Our battle continued without pause.
My hand moved with practiced swiftness, slipping beneath the folds of my clothing.
Within a motion so subtle it was nearly imperceptible, three shuriken had already been released into the air.
A heartbeat later, the fourth followed after them.
Each blade flew along a different trajectory, weaving through the air like hunting hawks descending upon their prey.
Lucas, who was still suspended above the ground, immediately sensed the incoming assault.
Gravity was steadily pulling him downward, yet his sharp eyes never wavered. They tracked every spinning shuriken with unwavering vigilance, refusing to overlook even the slightest change in their course.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
The knife in his hand danced without pause.
One after another, the first three shuriken were deflected before they could so much as graze his flesh.
However...
From the very beginning, I had never intended for all four shuriken to arrive at the same instant.
Every throw had been meticulously calculated.
Speed.
Angle.
Trajectory.
Distance.
Even the exact rhythm of Lucas's descent had already been accounted for.
The first three shuriken were nothing more than a prelude.
A carefully crafted sequence meant to force him into reacting exactly as I intended.
As for...
The final shuriken...
That was the true strike.
It flew ever so slightly faster.
Its path skimmed lower through the air.
And it arrived at the precise moment Lucas completed his final deflection, when even the smallest opening existed for no more than the blink of an eye.
"Argh!"
The shuriken struck true.
Its razor-sharp edge pierced through Lucas's arm before burying itself several centimeters deep into the muscle.
Only a moment later, his feet landed firmly upon the earth.
A faint grimace crossed his face as he immediately pulled the shuriken free without the slightest hesitation.
Dark crimson blood slowly trickled from the wound.
Not much.
Yet it was more than enough to prove that my attack had pierced through his defenses.
To an ordinary man, such an injury could easily become the beginning of dangerous blood loss if left untreated.
But...
Lucas was no ordinary man.
A Shinobi was accustomed to wounds far worse than this.
So long as the injury did not strike a vital point, a wound of this nature would do little to hinder his ability to continue fighting.
I had never intended to show him mercy.
Wasn't this exactly what he had wanted from the very beginning?
Besides...
Today marked the final day of our training together.
Tomorrow, Charlotte and I would depart for the Imperial Capital.
An opportunity like this might not come again for a very long time.
That was precisely why today's training had to push him beyond his limits.
Beyond the limits of his body.
And beyond the limits of his chakra reserves.
For the moment, I deliberately refrained from using Genjutsu.
Not because it lacked value.
The time simply had not yet come.
Within this world, illusion magic rested almost entirely in the hands of Magicians and Spirors.
Magicians themselves rarely revealed their existence before the common people.
Dark Magicians, however, were another matter entirely.
They could emerge whenever they pleased.
Although, more often than not, they appeared only in lands consumed by conflict and chaos.
As for the Spirors...
They were even rarer.
The path of becoming one who commands the spirits of nature was a privilege reserved solely for the Elves and the Half Elves.
Then there were...
Ghosts.
Their appearances were far too unpredictable to serve as a meaningful standard for training.
Because of that, the greatest threat worthy of caution came from the Demons.
Those creatures wielded illusion magic of a far more terrifying nature.
Fortunately...
Their presence within the Empire remained exceedingly rare.
The mages of the Magic Tower, together with the Holy Order of the Knights of the God of Light, always moved swiftly whenever even the faintest trace of a Demon was discovered.
So long as no foolish human willingly forged a contract with them out of ambition, hatred, or greed, that threat could still be kept beneath the Empire's iron grasp.
I returned my attention to the battle before me.
Both of my hands swiftly formed a sequence of seals.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu."
Two clouds of white smoke blossomed at my sides.
Then...
The two shadow clones vanished.
With the aid of Shunshin no Jutsu, both had already appeared beside Lucas within the blink of an eye.
Remaining where I stood, I silently observed the flow of the battle.
My clones pressed Lucas relentlessly, allowing him not even the briefest moment to catch his breath.
Their attacks flowed without end, one following another like crashing waves upon an unforgiving shore.
At times, Lucas managed to retaliate with several well-timed strikes.
