After a moment of heavy silence in the grand hall, Tianya raised her finger toward Adeline and bent it slightly. A sudden surge of gravitational magic fused with light magic completely bent the full body of Adeline, forcing her into a kneeling position for a brief second before releasing her. Adeline gasped, steadying herself, but there was no real harm done only a clear demonstration of power.
Tianya smiled faintly. "You really have potential. You can be better in the future, little sister."
The three women eventually moved to a more private room within the castle, away from the watchful eyes of the elder council. The tension between them lingered at first, but slowly began to ease as they spoke.
Olivia revealed something she had carried for a long time. "I have always feared you, Tianya. I thought you would hate me for what happened with your father." She spoke softly, choosing her words with care. "You are from the outer world. Long ago, when I wasn't even born, you were already hunting the wolves of the outer world. Your strength… your history… it made me feel small."
Tianya listened quietly, her golden hair catching the soft light of the room. The tension toward each other gradually resolved as truths were laid bare. Old wounds, long buried, began to heal in small but meaningful ways.
As they continued speaking, Tianya revealed a critical piece of information. "The monster raid is not a natural phenomenon. Even though I am not entirely sure, I can conclude that some outer gods are behind this." She described a haunting image that often came to her mind two twin brothers radiating golden and silver auras from their bodies. "They are involved somehow. I can feel it."
She shared this with Olivia, who absorbed the words with a grave expression.
---
Later, Olivia made a direct request. "Tianya, please train Adeline."
Tianya agreed without hesitation.
In the training grounds behind the castle, under a sky still scarred by the Purge, Tianya and Adeline began their first session. It started with fist fighting raw, physical exchanges that tested Adeline's reflexes and power. Tianya moved with graceful precision, correcting Adeline's stance and teaching her how to channel flux more efficiently through her strikes. Adeline was determined, pushing herself hard despite the clear gap in experience.
After several intense rounds, Tianya stepped back and asked, "What weapon are you most confident in?"
Adeline wiped sweat from her brow and answered, "Bow and arrow, I guess."
Tianya nodded approvingly. They moved on to archery training. Tianya summoned a set of high-quality bows and a large supply of arrows. She demonstrated perfect form first drawing the string with effortless power, releasing arrows that whistled through the air and struck distant targets with deadly accuracy. Adeline watched closely, then tried to replicate the movements. Tianya corrected her grip, her breathing, and the way she infused flux into each shot. "Feel the wind. Let it guide you, not fight against you," she instructed.
The session stretched for hours. Adeline's arrows gradually improved in speed and precision. Tianya pushed her without mercy but also offered encouragement when progress showed. By the end, Adeline was exhausted but noticeably stronger, her connection to the bow feeling more natural.
---
That night, Tianya personally joined Adeline in her private bath. The large, luxurious bathing chamber was filled with warm, scented water and soft lighting. It was an intimate setting, one that allowed for honest conversation away from the formalities of the castle.
They had girl talks — light at first, then deeper. Tianya finally accepted Adeline fully as her little sister. The ever-cold Tianya became surprisingly soft, asking Adeline about her personal life, her hobbies, what made her smile, and what dreams she still carried despite the Purge.
Adeline opened up gradually, sharing stories of her past, her struggles, and small joys she had found even in dark times.
Then Tianya casually mentioned, "You were born on this planet. Your romantic life must have been good. When I was young, I also wanted romance, but my heart gave up after I was tricked in a marriage arrangement… and the marriage got canceled…"
Tianya stopped speaking when she noticed Adeline's sad face at the mention of romance.
"So you have an eye on someone," Tianya observed gently.
"He's dead," Adeline said quietly.
"I guess it is. Without heistation, if i were ask to choose between than men or anything in this world, without a doubt i would choose him"
She continued "Uncle Kurana often said that he had greater potential than all of us," Tianya replied.
Adeline nodded. "Uncle Kurana even taught him a technique of father."
"What?????" Tianya was visibly shocked. "What technique?"
Tianya could hardly believe that a person like Kurana would pass down a technique originally belonging to Solarius Knight to someone other than Adeline. The man must have been a true genius or someone truly special.
"Fist of the Solarius Knight," Adeline answered.
Tianya heard the name for the first time. Her interest was immediately piqued. "Demonstrate it to me."
"In this state while we are bathing??" Adeline frowned, slightly embarrassed.
But she complied. Adeline gathered all her flux into her right hand and attacked Tianya with a focused strike. The punch carried significant power, the air rippling around it.
Tianya casually blocked it with her head, absorbing the impact without flinching. "I have witnessed a more original version of this technique."
"Really?" Adeline asked, eyes wide.
"I'll tell you later. But I am really interested in that person you mentioned your crush. He would have been interesting if he was alive."
Seeing her big sister mention her crush so seductively, Adeline somewhere felt a hint of jealousy, jealous over a dead man. She must have been great at one-sided love, Adeline thought with a small, bittersweet smile.
The night continued with quiet conversation between sisters who were only now truly beginning to know each other. Outside, the world still burned under the Purge, but inside the castle, a small bond had started to form feagile, but real.