Okay, in order of the questions... No, Sophia and Alan aren't engaged. Hachicol is playing catch up because the way lectures work is different from our world, lectures are too long a bloated with information for his brain used to compact bits of information. No comment on Sirius yet. No, I'm not taking the story more seriously. I just write however I like and keep enough stuff in each chapter in case I forget I can look at the end of each one to remember where I'm heading.

Sophia Ascart tailed behind her brother with a marked contrast in their footsteps. She took delicate steps while he marked the peace with his long steps, but in such a way she could follow without much effort. Even if he was in his worst behavior during early mornings he still found ways to be mindful.

"Good morning Nicol-sama, Sophia-sama." Katarina-sama's maid, Anne, greeted the siblings just outside her mistress' room. She was looking fresh and ready to go about her day, a stark contrast to the lady she served, who most likely hadn't even woken up yet.

"Morning." Nicol replied back even though he didn't have to, while Sophia simply nodded at the maid. She wanted to scold him for mixing up his manners but Anne wasn't really a stranger. So Sophia let it slide.

"Is Katarina-sama up already?" The siblings knew it was unlikely, but Sophia still asked for politeness' sake. It wouldn't do to just take a lady's behavior for granted, even with Katarina-sama. It just wouldn't.

"Actually, prince Gerald-sama came earlier and went out with her." The maid's expression twisted apologetically. It couldn't really be faulted, since even Sophia's Onii-sama was surprised by this outcome "I am to stay here and inform Ascart-sama in case they showed up."

Which they ended up doing. As expected of Gerald-sama. He had everyone figured out, huh. Or had it been Katarina-sama?

"I see." Nicol didn't miss a beat, and nodded as if he was ready to move on with his day "In that case, I'll leave a note. Please deliver it to Claes when she's done."

"Nii-sama?" To be honest, Sophia didn't want to leave things be. Katarina-sama wouldn't mind if they barged in the middle of an 'outing' with her fiacé. And it meant her beloved Nii-sama was relenting to the prince's whims, which Sophia didn't want to see happening.

They would not be seeing each other for a few days, so Sophia wanted them to give their farewells properly. Which her Nii-sama found natural as well. But he quickly became lazy, and chose the simplest path.

Jeez… Sometimes his bad behavior really got on her nerves!

"...If Ascart-sama so wishes." Anne replied tentatively "Do you wish for a quill and paper?"

"Yes, please." Nicol nodded as politely as everyone wished he did to his fellow nobles.

The maid led them inside Katarina-sama's room momentarily, and Sophia sat herself on the lady's bed while her brother stood besides the open door.

How gentlemanly. How come he behaved like this when no one was looking? Sophia touched her forehead while the maid gave Nicol what he needed to write.

"Is it urgent, by any chance?" The maid asked while Nicol wrote using Katarina-sama's desk as support. He didn't sit, so he bent while giving the maid his back and Sophia.

"No, not really." Her Nii-sama replied "I'm just going to be away for a few days."

"Ah." The maid nodded "I heard Ascart-sama was excellent with his wind magic. Is it perhaps about the meteorology expeditions funded by the Magic University?"

"Yes." Was the only answer he gave.

"As expected of Nicol-sama." The maid also gave a reasonable answer and dropped the subject. She had been around him enough to know Nicol wasn't one of many words, after all.

He had always been like this. A person of few words that prefered to listen instead of doing the talking. However he hadn't always used his silence with malice.

She was certain it was her fault.

Sophia had been but a child when it happened. She couldn't have known she would scar her beloved Nii-sama like that. One moment they were playing around, and the next he was on the floor without moving.

If that had been it, it would have ended with just a scare. But the vacant stare he had quickly devolved into a frenzy as he stared wildly at his surroundings. Then, the screaming came. And the kicking and shoving. It had been the scariest moment in Sophia's life. Seeing her usually composed brother try to claw away at the people that had always taken care of him, yet he no longer recognized.

It was her fault. She had wanted to go outside so badly her Nii-sama could not help but comply with her pettiness. Sophia was a child, but she should have listened… Should have known better. Should have stayed inside.

It was her fault. She repeated after her Nii-sama locked himself in his room for a day. Then the day went by and it became a second one, and a third one. Then a week and another one…

She cried for his forgiveness. Her parents didn't need another mess in their house, yet Sophia was a child. She didn't know what else to do.

He peered out of his door then. His eyes were empty, and he looked so haunted… Yet he wobbled out of his room and patted her head with calm and care… He would never be the same, but at least he was still her Nii-sama. It was her fault he was that way now, but that just meant Sophia would have to help him from then on.

His laziness was just one of the things she wanted to correct the most.

"Here." Ah, Sophia had spaced out. She managed to see Nicol handing the letter to Anne and get the stuff he used back on the desk.

"Will that be all?" The maid asked, taking care of the letter with both hands while it dried.

"Yes." Sophia's Nii-sama replied "We won't intrude further."

That was her cue. Sophia stood up and followed after her Nii-sama as he exited the place.

And found Maria Campbell staring dumbstruck at him.

"Oh, Campbell." He usually grew flustered around the light mage, for some reason. But Sophia was probably the only one that noticed "What a coincidence."

"Ascart-sama… Sophia-sama…" The light mage mumbled without thinking too much as Sophia stood by her Nii-sama's side.

Sophia gave them a moment, and when no one talked she took the initiative.

"Maria-san, good morning. Katarina-sama went out with Gerald-sama."

"Ah, I see." The blonde blinked for a moment, not really sure what to say.

