The spacious and colorful dining room was filled with the presence of a powerful entity known as Hajaran Mithra, my grandfather. His aura outweighed both my sister who became a gothic out of nowhere and the beautiful mother which is supposed to be how I’m going to look like if I hadn’t stuck in this 14-year-old form.

My first thought would be the jealousy over her bombastic chest, that is if not because my grandfather's piercing glare intimidated me.

“You don’t have to wait for me. Go ahead and eat,” he said.

His domineering presence made my throat dried and my belly full.

“Um, I’m not really—”

Sadrin suddenly tapped my shoulder before I can finish my words. Slowly, memories of the past came back to me, ‘R-Right, you shouldn’t be wasting the things you have been given, especially food.’

Rosa is already eating, normally too.

The meals Sadrin and the maids have prepared, they’re all my favorites. As soon as I got my first bite of truffled french fries.

“The time when you said, ‘since I can’t grow any taller, I’m going to grow wider instead’, still remember?”

*Pfft*

Rosa seems to be unable to contain her laughter after hearing those from grandpa himself.

“That was years ago, gran—”

“The year where you showed the most potential.”

My eyes shook.

Remembering the unpleasant part of the past really made my fists clenched so tight. My lips tremble as I try to keep my hands and mouth moving on these meals, “Sadrin, where’s the ketchup?”

“Siola, here.”

The unpleasant voice of that woman, “Ah, Ro— I mean, big sis, can you pass me that ketchup?”

She paused while glancing at both me and the other before throwing me the fancy ketchup bottle on her side of the table, “Hah, big sis, she said. There you go.”

“Awawawa, b-be careful there! I don’t want it to splat around anywhere.”

As if that would happen.

I just want to keep the form of my mouth stays smiling.

“Yuri, my dear, can I have that ketchup?”

My eyes widened.

“Y-Yes, of course, father.”

I gritted my teeth as I hold on to my wooden chopsticks so tight I could break them into two. Eating a part of my meal in overwhelming disgust like this makes me want to vomit.

“How’s the old home of Mithra, Siola?”

“…”

“Back then, these old bones used to serve cheap noodles to the people who are now become the pillars of this house.”

These truffled fries are actually much better than I thought the longer I taste it.

“We didn’t have the luxury to enjoy something like those fries you’re eating.”

“…”

Come to think of it, this brisket here too, it's soo—

“Thought you will be able to learn how our life was built, the foundation of Mithra.”

*Munch *Munch

Ooh, it’s really soft and tender.

“Instead, you were goofing around playing a useless and utterly pointless game with the money that is not yours under the same roof where we shed blood and sweat to build—”

*BAM*

The table shook as my hand bleeds under the cluster of plates holding my fries. My vision turns a blur as my cheeks feel the coldness of my tears.

“It’s not… useless.”

Sadrin quickly went towards me, “Siola, your hand…”

*Sob*

All the memories of me smiling cheerfully without the care in the world under the arms of my friends may not have happened in this life, but it’s here in my head.

“It’s not… pointless.”

The first achievement we have earned in that small tournament did not happen, but I’ve been there, I’ve seen myself entering the league. Reaching close to my dreams.

“Oh, how so? You have proof?”

“Father…”

“Silence, my dear. I’m talking to your ungrateful daughter who runs her mouth without even think—”

“I will…”

“What was that?”

“IN A YEAR!” clenching my bleeding fist tight and pointed my finger to the chandelier, “WITHIN ONE YEAR! I WILL HAVE EVERY SECTOR HEAR THE NAME ‘SIOLA’ AS SOMEONE THEY ADMIRE!”

“I WILL HAVE PEOPLE SHOUTING MY NAME AS I SIT ON MY THRONE IN THE CAPITAL!!”

With every single fiber of my being, those were the last words I’ve said to my family whom I have not talked to in years. Of course, none of them ever missed me for that long.

***

I woke up from the dreamless sleep and how I wish for these eyes to stay close for a bit longer. I’ve found my bleeding hand is now under wraps by some black bandages. Cold and hard, it adjusted its shape to fit my hand.

“Siola, you need to be careful. Apart from your grandfather, you’re the only one in our family that is not having a single cybernetic in their body.”

This voice, “Get out.”

“Siola, I—”

“Get out, mom.”

“…”

I momentarily feel a gentle touch around the side of my hair before leaving me completely in the cold as I heard the door shut.

As soon as I blinked, a shadow covered my face.

“Yo.”

It’s Rosa.

“What do you want?”

“Quite the ruckus you made there, even grandpa was speechless,” leaving me and opening the curtain on the other half of my room, “Heard you crystal about going to the Capital, so let me help you here on getting started. Think of it as my apology for everything I’ve ever done.”

The breeze coming from the outside swept past the device she revealed before getting into my eyes. She brought quite a familiar capsule. Black finish with a glowing neon in the color of orange.

It’s the capsule all major league players use when Ekolia was in its prime.

“Why are you…”

“Why am I doing this?” a grin was formed, “You and I… We have been living under the name of Mithra for so long. I didn’t expect you to stand up for your own, and I am truly glad to know that you are the same sister that I know from back then who keeps shouting of being a Mithra all the time.”

“Doesn’t that agitate you though?” standing up from the bed and approaches the new capsule, “Where did you get this?”

“Acquaintance.”

“Is that so?”

With this, I wouldn’t have to worry about getting out of that world for two or so days— no, I can get by for a whole week in there.

“Listen, grandpa’s way of thinking maybe old fashion, but his intention is as good as any other. I’m sure you can see it… and feel it.”

“What are you going to be doing now?”

“Me? Still have some business leftover in the Desolated Sect, so I’ll have to go back there for a few weeks or maybe, two months or so. I’ll call you weekly.”

“Too frequent.”

“Bwahaha, come on now. I said I’m sorry.”

“…”

*Tap*

My chest tightened because of her hand, “Hey, this time, once everything has been settled, I promise I’ll go back to being the proper big sister that you know and love.”

Her eyes and mine met in this comfortably soothing atmosphere. I don’t know what kind of expression she’s making under that mask but, “Hey uhh, I know it’s usually the time you fist bump someone in the chest, but you’re actually groping me right now.”

“Ah, is that so?”

*Fondle *Fondle

“Uhuh.”

"..." it takes a bit, “Alright, this is getting weird. I’m gonna go now.”

“Right— no wait!”

“Yeah?”

“Um," I don't know what to say or ask her anymore, "Th-Thanks…”

Chuckles, “You’re very welcome.”

I was looking at her walking to the window, and when I blinked, she disappears. There’s not even a trace of her coming in.

"That certainly not the normal kit people use. Then again, the fact she's using Proxy makes it all the more sense that she has access to those kinds of kits. Haah, I just hope she's not getting any of it from shady vendors."

The capsule she left me.

“So This is the Last Chance I Have.”

Clenching my fist tight as the goal is sternly embedded in my mind, I steel my heart as I enter the capsule with such a dim yet glowing interior. The perfect fit for the atmosphere I’m breathing in right now.

“Let’s do this, Ekolia.”