He buried the blade a half-fulm away from Pale's head, cracking the earth and erupting a cloud of dust and shower of pebbles. Tycon leaned over and yelled in the boy's face, "Why didn't you DODGE?!"

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Pale held his stomach and gave a sheepish smile in response, "I finally, finally hit you, Sir!"

Tycon pursed his lips to the side, hesitating... "Is that what you're so proud of?"

He unstuck his halberd from the ground, "Tss... A slight improvement-- Very. Slight."

Though Tycon's tone was admonis.h.i.+ng, Pale grinned as if it was the best thing he'd ever heard. Taree's heart thumped in annoyance.

Pale waved to Taree excitedly. Taree's heart had healed. She waved back.

Tycon followed his gaze, glancing at her, "Bucket, think about the lesson today."

Pale nodded, "It's better to dodge heavy attacks than to block them, so I won't get tired as fast."

Tycon scowled, "Think about it *quietly.*"

Pale grinned and gave him a salute and a 'yes sir' before grabbing his staff and running towards Taree. She glanced at Pale's metal staff and felt a pang of guilt. She'd heard he broke his spear in the fight against Yos.h.i.+o. She lamented not being able to help, having been trapped by a magical talisman.

"Warrior Pale... Your spear?" Taree asked softly.

Pale smiled so wide, his eyes squinted, "Sir Tycon didn't seem to notice, so don't worry about it!"

Taree huffed, crossing her arms and looking at the ground. Why did he always talk about Tycon? She was standing right in front of him!

Pale lowered his body, looking up cutely at Taree to meet her gaze, "Don't worry, Taree. It's just a broken weapon. I'm just happy you're safe."

Tycon had approached the two, his halberd resting on his shoulder, "You must think I'm quite the fool to not notice a broken spear, young man."

He pushed Pale's head with his hand, causing Pale to sway his body awkwardly. Pale grinned and stuck out his tongue. Taree was stuck between being annoyed at Tycon for his arrogant actions and protective of Pale because he was being bullied.

Tycon patted her on the head, "Good morning, young lady."

"G-good morning," She resisted the urge to slap the man's hand away like she did the other night... not that she found the feeling unpleasant.

"Young lady, I'd like to ask you to fetch your brother to the campsite. Bucket, get everyone else."

Before Taree could respond with high-level sarcasm, Pale yelled a, "Right away, Sir!" before grabbing her hand and das.h.i.+ng off.

Taree stewed in silence, staring at Pale's hand as they ran. That hand was the reason she knew everything would work out, somehow.

...

Breakfast was comprised of strips of crisp, fatty Gann belly; freshly caught river fish, fried in the Gann fat with a little bit of flour and toasted salt; and a handful of fresh berries. Tamaki had been instrumental in the meal's success, catching a majority of the fish, and supervising the berry collection.

However, Taree's jealousy rose to a new high.

In her conversations with Guild Invictus' members, she was referred to as Taree, Miss Taree, and Young Lady (by Tycon.)

In contrast, her brother was either called Warrior Tamaki (by Pale) or Young Master (by... literally everyone else.)

It was the first and only time she could ever remember when her older brother was more... popular than she was. She was always faster, better, stronger than anyone else in her generation. Everyone her age wanted to be her friend. Parents would tell their children to be like her. Older folks would praise her with honesty and say that the G.o.ds have smiled upon the sect.

When she surpa.s.sed her brother in strength, he was so proud of her-- always bragging about how great his sister was, even when others tried to shame him. Tamaki never cared what they said, that his younger sister was stronger than him, that he was less of a man for it. Tamaki even started calling her Coach, since he learned more easily about cultivation from her than any of the elders.

And what 'Young Master'? She was his sister! She was a Young Master, too!

She knew she shouldn't be jealous of her brother; he was nothing but kind to her. But that didn't mean it didn't hurt.

...The fried catfish was the best she'd ever had in her life, though.

...

After the meal, the group collected, sitting around a circle. Taree was very impressed by the size and ma.s.sive muscles of the giant red-headed man, Dragan. She hoped that if she kept training, she'd be that big, someday. She remembered that the first time she saw the tall, blue-haired boy, Wroe, she had trouble discerning that he was a boy. He was so pretty!

The Chosen One was... He came to breakfast, being carried in by Dragan, his face covered in swelling and bruises. But underneath all that, he was pretty hot, too.

...If Tycon had a better personality and didn't have such weird yellow eyes, he'd be pa.s.sable as a servant.

She was glad to see that Pale-- or Bucket, they called him, had good relations.h.i.+ps with all of them. Perhaps he was the glue that kept them all together!

The entirety of Guild Invictus was made up of hot guys! Even Horse and Jeremy were very handsome animals!

When she brought them back to the Ivory Judge sect, she would need to protect Pale from all the female cultivators! With his stunning eyes, his soft, beautiful hair, and high slightly-pointed ears, he was the exotic husband that all of the females in her generation would immediately get their fathers to arrange a marriage for! He was almost at that age, after all!

Tycon cleared his throat, gathering everyone's attention, "Miss Taree, now that your pursuers have been defeated, we should send you home."

Taree looked around in confusion. Why was Warrior Tycon talking directly to her? Normally, he'd discuss plans with her brother before her?

Though Taree was the most celebrated warrior in her generation, she was a bit uneasy, being stared at so intently by the members of Guild Invictus, "Oh, yes, Warrior Tycon. My brother is an excellent tracker and scout. He would be able to return to the Ivory Judge sect without getting caught and send word to our parents."

Tycon shared a few concerned gazes with the other boys, before turning again to her, "Your parents must be very worried about you."

"W-well, yeah. They should be worried about both of us!" Taree yelped. She didn't like where this conversation was going.

Tycon rubbed his head in embarra.s.sment, "Young lady, we've decided that based on your status, it would be best to send you back, first. You would be better than your brother in convincing your family of the worth of Guild Invictus."

"But-- but..." She was being sent away. It was so unfair!

"From what I understand, your brother is not well-respected in your sect?"

"That's not true!" Taree shouted. She looked around in a panic, trying to find someone who could back her words... Someone who could tell the green-haired man he was wrong.

Pale grabbed onto her hand, frowning. She began to calm down, quietly.

Tycon glanced at the gesture and nodded in understanding, "I ask that you return first. I will a.s.sign a guard to accompany you. You may choose from--"

"I CHOOSE PALE!" The girl shouted, her hands balled up into tiny fists.

The red-headed giant began snickering, but she ignored him.

Pale somehow looked shocked, looking to Taree and pointing at himself in confusion.

'This is your fault that I'm like this!' she yelled in her mind.

Tycon stood up, prompting everyone in the circle to stand with him.

"Very well. Pale, you are to guard the young lady to the best of your ability."

Pale rendered a salute, placing a palm to his chest, "I will guard Taree with my life!"

His words made Taree's heart thump painfully in her chest.