"What happened?" Nurse Lila demanded, her gaze scanning his face. Her eyes were sharp, piercing through any attempt at a lie.
Si-Woo took a deep breath, trying to compose himself. "It's from martial arts class," he mumbled, his cheeks flushing. "I slipped and hit my head."
Nurse Lila raised an eyebrow, her gaze unwavering. She had seen the same look in the eyes of too many students who had tried to hide the truth from her. She knew a lie when she heard one. With a sigh, she nodded and gestured for him to sit. "Alright," she said, her tone softer now. "Let me take a look."
Her gentle touch as she examined his ear brought a small measure of comfort to Si-Woo. He watched as she applied a cool gel to the reddened area, the sting subsiding almost instantly. "This will help with the swelling," she assured him. "But if it doesn't go down by tomorrow, you come back to me, okay?"
"Thank you, Nurse Lila," Si-Woo murmured, avoiding her gaze. He knew she wasn't fooled by his story, but she didn't push the issue. Instead, she gave him a knowing look, one that spoke volumes without uttering a single word.
"You're welcome," she said gently. "But remember, you can come to me anytime you trip and fall again." Her words hung in the air, a clear message that she was there for him, no matter what.
...
The final bell of the day rang, signaling the end of school. The corridors burst into life as students rushed out of their classrooms, eager to start their evening activities. Si-Woo and Ha-Yoon had previously made plans to meet each other in front of the academy. He made his way through the throng, the whispers of his classmates about the rooftop incident following him like shadows.
As he emerged into the bright light of the courtyard, he spotted Ha-Yoon standing by the fountain, surrounded by a group of students, some of whom looked to be friends.
"I'm glad she has friends," Si-Woo thought to himself, watching her laugh at something one of them said. It was a relief to know that she was happy, even in a place as strange and unpredictable as this.
"Si-Woo! Ha-Yoon!"
The siblings turned at the sound of Minho's booming voice, cutting through the chatter like a knife. His midnight blue eyes searched the sea of students until they locked onto them. He waved them over with an urgency that sent a jolt of excitement through Si-Woo's veins.
"Come on, you two!" Minho called out again, his arms wide open. He looked more relaxed than he had in days, his smile genuine and contagious. "We've got training to get to."
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
The siblings exchanged a look of excitement and surprise as they hurried over to him. Lemmy, the gigantic rare wyvern, lay coiled behind Minho, his scales glinting in the sun. Ha-Yoon couldn't help but reach out and stroke his soft, neck as he let out a contented rumble.
"You must've gotten into another scuffle at the academy, huh?" Minho said, his voice filled with a mix of amusement and concern as he glanced at Si-Woo's bruised ear.
"Yeah, it was just martial arts class," Si-Woo replied, his voice lacking conviction. Ha-Yoon's gaze flickered towards him, but she said nothing.
Minho's eyes searched theirs, seemingly detecting the unspoken tension between them. He nodded solemnly. "
"Okay," he said, his tone serious. "Let's get going to the royal palace training grounds," he says with a playful grin.
The siblings looked at each other and nodded in silent agreement, eager to leave the confines of the school and escape into the open sky. They climbed onto Lemmy's back, feeling the powerful muscles beneath them tense as Minho prepared to take flight.
"Hold on tight!" he called out over his shoulder, and with a mighty beat of his wings, the great beast launched into the air. The wind rushed past them, whipping their hair and clothes as they ascended, leaving the sprawling academy behind. Si-Woo felt his stomach drop, the adrenaline rush momentarily washing away his fears and frustrations.
The flight to the southern end of the royal palace was breathtaking. Below them, the land unfolded like a patchwork quilt of vibrant greens and blues, the dual suns casting their light across the horizon. The siblings had to shield their eyes as the suns danced and played in the sky, their combined glow illuminating the entire kingdom.
The training grounds were unlike anything they had ever seen. Just in the Backyard of the palace, the area was a fusion of natural beauty and ancient mystical architecture. The emerald grass stretched for miles, dotted with floating platforms that served as stages for various combat and serein practice sessions. The air hummed with the vibrant energy of soldiers honing their skills, and the sound of swords clashing filled the air.
They landed on a platform with a soft thud, the concrete-like platform holding under Lemmy's weight. Ha-Yoon took a deep breath, her eyes wide with wonder. "This is amazing," she whispered, her voice barely carrying over the arena.
Minho chuckled, patting the creature's neck. "It's just the beginning," he promised. "Now, let's get started. Si-Woo Ha-Yoon, hand over those weapons the king gave you yesterday."
Si-Woo reached into his backpack, his hand wrapping around the cold metal of his new kunai. He pulled it out with a sense of pride, the weapon gleaming in the twin suns' light. He handed it to Minho, his eyes shining with excitement. Ha-Yoon did the same, her own book seemingly pulsing with power as she offered it to him.
Minho took the book with a careful, covered hand, his eyes scanning its ancient cover. He pulled a soft cloth from his pocket and began to wrap it gently as if handling a fragile artifact. His movements were precise, almost reverent, and Ha-Yoon watched with a mix of curiosity and awe.
"You must understand," he said, his voice carrying a gravity that seemed at odds with his usually light demeanor, "These are not toys to be played with, I don't know why no one stopped you from bringing it into the academy but they are weapons of power, given to you by the king himself. You must earn the right to wield them."