"Sahara, sister!!!"
Jin's control over his spiritual energy faltered, weakening the force field protecting him. In that moment, Sahara closed the gap, placing her hand on his abdomen.
[Innate Ability (Replica): Soul Consumption]
'What?! She's absorbing my soul!' Jin realized in shock.
[Mathematician: Ability × 0]
He activated Mathematician, but it had no effect. Slowly, Sahara consumed his soul.
"Now, that ability is mine," she whispered triumphantly.
Jin gently rested his hand on her head, his touch soft and filled with a quiet sadness. His voice, barely above a whisper, trembled as he spoke.
"You've grown so much, sister... I'm sorry. I failed you when you needed me most. I wasn't there to protect you that day."
His words lingered in the air, heavy with regret, as if the weight of his past failures had finally caught up with him.
"So, you finally remember."
***************
In an unknown dimension, clouds stretched endlessly, with no land anywhere in sight. Yet, in this vast, empty sky, a single piece of land floated, just large enough to support a beautiful castle. Surrounding it was a sprawling garden filled with blue moon roses, symbols of distant love—always longing for the moon but never able to touch it. These flowers were known to bloom and glow during the Blue Moon, a rare event that occurred once a year, celebrated at the Blue Moon Festival.
But here, the roses shouldn't have illuminated. There was no Blue Moon in this dimension—there was no moon at all. Yet, they still glowed when they saw her.
*******************
"Brother, brother, wake up."
I was sleeping when my sister woke me.
"What's wrong, Sahara? I want to sleep more," I mumbled, still half-asleep.
"Brother, you promised you'd play with me," she said, her eyes turning sad.
"Alright, fine." I got up, fighting the urge to crawl back into bed.
"Yay! Let's play, brother!"
Sahara grabbed my hand and led me to the garden. She loved it there. The sweet, calming scent of the Blue Moon roses filled the air.
I took a deep breath.
"The cage is as beautiful as ever."
"Stop calling our home a cage," she said firmly.
I didn't want to upset her, so I changed the subject.
"So, what should we play?"
"Let's play using your ability!" she replied excitedly.
"No... no, no, no." I refused outright. Using my ability in front of her was too dangerous.
"But you promised we'd play together," she said, her eyes welling up with tears.
"I never promised to use my ability."
"But... but..." She puffed out her cheeks in frustration.
I looked at her, fighting back a smile. She was absolutely adorable when she was mad, her small face scrunched up in frustration, making her look like a doll—no, more than that, a masterpiece created by the greatest dollmaker to ever exist. Everything about her seemed so carefully crafted, from her delicate features to the way her emotions played across her face. Her raven-black hair cascaded down her back, just like mine, a gift we both inherited from our mother. But where my eyes were black, deep, and inscrutable like his, hers gleamed with a warmth that always made people stop and stare. Golden and bright, just like hers. It was as if the light of the sun had been captured in those eyes, where mine reflected only the night. Even though we shared so much, her eyes always reminded me of how different we were—how much she had of mother in her, and how much I had of him.
I tried to resist her cuteness, but I couldn't hold out for long.
"Alright. But just for today."
Hearing my agreement, she leapt with excitement, her small feet barely touching the ground as she ran ahead.
"Then let's go play with everyone!" she shouted, already making her way toward the large tree where other children were gathered, their laughter echoing in the distance.
"Sahara, wait!" I called out, rushing to stop her. Grabbing her arm, I pulled her back before she got too close. "Stay away from them."
She looked at me, confused and hurt. "But why, brother? They're our brothers and sisters too."
"They're not!" I snapped, my voice louder than I intended. Anger flared up inside me, a bitter taste in my mouth. "Our mothers are different. We're not the same."
"But... we still have the same father," she said, her voice quiet, as if trying to make sense of it all.
And that was what I hated most—why I despised him with every fiber of my being. The man who tied us together with his blood but tore us apart with his actions. He had created this warped version of a family, where none of us truly belonged to each other.
I knew, deep down, that we were all prisoners of the same cage he had built. A place where he kept his women—our mothers—like possessions, where we were nothing more than pawns in his twisted game. My mother and I had never been anything but his toys, and no matter how much I tried to protect Sahara, I knew she would one day realize the same harsh truth.
"But why... why?" she asked, her voice trembling with frustration.
Even after I had said no countless times, she kept asking the same question over and over.
"Sahara, I already told you—no," I said firmly, trying to keep my voice steady.
"But I want to play with everyone," she insisted, still hoping to change my mind.
I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm, but the anger was building up inside me, inching closer to the surface. Finally, I snapped.
"I said no!" I shouted, my frustration breaking through.
[Mathematician: Wind Current + 276]
A strong gust of air surged from me, almost instinctively. The force was so sudden it pushed her backward. Sahara was lifted off her feet, carried a short distance by the wind, and tumbled to the ground.
"S-Sahara..." I screamed, panic gripping me.
I rushed toward her, my heart pounding in my chest. Kneeling down, I picked her up gently. She was unconscious but there was no severe wound, her body limp in my arms. For a moment, it felt like my world was crumbling.
"Sahara... Sahara, please wake up," I pleaded, shaking her lightly, desperation thick in my voice.
