Ep 86. You’re Leaving? (5)

  ‘Well, now that she’s occupied…’

  Serenis turned around to face the city wall that separated her from the interior of the city. And above the t ramparts, she could see the familiar blue-haired enforcer looking down at the twons below.

  He hurriedly turned away when their eyes met, but it was too te. Serenis summoned her wings anew a into the air, making it to the top in one swift motion to nd on the ramparts and grab her fleeing sibling.

  “Patrick.”

  “…Huh? Oh.”

  ‘Wow, she REALLY climbs fast.’

  Patrick could suddenly uand Raizel’s grievances about not having wings her entire life. Though, side thoughts sooed away wheiced the flicted gaze on his sibling’s face.

  “…I’m sorry I came to Partivihout telling you first. I didn’t think you’d agree with going. But there’s o keep avoiding me like this; if you’re upset, then simply say so.”

  “…”

  ‘Well look at that, she has it all figured out already.’

  Uh, wait, that’s not it…

  “…Upset? What’re you talking about? Why would anyone be upset at our local savior?”

  “That has nothing to do with this.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Patrick’s eyes thinned into a pained resolution.

  “You know, I’ve been thinking things over a bit…and I’m starting to realize I had it wrong all along. You’re not a kid anymore.”

  “…? What are you saying?”

  “Literally what I said. You’re totally different now, but I’ve still beeing you like a kid. When really…”

  Patrick’s wasn’t wrong to assume Serenis as a child, per se; her physical body still did belong to a mere fifteen-year-old.

  But even so, it ainfully clear that that was no longer a reason to be treating her as a child.

  “…You don’t need me anymore. It’s just how things are – you’re my little sibling, but you’re also a dragonlord. You keep going off doing ridiculous things, but you still manage just fine.”

  “…”

  “You know what Iris said when she came around to get Aldrid that day? She told me not to e. Said I’d be a burden.”

  “…I’m sure she was only worried about you.”

  “That’s exactly what being a burden is.”

  An unfortable silensued.

  One could call him a burden. Patrick couldn’t even protect himself from Felicir’s divinity, much less help his little sibling. As was the case with Gio, his aptitude in magic wouldn’t have mattered in this case.

  But Serenis hadn’t thought of her brother as a burden, or anyone else for that matter; even when Raizel had suddenly appeared at the se, fear had taken prece. Serenis had seen more than enough of her loved ones perishing before her very eyes, and she’d feared it’d happen all ain.

  Finally, Patrick turned away from Serenis, shrugging the disfort off of himself.

  “Meh, listen to me, pining to a little kid.”

  “Patrick, I-“

  “I’m just not sure. About how to treat you and all. But this is my problem, so…”

  He’d thought he knew. He’d thought that if he treated Zion as he always had, thehing would be the same as always.

  Now, Patrick was realizing how hat thought had been. He was realizing that he couldn’t stand in Serenis’ way simply by the virtue of being a worried elder brother.

  After another minute of silence, Serenis spoke up once more.

  “…Patrick. I’ll be heading to the northern ti soon.”

  “Northern ti? All the way to Astellion?”

  “Aldrid’s informed me of another divinity residing there, ohat’s able to sense my presence. I pn to find this divinity.”

  “…”

  When Patriarrowed his eyes, Serenis quickly added:

  “…It won’t be as dangerous as st time. I’ll be meeting with Aldrid’s son first and foremost; both Aldrid and Raizel will be apanying.”

  “Oh, so that’s what the whole jumping was about…was w what you two were up to outside.”

  Serenis returned a brief nod.

  “That’s correct. So if you’d like, you could also-“

  “I’m staying here.”

  Patrick looked back at his sibling, shrugging in his usual joking demeanor. Her widened eyes and open mouth btantly portrayed the dragonlord’s shock.

  “You’re…staying?”

  “Of course I am. I ’t just leave all the time, you know. Do you know how much work there is still? We o take care of damage pensations, regute all the petty thefts at the ruined districts, administrate and reahe sector…if I disappear too, Iris is gonna die from overwork.”

  “…”

  Serenis couldn’t say a word ialiation. As an enforcer of a city in recovery, staying was in fact the most intuitive, logical choice for Patriake. It made perfect sense.

  Then, the disappoi Serenis felt within robably rising from something outside of her logical mind.

  “I…see.”

  “Exactly. So you stay safe out there.”

  “?...You’re not going to stop me?”

  “Why would I? A dependable person is going with dependable people.”

  As always, Patrick reached out his hand, ruffling his little sibling’s hair all over. A wide grin was being worn over his lips.

  …Just as always.

  “Someone’s gotta make sure you have a home to return to. Our house got blown up too, you know.

  “…”

  Serenis hardly possessed memories of being touched on the head by someone else. It was difficult to imagine an individual daring enough to pet the lord ons, past and present eras bined.

  But surely, it was always like this. It was a fading memory, but it had always been like this.

  Somewhere in her mind, she’d missed this worried, trusting touch.

  And soon after, Serenis raised her left wrist to undo the string ed around it. The bracelet Aldrid had made for her lord was warmly glowing in the sunlight as it was hao Patrick.

  “Huh? What’s this for?”

  “Would you not more? Aldrid’s told me that her blessing ehe well-being of their human wearers. And frankly, I will have her at my side anyhow.”

  “…Pft.”

  After accepting the golden stoo his own palm, Patrick was wearing a bright smile – a smile Serenis had missed more than she realized.

  “I’ll see you ter, Serenis. e back soon.”