Sisters

In the Dream Heaven locked down by the mysterious chains, a disciplined sorcerer legion was practically a dimensional strike. Even though they hailed from three different legions—Starshot, Gryphon, and Fortress—their basic tactics and hand signals were standardized. All it took was putting the highest-ranking sorcerer in command to assemble a textbook tactical formation. The Gryphon marksmen provided covering fire, the Fortress shieldbearers charged forward, and the Starshot warriors flanked. Even without miracles to bolster them, right here and now, seamless coordination was the most powerful miracle of all. Feili and Felix were driven back and forth under the onslaught. In the distance, the cluster of light holding the stage-clearing fragment still rested on the rooftop, but the Starry sorcerers guarded the path leading to it, making it impossible for Felix to dash over and seize it. If they could claim the stage-clearing fragment, the portal would open automatically, giving them a chance to slip away. Even if she didn't take it, a portal would still appear if the Starry sorcerers claimed the fragment. Yet the Starry sorcerers made no move to do so, as if intentionally keeping this urban zone locked down so they could slaughter every combatant inside. Before she could devise a way out, the Starry sorcerers had backed them into a dead end. *Smack!* Felix flicked out a stone to create an opening for Feili to strike down a Starshot warrior, but the Fortress shieldbearers alongside him surged in, and the distant crack of Gryphon gunfire forced Feili to pull back and defend herself. At the same time, two more Starshot warriors closed in from the sides. Trapped in a corner, once the three Starshot warriors completed their encirclement, the two of them would be sitting ducks. "We'll just have to try that move!" Feili said through gritted teeth. "Little Sister Felix, create an opening for me once they get close!" "Don't call me little sister!" Felix took a deep breath, grabbed four stones in her hands, and hurled them all at once as the Starshot warriors closed in! Naturally, the Starshot warriors could deflect such thrown projectiles, but the four pebbles collided midair, ricocheting around their defenses and striking them right on the head! This wasn't pure skill; she had employed the miracle "Drifting on the Wind." Using it on a single pebble carried no risk, but sustaining it across four stones... even Felix couldn't guarantee it wouldn't trigger the mysterious chains! Right at that moment, Feili moved. With the Starshot warriors interrupted, the Fortress shieldbearers behind them naturally pressed forward. No matter which target Feili attacked, their sword-and-shield formation could at least protect their allies' vitals. Once the soldiers regained their breath, Feili and Felix's defeat would follow inevitably. Therefore, Feili didn't just need to defeat them. She had to defeat all of them in a single instant! Feili spun rapidly on her heel like a whirling top. Her blade twisted through the air into a shimmering ribbon, brushing softly past the Starry sorcerers. In an instant, the Starry sorcerers—shields, armor, and flesh—were severed clean in two! Feili kicked aside their mangled remains, gripped her sword, and charged toward the distant Gryphon marksman. Accelerated by Felix's "Cat's Grace," Feili moved with staggering speed. Realizing he couldn't flee, the Gryphon marksman opted for close-quarters combat, only to be effortlessly decapitated by Feili. "Phew." The Little Sheep exhaled a long breath, turned, and dashed over to wrap Felix in a hug. "Little Sister Felix, we won!—" "Where did you learn that move just now?" "Huh?" Only then did the Little Sheep notice Felix's face had darkened again. She thought to herself that her little sister was truly mercurial. "Which move?" "The one where you spun around and obliterated them in a second." A strange glint appeared in Felix's eyes. "Don't tell me you figured that out on your own?" "Well, actually—" "Impossible!" Felix seized her shoulders. "Someone definitely taught you! Who was it?!" Seeing that she couldn't hide it, Feili thought for a moment and said, "Then don't tell anyone, okay? I promised him I wouldn't tell anyone he taught me swordsmanship... It was the Professor." "The Professor?" "A homeless man who's been secretly teaching me swordsmanship over the past few months." Feili clenched both fists. "He's super amazing! Every time I can't beat Yaxiu or Big Sister Weixi, he teaches me how to turn the tables. That move just now was the finishing technique he told me to practice a lot, but I haven't mastered it yet. What I just did wasn't perfect either—otherwise I would've taken their heads off cleanly." Felix stared blankly at her. After a moment of silence, she asked, "What does he look like?" "A face full of scruff, dirty long blonde hair, living as a homeless man in the slums." The Little