Chapter 61: Big sister
Jaegar found himself perplexed by the enigmatic figure standing in front of him, or did he get what she said?
He couldn't quite grasp their meaning, so he inquired, "Pardon me, could you repeat that?" His furrowed brows sought understanding, a gesture mirrored in her narrowed eyes.
With an almost imperceptible tilt of her head, she studied him intently before speaking again, her voice tinged with a curious amusement, "You, my dear brother, exceed the praise that the whispers grant you."
Jaegar remained caught in his bewilderment, uncertain of her intent.
Sensing his confusion, she sighed, as though unravelling a puzzle for him. "Allow me to clarify. We share a common lineage, my father being yours as well." The revelation washed over him, unveiling the familial bond that had been veiled in mystery until now.
The truth had come to light, yet it brought forth a new mystery.
Why was she treating him with such familiarity, as though the sibling connection they shared was long-established? And he didn't even know she existed till now, how was she acting familiar as she knew him before?
Her next words, soft but resonant, cleared the fog of uncertainty, "Had I known of your whereabouts, I would have sought you out?"
As if on cue, another presence materialized behind her, a man who bore a disapproving countenance.
He queried her presence with a tone laced with scepticism. "What are you doing here, Jacqueline?" His voice was loud, the students who were present could all hear him.
The crowd's ears were all focused on what was going on right there, right now.
Jacqueline's response was swift and authoritative, "Please, allow me a moment with my brother, Harold." Her words sliced through the air like a blade, firm yet composed.
Then he stepped forward, saying in a dismissive tone, "Brother? Who, that bas..." Before he could finish that word, her voice rang like a bomb in his mind, striking him. The pressure increased on him, making him pale in a few seconds.
"Watch what you say, Harold."
Harold, a level 10 knight from a prestigious lineage, bore witness to her demeanour shift in a way he had never encountered. This woman, poised and usually serene, was a stark contrast to the figure he had known. Beads of perspiration formed on his forehead as his stance faltered under her gaze.
Jacqueline stood at level 18, a mistress of her craft, having earned the appellation of "Witch of the White Moon." Her reputation as a composed and tranquil individual was well-earned, a serene presence that belied the tempest that lay dormant beneath her poised exterior.
Her words still rang in his mind as he tried to compose himself. Harold was from a duke family and was engaged to Jacqueline, Seeing her tone towards him, made him a little angrier, but he couldn't say anything to her. And if it weren't for her father arranging the match for her, she wouldn't have accepted the engagement with him.
Harold had always admired Jacqueline's calm demeanour, but her dismissive tone towards him had struck a nerve. Despite his frustration, he knew that speaking out would only jeopardize their arranged engagement, a union that relied heavily on her father's influence.
Her presence in the outside world had often been shrouded in obscurity, but today she appeared at the academy, donning the role of a mentor. Yet, her true purpose lay beneath this facade—to meet her younger brother, a student in the academy's halls.
Addressing him, she proposed a quiet jaunt through the woods, a tranquil setting for a conversation that held an air of overdue connection. Her words held a familial warmth, inviting him to share his experiences at the academy and where he stayed before the academy.
Amidst the unfolding scenario, Jaegar found himself entrapped in a state of bewilderment, his gaze fixed upon her countenance as her intentions played out before him. His confusion was punctuated by the resonant clearing of Harold's throat, an act accompanied by a meticulous adjustment of his attire.
Harold interjected, his words resonating with subtle authority, as he reminded Jacqueline of a weighty consequence that awaited her avoidance.
"Jacqueline, if you don't come now, then I will have a talk with your father, again."
When she heard his words, Jacqueline sighed and stopped talking. She leaned towards Jaegar and said, "We will talk again when I come without this baggage."
They departed, leaving behind a perplexed Jaegar, grappling with the unexpected revelation that had unfolded in their brief interaction.
Still processing her words, Jaegar watched her leave. 'Big sister, li'l brother, wow. So that man already had a daughter, even older than me. Nice work, old man,' he thought inwardly.
Observing Jacqueline's departure, Jaegar's internal monologue took an introspective turn. The realization of their sibling connection lingered in his mind, intertwined with a humorous acknowledgement of the complexities woven into his father's life.
The acknowledgement of a newfound sister, older than himself, brought forth a mixture of astonishment and bemusement.
Shortly thereafter, Pierre's animated voice pierced the moment's contemplative silence, exclaiming in astonishment, "The Moon Goddess is your sister! Why didn't you share this news with me?"
Jaegar, his expression a mixture of surprise and self-discovery, offered an earnest response, "I only discovered this fact now itself."
Pierre, as his realization manifested, offered a consoling pat upon Jaegar's shoulder, empathizing with the potential emotional undertones of the revelation. "Such a revelation must have been quite the surprise, to suddenly learn of a familial bond, and that too with her," he commented, his tone laced with sympathy.
Jaegar's gaze shifted forward, and a resigned sigh escaped his lips, his thoughts now immersed in the realm of his newly discovered sibling connection. The enigmatic presence of his sister lingered in his mind, a puzzle yet to be fully unravelled.
In the midst of this contemplation, a new duo emerged, positioning themselves before Jaegar.
Jaegar said, "Now what?" as he looked at the duo. The duo weren't alone, as some other students accompanied them, Ethan was also among them. He was already glaring at Jaegar and seemed to be even angrier than before.