CH- 4, SISTER INSECURITIES

After that Lola and Sandhya finally returned to the home. Even though they returned home safely Lola was still worried. It was almost for the time of afternoon service so she became busy with customers. Sandhya also went back to her room. Maybe because of the test that she went through earlier or something else but she felt weak. So, she decided to take a nap. She fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.

On the other end…

Serena was busy with the academy's daily paper work when two boys entered her office. They are exactly those boys who had gone to that rock after Sandhya and Lola left that place.

"Reporting chief, there was a weird incident we came across but we weren't able to find the suspect."

Serena was reading a document when she heard about it, she raised her head and asked, "Incident? Tell me in detail. What happened?"

"Chief, when we were patrolling the city, we felt a sudden tremor near the shrine, so we immediately went there to check on it. According to my findings, the holy sword of that shrine has been lifted by someone. From the looks of it, the helder must have exhausted its power while holding that sword causing it to fall due to which there was a tremor and there were some small cracks on the rock as well."

"You weren't able to find any witness?"

"No mam, no witnesses. There was no one when we reached there to access the situation."

"I see."

After thinking for a while, she instructed, "Okay, go back to your classes. I will instruct the future patrolling teams to keep an eye for any suspicious people. And you two also keep your watch. If you find anything related to this incident then report it to me. Alright? Meeting dismissed."

Those two boys bowed and left the office. Lora who was hearing all of this from a corner returned to Serena's side.

"Lora, do you know about this incident?"

"President, do you wish to know who was the person who had moved the sword? Or do you wish to know about the whole incident?"

"Both."

"Very well."

Saying this she strode to her office which is adjacent to Serena's office and brought a crystal with her. There was a white screen in her office. Lora stood in front of the screen and held the crystal high in her hand. After some incantation, the crystal glowed, and then scenes started to play on the screen like a theatre movie.

Serena saw how Sandhya lifted the sword like it's made up of cotton and how she let the sword go on Lola's instruction. Lora's brows creased when she saw Lola on the screen with Sandhya when she heard Serena sprang from her seat excitedly.

"Ah…. Lora, did you see that! Did you see what just happened? Sandhya… she lifted that sword! Oh my god. Ah…"

Invisible sweat drops started to fall from Lora's head when she heard Serena shrieking like a fangirl when she is not, big stars could be seen shining in her eyes.

Serena was so happy like her baby just walked its first step. She was almost jumping in joy.

"Haha haha… I knew it! I knew it! Finally, I can tell her that it was not a mistake. My Sandhya indeed has a high magical affinity. I am so proud. Now I can brag to her about it. Haha haha."

Hearing Serena's evil laugh Lora had a weird expression on her face.

"Okay, today's work is done. I am going."

Lora asked, "Where?"

"Where? Obviously to my cute small little sister. I wonder what she would be doing right now? Hey, Lora, should I bring her a gift? Since it's kind of a big achievement for her. What should I buy? From that day I haven't met her for once. What do you think, will she talk to me? Do you think that she would be angry with me? What if she doesn't accept my gift? What will I do? Wah…."

Serena who was jumping around the office in happiness was now behaving like a troubled teenager who wants to know if her crush likes her back.

Lora pressed her temples in annoyance.

"Why are you behaving like a kid? It's just a normal thing."

Serena replied, "How could this be a normal thing? This is called 'Sister insecurities'. How would you know how I am feeling? You aren't close to your sister so you don't know."

After she finished the sentence, she regretted it. When she looked at Lora, she saw that she was looking back at her blankly.

She apologized, "I… I am sorry. I didn't mean it. I just said it impulsively. I am really sorry."

"It's fine. I think you should be going now."

Serena didn't say anything.

"Okay."

She left the office leaving Lora behind who was looking at the screen which was displaying the still image of Lola trying to drag Sandhya out of the shrine.

…

Sandhya who had slept in the intention of taking a small nap was sweating profusely. Her new dress had almost drenched in a cold sweat and her face was contorted with pain, her eyelids were close and she was muttering something. Even the noise outside wasn't able to help her open her eyes. She was having a nightmare.

In her nightmare, she was seeing lots of weird blur scenes playing inside her mind. There she found herself in a completely unfamiliar place, she could hear lots of mechanical sounds and also sounds of people laughing and crying. Then she heard the sound of an explosion but her dream didn't end there. She heard people rushing her to keep moving. Then she heard people yelling at her trying to stop her. She could hear a person's voice which felt fairly familiar. That person kept protecting her from everything. Then she heard that person's whisper-like voice like that person is on the verge of dying. She heard her say, "You will remember me, right?". And then everything came to a still and silence enveloped her.

"Sandhya! Sandhya! Woke up. What happened? Why are you sweating? Sandhya!"

Someone's worried voice finally woke her up. After waking up the fuzzy face in front of her became clearer and she saw Serena looking at her worriedly.

"Sis."

She got up and sat on the bed while hugging her head. Lola was also standing behind Serena looking worried for her. Serena sat beside her and patted her back to calm her down.

"How are you feeling now?"

"I'm alright."

Lola also stood beside them and asked, "What happened? Did you see a nightmare?"

Sandhya nodded.

"Yes, a weird nightmare. Everything felt so real. But I wasn't able to see anything clearly, only heard. The visuals were a blur."

Serena answered, "Could it be a piece of your missing memory?"

Sandhya looked at her questioningly.

"Do you often see these types of nightmares?"

"No. Not every day. But yes, when I had done the training for my foundation of magic."

"In other words when you almost deplete your magic? You have dreams like these, Right?"

Sandhya again shook her head.

Lola was surprised when she heard about it. It's been four months since they are training on Sandhya's foundation that means she must have faced these nightmares more than this. Why hasn't she told her about it? Thinking this she felt sad. She thought that Sandhya hadn't trusted her fully yet.

She asked, "If that's the case then why didn't you tell me about it? I could have found any solution for you. Yet you choose to suffer."