“In this way?”
“Good job, sister. Shall we try to maintain that state for five minutes?”
Inside the carriage heading to the capital, I was learning magic from Alyssa.
I had planned to study alone, but after days of Alyssa’s persistent persuasion, I eventually gave in.
It wasn’t that I surrendered, though. Definitely not.
“You’re amazing, Lady Amy!”
“…Thanks, Ameri .”
Learning magic from my younger sister was an immensely humiliating and grueling process, but having Ameri cheering me on by my side gave me strength.
The day before leaving for the capital, I asked Ameri to accompany me.
Her reaction is something I’ll never forget for the rest of my life.
‘You want me to go to the capital with you!? I’m so honored! Please take care of me, Lady Amy!’
Hehe… Bringing Ameri along was the right choice.
It’s been quite some time since I left the mansion, but my condition and mental state are surprisingly stable.
“Uh… I have a question.”
“What is it, Ameri ?”
“You mentioned that the magic you can use is of the dark attribute, right? Then… the incident a few days ago when the sun disappeared, was it perhaps—”
“Shh!”
I quickly covered Ameri ’s mouth, opened the curtain of the carriage, and peeked outside.
While it was unlikely anyone would hear, there was always the possibility.
“Ameri , it’s a secret that I wield dark magic, understand?”
Nod, nod.
After discovering my power through my younger sister, I caused a major uproar the moment I stepped outside.
Servants, hired help, guards, and even my mother—all were gathered outside, staring at the sky.
Despite being a late afternoon when the sun should have been shining, it was obscured by dark clouds.
A demon king’s birth, an ominous sign, the beginning of the world’s end.
Various rumors spread rapidly, and Alyssa and I decided with just a glance to keep my powers a secret for now.
There was no point in revealing a card I couldn’t even fully control yet.
“Sister, remember to say your magic is fire-based if anyone asks during the entrance exam.”
“Yes, I know.”
“If anyone picks a fight with you, call me right away. Just don’t burn their head in anger or break their legs and cripple them, alright?”
“What kind of person do you think I am, Alyssa? A proper lady would never act so barbarically.”
“…That’s true. But just in case.”
“Fine, I get it. Though I doubt anyone would bother with a mere baron’s daughter like me.”
“You still don’t realize, do you? Many people like you much more than someone like me.”
“Are you teasing me right now?”
Pull—
“Ouch! That hurts!”
“Hehe… It’s nice to see you two getting along.”
The carriage journey to the capital was peaceful and leisurely.
I had no reason to pick on my younger sister, who was not only much stronger but also my magic teacher.
For some reason, she was quite cooperative as well.
“Sister, wait, wait a moment!”
“…What is it?”
Alyssa, whose cheeks I had been stretching, frantically waved her hands to stop me.
Though I released her, unsure of her urgency, everything around us seemed calm and peaceful.
“Sister, Ameri , stay in the carriage for a moment. I’ll be right back!”
“Alyssa, wait—!”
With a sharp gaze, Alyssa peered outside and disappeared before we could stop her.
Her ability to vanish without opening the door was impressive, but I couldn’t help feeling frustrated not knowing why she left.
If there’s a reason, she should at least explain.
This bad habit of hers needs correcting later.
“That young lady… I can hear the clash of swords and screams outside.”
“…Really?”
“Absolutely. My hearing is sharp!”
Though my hearing wasn’t great, could I really be this oblivious?
Still, Ameri was trustworthy.
Sching—
Opening the curtain, I saw a shocking scene:
Alyssa single-handedly cutting down bandits with ease.
This wasn’t the Alyssa I knew.
The scent of blood and violence was thick, her moves were filled with an undeniable intent to kill, unlike when she sparred with the royal princess.
“Alyssa!”
After a moment of hesitation, I opened the carriage door and stepped outside.
Alyssa, mid-swing, froze, her usually calm blue eyes now filled with turmoil.
“Ho-How…? I thought I blocked everything…”
“What exactly are you doing right now?”
Glancing around, I noticed something strange.
The mercenaries hired to guard us had moved far ahead and were lying sprawled.
Yet, only the bodies of bandits surrounded us.
“…Could it be that these people are mercenaries?”
Sching—
“You’re sharp as always, sister. There are only a few left, so please go back to the carriage.”
Alyssa clearly wanted me to return, but I was struck by an odd sense of déjà vu.
I’ve seen this before.
Back then, it was definitely me doing the cutting…
Images of blood and violence flooded my mind.
The one wielding a dark, dull sword, cutting through the bandits disguised as mercenaries without hesitation and laughing maniacally, was me.
Protecting Alyssa and Ameri, who were trembling in fear inside the carriage, I slaughtered the bandits with a delighted look, resembling a witch reveling in blood.
After taking down all the bandits, I was about to return to the carriage, but one bandit, presumed dead, suddenly rose up…
“Alyssa!”
Seeing this, I immediately launched a black flame sphere at the bandit’s corpse.
The bandit, who was bleeding out from his neck, let out a final scream as he burst into flames from my strike.
“How did you…?”
“You must never let your guard down until the very end. Are you hurt anywhere?”
Knowing I couldn’t face our mother if my sister were harmed, I sighed in relief at the sense of accomplishment.
