Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking [52]
The soft light of the geo-lamps cast a warm glow over them, creating an almost nostalgic effect—as if this pair of siblings had always been side by side through every step in life.
Pela let out a small huff, puffing out her cheeks as she watched them.
Knowing they were siblings, there was no reason for anyone to misunderstand, but even the mere thought was frustrating—all because Serval had purposely steered her in that direction!
After being teased like that, it was irritating to realize she had no way to turn the tables.
Ugh—so annoying!
"Hm? You're back so soon. Didn't our little Venti make good use of his chance?"
Serval glanced at Venti with an innocent look, as if she had no idea why Pela was getting flustered.
"Hmm, you mean snacking? Oh, I always go for two meat pies. Three or four would be too much, don't you think?"
Trailing behind Pela, Venti answered with feigned confusion.
"...Huh? I didn't mean…"
But when Pela shot her a look sharp enough to kill, Serval got the hint, quickly changed her tune, and laughed.
"Yahaha! Next time, I'll switch up the recipe. Make sure you come by and try it again!"
"Oh, I will, Miss Serval," Venti replied smoothly.
Pela cast him a sideways glance, as if she was about to say something but ultimately held back.
"Hey, no need for 'Miss'—it's so formal! Just call me Serval, or even Big Sis Serval. Both Gepard and Pela call me that."
Serval, the proud owner of the Mechanic's Workshop, slapped her chest in hearty amusement, causing quite a bit of movement.
"Ah, my sister's bluntness—she's… a bit straightforward when it comes to people and things. If she's offended you in any way, please forgive her."
Gepard added, with a note of apology.
Watching the two siblings act in such perfect sync, Pela felt like punching a pillow, but at least she wasn't entirely without allies.
When she cast a do something, or say something look at Venti, he spoke up.
"Mhm, I think that kind of energy is why Big Sis Serval's music and cooking have such a bold, spirited feel to them."
He rubbed his chin, a nostalgic look crossing his face.
"Not only is her rock music fantastic, but her meals are also delicious. I always end up eating way more than I should. At this rate, I'll need to add some extra exercise to my schedule just to keep up."
"Ha-ha! Keep the compliments coming—my sister loves hearing that kind of stuff."
Serval was grinning from ear to ear, and Gepard nodded in agreement.
It seemed that, no matter where you were, praise was always appreciated. Not that Venti had lied, anyway.
After a bit of light-hearted banter, Venti turned to Pela and made a suggestion.
"Oh, Pela. How about taking a stroll with me? We can work off the food, and I'd like to discuss the priority order for gathering further intel."
"...Fine by me."
Pela pushed her glasses up, replying casually.
As for the technical support gear they were developing, that was a project that would take time—she'd just have to wait until Serval had a prototype ready.
Besides, Captain Gepard would soon be back on the frontlines along the Outlying Trail, so their discussion had to be put on hold until he could return to discuss things with his sister in more detail.
So, as they left the warm Neverwinter Workshop, faintly tinged with the scent of machine oil…
Pela hesitated, her cheeks faintly red, before mumbling a small thanks.
"Thank you… for earlier."
"No worries~ no worries. Isn't it nice to have friends who care?"
"That's true, I know Serval and Captain Gepard mean well. But… I'm not really used to it."
"Is it because they treated you like a kid? I mean, Pela, you're so—"
Before he could finish, Venti felt her fingers pinch his cheek, her lips shining a soft cherry-pink as she pursed them, a blush blooming on her face.
"Were you about to say something… particularly inappropriate for a lady?"
She stressed each word, her eyes narrowing.
"I would never."
Venti blinked innocently, but his gaze dropped ever so slightly, brushing past her petite frame.
"I was just going to say… that being small can actually be quite charming."
Pela's face went beet-red, and with a tiny squeak, she let go, dropping to a crouch as she tried to regain her composure.
She raised the book she carried to cover her face, hiding the blush that spread over her cheeks, leaving only her bright, embarrassed eyes peeking over the edge.
"You're not just saying that to tease me, are you?"
Back when Pela was still in school, people had poked fun at her height.
Though she'd stood up to the teasing, the nickname stuck.
On top of that, her unusual name and her habit of skipping grades had earned her an early graduation, her "Honors Bachelor" degree completed far before the required age.
Rumors surrounded her back then, and the unkind nicknames were just one part of it. Despite those naysayers ultimately being dealt with, they'd dampened her desire for further study.
Given the situation, it seemed better to join the Silvermane Guards to prove her worth through hands-on experience rather than remain in the academic hierarchy of students.
She had been very frank with the admissions officers about her motivations.
And they likely knew about her side gig helping out with Serval's band, but the higher-ups hadn't seemed to mind.
Noticing the dimmed look in her eyes, Venti thought for a moment, then plucked the Cecilia flower from his hat and held it out to her.
"…This flower looks unfamiliar. It doesn't seem like something from Long Summer, right?"
Even in the dead of winter, Belobog had flowers, though high cultivation requirements made them expensive, so people only tended to buy them for special occasions—to give to family, lovers, or friends.
There were some affordable ones, like Warm Sunflowers or Rainbows, for casual enjoyment.
Thanks to her friendship with Vasaka, a fellow book lover, Pela knew a fair bit about flowers, but this one was entirely new to her. Even the fragrance carried an oddly calming magic.
At her curiosity, Venti's expression turned fond.
"It's called a Cecilia. It's a white wildflower that blooms in quiet solitude on the cliffs back home. To me, it's the most beautiful flower in my homeland."
"Is that so…?" Feeling a little thrill from the romantic atmosphere, along with a pang of sympathy at the nostalgic look on Venti's face, Pela hesitated, wondering if she should accept such a precious gift.
"Don't worry. It's not that delicate. With a little water, some soil, and a bit of genuine care, it'll grow just fine."
Venti gently pressed it into her hands, then said softly,
"Besides, I think you need it more than I do right now."
"What… is its meaning?"
"Heh, I'll have to keep that a secret for now."
"Ugh, in that case, maybe I should just return it after all—!"
Pela, however, didn't let go of the flower, clutching it and her book close to her chest, resting it right against her heart.
Oh, Cecilia—can you hear the thundering beat of that eager heart?
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