I’ll Be In Your Care, Master

"This stubborn girl..."

Videl rubbed her forehead and let out a long sigh.

"You really aren’t going to change your mind, are you?"

Aria immediately shook her head.

"No."

"Not even a little?"

"No."

Videl narrowed her eyes.

"Not even a tiny bit?"

Aria tried to look serious, but the corners of her lips twitched.

"No."

Videl crossed her arms.

"What if I make it an official order?"

Aria blinked.

For a moment, she genuinely seemed to consider it.

Then a soft smile appeared on her face.

"I still won’t obey that one."

Videl stared at her.

Aria stared right back.

The two girls remained locked in silence for several seconds.

Then suddenly—

"Hah..."

A laugh escaped Videl’s mouth.

Aria quickly covered her lips, but she couldn’t stop herself from giggling either.

The serious atmosphere completely shattered.

Videl shook her head helplessly.

"You’re impossible."

The smile on Aria’s face immediately widened.

Videl reached out and gently patted her shoulder.

"Listen."

Aria looked up.

"If you really don’t want to call me by my name..."

Her eyes brightened instantly.

"Then call me Sister."

Aria froze.

The smile on her face disappeared.

"Sister...?"

Videl nodded.

"Sounds much better than Master, doesn’t it?"

Aria became quiet.

For several moments, she simply looked at Videl.

The expression in her eyes softened.

Videl could almost see the emotions passing through her mind.

Gratitude.

Respect.

Admiration.

Perhaps even something deeper than that.

Then Aria slowly shook her head.

"No."

Videl almost choked.

"Again?" 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Aria nodded.

This time there wasn’t even the slightest hesitation.

"You are my savior."

Her voice was gentle.

Yet firm.

"The person who pulled me out of despair when I couldn’t see a future anymore."

A small smile appeared on her face.

The kind that came from the heart.

"So I’ll keep calling you Master."

For a moment, Videl didn’t know what to say.

Looking at those sincere green eyes, she realized arguing was pointless.

This girl had already made up her mind.

A long sigh escaped her lips.

"Fine. Have it your way."

The moment she surrendered, Aria’s entire face lit up.

Like a child who had just won a difficult battle.

"Thank you, Master."

Videl laughed despite herself.

"You really are impossible."

Aria tilted her head innocently.

"I learned from Sir Victor."

Videl’s eye twitched immediately.

"...You know what?"

"What?"

"That actually sounds believable."

Aria burst into laughter.

The warm sound echoed through the quiet courtyard.

Without realizing it, Videl found herself smiling too.

For the first time since returning to the academy, the pressure weighing on her chest felt a little lighter.

A little less suffocating.

The conversation drifted naturally into a comfortable silence.

Then Aria suddenly looked past Videl.

Her green eyes wandered around as if searching for something.

Videl noticed immediately.

"What are you looking for?"

"Hm?"

Aria blinked before asking carefully,

"Where is Sir Victor?"

Videl froze.

Then she slowly closed her eyes.

Of course.

Of course that would be the next question.

A strange mixture of amusement and helplessness washed over her.

Even this girl...

The first person she wanted to see was Victor.

Aria leaned forward slightly.

"Is he inside the academy?"

Videl let out another sigh.

Honestly, Victor’s ability to attract people was absurd.

No matter where he went.

No matter who he met.

People always ended up gravitating toward him.

Sometimes it was admirable.

Sometimes it was incredibly annoying.

"...He’s not here."

The disappointment on Aria’s face appeared instantly.

"Oh..."

The brightness in her eyes visibly dimmed.

Videl noticed it immediately.

And suddenly, for some reason, she felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

The same expression.

The same reaction.

She had seen it before.

Skyla.

Lane.

Clara.

Several others.

And now Aria too.

Victor truly possessed a ridiculous talent for collecting people’s affection without even trying.

The thought made her shake her head.

"He went out to train."

Aria’s eyes immediately lit up again.

Like a flower blooming after rain.

"Training?"

The excitement in her voice was impossible to miss.

Videl nodded.

"Knowing him, he’s probably doing something ridiculous right now."

A small smile appeared on her lips.

"Either training."

"Sleeping."

"Eating."

"Or somehow doing all three at the same time."

Aria giggled.

That sounded absurd.

Yet somehow believable.

"He must be very strong."

Videl’s expression softened.

Very strong?

That wasn’t enough to describe Victor anymore.

She had personally witnessed things she still couldn’t explain.

Things that made no sense.

Things that should have been impossible.

Yet they happened.

Because of Victor.

A strange warmth appeared inside her chest.

"Yeah."

Her voice became softer.

"He is."

Aria noticed the change immediately.

A small knowing smile appeared on her face.

Videl instantly noticed.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You’re smiling."

"I always smile."

"No."

Aria shook her head.

"This smile is different."

Videl immediately looked away.

"You’re imagining things."

The smile on Aria’s face widened.

"Master likes Sir Victor very much."

Videl nearly choked.

"W-What nonsense are you saying?"

Aria looked innocent.

"I didn’t say anything strange."

"You absolutely did."

"I only said you like him."

"That’s not the point."

Aria giggled again.

For some reason, teasing Videl felt surprisingly fun.

Videl quickly changed the subject.

"So."

Aria straightened.

"Yes?"

"How have you been?"

The conversation gradually shifted.

Aria began telling her about the past weeks.

Where she stayed.

The people who helped her.

The work she found.

The struggles she faced.

The fears she overcame.

Videl listened quietly.

Occasionally asking questions.

Occasionally offering advice.

The two girls talked beneath the moonlight for a long time.

Slowly.

Comfortably.

Like sisters catching up after a long separation.

At one point Aria spoke about her future.

"I want to become stronger."

Videl looked surprised.

"Stronger?"

Aria nodded.

Her eyes became determined.

"I don’t want to be helpless anymore."

The gentle girl suddenly showed unexpected resolve.

"I don’t want people like that to hurt others again."

The memory of the traffickers still remained.

Not as fear.

But as motivation.

Videl smiled proudly.

"That’s a good goal."

Aria nodded.

Then suddenly smiled.

"Maybe one day I’ll be strong enough to help Sir Victor too."

Videl immediately laughed.

"Good luck with that."

"Huh?"

"You’ll need it."

Aria tilted her head.

Videl merely smiled mysteriously.

If Aria knew what Victor was truly capable of...

She probably wouldn’t even know where to begin.

The night continued quietly.

The academy gates remained open.

Students occasionally entered and exited.

The moon slowly moved across the sky.

Eventually Aria looked up.

"Oh."

"Hm?"

"It’s getting late."

Videl nodded.

"It is."

For a moment neither of them moved.

Then Aria smiled warmly.

"I’m glad I came."

Videl returned the smile.

"Me too."

The loneliness she felt earlier had almost disappeared completely.

Sometimes all people needed was someone to talk to.

Someone who genuinely cared.

Aria then took a step back.

Her expression became serious.

She lowered her head respectfully.

A gesture filled with gratitude.

A gesture she had practiced countless times.

A gesture she would probably never stop making.

Then she looked up again.

Her eyes shone brightly.

"I’ll be in your care master."