The dark sky was growling, similar to a beast feasting on its prey. Cold wind howled from all sides, gathering at the very place where children's presence are the most dense; the academy.
The academic institute in the Khun family residence provided all it could for the children of the Khun family- especially when it comes to knowledge or combat. Thus no one commented about one of the largest, open-air training facility built just around last year, where it was mainly used as a sparring field for the children.
As long as it's to improve the quality of the children in the family, perhaps almost anything was allowed.
Around this time where a big event was just around the corner, lots of children scattered about in the stadium-like dome, training in their own ways and fashion, completely ignoring a lone girl who walked past them with a downcast, grim look. No one could care less about a random girl who coincidentally shares the same blood as them. They are, in a way, rivals after all. Sooner or later they would have to kill each other.
On the other hand, it was absolutely a pure coincidence when Amelina bumped into a group of children when she walked aimlessly and following them was just out of instinct- an instinct telling her to follow the. But thinking back, this was also something similar to an opportunity.
An opportunity for Amelina to save them.
Now it's all up to her conscience, whether she will be able to do it or the other way around. That was why she trailed after them all the way from the entrance of the forest towards the place where the children of the Khun family were training, instead of blatantly executing her intention.
Amidst the scattered crowd, Amelina's sharp ears picked up bits and bits of chattering and conversation from here and there, eyes switching from one blue-haired person to another.
"I need to do well this time so I can climb the Tower using the family's name. Maybe I should double my training time. "
"I have to go through the competition without any casualties, at least!"
"I should at least live through the competition..."
One particular direction though, immediately caught her attention.
"Did you hear about it? The scandal- "
"I heard Princess Maria was only using him! There were no way siblings could be lovers!"
"Princess Maria and another girl have already secured their spot in the family. I need to find a way to do so too."
"We have to survive too, like them!"
Survive. A word which has never stopped haunting her life for as long as she knew.
Amelina's nimble fingers slowly untied the light blue ribbon around her collar, the girl quietly tying her long hair into a high ponytail as she walked past different blue-haired children, each of them uttering things which only added the fuel to her burning determination.
Her doubts and hesitance have completely disappeared.
She really needs to free them, if they truly wanted to survive.
The sky was dark and rumblings could be heard over her head, a clear sign that it was going to rain very soon. In fact, she can already feel little drops grazing her cheek. But she ignored the ominous rumbling and continually dropping of dews, luminous shinsoo began to form at the tips of her fingers. Still without saying anything, Amelina approached the largest group in the middle of the vast dome, her melancholic glowing eyes giving nothing but shivers to the children who began noticing her strangely mesmerizing presence.
"W-whadya want?" one boy with bigger physic than the others exclaimed, stopping right in front of Amelina. Some snickered at how much the difference of height between the older boy and Amelina. But that soon, will be silenced.
Instead of saying it loud and clear, Amelina's voice came out meek and small, yet still managed to send shivers down to the spines of others who watched the one-sided interaction. "I am sorry."
As if on cue, a loud bang from a thunder resounded, completely overshadowing the first scream. A confused boy shifted his gaze from the thunderous sky to the scene of a girl holding a broken arm of a boy of a larger build, who was kneeling down in pain as blood gushed out from the painfully twisted part of the arm. Did she perhaps rip through his skin?
"What in the world…?"
The next thing the boy new, a chain of anguished screams and wails and shouts filled the place, as much as bloods were spilled everywhere. Those of the braver groups got ready into a fighting stance but soon was dispersed with a single lightning spear which burned their skins. The spear also came along with a horrifying effect; which was a spread of electricity to everyone in the vicinity, conveniently amplified by the rainwater. Some who ran away was caught and had either one of their arms or legs broken, and some who simply didn't do anything still received the same fate.
It was pure chaos.
Yet the girl- no, the maiden who continued the massacre despite the pouring rain and blood was simply beautiful to his eyes- like a fairy dancing in the rain. Yes, that's it, a rain fairy. As if giving into his fate, the boy walked towards the fairy and held out his arms. If his life was what she wanted, then so be it.
Just maybe, he could finally be free from these shackles, all thanks to her.
Khun Marco Asensio does not have any regrets. If anyone dared to tell him he had those, it won't be long before they perish to his spear anyway. At least, he was confident he didn't have any of it- until he met his half-younger sister, Khun Amelina.
A hidden, favored child of his father who has never been exposed to the world. The one and only enmity who managed to change the family head in a way Asensio couldn't comprehend. The weak, yet strong-willed child who caught the attention of his sister.
Everything about her was a wonder, actually.
His first impression of her was mere pity, he himself going out of his way due to a one-time decision to help a fellow victim of Maschenny's unpredictable tyranny. That was all it was, he swore.
But the small stubby hands that held onto his legs that day, and the small, meek voice that sincerely called him a big brother-
At that time, he realized he wanted to be her big brother.
He wanted to be someone she can depend on especially in this crooked political family. He wanted to be a shield so Amelina would not have to bear the pain he went through during his childhood. He really did his best- tending to her wound and injury after training, splurging on sweets and pastries whenever he went to a different floor because he could never forget her small smile, and he watched over his little Amelina growing up.
But turns out, Asensio wasn't the only one 'watching over' Amelina. No, he wasn't the first, to be precise.
He wondered a thousand times, if he didn't bow down to Maschenny's whims and orders, would his relationship with Amelina be a little different from now? Would Amelina still keep that innocent smile of hers? He kept convincing himself that it was for Amelina's sake- it was for Amelina that he stopped spoiling her, it was for Amelina that he did not held out a hand to her, it was all for Amelina that he became colder towards her.
Yet, one voice told him he was wrong all along, that he was a failure of a big brother.
Those were all Asensio could think of as he witnessed a bloody massacre right before his eyes, his beloved little sister continuously murdering their own kin in the rain, flashes of aqua-ish electricity seen every five seconds.
Absolutely no one can blame Asensio for being rendered speechless, his proud spear slipped from his hand as his frozen figure stopped the movements of Rankers and High Rankers alike at the entrance, everyone having the same stupefied expression. The Rankers gathered behind him all whispered and glanced at him, wondering how would he handle the situation unheard of from the Khun family's history, where bloodbaths only ever occurred during the competition, not days before it. Even if there were anything like that, it won't be as grande as this and would rather be done behind the scenes.
"Ame…" Asensio whispered, stepping forward into the bloody puddles. "Ame, my little sister... stop... please...!"
As if hearing Asensio's plea, the said girl turned into his direction and with shinsoo coating her outstretched palm, she aimed straight for Asensio's heart.
Author's note:
My heart ache so much writing this chapter :')
Please tell me how you think of this chap at the comment section! :D
Sayonara!! Love chu guys!