Sheep finally caught on. "Do you know the Professor?" "...No, I don't know him." Felix shook her head gently. "I probably mistook him for someone else. After all, he's from your world." How could she possibly be mistaken? Felix had seen it with absolute clarity—what Feili had just used was the training form of Revolving Annihilation Wave! She had secretly watched Dimi practice that technique countless times. That man had been monstrously strict with Dimi. Before Dimi had even become a sorcerer, he had forced him to memorize all of Vosroda's inherited techniques through sheer physical repetition, only to depart in haste soon after, as though he had returned solely to fulfill his duties as family head and father. Yet even for that meager scrap of paternal love, Felix could only watch in secret, without the slightest chance of ever learning the Vosroda family secrets! The person teaching Feili was beyond a shadow of a doubt the Duke of Vosroda—their father, the most despicable man in any world! But why had he approached Feili? Felix shook her head. She had long since resolved never to have anything to do with that man again. "Feili, I'm sorry," she whispered. "I was too impulsive just now. Take all these Holy Grail Fragments as my thanks." "It's okay, you were just worried about me." Feili patted her head with a giggle. "I'll take the Holy Grail Fragments, though. Yaxiu really needs to condense the Holy Grail." "Do you really have to love a promiscuous scumb—man?" Felix couldn't help but say. "Don't you want a devoted, sincere love? Do you really believe Yaxiu would change for you?" "I do want a devoted love, and I do hope Yaxiu will change for me," the Little Sheep said with a smile. "But even if things don't go my way, I'd probably still feel the same. "Feelings of love for someone simply can't be suppressed." Felix sighed, pulled the Little Sheep over to sit at the edge of the rooftop, and said, "Fine. Even if you don't mind, even if you can endure it willingly, have you ever considered what kind of fate awaits your child if you and Yaxiu have one? "From childhood, she wouldn't have a father's undivided love, knowing he doesn't love only her mother. She would wonder if she did something wrong, if that's why her father doesn't like her or visit her. She would doubt herself her entire life. "And that's assuming the two of you remain in love. What if he stops loving you? What if he stops coming to see you? Wouldn't you feel miserable? Even if you can bear it, children are sensitive creatures. She would sense her mother's sorrow and want to comfort her, but the mother would only think she's asking for candy. "Worse still, what if an accident befalls you? Your child would be left entirely in his care. When his heart isn't even fully with you, would he truly look after your child? Wouldn't his other women bully your child?" Feili immediately protested, "Yaxiu isn't like that!" "People change," Felix replied, not angry in the least. "Everyone starts out kind, but time changes everything. A cold, distant husband might once have been a passionate youth; a bitter, resentful lady might once have been an innocent girl. "Those mistaken seeds should never be allowed to sprout in the first place." Felix finished speaking, but she saw no self-reflection on Feili's face; the girl was actually spacing out. "Feili," she pleaded softly. "I truly don't want you walking down an unhappy path." The Little Sheep hurriedly said, "Ah, sorry! I just suddenly remembered that the Professor told me something similar." "The Professor?" It took Felix a moment to realize she was referring to the Duke of Vosroda. "What did he say?" "He told me that a friend of his had two lovers, and each bore him a child—a son and a daughter. In the end, the daughter's mother died unexpectedly. His friend brought the daughter back to his noble house, but feared his wife would persecute the stepdaughter over inheritance rights. So he had no choice but to constantly show that he favored his son while ignoring his daughter, hoping this would protect the daughter as she grew up." Felix froze, then shook her head. "A pointless excuse. If he wanted to protect his daughter, there were plenty of ways!" "I thought the Professor was making excuses for his friend too." Feili nodded firmly. "He said his friend bore immense responsibilities and couldn't stay home throughout the year, nor could he take his daughter along on missions. So he could only leave his daughter at home for his wife to look after. At first glance, it sounded quite reasonable, but later while lying in bed, I suddenly noticed the plot hole. "No matter how big the responsibility, couldn't he just resign? Wouldn't it be better to take an easier job and look after his family? Not to mention his friend had immense wealth and never had to worry about food or clothing—that's why the wife fought so hard for her son's inheritance! He didn't even need to work