The large holographic screen in front of me shimmered with an intense blue light. The sound effects of explosions and clashing metal made my room feel like a real battlefield. My fingers danced nimbly over the holographic console floating in the air, tapping buttons with perfect precision, every movement recorded in detail on the screen.

"Come on, just a little more," I muttered, my eyes glued to the virtual enemy hiding behind the rubble.

In front of me, the enemy avatar—a fully armored warrior—was plotting to encircle my position. I knew this tactic well; it was a classic trap designed to lure me out of my hiding spot and strike when I least expected it. But I wasn't foolish. Swiftly, I moved my avatar to the opposite side of the battlefield, aiming precisely at the unsuspecting enemy, and—

"Boom! Gotcha!" I shouted triumphantly, a victorious smile spreading across my face. The explosion sound echoed, and my enemy avatar dramatically fell in the center of the screen. "One down!"

I couldn't help but beam as the screen displayed my match score. I was in the top position, with a significant lead over the other players. At that moment, I knew I was dominating the game. Sometimes, it felt almost too easy. I was so skilled that this virtual battlefield felt like a second home, a place where I could truly be myself without hiding anything.

The match restarted, this time featuring players from different parts of the world. I glanced at their IDs—some familiar names, tough competitors who were often hard to beat. But I felt no fear; instead, this only fueled my excitement.

"Alright, who's next to go down?" I whispered, anticipation bubbling inside me.

The game began, and I launched into a flurry of quick attacks. I moved like a shadow, slipping between obstacles and taking down enemies one by one. They tried to fight back, firing shots from all directions, but I always managed to evade their attacks. They couldn't catch me. With agility, I knocked out player after player, each strike hitting its mark and bringing a rush of satisfaction.

After a few intense minutes, I defeated all the enemies on the battlefield, achieving a resounding victory. The screen flashed a big message: Victory! I grinned, satisfaction flowing through me.

"That's how it's done, losers. None of you can beat me," I said with a smirk, my boastful voice echoing in the empty room.

I tossed the holographic controller aside, leaning back in my chair and taking a deep breath, trying to calm the post-victory euphoria coursing through me. My eyes briefly caught the food Aria had brought—she was the kind woman who always patiently cared for me. I remembered the last time she brought dinner. Her slightly nervous yet sincere expression lingered in my mind. Aria... she might not be perfect, often appearing awkward, but she was genuinely caring in her way of looking after me.

I took a small piece of food and popped it into my mouth, recalling my conversation with her a few days ago. Even though I didn't show my gratitude directly, deep down, I appreciated every bit of attention she gave me. Maybe if it weren't for Aria, I wouldn't feel so at home in this place. It was a complicated feeling—I was used to my solitude, but Aria offered me something rare and precious: an unexpected kind of care in this environment.

As I chewed, my thoughts drifted back to my old memories in Evernoir. Life in the palace was indeed different. I was free, and no one cared about who I really was. But here... I felt a little more at peace. Aria's presence somehow provided a comfort I hadn't realized I needed.

"Do you think I don't know, Aria?" I murmured softly, raising my voice a bit as if she could hear me. "I know you do all of this for me. Even if I didn't ask for it... I appreciate it."

Suddenly, something nagged at me. Here, in this house, I still felt that many mysteries remained unsolved. Especially about Ellora, who seemed intimidating even though she never openly expressed any disagreement with me. There was something about her that always made me feel small... yet challenged.

"Ellora…" I whispered, trying to grasp what her presence meant in my life now. It wasn't easy to admit, but I often found myself wondering about her, about her intentions and purpose here. Why did she keep her distance from me? Or perhaps, why was I subconsciously keeping my distance from her?

Sighing, I tried to push those thoughts aside and refocus on what I excelled at: the game. This virtual world granted me complete control over everything—something I couldn't achieve in reality.

I reactivated the holographic screen, ready to start another match. But this time, thoughts of Aria and Ellora lingered in the back of my mind. On this battlefield, I might be the winner, but in real life... I was still trying to find my place and the meaning of it all.

In a flat tone, I spoke to the screen, "Alright, let's begin again."

And just like that, I plunged back into my virtual war zone, a place where I was an unmatched ruler—at least here.

