Danrick prepares himself to fight both of the thugs, slightly bending his knees and lifting his fists to protect his face when suddenly a loud high-pitched voice echoes in the street

"HEEEEYYYYY, DAAANNNNNRIIIIICK!" A lively young woman calls with a smile as she flies towards the teenager.

Confusion begins to manifest on his face. Her black hair waves on her shoulders, staring at him with light cyan eyes that pierce the scenery. Her light skin reflects the sun, while her aura calms some of the inhabitants in the main street.

The girl wears snow white robes with green lines at its edges, and her golden-yellow cloak on her back waves alongside her black hair.

On her shiny silver light breastplate there's a shiny emblem with two arms crossing one another, the first holding a staff with an orb floating above its tip while the other holding a broadsword from its hilt, in between these arms a symbol is visible with the number 19 painted on its background.

The girl knocks Danrick down while saying joyfully: "Hey little bro."

Confusion remains visible on the boy's face as he says: "Sharilene, have you lost your mind or are you simply insane?!"

Sharilene replies with a happy smile on her face "Well you may call me insane, but I call myself energetic! Also don't call me that when you initiate a petty fight like this.”

She pauses and turns to stare at the thugs with an unpleasant look while crossing her arms “And the two of you!” her tone turns menacing "what do you want with my brother? Do you know him?"

"Yeah well, why should we answer you bitch?" the half elf replies, his will to continue fighting remains although the confusion.

Sharilene replies: "Being disrespectful to a lady is an awful mistake…" her eyes pierces into the half elf as she lies her hands on either side of her waist "especially towards a Paladin….".

The female horse's legs begin to shake and walk backwards and the thug says with fear and sudden alertness: "P-P-Paladin?!" The thugs then look at her shiny, silver emblem on her breastplate, the centauress with surprise and slight dread stutters: "Oh, w-we w-wanted to t-train him, y'know, He is infamous f-for n-not hav-ving t-t-the a-Arcane s-so we w-wanted to help…."

Shairlene lifts her arm, pointing directly at the confused thugs, stating: "well then allow me to return the favour by teaching you two a lesson. Don't mess with my brother or lie to my face again... Class dismissed, now go home."

The thugs run away with fear and dread…

Sharilene's smile shines again on her face. While looking at Danrick, she says calmly with slight concern audible in her tone, "Now then, let me help'', she notices Danrick’s bruises, his clothes are slightly torn with dirt all over them.

Danrick turns from confusion to embarrassment, shifting his head to his side and replies: "I'm fine…” he then makes eye-contact : “....Also shouldn't you use your magic on your fellow Paladins?"

If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

Sharilene notices her brother's body language: "But I am using it on one, or at least *one* who is destined to be one.”.

Danrick, yet to get up from the ground, begins to lower his gaze downwards and replies quietly, "But sis I…"

“Enough…” his sister interrupts him midway.

Sharilene then sits down on her knees next to him resting her arm on his shoulders, with a gentle tone she adds: "...No you are not magicless… You just yet to understand how to use it." he lifts his head as Sharilene continues, "You might now have some disadvantages, and need to work extra hard, however, you already do, I know it's tough and you may lose hope sometimes but don't forget, I believe in you honestly. Your hard work and dedication keeps me motivated! now then...", Sharilene heals his bruises quickly in addition to repairing his clothes with a snap of her fingers.

Danrick gets up from the ground, commenting: "Wow, that was pretty fast.".

Sharilene with a smirk simply replies "I'm an Arch-Mage, remember? Needless to mention I train almost everyday, healing bruises and repairing torn clothes spells are quite easy… Now then let's go to school together, what do ya' say little bro?"

Danrick's gaze shifts again to his side, with his pale cheeks turning pinkish as he says in a softer tone "I-I don't need a bodyguard, Shari… I mean, I-I can protect myself.."

Sharilene simply smiles as they both walk side by side, she answers: "I'm not bodyguarding you little bro, just making sure you won't make another bad decision on your way to school, also can't an older sister just go around with her little bro on her patrol?"

Hearing it makes Danrick smirk, shifting his sight towards his sister, he answers: "Well she should remember that she is a Paladin and has a duty to fulfill..."

Sharilene, cackles with confidence and slight enthusiasm. responding: "...Aaaaaand as a Paladin, my duty is also to guide, mentor and teach the future generations of Paladins, I'd say I'm fulfilling it by doing so to you.".

Danrick chuckles, after he does so his gaze shifts to the ground and replies: "But I can never be…".

Sharilene objects and refuses to let him continue his sentence, as if she knows what her brother is about to say: "You can!"

Danrick's expression turns sour, as his head begins to feel quite heavy and his eyes are drawn to the ground with visible despair and sorrow emitting from them, his lips trembling as he says: "But sis I…"

Sharilene yet again refuses to allow Danrick to complete his sentence, she responds: "If you don't believe in yourself then why do you train and work hard? Why do you fight? You and I both know it’s just the voice of doubt echoing in your head. If you hear it again, turn it to criticism instead so you can be better" her tone then softens as she says: “I can only imagine how hard you have to work, and I know how much you have to go through, to endure and yet continue on,… .”.

Danrick smirks and says quietly: "checkmate, sis…."

Shailene smiles.

As they reach the school's gate, Danrick waves to his sister as he enters the school: "Bye Shairi"

Sharilene waves back smiling as they depart she shouts: "Cya later little bro, and please remember what I told you.”.

Danrick goes inside an empty classroom, thinking to himself ‘There’s 15 minutes before everyone arrives… Guess I got some quiet and peaceful time to think’

.

He takes the seat in the front row near the window, his eyes gazing upon Paladins patrolling nearby, noticing the powerful aura they emit with their confidence and posture. He rests his elbow on his desk while his chin rests upon his palm as he closes his eyes, thinking to himself ‘I'm not strong enough, I'm aware of it… and yet, I do not feel like giving up… for if I do, I’d lose any value or reason to my own life…’

The memories begin to flow into Dannrik's mind when he closes his eyes.

He recalls 5 years ago, he was sore, weakened by injuries all over his 10 year old body. His sight was dimmed while his ears were ringing, he could see beaten hooded figures laying on the ground with a couple of silhouettes of armored and cloaked humanoids, standing on top of the fallen cloaked figures some were analyzing the area while others were securing it by beating hooded figures that remained standing. He then looked ahead and saw a helmet worn by a tall female knight, wearing armor underneath a Paladin crest with a silver emblem of the Paladins. The helmet had two holes from both of her temporals, revealing her red horns, her shiny-white hair waved behind her helmet. Her face was completely hidden by her helmet.

All Danrick could see was her purple eyes between the slits of the helmet. His ears ranged, he could barely hear anything aside from her soothing voice as she asked softly: “Are you alright there, little boy?” Danrick then saw another silhouette of a female draconic child running towards him, yet her voice felt different, unfitting to her age with slight hostility: “Wakey wakey asshole!”.