I had misunderstood Elliot and thought he was secretly training out of resentment, but it turned out that wasn’t the case.
I felt sorry for misunderstanding Elliot. At the same time, I felt strange because I could sense that he truly considered me his younger sister.
“He’s amazing for someone so young. He has great potential.”
Vibr exclaimed. I also agreed with Vibr’s words.
It was not an easy thought for someone of such a young age. No, even adults wouldn’t usually think like this.
“Do you think it’s pathetic?”
I snapped out of my dejected state and belatedly regained my senses. Then I shook my head and denied his words.
“No! I don’t think it’s pathetic at all. I actually think it’s impressive and amazing.”
“Really?”
Elliot pondered. When he saw my smile as a sign of affirmation, he smiled back at me.
“Thank you for saying that. Even if it’s just empty words, it makes me feel good.”
“They’re not empty words. They’re true.”
“Yeah, I got it.”
It seemed like Elliot thought I was saying nice things to please him. Unsure of how to convey my sincerity, I hesitated, and Elliot suddenly tilted his head.
“But why did you come out at this time, Mirabel?”
“Me? I… couldn’t sleep. In that case, I also wanted to train with the sword a bit more.”
“Should I watch your form?”
Elliot suggested with a cheerful smile.
“Can I ask you that? You were in the middle of your own training.”
“It’s fine. I can at least watch your form. I’ve learned proper form from Father for a long time.”
Indeed, even when I was learning swordsmanship from Brian, Elliot was the one helping me with my form.
While Brian’s teachings were important, just receiving assistance from Elliot, who had a solid foundation, was already a great help for someone like me who lacked proper fundamentals.
“Then please. By the way, would you like to come over here?”
“Huh?”
When I called him, Elliot looked puzzled and tilted his head.
“Just come here for a moment.”
“Uh-huh.”
Elliot approached me with a puzzled expression.
“Like this?”
Finally, Elliot stood right in front of me.
“Just stay like that for a moment.”
“Okay.”
After finishing my words, I reached out my hand toward Elliot. Then I began to focus my divine power, just as I did yesterday.
The bright light pierced through the darkness, illuminating the surroundings.
Startled by the white light emanating from my hand, Elliot initially tried to step back but soon stood still. He trusted me, so he didn’t avoid it.
Seeing Elliot like that, I smiled faintly.
The bright light that had emerged from my hand slowly approached Elliot. Then it shone brightly, enveloping Elliot’s body before gradually fading away.
“What was that?”
After all the light disappeared, Elliot asked me with a surprised expression.
It was a bit late to ask, but I retracted my hand, which had been held out toward Elliot, and answered him.
“It’s divine power.”
“Divine power?”
“Yeah. It’s the ability of the goddess Duana.”
At the mention of the goddess Duana, Elliot’s lips twitched.
“Come to think of it, I think I heard about it once. A priest who visited to treat Aunt’s illness said there was a trace of divine power within you. Since then, I’ve visited the temple several times.”
Recalling that, Elliot looked at me, astonished.
“Oh my goodness! Then you’re really… a priest of the Duana temple!”
“No.”
Seeing Elliot acting as if I were destined to become a priest at the Duana temple, I chuckled dispiritedly.
“I have divine power, so I started learning it at the temple. I don’t have significant abilities yet, but I can at least help with fatigue recovery or simple treatments.”
“Oh, I see.”
Realizing it a little late, Elliot nodded his head. Then he moved his body around, feeling much lighter.
“By the way, Mirabel.”
As Elliot tried to stretch his body satisfactorily, he called me.
“What is it?”
“Well…”
Contrary to my expectation that he called me because he had something to say, Elliot couldn’t meet my gaze and was scratching his nose.
His nonchalant attitude seemed strange.
“Why are you like that? You called me and then didn’t say anything.”
Could it be that he wants to ask something related to divine power?… I wondered for a moment, and then Elliot muttered in a small voice.
“Why do you call me Elliot?”
“Huh?”
I widened my eyes in surprise at his unexpected question and looked at him.
“Because your name is Elliot?”
I answered him in a flustered tone, and Elliot smirked.
“Well, that’s true, but…”
“Then? Should I call you something else?”