at all!" Feili shrugged. "With so many excuses, could it be that he couldn't resign?" He couldn't. The Blessing of the Stars could not be undone. The Duke was bound to fulfill his duties, spending long periods traveling outside to survey and investigate the livelihoods of the people, holding the interests of the Starry Kingdom above all else. His only way to resign was death, passing the dukedom to his heir. Felix's mind was in utter turmoil. She suddenly recalled that her public identity had always been that of a son, which was why she had been spared from aristocratic arranged marriages. *No, he could have easily taken me with him on missions... No, doing that would unmistakably announce to the world that I was his favored heir; Beverly would hate me to death...* *Then take both Dimi and me together... But while investigating out in the field, he couldn't possibly care for two children. And seeing me placed on equal footing with Dimi would only make Beverly more likely to arrange an 'accident' in the wilderness...* *If only he had been willing to deal with Beverly—* Felix sat stunned for a long while before letting out a self-deprecating laugh. She was indeed the child of the woman he loved, but wasn't Beverly once his beloved as well? "So, did you notice the hidden solution in that story?" "What solution?" Felix asked, surprised. "Caring for the family!" The Little Sheep's eyes sparkled. "The Professor's friend was simply too career-driven, which was why everything became such a mess. In other words, if someone had zero career ambition and loved caring for their family, the problem would be solved! "After getting to know him for so long, I'm completely sure Yaxiu is someone with zero career ambition who is wholeheartedly devoted to caring for his family!" *That works?!* Felix was utterly floored by her bizarre train of logic, yet couldn't find the words to refute it on the spot. Besides, how had Yaxiu become a legendary sorcerer? How had he become a feeler of the Four Pillar Gods? How could someone like that possess zero career ambition?! Devoted to caring for his family? If that were true, shouldn't he have found a secluded place to live shamelessly ever after with the Sword Princess and the Witch from the start? It couldn't be that becoming a legendary sorcerer was a prerequisite for being with the Sword Princess and the Witch! "Little Sister Felix." The Little Sheep reached out and embraced Felix, speaking softly. "I'm so grateful that you care so much about me... even though we only met for the first time today. I've actually thought about everything you said. I grew up without a father, and my mother passed away early. I know what it feels like for a child to grow up without love. "Actually, you don't need to worry, because the end of our world will arrive very soon. I... I won't even have the chance to bear a child. "But if I'm fortunate enough to save the world, or even follow Yaxiu to your world, fall in love, start a family, have children... terrified as I might be, I would also look forward to it. I firmly believe I would love my child with all my heart." The Little Sheep pressed her forehead against Felix's, blinking her eyes with a smile. "In this world, no one is a mistaken seed." Felix asked in a hoarse voice, "Don't you hate the father you've never met?" "I hated him when I was little, but not anymore now that I'm grown," the Little Sheep said. "The only reason I want to find him is to see what kind of person he is, and to ask whether I was born out of love. Aside from that, I harbor no feelings toward a stranger." Felix chuckled softly. "If given the chance, I'd like to ask too." The two looked at each other, their lips curving and eyes crinkling into identical smiles. "Let's go, let's keep searching for Holy Grail Fragments!" the Little Sheep shouted enthusiastically. "The two of us sisters together will be unstoppable!" "Can you use that finishing move again?" "It's a bit difficult..." After they claimed the stage-clearing fragment and vanished through the portal, this urban scene had still not collapsed. Right inside the shop directly beneath the rooftop where they had been talking, a blonde homeless man sat atop a collapsed concrete pillar. Before him lay a pile of sorcerer corpses, swords thrust into their bodies. "Of course you were." With that, he recalled the swords and sheathed them into the sword box behind his back. Had any Starry sorcerer seen it, they would have instantly recognized the Duke of Vosroda's most renowned hallmark—the Eight-Sword Box! In reality, the Eight-Sword Box held famous blades of the Starry Kingdom. Here, though the weapons inside were ordinary swords, in his hands they were divine arms that felled any foe on sight! "In other words, the man Felix bathed with in reality, and the man Feili is so infatuated with, is a two-timing—no, multi-timing scoundrel named..." Vosroda savored the name slowly: "Yaxiu."