Chapter 15: Guanghui is this sister

Everyone was merely watching and jesting, treating the spectacle as nothing more than a joke.

After all, Sefilia was a genius with a 20% resonance rate!

She was the most outstanding student in the Knight Academy over the past two years, with rumors even circulating that Sefilia was poised to become the next titled Radiance Knight.

Yet, the much-anticipated white swan had been defeated today by an ugly duckling.

The process itself was so swift, so utterly devoid of suspense.

There was no drawn-out back-and-forth, no clash of spectacular effects, and certainly none of the overwhelming victory everyone had predicted Sefilia would achieve over Melina.

Sefilia had attacked twice, the two of them exchanged three moves, and then… the victor was decided.

“Hey, hey, did you all see that just now? That… that light cannon!”

“Saw it, saw it! So, the spirit Esbelle contracted really is from the Radiance clan! I thought it was just a rumor!”

“No, why does that light cannon look so familiar to me? Doesn’t it seem familiar to you guys?”

“I find it familiar too, it seems… it’s The Radiance, isn’t it?”

“Nonsense, only a spirit from the Radiance clan could possibly unleash a move like that; it couldn’t possibly be from the [Shadow] clan, could it?”

“No, no, I mean… The Radiance, the Radiance Knight! Haven’t any of you seen videos of the Radiance Knight fighting? My… uh, I used to collect a complete set of his videos, though I’ve deleted them all now. But I can guarantee, that was the Radiance Knight’s move!”

After a brief silence, the training grounds erupted into a clamor of fervent discussion!

Everyone gazed at Melina with a strange intensity.

There was astonishment, curiosity, disbelief, and even doubt.

With a single light cannon, Melina had transformed herself into the focal point of everyone present.

For quite some time to come, she would undoubtedly be the most talked-about subject within the Knight Academy.

****

Sefilia returned.

Protected by Huiyao, she had sustained no injuries, though she appeared somewhat disheveled.

She gazed at Melina with a conflicted expression, yet also noticed that the girl opposite her was not in good condition.

Despite her exhaustion and the persistent ache in her arms, Melina still lifted her head and offered her a smile.

“Hey, do I qualify for the Knight Tournament now?”

“Tsk…” Hearing this, Sefilia’s expression instantly darkened, and she clicked her tongue in annoyance.

However, she was not someone who couldn’t accept defeat.

Sefilia walked over to Melina, placed her right hand over her chest, and bowed slightly: “You won. Your strength surpasses mine, so naturally, you are qualified to be my teammate. No…”

She paused, then corrected herself, “Rather, it would be my honor to be your teammate.”

This was a show of respect for the strong, and Melina had earned her esteem through sheer power.

Yet, this did not mean Sefilia was entirely convinced.

Straightening up, she let out a cold huff: “Hmph, but don’t get ahead of yourself. If you become complacent and slack off on your training because of this, I will surpass you very quickly.”

Melina eyed Sefilia with a hint of surprise.

It was as if she were seeing her for the first time.

“What… what kind of expression is that?” A faint blush crept onto Sefilia’s face, and she impatiently turned her head away.

Melina shook her head.

Light shimmered, and the golden longsword transformed into a human figure amidst a cascade of radiance, Melo then stood respectfully behind Melina.

This scene once again sparked murmurs among the onlookers.

“It’s her! She’s that spirit from that day, the one who called herself a renegade [Radiance]!”

“No, no, no, no! Wait a minute! You guys, wait! She *is* The Radiance! That face, I couldn’t be mistaken, she *is* that Radiance! The Radiance of the Radiance Knight!!”

The boy’s shout brought the entire field to silence once more; everyone had heard his cry.

Naturally, this included the four individuals in the arena.

Melina sighed, knowing full well that this day would eventually come.

After all, Melo’s face was an exact replica of The Radiance.

Or rather, this was The Radiance’s original choice, made so that he could ensure his master’s survival.

And the moment she was recognized, no one could tell if the Alliance would come to apprehend Melo because of it.

However, just as Melina found herself at a loss, Melo stepped forward.

She took two steps forward, then bowed respectfully to the boy who had recognized her.

“Greetings, esteemed sir.”

As a maid, she was considered a servant, and thus, when addressing others of the same social standing as her master, she naturally referred to them as ‘sir’ or ‘madam’.

“I believe you are mistaken, esteemed sir. This humble self is not the legendary [Radiance]; this self is merely a renegade spirit.”

The person scratched their head, still somewhat unconvinced: “But you use his moves, and your appearance is identical to that Radiance. How can you not be him?”

Melo’s expression remained serene and composed as she replied, “I see. Esteemed sir, you may not be aware, but for us spirits, whether we belong to the same group or not, it merely dictates a difference in how we utilize spirit energy. As members of the Radiance clan, whether it be this humble self, Miss Huiyao here, or even that Radiance, we can all employ the same techniques if we so choose.”

Sefilia, hearing this for the first time, asked Huiyao, whom she held in her arms, “Is that true?”

Huiyao nodded her tiny head, “Mmm, that’s not wrong to say.”

Sefilia’s eyes lit up, a hint of excitement in her voice: “So, you can also unleash a light cannon?”

Huiyao furrowed her pretty little brows, “I can, I can, but I really don’t want to unleash a light cannon…”

“Eh? Why not?”

“Because… I’m a hammer, it feels really strange to unleash a light cannon with a hammer.”

“Is it not strange to unleash a light cannon with a sword, then?”

Little Huiyao gave a haughty little huff, “Then you should ask that elder sister.”

It seemed she was rather displeased with Sefilia’s attitude.

However, their conversation wasn’t hushed, so everyone around them could overhear.

Now, with the confirmation from little Huiyao, who was also a [Radiance], everyone naturally believed Melo’s words.

Only the young fan of the Radiance Knight from earlier still harbored some doubt.

“Then how do you explain having the same appearance as that Radiance?”

His eyes were fixed on Melo.

Melo merely offered a serene smile: “Because, that Radiance is precisely this humble self’s younger sister.”

A gasp rippled through the crowd!

Melo’s words once again caused an uproar amongst those present!

This Melo, standing before them, was actually the elder sister of that Radiance?

This… do spirits even have sisters?

Sefilia, too, wore an expression of disbelief, and even Melina was examining Melo with a strange gaze.

It was the first time she realized that Melo could lie without the slightest hint of guilt.

Yet, no one present realized that Melo… hadn’t lied at all.

Because The Radiance truly was her sister; he was her [indescribable] sister.

She had never considered The Radiance a companion spirit weapon, much less a mere weapon or tool…

From the day they formed their contract, she and The Radiance had referred to each other as siblings.

She was the elder brother, and The Radiance was the younger sister.

Thus, how could her statement that The Radiance was her sister be considered a lie?

Melo