Summer Rutheford.
If I were to recall the exact words the novel used to describe, it would be this: her wavy chestnut hair, hazel-colored eyes, and magnificent beauty captivated all those around her. And for when she came of age, every noble child—men and women—asked for her hand in marriage.
But she refused all the proposals that came her way. She believed that the need for conventional marriage was outdated, and that she would only marry the one she genuinely loved.
Summer was also an outspoken person who voiced her opinions aloud, and stood by the side of justice—just like her brother. She had always been a kind person that was willing to help everyone in need, and so optimistic even during the harshest times.
But the day that the Empress, her mother, died was when everything changed.
When her brother was forced to flee from the Imperial Palace, she tried to follow him, but was then locked inside the Palace walls by her own father—the Emperor. After that, many nobles tried to use her for political reasons, or even as a bargaining chip, for their own lofty goals.
The Emperor? He did nothing, and just left her alone with surveillance all around so she wouldn't escape.
But she refused to be trapped in the Palace as a pawn, and was determined to obtain power so she could protect herself.
One day, when she was going through the library of the Imperial Palace, she came across a book all about spirit summoning.
Upon looking at the cover of the book, she decided to teach herself how to summon her own spirits to not only aid her in her journey, but to also make friends that will never betray or use her—just like what happened to her brother.
Spirit summoning requires high affinity towards a familiar spirit to not only summon, but contract with. This required extensive perseverance and willpower, making it a difficult path that most people give up on.
Each spirit is ranked according to their power and Mana they possess: Low Tier, Middle Tier, High Tier, Mythic Tier, and King Tier.
All spirits start at the lowest tier, and begin to grow stronger alongside their contractor.
The King Tier only belonged to one sole being: The God of Spirits, Astraeus.
But no one has had the opportunity to summon them in this world…
Summer had a high aptitude with a spirit familiar that grew to be a Mythic Tier in the novel.
If I recall the exact description, it was a golden brimming lion—with their ruff glowing a mixture of gold and white. Their eyes were a shining color that reminded one of the blue sky, while the end of their tail was lit on golden fire.
Each spirit is unique and different. Few things are known about them, but they all have their distinctive and unique personalities, just like humans.
She soon became a renowned and powerful figure for all spirit summoners to become.
So, when Seraphina was taken in at the Imperial Palace when she ran away, Summer was there to help her figure out her power that came from the Blessing of the Spirits.
Their relationship was not... the best in the beginning.
Summer refused for her brother to be with someone who was related to the crazy duke, Lysander. But as time went on, their friendship deepened, and they became inseparable—just like sisters.
The Summer that stands before the door out of breath is the same one who will become a powerful spirit summoner.
August hurriedly walked towards her until he stood in front of her. "Summer! Aren't you supposed to be in class right now? What are you doing here?"
Summer took a deep breath before making a slightly angry expression. "August! You should have told me that you arrived! Do you know how lonely this place has been without you?"
August sighed before he patted her head with a bitter smile. "... I'm sorry. I suddenly got the news that mother was bedridden. I came here in a hurry to see how she is doing, and forgot to tell you that I'm back."
She slowly shook her head. "I'm just teasing you." Her eyes then lingered to the Empress before she also smiled bitterly. "... I know how things have been ever since mother got bedridden. I have been under strict regulations so no harm is done to me."
She then wrapped her arms around him and hugged him, her smile slowly turning brighter. "I'm just glad that you are back."
August stood there frozen for a second. He then closed his, and wrapped his arms around her with a bitter expression.
As I continued to look at them, my smile slowly… disappeared.
The time you spent with your siblings, and those you care about should always be cherished. You never know when it will be the last time you will meet them.
From the corner of my eyes, I gazed at the mage—who understood my intentions and nodded—before looking back at them. "Why… don't the both of you go to another room and rest, while we begin analyzing the Empress's condition?"
