Ascendant Across Realities.

Got it! Here's your improved version with better flow, clarity, and natural dialogue:

Inside a wooden house, three siblings slept under the same blanket.

Lioro lay on the floor, trying to sleep.

Or at least, he tried.

An intense gaze from his left made it impossible. Even after hours had passed, it didn't waver. If anything, it felt stronger.

Annoyance crept up his spine.

Enough was enough.

Lioro opened his eyes and turned to his left.

It was Ninya, his second eldest sister.

She was staring at him, eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Is something wrong…?" Lioro asked, the corners of his mouth twitching.

Ignoring his clear irritation, Ninya leaned in closer, her voice filled with excitement.

"Lioro, show me that magic again."

He blinked. "No."

"Why?" she protested immediately.

Then, realizing her voice was too loud, she clamped her hands over her mouth.

"You know she's awake too, right?" Lioro said, nodding toward their eldest sister, Tsuare.

She had been lying with her back to them, pretending to sleep. But the moment he called her out, her body twitched, and she slowly turned toward them with an awkward smile.

It seemed no one was sleeping tonight.

"Hey, Lioro! Please show the magic again!" Ninya said, louder this time now that Tsuare was also awake.

Tsuare, curiosity evident in her eyes, nodded in agreement.

Lioro sighed, rubbing his forehead. Now, two pairs of eager eyes were staring at him.

After a brief pause, he raised his hand, gathering a small ball of mana.

Ninya and Tsuare's eyes sparkled with excitement.

"It doesn't feel as dark as before…" Ninya said, tilting her head in confusion.

Without a word, Lioro willed the mana to transform into cursed energy.

Both sisters gasped.

"Yes! That's how it felt!"

"What is this?" Tsuare asked hesitantly, her voice laced with unease. "I feel scared just looking at it."

"It's another form of mana called cursed energy." Lioro answered, dispersing the cursed energy.

"Cursed energy?" Tsuare repeated. "That… sounds kind of evil, doesn't it?"

Lioro didn't respond. Instead, he simply closed his eyes, unwilling to entertain them any longer.

Seeing his shift in attitude, Tsuare pouted.

"Hmm, it seems someone's gotten a bit of an attitude since becoming a magician," she teased, poking his cheek.

"Yeah! Lioro, you're treating us like strangers now!" Ninya joined in, poking his other cheek.

The two sisters giggled as they kept poking him.

Lioro felt like he was losing his mind.

Suddenly, he shot up, ready to leave—

But before he could, two pairs of hands grabbed his shoulders and pulled him back down.

A second later, soft kisses landed on both his cheeks.

"Alright, we won't tease you anymore," Tsuare said, smiling.

"Yep! Good night, brother," Ninya added.

They poked his cheeks one last time before closing their eyes.

Lioro gave them a weird look before sighing, shaking his head, and finally allowing himself to sleep.

This time, there were no interruptions.

Morning came, and the wooden house was filled with noise.

"Wait, we're really leaving the village?"

First, disbelief.

"What about our crops?"

Then, confusion.

"Our funds are running low right now…"

Finally, both sisters turned to Lioro, who sat silently in the corner.

"Lioro! Say something!"

Blinking lazily, he reached into his prop box and pulled out a small money pouch.

Clank.

Gold coins peeked out from the opening.

Tsuare and Ninya froze.

But instead of looking relieved, they turned to Lioro with nervous expressions.

"Lioro… where did you get that?" Tsuare asked hesitantly.

Something about the pouch looked very familiar.

And then, like a lightbulb flickering on, realization struck her.

She recognized it.

That pouch belonged to the noble.

Her trembling eyes met Lioro's calm gaze.

He smiled.

Tsuare nearly dropped to her knees.

She stumbled toward him, grabbing his shoulders and shaking him frantically.

"Lioro! What did you do?!"

"Hahaha."

Ninya, still unsure, looked between them in confusion.

"T-this isn't funny, Lioro!" Tsuare cried.

But he only laughed harder.

Eventually, realizing she wouldn't get an answer, Tsuare sighed in defeat.

"…Are we really leaving?"

Lioro nodded. He was not eating that watery soup for another day.

Tsuare sighed. "Then I'll start packing. We'll also need to find a carriage…"

She and Ninya quickly gathered what little they owned.

Packing didn't take long. There wasn't much to begin with.

Under their curious gazes, Lioro placed their belongings into his prop box, making them gasp.

"It just disappeared…"

"I thought I was imagining things when you pulled out the gold coins, but…"

Lioro shrugged. "It's my ability."

The sisters exchanged glances.

Every time they asked, that was the only answer they got.

"…What should we tell Uncle and Aunt?" Ninya asked.

"Tell them we're going to E-Rantel for work," Lioro said. "But don't mention my ability. Make up something."

The sisters sighed but nodded.

Tsuare went to inform their uncle and aunt.

A little while later, she returned with Edric and his wife, Mirella.

"You're going to E-Rantel?" Edric asked, looking at the three of them.

"Yes, Uncle, actually…" Ninya stepped forward, giving a rushed excuse.

Lioro let them handle it.

"I see…" Edric nodded thoughtfully. "How about you go with Garron? He's heading there today to sell his crops."

Garron was a well-known figure in their village and a friend of Edric's.

Tsuare and Ninya quickly nodded, relieved.

Soon, they arrived at Garron's house. It stood out from the others, made of wood and stone, with a small wooden fence giving it a homey feel.

Nearby, a muscular man was loading a carriage.

Garron.

After a short conversation with Edric, he glanced at Lioro and his sisters, then pointed at his bull cart.

"I'll give you a ride, but you'll help me load and unload my goods," he said.

Lioro scratched his chin. This simple task was becoming way more troublesome than expected.

Still, they agreed and got to work.

Midway through, everyone was left speechless as Lioro effortlessly lifted a crate three times his weight.

Edric and Garron stared.

The cart was soon packed, and as they climbed aboard, Edric suddenly pressed two silver coins into Lioro's hand.

"It's your first time going to E-Rantel," he said with a smile. "Get yourself something good to eat."

Lioro hesitated for a moment before nodding.

The cart began moving.

As they traveled, Lioro looked at the vast open plains around them, an unfamiliar sight for someone who had spent a past life in a metro city.

An hour passed peacefully—

Until Lioro suddenly narrowed his eyes.

Figures appeared in the distance. Dirty outfits. Rusted swords.

Bandits.

Tsuare and Ninya tensed.

Lioro gathered cursed energy in his palm.

But before he could act, Garron raised a hand—

And waved at the bandits.

They waved back.

Lioro narrowed his eyes.

"They let me pass because I pay them," Garron said casually, as if sensing their confusion.

Lioro remained silent.

It didn't seem that simple. But it wasn't his business.

Four hours passed.

Then, in the distance, towering rock walls came into view.

After five hours of travel, they arrived at their destination.

Fortress City E-Rantel.