Their Ninjutsu collided again and again, each technique answering another in an unbroken exchange.
On several occasions, he even forced one of my clones to retreat several steps.
Still...
It was nowhere near enough.
The force behind his attacks had yet to reach the level required to disperse the Bunshin I had created.
The battle continued to rage with unrelenting intensity.
And at that very moment...
A voice I knew all too well drifted from behind me.
"My... you truly are gentle with him. If I were the one training him, he would become far stronger in a fraction of the time. Strength is forged through relentless blows, not by being indulged with kindness."
I did not even need to turn around to know who had spoken.
Charlotte.
A moment later, another voice followed, far softer and as gentle as a spring breeze.
"Is that really true, Sister?"
"Of course, Dorothea."
"Remember this well. Never be too gentle with men. If you're overly kind, one day they'll begin to look down on you."
Dorothea fell silent for a brief moment before answering with innocent sincerity.
"But my brother isn't like that."
A quiet laugh escaped Charlotte's lips.
"That's because he's your brother. I was talking about other men. If one day anyone dares to look down on you, Dorothea, never hesitate to beat them until they regret it."
"Yes, Sister."
The corners of my lips slowly curved into a faint smile.
Charlotte truly taught only what she believed to be right.
She never spared the slightest thought for whatever consequences might follow afterward.
Fortunately...
Dorothea was not Charlotte.
She was a gentle, timid young girl whose heart was far too kind to imitate every eccentric habit of her older cousin.
The chances of that happening were exceedingly small.
Even so...
Nothing in this world was ever truly impossible.
If Mother were to hear Charlotte filling her niece's head with ideas like those, I was certain she would never let the matter pass in silence.
Charlotte would undoubtedly receive a lecture that lasted far longer than she wished.
Mother cherished Dorothea dearly.
At times, I even felt that affection carried a warmth unlike the one she showed the rest of us.
Charlotte was her firstborn daughter.
Bright.
Fearless.
And forever finding new ways to make Mother sigh in exasperation because of her utterly unpredictable antics.
Her sense of humor was equally impossible to anticipate.
One day she would boldly announce that she wished to use the manor itself as the target for a brand-new Ninjutsu.
Another day she would attempt to surprise Mother with a newly mastered technique, just as she once had by hanging upside down from the ceiling of the manor's lower hall as though such behavior were perfectly ordinary.
Then there was Karina...
My younger sister was the complete opposite.
Quiet.
Obedient.
Affectionate.
Yet all of those traits existed only while Father and Mother were present.
Outside the manor...
Or whenever neither of our parents was watching...
Karina seemed to become an entirely different person.
Colder.
Calmer.
And determined to keep nearly everyone at arm's length.
Mother had known about that side of her for a very long time.
To her, it had never been a problem.
So long as Karina continued to grow into a kind and obedient daughter, Mother never found fault with her reserved nature.
Ryan, however...
Saw things quite differently.
My younger brother had complained more times than I could count, convinced that he had utterly failed in his role as an older brother.
Even now, Karina had never once addressed him with the informal title reserved for an elder brother.
At most, she used the formal form of address whenever circumstances required it, merely to appear as the dutiful daughter before Father and Mother.
Worse still...
Whenever she called any of us "Brother," it often sounded less like genuine affection and more like quiet mockery wrapped in flawless courtesy.
That alone had wounded Ryan's pride more deeply than he cared to admit.
To be honest...
I understood his feelings all too well.
Charlotte felt much the same.
Eventually, even she gave up trying.
Karina truly was different.
Remarkably different.
Unlike either Charlotte or Dorothea.
There were times when even I found it impossible to guess what thoughts lay hidden behind those tranquil eyes.
A quiet sigh escaped my lips.
Today...
There was something else I had secretly hoped for.
I wanted to spar with Charlotte once again.
It had been far too long since the two of us had crossed blades in a battle fought with genuine seriousness.
Through the mental link connecting me to my Bunshin, I instructed both clones to bring Lucas's training session to an end.
Afterward, I walked toward the two girls standing a dozen or so paces behind me.
