Natalie woke to find herself in a beautifully furnished, unfamiliar room. She sat up abruptly, clutching her chest at the sudden memory of the pain from the night before.
How did I get here?
The memories flooded back: the ambush, the weakening of her spirit, the sudden, protective arrival of Master Nephtali, and the warmth of his shoulder as she slept.
On her way to the training ground, she ran right into Adira and her lackeys.
"So the rumors are true," Adira drawled, an unpleasant smile on her face. "You are under Master Nephtali's personal care. No wonder the Division is so quiet; the great Junior Master Natalie can no longer cause trouble."
Adira and her friends laughed, but Natalie held her tongue, a strange sense of composure settling over her.
"I have great respect for my Guardian, especially since he is such an exceptional Grandmaster," Natalie retorted coolly. "Unlike some people who don't even know how to respect their own superior."
"We'll see how much respect you have in the training session," Adira sneered, throwing down a challenge.
As Adira stalked away, Natalie noticed Nephtali standing in the hallway, having clearly overheard the exchange.
"I wasn't doing anything, Master Nephtali."
"Did I say you were?"
"No, but you look like a police officer monitoring my every move. I wasn't causing trouble. Adira is the one who always looks for conflict."
"And you always take the bait," Nephtali pointed out, crossing his arms. "If you want revenge on your enemies, fight them inside the training ground, not outside. That is how you avoid trouble."
"Why didn't I think of that before?" Natalie asked herself, a wicked grin spreading across her face.
Nephtali turned and walked away without acknowledging her. Natalie smiled, delighted by his unexpected advice.
Their first session began, led by Headmasters Fairah and Dmitry.
"We will test whether you can effectively use the offensive techniques we taught you," Dmitry announced. "We will select combatants from each Clan."
"Adira versus Natalie," Fairah declared.
Adira smiled, ready for the fight.
"Begin!"
Adira immediately attacked with her energy blast, but Natalie was a blur—she vanished, reappearing to land a swift kick on Adira, sending her sprawling. Adira hadn't seen the attack coming.
"Natalie cheated, Headmaster Dmitry!"
"Adira, Natalie did not cheat," Fairah corrected. "She utilized the technique we taught you earlier. The first point goes to Natalie."
"You are such an infuriating woman!" Adira yelled, lunging with her weapon. But with a single, practiced movement, Natalie disarmed her, throwing Adira to the ground. Adira hit the floor and blacked out.
The others applauded wildly for Natalie.
"Adira!" Dmitry exclaimed. "Help Adira!"
"Headmaster, we need to take Adira to the Clinic," Lencia urged.
As Adira was carried off, Dmitry turned a furious gaze on Natalie.
In Red's office, Dmitry was venting, while Natalie sat outside.
"Master Red, she injured Adira right in front of us! I cannot allow Natalie to participate in our training sessions anymore!"
"Headmaster Fairah's report states Natalie fought fairly," Red countered calmly. "Natalie did not use any power, unlike Adira."
"I absolutely refuse to have Natalie in my sessions again! Separate her if you must! Her skill far surpasses the other Junior Masters—she is already bordering on Headmaster level!"
Nephtali entered, and Dmitry immediately fell silent.
"I agree with Headmaster Dmitry, Master Red," Nephtali stated. "Natalie no longer belongs with the Junior Masters."
"We cannot preempt the Council," Red replied. "We must follow the established procedure. Headmaster training doesn't begin until next year."
"I will train Natalie myself, then," Nephtali said. "That way, she will not interfere with the others' training."
The two men fell silent, considering Nephtali's radical offer. Dmitry exited, shooting a glare at Natalie. Nephtali followed, approaching the young woman.
"Master Nephtali, I only followed your advice," Natalie defended herself. "I fought Adira inside the training ground, and I fought fairly."
"Because of what you did, you will no longer participate in any of their training sessions."
"Will Master Red lock me in the Cursed Chamber again?"
"No. I will train you myself, starting now."
"You? Why you?"
"The Headmasters can no longer teach you. Your knowledge is too advanced for a Junior Master. Be early tomorrow, and we will begin your training. Read some advanced attack texts. I will check tomorrow to see what you've learned."
"Can't you just lock me in the Cursed Chamber?" Natalie groaned.
She walked away, visibly annoyed. Nephtali watched her—so childishly defiant, so unwilling to submit—just like Sariel when she was lazy about training.
In the dining hall, Natalie stood in line. Suddenly, Adira's companions charged her, surrounding her.
"Ten against one? Isn't that a bit much?" Natalie quipped.
"You hurt our Clan Leader, so we'll hurt you!" the first man yelled. "Beat her up!"
They rushed her, but Natalie simply dodged their sloppy attacks, moving them toward the outside of the dining hall. Onlookers watched, terrified for her.
"I don't want to fight you," Natalie said.
"What do you mean, you don't want to fight?" the second man shouted.
Natalie saw Headmaster Dmitry nearby, making no effort to stop his subordinates. She stood still, offering no resistance. The men descended upon her, a flurry of fists and kicks.
Suddenly, a powerful energy blast split the air between them, throwing the attackers backward.
"Headmasters! Lock those men in the Cursed Chamber for two days!" Red commanded, appearing at the doorway. "Headmaster Dmitry, join me in the office!"
The Headmasters rushed to seize the attackers. Malika and Kalmin ran to Natalie, who lay unconscious and battered.
"Master Red, it's Natalie!"
Natalie was rushed to the Clinic. Fairah arrived, distressed.
"Nurse, how is Natalie?"
"We are waiting for a Healer to treat her head wound. She is in a coma; her head took a severe impact."
Fairah looked at Natalie's bandaged head.
In Red's office, Nephtali arrived, having heard the news.
