535 Shadow Guardians [1]: The Siblings

Misha nervously reached the civil defense bureau of Earth. Despite the repeated assurances by the federation, press, and the planetary guards, her heart wasn't at ease.

So, when the call came from the bureau, she hopped onto her hovercar and dashed here in a few minutes.

In doing so, she broke all the speeding and lane limits and incurred a fine of up to 1000 kp.

It was a significant sum for most people.

Not for Misha. As a level 7, she could afford that much. But of course, if she repeatedly broke the rules, her punishment would grow exponentially.

Such thoughts didn't even cross her mind as Misha jumped down from her hovercar and sprinted to the giant building.

The building rested on a blue platform. Once she shot up the stairs, a magnificent building came into sight.

It was carved out of pure white stone, supported by twelve pillars with carvings depicting some of the greatest battles of human history.

Misha's senses caught a few bots, along with a few men and women carving new scenes at the bottom of the twelfth pillar.

Rather than calling them carvings, it'd be better to call as paintings that happened to be carved.

Misha was curious about the new addition. Each and every addition had great significance.

But meeting him was her first priority.

So, she turned her gaze away and entered the building through the huge entrance.

She moved past the lobby and took the elevator.

She saw teary-eyed pairs—mothers and sons, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives—leaving the building on the way up.

In every pair, one person seemed like an everyday person while the other looked like a fierce adventurer. However, their steps lacked strength and their bodies were supported by their partner.

Yet, their eyes glowed in pride.

'It's alright. It's alright.' Misha calmed herself or tried to. 'They're all fine. So, nothing will happen to him.'

She seemed to have calmed down…until she reached the tenth floor where she ran to the second room and dashed in.

"Mathew!" Seeing the figure leaning against a soft chair, her face lit up and she called in joy.

The man was taken aback by the shout and when he turned to see the caller, his surprise only increased.

"M-Misha?" He called his sister's name in confusion. It had been a while since he uttered that name, and it honestly felt weird.

"Thank heavens!" Misha heaved a sigh of relief seeing he was alright. But looking at his pale face, she held his hand in concern.

"Did the bureau neglect your treatment? Damn it! I'll sue them to poverty." She said in a cold and determined voice.

Mathew shuddered. Even though his sister in his distant memories was soft and smiling most of the time, he remembered that she used to be stubborn.

If he didn't stop her, then she'd really sue the bureau.

"T-They treated me well. It's just…" Mathew wanted to explain, but he felt awkward.

Since he cut off contact with his family, he thought he'd never see them again. Truthfully, he too knew that as a substance abuser, his family wanted him at arm's length. However, even when he was normal, they weren't close.

Even his sister who was closest to him alienated him after she gave birth to her son. 

He could understand her fears. 'I don't want my son to have a bad influence. Especially not that of his talentless uncle.'

So, it came as a surprise that she came here.

"It's just what? Are you tired? Do you want me to check on your mental status?" Misha tapped her forehead and asked.

"…why are you suddenly worried about me?" His voice was cold and even distant as if he was talking to a stranger and not his own sister.

"…"

The room fell silent as the siblings stared at each other.

It was an awkward silence, but Mathew didn't want fake concerns.

"I am your sister." Misha finally said.

"The same sister that stopped me from visiting my nephew ten years ago." Mathew sighed.

"B-But at that time you were…" She bit her lip and tried to consider appropriate words.

"An Addict," Mathew said openly.

"Yes. I, I was afraid you'd influence him. He was still a kid, so…" Misha trailed off.

"Then what about the years before that, sister? Right after your marriage, when I wasn't into addiction, I approached you many times. Did you even talk to me properly?" Mathew slowly stood up and asked. His voice didn't have any sadness, only resignment.

"I…" Misha wanted to answer but no words came out. In the end, she hung her head in shame.

Consciously or unconsciously, she too started treating him like everyone else.

'He is a low-talent.'

'He has given up on himself.'

'He won't achieve much.'

These were the words she heard about him the most. And at some point, she too believed the same.

Her parents too conditioned her to despise anyone with lower talent.

While she didn't despise him, as she grew older, their distance certainly grew. And on her own volition.

"I have a low talent," Mathew said in a mocking tone. "Truthfully, if I was born to a normal family, I'd have led a normal life. I'd have reached level 3 or level 4. I'd have made good friends, married a lovely woman, and had wonderful kids."

Misha's face paled. She could sense where this was going.

"But it's my curse to be born in your family. Your expectations were too high that they broke me forever." Mathew said 'your', not 'our'. It was crystal clear that he didn't consider her family anymore.

"…" Misha covered her mouth as tears threatened to spill out of her eyes.

"No, sister." Mathew shook his head. "Our bond was long gone."

"…Barry wants to see you." She said in a broken voice. "He is also low-talented like you. Just like you, his friends distanced themselves from him. His girlfriend broke up with him. His teachers don't care about him."

Mathew's face twisted as he was reminded of his painful past.

"…And even his father despises him."

That was the final straw.

Mathew kicked the sofa, breaking it into pieces.

"Your husband is a bastard!"

Misha wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and sighed. "I know…Barry really looks up to you. You both have the same talent, but you are now level 5. I think only you can help him ou—"

"I'm sorry." Mathew cut her off.

"..Huh?"

"The only reason you came to me was that you want Barry to reach level 5 too, right?" Mathew asked in a straightforward tone.