Red handed Caius's spirit back to Natalie. Natalie looked at Caius, whose face was devoid of emotion and whose gaze was vacant.
"I took Caius's spirit not because he didn't want to leave me or wanted to stop me from sacrificing my life to save the other Chains," Natalie explained to the two men. "But because I didn't want his true power to emerge. Before I descended as one of the Lord's warriors by His side, Caius was given to me as my warrior. Given the strength of my own power, I needed a warrior by my side who could fight on my behalf. I didn't expect that even in this world, Caius would fulfill his responsibility to me."
Natalie placed the spirit back into Caius's body. The man immediately experienced intense pain, his eyes turning a sharp blue, and his dark hair growing longer. Caius screamed, then calmed after a few seconds. He turned to Natalie and immediately knelt before her.
"Forgive me, Sariel. I promised I would never leave your side, but I failed to keep that promise! Forgive me!" Caius cried, pleading before Natalie.
"You have no fault, Caius," Natalie said gently. "My actions back then were my own will. I blame neither you nor Red. You both fulfilled your duties, and I am proud of you."
Caius cried even harder at Natalie's words.
"Caius, stand up," Red muttered, embarrassed. "Aren't you ashamed of what you're doing in front of Archangel Raziel? You are in the presence of high-ranking angels."
Caius quickly stood, composed himself, and wiped his tears. Nephtali smiled at Caius, who acted like a child.
"How did Caius know you were Sariel, Natalie?" Nephtali asked.
"I only removed his spirit, but not his eyes. Even though he was vacant and only followed Red, he still knew everything happening around him."
With a snap of Natalie's fingers, a massive rock quickly floated toward them. Caius darted forward, punched the huge rock, and instantly turned it to dust.
"Caius can do everything," Natalie stated. "He is an extreme warrior, and some of you don't know that. Everyone should fear him, but once he speaks, their perception of him changes. He is very respectful and kind, so they wouldn't imagine Caius has extraordinary strength and power."
"Who else among your warriors should the Guardians fear?" Nephtali asked.
Natalie looked at Nephtali and Red, who exchanged glances. Natalie simply smiled at the three men before her.
***
In the office, Lauren entered with papers, running into Vivian, who also had documents.
The two women immediately raced to Superior Nephtali's office door. The door was closed, and they were laden with their documents. They shoved each other until the door flew open, causing both to trip and fall. They looked up at the girl who had opened the door.
"What are you doing here, Grandmasters?" Natalie asked sweetly. "Don't you know Superior Nephtali has a day off today? He needs to study some modules from the Council. I'm just here to return his modules."
The two women scrambled to their feet, adjusting their clothes.
"His assistant didn't tell me about his day off," Lauren claimed. "If he's studying for the Headmaster training, I can help him."
"You? Help Superior Nephtali?" Vivian scoffed. "You don't even know how to fight! All you know is how to hide."
"Why are you interfering?! I just wanted to help, unlike you who forces yourself on him just to get noticed!" Lauren shot back.
"I know many reckless women want to approach him. Why don't you just admit you have a crush on Superior Nephtali too?!" Vivian shouted.
"You..."
With a snap of Natalie's fingers, the mouths of the two women snapped shut. The Grandmasters were shocked, unable to speak. Natalie laughed at their distress.
"I don't understand you two," Natalie said, apologetically. "I really have to go. Goodbye."
Natalie left, still laughing at the two stunned women.
***
In Nephtali's quarters, he was reading books at his desk. Natalie arrived, still chuckling about the Grandmasters. Nephtali noticed her.
"Did you do something again, Natalie?"
"What would I do, Kuya?"
Nephtali stopped reading and walked up to the girl, who was trying hard not to laugh.
"When did you start lying in front of me?"
"How can you say I'm lying in front of you?"
Nephtali floated Natalie's right hand, and her Chain glowed. Natalie quickly hid the Chain.
"Why does my Chain keep reporting on me to you? It's supposed to obey me, not you."
"That's your fault because you wanted the Chains of Guardians to trust me, just as you trusted me."
"When will I ever win against you, Kuya Neph?"
"When will you follow the Codes that you created? One of the Codes states that a Guardian must obey their elder and not keep secrets from them."
"Kuya, it's your day off, isn't it? Take a rest from scolding me. Don't you ever get tired of it?"
"I will never get tired of disciplining you because you still act like a child. Why don't you emulate your peers? They do everything they can to be as good as you and they obey their superiors. But you, you can't even do what I want."
"I do obey you, even when I let them beat me! Even when they hurt me and gang up on me, I still obey you. But, Kuya, don't you know I feel suffocated by your restrictions? I want to fight too. I want to do what I want, but I stop myself, thinking you'll scold me again and punish me. What can I do? I have to obey you because you are my Superior and my Guardian."
Natalie cried, wiping her tears, and walked into her room, upset. Nephtali was silenced by her words.
***
Natalie avoided Nephtali after their argument. They didn't see each other, even in their quarters.
