This experience has profoundely made Aurora Starling acutely aware of her own insignificance. In the presence of Vladimir Starling and Firene Starling, she finds herself powerless to resist; before the vast and formidable Bennu clan, she struggles in vain. All she can do is to tighten her grip on the trump card in her hand, to hasten the lifting of the seal, to empower herself, and to retaliate against the terror she endured today.
In this foray, Aurora Starling has suffered no loss; instead, she has gained an overprotective brother.
Aurora Starling was an orphan in her past life, roaming the streets and alleys, relying on her skill of picking pockets to survive. At the age of fifteen, she was taken in and trained by an organization. In that place, no one cared for her life or death. Initially, there were over a hundred orphans like her, but after three years of brutal training, only three remained.
Never having known affection, she witnessed for the first time someone protecting her without rest, a scene that was both startling and heart-wrenching.
Not to mention the mischievous Seraphina Starling and Phoenix Starling, even in front of Vladimir Starling and Firene Starling, Sarkspur Starling displayed a commanding presence that dared any to challenge him. The two rascals who once took pleasure in teasing Aurora Starling would promptly scurry to a corner like mushrooms at a mere glance from Sarkspur Starling.
Seraphina Starling had intended to cultivate a youthful affection in Sarkspur Starling upon his return, but he, leading Aurora Starling by the hand, walked past her without so much as a glance, leaving her greeting of "Hello, Sarkspur brother." to disintegrate in the wind.
In Sarkspur Starling's eyes, aside from the head of the Bennu clan, Arcanus Starling, the only one worthy of his attention was Aurora Starling.
As for the rest, he didn't even deign to spare them a glance from the corner of his eye.
With Sarkspur Starling's return, a plethora of delicacies and trinkets were delivered to Aurora Starling's modest chamber. Sarkspur Starling was busy, too preoccupied to spend much time with Aurora Starling before he was summoned away by Arcanus Starling.
Aurora Starling sat cross-legged on her bed, staring at the mountain of pastries and toys on the table, her lips twitching involuntarily.
The pastries she could understand, but what was one to make of such items clearly favored by preschool children?
Obviously, Sarkspur Starling had always treated Aurora Starling like a little child, but the soul within Aurora Starling was that of an adult. Faced with these infantile items that left her both amused and exasperated, she could only seek answers from the heavens in silence.
She didn't ask for mountains of gold or silver, but jewelry and finery would have been nice—items that could at least be sold for money!
Just as Aurora Starling was secretly lamenting her plight, Seraphina Starling, brimming with anger from being ignored by Sarkspur Starling, burst into her room.
The moment she entered, Seraphina Starling's eyes fell upon the pile of gifts on the table, and her angry gaze instantly turned livid with jealousy.
"You idiot! Why should Sarkspur brother be so good to you? You're nothing but a waste, a fool! Even the lowest servant in the mansion is a hundred times better than you! You don't deserve Sarkspur brother's gifts!" Seraphina Starling's fists clenched as she glared at Aurora Starling sitting on the bed, her eyes burning with resentment that threatened to consume her sanity.
Looking at Aurora Starling's unremarkable face, Seraphina Starling's hatred reached its peak.
She was more beautiful, more intelligent than this fool, so why did Sarkspur Starling's gaze always rest upon such a worthless waste? She couldn't bear it, couldn't bear losing to someone who had nothing!
Seraphina Starling quickly approached the table, her hand opening to reveal a small flame budding in her palm, growing and condensing.
Before the sixth rank, those who practiced Arcanergy had limited skills at their disposal. The technique Seraphina Starling now wielded was one of the few available to her—the fireball spell.
"You don't deserve them!"
Seraphina Starling hurled the fireball in her palm with a jealous fury. A thunderous explosion followed as the crimson flames voraciously devoured the exquisite gifts on the table. In an instant, the delectable pastries and delicate trinkets were reduced to ashes, consumed by the roaring inferno.
Throughout it all, Aurora Starling remained silently on the bed, a silent spectator to Seraphina Starling's jealousy-fueled radicalism, her face a mask of indifference.
Seraphina Starling's jealousy flared with each item she set ablaze, belongings that were never hers to begin with. She understood Sarkspur Starling had been summoned away by Arcanus Starling, and in the vast Bennu estate, at this very moment, there was no soul who would dare intrude upon Aurora Starling's chamber. No one would hinder her actions towards this so-called fool, no matter how cruel.
Driven by envy and discontent, Seraphina Starling advanced towards Aurora Starling, her height giving her the advantage as she roughly grabbed the collar of Aurora's dress, yanking her from the bed and dragging her towards the fiery inferno.
