"Huff, Huff. Are we safe, big bro?" Julius asked, his breathing short after sprinting at top speed until he reached the cafeteria.
"We should be. She wouldn't try something with so many witnesses around." Adam answered, pointing at the other students.
After their morning class, they had two hours to eat and relax before returning for the evening.
"Julius, we kept you a place!" Arun's friendly voice reached Julius. The boy gestured to an empty seat beside him with a smile.
Julius nodded at him in response before going to the serving area. There, he saw Morgane taking rice and putting raw fish on it.
"What is this strange girl doing?" He muttered before filling his plate with vegetables, mushrooms and steak. Then, he dodged the other students and sat at Arun's table.
"So, what did she tell you?" Asha immediately asked, excited for him. If he could become a teacher's disciple, he was guaranteed to reach tier three in a few years. Then, depending on his unlocked talent, he could even enter the big circle of tier-four mages.
Julius sighed, dropping his fork on the table. He explained to his three friends how the discussion unfolded and that he refused her offer in the end.
"But... Why?" Louise couldn't help but ask, shock filling her eyes. After living her whole life as a guard, without the opportunity to learn how to train her mana, she dreamed of becoming a teacher's disciple since she entered college. After all, she was the oldest of the batch but also the weakest, right behind Julius.
Julius shook his head dismissively. He couldn't explain his refusal without exposing his big brother's existence.
"Do you trust them?" Adam asked, his bright eyes full of hesitations. He didn't know if he was making a mistake but...
"Yes, with my life," Julius said in a low voice, not understanding the sudden question.
"... Tell them," Adam answered, his eyes torn between reluctance and relief. Relief that their burden would finally stop pressing on them. Reluctance because it would be the first time he trusted someone in this world.
The group watched as Julius suddenly froze in place, his expression a mix of joy and disbelief. "Are you sure, big bro?" He asked, his hazel eyes glowing in enthusiasm.
If he had to choose what was the most frustrating thing in his life, he would answer ten times out of ten that it was to hide his big brother's existence. Sharing it with his friend was like a dream come true.
"Do it!" Adam steeled his resolve and commanded. More and more people started to learn about him outside of his control. Moreover, these people included mages and arcanists. So, what would three more novices change to the equation?
Julius clenched his fists in joy and excitement. He could finally stop lying to his friends and, more importantly, speak about his idol freely!
"Guys, I have something to tell you. Can you come with me to my room after lunch, please?" He asked his group of friends, smiling widely at them despite their questioning gazes. After all, he just spoke alone, startling them.
"Sure, let's quickly eat and go to your room," Arun responded, curious about the sudden shift in Julius' behavior.
Everyone nodded, agreeing to the plan. They still had an hour and a half before their afternoon class anyway.
Fifteen minutes later, they entered Julius' room. The girls sat on his bed while Arun sat on the desk's chair.
Julius gazed at each of his friends in the eyes with resolution and joy. "I need to talk to you about my brother."
Everyone's ears perked up in curiosity at the mention of this mysterious brother. In their mind, his image was that of a multi-talented man who could cook, design bags and use magic. They all wanted to meet him but ended up disappointed after he didn't show up in the city. Did he finally arrive? Was that what Julius was about to tell them?
"The truth is... That he has always been with us." Julius revealed, stunning them. They failed to understand what he meant with those words.
"My big brother's condition is a bit weird. We both don't know why, but he is a ghost. That's why you couldn't see him." He dropped the bombe, making his friend's eyes widen in shock.
"What do you mean a ghost? Was he with us the whole time?" Arun asked, a bitter filling blossoming in his heart. He really trusted Julius. So much that he considered him a brother, but here he was, learning that he had hidden something so important for so long from him.
Julius shook his head and added, "He joined us right when Marco was about to win. He was the one saving us all."
Julius chained shocking revelations one after the other. The elusive apprentice who saved them at that time was, in fact, his brother!
Asha covered his mouth in shock as Arun's eyes almost popped out of their sockets. "But why? Why did you hide it from me!" His voice resonated with frustration and sadness as he questioned.
"Because he asked me not to. In my place, would you have gone against your brother's wish?" Julius answered, understanding his friend's disappointment but standing firm in his explanation.
Arun calmed down to ponder the question. He imagined what he would have done if Julius asked him not to reveal his existence to his newly made friends.
Soon, he sighed. "I understand... Do you have anything else to share with us?" He asked, acknowledging the sound logic of his words. However, a part of him couldn't help but feel betrayed.
Julius gazed at Adam, his eyes asking if he could reveal everything to them.
Seeing his big brother's nod, he proceeded to tell them everything they went through and how they ended up meeting each other on their journey to the college.
Adam didn't know if his decision was right or one that would invite trouble to his doorstep, but he felt much lighter after Julius revealed everything.