The heat of the arena still burned in my muscles as I stepped beyond those damn gates. The scent of blood, dust, and shattered magic clung to my skin like a second uniform.
And there she was.
Ciny.
Bouncing like a cheerleader, almost glowing under the sun.
— "That's what I'm talking about, stud! Now take me to bed!" — she shouted with that teasing smile that always made my heart skip a beat.
I sighed, pulling my hood further down to hide my sweaty, dirt-stained face.
— "Have some decency, will you..." I muttered, looking away.
She laughed, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
— "Kidding... mostly." — she winked. — "But see? Even without mana, you're still you. And that... no one can take away."
I went silent for a second. Not because I had nothing to say, but because... she was right.
— "You were right," I finally admitted, my voice lower than I expected.
We walked together down the stone corridors, the torches crackling along the walls like they pulsed with the same energy still lingering in the katana at my hip. With every step, my body grew heavier—not from exhaustion, but from the weight of everything yet to come.
As we neared our room, a shadow leaned against the doorframe.
Mili.
Arms crossed. Cold eyes. Impatience written all over her face.
— "What happened to you? Why couldn't I feel your mana for even a second?" — she said, not even a "hi."
— "Straight to the point, huh? No 'good job,' no 'glad you're alive'..." I replied, trying to smother the irritation boiling just beneath my skin.
— "Answer me." — she cut in, sharp and cold.
I opened the door and walked in. Ciny followed right behind me. Mili hesitated, then stepped in as well. I let out a heavy sigh.
— "I... I don't have mana anymore," I admitted. — "It's gone. Just... nothing."
Mili stepped forward, eyes wide.
— "Then why haven't you gone to get the dust?!" — Her voice was more accusation than concern.
And that's when Ciny, steady like a wall of stone, stepped between us.
— "How about you stop treating your brother like a tool?"
The room froze. The air grew three times heavier. Mili stared her down with eyes that could cut steel.
— "And who the hell are you to meddle in family matters?"
— "Probably more family than you've ever been." — Ciny shot back, calm and firm.
— "What did you just say?!"
Their shouting pierced my ears like daggers.
I'd had enough.
I stood up abruptly, my chair scraping loudly against the stone floor. Both of them turned their eyes to me.
— "Enough!" — I shouted. — "Yes, Mili, unlike you, at least Ciny tries to help."
— "You're actually saying that...?"
— "I do everything you ask—throw myself into the arena like some warhound, risk my life to get stronger, to kill those so-called 'brothers' you keep talking about... And what do you do? You just want me addicted again. You don't even try to find a way to heal my mana channels without drugs. All you care about are results."
She clenched her fists, but said nothing.
— "Don't forget I see things too. You need me just as much as I need you. If that weren't true... you would've thrown me away long ago."
The silence that followed was sharper than my katana.
Mili stood there for a moment. Her face closed off, as if she'd been hit by a truth too painful to accept.
Then she turned.
— "Maybe that's exactly what I should do."
She left, slamming the door behind her.
Silence again.
Ciny, with her uncanny sense for timing, let out an exaggerated sigh.
— "Well... there goes the mood for the night."
I looked at her.
She smiled faintly.
A sad little smile, but still with a spark.