CHAPTER 104: CHAPTER 104 : A VISIT FROM SISTER

After her playful and intense conversation with her mother, Alicia walked back into her room with a long sigh.

She leaned against the door for a moment, her expression thoughtful. But after a few seconds, she pushed off with purpose.

"Right," she muttered. "Time to remind someone who’s in charge."

She turned toward her closet and flung it open, eyeing the rows of carefully arranged clothes.

Her current outfit—an oversized hoodie and loose pajama pants—definitely wouldn’t cut it for a visit to the prestigious first-year dorms. Especially not his place.

After a short deliberation, she slipped into a sleek, casual ensemble: a cropped maroon jacket over a white fitted top, high-waisted black pants that accentuated her figure, and ankle boots with just the right amount of heel.

She tied her white hair into a high ponytail, letting a few strands fall to frame her face. A quick touch of gloss and eyeliner completed the look.

Alicia gave herself a final once-over in the mirror, smirked, and left her room with a swing in her step.

By the time she reached the luxurious residential tower for the top ten cadets, the sun was dipping lower in the sky, casting a golden hue over the campus. She walked through the automatic doors and made her way to the lift, tapping the button for the 8th floor.

The elevator chimed softly as it arrived. The doors slid open, and she stepped into the spacious hallway. Making her way to the familiar door, she rang the doorbell.

A few seconds passed. Then, with a hiss of air, the door slid partially open. From inside, a sluggish voice mumbled, "Who is it...?"

Alicia raised an eyebrow. "Well, well, look who just woke up from a peaceful nap."

Alden’s half-asleep brain struggled to process the voice. He blinked rapidly. "...Huh?" He rubbed his eyes, then looked again.

And then his eyes widened like saucers.

Then he rubbed his eyes again.

"No way..." he muttered.

Alicia stood there with her hands on her hips, her lips curled into a satisfied smirk. "I’m here, little bro. You’re not dreaming. And you probably should’ve checked the visitor before opening the door."

Panic rushed into Alden’s expression like a tidal wave.

She was here. In his dorm. Which meant—he gulped—it had to be about that picture.

"I—I think someone else is at the door. I should check real quick—"

He turned sharply and began to bolt—

"You’re trying to run away with that excuse, aren’t you?" Alicia’s voice was suddenly cold and sharp as ice.

In desperation, Alden channeled mana to his legs, launching himself toward the exit with a burst of speed. He was so close—just a few meters from the door—when WHAM—

Alicia’s foot collided squarely with his face.

His body twisted mid-air from the sheer force of the kick, and he went spinning like a ragdoll, crashing straight into the far wall. There was a loud CRACK as the wall fractured in the perfect shape of Alden’s outline.

A moment of silence passed.

Then, from amidst the debris, came a groan. "Ughhh..."

Alicia walked over, arms crossed. "This isn’t fun if you don’t at least fight back. Tell you what, I’ll let you attack me three times. I won’t counter until after that."

Alden stood up, brushing dust off his clothes, his face already swelling. But despite the bruises, he reached for his sword with determination burning in his eyes. "You think you can bully me just because you’re older? If that silver-haired bastard can beat you up, so can I—!"

He didn’t finish the sentence. He dashed toward her with a battle cry, unleashing a quick combo of slashes filled with grit and desperation.

Thirty seconds later...

Alden was kneeling on the floor, a swollen cheek and three claw-like scratch marks on his face. He held a small silver tray with a teapot and cup, pouring carefully.

"My lady, is there anything else you require?" he asked through gritted teeth.

Alicia lounged on his couch, sipping her tea with elegance. "Yes. I need you to tell me who sent you that picture. And don’t even think about lying."

Alden blinked rapidly. "Wait... so this isn’t about me telling Mom about the picture?"

She glanced at him, calm as the eye of a storm. "Oh, it’s about that too. Why do you think I gave you that beating just now?"

Alden’s face paled. "Tch... I knew Mom betrayed me..."

Gritting his teeth and realizing there was no escape, he slumped a little and said, "Alright... it was Alex. Alex sent them to me."

Alicia’s ears perked up. A vein twitched on her temple. "I’m listening. Go on."

"He... he sent me that picture and told me to—" Alden hesitated, choosing his words very carefully.

Alicia’s stare sharpened. "Go on. What did he tell you?"

Alden looked at her with pleading eyes. "Will you promise not to get angry and beat me up instead of him?"

She raised a brow. "Alright. I promise."

He exhaled in relief, shoulders finally relaxing. "He sent me that picture."

Just as Alden finished those fateful words—"He told me to start calling him... brother-in-law"—he barely had a moment to register her reaction.

Alicia’s expression shifted from amusement to pure, seething rage. Her eyes narrowed, her pupils practically glowing with fury.

A white-hot aura of pressure spilled from her body like a dam bursting, shaking the furniture slightly.

"...He what?" she whispered.

Before Alden could react, her hand shot out—reflexively, unintentionally—and struck the side of his head with a clean SMACK.

He didn’t even get a full scream out.

The last thing he saw was his older sister’s glowing white hair, framed by the overhead lights like some vengeful war goddess descending upon him. His mouth moved on instinct, and his last barely audible words were:

"Beat that bastard up just as much..."

And then—THUD.

He collapsed face-first onto the floor, completely unconscious. A soft snore escaped him as drool pooled onto the polished wood, one leg still twitching slightly.

Alicia blinked in surprise. Her anger briefly dissolved into something akin to guilt. "...Did I just knock him out?"

She knelt down and gently prodded his cheek. No response. Only drool and the occasional mumble about betrayal and swords.

"Oops."

Realizing what she had done, she glanced around as if expecting someone to burst in and arrest her for sibling assault.

Her expression shifted to panic, and she mumbled, "This... never happened."

With surprising gentleness, she lifted Alden into a bridal carry and laid him carefully onto his bed. She even tucked the blanket under his arms. "It was all your fault. Don’t blame me for this," she muttered, brushing his hair back and sighing.

Then, acting like a criminal fleeing the scene, she tiptoed out of the room and shut the door quietly. Once out, she pressed her back against the wall and exhaled deeply.

"Okay," she said to herself, cracking her knuckles one by one with loud pops. "Round two."

She walked toward the elevator, her boot heels echoing ominously in the quiet hallway. Pressing the button for the 10th floor, she stared at the slowly rising numbers with a dark gleam in her eyes.

---

Meanwhile, just a few floors above, a very different atmosphere unfolded.

Inside the spacious, modern apartment of the 10th floor’s top cadet, Alex Dragonheart stood by his large window, sipping the last of his evening tea. He was dressed in his casual training gear, focused on his physical training in his private training area.

His attire—comfortable, loose, and perfect for light sparring or mental focus exercises.

He leaned against the wall and admired the view outside.

The sun was beginning its descent, casting warm golden rays across the lush green academy grounds. A gentle breeze rustled the trees. Birds flew across the sky. The bustling noise of students below was distant, like background ambience.

Alex smiled faintly and let out a satisfied sigh.

"What a beautiful evening," he mused. "After such a troublesome day... it’s almost poetic how peaceful this is now. Maybe I’ll take a short nap. I hope no more trouble arises."

He closed his eyes and took a slow, calming breath.

That’s when Zara, his AI assistant, spoke with her usual soft chime:

{ Alex, someone is at the door. }

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A/N:

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