There was no need to teach Tonelico anything.
She was a genius who could handle everything on her own.
In Orkney, Tonelico was a more famous fairy than Mother.
She was so popular it was hard to believe she was the 'Fairy of Paradise'.
For example, I can recall the time I visited Cal's workshop.
"Hmm… Tonelico, is that you? The clothes aren't ready yet. A shame, but…"
"It's me, unfortunately. Cal."
"What. It's Kyle. I have no business with you, so get out."
"Isn't that a bit harsh?"
And so goes the sad tale of how I was turned away at the door….
Tonelico was good at everything she did, and naturally, fighting was her specialty.
"Alright! Let's take down about 10 of them, shall we?"
Her combat skills were so exceptional it was hard to believe she was the same girl who only read books in the library.
Her appearance as she engaged in close-quarters combat with the 'Mors,' the nightmare of fairies whose slightest touch was a fatal wound, was truly a sight to behold.
She would thinly coat her body with a magical water barrier, then beat the Mors into submission with her fists and staff as if she were swatting flies.
The sight was so thrilling that even Mother, who should have been stopping her,
"Go, my daughter! Wipe them all out!"
shouted in encouragement.
"Go, Tonelico! Kill them all!"
Mia couldn't be left out, either.
She cheered for Tonelico, waving a cheer stick she had made herself.
Me? I just watched from the side.
My body was too weak for that kind of brawl.
"Hyaaah!"
Besides, there was no need for me to help.
When Tonelico returned after thoroughly vanquishing the Mors, she would come find me first.
"How was I, brother? I'm strong, right!"
"Uh… yeah. You were amazing. That's all great, but… could you maybe put away that staff covered in Mors remains before you talk to me?"
Her shimmering golden hair was quite beautiful, but she was terrifying.
But I couldn't pretend to be fine and lie. I had to tell the truth.
"You're a little scary."
"Hmph…"
"Hey! Who do you think you are, making our sister cry!"
"I'm your older brother. I see you don't even call me that anymore."
It was because Tonelico could see through lies as if she were a ghost.
It felt like she was reading my very soul.
She said it was thanks to her Fairy Eyes….
Then aren't we fairies too? Why can't we see through lies?
Even the brilliant Tonelico couldn't answer my question.
So we concluded it was an unsolvable problem. Case closed.
Besides exterminating Mors, Tonelico was always busy running around.
She and Mia would explore every corner of the island, and they looked so much alike and got along so well that one could believe they were twins.
The funny thing was, Tonelico was terrified of bugs, while Mia loved them.
On days they returned from an outing.
The dinner table was always filled with cheerful conversation about Tonelico trembling at the sight of a bug.
And whenever the two of them were out together, the fairies of Orkney always tried to give them something.
It was a gift offensive, so to speak.
"Lady Mia. Lady Tonelico. Please try this. It's called a strawberry, and it's truly delicious."
"It's so fresh and tasty! You have to try a bite, Tonelico!"
"Mmm… it's really delicious. Thank you."
Fruits, clothes, accessories. The offerings changed daily.
One day she would be touring the village like that, and on another, she would be lost in thought at the library.
I usually accompanied her to the library, serving as both a conversation partner and a bodyguard.
Not that Tonelico needed a bodyguard… but I was her older brother, after all.
Tonelico was always full of curiosity.
My main role was to indulge that curiosity.
"Brother. Mother, Mia, and the other fairies all have the ability to wield Mystery, right?"
"That's right."
"But I've never once seen you use any Mystery, brother."
Those bright, shining eyes told me what she wanted.
I already knew.
"Could you… show me?"
It was a truly difficult choice, but I refused Tonelico's request.
"…Even if it's your request, I can't do that."
"What? Why?"
"It's not something for a child to see."
Tonelico puffed out her cheeks. It was something Mia often did, and it seemed she had picked up the habit.
"I am a proper fairy, you know? The word 'child' applies to humans, so it doesn't apply to me."
"Whether it applies or not. The answer is no."
It wasn't easy to fend off my sister's repeated, tearful assaults.
But everyone has their secrets. I wouldn't tell her, no matter what.
Having exhausted herself, Tonelico sighed in resignation and picked up a book.
"Fiiiine~. If you're going to be that way, brother, I'll just have to read a book~. This will be so. Much. Fun!"
"What's with the theatrical tone… Hey. That book. Put it down right now."
Why was that in Tonelico's hands?
"Shall I read from the first sentence? 'Today is the first day I'm writing a diary. I was lucky enough to be from the Clan of Rain'… Mmph!"
"I had hoped you would grow up to be a child who respects others' privacy!"
Why was my diary in Tonelico's hands? I was so flustered that I immediately snatched it away.
Any later, and every fairy in the library would have overheard my private life.
"You can play by yourself today. To borrow Mia's words, I'm sulking."
"I'm sorry, brother. Mia told me you would listen if I did this…"
Mia… I'll have to give her a proper scolding when I get home.
"Aah! Brother! Wait for me!"
"Catch up on your own."
I strode away quickly. Tonelico would have to put her books away, so it would take her some time.
"Bro~ther~!"
"I can't hear you."
Should I bury my diary in the ground? I need to give it some serious thought.
"Brother! I'm really sorry! I'll never do it again, so please forgive me just this once. Please?"
What a noisy country.
Some fairy has been disturbing the village since morning.
"Are the Clan of Rain always this noisy?"
"Ah. You're from the mainland, so you wouldn't know. Those two aren't actually from the Clan of Rain."
Cal spoke kindly to a member of the Fang Clan who had come to buy clothes.
"One of them, we don't know her clan, but the other is the 'Fairy of Paradise'."
"…What did you say? The 'Fairy of Paradise'? Why is that thing still alive?"
Mia, who happened to be browsing clothes in the same shop, pointed a finger at the Fang Clan fairy and approached.
"What do you mean, 'why is it still alive'? Such harsh words! It's because she's our family, of course!"
"Family? The concept of family is meaningless to fairies, and besides, for the 'Fairy of Paradise'?"
"Like I care? You look like you're from the Fang Clan. If you have a problem, go back to your own country!"
The Fang Clan fairy pressed a hand to their forehead, trying to hide the cold sweat trickling down.
"This should be enough for our trade. I believe I must be heading back now."
"Already? Hmm. Do as you please."
The Fang Clan fairy paid no mind to the clothes Cal had prepared and ran towards the coast.
They immediately took a boat and headed for the mainland.
"I must spread this news throughout the land at once. The 'Fairy of Paradise' is alive and well? Good heavens."
The Fairy of Paradise is the doom of Britain.
That creature, laughing and playing over there, will one day turn on us and slaughter us all.
This simple fact, why does the 'Clan of Rain' not know it?
"It seems the one to be eliminated is not just the 'Fairy of Paradise'."
The fairy who had caused a scene while pointing her finger was clearly the daughter of the Queen of Orkney.
The Queen of Orkney had been hiding the 'Fairy of Paradise'.
This was an unprecedented situation.
The Fang Clan fairy narrowed their eyes.
In the distance, the coast of the mainland began to appear.
"It's been a while. I'm about to taste some blood."
Their sharp fangs began to gleam.