Brunaulf POV:

Saturday.

“Why do you keep walking around topless?”

Belle sat on the bed with her arms folded. She looked away with her cheeks slightly flushed as I meditated. She wasn’t usually awake at this time, but today was different.

She had completed her Ki Center and reached Irini within the same night while being asleep. I was so shocked that I thought maybe there was a problem with my senses.

The scars that had once littered her body had become lighter and lighter each day. It meant that whatever was going on with Belle wasn’t just linked to her Ki Center.

Her rapid progression aside, Belle's strong personality returned too. She spoke confidently and directly. It appeared that she had made a full recovery.

“W-what..?”

I narrowed my eyes as I observed her. The mind wasn’t a simple thing at all, so I needed to keep a close eye on her for a lot longer before I could confidently confirm anything.

“Alright, alright. I’ll wear something.”

I reached for my hoodie when Belle threw a pillow at me.

“...What was that for?”

She pouted while turning on her side to face the wall.

“You deserved it.”

I couldn’t help but crack a smile at her actions. When we were younger, we used to have pillow fights quite often...

‘So that’s how it is.’

My smile quickly faded as I came to the sudden realization that Belle wasn’t alright at all. Parts of Belle had reverted back to before our parents had passed away.

I bit my lip as I noticed the slight trembling of her arm that she gripped tightly. All those years of abuse wouldn’t fade so easily, or maybe it would never fade at all.

I pulled the hoodie over one shoulder when someone knocked on the door again. I took my time opening the door, lost in thought about my sister, when I saw a face I thought I wouldn’t see for a long time.

“Dude, what took you so lo...”

Her eyes scanned over my exposed upper body as her cheeks went bright red.

“T-The hell...! Who answers the door half dressed like that?!”

I quickly put on the hoodie properly as Triste brushed past me in a hurry. The last time I saw Triste lose her cool with the opposite sex was when Miles forgot his top in the other building complex.

“Sorry, I was lost in thought.”

I apologized as the flustered Triste calmed down. She wore a dark pink tank top with short jeans. She had on a cream-coloured cardigan, and her hair was tied up in a bun; mostly covered with a snapback, while two side bangs accentuated the softness of her face.

The reason why Triste was single was because of her strong personality, not her looks. Most people were too afraid to approach her.

“...Quit looking at me like that!”

She noticed my gaze and put her hand on her hip. Triste's curvy figure stood out more than usual, but I had no interest in her.

‘Why is she so emotional today?’

Triste stood in the middle of the living room while Belle glared at her.

“Do you like my brother? What’s your relationship with him? Why’s your face so red?”

Belle bombarded her with questions. She looked at me, surprised by the sudden change in Belle's personality.

“Uhh... Was she always like that?”

“I’m right here, you know.”

Triste put her fingers to her temple while struggling to make sense of the current situation.

“Ha...To be honest, I thought you’d hate his guts.”

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Belle's face stiffened as the atmosphere in the room changed. I sighed inwardly and took a few steps forward. I knew what Triste was like, but Belle didn’t.

“...Sorry, that was insensitive of me...”

Triste bit her lip and lowered her gaze. We sat down beside a small table in the living room as the silence continued.

“What brings you here, Triste?”

I broke the status quo while looking at her visibly upset face. She seemed to suddenly remember the point of her visit as her eyebrows furrowed.

“Right. It’s about Denise.”

“Who’s Denise?”

Belle stared intensely at Triste. She glanced at me before taking a deep breath.

“Ah... Well, you see... Denise is your brother’s girlfriend...”

“Tch.”

Belle shot me a disapproving look and quickly turned over in the bed. Triste's face contorted as her gaze shifted between me and my sister.

“Well, that was weird?”

She scratched the back of her head, unsure of what was going on. To an outsider, Belle's behaviour would definitely be classed as abnormal.

“Not really. Belle's normal upbringing was cut short. She never had friends her own age. She never did a lot of things by herself. She relied on me for everything.”

I recalled all the times she would lock herself in her room, waiting patiently for me to return. She went out less and less as she worried more and more about my well-being. It didn’t help that those men put her under 24/7 surveillance; it made her anxiety worse.

“When I was lost, she was the one who tried to help me, but... I pushed her away.”

Triste looked at me with sympathetic eyes. Everyone here had experienced some type of difficulty growing up in Outer Astril. So, there was some level of mutual understanding between all of us.

