At first it started as a hesitant knock before it quickly escalated into a hurried blast. The wooden door was blown open and in came a streak of light that recklessly tackled Lukas to the ground. It hugged him so tightly almost as if it was afraid he would disappear into thin air.

Looking down Lukas saw a frail figure wrapped under the white cloak. Her soft hands held his waist for a few more seconds before a muffled voice came out underneath.

“I’m glad you are okay.” she muttered loud enough for him to hear “I thought you were...the rumors said you died…” her voice faded into silence.

For a short while, Lukas’s apprehension melted away. He found himself smiling as strong unfamiliar emotions coursed through his body. It seemed the original brother held such deep love for his younger sibling that he couldn’t help but be moved despite the different hands fate dealt them. An unshakeable bond held the siblings together throughout the years ever since their father’s sudden disappearance. Regardless of her fortune, and the way they were treated differently ever since they arrived at the Cathedral, he realized deep down his late brother and to that extent him; still hold the same position in her heart. His sister Ariandel was determined not to let anything like her status or her talent get in between them.

“Now, now…” Lukas coaxed softly as he slowly pet her head in a strange but familiar gesture. “I am here.” His voice soothed her intense emotions. She slowly let go before they spent a moment staring at each other’s eyes. She was only a few inches shorter, with long silver hair cascading down beside her in waves. With her soft round features with similar pale eyes, brighter skin and a gleaming robe, she possessed a beguiling innocence that was enough to captivate the eyes of many.

It was probably because he was reborn in her brother’s body that Lukas experienced a whole spectrum of emotions he definitely was not prepared for. There was mostly joy in his heart (and relief), after seeing his fabled sister seem safe and sound. But there was also a mixture of pain and guilt; guilt that he had intruded in someone’s life, assumed his identity and then shamelessly continued living while the original host was long gone leaving behind only his memories and his long life sentiments. Pain that his new family will probably never get to know the truth…not until much time has passed by anyway.

As the first born descendant of their branch in Raydore Noble Family, the original Lukas was the one supposed to shoulder the responsibilities in the absence of the Head of the Family. But their father had gone too soon, leaving his children and their mother in dire straits. Other branches didn’t hesitate to pounce on them after it was verified their father had gone for good, and all of the alliances and cooperation built over the years disappeared like smoke. Their plea of help was ignored and it didn’t take long for them to learn that to survive, they only had each other. Noble families were known for their vicious competition and their family was no less different.

During their Elemental Trial, one of the earliest ways the Noble families used to test their descendants before the Awakening Ceremony, they were strangely declared to be Ungifted and Untalented. Such news bore waves within the family and beyond since they were both regarded highly seeing as they were the descendants of the most talented scion of the family. Their father was not only powerful, but he was also naturally gifted, claimed to be a mage prodigy famous through their town of Demacia. Thus it was naturally expected of them to be at least as talented as their predecessor.

But alas all it did was paint them at the unfavorable light that they were almost banned from attending the Awakening Ceremony in the fear of bringing shame to the family. If it wasn’t for their mother Arianna who sensed something was amiss in the first place, their fate with magic would have ended with them being trapped in an unforgiving family, or worse exiled, their birthright torn from them mercilessly.

Pulling out all of her cards, their mother was able to whisk both of them away to the awakening ceremony right under the noses of the precocious elders. Once the transgression was discovered, a heavy punishment was almost called for if it wasn’t for the news rapidly spreading throughout the region that The Noble Family of Raydore has been able to sire a descendant possessing an Exceptional Elemental talent, something which was so rare and wondrous that it pulled the envy of almost every other household that heard it. Although her brother fared much worse, it was already enough that among the descendants there was already a promising candidate for the Title of Scion within their family.

Since the Awakening ceremony and her rapid progress to the inner sect, she barely had time to visit her brother at all. With him being in the outer sector, it meant that they would be separated most of the time. Regardless she found almost every opportunity to see him, so when the rumors began of his disappearance and his assumed demise, it almost sundered her heart apart. The competition within the inner sector was already intense, and the envy of her talent was enough to set more than a few enemies against her. By making sure she accidentally heard such tragic news, they had hoped to unsettle her mind and destroy her heart for magic and advancement. After all, a talented prodigy without the heart to learn was no different than a common mage.

But for now, they were meant to be disappointed. Lukas had not only returned, but he was transformed in ways no one could ever have imagined. At least her sister had no idea as she quickly looked him over and slightly frowned. From appearance he was slightly worn and fatigued but his eyes seemed bright and kind and his mana fluctuations were even stronger. She could tell something had changed but she couldn’t quite put a finger to it yet. They might have shared similar light features but they could always read each other’s faces like a book.

