The ride back from the Trial Grounds was quiet. Too quiet. The kind of quiet where I could almost hear Lira silently judging me for not collapsing outright.
"You're pushing your limits again," she finally said, voice calm but laced with disapproval.
I smirked. "What's new? I've been pushing my limits since the day my uncle thought dogs were perfect sparring partners. Compared to that, this is practically a spa retreat."
Her brow twitched. For someone who rarely showed emotion, I was ninety percent sure that was her version of wanting to strangle me.
By the time we rolled into the palace courtyard, my legs were already jelly. I had just set one foot on the ground when—
"Big Brother!"
A missile in the form of my little sister Lilia slammed into me. My ribs protested so loudly I was sure they cracked.
"Lilia!" I wheezed, somehow managing not to collapse. "Do you… plan on finishing me off? Is this an assassination attempt?"
She pouted, arms clinging tighter. "You were gone for days! I thought you'd forgotten me!"
Every time I see her, something stirs in my heart. I know it's the original Rishi's attachment influencing me… but in this world, she's the only one I can truly call family. Maybe that's why I can't ever refuse her.
I forced a grin despite my lungs collapsing. "Die? Please. Your brother is too handsome to die. The heavens wouldn't allow it."
She snorted. "Pfft. More like the heavens don't want to deal with you."
"…What happened to siblings being supportive?" I groaned.
Before I could argue further, Serenya appeared, her steps graceful, her beauty so dazzling it made the palace look like a cheap backdrop.
She didn't even greet me. She just gave me a once-over and said, "You look awful."
I clutched my chest. "Serenya, my dear cousin, your words cut deeper than the fangs of a wild dog."
"That's because you do look awful," she replied smoothly.
Lilia, the traitor, chimed in. "He looks like a squashed toad."
"…Why am I being roasted by both of you?!" I cried, dramatically pointing at them. "First, she nearly breaks my ribs, then you stab me in the heart. Where is the love? Where is the sympathy?!"
Serenya arched a brow. "Where is your sense of responsibility?"
"Missing," I admitted instantly. "Probably hiding with my sense of shame."
Lilia giggled. Serenya sighed. Lira pinched the bridge of her nose like she was considering resigning from life.
Serenya stepped closer, brushing a strand of hair from my forehead. "All jokes aside… are you truly alright?"
For a second, my smile faltered. She sees too much. The old Rishi would've hidden it, but me? I'm not broken. Just… different.
I straightened, flashing a grin. "Of course I'm fine. Don't worry so much. A few ancient trials can't handle me."
Lilia tugged my sleeve. "Brother, I think the trials won."
"Lilia?!" I called her name exasperatedly.
Serenya chuckled softly, the sound like silver bells. And as we walked back through the palace corridors—Lilia glued to my arm, Serenya's elegance balancing my nonsense—I thought:
This family is chaos. Ridiculous, exhausting chaos. And for once… I don't mind it.
Of course, under that warmth lingered a sharper thought:
Please let me goooo!!
I want to sleeeep!!