Vacation (4)
“Phew, finally done.”
The paperwork for community service wrapped up in no time. There wasn't much service work at the academy to begin with, so it might've gone even faster otherwise. Handing back the monitoring bracelet felt like shedding a weight off my shoulders.
The staffer stared at the bracelet's zero-hour readout with a look of utter exhaustion. Even reduced, a thousand hours of service wasn't something a human could just power through—especially not in under half a year. That's why Ratral had said what he did.
“Thanks for your hard work.”
I gave a light bow with my newly unburdened body and headed out of the floor. I was about to make for the first floor where Elraim waited, but there was no need.
I ran into her on the way down. In less than ten minutes, she looked at me like I'd betrayed her. From her reaction, it seemed the family had gotten in touch.
“...Young master.”
“Let's move somewhere else first?”
At my words, sis nodded reluctantly.
The only quiet spot was the lowest dormitory, of course. Sis and I trudged along at a slow pace, but we didn't speak until we were nearly there.
In the end, she broke the silence first.
“Is that... why you asked those questions back then?”
Her voice dripped with hurt. It stung just hearing it.
But I couldn't stay silent forever.
“Yeah. That was the reason.”
“...Why on earth? Do you hate me? Or am I a bother?”
I looked up at the sky in response to her question. It was summer, but a clear day without a single cloud—perfect for going out. It'd be nice if it rained. Too nice for gloomy talk.
“Sis. You're at Expert Upper right now, right?”
“Yeah...”
“Then you know reaching Expert Upper at twenty-two is insanely talented, yeah?”
“I know. The family drills it into me every time. How unreasonably gifted I am.”
“Right.”
Excluding unmeasurables like the Ardans, sis's talent was top-tier among the top. There weren't many in this world who could match her. And in the post-ending world, she'd hit Grand Master by thirty. That's why wasting time on something like this mission was such a shame. It'd rot her potential bit by bit.
I continued softly.
“Am I uncomfortable with you? Hell no. Why would I ever hate you?”
“Then why tell the family head...”
“That was a lie, obviously. You think I'd write that sincerely?”
“......”
Elraim fell quiet for a moment. Her emotions were clouding her judgment—she couldn't even spot the fib.
“Still, why hide it...? You could've talked to me first.”
“You'd have gotten mad just like now.”
“Mad...!”
Her voice spiked for a second.
“I'm not...”
Then she flinched and trailed off meekly.
“Seems spot-on to me.”
“...No. I'm just upset you handled it on your own.”
She tried to deflect, but her true feelings were plain as day. I met her eyes squarely.
And spoke calmly.
“It's a waste, sis. Three months is a long time, especially when your talent's blooming. But you're letting it fester here.”
“...That's all? That's why you want me gone?”
“No one calls your talent 'just' anything. Hell, even I'm jealous.”
“...Sorry. That was uncalled for.”
Elraim apologized quickly.
“You said it yourself last time. Time's short.”
“That's true.”
“And you've picked up a ton watching my swordplay, right?”
Sis had seen it firsthand—especially my full arsenal against Rana's corruption and at the forge.
“A lot. But no time to sort it out.”
“See?”
If she was admitting that much, she really had no time to focus on herself. Leave it like this, and it'd turn toxic eventually. Digesting insights is crucial. Her hands were probably itching even now.
“So, sis. Head back to the territory already.”
“But... then I can't see you.”
She paused, then parted her lips slowly.
“You wouldn't get it. How agonized I was when you turned into that wastrel. You'd curse me out if I spoke, hit me if I got close. 'Don't come near me, you commoner's brat.'”
Her words twisted my gut. Treating someone he cared for like that? Kyle Arden really was a psycho bastard.
“Look at us now. Talking normally, like back then.”
She swallowed hard enough to see her throat move.
“I'm happy being with you every day. And you want me to go back? No, I can't. I won't give up this happiness I finally found.”
“Sis.”
I called to her, but she ignored me and pressed on.
“Kyle, it took eight whole years. Eight years to reach this point. I've waited so long, sacrificed so much. So I...”
“Sis. Calm down.”
“Sorry...”
Only after grabbing my arm and yelling did she snap out of it and apologize.
Phew...
I sighed inwardly. As expected from our bond—it wasn't going to be easy.
In the end, I had to say it.
“Then, sis. Is this more precious than the sword?”
“Uh, well...”
She averted her gaze. Her silver hair hid her face completely.
But that said it all. I shifted slightly and asked again.
“Being with me, or swinging the sword. Which do you prefer?”
“I, I...”
Elraim stammered. Time dragged, but no quick answer.
Finally, after ages:
“The sword... I prefer the sword.”
“Knew it. You've always been dead serious about it.”
I didn't know her past, but I knew she loved the sword more than anyone. And now she admitted it.
“Yeah. That's why I swung it while others slept, cut sleep to train. But still...”
She added:
“I'll stay by your side.”
“Sis?”
“I've watched you, Kyle. Your path is too dangerous. You'll get badly hurt someday. As your sis, I have to protect you. Blood or not, you're my little brother.”
“You really think that? That I'll get hurt?”
“Your swordplay's great, but you're just Expert Mid. A fragile knight even I can beat.”
Her voice rang with certainty. She truly believed she could win.
So I proposed:
“Wanna test it?”
“What?”
“Fight me, sis.”
Knights speak with swords, after all.
No need for a special spot. Empty lots littered the area near the lowest dormitory. We took positions at a distance.
I checked Karthas and assumed stance.
“No prep?”
I was ready, but she hovered a hand on her sheath, looking reluctant.
