Gorgeous Jewel
Chapter III Chapter 72

"My brother... Not on this continent? Mean teacher?" Iris knitted her brows. He did not understand what his teacher meant but something seemed to appear in his mind. Like air bubbles slowly rising to the surface of the water, Iris's face turned paled as she suddenly thought of something very unlikely to happen.

His eyes were staring at Gandalf. "No. Don't tell me she's.." Said Iris while shaking her head slowly.

Gandalf said nothing but nodded. Iris almost lost her strength to stand up. His brother is in a very dangerous place. His eyes were glazed over, he imagined the smile on Alice's face that was so warm as if the memory had just happened yesterday. Iris hoped very deeply to see that smile again.

"Iris, when I got to this kingdom, I heard a lot about the daughter of the Strongfort family with her heroic story of defeating the demons. At first I thought it was you and I was so proud. But when I looked at the newspaper, something impossible surprised me. I can hardly believe the news. Alice, who I thought had no talent and would have a hard time living her future as a witch, turned out to be the hero of this kingdom."

Gandalf took his long staff. He walked while knocking the stick to the floor. Gandalf stood before Iris. "The demon race is so powerful, if he is able to defeat three of them at once, I believe your brother must be fine."

Iris, who had been looking down since then, raised her head and looked at the serious eyes of her teacher.

"Alice has crossed that impossible line. Trust your brother. He was the one who had created a miracle on him." Gentle speech of Gandalf.

Iris nodded. The fear and anxiety in his heart lifted slightly. At least he knew where his brother was.

Iris left Gandalf's room. He walked slowly while thinking about what he should do in front of him. After her brother disappeared and settled the matters related to the temple, the kingdom of Solus regained its calm. In recent months, Iris also often took the time to practice. The fear and helplessness when he fought Walton was still quite evident in his head.

Through the winter, no matter the snow that constantly hit the Strongfort residence, Iris remained persistent in training hard. He wanted to become stronger so that he could protect himself as well as his family. However, that time, after he had rested from his training. Iris happened to see Leon swinging his sword under the snow in the corner of the training field, precisely under the tree behind the training equipment storage warehouse.

At that moment, he thought he wanted to see the extent of his development. Iris also took the initiative to practice a match with Leon. Iris approached the young man and took him.

Iris knew that her opponent was a close combatant, a swordsman. He also knew that Leon was a bad opponent for him. His speed, strength and skill in swordsmanship were already so well known in the Solus kingdom. People even referred to him as Duke Strongfort's swordsmanship heir.

At least I can hold him back or even we can fight in balance. At first that was what Iris thought but when they had faced each other, Iris swallowed the bitter fruit as none of her attacks hit Leon.

Iris was upset and angry at him. Not that he failed in using his magic or Leon did not give him a chance to chant, but all his movements as read and easily guessed by Leon.

Lightning Bolt, Thunder Spear or Dragon Straight and a few other attacks, all missed. Looking at the exhausted Iris, Leon sheathed his sword. He bowed in honor and gratitude.

"What's wrong? All this time I kept practicing. Why hasn't anything changed? Why can't I be like a big brother." His mind was disappointed in him.

As a child she became a spoiled girl who always followed Alice. What Alice liked, then it would also be her favorite. What Alice did, she did. Iris continued to be next to her brother, because she liked him. However, when Alice turns into someone she does not recognize. Iris stayed away, rather she was forced away. He was so sad, but over time, it was also sadness that made him learn and made his heart become stronger.

Then, what about this moment?

Under the drizzling sky. After he found out that he was still far from strong, Iris looked up at the sky. She couldn't beat Leon back then and now she knows where her brother is.

What do I do next?

After Alice becomes a better person. Iris again saw the figure of her sister who had been engraved in her memory, she craved her presence. But he was aware of one thing, his current self with the former was not the same and so was Alice. With his ability, he could not be said to be standing beside his older brother anymore. Right now she was just a little girl following her brother's shadow.

Iris closed her eyes, feeling the chill of the rain. He immersed himself under the sky that soaked Aria as if he was washing and refreshing his mind.

"Sister...I'll definitely pick you up."

That short sentence was like a pledge he had instilled in his heart.

Iris returned to Strongfort's residence. He already knows what he needs. He knows what he lacks and what he has to train for.

When he arrived at his home. Iris saw a presence that irritated her all of a sudden.

"He! Why is he here? If it wasn't for him, it shouldn't have been my brother missing and trapped in the Demon Continent."

His cynical views clearly hint that he dislikes women sitting in front of his parents.