“Do you have any idea how much trouble you’re causing us? We told you not to use your power and to mind your attitude. And yet, you used your ability on some human kid and dangled a harpy over the roof of the building.” [Agis]

“I’m sorry.” [Ava]

Inside the guest room, Agis walked back and forth in front of a meek Ava who stood still and apologized while looking down at her feet.

“Sorry isn’t good enough!” [Agis]

“… I’m sorry…” [Ava]

In the end, Ava didn’t see Talindra and Saria again after that. Before Allen and Fyr could ask her any questions about what happened, a teacher showed up. Having been charged with looking for Talindra, he had asked around and followed her to the roof just in time to see her flee the scene with her daughter in her arms. Urged by her rather scary eyes, he did as she asked and took Ava to where Agis was after scolding Allen and Fyr for going to the roof.

“You might not be part of our clan, but you were sent here by us. The school knows you serve the Luceran. When you cause trouble, it reflects poorly on us.” [Agis]

As such, she was now being scolded by the blonde elven male which she had met once in her life.

“Do you understand?!” [Agis]

“Y-yes!” [Ava]

“(This damn brat just started yelling at me as soon as we were alone. Who is he anyway?)” [Ava]

From a third person’s perspective, it looked like Ava was scared of Agis who was angrily scolding her. However, she was half-ignoring his complaints and warnings and was wondering who he was. As for Agis, although she forgot about him, he never once forgot about her since they met four years ago. Now, once again, he needed to properly warn her to protect his family.

“What is that ridiculous appearance? A dress and pants? Do you know how strange you look like? Take them off. Only wear what we gave you, so don’t ever wear anything but your white dresses. And why is your hair such a mess? Are you trying to tarnish our name?” [Agis]

After he was done with her behavior, the sixteen year old elf began attacking the half-breed’s sloppy appearance.

“We allowed you to do what you want in this school, but don’t abuse your freedom.” [Agis]

Agis kept going on and on about how she should not cause trouble to the clan like a vicious and nagging step-mother. He reminded her to behave properly, to fix her appearance and to remember her place. But, although his words dripped with hostility, he never once raised his hand against her. Perhaps it was because she was still only twelve, though his father didn’t have trouble hitting her.

“Act properly, watch how you look in front of others and never, ever use your power without permission again. Understand?” [Agis]

“Yes.” [Ava]

Ava nodded softly, showing her willingness to comply with his orders, but Agis stared at her suspiciously. It would appear that, after the stunts she pulled, he didn’t believe that she would follow everything he said. As such, to pull the wool over his eyes, Ava decided to put on a bit of acting.

“E-excuse me…” [Ava]

“… What is it?” [Agis]

“Is it fine if I cut my hair short?” [Ava]

Asking meekly, she looked at him with her hands clutching her skirt.

“No, I just told you. You can only have it trimmed. Keep it long like how it is now.” [Agis]

“Why?” [Ava]

“Because you can’t. We’ll have the school report to us every little thing you do from now on. If you break this rule or any other rule, you will be punished.” [Agis]

Hearing his complete denial of her request, she sadly lowered her head.

“I can’t… Wear other clothes either?” [Ava]

“Do I need to repeat myself?” [Agis]

“B-but, there’s this cute shirt that I’m saving up to buy and-.” [Ava]

“You will change neither your hair nor your clothes. Am I making myself clear?” [Agis]

“B-but, I-.” [Ava]

“Am I making myself clear?” [Agis]

Agis asked in a stronger, more intimidating tone, causing her shoulders to tremble before she hurriedly nodded. Finally satisfied after seeing her reaction, he gestured for her to leave and go to her next class. As Ava walked towards the door, she stopped in front of it and turned around, facing Agis once more.

“U-um…” [Ava]

“What is it this time?” [Agis]

The blonde-haired elf asked, annoyed. The young girl raised her head and stared at him with moist eyes. Her hands were clasped in front of her skirt.

“Why… Am I hated…?” [Ava]

She asked in a trembling, meek voice.

