Chapter 6 – A Growing Bond
The years passed more rapidly than Alexandrite could keep up. One minute he had been such a tiny baby, looking up at the shining smile of Ai, and the next he was racing around the big living room with Aqua and Ruby, their laughter sounding like bells in the air.
At five years old, their wee three were already as close as siblings. Ruby's blonde pigtails bounced along with each step she ran, shrieking loudly whenever Aqua tried to grab at her. Alex followed behind, a grin of mischief creeping up onto his face as he pounced and swept her up first.
"Got you, Ruby!" Alex yelled victoriously, holding her like a hero.
Ruby blew out her cheeks. "That's not right, Nini! I wanted Aqua-ni-san to catch me first!"
Aqua smiled, the shine of his keen eyes twinkling. "See? She prefers her correct ni-san."
Alex groaned. "Oh, here we go again…"
The bickering went on according to rote, the one which had been the daily routine. Aqua crossed his arms and puffed theatrically, waiting.
"Aqua," said Alex, factually, "you forgot the magic word."
"I called your name."
"Not good enough." Aqua tilted her head in smugness. "I won't answer unless you say it."
Ruby clapped her hands together, giggling. "He means Oni-san, Nini! Say it, say it!"
Alex rolled his eyes, irritated. "I'm not calling you Oni-san. You're younger than me!"
"By seconds," Aqua replied placidly, "and I still came after you—so that makes you younger in spirit."
"That doesn't even make sense!" Alex barked back, though his lips twitched, betraying his amusement.
Ruby wiggled free from Alex's hold, still laughing. "Then I'll keep calling both of you! Aqua-ni-san and Alex-nini~!"
"See?" Aqua said, jabbing a finger at Alex. "She respects the hierarchy."
"Hiearchy of nonsense," Alex snapped back, but in his heart of hearts, he was appreciative of these little arguments. The arguing was normal—something ordinary, grounding him even as the otherworldliness of his memories taunted him at night.
Home days weren't only filled with shenanigans from the siblings. Ai immersed herself in motherhood with warmth and clumsiness. She couldn't cook without burnt pans, but she made up for it with blinding smiles and hugs aplenty.
"Ruby, not so much candy before dinner!" Ai scolded one afternoon, trying to yank a lollipop out of Ruby's lips.
Ruby held on to her tightly, her head shaking. "But Mama, it makes me happy!"
Alex smiled in a whisper at the scene, pulling out a small notebook he'd had slung around his waist. There were kanji scribbles in it, English alphabet letters, even fragments of French and Korean. He wasn't learning because he wanted to—he was preparing.
Ai looked over his shoulder in fascination. "Wow, Alex, you're learning again? Your age? You're so serious."
Alex smiled at her. "I just… like learning, Mama."
He couldn't tell her how his system rewarded effort with quantifiable progress. How each time he did it again and again, each time he practiced it, the ding rang in his mind like a vow.
And on schedule, it rang again.
Ding!
Language Comprehension Lv. 1 → Lv. 2
XP 0/2
Alex's fingers closed on the pencil. He was accustomed to the noise now—it was no longer a surprise, but it was thrilling. His skills were growing with him, gradually, steadily.
That evening, Ai coaxed them into singing in harmony as she played a quiet melody. Aqua sang softly first, his voice even and untrained. Ruby twirled about like a ballerina, screeching out notes with wild excitement.
Alex lagged behind, singing softly. His pitch faltered, but he kept going, time and time again, until his throat burned.
Ding!
Singing Lv. 1 → Lv. 2
XP 0/2
He struggled to keep a smile back. Effort. That's all it took.
Nighttime, however, was something else.
When silence filled the house, Alex's dreams grew heavier. He began seeing flashes—blurry images that sent chills down his spine. The glint of a knife. Ai collapsing in a pool of red. Aqua's wide, horrified eyes. Ruby's screams.
He woke up drenched in sweat, his chest heaving.
Every time it happened, he whispered the same vow into the darkness.
"I won't let it happen. Not this time. I'll protect her."
Even if he couldn't change everything. Even if fate fought back. He would not allow Ai's light to be extinguished.
The months blurred into each other.
Sometimes Aqua and Alex clashed, mock-wrestling in the living room until Ai scolded them to stop. Sometimes Ruby snuck into Alex's bed, whispering that she couldn't sleep unless her "Nini" told her a story.
The system repaid Alex's persistence time and time again. Acting, singing, languages—those skills matured in small increments, just like he did. And though he never spoke of the nightmares, they fueled his resolve in secret, hidden behind his calm smile.
Then there was that night.
The twins and Ruby slept huddled up on the couch, cartoons still blaring on TV very softly. Ai ironed a cover over them gently, humming to herself as she made for bed.
The apartment was silent. The apartment was calm.
And then—
Ding dong.
The doorbell clanged in the silence.
Ai blinked, cocking her head to one side. Who could be calling this late?
On the sofa, Alex stirred. His eyes gradually opened, his senses stirring. His heart skipped a beat as fear crept into his veins.
The doorbell sounded again.
And thus began the night that would test every vow he had taken.