August quickly turned his head. "No! I can stay here and—"
The mage let out a loud cough, interrupting what August was about to say. He then began stroking his beard before looking at them with a smile.
"Your Highness, it's best that you rest. Take this moment to spend some time with Her Highness. We'll let you know when the analysis is complete."
August's face turned sour, while the mage continued to show a smile. He then looked at me with a questioning face, trying to figure out the intentions behind our words.
But I flinched in response, and then avoided his eyes before forcing out a smile to ease his worry. "Just rest for the time being. This might take awhile, so take this chance to be with your sister. Never miss an opportunity to be with your siblings…"
After not hearing a response from him, I took a slight peek at him, and saw the saddened expression he was making as he continued to look at me.
"Ah... I forgot that he can feel my emotional state…"
I grabbed my shirt, and squeezed them tightly in my hand before taking a deep breath. I then fixed my face before looking back at him calmly.
I can try and fake my emotions like I usually do, but such things won't work on him.
But even then, I let out another forced smile to hide the sadness.
August clenched his hand as he saw my forced smile before letting out a sigh. "... Okay, I'll be in one of the guest rooms if you need anything."
I nodded with my forced smile. "Okay. Make sure to rest well."
He nodded sadly before Summer reached out for his hand. He gazed at her smiling face for a few seconds before turning his head back at me one last time.
"... Lys. Don't overstrain yourself."
My eyes slightly widened as he said those words.
Soon, August turned his head back, and began walking towards the door with Summer. As I heard the sound of the door closing, my whole body trembled. After standing still on the same spot for a long minute, I felt a hand placed on my shoulder.
I glanced up, and saw that it was Nilo.
"... Young Master, are you feeling unwell?"
I stared at him for a moment without any response before shaking my head. "... It's nothing. I just remembered something, that's all."
Nilo continued to look at me worriedly. "If you're feeling unwell, make sure to say so. I am here to support you in any way that I can."
"Thank you... but I'm feeling fine."
I then shifted my eyes towards the Mage.
As he saw my saddened eyes, he let out a subtle smile before slowly stroking his beard. "... Do you still wish to proceed with the analysis?"
I hesitantly nodded.
Even during this important moment where I can change a major plot of the novel, I feel so… empty.
I can never have such interactions with them anymore....
Seeing August and Summer happily talking between themselves like any normal siblings would, I can't help but feel this awful feeling lingering in my mind.
I know I shouldn't feel like this when I have Seraphina by my side. In fact, she isn't the only sibling I have in this world. I also have Chun-Jan and Minji—who are hopefully enjoying their life back on earth.
Even when I try to not recall such painful memories, they're also one of the happiest ones that I have...
I feel so helpless. I can never talk to them like how I do with Seraphina or August, and I won't be able to meet them anymore.
Still… if there's one thing that can override this hopeless feeling, it might be knowing that both of them are safe and happy.
Especially with me not around…
✦ . ⁺ . ✦ . ⁺ . ✦
In one of the guest rooms of the Imperial Palace, a young girl by the name of Summer sat in one of the luxurious couches with a tea in her hand, while the midnight-haired boy named August sat next to her—deep in thought.
Varieties of pastries are lined up on the coffee table in front of them. Summer eagerly looked at them, deciding which one to eat first.
"Which one should I eat first? The cake? The cookies? Oh! How about the muffins? Hmm... no maybe I should get the cake instead. Ah! This is so difficult! What do you think, August?"
She shifted her gaze to August as she asked the question. But August was still zoned out as he looked through the window, and at the golden-hued sky.
Countless spring leaves shifted towards their fall colors—some even branched off, and began swirling and dancing alongside the cold wind, before gliding down to the ground.
Even with the harsh winter approaching, the trees still retained their green vigor that signified life and perseverance.
Summer changes her gaze from his face to the window, trying to see what he was so focused on, before looking back at his empty face.
"... August?"
She gently shook his arm. August flinched before looking at her with a worried expression. "Is there something wrong, Summer?"