Of course. Katarina-sama was away, yet Sophia and her Nii-sama came out of her room like they owned it. Even if Katarina-sama were inside. That Nicol was there too was… Not appropriate. At least not when others could see. Sophia had to remind herself it wasn't, since seeing Katarina-sama and her Nii-sama interact so often had replaced a bit of her common sense.

Now, the problem was that her Nii-sama didn't seem to think a lot about it. It vexed Sophia, but that relationship seemed to have come to a standstill. Or perhaps his perception was that affected?

Sophia didn't want to think about that, so she didn't.

"Either way." Nicol coughed on his fist before the silence could stretch again "I'll be going, so take care of Claes. Don't let her get in too much trouble."

Her Nii-sama's words succeeded in breaking the ice with the blonde.

"Eh?"

"Rain season is about to start." He explained "Wind mages from across the country are summoned to prevent the most extreme weather from hitting the country."

"Ah, Mary-sama did say something about the rain…" Maria commented.

"Usually mages are gathered from the Magic University and its graduates." Sophia added "But Nii-sama's excellent display of magic had him considered for this year and he was summoned."

"It's not that important." The older boy shrugged in his usual carefree way.

"It is a great honor!" Sophia glared at her Nii-sama "Not just anyone gets chosen, y'know?!"

"Is that so?" He pretended not to know, probably because he didn't like to admit he liked being praised.

"It is." But Sophia didn't particularly dislike that part of him.

"Congratulation, Ascart-sama." Maria smiled meekly "So, when will you be going?"

"Right now." He stated. The light mage's expression became blank again.

"So, today?" She asked tentatively.

"No. I'm about to head out." He insisted "I just came here to say bye… Since Sophia insisted."

Of course. He could keep telling himself that. Not even Maria-san bought it.

"I… I see."

"So make sure Claes doesn't get in too much trouble." Nicol turned back and placed a hand on Sophia's head "Let's go."

"Let's." Sophia agreed "See you later, Maria-san."

The Ascart siblings walked away from the light mage. Who followed them with her eyes but didn't walk with them as expected. She didn't interact too much with Sophia's Nii-sama. Which was a shame since there was some chemistry there, at least from her Nii-sama's side.

What was up with that? Sophia would have to investigate. She didn't want to be cheering for the wrong girl, after all.

But first, she discreetly checked if her dress was prim and proper and if her hair was tidy as usual while they arrived at the gate. Alan-sama was waiting for them with arms crossed.

"Ah, there you are." Alan-sama's features softened as the Ascart siblings approached.

"Yes." Sophia's Nii-sama replied first, as customary. But that was the length that customs were respected between these two.

"Good morning, Alan-sama." Sophia demurely bowed with her hands clasped on her lap. She tried showing a small smile along with her motion, and it seemed to go as intended since Alan-sama smiled a toothy grin.

"Sophia-san." Their eyes met for a moment, before Alan-sama remembered why he was there in the first place.

He motioned for the gates of the academy to be opened and placed himself between the siblings while they walked towards the carriage.

"Okay, so this is it?" Alan-sama asked, giving his attention to Nicol but somehow keeping Sophia's pace nonetheless "You can still back down if you want."

"It's fine." There was a strange form of pride in the older Ascart's voice as he replied. It didn't come across as bragging, given the chance he was given, but he didn't look nervous either "Father explained at length what I should expect."

"Worst thing will probably be the old timers that hate seeing new people rise closer to their rank." Alan-sama shrugged, similarly to how Nicol would when he didn't think it was his problem "Just don't go too harshly on them."

"I won't promise anything." A small grin appeared for a moment on Nicol's face before his usual frown returned "And you keep doing your thing."

"Of course." Alan-sama chuckled "I'll also keep an eye on Katarina, seeing how her babysitter will be away."

Sophia frowned as her Nii-sama grunted. He looked annoyed at the prince's words but allowed himself a chuckle alongside him. These two should not talk about a lady like that! Even less when she couldn't defend herself!

"Jeez, Alan-sama sure is rude." Sophia puffed her cheeks to appeal to her brother. It wouldn't do to be scolded in front of the prince like a little kid.

"It's just the truth!" The prince blushed immediately "It's not my fault Katarina is like that!"

"You should still not talk about her like that." Sophia insisted.

Her Nii-sama just shook his head.

"Now I'm having second thoughts." He sighed.

"Don't worry." Alan-sama placed a hand on his shoulder "I'll take care of Sophia-san as well."

Now Nii-sama glared at the prince. It had enough venom that even Katarina-sama would have noticed it, but Sophia was there to take some of the fall.

"Nii-sama, just go. This is your big moment, you need to give them the best impression."

The carriage was indeed waiting for him. And although he no longer looked so comfortable with the idea of leaving, he relented.

"Take care, then." Her Nii-sama patted her head like he usually did and nodded to Alan-sama.

Sophia stared at the prince while he gave his farewell back.

"What will you guys do without me?" Sophia heard before the carriage started moving. She balled her hands.

Gosh darnit! Sometimes he treated her too much like a kid! Sophia was capable of taking care of herself just fine! Furthermore, Alan-sama would keep her company too!

"Let's go." Alan-sama offered her his hand once the carriage was out of sight "I heard Gerald went out with Katarina. And since it's early they must be eating… Want to join them?"

Sophia already ate with her Nii-sama before going out, though.

"I could use a bit of tea." She smiled demurely. It wasn't enough reason to turn him down, after all.

They smiled, knowing it would piss off the prince if they interrupted. But they didn't care too much. Even if the older Ascart wasn't around, what could possibly go wrong?