(Alistair Vaelthorne's POV – Tower Dormitory, Room 117)
Elaine stepped inside my room, her gaze flickering across the furnishings before landing on me. She stood rigid, her arms still crossed, as if unsure whether she wanted to be here.
I raised my arms towards sofa in living room for her to sit. Understanding mi intentions she sat on sofa.
I took seat on sada facing her.
For a long moment, we simply stared at each other.
The last time we had spoken properly was before my exile.
Before I had turned my back on House Vaelthorne.
Before I had rejected our goddess.
But even then—
Even after everything—
She was still here.
And I didn't know how to feel about that.
"…You've gotten stronger," Elaine finally said, breaking the silence.
I gave a slow nod. "You too."
She scoffed. "Don't lie. Compared to you, I might as well be standing still."
There was no jealousy in her voice. Only frustration.
Elaine had always been the type to push herself—not for glory, not for power, but to protect what she loved.
Just as our mother asked us to.
And once, a long time ago—
That had included me.
****
She sighed, rubbing her temples. "Why did you do it?"
I frowned. "Do what?"
Her silver eyes darkened. "Reject our goddess. Abandon our family. Choosing abyass. Turn toward…" She gestured at me. "…this."
Ah.
So that was why she came.
I leaned back against my desk, arms folded. "You already know why."
Her expression tightened. "I want to hear you say it."
"…Because the Vaelthornes are shackled by weak ideals," I said bluntly. "Because our 'goddess' would rather mold us into protectors than let us reach our true potential. Because abysall have more freedom. Because—"
"Because Mother died," Elaine cut in sharply.
The words slammed into me harder than any attack.
I clenched my fists. "That has nothing to do with this."
"Doesn't it?" Her voice softened. "You think I don't know? You think I didn't see the way you changed? After she was gone… you started believing that power was the only thing that mattered. That if you were strong enough, you could have saved her. She wouldn't have need to protect you and me with her life
I turned away, my jaw tight.
"You're wrong," I muttered.
She sighed. "No, I'm not."
A silence stretched between us—a silence filled with ghosts.
I remembered the days when we were children, running through the gardens of our estate, practicing our swordplay together.
Mother would watch, her smile warm, encouraging both of us to grow stronger—together.
Elaine had always been the gentle one. The one who healed, who comforted. The one who believed in people.
And I had once believed in her.
But the day Mother died, something inside me broke.
I stopped believing in kindness.
Stopped believing in honor.
And Elaine—
Elaine never stopped believing in me.
Even now.
----
"I know you don't regret your choices," Elaine finally said.
She looked tired—not physically, but emotionally.
"And I won't ask you to change," she continued. "I just… needed to see you for myself. To know that you're still you."
I exhaled slowly.
"…You're an idiot, can't you see" I muttered.
She smiled faintly. "So are you."
For a moment, we weren't two warriors, two rivals, two people on opposing paths.
We were just siblings again.
A brother and a sister, standing in the same room, knowing that despite everything—
We still cared.
Even if the world tried to tear us apart.
Elaine stood from sofa.
Elaine turned toward the door.
"I won't stop you from chasing power," she said. "But don't forget—there are still people who care about you, Alistair."
I didn't respond.
She sighed, then reached into her pocket and tossed something at me.
I caught it instinctively.
A small silver pendant rested in my palm—a crescent moon, the symbol of our mother.
"I kept it," Elaine murmured. "I thought you might want it back."
I stared at it.
A memory flickered—Mother placing it around my neck when I was a child.
Before I could say anything, Elaine walked to door opening the it.
"…See you at the academy." She said. Stepping out of room.
Door shut behind her.
And then she was gone.
I stood there for a long time, staring at the pendant in my hand.
Before I quietly put it around my neck.
TO BE CONTINUE...