“...Ninety-nine losses out of ninety-nine. Our record from when you were little.”
“Yeah? Sounds like I lost a lot. But that was kid stuff. Things are different now.”
“No, same thing. Give up. I don't want to hurt you.”
“Sis, you're so chatty today. Since when do knights fight with words?”
Her expression hardened at that. No trace of her earlier hurt.
Elraim spoke lowly.
“Even as a brother, there's a line. And if that's provocation, congrats—it worked.”
Shing. She drew her sword slowly. A sharp aura erupted around her, pressing from all sides. My body tingled.
The knight she'd been hiding. I was impressed.
I straightened and asked:
“First time going all-out with you... You first?”
“I'll yield the first move.”
“If you insist... Got it.”
She mirrored my stance. I accepted.
The moment words ended, I drew mana from my dantian. Reinforced my body, coated Karthas in sword aura.
She did the same. I kicked off.
Boom!
We clashed dead center in the lot.
Whoosh!
Elraim thrust. Her blade shot forward to cleave Kyle in two.
He didn't flinch. Circulating his mana technique, he altered his sword aura around Karthas.
Bang!
The clash hit like tons of rock. But the reinforced blade held.
And Kyle counterattacked on impact, channeling mana to redirect some force back. Her arm trembled from the numbness.
No issue. She'd trained for it.
Elraim circulated mana, normalizing her arm instantly.
“Everyone else panics, but not you. As expected, sis.”
“Tricks are tricks. Don't know where you learned it, but it won't work.”
“Fair enough.”
But Elraim didn't dismiss the technique. The mana control and principles were beyond mere tricks.
She gripped tighter. She'd expected resistance, but this was tougher.
Still, no chance of loss. The physical gap remained. And she was growing.
Insights she'd lacked time to process surfaced in the clash. Cleaner motions sped her up; refined power control unleashed fiercer strikes.
A genius's phenomenon.
Kyle marveled.
“You're amazing, sis.”
She probably hadn't noticed, but the tangible sword aura meant she'd touched Master territory.
How long since Expert Upper? Geniuses were unreal.
That's why Kyle knew she had to go. She was too valuable to waste here.
She'd return anyway, but he wanted her convinced, not forced. For peace of mind.
Creating distance, Kyle said:
“Sis, wanna see something fun?”
“...No idea what you're planning, but quit. Look at you—you're beat.”
Elraim eyed him. Sweat-soaked, exhausted. Victory was hers.
Kyle scoffed.
“Gotta see it through to know.”
Mana gathered on his blade. Sword aura formed.
But not done. He poured every drop from his dantian into it.
The aura swelled massively.
“What are you...”
Elraim sensed the ominous energy. But words failed.
A vivid, tangible Aura Blade gleamed on Kyle's sword.
“Aura Blade?”
She blanked mid-fight. Aura Blade was Master's domain—not for Experts.
Yet Kyle wielded it casually. The impossible, achieved.
Even after his inexplicable feats, this surpassed them.
“Watch out, sis.”
His quiet voice snapped her back. She swallowed, regripping her sword.
“I won't hurt you.”
With that, Kyle swung down.
Kaboom!!
The world shook.
The ground quaked, winds whipped. Yet no dust rose.
The sword's path was pristine, as if the world had been erased there.
At the scar's end stood sis—right before it.
She was a mess. Hair disheveled, sword reduced to a hilt.
A bit farther, and she'd be dead.
“Hah, hah...”
I wasn't great either. Limbs leaden, breaths ragged, nerves screaming.
Cough. Blood surged from stomach to nose and mouth.
Incomplete body, incomplete Aura Blade—huge backlash. Karthas as crutch was all I had.
“A-Are you okay?!”
Sis forgot her state and rushed to support me.
“This... proves I'm stronger than you, right?”
“Not now! Bed—first!”
I babbled nonsense; she yelled and hoisted me.
Off to the dorm. Face buried in her back, I spoke.
“Sis.”
“...Yeah.”
“Am I still weak and in danger?”
“......”
She said nothing. I didn't stop.
“I know more than this. Magic up to 5th Circle. Alchemy worth praise. But...”
“......”
“This spar? Pure swordplay. Get it?”
“...Not your full strength.”
“Right. Gave it my all with sword alone—if I'd used the rest, it'd end faster.”
She halted abruptly.
“Sis. I'm not the one needing protection. Keep this up, you'll need it from me. That okay?”
“No... I hate that.”
I soothed and persuaded gently.
“Just a year and a half. Till you return.”
“......”
“You endured eight years. Can't wait a bit more?”
Still silent, but her emotions shifted visibly.
Finally:
“You'll really come back?”
“Where else would I go?”
“So I can trust and wait? Just like now?”
“Of course.”
“Haa...”
Sis sighed skyward, chest heavy. But she steeled herself.
“Fine. I'll humor your stubbornness. But last time.”
“When did I ever?”
“Lots as a kid. Still do.”
Her words sounded mad, but her face lit with joy.
Still unforgiving, she tossed me onto bed like luggage.
“Ugh, ow...”
“You deserve it.”
My fault, so no complaints.
“So? How long?”
“Family head said wrap up and come. Probably two or three days.”
Huh, not long.
“Haa, gotta pack...”
“Want help?”
“No. Rest, Kyle.”
Snappish, she stormed out.
Best not poke today.
“Now it's just me...”
I sank into bed, thinking. Her gone, this big dorm all mine.
Got attached—her leaving felt bittersweet.
But what can you do? She has to go.
Not yet, so treat her well till then.
“Tomorrow, head to the capital...”
A thought hit.
“Oh, gotta give her the earring.”
When?