Turns out I'm really not good at being stealthy, as much as I liked to believe that I am. I was really struggling to make out who was behind that door, cause one thing that I knew was that whoever was there was all by themselves.
How could I possibly know that if I couldn't make out a proper image?
To answer that question, I'd say the reason I say that the person behind was all by themself, was cause of the sounds she made whenever she was waving and swinging around the sword she was carrying. And I'm not saying that person was a she for any reason.
Had to explain before you guys assume that I'm gender—what you might call it—no.
The reason I say she was a she, is because of the sounds she made, and they were definitely sounds from a girl, a young one at that.
By the looks of it, she was really serious. The way the sword moved and the mana she was releasing definitely was a little stronger than mine.
"Whoa, she's good," I whispered to myself.
I don't know how long I was standing there for, but seconds had turned into minutes. I really didn't understand what was going on with my vision, but after that whole incident, my vision was never the same again—it was like something was blinding me.
I won't lie, I was a little bit impressed yet jealous at the same time. I just couldn't understand how a young child—a girl at that—be able to release her mana just like that, like she had hers awakened way before her time.
So I carefully leaned in a bit closer, with my body pressed against the door. For some reason, after I was getting a better view, she had stopped. Suddenly she went all quiet.
"Why did she stop?" The question popped up in my head.
I don't know how she managed to do what she did, but all I remember was that she had opened the door and I fell to the floor.
"Ouch," I cried.
"Who are you and what do you want?" She asked with her sword pointing at me.
The way I fell made me face up, so that's how I know that she had her sword on my face, which by the way was really close to the temples of my eyes.
From that second, I knew already who was she—that, my friends, was my half-sister, Odessa Morningstar, the one who I'm supposed to serve under.
The way she looked at me, I knew who her mother was. Her eyes weren't filled with the eyes of a 5-year-old girl, who would, in most cases, be curious to know who is this stranger that just dropped by.
Odessa's eyes were filled with murderous intent.
So I knew that if it ever happened that I said something she didn't like, there was a high chance that she was going to kill me in that spot. So I had to be smart about it.
I sighed before I could say anything.
"Is that a way you greet your brother with?"
I knew that by just saying that, she was bound to get a little bit confused and let down her guard.
"My brother?" She couldn't believe it.
That was my chance, so I moved her sword away from my face.
"A little help?" I raised my hand.
For someone whose mother was known all around the continent as the Dancing Demoness, she really didn't show it.
Odessa gave in, and she helped me up.
"Thank you," I said.
We were now looking at each other face to face. For someone who was a few seconds older than me, she was not really showing. I mean, she may have been a little stronger than me, but I was still a little bit taller than her.
We didn't say anything to each other just yet. From my side, I was cool as I could be. After all, my mother, after years of protesting against this whole idea that I'm meant to be an underling to her sister-wife's daughter—I don't know what happened—but in the end, she gave in.
Which was a good thing, cause that had worked to my advantage. I'm sure if all of you were in my situation, you also would have been curious about this person who you are meant to serve. For years, as long as I could remember knowing how to talk, I kept asking—more like pestering—my mother about my sister, who happens to be my master.
Though she really hated the fact that I was asking a lot about Odessa, eventually my mother taught me everything that I needed to know. She told me that since Odessa was the chosen child, there was a certain way she was to be addressed and treated. Knowing my mother being the outcast, no-nonsense baddie she was, she taught me the opposite.
I'm sure I really don't need to explain what I mean by that, right?
My mother taught me that if I was going to end up being her servant anyway, why don't I have fun while at it? Cause Odessa was definitely taught to treat me like trash, like I'm one of the castle help. My mother came up with an idea for me to always stand my ground with her, not fear her, and show her that though she was my master, it didn't mean that she was better than me.
So I decided to have fun with her too, in that moment.
I know that after that unexpected introduction that I dropped on her like a bombshell, it was going to take her some time to process everything.
Which I enjoyed, by the way, because she looked like a broken toy trying to work again.
"Wow, your room is really huge," I looked around.
I wasn't lying when I said that. Her room was indeed huge, and all that it was filled with wasn't what you'd expect a princess's room to be like. It had swords, shields, armors, and some kind of awards.
I kept touching things, which I knew very well I wasn't supposed to touch without permission—but hey, what can I say? I was a 5-year-old kid, and curiosity always got the better of me.
As I was moving around, touching and having my way in her room like she gave me a get-go of making myself feel at home, Odessa's eyes were following me everywhere I went.
"Didn't your mother teach you that it's rude to stare?" I had to say something—having her looking at me made me feel uncomfortable.
Poor thing was so shy, she didn't even apologize. She just looked down.
I smiled because she made me laugh and enjoy every moment.
By the grace of Ney, the goddess of light and wisdom, Odessa finally came to her senses.
"You claim to be my brother, how do I know that you are not lying to me?" She asked.
Which was a good question, by the way. So I hope if there are any children reading this, take note from Odessa's book and always be cautious around anyone, because no matter who the person may be, as long as they haven't proven anything yet, they are still a stranger.
"You know, that's a very good question—for a 5-year-old and the daughter of Evelyne the Dancing Demoness," I sat on her bed.
Proving to her that I was her brother was going to be more than difficult, because it wasn't like me and her were exactly the same.
We were both from different mothers, and though we had the same father, our genes that we got from our parents—and that were really dominant—were from our mothers.
Odessa had blue long hair with a streak of greyish color. Her eyes were hazel, and just like me, she had a really beautiful, smooth skin—which in short made her beautiful. And oh, she wore those clothes that the people who fence wore, but hers was black.
"So you won't even offer me something to drink? Talk about being a bad host," I teased.
"Look, you imbecile, I didn't invite you in here. You were snooping around my room, so give me a reason why I missed you with my sword," she said so seriously.
I had no freaking idea what she was on about.
"Missed me, with her sword?" Now I was the one who was looking like a broken toy.
That's when I saw the hand that once was holding a sword—with no sword no longer in her hand—and all I felt was a swoosh sound with a sword flying past near my face.
I couldn't help but follow the sword, and so I did. It pierced through one of her armors.
"Hey, no need for violence. I'm the Killer of Men's son, Persues—Persues Morningstar," I finally introduced myself.
"Persues?" She thought for a second. "You're the one?" She said.
"Yes, I'm the one, and please don't say it," I was embarrassed.
I have no idea what was going to happen after, because we were interrupted.
Someone walked in without even knocking, or letting either of us say they could come in.