Chapter 2

Lesley's POV

"Lesley! Thank God, you're home!" Harley said, hugging me tightly.

"Hey, Harley." I said and hugged him back. Yet, I noticed a scar on his face. "Where did you get this?"

"Oh, uhm...I hurt myself." Harley said.

"You're lying, brother. Tell me the truth." I told him.

He sighed. "It's from Father."

I got furious. My adoptive Father always hits his one and only son. He always look down on Harley! He should be proud of Harley. He's one of the best mages in the Land of Dawn.

"Why is he like this to you, Harley?" I asked him.

"He wants me to be the Greatest Mage ever." Harley replied. "Lesley, I've done everything I can. I can't surpass the Swan Princess, Odette. Or even the Lighting Mage Eudora. I'm just the average Harley Vance."

"Hey, brother. Snap out of it. You're already the Greatest Mage ever!" I told him.

"The only way I can confirm that is if Father approves." Harley said, sad about what Father thinks of him.

"You're already perfect, brother." I told him and hugged him tight.

"Thanks, Sis." Harley said.

I smiled as I knew that I lifted the grief Harley had.

"Lesley."

I looked up and saw my adoptive Father standing infront of us.

"Father." I said as I stood up and bowed before him.

Yes, I'm bowing before my Father.

"So, how was your mission?" Father asked.

"It went well." I lied, not telling him about the boy who jumped into the fight, ending everything.

"Good. You better keep that Black Rose title of yours. If you loose it, you know what happens."

"Yes, Father. I understand." I replied.

"Harley, be like your sister for once. Do something remarkable." Father said.

I saw how sad Harley looked. He hated it when people look down on him. And, I hated it when our Father compares me to him.

"Father, please don't compare me to Harley. He's a great mage." I told him.

"Yeah, great mage. That'll only happen until he surpass every mage out there. Odette, Selena, Harith and Cyclops are one of those." Father said.

"He'll get there, Father. Just trust him." I told him.

"He'd better show me something worthy." Father said and left us.

Harley started to cry silently.

"Hey, don't cry. I'm sure Father doesn't mean it." I said.

"What? I'm not crying, Sis. I'm a strong man." Harley said, trying to stop crying.

I already pity my brother. Why does his own Father look down on him so much?

The next day, I woke up earlier than expected. I was going to meet Hanabi, Miya, Layla, Ruby and Nana.

I already dressed up and was about to go when Harley went out of his room, also dressed up.

"Where are you going, little bro?" I asked.

"Hayabusa asked me to meet him." Harley replied.

"Okay. Go home early, alright? You don't want Father to get mad again." I reminded him.

"He always gets mad, Les." Harley said and hugged me.

It's a sibling thing we do everytime we get out of the house. We hug each other goodbye.

Right after Harley went out, I walked out of our house and walked along the streets to meet my friends.

"Lesley! Over here!"

I looked infront of me and saw my friends waving at me. I ran towards them.

"Hey guys." I greeted.

"You look good, Les." Miya commented.

"Thanks." I replied.

"So, where are we going girls?" Hanabi asked.

"The usual. Franco's Diner." Layla said.

"Let's go, I'm starving." Ruby said.

So, we strolled our way to Franco's Diner. It was still the same old diner we always come to.

"Hey, Franco!" Miya greeted.

"Hey girls. The usual order?" Franco asked.

"I'll change mine to Lasagna Espesyal." I stated.

"Good choice, Lesley." Franco said. "10 minutes 'till served."

"Thanks, Franco." Layla said.

"So, Miya. How are things with you and Alucard?" Nana asked.

"Oh, uhmm, we're good." Miya said shyly, blushing that her whole face was as red as a tomato.

I looked beside me and saw Ruby looked disappointed all of a sudden.

Ruby liked Alucard for years. I also thought they'd end up together. But, it seems Alucard picked Miya.

Ruby just brushed off the disappointment and started smiling again. Why is she really good in hiding her feelings?

"How about you and Clint, Layla?" Ruby asked.

"Well, Clint asked me to join him in a firing practice." Layla said.

"Is it safe?" Nana asked.

"Girl, I've been firing a cannon since I was a kid. Everything is safe to me now." Layla said. "How about you, Hanabi?"

"What?" Hanabi asked.

"Don't you have a guy in your life?" Miya asked.

"Well, there's this guy--"

"I knew it!" Nana exclaimed.

"So, what's your status now Hanabi?" Ruby asked.

"Uhm, he's still courting me." Hanabi replied.

"This is a good sign, Hanabi!" Miya exclaimed.

"How about you, Les? Got someone in mind?" Layla asked.

"Sadly, my dear friends, no man has the guts to be in a relationship with me." I smirked.

"Because you don't want any guy to be superior than you." Ruby said.

"If I'll just let myself be bossed around, I'd look so weak." I told them. "I want someone who accepts my insecurities."

"This is the painful truth. You don't know if someone does accepts you for who you are." Hanabi said.

"Shut up. You're already getting a boyfriend." I snapped.

"Lesley, serious as always." Hanabi laughed.

Everyone of us laughed and joked around until the door opened.

I was shocked to see my own brother with his friends come in.

And what shocked me the most was that the guy last night was with Harley!

We looked into each others' eyes. I even had to blink twice to see if this wasn't a hallucination.

Everything is real. I'm seeing that brown haired guy who almost made me fail my mission last night.

to be continued