As I opened the door, I found myself face-to-face with Alea. She was putting on her shoes when our eyes met. Her expression turned stern, her brows furrowed, and she huffed, displaying her annoyance.
"Hey, hey, hey, what did I do to you?"
"Move," she snapped irritably when I didn't immediately step aside from the doorway. "Luci, I'm not going to repeat myself. I have a meeting."
"With who?" I asked, noticing her outfit—a black dress that was far from her usual attire.
"None of your business," she scoffed again, her fingers tapping impatiently on her hip as if her patience was wearing thin. "Just move, will you?"
"Did your record get stuck or something?" I sighed, trying to hold back my own irritation. "You could be a bit gentler with your younger brother."
"You're not my little brother," she blurted out sharply, but then hesitated, realizing she'd said something wrong. "I mean…that's not what I meant. Never mind, just move."
Her words didn't hurt me because, in a way, she was partially right. But I also noticed how she hesitated, as if realizing her mistake and regretting it. Emotions had clearly gotten the better of her.
"Fine," I replied, trying not to show my irritation at her cold attitude. "I won't get in your way."
She huffed one last time, though without the anger that had colored her words earlier. Without looking back, she walked out, leaving me standing in the doorway, watching her go. I couldn't shake the feeling that I should have followed her. Where was she headed, dressed like that?
With each passing day, things with Alea were becoming more complicated, and I didn't know how to improve our relationship. Give up on her? No, that was impossible. Thanks to this family, I had a home in Etistine, a new mother, and a sister. But there was another reason I was so determined to form a bond with Alea.
After taking a steadying breath, I followed her from a distance of several dozen feet. Her tall figure moved forward gracefully, her silky hair falling over her refined shoulders.
Alea Triscan—my older sister, but she meant much more to this world than just a relative. In the future, she was destined to become one of the strongest mages in the kingdom, a Spear of Dicathen. Her talent was akin to genius, as she had awakened her mana core at the age of eight. I don't know for sure, but based on the canon, I was probably supposed to die, since Alea did have a younger brother. Yet here I was, alive...
She was currently sixteen, and I wasn't sure at what stage her magical core development was. This meant her power level was so high that I couldn't sense it, just like Virion trying to grasp the boundaries of my beast will—a clear sign that she was significantly stronger than me.
When Alea suddenly turned, as if sensing she was being watched, I quickly hid behind the wall of one of the buildings. That intuition of hers—truly terrifying. I cautiously peered out from my hiding spot and continued to follow her until she entered a courtyard with a building resembling a tavern. A few minutes later, she disappeared inside.
"What's she doing here?" I wondered, eyeing the entrance to the establishment. After a moment, I decided on a course of action.
She's only sixteen, and there could be shady characters in there. I couldn't ignore this and had to find out why she was here.
The guard at the entrance—a big, bald man—blocked my way as I approached the door.
"Kid, you're too young to enter places like this," he said, looking down at me and adjusting his collar.
"I'm here for my sister," I said, trying to sound confident. "She's needed at home."
The man clearly wasn't going to let me through, but I decided to play to my advantage and looked at him with a cute expression, trying to appear as harmless as possible.
"Please…" I asked softly, adding a slight plea to my voice and looking up at him with wide eyes.
The guard hesitated, clearly caught off guard, and his face turned contemplative.
"Listen, kid…" he said slowly, as if weighing his options. "This isn't a place for children. Even if your sister is in there, you shouldn't go in."
I sighed, considering my next move. Alea was definitely here, and whatever she was doing, I needed to find out. It was unlikely she was just sitting and enjoying the pub's ambiance.
"Please! I'll just check what she's doing, call her home, and leave immediately," I said, letting a hint of desperation seep into my voice.
The guard looked at me again, and the combination of innocence and determination seemed to do the trick. He sighed and moved slightly away from the door, gesturing that I could enter.
"All right, but keep quiet," he warned. "And don't stay too long."
I nodded in gratitude and slipped inside without wasting time. The pub was filled with the smell of strong drinks and thick smoke. In the corner near the stage, a few musicians were playing softly, creating a cozy atmosphere. My eyes immediately scanned the crowd, searching for Alea.
There she was—sitting at one of the tables in the corner. Beside her sat a man whose face looked vaguely familiar. What kind of meeting was this?
