18 Bree's Promise

Rolling around a few more times, she finally settled down and probed the new items with her skill.

At least it didn't fail this time, she thought with an eyeroll.

Her father's gift was quite straightforward. A good bow that also helped boost her strength so she had a better chance to draw it fully. Of course, with her stats, she really didn't need such a boost. But it didn't hurt either.

[ Compact Iron Bow: Grade 2 ]

—Physique +12 while aiming.

The box of arrows that came along with the bow only showed 'Arrows', which she didn't really mind. It actually made her glad because she would feel bad about missing or breaking them if even the arrows were precious. She was still learning, after all.

It's good enough if she doesn't miss the target entirely, let alone hit the bulls-eye.

[ Magic Pencil: Grade 3 ]

—Can use spirit power as ink.

—Can change to any desired color.

A bright smile lit up Evelyn's face as she carefully put her gifts on the table before collapsing back on the bed with a happy sigh. Just thinking about trying them out tomorrow filled her with excitement. Right now, however, even she felt exhausted from the long day.

Within moments, she entered a deep sleep.

Not long later, Bree peeked into her room and saw the girl sleeping blissfully, her long pink hair spread all over the bed, and her four limbs spread in four different directions.

Smiling gently, she closed the door before nodding to her sister. Although Isabella was quite tired as well and would normally have fallen asleep by now, there were some things she felt the need to hear from Bree.

Of course, there was no need for her to actually ask, because her little puppy couldn't help but yap everything she knew to her anyway. All she had to do was be there to listen.

And as expected, Bree really started talking not long after the two of them entered the master bedroom.

But her sister's tone contained a level of worry that unsettled the young mother. "Sister Bella, your daughter is really special… I'm worried."

Still, Isabella pretended to be calm. "What's there to be worried about? Didn't you already know it was going to be like this when you came home with a blessed spirit egg for her?"

Bree's eyes flitted from side to side, as if unsure how to explain things clearly.

"No, no… that's not it. I've seen plenty of children with the same physique, but I've never felt so calm around them.

At first, I thought it was just because she was so closely related to me, and because I loved her, but after spending the whole day holding her close, I can guarantee that... that's not just it. There's something else."

Isabella bit her lip, having a bad feeling. "Well, what is it then, what do you want to say?"

Bree ran a hand through her long golden hair fretfully, feeling some frustration in her heart. She really wished there was some device that could confirm her guesses, but there was no such thing.

"I don't even know what I'm saying… It's like, there's something just different about her. Maybe she's just gifted. Maybe there's nothing to be worried about. But I know for sure that if I can feel that something about her is special, others can as well."

Her sister gave the blonde a weird look. "You're basing this all off of just a feeling?"

Bree felt her frustration well up, and almost started pulling her hair if not for a slap on the hand from her sister. She held her reddened hands tearfully, giving Isabella a pitiful look. "N-No, sister, you just… please trust me. I know there's no way to know for sure, but I'm sure that she was definitely born with a very strong soul!"

The confusion was clearly visible in Isabella's eyes. "A strong… soul?"

Now that the words had been spoken, there was no taking them back. Bree just didn't want to have to say these things ever again, because the fewer times they talked about it, the less there was a chance of someone finding out.

Even if someone found out from some other method, Bree at least did not want it to be her fault that it was discovered. But there's no way should could keep it from her sister.

"That's right! In my inheritance, there was a mention of this kind of unexplainable calming feeling being a sign of a very potent soul being nearby. And it cautioned me to stay away from them, because a direct soul attack from such a being is almost impossible to defend against, and almost certainly lethal!"

Isabella's previous calmness was completely evaporated, replaced by a rarely seen panic. "Y-You mean?!"

Her sister's face was solemn. "That's right. If I can figure it out, I'm sure that once she goes out into the world there will be others who can as well. And if the wrong person becomes aware, how can they just allow her to move around freely?"

The young mother was biting her lip hard enough to almost bleed. Her little child hadn't even had her first ceremony yet, and she already had to worry about threats to her life?

"T-Then, what do you think we should do, little puppy? Should we just… cancel the academy thing? Keep her home forever? No no, that won't work at all. Those 'Justice Envoys' are all over the place now, and the royal family is happy to see us ancient families lose power. How long can the Knox family even hold? The academy is the safest place!"

