23 Time to prove yourself 6 (1/2)

Some years earlier

”Brat, you told me that you have a younger sister; why don't you take her here? Maybe she too-”

”I can't. She's too young and I don't want to make her run unnecessary risks, for now…” muttered Helial, unusually shy.

”How old is she?”

”Too young to try to condense a Mana Seed…”

The Master frowned, slightly irritated by that answer. ”Boy”, he rebuked, ”you seem very protective of her.”

Then, Vidio saw something he had never dreamed of seeing before: Helial's eyes were swimming in tears. He looked sad. ”Kid…”

Even Dragons, the undisputed lords of the cycle of life besides Qilins, had scales that grew upside down. In some parts of the body of these supernatural creatures it could happen that one scale would grow in the opposite direction. Touching that twisted scale on a Dragon's body was not an ideal move, even for the strongest of people. Dragons hated it when someone touched their twisted scales. Lumia was Helial's twisted scale.

”It's my fault if my sister is forced to lead a rough life. I can't let her risk anything right now. Perhaps one day she will be able to stand her ground, but for now she is young and I have to take care of her.”

Vidio was about to speak, to say something reassuring, but Helial cut him short.

”I know, Master, I know. I can see it in your eyes. But my sister can't learn to defend herself for now… she's too delicate. Besides, she is trying to learn some things in the village and the women are helping us from time to time. Now she has been learning to sew and she tries to cook with that little we have. I don't want my sister to suffer. I don't want her to go down the same road that I chose for myself.”

Helial slumped in the chair.

That day they were in a tavern; Vidio was looking for beautiful women and that was his daily patrol. He had invited Helial to chuck a glass of cider, wanting to learn more about that boy. After all, the kid was his major tool to make it back to the capital.

If only Vidio had not lost all his winning cards in such a stupid way… He had created a Skill that had granted him a promotion and also a death sentence. Without that he could not have become Master that easily.

Helial was looking outside the window, unaware of Vidio's thoughts.

”One day you might be forced to let her in this world, to be able to protect herself.”

Helial looked at him and smiled. ”Mas… Vidio, I'm not a fool. I don't have much experience, but if I'll see her in danger I will do anything to protect her, including giving her a way to become stronger. Until I can become stronger for the both of us, I don't mind. However… Hey dirty old pig, would you stop staring at the waitress?”

Helial was speechless and about to vomit blood… Vidio was slobbering over a young waitress of the tavern. Get to know him better my ass. That old pig just wanted someone to go with him, to not look like the old pervert he was.

The corners of Helial's mouth curled. After all, even though he still had not taught him any Offensive Skills, that man was still fun to hang around with.

***

In the present

Helial stroked Lumia's platinum colored hair, dirty and messy. His tears were dripping over his sister's face. I'm sorry, Lumia, I'm really sorry. I can't do it. I can't. You'll have to go on without me. You condensed a Seed, I hope you will survive. Run, go away without me, if you could reach a city, probably you could have a better life than if you followed me.

Helial had a lump in his throat. He could not think about his little sister forced to live without him. Even though she was a smart girl, she was also awkward and clumsy.

Helial thought about his clothes covered in red stains, the red of Lumia's blood. How many times she had hurt herself trying to mend them. But she had always insisted to do it herself. For some time Helial had gone about town with visibly torn clothes, because of Lumia's clumsy mending, but her Mana said otherwise; it was a stable, majestic Mana. Lumia had a clear Affinity with Earth. Helial still had not found out his own Affinity. If Lumia's Mana was already so characterized at that early age, it meant she had a very strong inclination toward that element.

The point of the blade was drawing closer to the heart, but Helial kept holding Lumia tight.

Kid, are you just going to die this way?, asked Kirin in utter disbelief.

Helial did not answer. There was a smile on his face. He was not going to have any regrets if it had been his sister to kill him. That girl had already suffered too much because of him; it was only right for her to kill him. Helial could not see anything wrong in that. After all, who would have been worthy of doing that, if not her?