However, going forward, the situation would change. We had a new Leader now; someone who cared for and respected the people under him.

There wouldn’t be another Belle or Denise; I was determined to not let that happen again.

“!”

Triste's fist lightly bumped against my chest. She looked into my eyes while her long eyelashes fluttered.

“Don’t keep blaming yourself.”

I smiled slightly as she got up. Whatever she was going to tell me about Denise, it probably wasn’t important since she was getting ready to leave so soon. She approached the door and glanced back at me.

“Brunaulf... You’re kinda cool now.”

I noticed her ears go red as she quickly left the apartment. I stared at where she once stood in a daze.

‘Cool? As if.’

I let out an exasperated sigh. It was more tiring than I expected having so many people visit me at home, but it was also a reminder. A reminder that despite everything I had done, there were people who were waiting for me to return.

My sister was back safe and sound. I had achieved my main goal. However, I still needed to spend a lot of time with her; I wanted to be a proper older brother this time.

I watched Belle's head flop into my lap as she stared at me.

“You should get some more rest.”

“I’m not a child anymore.”

I wondered where she got this stubbornness from. I didn’t say anything. Instead, I gazed at the ceiling while we sat there together.

“...It's my fault you suffered so much... Can’t be weak... I need to be strong in order to support you...”

Belle mumbled to herself as she buried her face into my chest. I stroked the back of her head gently—she didn’t need to feel responsible for anything that had happened.

“!”

Loud tremors radiated through the air, causing the window to rattle violently on its hinges. Belle trembled as I held her even closer.

“It’s alright, Belle. It’s just the District Leader training.”

After a few minutes, Belle finally calmed down. She moved her head away from my chest, resting it on my lap instead.

“...The District Leader?”

“He’s around your age. I lost to him in a fight many months ago.”

Belle narrowed her eyes while pouting.

“How could you lose to a child?”

“...It's a long story.”

“We have time.”

...

..

.

***

“Brunaulf, do you know why both your names start with the letter ‘B’?”

I cocked my head to the side as I pondered over the question. Maybe mum and dad just liked how the letter ‘B’ sounded? I wasn’t sure.

“No idea, Mum.”

I gave up trying to figure it out. My mother smiled at my response while placing her finger on the ground. She drew a large capital ‘B’ with the dirt as she parted her lips to explain.

“If you draw another ‘B’ in the opposite direction to the first one and place them back to back, doesn’t it look similar to a butterfly?”

She sketched in another one, and my eyes widened in surprise. It really did kind of look like a butterfly—it was cool.

“Woah...”

My mother chuckled lightly while she watched me observe the drawing closely. Belle was sleeping on my lap, so I couldn’t move around too much.

“You two only have each other. You have to support one another, protect one another and grow well together. Nothing should come between the two of you, because you are siblings. It is your responsibility as Belle's older brother to make sure she is safe.”

The tone in my mother’s voice gradually grew serious. I gulped as I nodded my head quickly. I wouldn’t let anything happen to Belle; I’d protect her with my life just like mum said, it’s my duty.

“There will be tough times ahead. Sometimes you'll think that nothing will change no matter how much time passes. Sometimes situations will look completely hopeless, Brunaulf, but that is when you need to hold on the most. For there is a time and a season for everything in this world, just like how the larvae must wait patiently in the cocoon; you too will be tested.”

I looked up at my mum as she struggled to hold back the tears in her eyes. I didn’t understand what she was saying, was something bad going to happen? I felt my heartbeat increase. I didn’t like this feeling at all.

“Mum... I really don’t understand. Is everything alright? Why isn’t Dad back yet? Mum, I’m scared...”

My mother stroked my cheek gently while she placed her forehead against mine as tears streamed down her face.

“There’s nothing for you to worry about. Dad will be back soon.”

I calmed down as I felt my mother’s warmth around me. I nodded my head while she wiped the tears away from her eyes and smiled.

“Butterflies represent many things: hope, prosperity, life, and even rebirth. Those are things we wish for you both to have as your parents. Promise me that you’ll look after Belle, Brunaulf.”

My mother embraced me while I held Belle close to my chest. It was rare to see Mum so emotional like this, but she had feelings too—it was important to help support her whenever she felt sad.

I smiled brightly as she slowly moved her arms away. I wouldn’t let her down; I needed to be strong.

“Don’t worry about a thing, Mum. I promise. I promise I’ll protect Belle.”