'what happened while I was gone?' he thought, as he sat on his chair by himself.

Livia's hand gripped her badge tighter than ever. 'why am I covering this? …haaaa….now or never, Livia.' 

"Father!" she shouted, standing up from her chair. "you promised to make me the heir if I showed you the capabilities of one…..This!" she bellowed, slamming her badge on the table, where both Aaron and her father could both see.

"Is this not enough?! have I…. not done enough?!" she now softly said, her eyes glaring right at him.

"haaaa….." he sighed. "you had to bring it up when we were just dining. Livia, my daughter. We will talk about it after, for now, enjoy your meal first." 

Livia didn't say anything, placing her badge on her chest. "thank you for the dinner then." 

With those final words, she walked out. The clicking of her boots, echoing out of their dining hall.

"Livia!....Livia!" Julian called out, trying to stand from her sit, but her husband's gentle hand on her shoulder stopped her before she could leave, leave to follow her daughter.

"dear?" 

".....not now dear," he replied, his eyes gesturing to his side, where his son was sitting quietly in his seat, patting his confused sister. Consoling her in his own way.

Julian couldn't help but stare down. looking at her cold beef, the fierce appetite that she once had, all gone.

.

.

.

the Mirakle mansion, which lay above the high mountain overreaching the whole Maximus city. As the legend described, the whole structure was not built or constructed, it was said to be carved, yes, the whole structure, brick by brick, column by column, wall by wall. Everything was but the continuous carving and re-shaping of the rock-solid mountain. Giving it the name high castle, taking part the name of the enormous mountain itself.

Having its place near the sky, the continuous rain, laid down on their mansion, but having a wet wall, and drizzly ground on their property was a big no for a noble family, as a layered shield blocked the thundering rain like a heavenly umbrella. A shield so encompassing that, not even a single drop could reach their paneled rooftop.

But the tapering view of the raindrops, grazing on the top shield, was dazzling indeed. As their shield sparked a neon light with every touch of a raindrop.

"I missed this…." Livia voiced, laying down on the rooftop. But her glance of smile withered away, remembering her fine dining a moment ago. She couldn't help but reach for her badge. Ripping it with the pint of cloth she was wearing.

It was stripped from anger. That she was right, like the view, nothing had changed within their house, everything was still the same.

"useless…" she commented, throwing the badge away. The very silver badge of honor. Gifted by nonother than the headmaster of her academy. All the sweat and tears she placed on her training, all for not.

'…..why was I even trying?' she questioned, with that thought in mind, she closed her red eyes, resting her mind. She could stay the whole night there, but her mind couldn't settle down, feeling a presence nearby. 

"….Aaron?" she called out. Where her eyes were still closed.

"my my, look at you here, mother would scold the shit out of you, if she finds out," Aaron said, his figure sitting on the near chimney. 

"ummm…..I hope she comes, and just kicks me out of this family for god's sake." 

Aaron could only giggle at such a comment. Such anger, such blunt rebellion. He sighed in peace, gazing at the view with her, knowing her sister was somewhat normal. Going through her teens, feeling all kinds of stress and anger. But the issue at hand was a bit out of leash. He had never seen her in such anger, so much so she disobeyed her father, he wasn't just a father, he was also a lord. In the world of nobles, respect should always be maintained. That was what he thought.

He didn't know much about his sister though. Not just now, from the moment he was born, the most wreaking puzzle for Aaron was non-other than her. she was endearing to him. playing, learning, they had good times, but all changed, that one day, that one sunny day, everything changed.

"haaaa….my big sister, sometimes I feel, I don't know you anymore." He commented. 

The girl who was just within the grasp of her slumbering eyes opened up. Gradually lifting her back from the warm flasks. She said nothing, her neck now turned back to him.

Pat! Pat!

Patting the spot right by her side, she gazed back at the sky. Aaron didn't need to think twice about what she was saying, and so he followed, jumping out from the chimney as he landed right on the spot of her choosing. 

"What?" he questioned, sitting down on the cold floor.

But the question to his answer was only replied with silence as both of them start looking at the rainy night sky. 

"do you know what I love the most?" she asked all of sudden.

"…..your sword?" he replied. "aaacck…" but all he got from his answer was a strike to his stomach. His shield easily passed through with her knuckles.

"no idiot, why do you think a sword is for?" she again asked.

"haaa…..to attack, to defend...?" He replied, gripping his stomach which was in great pain.

"Haha, you are right, mostly to defend, to defend what's precious to them. What's valuable to them and what's valuable to me is ….this," she said, placing her hand on top of Aaron.

"…you, Eli, mom, and dad. Our family. I want to defend its peace, defend its glory…. whatever the cost." She said, gradually gripping his hand in hand.

Aaron could feel it, the ruggedness of her palm, which should only be felt by the oldest of knights and men. Gained from the harshest of training and many battles.

'haaa…..what was I even thinking, she wasn't picking up the sword because it was fun, all that harsh training she did, all the sweat she passed out in the dark night. From a young age, she understood something. Something that even I didn't understand.' Aaron thought.

He could sense the truth in her words, even though those were the words of a fourteen years old, it was filled with wisdom and love for her family, her blood. But one thing was still confusing him and he couldn't find the right time to ask her this question since she had left for the academy.

"Sister, I can say that I understand what you are feeling, the feeling is indeed mutual, I also want to protect this moment, this family," he claimed, taking her hand in hand.

"But, why do you feel the need to be the heir, I'm not saying, I want to be the only successor, but you already know the imperium law. Father could do it with his influence but the setbacks would be massive, and we already have enough enemies, so I want you to ask this…..why?" he again asked, as he turned to her, gazing at her crimson eyes head-on.

Livia wanted to look back, but as the eyes of her brother turned intense, she couldn't help but turn her neck by the side, not knowing how to face such a fierce gaze.

"Sis, look at me, I'm your only brother. You know we are together for the rest of our lives, bound by blood, so please tell me, even if not the others, you can just voice to me. Why?...just why? maybe I can…. In some way, help you. Which I should have been doing ages ago."

Aaron could feel her hand shaking. He was right, she was indeed hiding something. And his sister, whom he knew from his birth, he knew, she who wouldn't shake in front of any enemy, any power. she who would only quiver when her honest tongue was on hold when she was doing something akin to falsehood. 

"Aaron…" she called out, her voice turning soft like silk, the same sister, from whom he had heard nothing but curses, was now turning into a maiden's voice.

"yes..?" 

".....Aaron…" she again called.

She gradually turned, but instead of her face, he could only see a hand, ready to flick his forehead.

'oh shit!' he grumbled.

A flick, a simple flick would not even scratch him, but the same flick, cast with ember, would be devastating, and even more damaging and offsetting if the person casting was his own sister, Livia herself.

Bang!

Aaron had seen her hand miles away but he didn't know why, he just let it through, and all he got from it was him being pounded away like a paper towel. Landing on the balcony a floor below.

"haaaa….." he sighed. "somethings just don't change, do they?"