Tia’s Smooth Life After Regression - Chapter 16

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Tiya’s Smooth Regression Life

Chapter 16

A gaunt complexion clearly showing signs of illness.

Her curly platinum hair had lost its luster and was disheveled, and one foot visible beneath her mud-stained hem was bare.

But those eyes.

Those pupils sparkling with a strange flame didn’t look like they belonged to a madwoman at all.

Two steps, Shurkha walked deeper into the past.

Tatiana spoke to him.

“I was a bit late buying this. The black market security was tighter than expected…”

She was holding something in her hand, but he couldn’t see it clearly.

She seemed to be saying something to him, but he couldn’t hear it well.

He took one more step toward the past.

Then finally, Tatiana’s voice came through clearly.

“So listen carefully. If our child ever runs away without saying anything like I did…”

“Father?”

Stop.

Right in front of Shurkha, who had halted his steps, Tiya’s face appeared, looking up at him blankly.

He spoke to those golden eyes that were the spitting image of his wife’s, holding an unidentifiable flame.

“You’re grounded for a week.”

Tiya’s mouth fell open as she protested.

“But you said you weren’t angry!”

“Right, I’m not angry, but you’re still grounded.”

“Eh, that’s not fair!”

“Two weeks grounded.”

“Too, too much!”

“Three weeks.”

“That’s too wonderful…”

Over Tiya’s tearful voice, his wife’s cheerful voice echoed.

“You should ground her and give her a proper scolding. Really, it would be terrible if she takes after me.”

A memory with the wife he once loved so much that he wouldn’t have minded giving his life for her.

But even her voice left no trace in his desert.

* * *

Lev clearly remembers the day his little sister was born.

“I named her Astiya. She looks just like Father, doesn’t she?”

The baby in Mother’s arms, like a white pear blossom.

She was so small and delicate that he was afraid she might crumble at his touch, so he couldn’t even dare to touch her.

It was Father who took Lev’s hesitant hand.

As he reached out following Father’s guidance, the baby’s tiny, soft hand like a flower petal gripped one of Lev’s fingers tightly.

Only then could Lev truly realize it.

“The baby is holding my hand. Her hand is like a marshmallow!”

That he, who had always only received care due to his frail health, now had something to protect.

On that day when a dandelion seed more delicate than himself flew into Lev’s small, cozy greenhouse, Lev made a promise.

That he would protect this small child just as big brother Rodion protected him.

When Tiya grew a bit more, he would give her piggyback rides and secretly steal sweet snacks to stuff into her mouth.

‘Someday when she calls me big brother, I’ll treasure her more than anything in the world.’

But Lev couldn’t do that.

While he struggled with his weak body against terrible fevers, time flowed quickly, leaving him behind.

“Big brother Lev!”

Tiya, who had flown away like a dandelion seed and returned, was no longer the small, fragile child Lev needed to protect.

“Huh, big brother, why did you shrink?”

Tiya, who had been living in the North, had grown remarkably after basking in sunlight and wind. She was now even taller than Lev.

‘I’m supposed to be the big brother.’

‘I’ve never properly acted like a big brother even once.’

‘I haven’t even given her a piggyback ride yet.’

The disappointment welled up to his throat.

“You’re supposed to be that Tiya? You’ve gotten ugly.”

He ended up saying something he didn’t mean at all.

‘I’m the worst big brother.’

He tried to pull himself together, but it wasn’t easy.

“Big brother, could you show me your spirits?”

Without knowing anything. When I’m in so much pain because of this.

“You know, later if you come play with me in the North-“

How am I supposed to go to the North with this body?

“You have to be kind to people!”

What’s the point of being kind to others?

‘They’ll all forget anyway when I die.’

That’s what death meant to Lev.

Falling behind alone while everyone else moved forward. And then being forgotten by everyone…

“I’ll end up alone forever.”

His inner thoughts spilled out in his sleep, unheard by anyone.

But someone answered that voice.

“Big brother, I’m right here next to you?”

Lev’s eyes snapped open.

In the middle of the night with bright moonlight.

Something pitch black was propping its elbow on the bed, chin in hand, looking at him.

Lev was about to scream as if he’d seen a carnivorous plant, but he stopped.

The face above the hand looked quite familiar. Though it was as dirty as a puppy that had rolled in a mud puddle, it was definitely…

“Astiya? Why do you look like a beggar?”

“I went for a walk and just got back. But more importantly, big brother, let’s go to the North together later!”

That sound again.

Afraid he might say something pathetic, Lev whipped his head around just as Tiya suddenly thrust something in front of him.

“Ta-da! With this, you’ll be invincible, right?”

Rolling only his eyes to examine what Tiya had presented, Lev’s eyes widened in shock.

A bluish sphere glowing in Tiya’s palm.

“This couldn’t be…”

Though he’d never seen one before, Lev, with his exceptional spirit sensitivity, instinctively felt it.

“Yes! It’s a frost spirit’s egg.”

Something was faintly stirring within it.

A spirit’s egg, and a frost spirit’s egg at that.

Did Tiya want to become a Spirit Mage who had subjugated a frost spirit?

He thought that unconsciously, but only when he saw his sister’s expectant eyes looking at him did he realize.

That this spirit’s egg was meant for none other than himself.

Belatedly understanding what Tiya was trying to say, Lev, instead of rejoicing at the hope before him, habitually thought of the worst possibility first.

“…It’s impossible to subjugate two spirits.”

Lev’s hand pushed Tiya’s away. Tiya didn’t give up and pressed the spirit’s egg into Lev’s hand.

“You can do it!”

“Who says so?”

“…I, I do?”

“I can’t.”

“I’m telling you that you can!”

“I’m telling you I can’t.”

“You’re a Vladijef of the North too! Why do you say it’s impossible before even trying? Don’t you have any grit?”

It’s not a matter of grit.

There are miracles in this world that can never be achieved no matter how desperately you want them. For Lev, his health problems were like that.

“I went through so much trouble to get this, you know? For the sake of my hardship, at least try swallowing it. Please?”

“…I don’t want to.”

“Ah, why not!”

Why?

For a moment, it felt like his right shoulder blade where the spirit mark was carved began to throb.

Even so, Lev spat out his words as if crushing each syllable.

“I hate spirits. I never wanted something like this.”

It was Tiya who was hurt by Lev’s words instead. Only when he saw his sister looking dejected did Lev realize his mistake.

“No, what I meant was-“

“I see. But I really love them… I prayed every single night without fail for a spirit to come to me. Because I wanted Father to acknowledge me as his daughter.”

Father’s acknowledgment? Lev hesitated as he was about to ask what she meant by that.

Tiya’s left hand, clenched into a fist.

A geometric pattern carved there was glowing faintly in the darkness.

Lev knew what it was. That’s why he couldn’t believe his eyes.

“You… awakened mana?”

Proof of being chosen by the stars and the symbol of a mage.

How exactly she became a mage didn’t matter.

Tiya couldn’t possibly not know that spirits don’t come to those who receive the stars’ blessing. And yet…

“Yes. Thanks to that, I was able to bring the spirit’s egg, right?”

Not a single shadow was cast on Tiya’s face.

Something surged up from within.

Anger at his sister’s foolishness rose to the top of his head.

“Why… why did you give up something you wanted desperately enough to die for, for such an uncertain thing?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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