Chapter 7 The Rift Between Them

Carl watched them from the window for a long time. Finally, the noisy crowd outside began to move into the courtyard. It seemed that they were done congratulating Arthur and Sofia.

Looking back at the clock at the head of the bed, Carl said in his heart, "It's time for dinner..."

Sure enough, after a while, Vivian knocked on the door and called him, "Brother Carl, the dean asked us to go down for dinner. To celebrate Brother Arthur and Sister Sofia's success today, the chef has made a lot of delicious food for us!"

...

Carl pulled himself together and opened the door with a smile. Looking at the adorable Vivian, he could not help reaching out to rub her hair and she responded with a lovely smile.

They went downstairs, laughing and chasing each other all the way, but Carl suddenly stopped before the dining room.

Carl stood outside the lively dining room and felt a sudden inexpressible loneliness. Vivian bounced into the room while Carl followed her, after uttering a silent sigh.

Unexpectedly, as soon as Carl entered the room, the whole room fell silent, as if someone had magically cast a spell.

In the weird silence, even the lively Vivian quietened down—she walked straight to her seat and sat down.

Carl looked around and struggling to maintain his composure, said while smiling, "What's wrong? Don't you know me after I took a nap? Am I no longer your big brother Carl?"

Joel, Tom, Jerry, Ron and Chris, who were close to Carl, burst out laughing.

Indeed, whatever happened, Carl would always be their brother Carl! All of a sudden, the tension in the air dissipated and the noise started up again.

"Big brother, let's eat!" Joel greeted him with a smile and took his exclusive seat next to Carl.

Carl smiled and nodded. Then he slowly walked to his seat. Looking around, he found that there were indeed many more nice dishes being served today.

Suddenly, Carl sensed two sets of eyes watching him. He turned his head and saw Arthur and Sofia sitting diagonally across the table from him. Their gazes had been fixed on him since he entered the dining room.

Now, they looked at each other across the table. Sofia looked at him attentively. It seemed that she wanted very much to talk to Carl but did not know how to begin.

Compared with her, Arthur appeared much calmer—he just stared at Carl nonchalantly. He seemed to have become more mature after today's test and was no longer the sensitive and timid younger brother of Carl.

Carl looked steadily at Arthur, the corners of his mouth slowly rising. Then he looked away and began to talk happily with Joel.

However, he knew in his heart that only Sofia would remain close to him in the future. Arthur had a snobbish dislike for his inferiors. As long as he was not a War Spirit warrior, they would grow farther and farther apart.

"He chose to dissociate with me early. Anyway, for him, our friendship would be lost sooner or later." Carl thought to himself while eating. From Arthur's eyes, he could read what he was thinking.

Soon, the children finished this feast. Under the guidance of their female caretakers, they went back to their separate rooms to rest.

Arthur wasted no time and left the dining room quickly. Sofia intentionally stayed behind and finally plucked up the courage to come to Carl.

Carl looked at the slightly anxious Sofia and asked with a smile, "What's up? According to the rules, we'll have to report tomorrow. You have to rest early tonight!"

Sofia, usually as naughty as a boy, looked very gentle today. While looking at Carl, she suddenly behaved like a shy little girl and pouted coquettishly, which caught Carl a little offguard.

"Carl! Do you know that after we report tomorrow, Arthur, you and I may never see each other again in the future!"

Carl nodded. Of course, he knew that. The status of War Spirit warriors and that of the common soldiers were as far apart as heaven and earth. Besides, War Spirit warriors would also be sent to different parts of the Gamma Empire.

"Don't... don't you feel sad at all?" Sofia was a little angry. Carl appeared as uncaring as a block of wood, which was rare.

Carl did not know how to deal with Sofia, who suddenly became angry and looked aggrieved. He was confused and secretly thought, "She is as cool as a boy, but now, she seems to have become as emotional as Vivian..."

"Of course I'm sad! But I can't be a War Spirit warrior, so I don't know what I can do..." Carl shook his head helplessly. Then he raised his head and said expectantly, as he looked at Sofia, "But according to the laws of the empire, it will take only three years of military service for an ordinary soldier to regain his identity as a civilian..."

...

Before Carl could finish speaking, Sofia pressed her fingers against Carl's lips and stopped him.

"Carl, three years later, no matter what kind of position I hold, I will definitely come back to see you in Rum Town!" Sofia promised with a very serious expression.

Carl was utterly stunned and stared at Sofia. As he felt the soft touch of Sofia's fingers, his head was in turmoil.

Sofia took a deep look at Carl and finally ran off, blushing, leaving Carl alone in a daze...

Carl wandered into the courtyard as if he had lost his soul. Initially, he thought that he was ready to say goodbye to Sofia and Arthur.

However, Sofia's touch and promise awakened the hidden bitterness in the depths of his heart. In a daze, Carl wandered over to the gate of the courtyard. Unexpectedly, he found that Silas had forgotten to lock the door today!

Looking back at the courtyard, he found that all the lights in their rooms had been switched off. Except for the glow from a few fireflies among the leaves above the yard, there was no light at all.

"Forget it. Anyway, I can't sleep now. Why don't I take a look at the back garden?" Carl made this decision quickly. Cautiously without making any noise, he pushed the door and closed it behind him. Then he ran to the back garden.

To his surprise, when he came near, he noticed that the group of soldiers who were there yesterday had not left! Their numbers had actually increased!

The abnormal change provoked his curiosity. "So many soldiers are drawn to this place. What on earth has appeared in the back garden?"

After observing these soldiers' patrol routes from a distance, Carl deftly avoided most of the soldiers and slipped into the garden through a crack in the fence.