“Haha, I’m truly flattered,” Kasa laughed. “But, honestly, even if we ignore the Dragonkin’s growth cycle, judging by our developmental speed, Reese’s age makes it inappropriate for me to act as her older sister.”
Reese froze for a moment, then her expression quickly fell into sadness.
“Though… you can call me Aunt Kasa,” Kasa smiled. “Reese, you’re adorable and beautiful, and I really like you.”
“Woohoo! Yes! Aunt Kasa!” Reese’s gloomy mood instantly vanished. “Aunt Kasa, let’s make a toast!”
“Oh!” Kasa clinked her glass with Reese’s milk cup.
~~~~~~~~
…A dream.
Anya frowned, looking around. This was her childhood home—her old house before she went to the Angel Training Center.
She scanned the room. Ever since she had moved to attend that “elite school,” the family had relocated nearby, and she hadn’t returned.
Even knowing it was a dream, she felt a tinge of nostalgia as she looked at the unchanged furniture.
But there weren’t many happy memories. Anya sighed, reaching for a photo of her younger self on the living room cabinet. Unsurprisingly, her hand passed right through it—she was merely a spectator.
She was about to sit on the sofa when voices came from outside the door.
…Childish cries and scolding.
Anya felt a sudden suffocating pressure, though it was only a dream, so it lacked physical weight.
The door slammed open. She turned her gaze to see her younger self being dragged inside by her mother by the ear.
“Why are you randomly touching stray cats on the street? It’s unsafe and embarrassing!”
Her mother sat on the sofa, holding her younger self on her lap—right where Anya had wanted to sit.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Mom…”
You’re not the one at fault.
Anya recalled that day: her younger self had seen a small, slightly dirty Heaven Cat on the street and was drawn to it. She played with the cat until discovered.
She couldn’t remember what happened to the cat, but she remembered how she was punished—thoroughly beaten for such a ridiculous reason.
Clenching her teeth, Anya watched her crying younger self and her mother’s relentless slaps.
“Stop… you twisted, controlling psychopath… you are the real monster…” she thought, trying to push her mother away—but her hand passed right through.
“Hey!” The door opened again. “Van Erling!”
Anya turned her head. That day, the one who ended her suffering was her father, alerted by a kind neighbor who said, “Your wife is hitting your daughter again.”
Van Erling, upon seeing Moaler return, hit even harder. Her younger self had cried herself powerless, whispering apologies hoarsely.
Moaler hurried forward, grabbing Van Erling’s wrist.
“What are you doing?” Van Erling glared at him.
Moaler’s voice was a mixture of helplessness and anger: “I return your words in full. What are you doing?”
“I’m disciplining my daughter!” Van Erling insisted, trying to free herself. But Moaler’s anger held her in place.
“Playing with a kitten on the street—does it really need such a fuss?!” Moaler raised his voice.
“What if she gets bitten? What if people see her as a reckless child playing in the street?” Van Erling refused to relent.
“…Getting bitten by a cat is better than being hit by you!” Moaler swung her own hand back, sending Van Erling’s slap to her own face.
“You?” Van Erling froze, shocked. In that moment of hesitation, Moaler scooped up Anya.
The little girl immediately clutched her father tightly.
Anya watched Moaler confront Van Erling with fury. She suddenly understood how chaotic it could get at home after she ran away.
“How long will you continue like this? Anya is so young, yet you keep projecting your regrets onto her!” Moaler yelled, holding Anya close and facing Van Erling, who covered her face.
“That’s why your achievements have always stayed stagnant!” Van Erling sneered. “You have no ambition—don’t stop me from raising my daughter to be an exceptional angel!”
“You…”
Knock, knock, knock.
Moaler paused, breathing deeply, holding Anya as he walked to the door. “Who is it?”
“Archangel Moaler, how dare you leave your duties during work?” came the voice from the management office. Despite his rank, rules were rules.
Moaler’s expression darkened. “I have matters at home. Can I request leave today?”
The voice hesitated. “You know it’s Sunday… I’m afraid that won’t be possible.”
Moaler glanced at Van Erling, who ignored him with closed eyes.
“…Can I take my daughter with me?” Moaler gritted his teeth.
Van Erling stepped forward. “…Do you have any sense? You’re an Archangel, and yet you say such things?”
Moaler was at a loss for words, but the management couldn’t wait. “As your wife said… no, and everyone is busy, with no place to care for your daughter.”
Moaler tried to speak again. Van Erling snatched Anya, opened the door, and pushed him outside.
“No!… Dad! Don’t… ugh…”
“No… no…”
In her sleep, Lirina heard soft murmurs.
“No…”
She frowned, rubbing her eyes, realizing the sound was from the newcomer beside her.
Lirina turned. The moonlight was bright, casting Anya’s tear-streaked face across the room.
Lirina gasped. Before she could react, she heard Anya whisper again.
“Anya…” Lirina pursed her lips, trying to understand.
…Anya had said yesterday morning that she had nightmares and couldn’t sleep.
So… this must be a nightmare.
…But she wasn’t awake. Was she trapped in an unending nightmare?
Lirina worried, scanning the room. Kasa had gone—her presence was gone.
What to do… what to do…
“I didn’t do anything! Why… stop, please stop…”
Such a heartbreaking voice… full of sadness, anger, and helplessness.
“Anya…” Lirina bit her lip. Suddenly, as if deciding, she took a deep breath twice, pulled back her covers, and slipped into Anya’s bed, wrapping her arms around her.
Anya shivered slightly in her embrace. Lirina ignored her flushed cheeks and held her tighter.
…And suddenly, the painful and anger-inducing memories vanished.
Anya was stunned for a moment, then felt herself floating in a warm sea of comfort.
She tried to make sense of this unfamiliar dream—it was the first time a childhood memory dream had felt like this.
But as soon as she tried to think, she lost herself in the warm ocean.
She no longer whispered, nor did she cry.
Lirina sighed in relief.
Dream magic is a succubus ability. I may not use it conventionally, but I can at least make someone sleep deeper and more comfortably.
Lirina wiped the sweat from her forehead, ready to return to her bed, when she felt Anya grab her clothes.
Ugh…
She couldn’t pull free, no idea why it was held so tightly even in sleep.
“…Ugh, Anya…” Lirina struggled in vain.
Eventually, fatigue from using dream magic in the middle of the night overcame shyness.
It’s fine… we’re both girls… as long as I wake up before her in the morning, there won’t be any misunderstandings.
Lirina thought, watching Anya’s peaceful sleeping face.
So beautiful.
She silently admired her before falling asleep.
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