Dorothea immediately turned as she noticed my approach.
A gentle smile blossomed across her face, as soft as the first bloom of spring.
"Brother Ian."
I answered with a small nod.
My relationship with her was not as close as the one I shared with Lucas.
That did not mean we were distant.
Perhaps...
Our relationship resembled the one I had with Karina.
Close enough to understand one another.
Yet never quite comfortable enough for conversation to flow effortlessly.
There was always the faintest trace of awkwardness whenever we spoke.
Even so...
That awkwardness never chased away the warmth between us.
My gaze then shifted toward Charlotte.
Since earlier, her attention had remained fixed upon the fierce clash between my two Bunshin and Lucas, whose battle had only grown more intense with every passing moment.
"When did you two arrive?"
Before Charlotte could answer, Dorothea spoke first.
"Brother Ian, Sister Charlotte and I only arrived a little while ago."
"I see."
Charlotte offered no objection.
Her eyes never left the battle.
Several moments later, without turning her gaze away from the fight, she spoke to Dorothea instead.
"What do you think, Dorothea? Would you like to become like Lucas?"
Dorothea fell into thought.
Uncertainty shimmered within her eyes.
"Like Brother Lucas...? I... I would like to...But... would Mother and Grandmother allow Dorothea to become like my brother?"
Charlotte casually waved a hand as though dismissing the concern entirely.
"Of course they would."
Dorothea blinked softly.
"Really?"
"Naturally. You only need to act a little spoiled. Whine a bit. If that isn't enough, cry in front of Mother and Grandmother. They'll surrender before long."
All I could do was shake my head.
Honestly...
That was truly terrible advice.
Charlotte was giving guidance based entirely upon her own experience.
Whining.
Crying.
Acting spoiled.
Those were the three secret weapons she relied upon whenever she wanted something from Father or Mother.
And strangely enough...
They almost always worked.
I couldn't even claim her methods were wrong.
After all, they had proven successful time and time again.
Even so...
For some reason, the thought of those lessons being passed on to Dorothea still felt profoundly, unmistakably wrong.
Dorothea lowered her head once more.
Her delicate fingers tightened around the fabric of her dress, leaving faint creases across the folds.
It was a small habit she could never seem to hide.
Whenever uncertainty crept into her heart or her confidence began to waver, her hands would instinctively cling to her dress, as though seeking reassurance from something familiar.
In a voice so soft it was nearly stolen away by the summer breeze, she whispered,
"But... what if it doesn't?"
Charlotte immediately caught the hesitation hidden behind those timid words.
She turned toward Dorothea and gently brushed a hand through the girl's pale blue hair.
The gesture came as naturally as breathing.
Gentle.
Comforting.
Like an elder sister determined to chase away every fear lingering within her little sister's heart.
"Then try first. I'm sure it'll work. And if it doesn't, then try again. If it still doesn't, try once more."
A bright, confident smile spread across Charlotte's face.
"I'll always support you. That way, we'll be able to stay together, train together, play together, and always look after one another."
Dorothea remained silent.
Her long eyelashes quivered ever so slightly.
Charlotte tilted her head, mischief sparkling within her smile.
"Or... have you already decided you don't want to stay with your sister anymore?"
The question startled Dorothea so much that she hurriedly lifted her head.
"No! I do!"
The answer escaped almost instantly, as though the fear of being misunderstood had overcome her natural shyness.
I simply watched them in silence.
It was true.
If Dorothea eventually learned alongside us and one day entered the Imperial Academy, they would have far more opportunities to remain together.
Or at the very least...
Whenever Charlotte returned home during her leave.
Dorothea gently bit her lower lip before finally giving a small nod.
"All right, Sister. I'll try... but you have to promise me something."
Charlotte raised an eyebrow.
"A promise?"
"You have to teach me yourself. And... you have to spend more time with me."
A quiet laugh escaped Charlotte.
"Of course. That's an easy promise to keep."
A moment later, however, she paused, as though suddenly realizing she had overlooked something.
"What if, for the time being, you train with Karina?"
