However, his heart grew restless not to that, but to the figure in front of him.
"Elder...sister?"
"Ah...Tch! Don't even try it!"
Her expression broke just for a moment, before gritting her teeth and tapping her feet. From it, ice tendrils with sharp edges rose rapidly from all directions to point at his neck. Seemingly adopting her frustration, they appeared ready to pierce his neck open at any slight movement.
Unreasonable as always. Last time was no different as well, he remembered.
But why is it like this? The last mission was a failure indeed, but this time he managed to get everyone onboard safely and outrun the pursuers. It should have been a success if they kept up the speed...so why?
Why was he out here, glued to the stopped train as his elder sister stared down at him?
What happened to the student?
Did he fail the mission?
'This is your last chance.'
How?
"Quite the courage you've got. Now, why don't you just listen to my words before-"
"No!"
Before he knew it, words came out of his mouth.
"Stop! Not another word. I don't tolerate rejection. Not anymore."
"..."
Her piercing eyes glinted, staring at something beyond him. Some hidden agenda was going on without his knowledge.
"She's at it again, isn't she? Always disregarding you, berating you needlessly."
'Right.'
"Who does she think she is to do this to you? Even after so much blood, tears, and grievances you shed to prove yourself, she never took a hint of consideration did she?"
'Indeed.'
"That monster...just because she is so powerful, she thinks she can decide for you as well. She thinks she knows best. As if...you're no different from her personal possession...no, plaything."
'That's right.'
He always remembered. Whenever he was beaten up, she always took some strange pleasure in it while talking down at him.
Even if he pointed it out, she just straight-up ignored it or gave flimsy excuses.
"You think you, a weakling, make such a good opponent that I smiled? Stop deluding yourself and just stay home."
"It's for your own good."
'Pfft…Ridiculous.'
Her twisted nature, only he understood it. Even the adults only thought of it as cute, or never cared like his father.
No matter what he says, almost no one would believe the less talented brother of the one-in-a-century genius that is his elder sister.
"That two-masked fox…cutting off all those who believed you while acting all nice and polite in front of those who knew shit..."
'From the beginning, she always controls my life. Friends, schedules, future plans, it was always her. That's why I ran away...only to come back under her wings at the Academy. All because...'
"...You're incompetent. But that could change, couldn't it?"
'How? This was my last chance...'
"Make her learn a lesson. Ki...Beat her up."
'That's impossible. No matter what tricks I pull, only kids would be impressed.'
"How about I lend you a hand?"
'What do you...!'
Suddenly, power surged within him. Flames that warmed his skin burst lively, burning away ice tendrils at a moment's notice.
"You!"
"Let us make a deal, one worthy of a lifetime. A deal of freedom."
Every noise seemed to fade into the background, except for one. Echoing loud and clear, it sounded ominous yet convincing.
A voice that resonated with strength, that he much lacked.
"Take my hand. I will make it happen...for a small price."
'...Sure.'
For some reason, it felt like something else had been steering his thoughts for him, but that didn't matter.
This is his rebellion against fate, to be truly free from her...that is by beating her.
For freedom!
...But what is the cost?
"Your Ego."
'What?'
Just like that, his consciousness was lost.
***
'The ominous feeling's...gone?'
Just as Alex rose up from the binding ice melting away, Lila thought she would need to subdue him again...but he slumped.
Was it a last desperate attempt?
She didn't know, but it felt like she could heave a sigh of relief...
PHWISHHHHHHHHHHHH
But that's not the case. The stopped train has begun the emergency warping protocol, but something's wrong with the circle.
'Is it...tampered with?'
Even for a genius like her, it would usually take a bit to decipher the circle. Nonetheless, something was so obviously wrong with the circle's contained information that a glance was enough.
'I stalled too long here. I have to hurry!'
Just as her attention diverted, something flashed in the corner of her eyes.
"Koff...?"
A fit of blood forcibly came out.
Her chest...something pierced her chest.
It was burning, her insides were burning...
She couldn't...breathe?
'Darn...No, I...must...stay...awake!'
Her consciousness was slowly slipping away...all due to a rudimentary mistake of momentary distraction.
Something red flashed within the corner of her eyes again.
'Damn it-'
"Haah...What a troublesome pair of siblings you are."
A rough arm grabbed her shoulder gently, slowly descending her to the ground as their other blocked the flashing red thing with ease.
"Sleep well. We'll discuss the pay cut later, young rebellious lady."
It's an incredibly annoyed voice, yet with exceptional reassurance.
'Camerone?'
Tumbling into slumber, that was her last thought.