The morning sun filtered through the windows, casting a warm golden glow over the wooden floors. The smell of breakfast drifted through the house as the quiet hum of conversation filled the air.

As usual, Mother had been up early, preparing a feast, and Father sat nearby, quietly reading a scroll while occasionally glancing at us with his usual calm amusement.

At the table, we all sat together—Sylpiette and Ivansia included. Elise sat between me and Sylpiette, swinging her tiny legs as she happily munched on her food.

I reached for a piece of bread, casually speaking. "Sylphy, can you pass the tea?"

There was silence.

Then—

Chaos.

Ivan choked on his drink. Rean stared at me like I’d grown a second head. Arther just outright gawked.

Sylpiette, on the other hand, didn’t even react—she simply passed the tea to me like it was nothing.

But Ivansia? Oh, she smirked.

Ivansia: "Oh? Sylphy? Since when were we using nicknames so openly?"

I took a sip of my tea, unbothered. "Since always."

Rean: "Since when?! You never called her that in front of us!"

Arther: "And you said it so casually too—no hesitation, nothing!"

Ivan wiped his mouth, shaking his head. "Nether, you never cease to surprise me."

Sylpiette, still calm, finally smirked, resting her chin on her hand. "He’s been calling me that for a while now."

Elise nodded proudly. "I knew first!"

The betrayal on my brothers’ faces was priceless.

Rean: "Even Elise knew before us?!"

Ivan sighed dramatically. "I thought we were family, Nether. How could you keep secrets from us?"

I shrugged. "You never asked."

Sylpiette chuckled softly, reaching over to ruffle Elise’s hair. "Elise accepted it right away. She calls me Sylphy too sometimes."

Elise grinned. "Because you’re my big sister!"

Sylpiette blinked at that, then turned to Elise with a surprisingly gentle look. "I guess I am, huh?"

Elise nodded enthusiastically. "Yep! And that means you have to stay forever!"

Sylpiette laughed. "I don’t think I’d mind that."

Meanwhile, my brothers were still staring at me like I was some kind of rare animal.

Rean: "So? Since when did you get so bold?"

Arther: "Yeah! Weren’t you blushing just a few days ago when we teased you?"

I leaned back in my chair, completely unbothered. "I got used to it."

Ivan sighed. "This isn’t fair. I had to go through so much teasing when I got together with Ivansia. But you? You just—accept it and act normal?"

Ivansia smirked at him. "That’s because I trained you properly."

Ivan groaned. "I walked right into that one, didn’t I?"

Rean: "Completely."

Elise giggled, finishing her food before stretching out her tiny arms. "I’m full!" She turned to me, eyes wide and expectant. "Can I sit with you, Nether?"

I didn’t even hesitate, pulling her onto my lap as she giggled happily.

Sylpiette watched with an amused expression before shaking her head. "She’s completely attached to you."

Elise grinned. "Of course! My big brother is the best!"

Rean: "Hey, what about us?"

Elise tilted her head. "You guys are okay too."

Arther: "O-Okay?! That hurts, Elise!"

Elise just giggled, hugging me tightly.

Sylpiette smirked. "Guess that makes Nether her favorite."

Rean: "Ugh. The favoritism is real."

Ivan: "We lost to Nether. That stings."

I shrugged, smirking slightly as I ruffled Elise’s hair. "Better luck next time."

Elise just nodded seriously. "Big brother is the best!"

Mother clapped her hands, smiling warmly. "I’m just happy to have all my children back home."

Father chuckled. "Even if it means dealing with endless teasing?"

Mother just beamed. "Oh, I love the teasing. It means they’re happy."

Sylpiette and I exchanged glances before she smirked.

And as chaotic as it was…

It really did feel like home.

---

A Battle of Teasing

The peaceful morning soon turned into something much more dangerous—at least for Sylphy.

After breakfast, everyone had gathered in the living room. Elise sat on my lap, happily playing with my fingers while the others chatted about random things. Ivan and Ivansia were whispering to each other in their own little world, Rean was reading a book, and Arther was trying (and failing) to balance a spoon on his nose.

Sylpiette—Sylphy—sat beside me, completely relaxed.

Which made her the perfect target.

I smirked slightly before speaking loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Sylphy, you’re staring at me a lot today. If you keep that up, I might think you’ve fallen for me even more."

The room fell silent.

Sylpiette blinked. Then, her green eyes narrowed slightly as if processing what I had just said.

Ivan coughed. Rean lowered his book, clearly intrigued. Arther, spoon still on his nose, watched with interest.

Elise, completely innocent, tilted her head. "But big brother, isn’t she already in love with you?"

I grinned. "Oh, that’s true. But she might just fall for me again with how much she keeps looking at me."

Sylpiette, to my surprise, didn’t blush or stutter. Instead, she leaned closer, resting her chin on her hand. "You sure are confident, aren’t you?"

I shrugged. "Hard not to be when my lovely Sylphy is always watching me."

Arther: "Ohhh, he’s fighting back today!"

Rean: "I never thought I’d see the day where Nether teases back."

Ivan: "The student has become the master."

Ivansia, amused, nudged Sylpiette. "Well? Are you going to let him win like that?"

Sylpiette smirked.

Sylpiette: "Not a chance."

Before I could react, she suddenly reached up and lightly pinched my cheek.

Sylpiette: "You’re getting bold, huh?"

I grabbed her hand before she could pull away, still grinning. "And you’re getting more flustered, aren’t you?"