She gently pulled back her hand. "Nothing is wrong... But is there something bothering you?"
"Ah..." August awkwardly scratched his cheek before looking down at the ground. "I guess you can say that. Mother is bedridden, and Lys..."
Summer tilted her head with a hint of curiosity. "Lys...? Is it the boy that you always mention in the letters you sent to me each week?" She then stroked her chin before coming to a realization. "Oh! Is Lys the boy that was inside the room just now?"
August finally showed a warm smile. "Yes, that's him."
She clapped her hand with awe. "I see! He is indeed beautiful like you mentioned. I almost mistaken him as a girl..."
August let out a small chuckle in response. "You're not the only one. When I first saw him, I also thought he was a girl." He then looked through the window once again for a long moment before talking again. "... There are still things that I have yet to know about him."
Summer looked at him curiously. The mention of his name immediately brought his solemn look back to his happy going self.
That means he isn't just a simple friend.
"... Do you like him?"
August continued to look at the window before turning his head back at her. Once his face was in full view, his eyes looked so gentle and calm, while he smiled brightly at the person in front of him.
In that moment, the orange sunlight filtered through the window, and embraced him to convey his endearing emotion.
"Yes… I like him..."
Summer couldn't help but be in awe at his declaration.
"I see..." She looked down at the ground with her eyes closed, still showing a smile before she swung her two feet. "Do you think he likes you back?"
August stayed silent before closing his eyes—still showing a smile, yet shaking his head.
"I don't think so."
Summer looks back at him with a hint of surprise in her eyes.
"Oh..."
Her eyes lingered with sadness for his brother. But despite recognizing that his feelings might not be mutual, he continued to smile. That smiling face… put her at ease.
"... Do you want him to like you back?"
August gently shook his head before gazing back at her with a smile. "My feelings for him... I just realized them today." He stopped for a bit. "I… don't wish to burden him with my feelings."
He then looked out the window, and saw the thin wisp white clouds covering the sunset as they absorbed the orange hue before looking at the trees once more.
"What meaning does spring bring into life before it ends?"
August smiled as he asked that question to himself. "I'm happy just staying by his side as a friend."
"... But what if he likes you back?"
His eyes widen at the mention of those words. From the reflection of the small window, a dazzling smile appeared on his face—one that could easily captivate anyone that saw it.
"Then I'll be the happiest person on earth."
Feeling so awe-struck after seeing a smile she never saw her brother make before, Summer couldn't help but respond with a similar smile to match his presence.
"I see... Knowing how you feel about him... It makes me want to learn more about him. What made you so captivated?"
August let out a small laugh. "There's a lot of things to say about him, and a lot of things that I have yet to know." He stopped for a moment before talking again. "But I like him for who he is."
Summer began to fiddle her fingers with anticipation before speaking once more. "... How did you two meet?"
He contemplates for a moment to share some of the details of the person they're talking about. "It was a few months ago, I stumbled upon him when I first arrived at the Blakesty estate. When I first looked at him..."
He stopped for a moment before extending his hand in front of him—reaching out for the sunlight that embraced him from the window. "When I first looked at him, the aura behind him felt so soft and warm; so fluffy, and filled with so much pureness and kindness. During the few months of being by his side, I got so addicted to his presence; to his aura..."
He retracted his hand before gazing at his open palm.
"You know about my ability. Being able to feel aura makes it easy to know a person's true personality—their true intentions, and..." He slowly clenched his hand. "... be able to feel their current emotions."
He then lifted his face up at the ceiling, and rested both of his hands on the couch.
"The first time I met him, his emotion was filled with a hint of worry and fear..."He closed his eyes, and smiled. "I don't know why, but I felt like cheering him up at that moment. I even told him about the blessing..."
Summer eyes widened. "You told him about the blessing?!"
August chuckled before looking at her. "Indeed. Quite risky. But I felt like I could trust him." He then smiled brightly once again. "Surely enough, everything he did was so virtuous. His words were filled with so much kindness; so much patience... and so much optimism about the world."
