Rumble, rumble, rumble...

A huge thunderclap yanked me out of sleep. I opened my eyes. Outside, rain hammered down, wind howled, thunder rolled, the whole sky roaring. I grew up in Donghai City, a coastal place. I’ve been through weather like this before. Looks like a high-grade typhoon is passing.

A typhoon isn’t scary. But this house is old. The windows and walls trembled a little, like they might tear apart at any moment. That put me on edge. I could only pray this old place was still solid.

Suddenly, the bedroom door pushed open. A soft figure flashed into my arms. Her voice shook with fear. “Rylin-sis, the gods are angry!”

“Uh, that’s not the gods. It’s a typhoon...”

“Typhoon?” Emily lifted her head from my arms, puzzled.

“It’s a weather system born over the ocean. Convection between high and low pressure... forget it, that part’s boring. It’s just a big wind passing through.”

“But I’ve never seen wind this scary...”

“That’s because you lived inland. Gales like this hit the coast more.”

Emily always trusted me. After that explanation, she eased up a lot. I, however, didn’t. We were both in thin sleepwear. Her warm scent and that soft closeness made me tense and awkward.

Luckily, women’s clothes in this world are really conservative. Everyday dresses go past the knee. Even pajamas come with loose lantern pants. They help hide any awkwardness.

Even so, with a blonde beauty snuggling into me in her sleepwear, any normal guy would get a little flustered, right?

To avoid doing anything stupid, I bent a little, trying to compose myself. I forced a calm tone. “Alright, Emily, treat it like a heavy rain. Don’t be scared. Go back to bed, okay?”

She didn’t let go. She pressed even closer. “But it’s so loud outside. I’m really scared. Rylin-sis, can you stay with me?”

“We can chat, sure. But could you please stop hugging me like this...”

“What’s the big deal? We’re both girls. And you smell so nice, Rylin-sis. Like... like a mom’s scent...”

Hey, aren’t you an orphan? Where’d that mom come from?

I had no choice. I took her shoulders and gently pushed her back. Emily looked genuinely regretful. “Sis, everything about you is great, it’s just your chest is a bit... Right, I heard there’s an ointment that helps with, um, development. The shops here should sell it. I’ll buy some tomorrow!”

“Don’t! Even if you buy it, I won’t use it.”

“Why not? Don’t you want a better figure, sis?”

“Uh, we Mages devote our lives to truth. Looks and body shape don’t matter.”

“Eh? Then you won’t get married in the future?”

“Absolutely not...”

No way that’s happening.

“I see...” Emily lowered her lashes, thinking. After a moment, she looked up, very serious. “Then I won’t marry either. I’ll stay with you forever!”

Her voice didn’t waver. In her deep blue eyes burned a zeal like a devotee’s, as if she were making a solemn vow.

A sharp ache pricked my heart. Something nameless flickered across my face. “Emily, we Mages walk the road of truth alone. We leave the glitter of the world behind and set out by ourselves. Ten years. Maybe twenty. So don’t waste your youth on empty waiting. Find a man who suits you. Live your own life.”

She’d always been obedient, but now she slowly shook her head. “Rylin-sis, remember what you told me before? Everyone has the right to choose their own life. I choose to stay by your side, always.”

“Emily...” Bitterness pooled in my chest.