Vanya turned around in her bed as her hand clutched around the quilt. A second later, her both eyes opened suddenly as she sat up immediately, looking around frantically.

’Who...brother brought me here?’ The first thing came to her mind as she found herself in her bed.

She looked at the clock on the wall, ’It’s almost dawn but when did he brought me here? I didn’t feel anything.’ She wondered.

"I guess, I was pretty tired," she remarked as she walked herself to bathroom to wash her face first.

However, just as she looked at her reflection, ’Oh Shit!’ she said unconsciously as she washed her cheeks.

’Did he saw my dried tears? Well, I guess I have a lecture coming in the morning.’

"Man, he already has a lot in his plate, I didn’t want him to see me like this." She regretted that her brother probably seen her tear stricken face.

With a bit of heavy heart, she performed her daily activities then started making breakfast for both of them.

Just as she was about to finish making Poha for the breakfast, she heard footsteps behind her. She mentally prepared herself for scolding or lecture but nothing happened.

She turned around to see her brother ready in his attire, waiting for breakfast.

"Good morning Bhaiya (Brother)! You are ready early. How did it whatever you were doing about your hunter business went?" she asked, putting in a smile.

"Good morning, it went well. Is the breakfast ready?" Reyansh replied.

’Oh, he definitely knows,’ she panicked slightly internally seeing his brother serious face, this early in the morning.

"Vanya?" he called out seeing her freeze.

"Huh? Yes, breakfast is ready, sit, I will bring you a plate in a minute." She hurriedly answered after being caught off guard.

Reyansh nodded and turned around to wait at dining table.

’Am I overthinking or did brother looked extra handsome today? Did he used some kind of charm potion? Is that what he was doing yesterday?’ Vanya’s mind ran wild with thoughts while see readied two plates of breakfast.

She served one plate to Reyansh and sat on the opposite side with other plate. Reyansh said nothing and silently ate Poha while Vanya brain cells fired off new wild hypotheses every second.

’He is looking more dashing today, did he really use a charm potion? But brother isn’t the type to use such gimmicks.’

’Did brother found someone he likes? I want to ask him but I really don’t want to start a conversation until I confirm he saw my tears or not.’ She decided.

Within a few minutes, Reyansh finished his breakfast. Just when Vanya started to think that he didn’t saw her tears, he spoke up.

"Did that boy did something against you again?" he asked, setting down his spoon.

"Hmm...no, I didn’t even saw him yesterday," she answered with her head down.

"So, did someone said something to you or are you in a problem?" he questioned further.

"No, everything is alright brother. I am totally fine," she tried to reassure him to steer him away from any mention of problems.

"I saw your tears, Vanya, so everything is not fine. You know lying doesn’t work with me." He retorted, his eyes fixed on her. He was even using increased perception on her so he doesn’t miss anything.

’So, he did saw.’

"Ahh...that, I was just missing mother, so I didn’t know when I fell asleep talking with her." She shared half-truth.

"What did I say about lying? What’s the whole truth?" he asked again softly.

Vanya felt conflicted to share the real reason. She knew his brother was already doing his best to keep the house running. And now more than ever, due to his awakening, his life probably has became more dangerous.

"Nothing much brother, I was just feeling a bit down. So, there’s nothing to worry about." She tried to deflect again.

"Hmm...okay, I will let you in a little secret. My perception is exceptionally high, so I can hear your heartbeat fluctuating whenever you lie." Reyansh spoke a bit hesitantly.

Vanya became silent for few seconds bowing her head while Reyansh waited patiently.

After a whole minute of silence, Vanya spoke up.

"I don’t want to be a deadweight," she whispered, head still bowed.

"What?"

"I don’t want to be a deadweight," she spoke, a bit loudly this time, looking up.

Both of their eyes matched, she looked for anger, contempt or dissatisfaction. His brother’s eyes looked more curious.

"What led you to believe that?" he asked, looking straight in her eyes.

"I contribute nothing to the family. Till now, you worked almost 20 hrs a day to keep the family running after father’s death." She answered after a second.

"And now that you have become a hunter, I am sure you are going to take more risk in future."

"I was perfectly capable of defending myself against that boy but I didn’t because I am not courageous like you. But you defended me despite knowing I only leech off you." She stopped, feeling a weight had been lifted off her chest.

For few seconds neither of them spoke, then Reyansh laughed, a proper genuine laugh. While Vanya felt like she was missing something.

"Haha...that was it. I thought I would have to destroy a guild or something." Reyansh responded after laughing for few seconds.

’What do you mean destroy a guild?’ she wondered.

Reyansh smiled softly before saying anything.

"Answer me this, did you remember what you had asked me for gift for Rakshabandhan when you were 5 years old?" he asked seriously.

She thought for a second then answered, "Would you promise to take me with you when you reach stars?" she bowed her head again remembering her silliness.

"And do you remember my answer?" he added.

"If I reach the stars and if Vanu isn’t there with me then what’s the fun of walking on a star," she repeated her brother’s words.

"I am not gonna say much, just remember this, you are as much of a deadweight to me as breathing is difficult for me." He stated with a smile on his face, and patted Vanya’s head.

"You are and always will be my little sister, there are no existence in this world that can change that," he remarked.

When Vanya looked in brother’s eyes, all she saw was unwavering confidence.

’I really am stupid,’ she cursed herself for her thoughts.

"And how can you be not courageous, you are challenging The Best Hunter," he said jokingly.

"But everyone has to start somewhere, you just have to take your first steps and then the path will be clear for you. Don’t worry about that," he shared.

She didn’t showed externally but she made a promise to herself at that moment.

"Hmm...brother you just awakened, how strong are you to talk about destroying a guild when it is lead by an S-rank?" she asked, curious about her brother’s earlier statement.

"I am decently strong," he smirked, "Just remember Vanya, never back down by thinking that you don’t have anyone’s backing."

"The StarWalker is behind you, so you can relax. You just have to point your finger and I will erase that nuisance from existence." He added.

’I will brother, I will take that first step and stand shoulder to shoulder with you on your journey.’ She vowed.

At that moment, Vanya didn’t just saw her big brother but the confidence in his words, framing an image of a man who is going to be The Best Hunter.