Vell and I usually communicated only when necessary, but ever since her magic test, she has been more talkative and expressive... Towards me at least. She’s usually incredibly stone-faced whenever she’s with me. Even now, as she observes me during my magic training, she never failed to give me a smile whenever our gazes met.

After a while, I saw her lost in contemplation, but then her face contorts into what looked like weariness. Thinking that perhaps she felt some kind of discomfort due to being in her second body - I, without much thought, asked her if she’s well. However, once asked, her smile returned and she brushed my question aside by offering the drink that she was currently sipping on. I was stunned for a moment, but nonetheless obliged.

It would be a long while for me to realize that her previous behaviour towards me was due to my own incompetence as an older brother…

Resting my eyes from the blurring lines of a classical book, courtesy of my language teacher, I silently observed Velloa (in her second body) in the corner of my eye. Mother and Father had told me the results of her magical test, and while her high mana and water attribute was of no surprise, her dual affinity to the darkness element was. I’ve heard of what the Attribute of Light Sect has been saying about people of darkness affinity and it is admittedly quite concerning. Needless to say, I, of course, agreed to my parents to not say a word of Velloa’s dual affinity to darkness.

After some time, having seen her attempt to reach for a book out of her reach for long enough, I placed a bookmark on the appropriate page and stood up to assist her. Standing just behind her, I reached out for the book she had been attempting to obtain. Glancing at the book’s cover, I had just realized that it was a fictional children’s story about a girl and a legendary water dragon.

Putting on a friendly smile, I handed her the book. “I liked this one when I was younger.” I commented.

As she reached out for the book, she returned my smile. “Thank you, Brother. If you have time, can you please help me read this book?”

I hope it didn’t show on my face, but her reaction took me by surprise. When was the last time she ever smiled and talked to me like that?

If it was the old Vell, she would be tearing up, ready to throw a fit – but that wasn’t the case when I had declined to teach her magic before her instructor could even have a chance to meet her. In the first place, she had gone to me for such a request, when she would usually ask for such things from either Mother or one of the servants by her side. There’s usually an outburst whenever things don’t go her way, but now she simply pouts and comprises her request to a more reasonable one.

“Then could you please help me read instead, Brother?” She queries.

I couldn’t help but sigh as her upturned, doe-like eyes met with mine. This seems to be a pattern of hers as of late. I was still wondering why she would be asking for my help, but it would seem that I have been obliged to grant her requests recently. They weren’t ridiculous, usually, she would ask for me to help her do something somewhat outlandish, like teaching her how to ride a horse (by herself), but after declining, she would then ask for something more reasonable like asking if she could ride on a horse with me.

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Aren’t all these requests something her maid Ana could do for her?

Still, despite my thoughts, I agreed to her request.

With a small squeal of glee, she brought out a book that I didn’t realize she had been holding and, with no hesitation, sat on my lap. Her recent behaviour would often leave me stunned and this moment was no exception. I was not getting used to Vell’s behaviour at all, and so, perhaps noticing that I was taken aback, Vell turned her gaze to meet mine and gave me one of her innocent smiles.

Honestly, what else am I to do but to simply oblige to her whims…

“Brother!”

Recognizing the sound of Velloa calling me, Cain and I stopped walking and turned towards the direction of her voice. Seeing a flash of sky blue hair and the fast tapping of small feet, I spot her at the top of our palace’s stairs. She was also seemingly unaccompanied, so I made sure to meet her halfway.

“Careful, you might fall.” I lightly chastised.

She heeded my words, but once we met halfway, she stopped before me and stretched out her hand, as if she was waiting for me to give her something. I stared blankly, confused by her action. Seeing my lack of response, she tilted her head, her clear gaze meeting mine, but after a few seconds, she then giggled before rushing to Cain’s side. She had completely forgotten my earlier reprimand. Also, what in the world did she want? As I thought to myself, I watched as Vell repeated the same action of extending her hand toward Cain, only for Cain to look towards me with an exasperated expression and then take hold of Vell’s outstretched hand. I instantly found myself frowning at the sight.

Immediately changing his expression, Cain greeted Velloa. “Good afternoon, Young Miss. I see that you’re here to observe Virgil’s magic lesson once again.”

Beaming, Vell replied. “Yes! I can’t wait to start my magic training!”

With that, I was left behind – despite the fact that it was I who was meant to be taught my next lesson in magic. What in the world were they trying to pull? And why do I feel so bothered by it?

I was stunned. That younger sister of mine was a genius. To be able to do an intermediate level technique at her age is amazing, especially when it was just from observation. For a slight second, I was envious of her, but once I remembered her teary-eyed expression, such thoughts immediately dissipated. She thought she had done something wrong…

I immediately reprimanded myself. Why was there a need to be so negative in the first place? She did nothing wrong.

As I remembered Vell’s smiling face when I showed her some of the more complicated techniques I’ve learnt, I couldn’t help but think that I was underserving of such a smile... But why? I have done nothing wrong against her…

Right?

But at that moment there was total blankness in my mind. Alone, in the library, I felt the geography book fall from my grasp as I involuntarily shuddered. Placing a palm on my forehead, I tried to steady myself. The real question is… What have I ever done for her? Before she approached me, have I ever done anything to make her happy?

In silence, I searched through my mind, moments pass, but rather than seeing Vell’s smiling face, all I saw was an expressionless young Velloa in my old memories. I sigh, then, with a bitter expression, I picked up the fallen book from the floor.

“What is wrong with me lately…” I mumbled to myself.

As we danced, I couldn't help feeling bittersweet. Velloa was constantly happy with all the small things I’ve done with her, even now as we practised waltzing, she was laughing in excitement. They’re such small things… But seeing how I haven’t done much for her, I shouldn’t be surprised.

All this time, I’ve put up a wall between the both of us. Vell is unexpectedly sharp despite her age, which explained her cold attitude towards me. Doing neither good nor bad against her, any feelings towards me were obviously bordering non-existent, but one day she decided to take down that wall brick by brick. Even though I was the older one, she was the one who took the initiative to change things.

A part of me questions why she decided to so patiently break down that wall, but in the end, whatever reason it may be, I am glad that she did so. If not for her doing so, our relationship would have most definitely become more strained and that’s something that we, as siblings, shouldn’t have if we can help it.

As the song continued to play, I found myself smiling and feeling light in the chest. While letting Vell do a simple spin, I thought to myself: I’m sorry… and thank you.

----------CHAPTER END----------