Although Lucas outperformed his brother in academics, it didn't mean his brother wasn't exceptional. In fact, his brother was likely just one step behind him in terms of grades.
But outside of academics, Lucas couldn't compare. His brother excelled in nearly everything—he was a gold medalist in kendo, a natural athlete, and talented in music. Whether it was sports, instruments, or any other skill, his brother always stood out.
That was why Lucas was constantly compared to him.
No matter how much Lucas tried to excel at something, it always felt like it wasn't enough. He wanted to prove that everyone had their own strengths, their own capabilities.
'But why?'
'Why do they always focus on my flaws?'
Despite the constant comparisons, Lucas didn't resent his brother. If anything, he admired him. Even though he was judged and criticized by others for not living up to their expectations, Lucas kept trying.
But over time, the constant pressure wore him down. Eventually, he stopped caring about what others thought and began focusing only on himself.
***
Lucas sighed as he walked, his thoughts swirling.
'I'm in a new world now. This is my chance for a fresh start.'
'But… am I going to be a failure here too?'
He lowered his gaze, trying to avoid the stares of those around him.
'I wonder how Sir Kael manages to ignore all the attention. It's hard enough for me just to walk straight without feeling overwhelmed.'
His eyes wandered upward to the sky, which stretched wide and bright above him. He realized he hadn't yet seen this world's sky at night. What did it look like when the stars came out?
But his thoughts shifted abruptly to something else.
'Wait, hold on. Those guys mentioned Kael is one of the Silent Sentinels. Is that some kind of elite group of swordsmen? I'll have to ask Eldric about it later.'
Shaking off his musings, Lucas continued walking toward the library.
As he approached, he noticed someone nearby. It was a boy with blue hair and green eyes, wearing dark blue clothes that looked dusty and worn. A stick was strapped to his side, and his whole appearance suggested he'd been through a tough fight.
'Wait… is that Eldric?'
'Why does he have a stick?'
Lucas squinted, taking in his friend's disheveled state.
'And… why does he look so dirty?'
Eldric stood in front of the library, descending from his skyrak. Just as he was about to head inside, he noticed Lucas approaching.
Lucas wore a clean white long-sleeved shirt and slacks, his black shoes giving him the appearance of someone headed to class.
Eldric called out Lucas and said in his usual tone. "Oh, hey, Lucas. Did you enjoy your reading today?"
"Yeah, I did," Lucas replied, though his eyes trailed over Eldric from head to toe.
"But… why are you so dirty, Eldric?"
Eldric sighed, brushing some of the dust off his sleeves. "Oh, well, I had to fight a bunch of monsters alone in the jungle."
Lucas blinked, startled by the casual way he said it. "Oh… is that so?"
Eldric studied Lucas for a moment before raising an eyebrow. "And what about you? You look like you fell face-first onto the ground."
Lucas scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "Ah, well… it's a long story. I'll tell you later."
They both climbed onto their skyraks and headed home. It was late afternoon, the sun dipping lower in the sky as it neared evening.
When they arrived, the scent of something cooking greeted them. Sebastian was already home, stirring a pot in the kitchen.
Lucas tilted his head, surprised. It wasn't like Sebastian to be home so early. He usually didn't return until much later in the evening.
Eldric, however, didn't seem surprised at all, so Lucas decided not to question it. Not that his face is always like that.
With nothing else to do, Lucas and Eldric offered to help. They had gotten home earlier than expected, and the thought of lending a hand felt better than sitting around idly.