“Many biologists past and present had submitted various theories on why the young of any creature, be it those of civilized people or animals of the wildest variety, looked cute and adorable regardless of the beholder. That such an odd case of convergent evolution was noted amongst practically all creatures in existence had baffled scholars for ages.

The latest theory was a ridiculous, yet also logical one. That the young developed universally adorable features to make themselves perceived as harmless and to trigger protective instincts in those that laid eyes upon them. As silly as the theory might have sounded, there was logic to be found behind it as well, and it had sparked a fierce debate amongst the scholars of the persuasion over the past decade or so.” - Winrad Alois IInd, Biology Scholar from the Elmaiya Empire, circa 208 FP.

Erycea had naturally come into contact with many other children in her few years of life, ever since she was old enough to remember and understand things. The children of the mercenaries were often raised together by their support staff and other dependents when their parents were off on the battlefield, so Erycea had naturally spent a lot of time in the company of other children in the troupe, both younger and older ones than her.

While there were several kids she considered friends, none of them had evoked the sort of reaction she felt from the little baby. She was uncertain why. Maybe it was because the little baby girl resembled Erycea’s own mother quite strongly. She knew that the child could not have been her parents. Mother would swell up for many months before a child came to be, and she did not see any such signs with her mother. Besides, the child was larger than a newborn to begin with.

“This is Alycea,” her father had said as he gently rubbed the baby’s little head and tussled her straw-blonde hair with his hand. Her mother had a rare smile on her usually expressionless face as well, as she lowered the baby cradled in her arms so Erycea could touch her. “She will be your little sister from now on, so take good care of her, okay?”

Erycea had just nodded, as she carefully, tentatively touched the baby’s soft cheek with one finger. The little baby girl in Elfriede’s arm giggled as the touch from the fur of Erycea’s finger tickled her, and reflexively grabbed at her finger, which she then suckled on even as Erycea smiled and giggled as well, amused at the child’s antics.

“Yes, I’ll take care of little sister,” said Erycea as she rubbed the side of her cheek against the baby’s, which elicited another giggle from the tiny baby girl. Erycea smiled more as little Alycea rubbed her cheek against her fur, which the little baby girl seemed to enjoy quite a bit, and she felt a need to protect and keep the little girl safe no matter what at that time. “I’m a big sister now. Big sisters keep little sisters safe, right?”

“Indeed, good girl,” replied her father in praise.

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The experience of watching and taking care of another child as she grew was surprisingly… enjoyable rather than troublesome for Erycea. It probably helped that her little sister was a relatively quiet child, compared to some others who would often cry endlessly for no discernible reason all the time. Little Alycea generally only cried when she was hungry, or needed a change and a wash, and was generally well-behaved and rather quiet otherwise.

Although her parents were present more often - the Company worked some lighter missions during those years to recuperate from what Erycea later learned - they were not always around, and when they were busy at work, Erycea helped take care of her little sister personally. It helped that she had grown strong enough to carry her little sister around safely, and could help rock the child in her arms when she was feeling sleepy and needed some help falling asleep.

Seasons quickly passed, and before long, a couple years had gone by. Erycea had grown taller and stronger, large and tall for her young age, though she leaned to a slender figure like her mother rather than the bulkiness of her father’s form. Alycea on the other hand was a two and a half year old toddler by then, who often happily ran around the encampment on her little legs.

The little toddler was a very active child, once she started being able to move on her own, and typically it fell to Erycea to look after her little sister, a task she had grown used to by then. That day Erycea happened to be looking after her little sister as she played around the camp, and had not noticed that her father had quietly snuck up behind them.

“I will teach you how to be fierce!” said Erycea to her little sister with her hands placed against her hips. She had just rescued her little sister from the clutches of a couple of naughty kids who teased her to no end, where she couldn’t retaliate as she was much smaller than they were. Erycea on the other hand easily handled them and thought that maybe she ought to teach her little sister on how to handle such situations on her own in the future.

“But sister,” said Alycea as she looked up to her with innocent eyes. Then she did something that simultaneously almost made Erycea squee like a little girl in glee and also made her want to shake her head. Her little sister bared her teeth in an approximation of a fanged grimace - though with none of the intimidating effects and far too much adorableness instead - and said in all seriousness. “I am feerse!”

Erycea wanted to sigh in exasperation, yet she also wanted to just hug and nuzzle her little sister with all her might. The choices was soon taken from her hands, though, as a strong arm grabbed and lifted both her and Alycea, and she felt the tickly wet sensation of a rough tongue on her fur. Alycea naturally got the same treatment, as Reinhardt picked them both up and nuzzled their heads against his warm fur.

“Yes, indeed. My daughters are the fiercest,” he said with an amused chuckle.