“You want to know why?” [Agis]

Her current appearance would have invited anyone’s pity, but Agis didn’t even show a speck of sympathy.

“It’s because you’re a half-breed.” [Agis]

He plainly, coldly told her the truth. His voice was louder than he intended it to be.

“And it’s more than just that. Mother didn’t want you. I saw her cry when I was younger. If Saria was never born, then she would have been worse off than she is now. My little sister can make her smile, but you take it from her.” [Agis]

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He started venting his frustrations to the one who had nearly destroyed his family.

“My father is the head of the Luceran clan and is respected by many. But, ever since rumors about you spread, some people have been talking behind his back. He’s in pain, just like my mother!” [Agis]

He vented his anger to the illegitimate child in front of him, to the half-sister that he didn’t want to acknowledge.

“You brought us nothing but trouble. Even now, forcing us to send someone just to scold you, you’re nothing but trouble! If it wasn’t for your ability, we would have already exiled you! Do you understand now?!” [Agis]

“… Y-yes…” [Ava]

Ava said in a whimpering voice as she shivered like a frightened bunny. She looked like she was on the verge of crying at any moment.

“Then leave.” [Agis]

As Agis breathed in deeply to calm down, Ava turned around and faced the door. Her teary-eyed expression didn’t change, but her real feelings were quite different to what she was letting others see.

“(Didn’t think he’d lose it like that. He acts tough, but he’s pretty soft inside.)” [Ava]

Seeing how he lost his composure, she wondered if she went too far with her act by digging up his wounds. To ask him for the reason why she was hated was to remind him of what he didn’t want to remember.

“(Ah whatever, I got some info out of this.)” [Ava]

Discarding her brief concern for his mental state, she reached out for the doorknob while organizing the information she just learned from his outburst. He had told her about his family and even his little sister’s name: Saria.

“(His father’s the head of the clan, his sister is called Saria and his mother gave birth to me. That means that I just got chewed out by my older brother and I’ve been taking orders from his father.)” [Ava]

She thought about the blonde-haired elf that everyone listened to and had sent her off to this school. Now that she remembered his face, she realized that he and his son definitely looked alike. Furthermore, she compared what she just heard with what happened only recently. The elven woman that she had seen on the roof yelled the name “Saria” and called the eight year old elf her child.

“(I just met my mother and sister too.)” [Ava]

Upon discovering all these facts that had been kept from her, Ava-

“(Good to know.)” [Ava]

Filed them away for future reference as she opened the door. A child in her position would have been greatly shaken up after finally meeting her blood relatives, but she was more worried about something else. Before Agis noticed them, Ava quickly closed the door again and stared at the two familiar middle schoolers that had been eaten lunch with her lately.

“(… Crap.)” [Ava]

In front of her stood Allen and Fyr, both sporting worried expressions on their faces. Unfortunately, although her mind was calm, her face was a mess. So that Agis would completely believe that she was the scared little girl that would obediently follow the Lucerans’ commands, she didn’t let her expression slip. Her well-forged mask that was meant to trick others and to protect herself was accidentally seen by these two.

“A… Va…?” [Fyr]

Fyr stretched her hand out to Ava’s cheek as she hesitantly called her name. She and Allen had followed her and had been standing in front of the guestroom. It took some time to convince the teacher to allow them to wait for their friend. She was anxious when Ava was taken away after that shocking encounter with the white-haired elven woman. Now, she wasn’t sure how to face her friend because she heard Agis’ outburst through the door.

“We’ll be late for class.” [Ava]

Avoiding her hand, Ava walked down the hallway, leaving the two behind.

“We need to hurry up. Being a student is tough. Why aren’t there any teachers here?” [Ava]

“(Well… This is embarrassing.)” [Ava]

While she was randomly babbling on, her retreating back gave off the strong message that she didn’t want to talk about what just happened. Fyr’s hand, that was refused, was still in the air. She opened her mouth, wanting to call out to the black-haired girl, but didn’t know what to say. In the end, she clasped her hands in front of her chest and stared at Ava’s back. Next to her, Allen looked just as worried and lost as she did.

