Mia M's POV
"arrhh"
'Knock, Knock'
The persistent knocking on my door disrupted my groggy state. I reluctantly opened my eyes, squinting against the intrusion of light, and checked the time.
'Who the hell is knocking on my door this early?' I grumbled inwardly. Slowly, I moved my tired and pained body, the echoes of yesterday's fight still lingering and some unwanted talks with proclaimed 'Mother'.
'rustle, rustle'
Adjusting my white night robe, I tiredly approached the door, my curiosity and annoyance intertwined. As I opened it, a surprised expression played on my face.
"Ms. Aadya?" I squinted at my classroom professor, who wore an impatient look as she unabashedly entered my room.
"Sorry, Mia" She said, not waiting for an invitation.
"???" I was taken aback. However, I knew Aadya wasn't the type to intrude on someone's space without reason. Though I must admit, I was quite annoyed.
I really wanted to rest my body as it still ached from yesterday's fight.
"Is something wrong, Ms. Aadya?" I inquired, my annoyance veiled behind tired eyes.
"Hmm?....Well...." She paused her words as she meticulously checked every nook and cranny of my room, even glancing under the bed.
'Does she think I'm hiding someone?' I mused, my lips twitching in amusement.
"Ms. Aadya?"
"Oh, I was wondering whether someone... a male entered the room?" Her gaze held a hint of doubt.
Veins popped on my forehead, "I'd rather die than allow some random man in my room" I stated, my voice carrying a touch of frustration.
"..." Aadya stared at me with a weird expression. "What about Eli... Asher Eli?"
"Huh? Of course. Is that even a question? Asher doesn't need my permission to enter my room. Everything that belongs to me belongs to him" I affirmed, a seriousness in my tone. 'What is she even thinking?
My brother... My only brother...' I thought, suppressing a snort.
I yearned for his presence, especially after the intense fight yesterday. The ache in my body mirrored the longing within my heart. I pondered deeply, questioning whether my brother harboured the same depth of affection for me.
My face contorted into a subtle sadness. While I knew my brother loved me, it wasn't the all-encompassing love that he reserved for Big Sister.....Hmm....How can I say this?.... Describing it is a challenge; his love for her is an unyielding force, a gravitational pull she couldn't escape....
She was in grasp. But with me, it felt like there was an emotional distance, a love that didn't quite seize me entirely....
I poured out tender affection, yet there lingered an intangible wall, a barrier preventing him from crossing a certain threshold in our relationship..... What was this unseen force holding him back? What was hindering him from expressing the same overwhelming love that he showers upon Big Sister?
The questions weighed on me, and a subtle sadness etched deeper into the lines of my expression, mirroring the complex emotions that stirred within.
After hearing Aadya's claim that someone had entered the dorm, my hopes soared momentarily....perhaps my broth--
"Asher Eli is the one who entered, Mia."
"...Pardon?" I wondered if my eardrums hadn't healed yet or if I had unintentionally voiced my thoughts.
"I said, Asher Eli sneaked in under the pretence of visiting you" Aadya declared, her face stern and tinged with frustration.
"....Oh, I see" I nodded, masking my surprise, "Well, he didn't come here. Maybe he was just kidding around or diverting your attention elsewhere" I offered my opinion with a calmness that belied the tumult of emotions within me.
"....Is that so?" Aadya frowned, squinting as if she didn't fully trust my words.
"Yes" I replied, forcing a smile.
"...." Aadya glanced around before slowly walking out.
'Thud'
'Thud'
"B-Brother?" I muttered when I saw my brother emerging from Zera's room, a mix of surprise and shock playing on my face.
"Mia, let's go to your room" my brother urged, his voice hinting with haste, swiftly closing the door behind him.
I stole a quiet glance at Zera, nestled peacefully on the bed.....The tension that had knotted my stomach moments ago seemed to dissolve as a sigh escaped me.
Entering my room, the eagerness in my veins propelled me to pull my brother inside, a surge of anticipation tingling through me. Just the notion of bringing my big brother Sneaky into my personal room ignited with excitement....and something else.
'Thud'
As the door closed and the lock clicked, a feeling of privacy settled over us. I wasted no time, immediately wrapping my arms around my brother in a tight hug.
"Big Brother!!"
"Hehe..." He chuckled, his laughter resonating against my embrace, and....a shiver ran down my spine.
He looked at my room.....an uncanny smirk appeared on his and lovely looked at me.
'Heheheh...' I laughed inwardly thinking my brother liked it.... I guess, my hard-earned High Quality camera did the correct job.
'Sniff, Sniff'
I 'unconsciously' inhaled his manly scent. I suddenly frowned,
"Big Brother, You smell... disgusting?" The words slipped out before I could contemplate them. I felt this was not his smell.....no, no, this was his smell but something different about....Call it woman intuition. I don't like this smell.
"Hmm? I am sorry, Mia" My brother awkwardly scratched his head as he gently separated away.
"W-Well, I don't mind" I hastily responded, pulling him back into the embrace. The strangeness of his scent, although noticed, didn't overshadow the joy of being close to my big brother.
"Heheh..." He giggled, ruffling my glossy white hair, a gesture that brought comfort and familiarity.
Feeling the warmth enveloping me, I found solace in his embrace. A wish, unspoken and fleeting, danced in the recesses of my thoughts... I want to stay like this, together be one.....time freezing, locking us in a moment that could last an eternity.
'OO... My brother, My Love, My Asher, I wish you'd marry me now and give birth to hundreds of our little children...' I mumbled inwardly, the playful musings of a girl with dreams too big for reality.
"Ouch"
A yelp escaped me as my head was gently chopped.
"You are thinking too much!" My brother's voice, a blend of sternness and gentleness, pulled me back to the present.
"Hehehe..." I giggled. I don't know how but he always senses my overactive thoughts. His attentiveness, a constant thread in our relationship, remained unchanged, and I smiled inwardly, comforted by his familiar presence.
"My little sister fought bravely yesterday" my brother suddenly said, shifting the conversation.
"Yes..." A spark of joy ignited within me at the acknowledgement of my efforts. However, the glow dimmed as a shadow of self-doubt crept in, "But I wasn't able to defeat Pearl, and even defeating Amber was due to her trait as an illusionist. If she were a frontliner, I don't think I could have defeated her".
I-I really wanted to show off my strength to my brother, to prove my mettle against formidable opponents. Yet, the reality of my limitations surfaced after the encounter with Amber, exposing the gaps in my skills, especially in utilizing my bloodline ability.
I wondered if my brother was disappointed or if he would blame me for my perceived inadequacies. However,
"That damn fox!! That damn Mermaid!!"
I was taken aback by his sudden outburst, looking at him, the fury in his eyes was quite evident.
"How dare they mess with my little sister?
Time to teach that fish how to do the sushi roll and give that fox a tail-less makeover for a chic winter fashion line! And the fluffy tail? Well, let's just say they're in for a surprise visit to my 'Crafty' workshop!" My brother's voice rang with a humorous blend of retribution and whimsy, turning the threat into a comical declaration of sibling justice.
"Pffftt...hahahahah...." I couldn't control my laughter, putting my hand on my stomach and laughing loudly. 'Does he think he could turn the only princess of the Atlantic into a sushi roll?....hahahaha....'.
Seeing my heartfelt laugh, my brother smiled warmly as if he had succeeded in something and gently hugged my body.
"You did your best, Little Mia... I am so proud of you, So lift your head high" my brother's words echoed in the room. The laughter and warmth in his embrace dissolved my insecurities.
'HA~ My big brother is the best in the world!!!' I screamed inwardly when I felt his touch.