The afternoon sun bathed the courtyard in a warm glow, creating the perfect backdrop for Lilian’s attempt at a peaceful stroll. She had just left the library after a pleasant reading session and was headed towards the gardens, hoping to spend some quiet time with her thoughts. Little did she know, her plans were about to be hilariously interrupted.

As she rounded a corner, she nearly bumped into Rylan, who was practicing his swordsmanship. His serious expression softened when he saw her. “Lilian! I was hoping to see you today. Would you like to watch me practice?”

Before Lilian could respond, a familiar voice called out from behind. “Lilian! There you are!”

Liam, with his usual exuberance, came running up, nearly tripping over his own feet in his excitement. “I’ve got something cool to show you! You won’t believe the new trick I learned!”

Lilian barely had time to register Liam’s presence when another voice joined the fray. “Lilian.”

Kael, the white-haired, golden-eyed boy she met at the church, appeared with his usual calm demeanor. “I was hoping we could discuss the book you mentioned the other day. It sounded intriguing.”

Lilian blinked, suddenly finding herself the center of attention from all three boys. The air grew thick with unspoken competition as Rylan, Liam, and Kael realized they were all vying for her company.

Rylan was the first to speak, crossing his arms and giving the others a pointed look. “I believe Lilian was just about to watch me train.”

Liam, never one to back down, stepped forward. “She can do that later! I have something really exciting to show her right now.”

Kael, ever the composed one, simply raised an eyebrow. “I’m sure whatever you have is interesting, Liam, but intellectual discussions take precedence. Lilian and I were going to talk about literature.”

The bickering began in earnest, with each boy trying to outdo the other in claiming Lilian’s attention. Their voices grew louder, and the once peaceful courtyard turned into a battleground of youthful egos.

Lilian watched the escalating argument with growing bewilderment. She opened her mouth to speak, but the boys were too absorbed in their verbal sparring to notice.

Rylan: “A sword practice is much more valuable than some trick, Liam.”

Liam: “Well, at least my trick isn’t boring like a book, Kael.”

Kael: “you are far from boring, Liam. Perhaps you’d understand if you read more.”

Lilian sighed, realizing that trying to mediate this chaos with words alone was futile. Suddenly, inspiration struck. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a handful of cookies she had saved from the kitchen earlier.

“Alright, that’s enough!” she declared, stepping between them.

The boys paused, looking at her in surprise. Without warning, Lilian shoved a cookie into each of their mouths, effectively silencing them. The unexpected move left the boys blinking in confusion, the argument forgotten as they chewed on the cookies.

Celeste, who had been watching the entire scene unfold from a nearby tree, chose this moment to intervene. She transformed into her dragon form, her golden eyes narrowing as she glared at the trio.

“Listen up, boys,” Celeste said, her voice carrying a low growl. “If you must argue, do it elsewhere. Don’t cause a scene in front of Lilian. She deserves better than to be the subject of your petty squabbles.”

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The boys, still munching on their cookies, nodded sheepishly. Celeste’s imposing presence and stern words had a way of making them feel like they were being chastised by a stern guardian.

Lilian, unable to hold back her laughter, giggled at the sight of the three boys subdued by cookies and a dragon. “You guys are hopeless. But thank you for caring so much. Just remember, there’s plenty of time for all of us to spend together. No need to fight over it.”

Rylan swallowed his cookie and nodded, a hint of a smile on his lips. “You’re right, Lilian. We’ll do better.”

Liam grinned, crumbs still on his face. “Yeah, I guess we did get a bit carried away.”

Kael, ever the composed one, simply bowed his head slightly. “My apologies, Lilian. We’ll be more considerate.”

With the tension diffused, Lilian felt a sense of relief. She looked at Celeste, who winked at her with a knowing smile. “Thank you, Celeste. You always know how to handle these situations.”

Celeste purred contentedly. “That’s what I’m here for, Lilian. To keep things in check.”

As the afternoon wore on, the boys took turns sharing their plans with Lilian, but this time with much more respect and camaraderie. They spent the rest of the day enjoying each other’s company, the earlier rivalry forgotten in the warmth of friendship and laughter.

First, she turned to Rylan. “Rylan, why don’t you show us some of your sword skills? I’m sure we could all learn something from watching you.”

Rylan’s face lit up with pride. “Of course, Lilian! Follow me to the training grounds.”

They made their way to the training area, where Rylan picked up his practice sword and began to demonstrate his techniques. He moved with precision and grace, his focus evident in every swing. Lilian watched intently, impressed by his skill.

Liam, ever the energetic one, couldn’t resist joining in. “Hey, Rylan! Show me that move again. I want to try it!”

Rylan nodded and patiently guided Liam through the motions. Kael and Lilian stood to the side, watching with interest. Kael’s thoughtful expression suggested he was analyzing every movement, while Lilian clapped and cheered for the boys.

After Rylan’s demonstration, Lilian turned to Liam. “Liam, you said you had something exciting to show us. What is it?”

Liam’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Come with me! It’s over by the stables.”

They followed Liam to the stables, where he unveiled a small contraption he had been working on. It was a makeshift catapult, designed to launch small stones. Liam’s enthusiasm was contagious as he explained how he built it.

“Watch this!” Liam loaded a stone into the catapult and pulled the lever. The stone flew through the air and landed with a satisfying thud several feet away.

Lilian laughed and clapped her hands. “That’s amazing, Liam! You’re so clever.”

Kael, intrigued by the mechanics, stepped forward to examine the catapult. “Impressive work, Liam. Perhaps we can improve the design together.”

Liam beamed at the suggestion. “I’d love that, Kael!”

Finally, it was Kael’s turn. Lilian remembered their conversation about books and turned to him with a smile. “Kael, why don’t we go back to the library and talk about that book you mentioned?”

Kael’s eyes lit up with appreciation. “I would like that, Lilian.”

The group made their way back to the library, where Kael led Lilian to a quiet corner. He pulled out a book with an ornate cover and began to explain its significance. Lilian listened intently, captivated by Kael’s knowledge and passion.

Rylan and Liam, initially fidgeting with boredom, soon found themselves drawn into the discussion. Kael’s enthusiasm for the subject was infectious, and soon the boys were asking questions and sharing their own thoughts.

As the afternoon turned into evening, Lilian felt a deep sense of contentment. She had managed to spend meaningful time with each of the boys, showing them that there was no need for rivalry. They were all important to her in their own ways.

With the sun setting outside the library windows, Lilian looked around at her friends and smiled. “Thank you, all of you. Today was wonderful.”

Rylan, Liam, and Kael exchanged glances and nodded in agreement. Rylan spoke first. “Yeah, it was. We’ll try to remember not to fight over you, Lilian. We’re better as friends.”

Liam grinned. “Besides, it’s more fun when we all hang out together.”

Kael, ever the composed one, simply nodded. “Agreed. Let’s make sure to cherish these moments.”

Celeste, perched on a nearby windowsill in her cat form, purred contentedly. “Well said, boys. Lilian is fortunate to have such dedicated friends.”

With a final round of laughter and promises to spend more time together, the group dispersed for the evening. Lilian walked back to her room, her heart full of gratitude and joy. She knew that with friends like Rylan, Liam, and Kael by her side, she could face any challenge that came her way.

And so, the day ended on a high note, with the bonds of friendship strengthened and the promise of many more adventures to come.