"Oh, oh, oh!"
"Oh!" Stop crying. Leave it.
"Pigya ah ah ah ah ah!"
Touch.
"Kyika!"
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
"Ah."
This is Filia Crane Put, my newly born sister. My sister was a child who would be useless without me from the moment she was born. If you don't touch her, she will start crying. She cries when I am not there.
Filia—Fee—was born with huge magical power, even before she came into this world. Naturally, she possesses a tremendous amount of magic after birth, and it has only grown greater than it was during the fetal stage. It would be catastrophic if such a child were to become unruly, especially as a baby. In other words, if I don't handle her properly, the room might collapse.
The only magical teacher capable of controlling my sister's immense power is Aber. He explains to me,
"... I think Fee has a memory of the fetus. She remembers through her soul, not her mind. She knows who saved her."
I was taken aback by this revelation. I look at my sister, laughing happily. She has silver hair and blue eyes. From her face, I think she resembles our mother. In the future, she will undoubtedly grow up to be a charming and beautiful young girl.
"Kya ~ uh, kyya!"
Her gaze does not need to chase me yet, as she does not possess an ego at this stage. But she never lets go of my finger once she grabs it.
I truly adore her.
Unlike me, who casts a calm and relaxed gaze, Aber appears somewhat serious.
"... It is better for this girl to learn magical control as soon as possible."
If she cries, feels lonely, or experiences a surge of emotion, a strong wave of magic is released from Fee. All this, somehow, I have managed to handle so far. My sister's magic is overwhelming. At the very least, I can't suppress it. But Aber can.
When I see him effortlessly contain the mighty magical power my sister emits, I can't help but wonder.
"If Aber could do this, couldn't he have managed the magic when Fee was still in my mother's womb?"
"... I can't. In my case, I'm just doing my best. I always hurt your mother," Aber says.
He explains that controlling Fee's magic during her fetal stage was in the realm of miracles. It seems the collaboration of everyone involved ensured her survival and safe birth.
I feel a sense of pride in having been part of something that ensured the safety of both my mother and Fee. It's a small victory, but it makes me feel like I've contributed to their well-being.
Now, I can speak fluently and comprehend the magnitude of what we all went through. I've grown. My birth was recorded as a sacred event in June 1199. Fee was born in November 1201. I am two years old, and my sister is barely two weeks old. But still, I find myself deeply attached to her.
"Fi-chan really loves Al-chan, so please take care of her," my mother says with a wink while reading a romantic novel.
My mother is only half-joking, but her words hold a kernel of truth. Fee can't bear to be away from me, and I find her undeniably adorable. I feel a special bond with her, having played a role in her survival and birth.
"Of course, I love her," I reply.
"Fufufu. In other words, if you get older and still get along well, you should marry Fi-chan," my mother teases.
"Bufu!" I nearly choke. What is she saying?
Needless to say, Fee and I are completely blood-related siblings. We share the same father and mother—no step-relations, nothing of the sort.
"What are you thinking?" I ask in disbelief.
"Oh, Al-chan dislikes Fi-chan?"
"No, there's no reason to dislike her. The problem is, we're real siblings!"
"... Is there a problem with marriage between siblings?"
"What do you mean, is there a problem?! It's absurd!"
Apparently, in this world, marriage between close relatives is legally acceptable. I've also heard that even same-sex and polygamous marriages are recognized here. Still, I can't wrap my head around my mother's suggestion.
"Well, I want Al-chan, who has become a proper Oni-chan, to remember 'my brother's knowledge,'" my mother says with a mischievous grin.
"My brother's knowledge...?"
My mother adjusts her posture, preparing to explain her thoughts. She's always spouting strange ideas, and this seems to be no exception.
"... Lyska's words are half from her imagination. This woman is always reading romance novels," Aber says with a sigh.
Apparently, I shouldn't take my mother's words seriously.
"There's nothing wrong with her advice, Aber. A beloved sibling is an important person, and we need proper knowledge to handle that relationship," my mother argues.
I can't help but feel exasperated by her fixation on the romantic aspects of relationships. Aber, on the other hand, maintains his cold demeanor.
"The first piece of 'brotherly knowledge' is: 'Don't leave your sibling alone!'" my mother declares triumphantly.
"Isn't that just common sense?" I reply.
Mother continues without acknowledging my remark. "When you love someone, you should never leave them behind. Always prioritize them!"
Although her words are heavily inspired by her romantic novels, they do hold a certain logic. Even if it's not realistic in every situation, maintaining communication and understanding within the family is important.
"The second rule is: 'Don't forget your memories with them!'"
"... Memories can't just disappear because we want them to, Mother," I point out.
But my mother clutches her novel dramatically. "I don't want to see Al-chan and Fi-chan, who are so close, grow apart because they've forgotten each other!"
Is she talking about us, or is she just referencing her book?
Aber places a hand on my shoulder, shaking his head slightly. "Don't take her too seriously, Al. Lucca thrives on dramatic, emotional stories. She's projecting them onto you."
Even so, I look down at Fee, who clings tightly to my finger. Her bright smile and joyful expressions fill my heart.
"Kya ~!"
This little angel has already captured my heart.
Whatever the future holds, I am determined to protect her and guide her. For now, I will raise her to be a kind and gentle girl, like an angel.
Looking at her smile, I made that promise to myself.