Chapter 75: Sisters of the Storm
The halls of the mage academy buzzed with gossip, but none of it mattered to elena, a young and gifted mage. Her mind was elsewhere. The moment she heard the news, she bolted from her dorm room, nearly tripping over her robes in her haste.
Her elder sister, Celeste, had finally emerged from her secluded training.
For three long months, Celeste had vanished, dedicating herself to mastering the new training equipment at the knight academy. Stories of the gravity chambers and magically enhanced dummies capable of peefectly mimicking the power of the person they fight against.
Celeste was more than just her older sibling. She was her protector, her mentor, and her only remaining family. The sisters hailed from a fallen noble house in the northern dukedom, a family that had been branded as traitors when their secret mission to help slaves escape to freedom in the western dukedom was discovered. Their parents had paid the ultimate price, leaving the girls to fend for themselves.
Celeste had been unshakable through it all, shouldering the burden of their survival with a cold and stoic resolve. But as Annalise sprinted to the knight academy's training grounds, she couldn't help but wonder if her sister still cared about things like family.
Celeste had risen to be knight for the western dukedom—she was one of the youngest members of the Stormguard, an elite unit of magic knights renowned across the Empire for their ability to harness elemental magic alongside their physical prowess. Whether it was extinguishing rogue infernos in the southern dukedom or slaying rampaging mana-beasts in the mountains, the Stormguard were the first and last line of defense against the most dangerous threats.
Stories of Celeste's exploits had spread far and wide. They said she once faced down an entire herd of thunderstalkers alone, her blade crackling with lightning as she dispatched them with ruthless efficiency. On another occasion, she and her squad had ventured into a mana-corrupted forest, battling beasts twisted by dark magic for days before finally restoring balance.
For Elena, those tales were awe-inspiring—but also deeply isolating. Celeste's reputation seemed so far removed from the awkward, bookish younger sister who could barely manage a proper shield spell.
Elena possesses a softer, more delicate beauty that contrasts with her older sister's commanding presence. Her golden-blonde hair falls in gentle waves, cascading to her waist, and her wide, sparkling sapphire-blue eyes hold a natural innocence and curiosity. Her skin is smooth and fair, giving her an almost doll-like appearance.
Her gentle and approachable beauty has earned her the title of "the Jewel of the Mage Academy," admired by nearly everyone. She often wears flowing robes of pale blue and white embroidered with silver accents, further enhancing her angelic image.
Despite Elena's stunning looks and kind nature, no boy in the academy dares to approach her. The reason? Her older sister, Celeste.
Celeste's fearsome reputation as a skilled warrior and her imposing presence are enough to make anyone think twice about getting too close to Elena. Many who tried to muster the courage were quickly dissuaded by the mere sight of Celeste glaring at them, her sharp eyes silently daring them to even try.
Elena, somewhat oblivious to her own beauty and her sister's intimidating aura, simply thinks that boys find her uninteresting, though she doesn't seem to mind. She's more focused on magic and dreams of making her sister proud.
Behind the scenes, Celeste is fiercely protective of Elena. She has chased off a few overly bold admirers in the past, muttering under her breath that "none of them are good enough for her little sister."
When Elena finally finds Celeste in the training grounds, the older sister is sparring with other knights. The other knights, visibly sweating and bruised, quickly retreat the moment they see Elena approach.
"Big sis!" Elena called, running up to her.
Celeste raised an eyebrow. "Elena. What are you doing here?"
"I came to find you," Elena said, catching her breath. "The trial grounds—you've heard about them, right? I want us to go together!"
Elena swallowed hard, trying to steady her voice.
Elena said "I… I heard you finished your secluded training, and…"
She hesitated, unsure how to phrase her request without sounding desperate. Celeste crossed her arms, waiting expectantly.
Celeste "Spit it out already."
Elena: "I want you to do the trials with me!"
Celeste blinked, clearly caught off guard.
For a moment, Celeste simply stared at her. Then she sighed, running a hand through her hair.
Celeste: "Elena, I haven't even been paying attention to those trials. And you know I don't care about things like this."
Elena (pleading): "Please, big sis. You're the strongest person I know. If anyone can handle the trials, it's you. I… I need you."
Celeste's expression softened just a little. She might have been known as a fierce, no-nonsense magic knight, but when it came to her little sister, she had a weakness she could never quite shake.
Celeste (sighing): "Fine. I'll do it. But don't expect me to carry you the whole way."
Elena's face lit up with relief and gratitude.
Celeste followed her younger sister into the trial grounds, her sharp eyes scanning the area. Though the grounds were less crowded than usual, she could feel the hum of mana in the air, and her instincts screamed at her to stay alert. Elena, however, was practically bouncing with excitement, her delicate hands clasped together.