Alea was seated at the bar with a glass of amber liquid in front of her. Her eyes shimmered with tears; she was clearly trying to drown her sorrow. I clenched my teeth, watching. Numbing her pain with alcohol? How low… In my past life, I was always skeptical of alcohol and smoking since I never turned to such things.
Next to her was a young guy with black hair and freckles, patting her shoulder and whispering something comforting, though I couldn't make out his words over the general noise. I focused and channeled mana to my ears, hoping to enhance my hearing, but even then, their conversation was unclear. My only option was to get closer.
"Now, now, Alea… don't be upset… it's okay…" I heard bits and pieces as I moved close enough to catch fragments of their conversation. A few steps more, and I was right next to them, hidden in the shadows behind one of the tables. "Everything will be fine," the guy continued, his hand sliding over her shoulder, pulling her head to rest against him.
Alea didn't resist, continuing to shed tears, as though resigned to this being her only way to escape her pain. But I couldn't just stand by and accept what was happening. The guy leaned in closer to her, studying her face, and murmured:
"You need to relax, take your mind off things. In time, everything will be okay."
At first, it seemed he was just trying to help. But then his actions crossed a line. He put his arm around her chest, and though Alea clearly noticed, her sorrow made her resistance weak and uncertain. He was obviously taking advantage of her vulnerability.
"Alea, I know how hard it is for you right now," he whispered, his hand slowly trailing down to her waist.
Alea shuddered, squeezed her eyes shut, and tried to push his hand away, but he persisted, his smug grin growing wider. Gathering her last bit of strength, she managed to pull his hand back, letting out a faint groan.
"Let me help you forget all your problems…" What I saw and heard was the final straw. This guy had no intention of easing Alea's suffering; he was just exploiting the moment to fulfill his base desires. I couldn't stand it any longer. Without hesitation, I stepped forward and grabbed his wrist, shoving him away from my sister.
"Keep your hands off her, you creep," I hissed, tightening my grip on his wrist.
The guy flinched, jerking his hand back in fear. His face, which had been smug a moment ago, now showed panic.
"Hey, kid, what's your deal?" his voice trembled as he realized it was me—a seven-year-old. "Stay out of this."
"Luci?" Alea looked at me through her tears, as if doubting I was really standing before her.
"Leave, before I make you regret it," I said coldly, locking eyes with him. For a moment, he froze, then anger took over, and he seemed to think he could handle a kid. He tried to grab my collar.
I dodged, moving aside, and, stepping forward, I punched him straight in the nose. He fell off his stool, hitting the floor. Blood trickled from his nose, and tears of pain glistened in his eyes.
A mana blade formed in my hand, and I grabbed him by the collar, warning him:
"If you come within five meters of her again, I'll make sure you never walk."
The mana blade traced a thin line along his cheek, leaving a small cut. Letting him go, I turned to Alea, watching as he scrambled to his feet and quickly disappeared into the crowd, muttering under his breath.
"Alea, are you an idiot? Why did you come here?" I said, my frustration evident in my voice.
She looked at me through her tears, her gaze filled with pain and confusion.
"Luci… what are you doing here? No, it doesn't matter," she whispered, looking away. "You just wouldn't understand, even if I told you, Luci. You don't even remember yourself or know what I'm going through…"
Her words stung, but I knew she didn't mean to hurt me.
"I know this is hard for you. It's hard to bear the loss of our father, hard to look at me, your younger brother, who remembers nothing. But alcohol isn't the answer. Do you think Father would be proud of you, seeing this scene? Seeing you sad, drunk, and letting someone touch you inappropriately?" Alea averted her gaze, but I took her face in my hands and made her look at me. "Answer me."
She was silent, her eyes red from crying, dry now, unable to shed any more tears.
"I don't think he would. Father would be disappointed. He died as an adventurer, in battle, and here you are, giving in to life's hardships. Didn't he teach you to be strong? Look at yourself—pathetic, weak, drunk, and pitiful. Where's the brilliant spellcaster that Mother speaks so proudly of?" I released her, and her eyes filled with tears again, though she tried to hold them back. I wiped her cheeks with the back of my hand. "Don't let them down with actions like this. Father is probably watching us, even from there."
With these words, I took her hand and led her toward the exit. We walked in silence, and I didn't look at her. Outside, I thanked the guard, then continued to pull my sister along with me. To any onlookers, we probably looked quite odd, but I didn't care.
Don't forget to give a power stone