Weakling

'One's desire directs their ability's growth'. The words that Cain had said echoed in Albert's mind for the next few days. He mindlessly pondered upon it, wondering if it was really true.

"Are you STILL thinking about what Cain said?" Victoria's voice took Albert out of his daze.

He looked up from the piles of grass he had pulled out from the lawn and silently grew the patches back with his ability. Victoria was 'staring' at him with Cotton in her arms. It was actually a rather common sight lately, to see Victoria with Cotton.

The little rabbit was actually surprisingly a sprit beast! Spirit beasts were animals that have abilities just like humans do. They were usually rather intelligent and were sold for high prices as they were rather uncommon. Anyhow, Cotton, this rabbit, had the ability to speak in the mind of others. As such, it was assigned the role of escorting Victoria when Cain wasn't around. It was her guide 'rabbit' so to speak.

"You know there is no point thinking about that right?"

Albert remained silent.

"If it was true, your ability will develop in a way that you want. If it doesn't, then there is no point thinking about. Simple as that."

Her words held some truth Albert realised.

"I was actually just thinking that you've been getting fat lately." Albert cheekily lied with a false smile that was as innocent as he could possibly smile. All to get that 'pure' effect of a tactless kid that couldn't lie even though Victoria couldn't see. His voice even sounded somewhat slow and breathy.

"RUDE!" Without thinking much, Victoria kicked at where she had been informed the small pile of ripped up grass had been. The grass scattered and flew directly at Albert. Giggling, Albert put up his arms in defence and fell onto his back on the soft lawn.

"If you don't make me a mango to compensate for my wounded ego, I will make you regret this." Victoria threatened somewhat lightheartedly.

"This is why you're a fatty." Albert chuckled and lifted up one of his arms without even bothering to brush away the grass blades in his hair. His eyes glowing green, Albert boosted the growth of the mango tree and produced exactly one mango. "Go get it yourself."

"What! You're making me, your poor blind sister to go get a mango myself?" Victoria exclaimed, almost sounding baffled.

"…You have Cotton." Albert weakly refuted.

"What's the point of having a little brother if they don't do as I say?" Victoria puffed her cheeks out and complained. "I don't care. Go get it."

Albert laid on the ground with his right arm laying on his forehead and the other weakly by his side.

"…Albert?"

Albert did not reply.

"Stop ignoring me." Victoria ordered.

There was still no reply.

Victoria frowned. "Hey, stop playing around. I'm going to get mad."

He didn't react.

"Oi. This is not funny. Cotton, says you're still lying there. Stop ignoring me."

Victoria was starting to get nervous now. She knelt down and grabbed Albert's shoulder only for her to flinch at the heat.

"Wait, you're burning up!" Victoria exclaimed. Her hand that had only briefly touched him could feel the heat of his fever.

'Using his ability must've caused his fever to flare up and made him collapse.'

"Damn it!" Victoria cussed, which was unlike her. "Cotton, go get someone to carry Albert inside."

Cotton jumped out of Victoria's arms and bounced into the house from the open doors.

"Seriously, you really are one handful of a brother." Victoria sat beside Albert in a huff and brushed away the grass blades in his hair. "So weak and so dumb…really makes one worried for your future."

——

""Victoria, is Albert alright?"" The twins asked, concern apparent on their faces. Behind them were Vin and Ian, both equally as worried.

Victoria pat their heads and gave a mighty smile, "Of course he is! The doctor said he just has a fever. He'll be fine after a few days."

"Wouldn't he get better instantly if we got Ron to heal him?" Vin suggested. Ron was the organisation's healer. He specialised in wounds but could also heal minor illnesses.

"The doctor said it will be better to let him get better on his own so he won't get sick that easily next time." Victoria informed. "In other words, Albert is weak! That's why he has to get stronger."

Un, un. The twins nodded in agreement. ""That's true. Even though he trains almost everyday, he's got almost no muscles. He can't even carry one of us when Father can carry us both at the same time.""

"Yes, yes. He is a weakling that'll get blown away by the wind."

"And even though he eats so much, he's very, very skinny.""

""We must fatten him up!"" The twins looked at each other and declared with a strange glint in their eyes.

"Yes, as expected of my little brother and sister. You two are very smart. You must be geniuses!" Victoria praised proudly.

""Hehe, we're Cruz's, the greatest family of all time, of course we're geniuses!"" The twins shouted with glee and the solemn mood created by Albert's collapse instantly dispersed.

As Victoria was listening to the cheerful voices of the twins, she felt a tug on her sleeve.

'Who...?' Though she turned her head instinctively, she couldn't see. As such, Victoria could not see who had tugged on her shirt. However, it was obvious to her who had done so. "Ian? What's wrong?"

Ian froze as if he had not anticipated Victoria speaking to him. Or maybe he simply did not plan ahead and was at a loss for what to do next. His eyes spun and mouth opened and closed, stammering for words that would not form.

Ian's fists clenched and his breathing shorted. He was frustrated, frustrated at himself for being able to speak despite clearly being able to and wanting to as well.

"It's okay." Victoria's clear voice rang. She held Ian's hand with her own and spoke with an angelic smile and gentle voice. "If you can't say it, you can just write it down."

""That's right, Ian!"" The twins chimed. ""You don't have twin telepathy like we do so you just have to write it down!""

"Here's a whiteboard." Vin used his telekinesis to float a whiteboard and marker over to Ian.

Ian received it with a complicated look on his face.

'How is Victoria going to go to school?' He wrote on the whiteboard.

"How is Victoria going to go to school?" Vin read outloud.

That's when it dawn on them, with Albert down, who would help Victoria get around?

"Cotton will help me obviously." Victoria grinned. "She's very smart and can read too. That's why I will be fine. Thanks for worry about me, Ian."

Victoria rubbed Ian's head, messing it up and Ian just accepted it with a blank but happy face.