Nephtali finished his work while Kirill tidied some papers.
"Headmaster Kirill, have you seen Natalie today?"
"Yes, earlier. She was teaching the Junior Guardians."
"Did she come to the office this morning?"
"No. She only had Headmaster Fairah retrieve the module."
Nephtali realized Natalie was still upset with him.
At the training ground, Natalie was talking to her friends.
"Master Vivian's face is hilarious," Adira chuckled. "Her mouth is still swollen. Several Healers treated her, but the swelling is only slowly going down."
"Who did that to them?" Kalmin asked. "I heard the same thing happened to Master Lauren."
"They just went into Superior Nephtali's office," Fairah explained. "After they came out, their mouths were swollen."
The friends laughed, while Natalie smiled quietly.
"By the way, are you ready for the training to become a Headmaster?" Lencia asked. "Fairah said the training would be very difficult."
"It truly is difficult. Becoming a Headmaster is no easy task. But one of us won't struggle because she already knows how to fight and is the best of us all."
They looked at Natalie, who was deep in thought.
"Natalie, you've been quiet for a while. Is something wrong?" Adira asked.
"No, I'm just thinking."
Dmitry and Venice approached, silencing them.
"All Junior Masters and Headmasters must go to the Hall," Dmitry announced. "It is an order from the Superior Grandmaster."
"They'll probably announce when the Headmaster and Superior Headmaster training will begin," Venice said nervously. "I'm already anxious about what's going to happen."
"Natalie, why don't you try the Superior Headmaster training?" Fairah suggested. "You're a great fighter, and you've defeated many Outcasts."
"Exactly!" Kalmin agreed. "I saw what Natalie can do. It's truly amazing."
"She is suited to be a Superior Headmaster," Dmitry added. "She has already defeated a Headmaster and a Grandmaster. How much more the Outcasts she will face in the Superior Headmaster training?"
"What?!" Adira gasped. "We'll be fighting Outcasts in the training?"
Natalie remained silent, listening to them, then stood up.
"I'm not excellent. I just know how to fight, and I train hard to become a true Guardian in the future. The important thing is that we help those in need and fulfill our duty as Guardians."
"You truly are kind, Natalie," Venice said sheepishly. "I'm ashamed of what my Guardian and I did to you. You are more deserving of being a Headmaster than me."
"I also ask for your forgiveness for what I did to you," Dmitry added. "From now on, we will do the right thing to help others."
"Please forgive us, Natalie."
"Headmasters, let's forget what happened. All of that is over. We always have a chance to correct our mistakes."
They agreed with Natalie. As they headed to the Hall, Natalie was still deep in thought. Kalmin knew her well when she had problems.
"I've noticed you've been deep in thought for a while. Is teaching the junior guardians difficult?"
"No. I'm happy when I teach them."
"What are you thinking about?"
Natalie stopped walking when she saw Nephtali entering the Hall with other Grandmasters.
"Are you and Superior Nephtali having a problem?"
"You truly are my friend, Kalmin."
Natalie smiled at Kalmin, who was confused by her statement, and continued walking to the Hall.
"There you go again with your words that only you know the meaning of. Natalie, I don't understand you. Repeat what you just said."
The Grandmasters were in front, with Superior Nephtali in the center. Natalie stood behind her friends, the Headmasters. Nephtali stood to begin the meeting, and everyone fell silent.
"Your training as Junior Masters is coming to an end. Next year, upon your return, the training for future Headmasters will begin, while the Headmasters will train as Superior Headmasters. This training ground will be the venue for your training. Junior Masters from different Divisions will come here to train as Headmasters, along with Headmasters who wish to become Superior Headmasters. Grandmasters under my supervision will also arrive to teach you."
Natalie listened, unable to look at Superior Nephtali.
"When you return here, you must be prepared for intense training. You must also know that at the end of this training, you will all undergo a combat examination, and your opponents will be **Outcasts**."
The Headmasters and Junior Masters were shocked, anxious about the combat examination. Kalmin, next to Natalie, trembled nervously.
"However, Junior Master Natalie will undergo a different examination."
Natalie looked up at Nephtali. Everyone was surprised, turning to look at her.
"The Grandmasters have decided that Natalie will fight a **Grandmaster** who I will select by drawing lots. We all know that minor creatures are trivial for her, so her examination will be different."
Natalie showed no reaction, only looking at Superior Nephtali, who was also looking at her.
The meeting ended, and Natalie rushed out, which Nephtali noticed. Red looked at them, noting they hadn't spoken.
"It looks like you and Natalie have a misunderstanding?" Red commented.
"She's just upset with me. It will pass."
"Are you sure about that? I know you two siblings; you both have towering pride. You are truly siblings, even on earth. You have almost the same temperament."
Nephtali looked at Red, who just smiled at him.
"I apologize, Superior Nephtali. I won't interfere anymore. I'm going to see the Headmasters."
Nephtali looked outside, thinking of Natalie.
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