I hurried over to my startled sister, inspecting her all over, but thankfully, she wasn’t injured.
“Thank goodness.”
“If you’re hurt, Mother would be devastated. Next time something like this happens, please tell me. Your sister isn’t completely powerless, you know. Understand?”
“…Aren’t you fazed by this, Sister? It’s your first time killing someone, isn’t it?”
“Oh, now that you mention it… Hmm, well, it was to protect you. I’m not generous enough to spare someone who attacked first.”
Hug.
“Sister.”
“What’s this all of a sudden? If you don’t want me clinging to you, you’d better let go soon! You can’t brush it off this time like before!”
“I’ll try to make sure you don’t change. Please stay with my sister until the very end…”
“…You sometimes say the strangest things. No matter what happens, I will always be your sister.”
“You promise.”
For a while, my sister wouldn’t let go of me.
Embracing amidst countless corpses felt odd, but I resigned myself to it, thinking it was just my fate.
“Miss… What on earth happened here?”
“Ameri , don’t worry. It’s all over now.”
“I… I see. Then, perhaps we should return home and hire a new guard…”
“The cicada clinging tightly to my back says there’s no need for a guard. It’s annoying, but a reliable fighter, so I’ll trust her for now.”
“Calling Alyssa a cicada… Pfft.”
“A very noisy and large cicada, indeed.”
The large cicada shamelessly clung to me even inside the carriage and eventually used my lap as a pillow to sleep.
Though I wanted to push her off immediately, her peacefully sleeping face somehow made me feel guilty, so I decided to let her be.
Since she stayed up late every night helping me practice magic, she must be tired.
Just for today, I’ll allow it…
“Miss, it’s time for your medicine.”
“Ah, is it that time already?”
Ameri handed me two packets of medicine along with tea from a thermos, but I had no desire to take it.
Ever since we left home, especially after encountering the bandits, my condition had been unusually good.
“Ameri , put it away. I feel fine today.”
“Really? Hehe… I’m glad you seem to be getting healthier, Miss Amy.”
“It’s all thanks to you, Ameri . Without the medicine you make, I don’t think I could have endured this pain.”
“You’re too kind… Hehe.”
After the attack by the bandits disguised as mercenaries, the journey to the capital was nothing but peaceful.
The only issue was Alyssa, who hadn’t woken up even as we neared our destination.
How could she sleep so soundly on someone else’s lap?
My legs were completely numb.
“Amy Rosewell… Confirmed. Welcome to the Goldrand Inn!”
After arriving at the capital, we settled into our reserved inn and began preparing for the academy entrance exam two days later.
Though I wanted to leisurely explore the capital like any visitor, I had no time, as I needed to draft a letter to the princess.
“Thanks to your grace, I have safely arrived at the capital. I hope to meet you again after being admitted to the academy. Until then, I pray deeply for your safety and well-being. Your loyal friend, Amy.”
…That should suffice. Knowing Princess Sharen’s personality, she wouldn’t like excessive compliments or flowery language.
I trimmed it down as much as possible, but two pages should be enough.
Knock, knock.
“Come in.”
Creak…
“Sister…”
“You’ve learned to knock now? Welcome to humanity, Alyssa.”
“Will you stay close to the princess?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“…The princess is beyond my control now. I don’t know what lies ahead. So please…”
Spin.
“Alyssa.”
I spun my chair to face Alyssa directly.
Her blue eyes, full of unease, wavered like the surface of a lake disturbed by a pebble.
“People are inherently uncontrollable.”
” However…”
“Just as the relationship between us has progressed to the point where we can sit face-to-face and talk like this, the future is unpredictable. Let go of the arrogant notion that you can control others.”
“..You’re right, sister.”
“If you understand, return to your room. If you’re too nervous about the upcoming exam to sleep, ask Amelia for some warm cocoa. She’ll gladly prepare it for you.”
“I want to sleep with you, sister.”
“Do you think I would allow that?”
“Sister, please. I’m too anxious to fall asleep..”
Sigh…
You used to be so mature when you were younger, but now you’ve turned into such a spoiled child.
Scolding her would do no good…
Tsk.
“Come here. Alyssa. Just for tonight, I’ll grant your request, but I won’t allow it again in the future. Besides, since we’re in separate dorms, this won’t happen often.”
After rolling up the letter and placing it in a small enchanted mailbox, I lay down on the bed and spread my arms wide.
Alyssa, who had been wearing a gloomy expression, smiled like a puppy and threw herself into my arms.
The sensation of my little sister fitting perfectly in my embrace stirred a bittersweet nostalgia for our childhood.
“Alyssa. After graduating from the academy. I will return home to manage the estate as our mother’s successor.”
“…Yes.”
“You, on the other hand, possess great strength. Travel the vast world and experience it. Although I don’t particularly like the idea, you have the potential to become a remarkable hero. When you do, visit the estate I govern and show your face. Understood?”
Tight hug.
Instead of responding Alyssa hugged me tightly.
Despite her small frame, her surprising strength nearly crushed my waist, but even that was comforting in its own way.
“Have sweet dreams, Alyssa.”
Though my persistent stomach ache and headache crept back, I ignored them, savoring the rare opportunity to sleep beside my sister after so many years.