Curious about his response, I asked him, and Elliot hesitated, rolling his eyes. I quietly waited for his answer.
Finally, after a moment of silence, Elliot looked at me cautiously and opened his mouth.
“I’m your older brother.”
Understanding belatedly what he wanted to hear, I could finally release the unnecessary tension I had been feeling.
Come to think of it, that was true. He was the son of my foster father, Brian, and three years older than me, so he was my older brother. But for some reason, when I looked at him, the word “brother” didn’t readily come to mind.
It seemed that because I still had memories of when I was twelve, it was difficult for me to perceive thirteen-year-old Elliot as my older brother.
“Then should I call you ‘brother’?”
“Huh?”
Startled by my straightforward question, Elliot flinched.
“Well, I mean, if you want to… But if you don’t like it, then it’s fine. I won’t insist.”
It was a despondent voice.
I felt like I was about to burst into laughter just imagining how much little Elliot had been thinking about this matter.
“No, it’s not difficult. Even if you call me ‘brother,’ I’ll call you ‘Bell.’ It’s the only title our mother and father use, so I’ll allow it.”
It wasn’t a difficult title, and since Elliot was, in fact, my family, there was no reason why I couldn’t call him that.
I readily accepted and allowed Elliot to use my nickname.
Elliot looked at me with a bewildered expression, as if he hadn’t expected me to allow it. Then he finally nodded in agreement.
“Alright, Bell.”
“Then, for now, I’m going to do some stretching, so later, watch me handle the sword.”
“Okay.”
After hearing his response, I began to stretch my body slowly.
After allowing ample time for stretching, I retrieved the practice sword I always used during training.
In the meantime, Elliot, who had been training on his own, approached me. He helped me with the basic form of holding the sword.
After showing me the movements of swinging the sword several times, I started swinging the sword myself. Elliot watched from the side, correcting any deviations in my posture.
“Young lady!”
As we were training for quite some time, Anita suddenly appeared at the training ground.
I paused my sword swings and turned to look at Anita, who was sulking.
“I’m sorry. I should have left a note or something.”
I felt sorry for Anita, who must have been surprised when she discovered the empty bedroom.
“I didn’t cry a lot, did I?”
To comfort her as she sniffled, I put my hand on her shoulder.
Anita lowered her head with a sullen face.
“No, I didn’t cry.”
“Really? That’s impressive. And I’m sorry. From now on, even if something like this happens, I’ll leave a note.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Shall we make a promise?”
I lifted my pinky finger, and Anita looked at it with her big eyes. Then she hooked her finger around mine.
“It’s a promise, young lady.”
“Yes, I promise.”
I wanted to give her a handkerchief or something, but unfortunately, I had already lent my spare handkerchief to Elliot, so I didn’t have any left.
I hugged Anita and lightly patted her back.
“Now, go over there and take a rest.”
“Okay, I will.”
Anita went to the bench where she always waited and sat down.
“What’s wrong, Bell? You came out without saying anything?”
Elliot checked on Anita and asked me.
“I’m sorry for waking up so early. I guess I should have left a note.”
“It’s alright. It’s better for you to train with Father soon since he’ll be coming out.”
Elliot smiled while placing the wooden practice sword on his shoulder.
“By the way, you mentioned something the other day. I’ve organized it, but when should I give it to you?”
Suddenly, Elliot asked me.
At first, I didn’t understand what Elliot was talking about, but then I realized that it was something I had asked him for after breakfast that morning.
I had asked him to gather a list of people who could have stolen the letter.
“You’ve already done it? It’s only been two days.”
Considering that Elliot had been busy since dawn training and receiving education, I felt a pang of guilt, knowing that he had taken the time to investigate at my request.
“It’s not that difficult. And if what you said is true, then it’s something we need to look into in detail. Moreover, it’s your request. It would be best for you to investigate quickly after breakfast.”
“Thank you.”
Upon hearing my gratitude, Elliot smiled affectionately, as if it was nothing.
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Translator Note:
From RJR and Bree: sorry for any problem the page migration could have created in the schedule.
This chapter was translated by Bree.
If you like my work please support us in Patreon. Next post will be released on August, 16.Want to read more?
