How To Survive A Calamity

Adrianne's tall figure leaned against the door, her posture relaxed yet conveying an air of intensity. Her eyes, dark and unreadable, fixed on me without a hint of movement.

"Is something wrong, dear sister?" I wore a smile and said to her.

She wore a simple linen nightdress, its soft fabric clinging lightly to her structured frame and hanging from delicate straps that revealed her fair, exposed shoulders.

Adrianne was well now into her teenage years. My sister was 16, and her body was developing as it should, if not far refined. She had a balanced body of muscle and fat.

Her slender arms, bare and smooth, were tucked casually behind her back.

Her hair, once just past her shoulders, now cascaded down in rich, lustrous waves, framing her face and flowing freely past her waist.

Over the past few years, it had grown significantly, adding a touch of maturity and elegance to her appearance.

'I remember there was a time she said through a letter, that the Main family had had her cut it short.'

As a warrior, unnecessarily long hair could do more harm than good in a fight, I knew that well. But few years later, here she was, a full cascade like a water fall down her back.

The soft lighting in the room highlighted the natural highlights in her brown hair, making it shimmer as she stood silently, a serene yet enigmatic presence. They glinted and shimmered in the shadows where she stood. Her dull gold eyes were reflective.

Inadvertently, I began silently admiring her features.

Adrianne was a tall young lady. A head or two taller than me in fact. She had slender muscles and soft curves highlighted under her night gown.

Err, why am I describing my older sister that way again? No that's unsettling. I shivered.

In any case, she was pretty.

Eventually, after a number of seconds, Adrianne shifted off the wall, stepped deeper into my room, and casually said,

"No, there isn't. I... I just wanted to come see you." Saying so, she casually climbed onto my bed, took a sit by the edge, and made herself at home. Her stone, and motionless eyes glanced at me as she tapped the side next to her.

What? I stared, hiding my confusion.

"Here." She gestured for me once again.

I don't know what's happening, but if that's how you want to play it, dear Adrianne, then fine by me.

I pulled the towel off my head and walked slowly towards the bed with a teasing grin.

"Oh? Could it be that you missed your little brother so much you want to spend the night with him?"

"...yes."

"Eh?" I almost choked.

[Heh.]

Meta snickered, or I was just imagining it.

I quickly regained my composure and fixed my faltered smile.

"Come," Adrianne persisted once again. "It's been a while since we last slept together. I want to hear how your day went and what you've been up to when I'm not around," she added.

I restrained a sigh and climbed into bed, laying next to her. Adrianne smiled, raised the sheet over us, and laid on her side to face me. After a lingering silence, her soft voice resounded in the bedroom.

"How was your day, Vic?"

I met her question with a bright smile.

"I got beat up by my favorite sister in a friendly spar. I lost count after three. How about you?"

Adrianne giggled lightly.

"She sounds caring and lovely."

I nodded exaggeratedly.

"The best."

Adrianne and I bantered like that for a while through the night. I was momentarily startled that my sister would suddenly show up in my room late at night, but it seemed she really was just here to check up on me.

Without realizing it, I let my guard down and found myself comfortable. We talked about our experiences apart over the years, and from there, I could sense the unspoken challenges Adrianne faced at the Main house.

She refused to go into detail, but her silence spoke volumes about the pressure she was under. Just thinking about her circumstances, I didn't need words to understand that Adrianne carried a heavy burden. The expectations of others can be such a weighty thing.

Not that I can relate.

"You'll be attending the Academy soon." I said softly, driving the topic away.

Adrianne's rarely bright expression dimmed slightly, and the warmth in her eyes retreated as her expression turned cold and straight.

She said.

"... Aegis. Yes."

As a fantastical world built on Magic and Warriors, Aethoria had it's own separate academy system. Obviously there were schools, all types actually, but Aegis was different.

In this world, there were people called Heroes, the Awakened. Those who could manipulate Aether and become Mages or Magic Knights slash Warriors.

Humanity awakened this powers some time in the past due to an incident, and ever since then, Heroes have been raised and trained to combat any future or lingering threats.

The Academy, or AEIGIS, as more popularly known was the leading organization in the Human domain at grooming Aethoria's future Heroes. And only the most privileged were admitted and offered the chance to attend.

Adrianne Solvaine Bright was one of those.

While my thoughts wandered, I suddenly felt a powerful push against my chest as Adrianne suddenly attacked.

"Woah!"

All of a sudden, my vision was upturned as if my senses skipped a moment. And in the next, Adrianne grabbed the collar of my nightshirt, swiftly climbed on top of me, pressed me against the bed, and leaned forward.

What the...

It all happened so fast. Adrianne was suddenly all up in my face.

Baffled, I could only manage a dumbfounded noise as I stared up at her with a confused smile.

"What... are you doing, sis?"

Adrianne's dull gold eyes that were almost brown, stared deep into mine, a strange tension slowly filling the air. Her dull and hazy eyes were still and motionless, betraying not a single ripple of her thoughts. Her long brown hair cascaded over me, forming a cocoon of dark locks and secluding us from the world outside.

Inadvertently, I gulped. Clearly, I was uncomfortable, but slowly I regained composure.

Well at least until what Adrianne did next.

Ignoring my question, Adrianne traced her fingers down the side of my face, through my neck, and across the exposed parts of my chest.

A jolt ran up my spine, but I held fast and didn't let it show!

No, seriously. What is going on?

Her solemn voice quietly resounded in the room.

"I noticed this before, but you've really grown up, Vic. Honestly, more than I expected." As she spoke, her hand slipped underneath my shirt and caressed my chest.

I shivered slightly.

Using all my willpower to restrain my agitation and control my heartbeat, I forced a brighter and wider smile. "I can say the same about you too, sis. You've become even prettier."

Adrianne didn't seem to care for what I said.

"Hmm, that so?" she hummed and uttered indifferently as she continued exploring my chest.

Did she eat something wrong?

Adrianne's hands continued to slide softly against my skin, reaching deeper and further underneath my shirt. Feeling this was getting too awkward, I instinctively grabbed her wrist.

"Adrianne," I called sternly.

Adrianne looked at me, held my gaze, and lingered over me. Her position shifted. She leaned forward, closer to my face, until her hazy gold eyes were the only things in my vision.

I took a stifled breath, and just as I was about to call her out again, Adrianne suddenly leaned forward. Her body pressed against mine softly yet firmly as she dug her face into the side of my neck. I felt the warmth of her skin and the heat of her breath against my neck and instinctively froze.

My mind went blank and my muscles tensed.

"O-oi, sis, what are—" Before I could finish, I noticed Adrianne's body had gone limp against my chest.

Feeling the vibrations through my body, I realized Adrianne's back was rising and falling softly. Her quiet and rhythmic breathing whispered in my ear.

D-did she just fall asleep?

Once I realized Adrianne had actually fallen asleep against me, I heaved a tired breath and stifled a wry chuckle. My muscles and tension slowly relaxed in her embrace. My racing mind began to regain composure.

"Jeez..."

Adrianne continued to sleep softly against me, her heartbeat resonating gently. I couldn't see her face clearly, but my sister seemed to be at peace.

What an adorable little girl, I chuckled internally as I slowly stroke her brown hair softly.

"Teasing your little brother like this, isn't that too sly, sis?"