"I want to see if Sarkspur brother will still feel pity for you after I burn off your hair and eyebrows, you ugly imbecile!" Seraphina Starling spat venomously. With Phoenix Starling guarding the door, she had no fear of her actions being discovered. Should anyone later take notice, they would surely attribute the fire to Aurora Starling's clumsiness, a tragedy that claimed the gifts and her own hair!
No one would suspect her; no one cared for the life of this fool, save for Sarkspur Starling.
The cruelty of children knows no bounds, thought Aurora Starling, allowing herself to be pulled towards the flames with an air of resignation, yet a mischievous smile flickered in the depths of her eyes.
As the heat waves licked her skin, Aurora Starling narrowed her eyes, watching Seraphina Starling's descent into madness and the raging fire before her. A wicked grin curled the corners of her lips, and an invisible current of air coalesced at her fingertips, forming a tiny flame that she kept hidden behind her back, out of Seraphina Starling's sight.
Approaching the burning table, an evil bloom flowered in Aurora Starling's eyes. The small flame, like an arrow loosed from a bow, shot forth from her fingertips!
Caught off guard, Seraphina Starling felt a sharp pain at her ankle, her balance instantly lost. With a scream, her body plummeted into the fiery abyss.
"Ah!!!!" The scorching heat enveloped Seraphina Starling, the flames mercilessly burning her flesh. Her cries of agony filled the room as she struggled within the fire, clueless as to how she had ended up there.
Through the blur of pain and flames, Seraphina Starling caught a glimpse of the small figure standing outside the fire, still and observing. The same petite frame, the same unremarkable face.
Yet now, the long-mocked and bullied Aurora Starling stood above her, a look of disdain in her once-vacant eyes that was foreign and terrifying to Seraphina Starling.
Aurora Starling stood quietly before the fire, watching Seraphina Starling's plight with a cold detachment. She knew full well that the flames were not enough to kill a magic practitioner like Seraphina Starling, only inflict superficial wounds. So, she merely watched, content to observe the face twisted by agony.
Phoenix Starling, hearing the screams from within the room, sensed something amiss. With the cries growing more desperate, he burst through the door, only to be met with the sight of Seraphina Starling thrashing in the flames and, to his shock, Aurora Starling smiling benignly beside them.
"Phoenix! Save me!" Seraphina Starling's plea was desperate, her body trapped by the remnants of the burnt table, the fire unrelenting in its assault. In her fear, she could only cry out to her brother for help.
Phoenix Starling, regaining his composure, rushed out to seek assistance, ignoring the sinister smile that seemed so out of place on Aurora Starling's face.
Soon, Vladimir Starling arrived with a crowd in tow, and with several buckets of water, the fire was finally extinguished. Seraphina Starling, exhausted and shocked by her ordeal, had fainted.
Arcanus Starling and Sarkspur Starling arrived shortly after, their expressions grim as they surveyed the devastation. Arcanus Starling stood at the threshold, a frown creasing his brow as he watched Vladimir Starling cradle his injured daughter, Seraphina Starling. Before he could speak, Sarkspur Starling had already moved to Aurora Starling's side, pulling her away to inspect her for injuries.
"Aurora Starling, what have you done?!" Vladimir Starling's voice was laced with anger and concern for his daughter. Had Arcanus Starling not been present, he might have lunged at Aurora Starling then and there.
Sarkspur Starling shielded Aurora Starling, turning his gaze to Vladimir Starling. "Uncle, what do you mean by that? What does this have to do with Aurora?"
"How can it not concern her? Seraphina was injured in her room; it's clear that this spawn of evil intentions meant to harm Seraphina!" Vladimir Starling's disbelief in Aurora Starling as a member of the Bennu clan was evident from the start. "This waste of space is a disgrace to our family name, and now she has caused trouble time and again, even injuring my daughter. I will not stand for it."
Sarkspur Starling's usually gentle eyes narrowed slightly, a dangerous glint passing through them.
"Enough!" Arcanus Starling barked, shooting a stern glance at Vladimir Starling, who was speaking recklessly. "I will say this once more: she is the child of Westley Starling. If anyone dares to speak ill of her again, they will leave my presence immediately!"
Vladimir Starling clenched his teeth, suppressing his fury. "Father! Seraphina is your own granddaughter, and now she has been hurt by this good-for-nothing. Are you just going to stand by and do nothing?!"
Was Seraphina Starling the only granddaughter of Arcanus Starling? Aurora Starling stood behind Sarkspur Starling, a cold smile curling in her heart.