A night before the practical examinations.
7:00 PM.
Brandon returned ho with Alia and Belle.
In the living room were Brianna and Aurelia.
Brianna was currently seated on the couch, watching Aurelia, who was wearing a pretty pink princess dress. Waving the wand in her hand, Aurelia perford a magical dance routine.
"Sparkle Star Burst~!"
She was currently copying a magical princess show for children that was displayed on the TV.
"Twinkle Flower Spin~!"
It was a reward on her own–right for the hard work she did. By estimation, her knowledge should be on the sa level as a grade one elentary schooler.
"Rainbow Heart Beam~!"
Aurelia really loved the TV show.
"We're ho."
Belle announced, catching both Brianna's and Aurelia's attention.
"Oh, welco back—Brandon….?"
Brianna's eyes widened in shock. This was the first ti Brandon was ho in over a week.
"Brandon, Brandon~!"
Aurelia hurriedly ran up to Brandon. Crouching down, Brandon took Aurelia in his arms and carried her up.
"Hehe~ Did you miss ?"
"Yes….."
Aurelia's little arms wrapped around his neck.
Despite the fact that Brandon was barely ho compared to Alia and Belle, Aurelia was fixedly attached to him.
Of course, she was also attached to Alia.
"Aurelia~ Aurelia~"
Belle sneaked up, twiddling her fingers as if she was about to playfully tickle Aurelia.
"Aaang~ No!"
Aurelia exclaid. The only person she seed to dislike in the house was Belle, even though Belle was the most playful with her.
"...."
Belle's face contorted to a sad look as her head lowered down. She started walking away dejectedly.
"Aurelia, be nice. My sister only wants to play with you."
"But sister Belle is scary….."
Of course, most probably, Aurelia found Belle annoying since she would always tease her.
Brandon's head turned towards Belle who looked like sothing had just broken inside of her. Teary eyed, Belle walked towards her room and closed the door.
"What about , Aurelia?"
Poking Aurelia's cheek, Alia asked. Her body bent forward with one arm on her knee while poking Aurelia's cheek gently.
"Aurelia loves Mama!"
Aurelia hopped from Brandon's arms to Alia's, who easily caught her, embracing the little elven girl in her arms.
"Hehe~ Your dress is so pretty."
"Grandma Brianna bought it for !"
"Did you thank her?"
"Uhm…."
Aurelia's face turned pale.
Then, she turned her head to Brianna's direction. Currently, Brianna was fiddling on her phone. From the sound emitting from her phone, it seed like she was scrolling on TokTok.
"T-Thank you, Grandma Brianna."
"So if I start wing today….. I might—Hm?"
Without finishing her words, Brianna's attention turned towards Aurelia, who was cradled in Alia's arms.
Tilting her head to the side, Brianna flashed a heartwarming smile.
"You're welco, Little Princess~"
Ti passed like that for a bit. Belle ca out of her room after changing into a nightgown.
Brianna, feeling tired early into the night, entered her room shortly after, deciding to rest for the day.
"Aurelia~ The boogeyman is coming~!"
"Aaang!"
Belle chased Aurelia around the living room. Belle really liked teasing the little elven girl for so reason.
Of course, they had no idea she was an elf at all.
No, that wasn't accurate either.
'A wyelf?'
Brandon thought to himself.
'An Elfvern?'
A hybrid of the two.
In any case.
"Belle."
Alia called out to Belle. Hearing her words, Belle abruptly stopped chasing Aurelia and turned towards Alia, who had just put on a hoodie.
'Isn't that mine….?'
It was too big for her, which told Brandon enough that it was his hoodie.
"Wanna co with ? Just a quick trip to the convenience store."
"Oh? Sure, I wanted so chips and cookies."
"Can Aurelia co?"
Aurelia turned to the two girls, her eyes glimring, trying to appeal to them.
"It's late, Aurelia."
Alia shot her down, her tone gentle. Aurelia's lips creased down, looking disappointed.
