Grandmaster Vivian stared blankly at the door of the Cursed Chamber, guarded by the Headmasters. Master Red approached her, also looking at the door.
"Aren't you leaving yet, Master Vivian?" Red asked. "All the Headmasters are here, guarding Master Nephtali and Natalie, so you have nothing to worry about."
"Why didn't I know that Junior Master was under Master Nephtali's protection? I thought she was only here to help you with your duties?"
"Master Nephtali saw Natalie's potential and took her under his care. Since becoming her Guardian, she hasn't caused any major trouble in this Division."
"Master Nephtali is such a good Grandmaster. I'm sure he hates me for this!"
Vivian, distraught, was worried for the man she admired.
Meanwhile, Fairah quickly walked down the hallway and ran into Venice.
"Why did you bring Master Vivian here?" Fairah challenged him angrily. "You still haven't learned how to fight fairly. What kind of warrior are you? You ask your Guardian for help when you lose. You don't deserve your position!"
"Are you angry because your favorite Grandmaster is locked up? It's her fault, too. If she had only listened to me, this wouldn't have happened. They both deserve to be punished, that Junior Master and her Guardian."
"I've known Natalie for a long time, Venice. I know how strong she is. She wouldn't cheat on you. You're probably the one who cheated and that's why you lost so quickly. You may be a Headmaster, but if you're not skilled in a fight, you'll still be defeated by a Junior Master. And never underestimate Grandmaster Nephtali. You haven't seen what he can truly do."
Fairah left in a huff. Venice watched her go. Dmitry approached him.
"You fought Natalie, and when she defeated you, you asked Master Vivian for help. To this day, Master Vivian is still finishing your battles. How long will you rely on your Guardian, Headmaster Venice?"
"You knew what that Junior Master could do? Why didn't you warn me about her ability?"
"Since you started defeating many opponents and claiming you were the strongest of all Headmasters, I knew you wouldn't listen to any warning from me. You haven't truly defeated your opponents. Master Vivian just comes back later to cover up your losses."
Venice punched the concrete wall, but it didn't break. Dmitry simply looked at him and walked away.
***
Inside the Cursed Chamber, Natalie sat within the incantation circle, gathering strength for her spirit. Nephtali stood watching the surrounding inscriptions. Red materialized in the darkness, approaching Nephtali.
"For Guardians, being imprisoned in the Cursed Chamber is a punishment," Red noted. "But for the two of you, it's the best place to gather strength and enhance your powers."
"That's why I didn't hesitate to enter," Nephtali confirmed. "I need isolation to strengthen my spirit, too."
"Master Vivian regrets her actions deeply. She still hasn't left the front door."
Natalie, having heard their conversation, quickly finished gathering her strength.
"Kuya Red, do you have any food? You can tell stories later; I'm starving."
"Would I forget to bring you food?"
With a snap of Red's fingers, food appeared. Natalie immediately dug into the delicious meal.
"Why hasn't Master Vivian left yet?" Nephtali asked Red.
"She's been assigned here to help with training alongside Venice. I'm sure more will come because of Venice losing to a Junior Master. By the way, the Council sent you a letter."
Nephtali took the letter and read it. He froze, looking at Natalie, who was happily eating.
"Does the Council want something else?" Red asked.
"They want me to take charge of the Healers Sector while Superior Andrel recovers. I am now one of the Superior Grandmasters, but I must remain here to maintain the Healers' functions."
"Will you accept this? If you become a Superior Grandmaster, the Council's law dictates that your responsibility as Natalie's Guardian will be removed. You will no longer be her Guardian."
"The law that a Guardian follows is the Codes written on the sash found in the Council, and the Council's law is not among them."
Nephtali looked thoughtfully at Natalie.
***
They were released from the Cursed Chamber. Master Vivian immediately approached Nephtali, worried.
"Master Nephtali, please forgive me for what I did. I didn't mean to put you through this. Tell me if you need medicine; the Healers are ready to treat you."
"I only need to clean Natalie's wound."
Nephtali walked past Vivian, who watched him accompany Natalie.
Days later, after Natalie finished teaching the Junior Masters, Kirill and Fairah rushed up to her.
"Natalie, is it true that Master Nephtali will be the Superior Grandmaster of the Healers Sector?" Kirill asked urgently. "We just found out when Master Nephtali left for the Council meeting."
"I don't know anything about that. I don't interfere with his office work."
"If Master Nephtali becomes a Superior Grandmaster, his responsibility as your Guardian will be removed. That's the Council's law for Superiors," Fairah explained, distressed. "Why didn't Master Nephtali tell you?"
Natalie considered their words.
"He probably would have told me when he officially accepted the position. Then I would leave his side. He deserves to be a Superior; he is an excellent Grandmaster, and everyone respects him for it."
Natalie smiled, but the sadness was evident in her eyes. Fairah took her hand.
"Natalie, you deserve to be under Grandmaster Nephtali's protection. You are a great Guardian, and you are kind to all of us. You help everyone, and everything you do is just, even if others see you differently. Please forgive me for what I said to you. My admiration for Master Nephtali made me speak without thinking."
"Forget what happened. I understand. Almost all the women here have a crush on Master Nephtali, but I only see him as my older brother."
"Yes, he even called you his sister once. You are truly lucky to have such an excellent Grandmaster as your brother."
"You're still talking about that, even though Natalie will be removed from Master Nephtali's care when he returns," Kirill pointed out.
