Chapter 60: Thinking of my sister

The sword strapped to my back swayed with each step, the rhythmic clanging a constant companion.

There were no paths in the forest. I navigated around the trees, grateful for the lack of dense undergrowth. The trek was more challenging than I’d anticipated, my body and mind growing weary.

“Ugh…when will we get there?”

“We just started. And you’re not even doing anything strenuous.”

“Ellie, maybe you should learn some magic.”

Linne cleared a path with a gust of wind magic, while Sara, on the other side, did the same with a small wand. When did Sara even get here? I briefly wondered, then dismissed it.

I followed the two lumberjacks—I mean, mages—easily stepping over the fallen branches they’d cleared. It seemed excessive, when they could have just ducked. Sister, who’d been walking beside me in silence, suddenly took my hand.

“Hmm?”

“What’s wrong, Ellie? Are you uncomfortable?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Sister, holding my hand… She was being unusually affectionate. Or perhaps it just felt that way because it had been a while.

‘How was she usually?’

I rarely saw Sister before I entered the academy. She was always studying, tutors constantly coming and going from her room. They all called her a genius, though she just seemed like a precocious child to me.

We’d only see each other late in the evening, both exhausted, our eyes dull and lifeless.

I’d spend my days training with the sword, returning home drained. Sister always followed me silently as I undressed after dinner, my clothes damp with sweat, and then—

‘And then…what?’

My train of thought derailed. The memory was hazy, a vague, almost dreamlike recollection.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Um…Sister?”

Sister smiled shyly at my absentminded response. She was always pretty, but even more so now, her smile chasing away the usual emptiness in her eyes. Holding hands was normal for sisters, just…unfamiliar after so long.

The trees grew denser as we walked deeper into the forest. The others seemed unconcerned; nothing unusual had happened so far. I relaxed and leaned against Sister.

“Sister, can I ask you something?”

“What’s on your mind, my cute little sister?”

“Cute little sister…” such an embarrassing endearment. I preferred something more…impressive. Sister always called me cute, though. She was cuter, but she didn’t seem to realize it.

Holding hands felt…natural, as if my body remembered. I tightened my grip on Sister’s hand and asked,

“Why did you join the student council?”

She always said the academy was a dangerous dungeon, but she seemed to be enjoying herself. She wouldn’t lie, so there had to be a reason, a reason compelling enough to outweigh the dangers. I wanted to know.

“Hmm…so I can protect you, Ellie.”

“I’m not exactly weak, you know.”

“You’re completely defenseless, as far as I’m concerned.”

Defenseless? How?
I pouted, and Sister put her arm around my shoulders, pulling me into a hug.

“You’re the defenseless one.”

“Hee hee, if you say so.”

“You’re such an idiot, Sister.”

I hugged her, enjoying the feel of her slender but surprisingly curvy frame. She was so innocent, oblivious to my…impure thoughts. My heart pounded, a thrill of…doing something slightly naughty with my innocent older sister.

“I love you, Sister.”

“I love you too, Ellie.”

Words could be deceiving, especially when misinterpreted. Sister’s “I love you” was just a casual expression of affection, different from my…deeper feelings.

So…I’d just…think of baby names for our future children.

“Ellie, look!”

I was struggling to come up with names when Sister’s excited voice made me look up. We’d reached a clearing, a wide path of bare earth, surrounded by fallen trees. It was better than navigating through dense undergrowth.

“A path?”

“Let’s go this way! Come on!”

Sister pulled me along, towards the path. Other students were already following it.

“Wait, Sister! It could be dangerous!”

“It’s fine, don’t worry.”

None of the students or instructors seemed concerned. Sister ignored my warning and started running along the surprisingly solid path.

“But we don’t know what’s there…”

As soon as I said it, something large blocked our path. A huge, smooth boulder, almost as tall as me!

“Look, Sister! A giant marble!”

It was even more impressive up close. I rolled it towards Sister, claiming it as my trophy.

“What do you think, Sister?”

“What do I think…?

Sister didn’t seem impressed. I looked up at her expectantly, and she patted my head, as if I were a puppy performing a trick. It wasn’t exactly praise, but…

“What is this? It’s perfectly smooth, like it was magically carved.”

“Was there anything else?”

Sara and Linne, who’d caught up to us, seemed interested. So, even they were fascinated by shiny objects. I puffed out my chest, feeling a surge of pride.

“I saw some strange stone slabs on the ground earlier!”

I led the curious group back to the spot where I’d seen the slabs. A group of students was already there, blocking our path.

“Excuse me, but this area is currently under the student council’s jurisdiction.”

“We’re student council members too.”

“Um…could you please wait a moment?”

We were stopped by a student. Her obstructive behavior was suspicious. I glared at her, and my eyes met the pink-haired girl’s.

‘She was…’

I couldn’t remember her name. Remembering a commoner’s name wasn’t exactly a priority. As I struggled to recall it, Sister spoke,

“Philia! There you are.”

“Oh, Anna?”

Philia looked surprised and hurried over, stopping as she saw our group facing off against the student council members. She seemed to be thinking. Impatient, I asked,

“What are you doing? Why are you blocking the path?”

“We’re just checking for any…dangers. You can…look around, if you want.”

“Oh…really?”

She wasn’t going to stop us? I’d been planning to fight my way through… I was disappointed by her easy surrender. But I wasn’t going to complain.

“Most of you are student council members anyway. There shouldn’t be any problems, right?”

Philia’s gaze flickered towards Sister for a moment. I quickly stepped in front of Sister, blocking her from view. It seemed unnecessary; Philia looked away and returned to her previous position.

I followed her, but there wasn’t anything interesting to see, just large stone slabs embedded in the ground. What was so important about them? My giant marble was way cooler.

“These look like…scales.”

“You think so too, Sara? The smooth surface…”

The others seemed interested, though I didn’t understand why. They were just rocks.

The group started moving again, following the newly formed path. Luckily, it led in the direction we were heading.

Linne, walking beside me, scanned the surroundings.

“It’s quiet. There were monsters here last time.”

“Yes, it doesn’t feel like the Wolf’s Forest anymore.”

That was strange. We were deeper in the forest than last time, though it was daytime now. Were the monsters all nocturnal, sleeping somewhere?

“Have you been here before, Linne?”

“Uh…”

Linne froze.