Her smirk twitched slightly. "Flustered? Me?"

I nodded. "You only pinch my cheek when you’re embarrassed."

Sylpiette blinked. Then, she quickly retracted her hand and crossed her arms. "That’s not true."

I just gave her a knowing look.

Sylpiette: "…Stop looking at me like that."

Rean: "He’s winning."

Arther: "He’s actually winning."

Elise: "Big brother always wins!"

Sylpiette sighed dramatically. "I should’ve known letting you call me Sylphy so easily would come back to bite me."

I smirked. "Too late to take it back now, Sylphy."

Sylpiette gave me a look, but there was no real annoyance in her eyes—just amusement.

Sylpiette: "Fine. If you’re going to tease me like this, I’ll just have to find a way to get you back later."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You’re already thinking about me even in revenge? How cute."

Sylpiette finally turned away slightly, her white hair shifting as she looked toward the fireplace.

Ivan: "Oh? Did Sylphy just get flustered?"

Ivansia: "I think she did."

Rean smirked. "Nether, you’re dangerous."

Sylpiette exhaled, then suddenly turned back to me, eyes gleaming. "Alright. War it is."

I chuckled. "Bring it on, Sylphy."

Elise, completely unaware of the underlying tension, clapped her hands. "Big brother and big sister are having fun!"

Everyone else just watched in amusement, knowing that this teasing battle was far from over.

---

The Calm Before the Storm

Despite the playful battle between Sylphy and me, the rest of the day remained peaceful. It was one of those rare moments where we didn’t have to train, study, or worry about the Academy.

Instead, we just enjoyed being home.

Elise, of course, was the center of attention.

After a while, she decided that I was no longer allowed to sit anywhere without her in my lap. If I so much as moved an inch, she clung to me like a little koala, refusing to let go.

"Big brother, don’t move! You’re my throne now!" she declared, her tiny arms wrapped tightly around my neck.

Ivan chuckled. "It seems Nether is now permanently attached to Elise."

Rean smirked. "A fitting fate for our dear brother."

Arther, not wanting to be left out, opened his arms dramatically. "Elise! Come to your second favorite big brother!"

Elise turned her head, unimpressed. "No."

Arther’s expression shattered. "W-Why?! I’m strong! I can carry you with one arm!"

Elise pouted. "But you always lift me too high and spin me until I get dizzy."

Arther looked at Mother for support, but she just smiled. "You do get a little carried away, dear."

Sylphy, who had been watching from her seat, tilted her head. "She really likes clinging to you, huh?"

I smirked. "Jealous?"

Sylphy scoffed. "Of what? A lap throne?"

I leaned back slightly, adjusting Elise. "You could sit here too, if you wanted."

Sylphy blinked.

Ivan choked on his tea.

Rean and Arther looked at me like I had just declared war.

Ivansia just sipped her drink, amused.

Sylphy, however, was completely unfazed. Instead, she smiled sweetly. "Oh? Offering me a seat? How kind of you, Nether."

For a moment, I thought she wouldn’t actually do anything.

But then she stood up.

And actually walked toward me.

I stiffened. "Wait—"

She smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Oh? What happened to all that confidence, huh?"

I glared at her. "You wouldn't."

Sylphy leaned slightly forward, lowering her voice so only I could hear. "Try me."

I swallowed.

I knew that if I backed out now, I’d lose.

But if I let her win…

Elise suddenly spoke up, completely oblivious.

"Sylphy, you can’t sit here! This is my throne!"

Sylphy paused, then gave me a smug look before stepping back.

"Lucky," she mouthed.

I sighed in relief.

But I knew this war wasn’t over.

Not even close.

---

An Evening of Warmth

Later that evening, after dinner, the whole family gathered in the living room. The fireplace crackled softly, filling the space with a comforting warmth.

Elise had long since claimed my lap again, but this time, she was barely awake, her tiny hands clinging to my sleeve as she yawned.

Sylphy sat nearby, occasionally stealing glances at me, as if planning her next move.

Ivan and Ivansia were whispering to each other again, but every now and then, Ivansia would glance at me and smirk.

They were definitely planning something.

Arther and Rean were engaged in a quiet game of chess, with Arther frowning deeply as if trying to understand how he was already losing.

Mother and Father simply sat together, watching over us with soft smiles.

It was peaceful.

For the first time in a long while, we weren’t thinking about the Academy, the factions, or any battles ahead.

Just family.

Elise shifted in my arms, her voice barely a whisper.

"Big brother… you won’t leave again soon, right?"

I tensed slightly, feeling a small pang in my chest.

I glanced at my brothers. They were all listening now, their expressions softer.

Even Sylphy and Ivansia remained quiet.

I tightened my arms around Elise gently.

"Not for a while," I promised. "We’ll stay home a little longer this time."

She hummed sleepily. "Good… I like it when we’re all together."

Ivan smiled. "So do we, Elise."

Slowly, she drifted into sleep, her small hand gripping my sleeve like she was afraid I’d disappear.

I sighed, leaning back against the couch.

Sylphy gave me a soft look, one different from her usual teasing expressions.

Quiet understanding.

I just smirked slightly. "What? Surprised to see me acting like a good big brother?"

She shook her head. "No… I always knew you were."

For once, I didn’t have a comeback.

The evening continued peacefully, the warmth of the fire and the quiet sounds of family filling the room.

And for the first time in a long while—

Everything felt right.

---

To Be Continued...