The girl he was indebted to, who always had a sleepy expression and moved at her own pace, showed such a tearful face. She, who was stronger than him and defeated three guys by herself, looked so meek and sad. The red-haired boy clenched his fists and glared at the door, or rather, at the individual behind it. Just like Fyr, he heard everything at the end. The two stood rooted to the spot, dumbfounded by the harsh and cruel words that were hurled at Ava.

They knew she faced discrimination because of her mixed blood, but they didn’t really pay it any attention. After all, the person herself didn’t seem to care about her situation nor did she once look like she was troubled by it. Yet, when she appeared from behind the door, with her shoulders trembling and her eyes moist with tears, reality hit them in the face. They should have known that she was putting up a strong front all this time.

Allen was mad at Agis and wanted to barge in the room to confront him. But, doing so would cause his family a lot of problems. He had responsibilities and needed to endure his anger. As such, he put a hand to his chest, right where his necklace was, and focused on calming down. Besides, the one who was suffering the most in this situation was his friend, Ava.

When he looked in front of him, she had already walked a fair bit. If he and Fyr stayed here, they would lose sight of her. So, shaking his head to change his mood, he grabbed the harpy’s hand and pulled her along. The two lightly jogged to catch up to the half-elf and flanked her on both sides.

“Ava, what do you want to eat tomorrow?” [Allen]

Allen asked, trying to sound cheerful. If she didn’t want to talk about her problems, then he would wait until she did instead of prying. The only thing he could do right now was to try and cheer her up.

“Just the same thing as always.” [Ava]

“You sure? I’m buying you lunch, remember? If you want to eat anything more, then just tell me. If you don’t eat a lot, then you won’t grow up.” [Allen]

“You mean like how Fyr doesn’t appear to grow at all?” [Ava]

“Ehh?! I-I am growing!” [Fyr]

Fyr, who was still unsure how to act around Ava, was flustered when the conversation was directed at her. She was also shocked by what the half-elf said, mostly because that was what she was worried about. After all, she was shorter than her two friends and anyone else she met in her year. So, just like this, the three middle schoolers, mostly Allen and Fyr, acted like they usually did as they tried to get back their everyday routine.

“Actually, Ava, you have pretty hair, s-so I think you should take care of it. I-if you want, I can comb it for you…?” [Fyr]

That was why, before they would go to their respective classes, Fyr brought up what she had mentioned to Allen once. The long black hair of the half-elf looked smooth to the touch, but was a mess.

“No, you don’t need to-.” [Ava]

Ava scratched her head full of wonderful bed hair as she rejected the offer of the harpy that was poking her fingers together in front of her chest while looking up at her. However, she stopped mid-sentence when she remembered what Agis told her. After the incidents she caused, her actions would be closely monitored even more than before. Right now, she needed to lay low for a while.

“Actually…” [Ava]

----------------------------------------

Having done what they needed to do in Sanctuary Academy, Talindra and her two children, Agis and Saria, boarded the carriage and went back on the road with their escort.

“Mother, why couldn’t I talk to her?” [Saria]

Saria asked once again as she looked up at her mother from her lap. In front of her, her older brother was in a strangely bad mood. He had been like that ever since he heard that she met a certain black-haired half-elf with a white eye.

“What did I tell you about half-elves, Saria?” [Talindra]

Talindra said as she patted her daughter’s head. Her beautiful white hair was silky soft which was pleasant to the touch.

“You need to stay away from them.” [Talindra]

Her voice sounded dispirited, worrying both Agis and Saria.

“… But…” [Saria]

“Saria, mother’s right. You should just forget about that half-elf.” [Agis]

Even her brother was against her befriending that black-haired girl. She didn’t understand either of their attitudes. Although she had certainly been taught to not get close to half-elves, there was something about the way these two acted that felt strange. Unfortunately, she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

“… Okay.” [Saria]

Although Saria was confused, she didn’t want her mother and brother to make such sad faces. That was why she nodded to calm them down. She looked outside as the scenery steadily flowed by. They were getting farther and farther away from Sanctuary Academy, as well as that half-elf.