Tave dropped to his knees beside Lily. She sat there, unmoving, her face blank, but the blood trickling from her right hand was clear as day.
He checked her wrist. There was a wound, but it wasn't too deep.
Tave's heart pounded. "Medic! Someone get a medic! She's hurt!"
His voice echoed through the training hall, but no one moved. They were too stunned by what had just happened.
"Lil…" He grabbed her shoulders. "Are you okay? Lil?"
Her fingers twitched slightly, but she didn't answer.
If Lily hadn't reacted at the last second, if she hadn't accelerated at just the right moment, his attack could have seriously injured her.
And as Lily slowly lifted her face, he saw it. A single drop-shaped blue mark beneath her left eye. It was her Raindrop Sigil.
She had activated it at the last moment, and that was what allowed her to push her body beyond its limits to block his attack at that crucial moment.
That's what saved her.
But Tave's attention shifted to something else, the expression on her face.
Her jaw was tight, her shoulders tense, her hands trembling ever so slightly. And her eyes, they shimmered with unshed tears.
His stomach dropped.
Shit. Did he go too far? Did he hurt her pride?
Lily had worked harder than anyone. He knew that better than most. She wasn't just naturally gifted, she had also pushed herself beyond limits most wouldn't dare to reach. She had fought, trained, bled for the title of prodigy, carrying the expectations of an entire city on her shoulders.
And yet, she had lost.
Not to someone stronger. Not to someone more experienced.
But to someone who had only just broken through to Gaia Apprentice.
To him.
Had he just ruined everything she had built?
A wave of guilt crashed over him. Without thinking, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a firm embrace.
It wasn't just an apology. It was instinct.
For the first time, he felt genuinely terrible about something since arriving in this world. He had hurt his sister. And that realization stung deeper than any blade.
"Lil… are you okay?" he whispered.
Lily remained still for a moment. Then, after what felt like forever, she finally spoke.
"Don't treat me like a child by hugging me in front of everyone." Her voice was quiet, strained, but steady.
Tave let out a breath, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Got it."
He pulled away, finally allowing himself to look at her injury. But, before he could say anything, two figures approached, a man and a woman.
Tave instinctively stepped back as they knelt beside Lily.
The woman, sharp-featured with short black hair, examined the wound. "It's not deep. She'll recover quickly."
She placed her hands over Lily's injury, a soft glow forming as she channeled Gaia Force into her palm, beginning the healing process.
Lily was a support role. She wasn't supposed to be fighting on the front lines. And yet, she had fought this well? That was completely out of the ordinary!
In fact, she didn't look bad at all as a frontline fighter. She could even serve as a backup in an emergency, she could hold her own.
Even though she was primarily a healer, she had stood her ground in direct combat, trading blows like a seasoned frontline warrior.
That level of skill, that was beyond brutal.
Tave clenched his jaw. She didn't just carry the title of a prodigy. She had earned it.
A few moments later, the wound on her hand had fully closed, and the healer carefully wrapped a bandage around it before stepping back. Once they confirmed she was fine, the two quietly excused themselves and left.
Tave remained standing, but he didn't offer her a hand. Lily wouldn't like that, not in front of all these people.
Instead, he bent down, picked up her sword, and held it out to her.
She took it without a word, securing it at her hip.
"Let's go," he said simply.
Lily gave a small nod, turned, and started walking beside him.
But before they could leave, three figures approached. A young man with long blonde hair, flanked by two others, walked toward them with deliberate confidence. His posture, his smirk, everything about him screamed entitlement.
Tave's gaze flicked to the badge pinned to his uniform. It was a Squire Knight badge.
That rank meant he was already qualified for Rift Expeditions. It also meant he was at least Gaia Guardian, the same level as Lily.
Tave instinctively tried to walk past him, but the guy stepped directly into their path.
Tave's eyes met his.
The man looked to be in his early twenties, his expression carrying an unmistakable air of mockery and condescension.
Then, with an infuriating smirk, the man spoke. "What a great performance, Lily. For a moment, I almost believed you actually lost to your useless brother."
Tave's body went rigid, his fingers curling slightly.
Oh, hell.
Was it already time for a well-deserved face-slapping moment?
Well… that escalated fast.
His jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing, but before he could get a single word out…
Lily grabbed his wrist and pulled him forward. Her grip was firm, her pace steady, completely unbothered.
She didn't look back. And Tave didn't try to resist either.
It was obvious, she had no interest in dealing with that guy.
Fine.
He'd let it go, for now.
But as they walked away, Tave burned the blonde's face into his memory.
Because next time?
Next time, he'd make sure this guy regretted ever opening his mouth.
***
Tave and Lily had already left the training center area and were now walking across the outer courtyard, while several people still cast lingering glances in their direction. Even at this point, Lily was still gripping his right wrist tightly, dragging him along with her brisk pace.
"You're strong," she finally spoke.
Tave simply watched her, allowing her to pull him along without resistance.
"You can be a more responsible brother now," she continued.
Tave narrowed his eyes. Thanks, Lily… Yeah… He knew. He would be more responsible now. A responsibility that might be far greater than he had ever expected. Sigh.
She kept going. "If you want to join the Rift Expedition, you have to pass the selection and secure your spot. I'm sure there will still be a chance… The selection will happen soon. Until then, you need to properly master your Gaia Apprentice stage."
"Yes… I will…" Tave murmured.
They kept walking, and after a moment, he spoke again. "And Lil… could you stop dragging my hand like that?"
Lily abruptly stopped in her tracks, turning to him with an irritated expression before throwing his hand down and letting go.
"Shut up! Annoying," she snapped, and Tave could only respond with a small chuckle.
He then picked up his pace to catch up with her as she strode toward the exit of the Knight Academy grounds.
"That guy was a noble… He's already a level 25 Gaia Guardian," she continued.
Tave nodded as he walked beside her.
"If only I weren't the son of a Knight Commander, I might've already taught that guy a lesson. He said trash about you."
Tave gave a faint smile… even though he knew that she had been belittled just as much as he had.
"You have two weeks until the selection," she went on. "Tell me if you need anything."
"Yeah, sure…"
Well, yeah… The Rift Expedition. He had set his next target.