Lukas wryly smiled, when he suddenly got punched on his hand out of the blue.

“Ow!”

“That’s for giving me a fright” she huffed. “Do you know how much frightened I got when I heard you were lost and probably dead in the Lone Woods?” she said her voice cracking with emotions.

Lukas still laden with guilt at the prospect that this new sister of his doesn’t even know his real brother is dead; he steeled his heart before he answered. “I got lucky…”

Her sister decisively snorted “Of course you got lucky because if you weren’t you wouldn’t be here in the first place. You would have died in the some stark bushes somewhere and wolves would be ravishing your corpse leaving me all alone in this stupid place “she nearly shouted by the time she was finished.

Lukas winced “I’m sorry...” he sincerely told her.

Seeing that he meant his apology Aria didn’t have the heart to berate him anymore. She understood the pressure her big brother was in. They might have not let anything affect their relationship but it was hard, especially for him to shoulder all the mockery and ridicule that he received behind her back.

She took a deep breath to calm herself before she spoke slowly. “All you had to do was to wait until I became an Elite Inner disciple. By then I could pull you safely to my side as my retainer so you won’t have to risk your life in these ridiculous missions any longer.”

Lukas thought for a moment before he instinctively found the answer. The original Lukas might have seemed weak in character but he had his own pride. It was that pride that motivated him to try and make something of himself without depending on his own sister despite his lesser talent. Trying to qualify to be an Adventurer might have seemed reckless to others but Lukas knew why he did what he did despite his weak preparations.

Staring at her, he lightly shook his own head. “No!” he told her, “Despite everything, I ultimately have to pave my own path. To you I might seem to be risking my life but I aim to seek my own opportunities to become stronger. To force the little potential I have to something greater than what I currently am, to possess enough strength to protect you as your big brother… but that would defeat my purpose if joined underneath your banner.”

In addition, becoming his sister’s retainer might have seemed like it was a safe option but it will only make it easier for him to slip up. He knew he couldn’t pretend to be him most of the time but he required time to let her adapt slowly to the changes she will most assuredly notice. Most of all he needed strength, he needed training, he needed to experience this world and learn. Trapped beside his sister might just limit him from his goals.

Ariandel breathed heavily in exasperation “Are you really that crazy brother? We are the only living descendants of our branch of family. Me being an inner disciple might have barely stopped them from hounding us but they would be really glad to see us disappear into the wind leaving the Title of the Scion of the House of Raydore left by our father to be up for grabs by other branches.”

‘What makes you so sure they stopped hunting for us’ Lukas silently mused before he replied.

“I know you mean well sister. I know you think what you desire is the best of me. But I won’t digress. I have to forge my own path, worthy of me being a first born of the Raydore family. I want to act as a bulwark against other vicious branches who aim to swallow what little we have. But most of all I desire to raise the prestige our name such that no one will dare mock our family anymore. Ariandel, you paved the way and laid a foundation thus granting a temporary protection for our family but it isn’t enough. I have to do my part also...”

Ariandel stared into his eyes until it finally clicked. She finally realized what was different about his brother this time. His heart has hardened and his eyes held a fire that made her sigh in contemplation. What had her brother experienced that brought such change into him? She felt as if she had reunited with a stranger instead. But one thing she knew was that once his mind was made and there was nothing she could do about it.

“Sometimes I wish I was the first born.” she muttered under her breath.

“But you weren’t.” Lukas quipped. “And if you were you would have bullied me so much…” He answered with chagrin.

Her sister laughed “Oh yes I would have. In fact I would have bossed you around so much you wouldn’t dare have such thoughts”

Lukas chuckled before he became solemn. “This time things will be different. I intend to enter the inner sect by the end of this year.”

Ariandel paused before she asked softly. “What really happened in that forest?” she wondered. She could tell that whatever happened in the woods had changed his brother to the core, transformed him in ways she could still not fathom. He used to be protective with a fare share of timid in his personality. But now… all she could sense was a silent burning determination, the fire burning away the tameness that previously plagued his character into cinders.

As they sat in silence after his declaration, Lukas debated for a moment if he could really tell her what happened, at least an altered version of the story. Seeing that they only had each other to trust and they might face things of this nature even more he decided to lay it out all for her in order to build some groundwork for what he felt was the disaster to come.