Rena and Rika both stepped forward at the same time.
"Then how about us?" Rena asked, sparks already jumping around her shoulders.
Rika nodded eagerly. "Yeah. We awakened too."
Before Garion could even open his mouth, two hands grabbed them from behind.
Rovric pulled Rika back firmly, while Ragric hooked an arm around Rena's shoulder and dragged her a step away.
"Hey!" Rena protested. "What are you doing?!"
Rika frowned and tried to shake free. "We want to fight too."
Garion glanced over his shoulder for a brief moment, saw who was holding them, then turned back to Dahlia and the others without saying a word.
That silence alone made Rena pause.
She looked at Rovric. "Why did you pull us back?"
Ragric released her and crossed his arms. "Because I don't want to see you get crushed."
Rika blinked. "Crushed?"
Rovric nodded slowly. "I advise you both not to join this."
Rena stared at them. "Why?"