"....In exchange, do you want anything?"
"Uhm…."
Aurelia pressed her index finger on her lips, seemingly pondering.
Brandon wondered what the little elven girl was thinking. Most probably, it would be sothing she had seen on TV.
As soon as she arrived at an answer, Aurelia's eyes sparkled, and she bead with excitent as she clapped her hands together. Clap—!
"I want Princess Starbloom from Magical Sparkle Adventure! She's the one who can summon the Rainbow Galaxy with her star wand!"
Her mouth moved so fast that Brandon had a hard ti following her words.
A dumbfounded expression spread across Alia's features.
"Hmm…. I don't think the convenience store has tha—"
"Okay, we'll get it."
Belle imdiately jumped in, cutting off Alia's words.
"Wait, Belle, they don't sell toys at the conveni—"
"A quick trip to the mall should do."
"Ah—"
Without allowing Alia to retaliate, Belle imdiately grabbed her wrist and scurried off, leaving Brandon and Aurelia in the living room.
The entire plan had abruptly changed thanks to Belle.
But it didn't matter.
It was ti to get down to business.
"Aurelia."
Brandon whispered.
"Un?"
Aurelia turned around and looked at him. She looked excited.
"Do you rember anything about your past?"
***
Lianna stared at the empty seat where Evelyn once sat.
After parting off with a few words, Evelyn had already left a few minutes ago.
Swirling the wine on her goblet, Lianna recalled the conversation she just had with Evelyn.
—Sorry, but I don't rember anyone nad Lance. Nor do I rember any murders related to anyone for that matter.
A sudden crease ford on Lianna's face and she took a sip of her wine.
—I appreciate the gesture, but I believe you got the wrong person.
But it didn't matter.
Lianna had successfully established a connection with Evelyn, the two exchanging contacts as a result.
Not like the contact actually mattered.
"Kht."
A strange sound escaped Lianna's lips as she tried to hold back her amusent.
She couldn't help it.
It was just too funny.
Especially the corrosion surrounding Evelyn's core.
She hadn't noticed it, but Lianna certainly did.
That was the entire purpose of the eting. To let Evelyn's guard down and peer into her core without her noticing.
It was one of Lianna's abilities. An ability that allowed her to see through anyone who had let their guard down in front of her.
With her abundant knowledge about mana cores, Lianna had successfully co up with a technique to block her mana channels. In the process, she could mask her mana signature.
"Of course you don't rember him, his na isn't Lance."
Lianna swirled the red wine on her goblet once more.
With a sudden grin, Lianna's face darkened, her red eyes shimring ominously as she muttered.
"It's Lancelott."
***
Brandon was already quite aware of what the practical examinations were. After all, he had pestered Bellion enough for him to divulge the information, even though he wasn't supposed to.
All he had to do was bribe him a discount on the upcoming products his company was going to produce.
They were now in the testing phase of their artifacts. In a few weeks, he would present the products to the Imperial Army higher–ups.
In any case, Brandon stared at the ceiling, recalling his conversation with Bellion.
The practical exams would take place in a simulation—entailing a tower.
It might've been no problem for Bellion to divulge the information since…. he might've thought it didn't matter.
Tower would be a broad word for the other cadets.
But unbeknownst to him, Brandon was aware of what towers were.
"Dinsional Towers."
He muttered, his hands clasping right behind his head.
After all, Dinsional Towers….
….Was exactly what Raven's system dungeon is.
In any case, Brandon switched the topic. He was unaware just how much they were able to simulate Raven's system dungeon.
For that reason, he decided not to trouble himself with it too much.
"So she doesn't rember, huh?"
He recalled the conversation with Aurelia from there.
"Or she could be lying?"
Aurelia's body language didn't tell him much. She was the sa awkward little elven girl.
Staring at the Oracle of Crystallia in his hand, Brandon muttered.
"I'll find out eventually."
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