"Big brother, you're so cool!"
The little girl whispered, amazement in her tone.
She had vibrant light-green eyes, pale skin, rosy cheeks with hints of baby fat, and honey-blonde hair.
Alden resisted the urge to flinch.
'What is a little girl doing here?'
The white-haired young man flicked his gaze back to Kael, who looked ahead, seemingly unaware of the child's presence. Strange. Discreetly, Alden noticed that no one else in the viewing chamber seemed to be cognizant of the little girl's existence.
A tinge of unease pricked Alden's heart.
He ignored that for the moment, returning his full attention towards the little kid.
…Both his expression and tone softened as he did.
"Hello. What's your name?"
The little girl bounced in her seat, excited energy pouring out of her in vast waves.
"Maeve, what a lovely name. I'm Alden. What brings you here?"
"Big brother is very handsome."
Alden's brow twitched at the way the little girl pointedly ignored his question. His heart also warmed slightly against his will, gazing at the innocent expression on her face.
'No! Don't be fooled, you stupid heart.'
Oblivious to his internal struggle, Maeve continued:
"Big brother, what happened to your eye?"
Alden unconsciously touched his eyepatch, his mind taken back to the invasion.
His features turned a little sad.
"Your big brother injured it while fighting a very strong, very evil Dark Elf."
Maeve's light-green eyes shone.
Alden masked his sorrow, unwilling to taint Maeve's child-like purity. He saw an excited shiver travel through the little-girl as she had a sudden thought.
She bounced on her seat with more fervor and pointed at the exuberant crowd:
"Are you going to fight in the Tournament, Big Brother? Please to tell me you are!"
Alden scratched the back of his head.
Seeing that, Maeve's shoulders slumped.
"I can't make any guarantees, but we'll see!"
He hurriedly replied, cursing himself for being unable to resist the adorable child.
Maeve brightened, her smile as radiant as the sun itself.
Alden inwardly groaned.
'She's just too cute.'
"Big Brother, are you someone important? You must be, right?!"
Alden could only just bitterly chuckle as Maeve's eyes practically sparkled.
"Yes… you can say that."
"Who are you? I want to know!!"
Alden racked his mind, before he remembered the title the Grand Elder of the Zephyr Clan had used to address him.
Even as the words left his mouth, he couldn't help but cringe.
Maeve showed no such qualms. In fact, she seemed to grow even more excited.
"Big Brother is a Prince?? Does that mean Big Brother is super strong!?"
"I wouldn't say I'm super strong, but… I do have a unique power."
"Can I see?? Maeve wants to see!"
The little girl clasped her hands together, her light-green eyes turning dewy. Alden internally groaned again at the powerful sight.
However, even if Maeve was extremely persuasive, the young man did not want to show her such a dreadful power - especially in front of the upper echelons of the Sanctuary. They probably thought he was hallucinating, talking to empty air.
Then, he quickly plastered on a remorseful expression, patting Maeve softly on the head.
"I'm sorry. Big Brother can't show you. You have to do some growing up first."
The little girl's infectious enthusiasm dimmed.
Alden felt his heart wrench, and withstood the urge to go back on his words.
He saw Maeve turn around, staring at the crowd with crestfallen envy.
"Everyone always hides things from Maeve! Because they think she can't handle it. I hate it! Big Brother, I want to grow up faster! I want to dance among the flowers! I want to eat a ton of berries! And.. And, ride a sheep! This is not fair!"
Frustrated tears pricked the corner of Maeve's eyes.
Alden wrapped her in a warm hug.
They stayed like that for some time, before the little girl whispered quietly:
"Big Brother, what do you want to do when you grow older?"
Alden tensed at the unexpected question, before a deep chuckle escaped his mouth.
"There's a lot of things I want to do."
"Well, like you… I want to dance among the flowers, with a princess in my arms. I want to eat as many berries I want, without having to worry if they'll ever run out. I want to ride a sheep — or a different animal, without fearing that a big, bad monster will attack. But, do you know what I want, most of all?"
He let go of Maeve, and the girl turned to face him.
She held her breath, hanging on to his next words like her life depended on it.
He gently took hold of Maeve's dainty, little hand and pointed her finger towards the azure sky.
"You can't see them right now, but I want to be among the stars."
"Wow! Big Brother really is cool!"
Alden chuckled warmly.
This cute girl had really grown on him.
It was to the point where Alden had actually begun seeing himself as her older brother, before he forcefully dispelled that notion. There was still too much mystery surrounding Maeve.
A loud clatter distracted him from his thoughts, and he turned to his right to find a servant had accidentally dropped their platter, its contents spilling across the floor.
Alden internally winced - that servant would probably receive a huge scolding.
Letting the wave of silent empathy pass, the white-haired young man turned back to Maeve, only to find that the little girl had disappeared.
Alden's gaze constricted.
In the same breath, the dome of silence enshrouding the private enclosure suddenly vanished. Sound returned. However, it quickly died down as a green-robed figure materialised high-up in the air.
A soft breeze accompanied her arrival, before her imposing voice swept through the stadium, reaching far and wide.
"Welcome, everyone! It is our pleasure to be hosting the Tournament this year. We hope you will all be entertained by the coming display. The battles this year promise to be extra thrilling! So sit back, and enjoy what we have to offer. May the best victor win."
With that, the Matriarch of the Zephyr Clan vanished, and a huge roar erupted from the crowd.
As everyone looked forward to the start of the Tournament, a teasing suddenly voice whispered in Alden's ear, using the wind as its medium:
"May we meet again, Big Brother."
…Alden froze, stunned.