Emerion's POV
I felt something warm and heavy pressing down on my stomach. My body was stiff, and my mind fogged, as if I were drifting between somewhere cold and somewhere unbearably bright.
Am I… going to hell now?
I did everything I could, but in the end, I messed up again. Even when I don't want to.
"Ouch… hey, why do I feel pain in my stomach? Ouch hey, stop jumping… hey, hey, damn it."
"Hey, stop it," I finally found strength in my voice, the air in my lungs burning as if waking from a long, forced sleep.
"Good morning, brother… You slept like you haven't slept in ages," a familiar voice chimed.
My eyes opened fully. The room was dim, lit by soft lantern-light that flickered against the wooden walls. And there she was Arlienne. The same voice I heard before I
went unconscious. My expression turned irritated instantly, almost like muscle memory taking over.
"Arlienne… why are you here?" I looked at her with the annoyance I couldn't hide. She was sitting on my stomach cute when you're a toddler, but at sixteen? Not so much.
"Aww, is that the gratitude I get for saving your life and healing your wounds? You're so mean, brother." She pouted dramatically, her orange eyes glimmering with mischief.
My wounds?
Right I was fighting Pristilia, then Alec…
But I felt no pain now. My torso felt strangely light, my skin tingling as if new flesh had grown over old wounds.
"You look shocked, brother? You should thank me even more. I had to knock that psycho unconscious, then heal that arrogant Sunfury princess, and capture her dog and his little puppies," she bragged, tilting her head playfully.
I exhaled in disbelief. I had to decode every insane sentence she threw at me.
"So you were the one who caused the blast? Sending messengers with bombs?" I asked, connecting it all. The lingering smell of burnt wood in the room hinted at the aftermath. The air still carried faint traces of smoke.
Of course it was her.
"Shouldn't it be obvious, brother? Who else has the brain and skills to execute such a plan?" she said proudly, flipping her hair back.
"That's insane, Arlienne. You sacrificed your own people."
I ran a hand down my face. The weight of disappointment pressed down on my shoulders.
I knew it was her but still…
"What did you expect? Besides, they were middle aged and old men good for nothing," she said casually, without a hint of remorse.
"But they were still humans. Your own people. The ones you were supposed to protect!" I raised my voice, frustration tightening my chest.
How could she talk about life so lightly?
"We are at war, brother. Your idealism won't save our house. Besides… the future is more important. I protected the future."
Her tone sharpened, colder than before.
"Protect the future, you say? By sacrificing your own people? Probably the worst present to live in… filled with shame."
My voice fell into a tired sigh.
The Nullborne Factor made her smarter much smarter. But this? This was too far.
"At least they will live, and we won't have to agree to whatever terms that arrogant Sunfury princess had in mind. We were outnumbered, at a disadvantage and I took what was ours with strategy and skill. Unlike you, who prefers to run away instead of facing your problems," Arlienne said, staring directly into my eyes.
Run away?
Like I had any other option.
"Father and mother always favor you the most over me. I was looked at like I was less important. To the point where you all even decided to use me as a pawn so why not choose freedom over control?" I raised my voice, the bitterness I had buried for years spilling out.
She did propose the alliance with House Sunfury to begin with.
"What do you expect? I accept that after a certain point I seem or am treated as more important. But didn't I earn it, brother? Didn't I help our house gain advantage in the war? Didn't I secure our position in Ateris?" She laughed softly before continuing.
"Besides, yes, I proposed the idea of the alliance. It might seem bad for you but good for our house. And what's wrong with being a pawn? A pawn can become the most important piece once it reaches the end of the chessboard."
"So you wanted me to be a pawn in the end?" I asked, my expression twisting with disgust.
"Ideally, yes… but I respect your choice of freedom, brother. I guess you are a pawn who has seen every square on the board," she said with a smirk.
"You think you're doing me a favor or something? You achieved all those things because of the Nullborne Factor. You may be a good strategist, but you're… the worst kind of human. You worship power."
I couldn't believe the venom in my own voice.
The hatred and jealousy must have been festering in me for years. Arlienne looked briefly stunned before composing herself.
