GameDev Reincarnated into His Own Creation

Vol 2 - Chapter 20.2: Inheritance

Vel shrugged, thinking about the whispers that had followed him since the assessment began. "Nothing I can't handle."

"Is it true that you were sorted into unstable attunement?" Landre asked, leaning forward with concern in her eyes. "I heard the whispers back there. How could that happen?"

Vel hesitated, weighing how much to reveal about his unique circumstances. The truth would be impossible to explain, but he didn't want to lie to his sister either.

"If I said those crystals made a mistake, would you believe me?" Vel said, watching her reaction carefully.

Landre tilted her head, considering his words. She didn't immediately agree or disagree, which told him she was giving his question genuine thought rather than offering blind faith.

"Hm...". She tapped her fingers lightly on the velvet cushion. "If you said so, then it must be. Though I never heard of the artifact making mistakes before."

Silence settled between them again, comfortable this time.

"How are father and mother?" Landre asked, changing the subject.

Vel smiled, seeing an opportunity. "They're fine. There's one thing though... you have... a little sister now."

Landre's eyes widened with surprise, her composed saintly demeanor completely vanishing. "What?"

"Yeah," Vel said, enjoying her reaction. "Eight months after you left Elnor. You made them feel... lonely."

"I left for a higher purpose!" Landre protested, then pointed at him accusingly. "Besides, they had you, didn't they? Clearly you weren't entertaining enough."

"That's ridiculous!"

Landre grinned, clearly pleased with herself for turning the blame around. "Is it though?"

Vel let out a sigh, seeing no point in arguing with his always teasing sister. Some things never changed, even when wrapped in the formal robes of a Saint.

"Lyra," he said, offering the name as a peace offering.

"Lyra," Landre repeated softly, testing the name of a sister she had yet to meet. Her expression softened with genuine warmth. "That's a beautiful name. Like the constellation."

Landre's expression softened into wonder. "I have a baby sister... and I haven't even met her." A hint of sadness crept into her voice. "What is she like? Does she look like mother?"

"She has Dad's eyes but Mom's smile," Vel replied. "And she's loud. Really loud."

Landre smiled as Vel recounted the nights he'd been woken by Lyra's crying, how he'd helped care for her while Mari recovered and Von worked. Her expression softened with each detail, the teasing sister replaced by someone genuinely touched by his thoughtfulness.

"When did you get so responsible, little brother?" she asked, reaching over to ruffle his hair affectionately.

As memories of Lyra's midnight cries faded from his thoughts, Vel noticed a shadow cross Landre's face. Her fingers traced invisible patterns on the velvet cushion, and her gaze drifted toward the carriage window.

"I really want to visit them," Landre said, her voice carrying the longing of someone separated too long from loved ones. "But the life of a Saint is hardly my own. Every moment is scheduled, every appearance planned." She gestured vaguely at the carriage, the guards, the entire production that had accompanied her arrival.