Western Sea Basic Magic Training Academy

---

It was after class, and the young Peach sat quietly by herself at her desk.

Around her, murmurs rippled through the room—whispers about the eldest daughter of the Sharksea Clan.

Though poised and elegant, there seemed to be an invisible wall around her. No one had dared to approach her thus far, perhaps intimidated by her cold aura.

"Hey, newbie! Hand over that thing in your hand!"

A large, sturdy boy sauntered over, flanked by five or six other kids, encircling Peach where she sat.

Peach recognized him. He was the eldest son of another prominent family, with the highest magical aptitude of anyone currently attending the academy.

"..."

"Hey! You deaf, girly? Didn’t you hear me?!"

When Peach remained silent, the boy snatched the teddy bear from her hands in one swift motion.

"You’re playing with such childish nonsense?! Haha, how pathetic!"

The plush toy fell to the ground, only to be mercilessly stomped on while the boy’s raucous laughter echoed into the school corridors.

Knock knock.

Two sharp taps sounded at the classroom door—a quiet interruption made by Sharkai Bai, the white-haired boy who had just transferred and was Peach’s elder brother.

Initially coming to check on his sister, Bai now stood frozen in place as he took in the scene before him.

"You lot, step outside for a minute," Bai said with a calm tone, fixing his gaze on the burly boy and his gang.

"Hah? A newbie? Aren’t you supposed to be the family’s failure? A useless embarrassment of the Sharksea Clan!" the big guy sneered, locking eyes with Bai.

With lumbering arrogance, he began striding toward Bai, his posse trailing closely behind.

"No, brother! Don’t!"

Peach dashed to Bai’s side, clutching at his sleeve in desperation. Her brother’s inability to even conjure a simple fireball was no secret. She could not bear the thought of him getting hurt because of her.

Bai said nothing.

Instead, he gently pushed Peach behind him.

"If you give me some snacks, worm, I might consider letting you off," the boy jeered, his towering form casting a shadow over Bai.

"Hey."

His taunting was cut short by a single word.

"Huh?"

Before the boy could react, a lollipop fell from Bai's hand, spiraling downward.

"L-lollipop!"

The boy instinctively bent down to grab the candy, his reaction clumsy and eager.

"Humph, looks like you—"

*Thud!*

Before he could finish his sentence or straighten his posture, he was struck by a piercing pain surging through his face.

The cracking sound of the lollipop being shattered reverberated, accompanied by the crunch of impact as the boy’s body flew clean across the room, colliding into the farthest blackboard with a dull echo.

He dropped to the ground in a heap, a shoe imprint visible on his face, minus one of his teeth.

The cronies who had stood at his side moments ago now trembled, their knees threatening to buckle beneath them as their wide eyes stared at Bai.

“As of now, everything at this academy goes my way,” Bai declared, lowering the leg he had kicked with before turning to Peach and gently ruffling her dark hair.

“I’m strong. I’ll keep you safe,” he said softly.

And for the first time, Peach looked up at her elder brother, wiping away the tears pooling in her eyes before nodding firmly.

Time moved on. Seven years passed like the wind.

---

“What? You want me to attend Holy Carthus Academy?”

“Correct. Your enrollment has already been arranged.”

“Who would want to go to such a boring place?!”

Bai, his left arm secured in a cast, rose from his chair. Only yesterday, he had emerged from a grueling duel with Xuanyuan Yinghan, the heir of the Xuanyuan Clan in the Eastern Province.

By now, Bai had already challenged and vanquished nearly every known prodigy across the continent.

“It’s not a matter of choice. You’re going.”

“Oh yeah? How about this?”

“What scheme are you cooking up now?”

“Let’s have a duel. If I win, there’s no way I’m heading off to that useless academy!”

As Bai spoke, he flung a clenched fist toward Sharkai Manwei’s face.

“Do you dare rebel against me, brat?!”

*BANG!*

An echoing crash filled the family’s living room as Bai was almost casually tossed aside by Sharkai Manwei.

“Damn it… That hurts!”

“Elder brother?”

Peach, passing by, spotted Bai sprawled on the floor of the hallway in visible discomfort. She immediately rushed over to help him up.

“Don’t bother me!”

Bai snarled, violently shaking off her support before storming off alone.

“Brother…”

Peach murmured softly, watching his fleeting silhouette disappear down the corridor.

---

Two years later

Holy Carthus Academy Dormitories

“Ah… This reminds me of the old days,” Bai mused.

Within the shower room

Perched upon a small wooden stool, Bai was wrapped in nothing but a white towel around his waist, with Peach skillfully massaging his scalp from behind.

The last time she had washed his hair was nearly five years ago. Bai recalled the moment vividly—it had been right after he’d taught a pack of troublesome ruffians an unforgettable lesson when they had harassed his sister.

“Brother, your hair is still as dry as ever. Alright, close your eyes,” Peach instructed, spraying water to rinse the foam out of his hair with precision.

“Now switch.”

Bai and Peach swapped positions.

“How’s Mom doing back home?” Bai asked.

“Perfect. She’s probably thrilled not having to worry about a certain violent lunatic running around all the time,” Peach teased with playful sarcasm, her hands moving with care as she rinsed his hair.

“Good to hear,” Bai murmured.

“Ah… This feels so nice…” Bai exhaled, sinking into the soothing rhythm of his sister’s touch.

Even though both were nearly adults now, neither saw anything wrong with this arrangement. After all, siblings would always just be siblings.

---

Meanwhile, in the living room

(Siblings? Just siblings? Just siblings! Calm down, calm down!)

Cecilia Xuelian stared unblinkingly at the TV, her outward composure betrayed by the tumultuous thoughts racing through her mind as she strained to hear the sounds coming from the bathroom.

(He’s not a creep. No way he’d ever feel *that* way about his own sister… right?)

Summer Feina sat stiffly, her attention hovering unconsciously in the same direction.

(T-t-t-t-taking a bath together…?)

All the while, Hesna remained frozen on the sofa, mentally looping through her logic.

(Isn’t it perfectly normal for siblings to bathe together? ...Right?)

But no matter how calm they tried to act, something about the situation felt undeniably off among the three girls.