[Unlock]

Chapter 42 [Unlock] (thunderstorm)

Chapter 42 [Unlock] (thunderstorm)

I noticed that during dinner Lena seemed especially down. She was just kind of pushing her food around her plate. I didn't know what she was sad about so I waited until we had all finished eating.

"Hey Lena, I want to practice some plant magic, can you come with me and help me?" I asked to get her to come with me

Lena looked up confused and then put on a pretty convincing smile as if everything was fine, but I could tell something was bothering her. "Ohh sure Nii-san. What has the world come to where the great Mage Viscount Magias has to ask his little sister for magic help? Haha," Lena laughs and teases. I just laughed along. We said goodnight to everyone else and Sebastian led everyone to their rooms.

I took Lena to the garden. "So Nii-san what plant magic did you want to practice?"

"That was mostly an excuse. You think I wouldn't notice that my little sister was feeling down about something during dinner?" I ask carefully

"Haha even Lilin didn't notice, she was so caught up in that soul ring you got her. But I guess it's as expected of Nii-san." Lena sighs

"So tell me, what's wrong?" I ask tenderly

"Everything is changing so fast. I miss when it was just You, me, Lilin, and Beph. Things were so much simpler. Now you and Nee-san are engaged, and I'm happy for you two, I am. We also have added Anne and Cara and Circe and Colna and now even Gabrielle to the party. I am glad to have new friends, don't get me wrong, but I feel as if I don't have a place as much anymore. Without my gear today I was useless. Even without gear or artifacts Anne can still use magic, Beph, and Circe can control animals and even people to help, Colna, and Cara are well trained in close quarters combat, Lilin is skilled with healing and blessing magic, and can even sprout medicinal plants, and even Gabrielle can predict the future. I feel so useless. My soul skill brings rain, which would only hamper the party on most quests, my magic takes too long and isn't that strong in the first place, my combat skills are too lacking compared to Colna, Cara, and especially you, and Lilin knows more about useful plants than I do anyway. I am unneeded and just another worry for you and the party." Lena sighs dejectedly

"You are my cute little sister, and there is no way you are a burden or a worry," I answer back teasingly

"But I am still unneeded." Lena sighs sadly

"You are not, what made you think something like that anyway?" I asked bitterly

"It has been a thought that has crept up from time to time, however today when you rescued Gabrielle, I couldn't do anything. Circe cleared the area, Beph used her keen hearing to update us on the situation, and Colna used an artifact she made to help direct Bartumus. I couldn't do anything useful!! Did you know that pretty much everyone in my grade looks up to you as some kind of hero or something, and being useless I go from one of the heroes companions to the dumb little sister that needs to be protected?" Lena begins to cry a little bit.

I pull Lena into an embrace and start singing a song from when we were younger "Together forever, brother and sister go off to fight the horde... come on I know you know the rest, don't make your tone-deaf brother sing it louder." I say teasingly

Lena sighs before whispering "monsters are slaying but we'll still be playing under the shining stars"

"Brother and Sister, together forever, till the day they part." I sing the next line of the nursery rhyme. Apparently, it was about a pair of elvish siblings who were also lovers and died a tragic death during a savage magic beast attack. Uncle Vinka taught the song to us and, Lilin and Lena would sing it all the time, and it was Lena's favorite when we were younger. I then gently kiss Lena's forehead. Lena breaks into a small smile