Comfort

Mo Yue kept her head down, her cheek facing the ground.

Collins could only see the top of his sister’s head.

Mo Yue was clearly trying to suppress something.

But the emotion she was trying to hold back was completely overwhelming her control.

Collins occasionally noticed her cheek twitching.

Faint sobbing sounds leaked from her nose and mouth.

Collins knew Mo Yue was crying, but she was holding it in with all her might.

That stubbornness only made Collins sigh and shake his head.

“Hey, you…”

Hearing Collins’ voice, Mo Yue’s body visibly trembled.

“I-I just got sand in my eyes…”

Do you even believe that yourself?

Collins felt helpless inside.

His sister was just too prideful—even crying needed an excuse.

Aikefis walked over and handed Collins a can of warm drink.

After pointing at Mo Yue, she turned and walked around a corner.

Aikefis wisely gave the siblings some space and time.

Collins handed the drink to Mo Yue.

Mo Yue took it.

Perhaps the warmth of the liquid and its pleasant taste did soothe her heart.

Her soft sobbing stopped.

But her reddened eyes remained moist, as if more tears could fall at any moment.

Yet when those gentle, watery eyes met Collins’ gaze, he suddenly realized—

Even after standing up for his sister just moments ago, there was still a trace of rejection in her eyes.

Mo Yue clearly didn’t want to sit with Collins.

It showed plainly in her expression.

So plainly that Collins felt the urge to turn and leave.

“Aren’t you going to ask me anything?”

“If you won’t tell me, I won’t ask.”

“Why?”

“There are some things in this world that are painful even just to remember, let alone to speak about.”

“Especially to someone you don’t like.”

Mo Yue turned her head away.

“Earlier… th-thank you…”

“No need to thank me.”

“If you can just give me a bit of brotherly dignity next time we meet, that would be enough.”

“I can’t…”

“Why not? What did I ever do to offend you? You act like you’ve seen a ghost whenever you see me.”

Mo Yue didn’t respond.

Collins rubbed his forehead.

After a long pause, Mo Yue’s lips moved, and she finally spoke her first full sentence to Collins.

“Actually, back in middle school… I had a boyfriend.”

Collins made a small sound of acknowledgment.

Before middle school, he and Mo Yue hadn’t even met—he couldn’t possibly know anything about that time.

“Later, I found out that the guy I was dating was also involved with a bunch of other girls.”

“Calling it two-timing would be generous.”

“And one of the girls he was involved with was the woman who just accused me of cheating.”

The drama between women… really something else.

“By your account, the one in the wrong was the guy. Why would that girl hate you?”

“Don’t tell me he said you seduced her boyfriend.”

“No.”

“That girl didn’t even get angry that she wasn’t his only one.”

“She just went and broke up with him first.”

“But then the guy said he’d been planning to break up with her anyway… I guess I wasn’t that much better than her.”

Mo Yue trembled, grinding her teeth.

“He could’ve left it at that, but to save face, that guy went around insulting Aiya in front of everyone.”

“He praised me just to degrade her—said she was petty, promiscuous, unworthy of being a person, and that I was the complete opposite.”

“The worst part is, he had a great reputation.”

“A lot of people believed everything he said.”

“And because I never stepped forward to clarify, from that point on, Aiya has been against me.”

Collins reached out, wanting to pat Mo Yue’s head.

Mo Yue sensed it and turned her head, fixing a sharp glare on his hand.

Collins pulled his hand back, a bit helpless.

“If it wasn’t your fault, then it was just unjust misfortune.”

“But it’s okay.”

“Once you get into Hawk Academy, those petty classmates won’t be around to bother you anymore.”

“Yeah… I probably won’t see them again.”

The two fell into a moment of silence.

“Alright then.”

Collins stood up.

“It’s getting late. Let’s head home.”

“Wait…”

Mo Yue tugged on the corner of Collins’ shirt.

He turned around.

“B-brother… what do you think…”

Collins felt something stir in his chest.

It was rare for Mo Yue to actually call him “brother.”

“D-do you think I have a talent for magic?”

“I’d say… you kind of do.”

“…Kind of?”

“Yeah.”

“A first-tier spell isn’t something someone without talent could cast.”

“You do have magical talent.”

“But it seems your previous teachers weren’t very good at helping you develop it.”