Celeste (frowning): "You've been talking about these trials non-stop. I assume they're important, but I've had little time to investigate. What exactly am I supposed to do here?"
Elena (grinning): "It's finally our turn! With you here, I know we can pass, big sis."
Celeste (dryly): "This isn't a game, Elena. Focus."
The younger girl only smiled, her silvery hair catching the light as she stepped toward the Lightning Pedestal. Its rose-shaped crystal pulsed with dangerous energy, arcs of lightning crackling along its surface. Elena hesitated for only a moment before placing her hand on the crystal, her excitement outweighing her caution.
Celeste tensed as the pedestal flared to life, the crackling energy coalescing into a towering figure. The summon Odin emerged from the storm of light, standing tall and imposing with his massive blade Zantetsuken resting against his armored shoulder. His presence radiated power, and the air around him buzzed with electricity.
Elena gasped in awe, her earlier confidence wavering slightly.
Celeste (stepping forward): "the hell is that, hurry stay behind me."
Odin wasted no time. With a sudden movement, he raised Zantetsuken and brought it crashing down in a powerful strike. Celeste pushed Elena aside, her sword meeting Odin's in a clash that sent sparks flying. The sheer force of the blow forced her to grit her teeth, but she held her ground.
Before Elena could respond, Odin unleashed a surge of lightning that arced across the ground. Elena cried out as one of the bolts struck her side, and she collapsed. Celeste's eyes widened, and she immediately retreated to her sister's side, her sword crackling with her own lightning mana as she deflected another attack.
She didn't hesitate. Kneeling beside her sister, she placed a hand over the wound, and a warm, golden glow enveloped Elena. Healing magic surged forth, knitting the damaged flesh and restoring her strength.
Odin, who had paused as if observing, shifted ever so slightly. Normally, he would have healed a trial challenger who had endured enough, but Celeste had done it herself—without knowing that was part of the trial.
For the first time, Odin's stance changed. His focus locked solely onto Celeste. The air around them grew heavier, and lightning crackled violently in response to his shifting intent. He raised his sword once more, but this time, he wasn't testing them he was acknowledging Celeste as his true opponent.
Elena, still catching her breath, looked up in shock.
Odin lunged again, and Celeste met him head-on.
This time, her movements were sharper, more precise. She wove between the arcs of lightning with an agility that seemed almost unnatural, countering each strike with expert precision. When Odin's blade came crashing down, she summoned a barrier of lightning, shielding both herself and Elena from the shockwave before counterattacking with a powerful slash infused with her own magic.
The battle intensified. Celeste fought with unwavering determination, refusing to yield even as Odin's attacks grew fiercer. She wasn't just protecting herself—she was protecting her sister. Every strike, every parry, every dodge was driven by that purpose.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of clashing steel and blinding lightning, Odin suddenly halted.
He planted his sword into the ground and leaped into the air, his massive form shifting. Armor reshaped, limbs retracted, and in moments, he had transformed into his horse form. Landing before Celeste, Odin lowered his head in acknowledgment,
A Message of floating words appeared saying "Yields only to one who is strong and heals their comrades. Never stop getting stronger. Become a hero."
Celeste's eyes widened as the words sank in. Her grip on her sword loosened slightly, and she stood tall, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten.
Odin's form began to dissolve into glowing particles, his towering presence fading like a dissipating storm. As he disappeared, the rose-shaped crystal floated gently into the air, glowing with a soft, radiant light, before settling in front of Celeste. She reached out and took it, the energy within the crystal thrumming beneath her fingers.
Elena, still weak but filled with admiration, managed to sit up and smile.
Elena (grinning): "I knew you could do it, big sis!"
Before she could say more, a soft rumble drew their attention back to the pedestal. The ground beneath it shifted, and a hidden compartment slowly slid open, revealing a weapon resting on a velvet-lined platform.
Celeste stepped closer, her eyes widening as she saw the blade. It was a sleek, elegant sword, its design both practical and beautiful, with arcs of lightning flickering faintly along its edge. It was Blazefire Saber
Celeste (examining the blade): "It's well-crafted… powerful."
She picked up the sword, its weight balanced perfectly in her hand. The energy flowing through it resonated with her mana, as though the weapon was responding to her presence. Celeste gave it a quick swing, the blade humming with power as arcs of lightning crackled in the air.
Celeste (smirking): "Not bad. This might actually make those beasts I deal with a little more interesting."
Elena stood, wobbling slightly but determined to look strong in front of her sister.
Elena: "You're unstoppable now, big sis. Maybe next time, I'll be strong enough to help you."
Celeste (placing a hand on Elena's head): "If you're serious about that, then you'd better start training harder. No more slacking off, understand?"
Elena nodded, her resolve burning brighter than ever. Together, the two sisters left the pedestal, their bond stronger than ever and their determination to rise even higher renewed by the trial they had overcome.