Day 3 — Airi's Secret Mission
Morning in Aetheria felt like a dream.
Mist drifted above the ground like a soft river of clouds. Dewdrops clung to leaves, catching sunlight like tiny gems. The entire forest breathed mana, and the air was so pure it almost felt alive.
Airi tiptoed through the corridor with stealth that could put an assassin to shame.
She peeked left.She peeked right.
The coast was clear.
Her mission began.
She whispered to herself.
"A surprise attack of affection."
Frost, the Wolf Lord, was lying just outside on the terrace, resting his head lazily on his paws. He opened an eye as she attempted to ninja past him.
"You are awake early."His voice rumbled like distant thunder.
Airi puffed her cheeks. "I am not sneaking."
"You are absolutely sneaking."
"I am going to learn something cool. And then…" She tilted her chin up proudly. "I will show Onii Chan."
Frost stared for a long moment.
"…Impressing someone you love. I approve."
Airi turned red. "L-Love what are you talking about. We are siblings."
Frost stretched his front paws and yawned. "Denying it makes it more obvious."
"I said it is not romance."
Frost blinked slowly. "Sure."
Airi stomped away.
She headed toward the cliffside terrace.
There, surrounded by floating orbs of soft mana, stood Lunara.
The Dragon Queen.
Her silver hair fluttered in the wind, reflecting the morning light like stardust. She looked like a calm storm, graceful and terrifying at once.
Airi marched forward.
"Lunara."
Lunara slowly turned her head. "Good morning, Eternal Princess."
"I want you to teach me magic."
A pause.
Lunara blinked once. "…Magic requires years of training."
Airi stepped closer, determination in every step.
"I want to show Onii Chan something amazing."
Not power.Not status.
Just pure sincerity.
Lunara carefully studied the girl in front of her.
In Airi's eyes, she saw strength, devotion, and overwhelming love.
"…Very well." Lunara raised her hand. "I will teach you."
Airi gasped. "Really?"
"But if you lose focus, you could explode."
"I accept."
"If your mana overloads, the entire terrace could collapse."
"I accept."
"If you cry, I will not comfort you."
"I accept."
Lunara blinked. "You are very reckless."
Airi grinned. "I am Haruto's sister."
Lunara sighed. "That explains everything."
Training Begins
The terrace suddenly shimmered.
Lunara raised her palm and mana swirled around them like ribbons of starlight. Petals of light grew from the air, floating gently around Airi.
"This spell is called Celestial Illusion Garden."
Airi's eyes widened. "It is beautiful…"
"It is a spell of the heart," Lunara said. "Not the mind. Magic is emotion shaped into form. Do not force it. Feel it."
Airi inhaled softly.
Her eyes slowly closed.
She pictured Haruto smiling. Haruto patting her head. Haruto saying those words:
I am proud of you.
Her chest felt warm.
"Celestial… Illusion… Garden…"
Mana surged.
BOOM.
A shockwave blew Lunara's robe backward and a shallow crater appeared under Airi's feet.
Lunara blinked. "…That was not the spell."
Airi coughed. "I do not know what happened. Maybe too much love."
"That was not love. That was artillery level obsession."
"Let me try again."
She breathed deeper this time.
Slow. Calm.
For Onii Chan.
Light swirled. Stars bloomed like fireflies. They gathered into soft petals glowing like constellations.
Airi opened her eyes.
"I… I did it."
Floating celestial flowers encircled them.
Lunara froze.
She needed years of meditation to perform this.
Airi learned it in one try.
Lunara exhaled slowly. "You are terrifying."
Airi smiled proudly. "I know."
Day 4 — Presentation Day
Airi burst into Haruto's room.
"Onii Chan! Outside. Now."
Haruto blinked as she dragged him to the clearing. "You seem excited."
"It is very important."
She positioned herself in front of him, took a deep breath, and whispered.
"Celestial Illusion Garden."
