The sister is returning around noon.
So I still have some time. I decided to train. And about an hour before lunch, I thought it would be better to go and meet her anyway. After all, it's better to build a proper relationship and avoid misunderstandings. Since I'm living Viren's life, I should at least fix my relationship with the family. Although I did expect she might "test" me because of what happened at the banquet.
From Viren's memories, at that banquet held for his engagement, he arrived under the influence of drugs, then proceeded to challenge the son of a viscount, and ended up getting brutally beaten. After that, I took over this body.
When she saw me, she looked surprised. For those who saw me every day, it might not have been obvious, but I had gained muscle mass. Tia greeted me with a hug. I briefly struggled to breathe, but I was quickly "released from the cage."
— Brother, did you train?
Tia asked me.
— Yes, I trained.
She happily started pulling my cheeks.
Damn it, am I a pet to you… though at least I'm not getting beaten.
— Well then, let's check the results of your training. Come to the training ground, your older sister will evaluate your strength.
Damn it, of course… like I was going to be spared. What was I even hoping for.
And so, 30 minutes later, we stood facing each other, holding training swords.
— Attack.
Tia said with a smile.
I started the 12 Steps of the Storm. Tia blocked the first nine strikes.
— Not bad, she said, and her excitement was obvious.
— Now it's my turn. Defend yourself.
Her smile turned noticeably more dangerous.
Now she was using the 12 Steps of the Storm as well—only, damn it, that's unfair. She's using the family movement technique. Too fast. But thanks to my experience fighting the shadow with the same sword style, I managed to block the first nine attacks. Fortunately, she wasn't using her full strength.
After the ninth strike, she was about to attack again, but I decided to seize the initiative and attempted a thrust. The attack didn't even reach its target—her training sword hit me in the face first.
That hurts, I thought. My vision blurred for a moment. This won't work.
A straight thrust against someone physically stronger exposes me too much. I started the 12 Steps of the Storm again. This time Tia chose to block. She deflected all nine strikes, but after the ninth I still had some momentum and managed to counterattack.
Tia laughed:
— Hehe, little brother, now I'll get serious.
She suddenly accelerated. Her movements became almost impossible to track. If not for the dozens of battles against the shadow using the same technique, I would have lost in a single hit.
I realized—it was time to change the approach.
I deflected her attack, jumped back, and began casting mid-air. Blocking wasn't an option right now—using aura and qi simultaneously is too difficult.
I dodged at the last moment, and once I gained distance, I said:
— Stone Rain.
Three stone projectiles shot toward Tia. For a brief moment, she looked surprised.
But in the next instant, right before impact, she moved so fast I couldn't even follow her motion and destroyed all three projectiles.
— So you're a mage. I admit, you surprised me, she said, looking quite pleased.
— That's enough for today. If we're late for lunch, mother will be upset.
Fortunately, I avoided getting beaten.
After that, we had lunch while Tia talked about her time at the academy. And the more I listened, the clearer it became—I don't have a chance. She was already at the third rank, and progress in the academy is extremely fast. I remembered that from the novel. As it turned out, she was the strongest in her year.
The rest of the day passed as usual.