Parent-Teacher Conference and Sophia's Past

Early the next morning, the school buzzed with activity.

Parents in colorful attire stood at classroom doors or in hallways, chatting, smoking, and joking around.

Lucas yawned.

Beside him stood Sarah in an emerald green dress, carrying a small purse and parasol, drawing many admiring glances.

"Lucas! Over here!"

Suddenly, a little head popped out from the crowd.

Lucas looked over to see Sophia, her cheeks rosy, bouncing up and down while waving at him.

He also saw the sister she always talked about, holding Sophia's hand.

She looked only about seventeen or eighteen, wearing casual white clothes, with delicate features and bright almond eyes that regarded him with curiosity.

Very pretty.

He could see traces of Sophia in her features.

"Sister, this is Lucas, and this is Mrs. Wilson!"

Sophia happily walked over, holding her sister's hand.

Both sides exchanged introductions and greetings.

Sophia's sister was named Emma.

She gave Lucas the impression of a refined young lady - graceful, kind, and polite, speaking with careful consideration.

She didn't seem like someone barely eighteen, but rather someone who had experienced much of life already.

Sarah took an immediate liking to this beautiful young woman.

With some time before the conference started, she pulled Emma aside for casual conversation.

Sophia stood obediently beside Lucas, tugging at his sleeve while secretly pulling out a box of milk to slip into his hand.

"Here, Lucas."

Lucas initially didn't want to accept, but seeing Sophia's pleading puppy eyes, he put it in his pocket.

He suspected he was being manipulated again, but still had no proof.

Sophia just giggled.

As if saying she was too silly and simple to know anything about manipulation.

"Oh my, our Luke is that amazing?" 

His mom's exclamation came from nearby.

Lucas knew Emma was probably telling her about the Blake incident.

Sure enough, the next moment his head was caught in a grip.

Sarah ruffled his hair, beaming with pride, "Luke's such a little gentleman, protecting Sophia. So impressive! But you didn't tell mommy - were you afraid I'd praise you too much?"

Lucas escaped from her grasp, only to notice Emma watching him.

Strangely though, Emma wasn't looking at him the way adults usually look at children, but rather with...

Assessment?

Having experienced life's harsh lessons, Lucas easily recognized that kind of gaze.

[Not good! The young sorceress's guardian mage has turned her attention to you. She seems to have noticed something unusual about you. You realize you must proceed with caution in your interactions!]

Emma then extended a lunch invitation to Lucas and Sarah.

Sarah politely declined.

Emma insisted.

They went back and forth.

Finally, Sarah agreed they could come for lunch, but in return, Emma would have to bring Sophia to the Wilson house for dinner another time.

Emma agreed.

And thus, under Mrs. Wilson's direction, the two families officially established relations.

Lucas could only marvel.

Indeed, regardless of which world, the art of social relationships remained consistent.

Sophia didn't understand any of this, but was very happy, sticking to Lucas like a little shadow.

The conference began.

As both class and grade top student, Lucas was naturally singled out for praise and asked to share study tips on stage, keeping Sarah beaming throughout.

Sophia, as class representative, ranked just after Lucas and was also praised.

However, being naturally shy, she didn't dare speak on stage, only secretly passing notes to Lucas.

Both Emma and Sarah noticed this.

Lucas: ...

Opening the note, there were only four words.

"Lucas, hehe."

Lucas was once again amazed by this silly girl's unique thought process.

He casually tossed it away.

But from the corner of his eye, he noticed Sarah secretly picking up the note, glancing at it, then casually slipping it into her purse.

Lucas: ...

After the conference ended, weekend break began.

The four drove to Sophia's home.

They went up to apartment 402.

As Emma opened the door, they all entered.

It was a two-bedroom apartment, bright and clean - a typical unit, but filled with signs of life, having everything necessary to make it feel like a warm home.

Sarah went to help Emma prepare food in the kitchen, the sounds of chopping and cookware clattering filling the air.

Lucas sat on the couch, and Sophia immediately brought him peeled apples and pears.

"Lucas, eat up."

She cupped her face proudly, "I peeled them myself!"

[Amazing! The young sorceress's hidden sanctuary indeed holds treasures - these are mystical fruits that can help restore your dragon vessel's channels, bringing new life to your ancient bloodline!]

Lucas picked up a piece with a toothpick and ate it.

[Consuming mystical fruit, Life Force +1, Power +1]

An indescribable sense of comfort flowed through his body.

Lucas couldn't help eating another piece, but there was no effect this time.

[Such heavenly treasures have strict limitations, only affecting your dragon vessel once. You regret this, but sense the young sorceress might have other treasures hidden away - perhaps asking would yield results.]

Sophia smiled silly in front of him.

Lucas put down the toothpick and pinched her cheeks, "Did you practice looking fierce like I told you?"

Sophia immediately sat up straight, nodding repeatedly, "I did, I did! I practiced in front of the mirror, and I think I look really fierce now!"

Lucas nodded, "Show me then."

Sophia bared her little canine teeth, raising her hands like claws, "Rawr..."

Lucas knocked on her head, speechless, "You're not going to scare anyone to death, you're going to cute them to death."

"Hehe."

But Sophia barely heard him, only catching the word "cute" and becoming delighted.

Seeing Lucas's face turn cold again, she immediately lowered her head, saying weakly, "Lucas, I actually know I'm easy to bully like this, I'm not silly."

Realizing she might have revealed too much, she quickly corrected herself, "No, I mean, I'm not smart at all, just silly."

She waved her little fist, "But, I want to learn kickboxing."

Ignoring her obvious cover-up, Lucas was surprised, "Why suddenly want to learn that?"

Sophia pursed her lips, "It's not sudden, I've wanted to for a long time... for some very important reasons."

She stood up, tugging at Lucas's sleeve, "Come with me."

Lucas followed her to a door, which she opened and turned on the light, revealing a pink room.

It was clearly Sophia's room, with classic little girl characteristics.

The walls had magical girl wallpaper, the ceiling was pink, the bedding was pink, there was a person-sized teddy bear on the bed, and a gentle lavender scent filled the air.

Sophia carefully closed the door, pulled Lucas to sit on the bed, and took out a photo frame from her bedside drawer, carefully handing it to him.

Inside was a somewhat yellowed photograph, apparently a family portrait of four.

"The beautiful one in the middle is Mom, the chubby baby she's holding is me, the pretty one standing is my sister, and the other one..."

Sophia pointed each person out to Lucas, but when she came to the man who should be called "Dad," she bit her lip, unable to continue.

Lucas didn't understand what this had to do with learning kickboxing.

In his assumptions, Sophia's parents were probably working away from home.

After all, the sisters' living conditions seemed quite good.

But the next words made his heart tremble.

Sophia whispered in his ear: "Mom's in heaven now."

...