Stone Table Chat, Siblings by Fate

Morning training came to an end. Warm light filtered through the branches and leaves in Shrek's courtyard, scattering dappled shadows. A breeze carried the fresh scent of grass and trees, dispersing the lingering warmth from circulating soul power as everyone went their separate ways.

Xie Xie dragged Xu Lizhi straight toward the cafeteria, shouting that they had to grab the freshly steamed meat buns; Ye Xinglan took Yuanen Yehui to spar with their soul skills, quietly discussing the coordination between sword and hammer along the way; Le Zhengyu found a corner and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing; Gu Yue was surrounded by senior students asking about the finer details of her elemental control during yesterday's finals.

Only Tang Wulin and Xu Xiaoyan remained in the center of the courtyard.

Tang Wulin rolled his shoulders, feeling the Gold Dragon soul power flow smoothly through his body. He walked over to the stone table and sat down, then looked at the girl beside him with sincerity. "During our practice just now, your Starwheel Ice Staff's field control was incredibly steady. You helped us keep the rhythm several times."

Xu Xiaoyan sat down softly as well, her hands resting on her knees as the breeze stirred her pale blue hair. Her martial soul was the Starwheel Ice Staff—most members of the Xu Family in Eastsea City possessed ordinary Ice Staves, but she alone had awakened the rare Ice-plus-Starwheel mutation. She was one of a kind within the family. "It was nothing," she replied quietly. "The Starwheel Ice Staff is naturally more suited to control. It's enough if I can be of help."

The two chatted idly about the details of their joint practice, discussing formation transitions and the timing of soul skill releases. Their tone was relaxed and natural. With no one else to disturb them, the atmosphere was especially peaceful.

As they talked, Xu Xiaoyan lowered her eyes slightly, and her voice grew softer. "Back home, they always said that an Ice Staff martial soul was too soft, not as eye-catching as an assault-type one... I rarely told anyone the details of my Starwheel Ice Staff, because I was afraid they would call me strange."

Tang Wulin froze. He had always been protective of his companions, and as he looked at the quiet, reserved girl before him—the one who always silently held the team together—he could not help but feel a measure of tenderness toward her.

"You don't need to be like that anymore." His words came out openly and naturally. "We're teammates, but we're also partners. Your Starwheel Ice Staff is very strong. It's the steadiest control in the team. No one will think you're strange."

After a brief pause, he looked at Xu Xiaoyan with clear eyes and added as though it were only natural, "You're young and quiet. From now on, think of me as your big brother. If anything comes up, just tell me. I'll look out for you."

He said it casually, simply wanting to take better care of this dependable yet reserved teammate. The thought of taking her as a sworn little sister never crossed his mind. It was nothing more than an offhand gesture of concern.

Xu Xiaoyan suddenly lifted her eyes, her lashes trembling lightly. Looking at the boy with such clear eyes before her, the faint unease in her heart settled at once.

After several breaths of silence, the tips of her ears turned faintly red. Her voice was soft but clear, carrying earnest acceptance. "...All right, Brother."

One word, as light as a star touching the ground, yet it firmly settled the bond between them.

Tang Wulin laughed heartily, completely unaware that, through this butterfly-effect-like turn of events, he had inadvertently accepted a sworn little sister. He rose to his feet and brushed at the hem of his clothes. "Then it's settled! Come on, let's see how they're doing. We'll practice the formation again this afternoon and smooth out our coordination."

"Mm." Xu Xiaoyan nodded gently and rose with him, following steadily at his side.

They remained at their usual distance, wearing their usual expressions, as though they were merely ordinary teammates walking together. Yet in both their hearts, a gentle recognition of elder brother and younger sister had quietly taken root.

Beneath the shade of a nearby tree, Adult Tang Wulin leaned against the trunk and silently watched the scene. A faint sense of relief and gentleness rippled through his eyes—there had been no ceremony, no deliberate arrangement. Just an offhand concern during an everyday conversation had allowed this bond to settle naturally into place.

The wind continued to blow, and the sunlight remained warm.

A small change brought about by the subtle ripples of time quietly came to completion on this ordinary afternoon.