Suddenly, the holographic screen in front of me flashed with big, bold letters: Defeat. My character lay defeated in the game, with the enemy standing triumphantly over me. It felt like a humiliation. I sat in my chair, gripping the holographic console in frustration, trying to suppress the boiling anger in my chest. Lost? Again? Why did I lose this time? I had tried harder than ever.

"What the hell is this..." I muttered under my breath, glaring at the flickering screen as it slowly returned to the main menu.

I slumped back, my gaze fixed on the empty screen, but my mind was a whirlwind. This defeat only reminded me of other losses—something much bigger than this game. A loss that, although in the past, still haunted me to this day. Our loss. Our devastation. The loss of Arche.

Suddenly, Arche's face flashed in my mind. I could remember every detail: his warm, gentle smile, his eyes always sparkling with confidence. He was my brother, my little hero. I used to feel safe near him, as if everything would be okay as long as he was around. But now... he was gone, vanished along with the destruction of our kingdom, along with everything we had.

And Ellora… my thoughts shifted to her. I couldn't understand why she was so... cold, so indifferent. I used to plead with her, crying for her to do something to find Arche. Our oldest sister, someone who was supposed to protect us, just stared at me with a blank expression and said, "Arche is fine, Lily. He's being watched over by the goddess Oriana."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

That's it? Just like that? How could she say those words so casually? Why could Ellora live as if nothing had happened, even when our family was torn apart? I had admired her once, seen her as strong and brilliant. But after everything that had happened, I began to doubt her. Did she really care about us? Or was she just looking out for herself?

I rose from my chair and walked to my bed, my body heavy with thoughts I couldn't contain. I threw myself onto the mattress and stared at the ceiling, trying to hold back the tears welling up. I couldn't keep all of this inside anymore. I couldn't close my eyes to the reality that my beloved brother... might be gone forever, without any of us even trying to find him.

"Arche... where are you?" I whispered weakly, my voice choked with the sobs that slowly crept up.

I couldn't forget the last moments in our kingdom. The explosions, the screams, the fire consuming everything—those memories were still fresh in my mind, as if they had just happened yesterday. Our parents… they weren't there to comfort me, to protect us as they should have. And in that moment, I turned, hoping to see my siblings there, but... Ellora just stared at the devastation, without a single tear. Why didn't she cry? Why didn't she show the same sorrow or concern that I felt?

I bit my lip, letting out small sobs in the silence. Every time I remembered that moment, my heart felt shattered. There was a strong desire to go back in time, to the days when we were all together. The time when Arche was by my side, protecting me, and Ellora… being the sister she was supposed to be.

I knew this wasn't fair, but I couldn't shake the anger and disappointment I felt toward Ellora. How could she live her life peacefully in Aurelius, as if everything that had happened was just a bad dream? She went on with her life as if everything was fine, while I? I was tortured by those memories. This pain never really left. Every day I thought of Arche, wondering if he was still alive. But Ellora… she never showed the same desire. She never even tried to search for him, and that only hurt me more.

I turned onto my side, burying my face in the pillow, crying harder than ever before. "Why don't you care, Ellora?" I sobbed, my voice sounding hoarse and filled with despair.

If only she could feel even half of this pain… if only she would make even a little effort to look for Arche, maybe I wouldn't feel like this. At least I would know she cared, at least I would know we still mattered to her. But with her cold demeanor, it felt like I was losing everything, including her.

I tried to calm myself, taking deep breaths, but it only felt harder. My heart felt heavy, filled with unbearable emotions. I knew this might never end, but I couldn't stop thinking about it. What if Arche was still alive? What if he was waiting for me somewhere, hoping someone would come to save him? That thought haunted me, making it impossible to stay still. But I didn't know what to do. I didn't know where to search, didn't know whom I could trust.

"Arche… if you're still out there... I hope you're okay," I whispered, even though I knew no answer would come.

***

I woke up with a slight headache and sore eyes. As I tried to gather my thoughts, I noticed the holographic light in the corner of my room still glowing. The results of last night's game were still displayed on the screen, the words stark and painful: **Defeat.** Ugh, I forgot to turn it off last night—again.