But she didn't respond. Fear clawed at me, and tears blurred my vision. I frantically checked her pulse, pressing my fingers against her neck, and leaned in close to feel her breath. Relief flooded me as I realized she was still breathing. She was okay. My heart finally slowed, and the crushing panic eased.
The maids in the mansion rushed toward the scene after hearing my screams. They gently picked her up and hurried her back to the mansion.
I stood there, tears still streaming down my face, my fists clenched in anger.
"I lost control again," I muttered bitterly.
I ran to our secret hiding place, a small sanctuary hidden beneath a canopy of blue moon flowers, their vines bent to form a cave-like structure. The blossoms covered the entrance, making it nearly impossible for anyone to notice.
Sahara and I had discovered it by accident one day, and ever since, it became our refuge. Whenever we were upset, we'd come here together. But that day, she wasn't with me.
I sat there, knees pulled to my chest, sobbing uncontrollably.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," I whispered over and over, my voice breaking with every word.
"So, there you are," a gentle, familiar voice called out to me.
I turned toward the sound and saw my mother, carefully crawling through the small entrance, trying to make her way inside.
Mother was a strikingly beautiful woman. Her silky, smooth silver hair shimmered like the soft light of a full moon, cascading down her shoulders in gentle waves. It seemed to glow with an ethereal quality, illuminating her features in a way that made her appear almost otherworldly. Her golden eyes were mesmerizing, capable of brightening even the darkest night, filled with a warmth and wisdom that instantly put me at ease.
She reminded me of the moon goddess from 'The Legend of Rarura', a figure of grace and power who watched over the world with kindness. Her presence was comforting, and in her gaze, I found solace from the chaos around us.
"Don't cry," she said softly, her voice soothing as she wiped my tears away with the fabric of her robe. The material was warm and comforting against my skin. She wrapped her arms around me in a tight embrace, gently rubbing my hair as if to chase away my fears. "There, there. I know you're scared, but I'm here now."
As I felt her warmth envelop me, I began to calm down, my breathing steadying. Rubbing my eyes, I asked hesitantly, "How is she now?"
"She's alright now. I've already healed her," she replied, her voice filled with reassurance. The tension in my chest eased a little at her words.
She held me close, and in her gentle embrace, all my worries seemed to fade away. The sweet, comforting scent of her wrapped around me, soothing my frayed nerves like a soft blanket. I could feel the weight of the world lifting from my shoulders, replaced by a profound sense of safety. In that moment, I knew my mother would handle everything; she always did. It was a strange feeling, almost surreal, but it brought me a deep sense of peace, as if nothing could touch us in our little world.
"She's never going to want to play with me again, is she? She must be afraid of me now, just like those other kids."
"She will never be afraid of you. After all, she is your little sister," my mother replied, her voice steady and comforting.
"But I hurt her," I said, my voice trembling with guilt.
"It wasn't our fault," she reassured me.
"I lost control again. Why can't I manage this ability?"
"There's no need to rush," she said gently. "One day, you will learn to control it the way you wish."
She raised her left hand, and at the tip of her finger, a small ball of energy formed. It pulsed with a vibrant glow, sending waves of light radiating in all directions. As the energy spread, all the blue moon flowers illuminated, their petals shining brilliantly.
The scene was mesmerizing. The garden transformed, glowing with a rich sapphire hue. My eyes reflected its soft, calming light, and for a moment, everything felt magical and serene.
"Jin, may I ask you for a promise?" she inquired softly.
"Sure, Mother. What is it?" I replied, curious.
"Promise me you will always protect your sister."
I looked into her eyes, and for a moment, their glow faded. The warmth I usually felt was replaced by a sense of desperation that unsettled me.
"I promise I will protect her. But you didn't need to ask; she is my sister, after all."
"Of course I know that. Now, let's go. She must have woken up by now."
We walked toward the mansion, and when we entered, I saw that Sahara was already awake, sitting on her bed with puffed-out cheeks.
"Sahara, you're awake, honey," Mother said, rubbing her head gently.
"I-I'm sorry," I stammered, feeling a wave of guilt wash over me.
Sahara looked at me, then climbed off the bed and approached me.
"It was my fault. I shouldn't have asked you to use your ability."
"No... um, are you feeling okay? Does it hurt anywhere?" I asked, concern etched on my face.
"No, Mom fixed me completely," she replied, her voice brightening.
"That's a relief," I sighed, feeling the tension ease.
Sahara came closer, grabbed my right hand, and tied a red thread around it.
"What's this?" I asked, puzzled.
"A rakhi! It's a reminder for brothers to protect their sisters," she explained with a beaming smile.
I smiled back at her, feeling a warmth in my heart.
"Sahara, I promise I will never use my ability on you again. And this rakhi is proof of our promise."
*****************
[Innate Ability (Replica): Soul Consumption]
"With this, brother, we will always be together," she said, her eyes shining with determination.
Jin smiled gently, his crimson eyes filled with relief rather than fear. He slowly rubbed Sahara's head, a tender gesture that conveyed his affection.
"Sahara, you've grown up. I'm really glad," he said, his voice brimming with love and care as tears welled in his eyes.
"Sahara, I promise you I will come to save you," he declared, determination in his voice.
But the soul consumption was complete. Jin's soul was devoured by Sahara. With a thud, his lifeless body fell to the ground.
"You're too late for that," she whispered coldly.