Genuine

"Ne… Brother, will you punish me if me did something wrong?"

"Hmm?"

Lu, who was hugged suddenly earlier, had already returned the hug and was caressing Vita's head gently when he was attacked by that sudden question. 

He paused his movement before continuing, heaving a soft sigh. 

"I truly enjoy making you annoyed, but that's all. If this 'wrong' thing you did made you cry, I'm actually willing to help in correcting it."

"Eh…?"

Vita stared at Lu's face with her eyes almost falling out of their sockets, making him deadpan. 

"You really do think I am scum, don't you?"

Vita smiled sheepishly to answer that. Although she did not think he was a scum, she never thought Lu would be willing to help her in any way. 

Why? Because this was the same Lu who had 'bullied' her before, even though the 'bullying' was not anything serious. 

She thought he may enjoy teasing her about it and she was secretly scared that she asked that question even. 

But after this turn of events, she could only stare at him dumbfounded before hugging him tightly. 

"Ugh, since when do you have such strength?" Lu complained while hugging her back and patting her. 

'Ah… This sister of mine is surely bound to make me go insane. Let's help her for now.'

Lu picked her up and approached the Owner of the shop again, "Is it ready, Madam?"

The Owner nodded and handed him two bowls of Iced fruit, one which was full of berries and strawberries, and the other one was a mixture of citrus fruits. 

Lu politely thanked her and gave her the payment before taking the snacks with him while going somewhere else. 

"We can talk about this in private, Dad's place surely isn't good, and you can't leave the village now since you already did. But don't worry, I always know where to hide~"

He playfully whispered onto Vita's hair, making her swat his face away while he chuckled at her. 

He walked through the buildings and gradually through the alleyways, then he jumped over the high trees and called out to his Element in his head. 

'Windy, I'll appreciate it if you create the usual dome.'

According to his order, the Wind Element gathered enough wind to create a sturdy dome around Lu and Vita, and conveniently, hid them from sight. 

"Woah… I feel something, umm, breezy?"

Lu put down the confused Vita who was questioning before explaining, "I'm an Elemental, I already signed with two of them. Of course, Dad doesn't know."

Vita almost lost count from how many times she was amazed or dumbfounded today, either way, she just felt exhausted. 

Meeting a god, the death of Butter and then making her come back to life, and then coming here to be shocked speechless by her brother… 

"Why is today so long…?"

Vita felt like crying again but that was just due to her tiredness. Knowing that, she just plopped to the 'ground' underneath her before looking back at Lu. 

"Why you no tell papa?"

Papa was the name she called the 'Chief' as. So the question was quite clear about what she wanted to know. But Lu was still confused. 

"Isn't it obvious, dummy Vii?"

"What's obvious? Also, me no dummy!"

Lu shook his head bemused, but then decided to explain to this younger sister of his. 

"Dummy, why are we adopted?"

Vita frowned after being called a dummy again, however, she decided to let this slide as Lu seemed serious. 

"Umm, cuz we got no one to take care of us?"

Lu softly smacked her forehead, "You believe that, and then you tell me you aren't a dummy?"

Before Vita could answer, Lu covered her mouth and smiled, "Enough retorts. This Big Brother will explain to you."

Lu then extended his other hand to the other side and chanted slowly, causing a small swirl of wind along with a thread of flame to appear from his hands. 

"Look, I signed a contract with the Wind and the Fire. You know what that means, yes?"

Vita nodded while her eyes sparkled with amazement. How could she not know about this? 

Double Contractors were very rare, and to actually have two Elements that could compliment each other, it was even rarer. 

Vita knew that her Papa for sure will be happy if he knew about this, and will lessen the punishments he gave Lu. 

So why was Lu so hesitant to say it? Vita felt unsure. 

However, Lu did not wait before explaining. 

"When Dad knows about this, my ability won't be mine alone anymore. It'll be the village, do you get it? Just like you."

He pointed to Vita who blinked before realizing what he meant, making a soft 'Ah' noise. 

Her power that was amazing was hidden from everyone aside from the Chief and a few others, one of them is Lu. 

Despite that, she had used this power for the sake of the village only. She knew how good her powers were, and sometimes felt guilty for not helping everyone. 

But this village was her home, so she thought it was only natural for her to prioritize them. 

"But the Village is our home, so it's just 'kay to help, no?"

To that question, Lu stayed silent for a moment, his expression twisting a few times, before finally shaking his head. 

"No. I am unwilling to offer this village a thing." 

A deep spark of hatred was ignited in his eyes as he said that, although he hid it quickly so Vita does not notice it. 

Vita fell silent a bit, although she did not notice the hatred in Lu's eyes, she could vaguely feel how serious this topic was. 

Instead of focusing on it, she changed the topic while pressing on her chest. 

"Well… Me… may have or may have not… Went into the Forbidden Area?"

"What." Lu felt as if he could not register anything. 

Vita scratched her cheek and continued, "And actually saw those bodies… Of our missing friends…"

"No, Vita, stop."

"Uh..?

Vita hesitated and forced a smile before glancing at Lu's expression, only to have him grabbing her by her shoulders. 

"You went to the Forbidden Area?! Are you crazy?!"