Bonds!

Claire found herself unusually quiet after that small exchange with her friend. As they continued to walk, a shadow seemed to settle over her features, though she tried hard to keep smiling. The words from just moments ago — "It's a shame he's a non-gifter" — replayed in her mind, again and again, like a cruel little echo that wouldn't stop.

And it brought back everything Aether told her before he left for this academy.

She remembered that afternoon all too well. The sun was shining warmly into their modest living room, her mother humming softly as she prepared lunch, her father busy reading one of his old mechanism books — and there was Aether, sitting across from her, his hands clasped tightly together. His expression had been painfully stiff.

"Remember, make sure you don't tell anyone that I'm your brother," Aether had said, his voice a mixture of cold resolution and something fragile, almost pleading. "Since I'm a non-gifter, they'll just look down on me. And if they find out you're my sister… they might talk badly about you too. So please. Just don't do it."

It broke her heart then, and it was cracking even more now. At that time, she had argued fiercely. She insisted people wouldn't be so shallow, that no one would treat her differently for loving her little brother. But after only a short while back at the academy, seeing how whispers already curled around anyone labeled "non-gifter," Claire finally understood.

"Is it wrong for a gifter and a non-gifter to be siblings? she thought desperately, her eyes shimmering as she bit her lip. I just want to be a good sister to him. Am I not even allowed that? Why does this society have to see them so separately? Why can't it just be… people loving their family, regardless of magic?"

Before Aether enrolled, Claire had never truly grappled with these sorts of thoughts. But now, seeing the way people's eyes changed ever so slightly when they noticed that stitched band around a non-gifter's sleeve, everything was different.

She blinked rapidly, forcing the sting from her eyes just as her friend waved a hand in front of her face.

"Hey, Claire, you okay? You've been spacing out this whole time. Not like you at all."

A gentle tap on the shoulder snapped Claire out of her daze. She startled slightly, then quickly plastered on a soft smile. "Oh sorry! I just got distracted by some things. Let's go, okay?"

She didn't show an ounce of the swirling hurt in her chest to her friend. They both walked off, laughing about something mundane. To anyone looking, Claire seemed perfectly fine.

Little did Claire know, not far away, hidden behind one of the arching stone pillars of the courtyard, Aether was watching. He had seen the subtle droop of her shoulders, that fleeting sadness crossing her face. Maybe it was the bond they shared as siblings — unspoken, invisible, yet so strong that even a slight tremor could be felt by the other.

Aether stood there, silent, eyes shadowed by his bangs.

"I'm sorry, Claire. I know you want so badly to just call me your brother, to show people we're family and that you're proud of me. But… it's just not possible right now. I can't let them look down on you because of me. I can't."

In truth, they probably weren't the only siblings in this vast academy forced into awkward distance. Aether imagined there were plenty of others — older brothers who refused to walk beside their non-gifter siblings, sisters who pretended not to know their own kin.

In that way, Aether was lucky. Unlike many, he had a family that loved him deeply. There were homes out there where brothers or sisters would feel ashamed to be related to a non-gifter. But Claire had never felt that way. Not even once.

A small, almost invisible smile tugged at the corner of Aether's mouth.

Then—

A hand landed heavily on his shoulder.

"Hey Aether! What're you watching so intently for? Ohhh… don't tell me you've been rooting for one of those senior girls over there, hehe."

Morgan's playful smirk nearly gave Aether a heart attack. His first thought was murderous.

"Should I kill him? This guy's seriously bothersome. Why's he gotta pop up right when I'm… actually needing someone?"

Despite that grim thought, Aether's lips twitched slightly upward.

"Yeah, like I would."

Morgan cocked his head. "So what're you doing here then?"

"What about you? What're you doing here, Morgan?"

"Oh, me? I was heading to the cafeteria and saw you hiding. Kinda suspicious, by the way. Anyway, wanna go grab something together now?"

Aether gave a small sigh of relief — Morgan hadn't noticed Claire or put anything together. "Yeah, let's go."

As they started down the cobblestone path together, Morgan leaned in with that grin that spelled trouble.

"By the way… were you really rooting for some senior girls? I mean, they're pretty cute."

Aether didn't even hesitate. He thumped Morgan lightly on the head with his knuckles.

"I didn't."

"Ow! Okay, okay, geez, relax—"

"Are you su—"

Another swift whap.

"Spare me, oh gods," Morgan whined, rubbing his head dramatically. "Why are your hits so heavy?!"

"Because you deserve it," Aether said, actually smiling now.

Meanwhile, elsewhere on campus, Claire was on her own little mission.

"Hmm, guess I'll go look for the new Child of Lights… should congratulate them properly. That's why I came out here anyway."

Her eyes darted around until she spotted a familiar face — the first-year president of the Child of Lights.

"Ahh, there she is… Olivia, right?"

Claire walked over, greeting Olivia warmly. Olivia was still a bit stiff, likely not used to being approached by a second-year chosen one.

"Nice to meet you too!" Olivia said with a bow.

"Oh, don't be so formal. You can just call me Claire sis," Claire waved her hand dismissively. "Honestly, hearing 'senior' from someone only a year younger than me feels weird."

Olivia blinked, then gave a shy little laugh. "Yes, I'll do that, seni—… Claire sis."

Right then and there, Claire had unknowingly become a kind older sister figure to Olivia.

They talked for quite some time. Claire congratulated her sincerely, complimented her strength, and offered gentle advice. Olivia's sad expression from earlier gradually faded into a bright smile. At some point, she even shared her worries about leading, about whether she was good enough. Claire listened patiently, reassuring her with stories from her own struggles last year.

When they finally parted ways, Olivia looked so much lighter that Claire couldn't help but smile.

"That girl's good for this position," Claire mused as she walked off. "But she underestimates herself too much. That won't do. Especially not if someone like Lucas decides to try and snatch her spot. Still… judging by her eyes, I think she'll be fine."

Night fell. Back in Aether's room, the scene was much less dignified.

"Ahhh, that pork was delicious… sniff sniff… whoa, I smell like pork," he mumbled, scrunching up his nose. "Time for a bath."

He stepped into the little bathroom — only to flinch violently.

"ARGH, it's freezing! Why is this water so cold?!"

As he quickly washed up, teeth chattering, he muttered darkly, "I'm definitely buying a water heater once I have enough points… if poverty doesn't kill me first."

Tonight hadn't been a complete waste, though. Over pork and some questionable side dishes, Morgan had blabbered on and unknowingly given Aether valuable intel on how to earn points faster.

Helping instructors

Scoring high on examinations

Participating in competitions

Contributing to academy research or development

"Hmph. These ways are too straightforward. Everyone will be trying them. If I want real points, I'll have to dig deeper, find methods that others overlook," Aether decided as he dried his hair.

Finally, he stood by his window, staring out at the moonlit campus.

"Well, that aside… I need to focus. Control my mana. Because tomorrow… I'll be surrounded by countless mages. If I lose control for even a second, someone could figure me out."

His eyes narrowed, the silver gleam of determination swirling in their depths.

"This is just the start."

[To Be Continued… 🎵 JoJo's theme faintly plays in the distance]