The friends exchanged worried looks.
***
At the Council, Nephtali faced Superior Herus and Superior Hector.
"You are the first Grandmaster to become a Superior Grandmaster, Master Nephtali," Herus began. "You have everything we look for in one of our Superior Grandmasters. You know what is happening to Superior Andrel—he is losing his mind, and no one is managing the Healers Sector. That is why we chose you to take charge of this Sector."
"However, you must relinquish all responsibilities in other Sectors. We also know you are guarding a Junior Master. To whom will you transfer her care?" Hector asked.
"Superiors, becoming the Superior Grandmaster of one of the most important Guardian Sectors is a huge responsibility," Nephtali replied. "But before I accept, I want to make an agreement with you."
The two Superiors looked at Nephtali intently.
***
Natalie walked toward the quarters, then stopped, thinking about what the Headmasters had said. Tears rolled down her face.
"Natalie."
She was startled to hear Master Nephtali's voice and saw him approaching. Natalie quickly wiped her tears, trying not to cry in front of him.
"I was just going to the quarters to get my things. I heard you accepted the Superior Grandmaster position. I know I will have a different Guardian now. Just tell me who my new Guardian will be tomorrow. I'm leaving now."
Natalie turned to leave, but Nephtali caught her arm, stopping her. Natalie cried harder.
"They did not remove my responsibility to you. I will remain your Guardian."
Natalie gasped, looking at him in surprise.
"How is that possible?"
Nephtali gently wiped her tears.
"They will not remove my position as your Guardian in exchange for me training the Headmasters and Superior Headmasters next year."
Natalie pondered his choice.
"A Superior Grandmaster has one primary duty, and that is to govern the Sector he leads. But you made a deal with them to train the Headmasters and Superior Headmasters in exchange for me remaining under your care, didn't you?"
"I made a promise to you, and I will keep that promise, even if it brings me hardship. What matters is that we are together. Managing a Sector and training Headmasters is a small thing to me. Being your Guardian and your brother is the big thing."
Natalie smiled at him through her tears.
"So don't worry that we will ever be separated, because no matter what happens, I will always find a way to keep you by my side."
"Why do you always make me cry? I was so nervous earlier when I heard about your new position. I thought you would let me go and forget your promise to me."
"Is that why you were alone here, because you were sad?"
Natalie nodded. Nephtali smiled and hugged her.
***
The next morning, Natalie was reading her modules in Master Nephtali's office. A beautiful woman in simple attire arrived.
"Good day. Is this Superior Nephtali's office? I am Grandmaster Lauren of the Healers Sector. Could you please call him for me?"
"What do you need from me, Master Lauren?"
The woman was startled and dropped the letter she was holding. Superior Nephtali was right behind her and walked up to her.
"Superior Nephtali, you surprised me."
"A Grandmaster surprised by a simple movement?"
"I didn't expect you to be behind me. Could you please leave us for a moment, Junior Master?"
"Don't order Natalie around. She will only listen to me. She is studying an important attack and cannot leave. Just say what you need to say. Natalie doesn't listen to anything I do here in the office."
"Is she the Junior Guardian under your care?"
Natalie smiled at the woman, who took a step back in fear.
"Is she the Junior Master who defeated Headmaster Venice and Grandmaster Vivian? I didn't expect her to have done those things."
"Natalie will not hesitate to fight when she is in the right."
"It's rumored in all the Divisions that she is a powerful warrior. Everyone is afraid of her now."
Nephtali looked at Natalie, who was smiling at the woman.
"What exactly do you need from me, Master Lauren?"
"I will be assigned here starting today as one of your Grandmasters in the Healers Sector. If you need anything, just call me. I know what needs to be done in the Healers Sector. I heard you came from the Knights Sector, so I'm sure you will be unfamiliar with our Sector."
Natalie laughed, continuing her reading. Nephtali noticed Natalie's amused smile, then looked intently at the confident woman.
"If you know so much about the Healers Sector, what is the first thing a Healer should do when arriving at a Division that is threatened by Outcasts seeking to take the Guardians' spirits, and there is no enchanted fence around it? What would you do?"
"I would wait for instructions from the Grandmaster in charge of the Division."
Natalie laughed harder at the answer.
"You, Natalie, what would you do?"
"I would create an enchanted fence to trap the Outcasts inside for the warriors to fight, and I would treat anyone injured. You don't need to wait for instructions from your superior. Your duty tells you what you need to do."
The woman looked at Natalie, embarrassed to face Superior Nephtali.
"Even a Junior Master who isn't even part of your Sector knows what to do," Nephtali stated coolly. "Sometimes, I don't know how you got to your positions when you don't even know your responsibilities."
Lauren was speechless, humiliated in front of Superior Nephtali.
"There are new healers coming to this Division, and they need training. You will train them, and you will read your books again. I want them to be excellent Healers who know what they are doing, not just talking. You may leave, Master Lauren."
The woman quickly left, utterly shamed.
"You humiliated her in front of us, Superior Nephtali. She was beautiful, too."
"You are beautiful too. But why are you an excellent fighter and fully aware of your actions? They, however, only know how to talk. Beauty is not what is needed to fight the Outcasts."
"My beauty is natural, unlike theirs."
"Did you actually believe what I said?"
"You are not funny, Kuya!"
Nephtali smiled at Natalie, who was annoyed by his teasing.
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