"Natalie is in a coma, Neph. She didn't fight back against Adira's followers. I have suspended Headmaster Dmitry; he ordered the attack."
"Caius has the Chains of Sentry. It can heal her," Nephtali stated.
"Caius doesn't know how to use those Chains."
"I will help him, using the Silver Chains of Protector as a guide. My Chain will guide his. The important thing is to save Natalie's life."
Red looked at him intently. "Do you see Sariel in her?"
Nephtali remained silent.
"I have never seen Natalie refuse to fight before," Red continued. "She didn't play games with them; she accepted their hatred. Now, she listens to everything you tell her."
"She only respects me because I am her Guardian," Nephtali said dismissively. "Let us focus on our responsibilities."
Nephtali left. Red watched him go.
In Natalie's room, Nephtali watched the unconscious girl, her head swathed in thick bandages. He wrote an incantation in the air and directed it at her body. His Chain and Caius's Chain glowed simultaneously. Within minutes, Natalie's external wounds healed.
Natalie awoke, finding Master Nephtali seated beside her.
"Why didn't you fight them, Natalie?" Nephtali asked, his voice low and tight. "You never lose like that. You are truly going mad."
"I was the one beaten up, and I'm the one being scolded?"
"Do not do this again. You were almost killed. If something happens to you here, we are responsible."
"If I die, just make sure I get buried," she muttered, exhausted. "It's better than having my body burned, right?"
Nephtali recoiled at her words, leaving abruptly without a word. Natalie was confused by his reaction. She looked at Caius, who was standing there expressionless, and he, too, followed Nephtali out.
Natalie was released from the Clinic. Headmaster Fairah met her in the hallway.
"You startled me, Headmaster Fairah. I haven't even done anything yet. Why are you already here to catch me?"
"Why are you so guilty, Natalie? Master Red wants to see you at the training ground."
"I'm the one who was assaulted, and I'm the one who is responsible? What kind of Division is this?"
"Stop complaining. You cause trouble constantly, so get used to being scolded and punished."
"You don't need to tell me that. I'm already used to it."
Fairah left them alone in the training ground. Natalie looked around; only Red and she were there.
"Is Master Nephtali upset with me? Is that why he won't show himself, Master Red?"
"It's good that you noticed."
"Wait, why would he be angry at me? I was the one beaten up, and I didn't start the fight."
"He is upset about the last thing you said to him. He did not appreciate it."
Natalie searched her memory. "He got angry when I said I should be buried or burned if I died? Why would he be angry? It's my body, not his."
"His sister was burned alive, and he was powerless to stop it."
Natalie went still, shocked by the revelation.
"Nephtali had a younger sister. They were very close, the only two who truly understood each other," Red explained quietly. "He was far away when the tragedy occurred. Since that day, his heart has turned to stone, and he can't forget what happened to her."
"He is still hurting?"
"It still hurts him greatly. So, from now on, think before you speak. You never know what the person in front of you has been through. Go to the library. There are books you need to read. Master Nephtali will see you, but not today."
Natalie was left alone with the weight of her new knowledge. She went to the library, reading through the Guardian Codes, her mind distracted by thoughts of Master Nephtali.
Days later, Natalie walked toward the dining hall, finding Malika weeping.
"Malika? Why are you crying?"
"It's nothing. I just have a headache, and I can't stop crying."
"Don't lie to me. Tell me what happened. Did you and Kalmin fight?"
Malika calmed down, trying to compose herself. "Natalie, don't tell anyone this. I was in a relationship with a Headmaster, and I just found out he's been lying to me. He's also in a relationship with Lencia, Adira's friend."
"Why are you crying over him? If he wasn't honest with you, you should be crying over the people who are true to you."
"But I love him. Of all the men I've met, he was the only one who understood me. He knew what I liked and disliked. You know how it is."
"No, I don't know how it is," Natalie said, taking her friend's arm. "Just come eat with me, so you can forget how you feel. Your problems are making me hungry. Come on."
As they entered the dining hall, Lencia stormed up to them.
"Hey, Malika! I hear you're saying I stole Fedor from you! Tell everyone that you're the one fantasizing about my boyfriend!"
"Lencia, be quiet. Don't you know we are forbidden to have relationships with Headmasters?"
"It's just us here! No Headmasters or Grandmasters! Tell them you stole him from me, not the other way around!"
"I'm going to eat now. I don't want to get involved in your fight."
Lencia suddenly fired an energy blast at them. But the blast abruptly changed direction and landed in the hand of Master Nephtali, who stood at the doorway with several Headmasters. Everyone froze in fear.
"Headmaster Kirill, take Junior Masters Lencia and Malika to the office and write up a report," Nephtali ordered.
"Yes, Master Nephtali."
The Headmasters took the two girls away. Natalie avoided Nephtali's gaze, but he spoke to her.
"Natalie, there is something you need to do. Follow me."
Natalie followed him instantly. They reached the entrance, where new Junior Guardians were arriving.
"These are the new Junior Guardians who will train here," Nephtali explained. "You will teach them, while the other Headmasters continue to train your cohort."
"Me? Teach them? But I'm not a Headmaster yet."
"This Division is remote; others won't know about it. You will be a Headmaster next year, so this will be your training."
"Could you perhaps guide me on what I should do first?" Natalie asked, suddenly meekly seeking his help.
Nephtali looked at her, seeing her request for guidance. "Come to my office every morning and pick up the modules you will use for their training."
"Thank you, Master Nephtali. Also, I apologize for what I said to you the other day. It won't happen again."
"What did you say?"
"Just… forgive me. If you have nothing else to say, I will leave now."
Natalie hurried off, blushing with embarrassment. Nephtali smiled, watching the girl go.
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