A tree house clung to the thick branches of an enormous tree. Rough planks were nailed together with deliberate gaps, each one placed to betray the presence of any intruder.
Inside it,a young girl sat upon a bed of planks and leaves, her eyes drifting toward the only window—an opening that allowed a touch of beauty to exist within the room.
Warm sunlight brushed her orange-colored hair, making it glow faintly.
Her eyes lingered on the forest beyond—the trees standing in countless forms.
"Brother hasn't returned yet…"
A subtle crease formed between her brows.
-Knock. Knock.
The quiet sound reached her raccoon-like ears, pulling her attention toward the door.
She remained still.
Only after the knocking repeated again and again did she move.
A knowing grin bloomed on her lips.
She knew exactly who it could be. Her hand trembled slightly as she reached for the door. Opening it hurriedly, she was met with a stone floating right in front of her doorstep.
Stepping back inside, she grabbed the rope ladder and flung it down, staring at the spot with quiet anticipation.
Several seconds passed.
A pair of raccoon-like ears—larger than hers—came into view, followed by obsidian-black eyes.
When the boy finally climbed up, she rushed forward and embraced him.
"What took you so long, Brother?" she asked, her orange-shaded eyes shimmering.
The boy's gaze softened as he caressed the little girl's hair.
"Something unexpected came up. But don't worry Mirai—I dealt with it and came back to you safely."
"Something unexpected?..Oh no! Did the goblins hurt you?" she frowned, scanning his body until she noticed several wounds.
"Is that why you're so beat up?"
The boy's eyes widened as he instinctively tried to hide the scars beneath his tattered clothes.
"Ah—haha… well, it was a little rough today," he said lightly. "Nasty goblins ganged up on me. They must've known how strong I am!"
"Hehehe… right!" Her frown melted away, replaced by a bright smile.
"Next time, take me with you! We'll be the ones ganging up on them!"
The boy laughed, ruffling her hair.
"We'll think about that next time, okay?"
"Alright! But you better remember it. Mirai won't be a burden! Mirai can kill them with her ice magic—no sweat!" she said, puffing out her chest.
"Hahaha! Will do!"
He nudged her nose lightly.
Walking over to the bedside, he sat down and gently removed the artificial ears attached to his head.
His orange-shaded hair faded to pure black, his human ears popping into view.
As he shook his head in relief, his long black hair swayed with the motion.
"Much better!"
Mirai took the opportunity and lunged onto his lap, shifting to seek comfort.
"Did you leave the goblin meats on that tree buckle?" she asked, looking up at him.
"About that…" He scratched his head, avoiding eye contact.
"Hmm? Are you hiding something from Mirai?" she asked, arching a brow.
"N… no… I wouldn't ever. Well, it's complicated… I kind of threw them away, haha."
"Th-threw them away? So… what are we going to eat? Mirai is starving!" she said, slumping her shoulders.
"W-wait a minute…" he urged. Focusing his intent on a single point, he muttered,
"Inventory!"
The space in front of them distorted slightly as a small spatial rift appeared.
He shoved his hand inside and pulled out several pieces of bread, all falling onto Mirai's lap.
Mirai stared at the spot, her jaw wide with astonishment.
"H-How DID YOU DO THAT?" she asked, her voice bubbling with excitement.
She snatched a piece of bread, her fingers trembling as she held it, eyes sparkling like sunlight on morning dew.
She focused on a single point and muttered, "Inventory."
But contrary to her expectations, nothing happened.
She even tried to shove her hand into the imaginary space—only to fail miserably.
"Food… producing itself from thin air? I-Is this a new magic? H-How did you do that? TEACH ME!!"
The boy watched the entire venture without interrupting her.
'Cute.'
That was the only thought lingering in his mind.
-Ahem!
He coughed, finally drawing her attention back.
"I would've gladly shared, but sadly, I don't even know how!" he said, gawking at her reaction.
"Y-You don't know?" she asked, her shoulders slumping as a wave of disappointment washed over her.
"A-anyhow! Wh-why don't we eat…?" he said, taking a piece of bread and biting into it.
"Yumm… it's delicious! You should definitely try it, Mirai!"
She watched him eat with such vigor, and a small growl escaped her stomach.
Gradually, she picked up a piece of bread and took a bite.
"I-It's truly yummy! Far, far better than those meats!" she yelped, her mood instantly returning to normal.
Phew.
He exhaled softly, watching his little sister munch on the bread with a broad smile.
Occasionally, a piece would get stuck in her throat, and he would help her drink water to clear it.
Warmth surged through his heart.
'Will I be able to protect such a smile?'
he wondered, gradually shifting his gaze to the window.
Outside, the sun had almost set. Its radiance dimmed, yet the scene remained beautiful.
Once night fell, Mirai drifted off to sleep, but the boy remained awake.
He infused a small amount of his mana into the magic lantern, enough to light it dimly so as not to disturb Mirai's rest.
Once everything was done, he took a deep breath and released it.
"Character information," he muttered, and a light-blue interface surfaced, glowing in front of him.