Bree shook her head. The academy was undoubtedly safer than the Knox mansion, but it had its own set of threats, and she wasn't sure which of the two was worse for her little niece.

"Not for long, but we don't have to hold for long, anyway. The primary target of the Terrazhyme alliance in helping these thugs who call themselves 'Justice Envoys' is to weaken the overall power of the Lavinian Empire. The royal family is foolish to allow it to happen so happily, and they will regret it once the alliance actually starts bearing down on them."

Isabella wanted to curse at those bigshots, call them idiots and tell them to do their job properly, but she felt powerless. She could only hope against hope that her own household could hold on.

"B-But, even if we can hold on till then, won't we be doomed anyway once the empire loses?"

Bree held her sister's hands gently. She hated seeing her sister panic. Isabella had been her unshaking anchor growing up, and her greatest wish was to be her invincible protector in return.

She wished she could just say, 'leave everything to me, don't worry'. But unfortunately, it looks like she was still too weak.

"Don't worry, sister Bella, the empire may be becoming weaker and weaker due to the royal family's foolishness, but it still used to be the strongest force on the continent. There's no way it will go down in a day. As long they can resist the alliance fiercely at that time, I will take the entire Knox family away."

Isabella was still not completely assured, feeling that there were too many things that could go wrong.

"But it's so dangerous, leaving while there's an ongoing war at the borders… Do we have to wait that long… can't we go sooner?"

Bree shook her head. Since the royal family was happy to see them die, would they let them just leave like that? Not unless something much more important was keeping their attention.

Truthfully speaking, as long as she could save her sister and her immediate family, she would be happy.

"I can take you and little Evelyn away right now, sister. Maybe even your husband, although it may be risky… but even I have limits. I'm not the strongest being on the continent. If I was, we wouldn't need to run, right?"

Isabella finally couldn't help it anymore, and embraced her sister with a cry. "Little puppy! Little puppy... I'm scared that something will happen!"

The dampness on her shoulder from her sister's tears caused Bree's heart to constrict with pain.

"Don't worry, sister Bella. This little puppy of yours has grown up, and become a good dog that can protect you. Don't you believe me?"

Isabella couldn't help but choke with laughter. Her mood lightening up a little. "Ahhh… you're becoming more witty, at least. But, little puppy, promise me one thing…"

Her sister nodded. "Anything."

"If it comes down to it, and things get bad… take my little baby and run away."

The blonde's eyes were sharp, although Isabella couldn't see it in their embrace, but she could feel the sharp inhalation of her sister. There was a feeling of both disappointment and relief, knowing that she would never give her up.

"I won't let that happen. You know it."

But she still couldn't help but plead. It's alright if the two of them, husband and wife, really couldn't make it. Maybe it was just fated to be so. But their little baby hadn't seen enough. How could she be brought in harm's way?

"Just promise me."

"No. This is one promise I cannot make to you. Because… I cannot keep it. I… I know I won't be able to run away from you."

Bree's voice was shaking, but Isabella could still feel the firm determination within.

"Bree… please…"

The blonde's eyes were red now, and she looked ready to cry. "No matter how scared you are, sister… I've always loved you so much. Always done everything you asked. I've lived my entire life just for you. You're… my whole world. Can't you allow me this little bit of selfishness? Just this once?"

Isabella felt a little regretful, feeling that she had really pushed her little sister too far. She was already trying her best, and as her older sister, how could she make things worse?

"I-I'm sorry, I must have gone out of my mind. What am I thinking, we're going to all be alright, what's with this gloomy attitude?!"

Bree smiled, although there were already tears rolling down her smooth cheeks.

"Right? It's not like you, so cheer up. Won't you ruin your daughter's beautiful dreams if she sees you like this?"

Isabella wiped her sister's tears with her sleeves, feeling distressed. Look, she made her little puppy cry again. And this time she wasn't even cute, just pitiful. Pitiful enough to make her heart hurt. Just how could she make it up to her?

Well, Isabella had her own way of doing things. Even her apologies were a form of bullying.

"No way… ahem, anyway, little puppy, I'm very angry that you have rejected my request! How are you going to make up?"

Bree's tearful eyes were wide in disbelief. "You're still stuck on that?!"

Her older sister rubbed her nose, embarrassed. "Well, I'll let you off this time, if you make me another promise?"

The blonde girl gulped nervously.

"W-What is it?"