"Nullborne Factor, you say? Yes, I've had it since birth. But did you forget it can kill the user if they're deemed unworthy?"
Her voice steadied, eyes narrowing slightly.
"And I never knew my own brother hated me so much… enough to assume I worship power. You should know, brother I worship knowledge."
She had a point…
But why me?
Why was I the one unloved in childhood?
Why was I the pawn?
Why did I have to be the one who suffered the most?
"Besides, you could have become significant important if you had shown your fangs, brother. You don't have to use venom. Just show your fangs, like a snake, to scare others," she said metaphorically.
Like a snake…
"It's easy for you to say… You weren't in my position. You don't know how I felt. You have no right to judge me."
My fists clenched instinctively.
"Exactly. You weren't in my position either. So how do you have the right to judge what I did, brother?"
Her eyes held a strange mix of challenge and curiosity.
She… had a point.
But morally, she was still wrong.
Yet I also ran away.
Wait… am I getting gaslit?
Get it together, Emerion.
"You're quiet, brother. The truth is… nobody feels the world the same way. Everyone is unique. Everyone does what they're supposed to do. The world is different for a beggar, a merchant, a warrior, a mage, a ruler."
She sighed softly.
"You can't justify your actions like that…" I said stubbornly.
"I'm not. You can't be good for everyone. If I'm bad for you, brother… then so be it."
There was a hint of sadness hidden under her composed voice.
Maybe… I pushed too far.
Ideals and beliefs are double edged swords.
They can bloom or destroy.
And I don't want to destroy anything…
Not when I myself am consumed by hatred and jealousy.
Perhaps the greatest thing a beggar, a merchant, a warrior, a mage, a ruler or any human being can do is… forgive.
To be truly free, I need to let go of hatred and jealousy.
To be completely free, I need to remove every obstacle on the road to my freedom.
I took a deep breath, steadying my thoughts.
"Thank you," I said quietly, looking away.
"What?" She rolled her eyes, though her lips twitched.
She definitely heard me.
"Are you deaf?" I muttered.
"Oh, it's not every day I hear compliments from my great big brother," she teased.
"Stop mocking me. I'm not great. Like you said, I ran away from my problems."
I sighed heavily.
"On a serious note, brother, taking down someone like Pristilia Sunfury in daylight without a staff is quite an achievement," she said thoughtfully.
"What do you mean? I didn't win. It was a draw at best."
I rubbed my temples.
Yes, I was knocked unconscious. I didn't even know what happened to Pristilia or Alec.
"Yeah, but now she's in deep mana sleep, while you're talking like a healthy human being."
She gestured to the bed beside me.
Pristilia lay there breathing softly her orange hair spread across the pillow. Her wounds were gone, her expression peaceful.
Mana sleep…
She must've pushed far beyond her limit.
"You… healed her?" I asked, genuinely surprised.
"Yeah. She's more useful alive than dead," Arlienne said casually.
A metallic clinking echoed.
Pristilia's eight armed demi human general was tied up with golden sealing ropes, struggling, his mouth covered.
"Oh, don't mind him. I captured him during the night of the blast. When I sensed your mana and hers, I thought I could negotiate if I brought him here. But you handled the situation before I arrived."
Arlienne flicked her wrist proudly.
The general growled angrily.
Arlienne snapped her fingers his mouth seal released.
"You… if you hurt the princess, I will...."
"Relax. I'm not hurting your precious princess. For now," she said, adjusting her hair.
Suddenly, the door creaked open.
Alec's uncle stepped inside. His wounds were gone, not even a bruise left. He froze mid-step, eyes widening at the sight of Arlienne sitting on top of me.
"Um… sorry for disturbing you two…"
He coughed loudly, cheeks reddening.
"Pardon?" I frowned, confused.
He grew even more embarrassed.
My sister smirked, clearly enjoying this.
Realization hit me like a brick.
Arlienne sitting on top of me.
Both of us in a bed.
Me shirtless.
Shit.
"Hey um it's not what it looks like," I tried to explain desperately, but the old man was already retreating.
"We can talk when you're done… catching up," he muttered, shutting the door quickly.
My face heated up like fire.
"HEY she is my sister!!" I shouted at the closed door.
What a way to start the day.