Chapter 14: A Dangerous Sister
The training grounds gradually grew quieter as the afternoon wore on. Most of the younger disciples had already finished their lessons and cleared out, leaving only the veteran knights who continued sparring as if exhaustion was a concept that simply didn’t apply to them.
Malrik rolled his right shoulder and winced. "...Damn."
Everything hurt. His shoulders, his back, his wrists—even muscles he hadn’t known existed were screaming in protest. Kael hadn’t been exaggerating. Holding a spear correctly was one thing, but repeating the same fundamental thrust several thousand times was pure torture.
Walking through the stone corridors leading back toward the family’s residential wing, Malrik clicked his tongue. "The old man is insane." He paused for a second, then corrected himself. "...Actually, he fits right into this family."
He couldn’t help but chuckle. Everyone he had met inside House Vesperion so far seemed perfectly normal—right up until they opened their mouths. Then they immediately proved they were completely unhinged. One wanted children to train with sharpened weapons, while another casually spoke about throwing newly awakened descendants against real Morveth. At this rate, Malrik was beginning to suspect the only actual requirement for becoming an instructor here was having a broken sense of common sense.
"I’m definitely surrounded by lunatics," he muttered.
Rounding the next corner, his footsteps abruptly stopped. Someone else had stopped as well.
Several meters ahead stood a young woman. Neither of them spoke. For a few quiet seconds, they simply looked at each other.
The first thing Malrik noticed was her hair. It wasn’t black. Unlike nearly every member of House Vesperion, whose jet-black hair was an unmistakable family trait, hers flowed like crimson silk down to her waist. The afternoon sunlight pouring through the corridor windows made it look like liquid fire. It was striking.
Then his eyes moved to her face. She had gentle features, clear emerald-green eyes, and a warm smile that carried none of the cold, arrogant pride common among powerful nobles.
Memories surfaced almost instantly. Velrosa Vesperion. His older sister, and the Second Banner Bearer. She was one of the few children who had inherited their late mother’s crimson hair instead of the Vesperion black.
In Malrik’s inherited memories, she looked completely harmless. Which was precisely the first mistake anyone ever made around her. Behind that warm smile was one of the most terrifying Ascended in the Empire. Among fighters of the same rank, almost no one had ever managed to defeat her—human or Morveth, it made little difference. And if someone was foolish enough to threaten one of her brothers... well, there was a reason nobles whispered her name instead of saying it out loud.
Malrik recalled one particular incident from a few years ago. A young heir from another noble family had publicly mocked one of her younger brothers. Three days later, that family’s entire estate mysteriously vanished from the map. Officially, no one knew what happened. Unofficially, everyone knew exactly who to blame.
The silence between them lasted for another heartbeat. Then—
"Mal!" Velrosa’s eyes suddenly lit up.
Before Malrik had time to react, she charged straight at him.
"Oh, for the love of—"
*THUD!*
She crashed into him with enough force to send him stumbling two full steps backward, her arms wrapping tightly around his torso.
"So you really did it!" She squeezed him tighter. "I knew you could! I told everyone you’d awaken! I knew it!"
Then, to Malrik’s absolute horror, she started bouncing excitedly while still locking him in the hug. Up and down.
"Wait—Vel—my ribs! I’m serious, they’re breaking!"
She ignored him completely. "I was so worried!"
Malrik looked blankly toward the ceiling. "...Help."
Unfortunately, no help came. The passing servants merely smiled politely and looked away, pretending they hadn’t seen a thing. Traitors, every single one of them.
Velrosa finally let go. Malrik immediately took two quick steps back, rubbing his aching ribs.
"...You know," he let out a helpless sigh, "one day you’re actually going to kill me."
She tilted her head innocently. "Hm? I barely hugged you."
"Barely?" Malrik stared at her in disbelief. "I think half my skeleton disagrees."
She puffed her cheeks. "You’re exaggerating. I wasn’t even using mana."
"...That doesn’t make me feel any better."
For a brief moment, neither of them spoke. Then Velrosa suddenly clapped her hands together. "Oh! I almost forgot!" She smiled sheepishly. "I didn’t give you an awakening present yet."
Malrik blinked. "A present?"
She nodded enthusiastically. "Of course. My little brother finally awakened, I have to celebrate." She folded her arms, looking genuinely thoughtful. "So, what do you want? Don’t be shy. If I can get it, it’s yours."
Malrik didn’t even need a second to think. "Spirit Stones."
"...Spirit Stones?" Her expression froze. She had clearly expected him to ask for a weapon, armor, or maybe a rare artifact. Spirit stones were probably the last thing on her radar. She placed a finger against her lips, thinking it over. "Hmmm... I don’t think I have many on me..."
Several seconds passed, and then her eyes lit up again. "Wait. I do. I completely forgot about them."
Malrik looked at her, listening closely.
"A few months ago, I took a mission to eliminate a band of outlaws near the northern border. They weren’t ordinary bandits; they’d been smuggling materials taken from the Morveth. After I wiped them out..." She shrugged casually. "...I found several Spirit Stones among their supplies."
Malrik’s heartbeat quickened. "How many?"
Velrosa looked upward, trying to recall. "I think... around ten. They should all be Common-grade. I kept them because they looked interesting, but I never found any use for them."
Malrik almost laughed out loud. Ten Common-grade Spirit Stones. To anyone else, they might have been ordinary upgrade materials. To him, they were priceless fuel.
"If you don’t need them," he smiled, "I’d gladly take them off your hands."
Velrosa grinned. "Done. I’ll have my maid deliver them to your room before sunset."
Malrik nodded sincerely. "Thank you."
She waved her hand dismissively. "Why are you thanking me? We’re family."
Then, her expression suddenly turned strangely serious. She leaned a bit closer, her smile remaining exactly the same—warm, gentle, and kind. Anyone seeing it for the first time would have thought she was just a caring older sister.
Malrik, however, had just inherited his predecessor’s memories. And those memories were screaming one word: *Danger.*
"So... tell me," she said sweetly, "has anyone been bothering you? I mean, if someone has been making your life difficult, just give me their name. I’ll handle it."
Malrik felt the corner of his mouth twitch. *Handle it?* That was one way to put it. According to the record in his head, the last guy who repeatedly insulted a Vesperion brother didn’t just disappear—his guards, his servants, and his entire lineage went with him. Everyone wisely chose not to investigate.
Malrik coughed awkwardly. "No. No one’s bothering me."
"You sure?"
"Very."
"...Absolutely sure?"
"One hundred percent."
She stared into his eyes for another few seconds, searching for a tell, before finally nodding. "Alright. But if someone ever does... just tell your big sister. I promise I’ll be reasonable."
Malrik almost choked on his own breath. *Reasonable.* That word sounded terrifying coming from her.
Fortunately, before she could press the issue, a maid approached from the opposite end of the corridor. "Lady Velrosa, the Elder Council is waiting."
Velrosa sighed dramatically. "They never leave me alone..." She turned back to Malrik, reaching out to mess up his hair. "I’ll send the Spirit Stones. And don’t skip your meals."
With that, she walked away, humming cheerfully. Malrik watched her disappear around the corner, only letting out a long breath once she was completely gone.
"...She’s terrifying," he muttered. Whoever ended up as her enemy in the future had his deepest condolences.
Shaking his head, Malrik continued toward his quarters. He pushed the door open to find Eliza already waiting inside. The moment she saw him, she bowed gracefully. "Welcome back, Young Master."
Malrik nodded, taking a few steps into the room before pausing.
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