Chapter 1

“Hey big brother, I can’t sleep~” Amae said as she strolled into my bedroom.

My little sister wore an alluring midnight-black nightgown paired with thigh-high stockings — her pajamas. Small motes of warm light followed her like trailing fireflies. Amae chanted a command「Luminescence Spread」as soon she sat on my bed. The lights quickly scattered, permeating the room as it began to brighten in a few seconds.

“Want to join me tonight?” I blew out the candle since it was unneeded in the presence of my talented magician sister.

“I guess I’ll take your offer,” Amae replied in a smug tone, shrugging nonchalantly as she lay down and snuggled her cute face next to my chest. “I’ll keep you company, only because you asked.”

I laughed at her a-dork-able response.

“Anything bothering you, my dear sister?” I patted her head while she smiled in response. Her flowing, jet-black hair felt smooth between my fingers as I gently ran them down to her waist.

“That you’re a ‘Regular’ and I am a ‘Potential’.” Amae then let out a deep sigh, drifting back into a sullen mood and held onto a pillow. “It’s not fair. Even though we’re going to the same school, we won’t be in the same class. I want to be with you.”

Temple Academy, a prestigious institution branded by countless experts and archmages across the world as the pinnacle for studying academic magic. Attending students were conferred ranks based on the results of an entrance exam.

A to C ranking were categorized as ‘Potentials’ while D to F were considered ‘Regulars’, with the latter being the lowest. Standing at the apex, ‘S-rank’ was the highest ranking a student can attain.

It is known that many of the famous magicians, such as XIV of Numerals Society, capable of using fourteen impressive variations of fire-elemental magic and Ade from Adventurer’s Guild, an erudite archmage that single-handedly slain a Dragon were ‘S-rank’ prior to graduation.

It was unlucky for Amae that Temple Academy only permitted new coming students to be at the maximum of ‘A-rank’. But understanding my sister’s talents and magic potency, I have absolute faith that she will reach ‘S-rank’ by next year. There was no doubt about it.

“I do agree that it is unfair but that is to be expected from a magic-oriented university. Besides, you’ll still see me after class is over.” I said in a gentle tone, as though trying to placate a pouty child. “The only big change is that we won’t be living across the hall from one another.”

“That’s not what I mean, big brother.” Amae sighed again, probably because I missed her point. “It’s the fact that you’re starting at the lowest rank. It is an absolute insult to your skills.”

“The results of the entrance exam was determined by magic abilities alone. The fact that I can’t use magic meant that I am automatically placed in the lowest rank.”

Amae is a ‘Four-Attribute Magic’ user.

In other words, she could adeptly cast all four main elements: fire, water, wind, and earth. The average magician could only use one element while talented users could use two or three at best. Compared to the world, Amae was a legendary magician by societal standards.

In stark contrast to my gifted sister, I possessed no potential for elemental magic. While my swordsmanship may reign at a Hero-tier level, I will most likely stay a ‘Regular’ for the next five years based on Temple Academy’s hierarchy system.

“Still...” Amae muttered under her breath. “Everything we did for the past few years at the Adventurer’s Guild ... All that hard work ... It’s basically like starting at Bronze-tier again.”

“I really don’t mind.” I held her right hand as our fingers interlocked by habit. “I am just glad that I could be with you. Besides, there’s a possibility I could enjoy being a Regular as well. School ranking and social reputation are the least of my concerns when I have you with me.”

Grandmaster was the one who raised us; training me in swordsmanship and Amae in magic. Although he was a tough and stringent teacher, we both gladly accepted him as our paternal mentor.

We lived in a secluded dojo from society, near the summit of the tallest mountain in the world known as Mt. Ains. It was about half an hour from the nearest town, with half of it involving hiking down a lengthy, serpentine set of stone-sculpted stairs.

“What if you are bullied?” Amae leaned in, our faces inches away from each other. “I heard many stories that Regulars are treated badly, perhaps even worse compared to the Adventurer’s Guild because most students are nobles of the upper class. You know how haughty they can be.”

“Of course I will handle it if people were to disrespect me. And if anyone is foolish enough to challenge me to a duel...” I glanced at my prized Katana, resting in its ornate black-sheath on a weapon stand. “ ... you know what happens, even if they may be an ‘S-rank.’”

“I know, big brother. There’s no one in the school that obviously stands a chance against you.” Amae nodded in reverence to my forte. “But do let me know if you need help ... I just ... don’t want you to end up hating school because of me...”

“I won’t.” I smiled, now understanding the root of Amae’s distress. To think all this time, she was worried about my well-being. “Thanks for caring about me, I love you.”

I love her. I really do.

“Say it again.”

“Thanks for caring about me—”

“—Nooooooo.”

“Just kidding.” I chuckled at her expression and then switched in a serious voice, gazing deeply into Amae’s navy-blue eyes. “I love you, my dear little sister. Let’s have a memorable school life together.”

“Yay-!” Amae let out a joyous cry as her lips blossomed into a beaming smile.

I patted her head again as she embraced me, nuzzling lovingly against my neck.

I thought about that fateful day when we became siblings.

We had been together constantly for the last decade. From basic house chores to mastering martial arts, neither of us could tolerate the idea of being apart, even it was for just one day.

Although Grandmaster may joke at how much of a siscon I was, he understood that we were like bread and butter. Our love was no secret to him. His eyes always twinkled with merriment whenever he teased us. Like him, most of the apprentices found it sweet and endearing, not shameful.

I moved to her right ear and whispered in a dulcet voice, “I told you from the first day when we vowed to become siblings and I’ll repeat it as many times as you want, a sister’s all I need.”

Amae’s cute face blushed into a lovable tomato-red.

“I-if you say it like that...” Amae’s voice trailed off into a soft whisper. “I am going to be embarrassed you know ... But I’m really glad.”

“You know it’s true,” I gave her a quick goodnight kiss on the lips, “We should rest now. It’s an important day tomorrow, it would be quite tragic for us to oversleep for the first-year orientation.”