[31.5] Sister from Another Mister

Suddenly, Lene jumped up with a hiss, "Humans! Evil humans! They've come to capture and kill us!"

We all scrunched our faces and looked around in confusion. However, neither of us saw what she was talking about.

She moved her hands, suddenly sprouting out a large web in front of us just in time for a fireball to be shot into it. The web erupted into flames. She quickly waved her hands to pull out the threads covering our bodies and freeing us from her control in the process.

From the fire, an all too familiar, and annoying, face came into view.

Captain Lou shouted with his wand still extended, "Demon! Meet your death!"

The little girl's eyes widened. She ran over to him, "Big brother Lou Lou! Don't hurt her!"

Captain Lou grabbed the little girl, "Angie! Get out of the way before you get hurt! I'm here to save you!"

Angie cried, "But I don't need to be saved! She's nice!"

He glared at the demon, "You dare use your mind manipulation on my little sister?!"

From the smoke behind him, other people followed. Two of which I didn't recognize.

A man cried out, "Willis!"

The pudgy boy ran over crying, "Daddy!"

A woman shouted behind them, "Daniel! Come here! O-Oh… And please don't create any wind! You know I don't like my hair being ruined."

The boy frowned and walked toward her without any care about what was happening around him, "Who cares about your stupid hair."

The psychotic little boy looked around in excitement as if waiting to hear his name called. When he realized no one had come for him, he pretended to speak to himself in a high-pitched voice, "Oh! Billy. You're okay! Come here!" Billy grinned and skipped to where the others were, "I'm coming!"

My eyes widened when I saw the ground freezing beneath the feet of a man so terrifying, anyone would run from him.

Except me.

I held out my hands, "Stop! Papa! Don't hurt her!"

The Headmaster stopped in his tracks, just before using his magic to send deadly icicles at the demon. He gave me one last look and I nodded forcefully. He put away his wand reluctantly, but Captain Lou wasn't willing to let Lene go.

Captain Lou's eyes narrowed at the demon as if possessed by another force, "I will make you regret using your mind manipulation on my little sister!!!"

Lene hissed back at him, "I don't know mind manipulation!"

Sensing Captain Lou's killing intent, her body began to contort and change. We all watched as she turned into a spider the size of a human.

She turned to escape using her webs, but Captain Lou still charged after her. Although it was clear that she was far faster and more agile than he was.

My mother rushed over to me with the Headmaster and Zephyr in tow. My mother hugged me tightly, "We were so worried! When Prince Cyrus said he couldn't find you, we all panicked!"

The Headmaster looked over at me, "You're not hurt?"

I shook my head, "She didn't hurt me. She only kidnapped us because she wanted to play house and tell stories."

My mother sighed, "Reika. If you are too much of a free spirit, you'll get hurt one day. You need to stop 'going with the flow' all the time."

I spoke quickly, "I wasn't! Ah… Well, I was- BUT! I couldn't use magic even if I tried."

The Headmaster looked at me with a dark expression, "Why not?"

I shrugged, "I have no idea."'

He reached out and placed a hand on my forehead. After a while, he took my pulse and then stared deep into my pupils. He finally released me, "Did she curse or poison you?"

"No."

"Are you sleep-deprived again?"

I shook my head, "Not more than usual."

My mother gasped, "Did you take some type of drug?"

I raised an eyebrow, "Drug? No. I don't do those kinds of things."

The Headmaster's eyes narrowed, "Did you eat or drink anything weird?"

"All I had was food and drinks at the festival…" My eyes lit up, "Ah! Actually, I had this drink that made me feel warm and a bit fuzzy after drinking it."

The Headmaster frowned, "Then I'm afraid you were given a mana suppressor."

"A mana suppressor?"

He nodded, "It's not uncommon for people to use those at large events. It renders you unable to summon your mana and makes you an easier target."

My mother sighed, "Oh my. Reika, you need to keep an eye on your drinks."

I pursed my lips, "I usually keep an eye on my drinks! But I didn't think that-"

My mother held me in her arms tighter, "It doesn't matter. Let's just consider us all lucky it ended like this instead of ending worse! Now come on. Let's go home."

I nodded and followed after them. I noticed Zephyr trailing after me with his eyes still looking in the direction Lene and Captain Lou ran off to. I lagged behind and nudged him, "Are you okay?"

He played with a silver web in his hands but didn't speak.

I heard his voice in my head: <<That was my sister.>>

I knew it.

I reached out to comfort him: <<Isn't it a good thing that she's alive?>>

His bottom lip quivered: <<If she was alive, how come she never tried to find me? How come no one in my family saved me from that stone?>>

My mind went blank.

I have no idea how to comfort him in this situation.

I could only rub his back without saying a single thing.

He abruptly turned into a fox and jumped into my arms.

I held him close to my chest as he hid his head and trembled.

I softly pet his fur without a word.