Annoyed, I pressed the button beside my bed, and the hologram went dark, leaving the room in silence. Outside, the morning sunlight began to filter through the curtains, signaling a new day that I would face with the same old feelings. My disappointment and anger toward Ellora lingered, making it hard for me to feel any relief.

A soft knock at the door interrupted my thoughts, followed by Arianne's gentle voice. "Lily, Miss Young, it's time for breakfast."

"I'll be down, Arianne," I replied, getting out of bed and rubbing my eyes briefly before heading to the closet.

My school uniform hung neatly there, and I sighed heavily. I put it on automatically, having done this too many times each morning. Once dressed, I made my way downstairs, passing through the fragrant aroma wafting from the dining room. There sat my sister, Ellora, enjoying her breakfast.

I had expected this. She would be having breakfast as usual. But I didn't want to see her face. So I chose the chair farthest from her and sat down without saying a word.

A few moments later, Arianne approached cautiously, carrying a plate with my breakfast and placing it in front of me. "Good morning, Miss Young," she said with her usual awkward smile. She pulled out the chair next to me and sat down quietly to join me. I knew she wanted to keep the atmosphere peaceful, but she also knew I wouldn't say much with Ellora nearby.

I picked up my fork and began to eat, ignoring Ellora's presence. The air felt so tense that I thought if I spoke too loudly, it would shatter. Just when I was about to focus completely on my breakfast, my sister broke the silence.

"Lily," she said casually, "how's school?"

The question caught me off guard. When did Ellora start caring about my school? Reluctantly, I answered while looking down, "It's fine."

She looked at me for a moment, but there was no further reaction. Just that empty stare that never held meaning or emotion. Only the same cold look I had grown accustomed to. After that, she continued her breakfast as if her question had just been small talk.

An uncomfortable feeling washed over me. Silence cloaked the dining table again, but this time it felt heavier than before. Why was she suddenly interested? Why did she speak as if... nothing had happened? It felt as if there was no difference between my sister and a stranger sitting in front of me.

As I finished my breakfast, Ellora lifted her plate and stood up. "I'm off to the academy now," she said briefly, turning to leave, leaving Arianne and me at the table.

As soon as she was gone, Arianne, sitting beside me, let out a small sigh. She turned to me, her face showing a hint of worry, although she tried to smile. "Lily," she said softly, "maybe... maybe you should consider repairing your relationship with Miss Ellora."

I shot her a sharp look, causing Arianne's smile to vanish, and she looked awkward, surprised by my reaction. I knew she meant well, but she didn't understand. She didn't know what I had been feeling all this time.

"Arianne," I said in a low, cold tone, "I won't forgive her until she starts searching for Arche. You don't understand." My words sounded icy even to my own ears, but I didn't care. Arianne hadn't felt this pain. She didn't know what it was like to lose someone you love and have no one care.

Arianne looked down, her face full of regret. "I'm sorry, Miss Young. I didn't mean to…"

I sighed, trying to control the emotions that were beginning to boil over. I knew Arianne meant no harm, but I couldn't accept the fact that Ellora, my own sister, had just forgotten Arche as if he had never existed. As if Arche were just a character in a story that didn't matter, not our missing brother.

Arche... I wanted him back. I wanted us to return to the way we were, when our family was whole, when everything felt warm and safe. But now, all I saw was Ellora... cold. Even when I cried and begged her to search for Arche, she just looked at me and said, "Arche is fine."

How could she know that? How could she be so sure when no one knew where Arche was?

I stood up from my chair and gazed out the window in the dining room. Arianne remained seated at the table, silent and confused, perhaps regretting that she had brought up our relationship. But I couldn't let this continue without feeling the anger in my heart.

"Arianne," I said, staring blankly out the window, "you know, Ellora might be a very smart person. She excels at everything. But she... she doesn't understand what it means to lose."

Arianne nodded slowly, not daring to look at me. "I'm sorry, Miss Young. I don't fully understand, but I hope you and Miss Ellora can find... peace."

I nodded slowly, though I was doubtful about that. I felt like I had reached a point where I couldn't forgive Ellora, couldn't go back to how things used to be. Every time I saw her, I felt she was a reminder of everything we had lost, everything we could no longer have.

In that moment, I made a resolution in my heart. If Ellora wouldn't look for Arche, then I would find him myself.

***