Light exploded like a supernova.
Stars blossomed into flowers. Constellations wrapped around them. Petals fell like snow made of moonlight.
Haruto stood still.
No movement.
No breath.
Just awe.
Airi held her breath. "Do you like it?"
Haruto placed a hand gently on her head.
"I love it."
Airi's heart combusted.
"You said," she whispered, cheeks glowing red, "you would cook with me."
Haruto froze.
"I did… say that."
"Then let us cook." She smiled. "Just the two of us."
Haruto sighed in defeat. "As you wish."
Cooking Time — The Worst Team Ever
In the kitchen:
Haruto: chopping vegetables with surgical precision Airi: fighting ingredients like a final boss
Airi poured sugar into the soup.
Haruto stared. "Airi. Stop."
"It is flavor enhancement."
"It is diabetes enhancement."
"Trust my art."
"It is not art if it can kill someone."
Airi gasped. "You doubt me."
Haruto pointed. "You are stirring an empty bowl."
Airi stared at it.
"…This bowl betrayed me."
Haruto burst into laughter.
Outside the doorway, three extremely powerful beings watched like gossip aunties:
Frost (Wolf King) Lunara (Dragon Queen) Lyria (Fairy Queen)
They whispered.
Frost: "They look like a married couple."
Lunara: "She is trying so hard to impress him."
Lyria: "This is love."
Haruto and Airi yelled at the same time.
"WE ARE SIBLINGS!"
Lyria sipped tea. "Peak denial."
Airi nearly threw the ladle at them.
But despite chaos, flying spoons, sugar-based warfare, and Frost saving the kitchen twice…
They actually made something edible.
They cooked.
They laughed.
And for the first time, Aetheria felt less like a fortress of power,
and more like a home.
Night Scene
Airi collapsed onto the bed, exhausted and glowing with happiness.
Haruto tucked the blanket around her.
Suddenly, she grabbed his hand in her sleep.
"You are the best… in this world… and every world. Never leave… Onii Chan…"
Haruto froze.
His chest tightened.
He remembered the plane crash.
Her screams.
Her reaching for him through fire.
He squeezed her small hand.
"I will never leave your side."
Moonlight quietly wrapped them both.
Day 5 — Breakfast
Morning sun spilled into the kitchen.
Airi hummed like an angel while flipping pancakes.
Haruto cooked beside her, calm and focused.
"You are smiling a lot today," he said softly.
Airi puffed her cheeks. "I always smile."
"You smile more when you are proud of something."
Her eyes sparkled. "Maybe I am."
Their voices mixed with the sound of dishes and sizzling pans.
Outside the kitchen…
The atmosphere changed.
Frost's ears perked up.
Lunara's expression darkened.
Lyria stopped mid sip, teacup hovering.
Haruto felt it too.
Unwelcome presences.
Approaching.
Marching.
He turned slightly to Frost, Lunara, and Lyria.
Voice low.
"Not here. Not now. Let her smile."
All three nodded silently.
Heroes POV — Edge of The Great Forest
The summoned heroes finally reached the massive wall of trees.
The air was thick.The sky twisted.Mana pressure was so high that birds fell from sky..
Hiroshi grinned. "We finally made it. Time to kill th—"
He never finished.
A crushing force dropped onto them.
Killing intent.
Not from around them.
Not ahead.
From deep within the forest.
From Aetheria.
Haruto.
Frost.
Lunara.
Lyria.
Four impossibly powerful auras overlapped, pressing down like a mountain.
The heroes dropped to their knees.
Hiroshi gasped. "W-What… is…"
His lungs refused to work.
The killing intent spoke a single message.
Do not disturb her smile.
Birds fell from the sky.
Wind froze.
Time stopped.
Hiroshi's vision blurred. "T This… power… it is impossible…"
They had not even seen the monsters in Aetheria.
But they already knew:
They were prey.
CHAPTER 12 — END