The smile that had only just begun to bloom upon Dorothea's face quietly disappeared.
She lowered her head once again.
"Karina... she won't like Dorothea."
Charlotte let out a soft sigh.
She crouched until they were looking directly into one another's eyes, then gently wrapped both of Dorothea's hands within her own.
"Who told you that? Karina once said that Dorothea is a sweet little girl."
Dorothea's sapphire eyes widened in surprise.
"Really?"
Charlotte nodded without the slightest hesitation.
"Really. Your sister would never lie to you."
Dorothea remained silent.
Charlotte smiled warmly before continuing.
"Besides, you once told me you wanted to become like Karina."
Dorothea immediately shook her head several times.
"No. I've changed my mind. I don't want to become like Karina anymore."
Charlotte looked genuinely intrigued.
"Oh? Then who do you want to become like?"
Dorothea looked straight into Charlotte's eyes.
This time, there wasn't the slightest hint of uncertainty in her voice.
"I want to become like you, Sister."
Charlotte blinked softly.
Truthfully, she had already expected that answer.
"But you once told me you wanted to become like Karina. You said she looked so commanding, so proud... and so cool."
A bashful smile spread across Dorothea's face.
"That's true... but Dorothea could never become like Karina. I only want to become like you."
A gentle silence settled between them.
Then Charlotte chuckled quietly.
Her laughter was sincere, warm enough to soften the very air around them.
I could tell that every word Dorothea had spoken had come straight from the depths of her heart.
Charlotte had realized that as well.
Without another thought, she wrapped her arms around the little girl once more.
"Dorothea truly is the sweetest little girl. I love you so very much."
Dorothea returned the embrace with all the warmth she possessed.
"I love you too, Sister."
The sight before me slowly drew a smile to my own lips.
I gradually lifted my gaze toward the heavens.
The summer sky stretched endlessly above us.
Clear.
Azure.
Peaceful.
As though even the heavens wished to share in the warmth unfolding before my eyes.
Come to think of it...
Dorothea was right.
Karina was never someone who could easily be imitated.
Even I found it difficult to imagine what my younger sister would become once Father and Mother were no longer there to watch over her.
She was simply...
Different.
Unlike Charlotte.
Unlike me.
Unlike Ryan.
Perhaps the reason Dorothea had once wished to become like Karina was actually quite simple.
Karina always appeared calm.
Reserved.
Unreadable.
There was an unmistakable dignity about her, one that seemed to exist as naturally as breathing itself.
Father often said Karina had been born to be a noble.
To a young girl like Dorothea, those qualities must have appeared incredibly admirable.
Yet the more time they spent together...
The more Dorothea came to realize one simple truth.
Becoming someone like Karina was never something that could be learned.
It was simply who she was.
Charlotte, on the other hand...
She was someone Dorothea could actually aspire to become.
Charlotte was warm.
Easy to approach.
She never hesitated to protect those she cherished.
And most importantly...
Dorothea shared a bond with her unlike any she shared with the rest of us.
Among all of our siblings, Charlotte was the one who spent the most time by her side.
Their bond had long surpassed that of ordinary cousins.
Charlotte was not merely an older sister because of age or blood.
In Dorothea's eyes...
She truly was her elder sister.
A sister in every sense that truly mattered.
And to me...
There was nothing more beautiful than a bond like that.
Warm.
Sincere.
A bond capable of giving someone a place they could always call home.
Time quietly continued to pass.
Ahead of us, Lucas finally collapsed onto the ground after enduring a fierce battle against my two Bunshin.
His breathing came in heavy gasps.
Dust covered his clothes from head to toe.
Yet the determination burning within his eyes had not faded in the slightest.
Since he had been the one to ask for training of this intensity, it was probably time for him to rest for a short while before beginning the next round.
Meanwhile...
There was someone else I wished to face with complete sincerity.
Slowly, I turned my gaze toward Charlotte.
As though sensing my eyes upon her, she turned to meet them.
That familiar, confident grin once again curved across her lips.
"Care for a spar?"
"Of course."
No further words were needed.
The meaning behind that challenge had already been understood by both of us.