He looked at his hand once more before blushing. "... The more time I spent with him, the more I got so used to his warm and kind presence. As I continued to learn new things about him, I wanted to get closer to his warm presence... and that feeling I had in my heart. I would hold his hand with mine, and familiarize myself with the warmth emitted from his skin. I soon realized that the feeling I was experiencing was love."
Summer covered her mouth, and squealed. "I didn't know you could be so assertive!"
August blushed even more before shaking his hand at her intently. "I-I didn't mean it like that!" He then scratched his cheek with embarrassment. "... I just wanted to feel closer to him, and continue feeling that warmness and kindness."
Summer smiled before looking even more curious. "What else is there to learn about him?"
He looked back at the ceiling—trying to find another thing to share about the white-haired boy.
"... To start off, he has two younger siblings."
Summer tilted her head with confusion. "Two siblings? I thought he only had one. Wasn't her name... Seraphina?"
"Yes, Seraphina is his younger sister. But he also has a younger brother, however..." He hesitates to answer. "He is currently... ill."
"Oh no... Is it something fatal?"
August shook his head. "It's nothing fatal, but he has a weak immune system and is constantly induced by severe fevers. Even as a sibling, Lys is rarely able to meet him. Even when he does, he seems to be sleeping most of the time. Because of that, Duchess Isabella always has to take care of him personally."
He closes his eyes before looking at Summer once again. "Still... the Duchess always tries to make time for both of them everyday, so they don't ever feel lonely."
Summer bitterly smiled. "I can't imagine such a life. Always being sick and unable to meet your other family members..."
"Indeed. But even then, Lys tries to visit him whenever he can... even when it's impossible for them to communicate most of the time.
"... How old apart are they?"
"I believe Lys and Seraphina are two years apart. His younger brother is a year younger than Seraphina... So he's around seven now."
Summer places both of her hands on the couch before looking at the same small window that August stared through. "... What is his name?"
He contemplated for a moment. "... His name is Everett." He looked out the same small window. "That name... I heard Lys say that it signifies endurance—just like the spring season..."
Summer smiled once again. "What a fitting name. Even when constantly suffering, he continues to persevere..."
August slightly chuckled before nodding. "Indeed."
The doors slowly opened, showing the white-haired boy. "August, we just finished the analysis. There are some things that we should begin discussing as quickly as possible."
August nodded before looking back at Summer. "Make sure to attend your next class and—"
"I know brother, you don't have to worry. Just make sure to help mother feel better."
August smiled before he patted her head. "Okay. I'll see you later then."
Summer then smiled as he saw August walking to where the white-haired boy was.
His dazzling smile and affection was so obvious to even a child like her—yet the white-haired boy remained unaware of his feelings. They soon leave the room, leaving the young girl by herself with guards waiting outside to escort her out.
But she continued to sit there in the fleeting silence. After humming out a tune, she looked through the window, and saw the green leaves gliding down from the tree branches before reaching the ground.
"... Everett. It truly is a beautiful name."
A name that signifies Eternal Endurance...
As the white-haired boy continued to walk alongside August, he suddenly stopped before looking through one of the hallway windows. The spring trees shifted into their fall colors—changing and adapting to their current environment for endurance and survival.
Those two meanings remind him of someone dear to him.
"... Chun-Jan."
August turned his head back to see the white-haired boy staring out of the window. He quietly walked towards him, and placed his hand on his shoulder.
"Lys, are you feeling unwell?"
The white-haired boy stood there silently before gently shaking his head. "I'm fine. The tree's just reminded me of someone..."
"Your younger brother?"
He flinched before he realized the meaning of those words.
"Yes... my younger brother."
Chun-Jan... Everett...
Strangely enough, I can't deny that it reminds me of both of them... Still, looking at the scene in front of me, I can only hope for the well-being of both of them.
Hoping that they are both safe and happy...