The blood. Nephtali's gaze snagged on the crimson droplets seeping between Natalie's fingers. It was an impossible, sickening sight on one so vital. He reached out instantly, but she was faster, the injured hand snatched away and concealed behind her back as if the wound itself were a shameful secret.
"Did you shield Fedor from Malika's attack?" His voice was low, cutting through the tense air, a precise blade aimed at the truth. "Is that why you bear the injury?"
Natalie said nothing. She simply stood, gripping the mangled flesh, the silence a damning confirmation.
Without a word, Nephtali produced a dagger and made a clean, sharp slice across his own palm. Blood welled up, bright and quick. Ignoring the sting, he extended his bleeding hand and traced a sequence of shimmering, archaic runes in the open air—an incantation unlike any common prayer. The glyphs pulsed, then dissolved into a faint, amber mist which he directed toward her wound.
The magic was immediate and visceral. The spilled blood seemed to retreat, sucking itself back into the ruptured capillaries, staunching the flow until only a jagged gash remained. He quickly produced a strip of linen and bound her hand with swift, practiced care.
"Do not remove this bandage," he commanded, his eyes meeting hers with an unnerving intensity. "I will be the one to remove it, and no one else."
"Understood, Superior Nephtali." Her voice was subdued, a rare sound from the usually headstrong woman. She glanced at his newly sliced palm. "But your own wound, Superior?"
"A mere scratch compared to yours." He dismissed it with a flick of his wrist. "Worry about yourself. Go to the quarters and rest. Do not leave them until I say so."
Natalie, for once, obeyed without protest, retreating from the office with the stiff compliance of a soldier.
Several strained days later, Nephtali was immersed in the silence of his office when the door was thrown open. Master Vivian entered, her face etched with a mixture of reverence and anxiety, followed by a man whose bearing radiated both arrogance and power.
"Superior Nephtali," Vivian announced, "Grandmaster Azael is here, bearing an urgent dispatch from Superior Remiel."
Azael stepped forward, his eyes sweeping over Nephtali's powerful but composed figure. "Superior Grandmaster Nephtali. I confess, I did not expect one so… handsome. Now I understand why so many of the female Grandmasters vie for your attention and position."
Nephtali remained seated, his expression impassive. "My attention is devoted solely to my duty to the Guardians. Flattery is wasted here. What is the urgent matter Superior Remiel has seen fit to relay?"
Azael's smile tightened with smugness. "He has been informed that your protégé has become unparalleled. Naturally, he desires you to afford his own children the same rigorous combat instruction."
Nephtali looked up at the man standing opposite him, a bold figure indeed, challenging the very atmosphere of the room.
"I am merely one of many skilled instructors," Nephtali countered, his voice smooth and dangerous. "I am not the greatest. My charge became capable because she possessed the discipline and the drive to relentlessly train, not purely because of my instruction. In fact, Natalie is notoriously headstrong—she has disobeyed me countless times."
Azael's chin lifted. "Are you implying you would reject Superior Remiel's decree? Perhaps you forget, Superior Nephtali. Superior Remiel sits high on the Council. Refusal might well lead to your immediate dismissal from your post."
The temperature in the room plummeted. Nephtali rose slowly from his chair, his tall form dominating the space, and closed the distance between them.
"Do not forget your own station," Nephtali stated, his eyes dark with glacial contempt. "And do not presume to threaten me in my own domain."
Azael suddenly felt a terrifying, unexplainable heat radiating from the Superior, followed by a crippling cold sweat. His breath hitched in his throat.
Vivian, sensing the catastrophic volatility of the moment, interjected swiftly. "Superior Nephtali, perhaps you could instruct only Superior Remiel's *second* child? Venice, the eldest, is… apprehensive of you, and prefers to train alongside his peers."
Nephtali glanced once at the sweating Grandmaster, then back to Vivian. "I accept, on the condition that the training begins this month." He returned to his desk, dismissing them. "You may both leave now."
Azael, speechless and trembling from the encounter, had to be steadied and practically steered out of the office by a visibly shaken Vivian.
As Vivian helped the enfeebled Grandmaster Azael away, Natalie arrived. She had seen the man—pale, weak, a ghost of his former arrogance—and now she stepped briskly into the office.
"I have brought the materials you requested, Superior."
She immediately sensed the oppressive atmosphere—the lingering residue of Nephtali's barely contained fury. He didn't acknowledge her. She recognized the signs. Quickly, she performed a small, fluid motion with her hand, subtly tracing an obscure rune of her own to disperse the heavy, volatile energy clinging to the air.
Nephtali's shoulders dropped fractionally, and he let out a long, ragged breath. The tension broke.
"Still fighting that temper, Superior Nephtali?" Natalie remarked, a hint of dry amusement in her tone. "Even in your mortal form, you struggle to master your rage."
"You know my patience is short for self-serving beings." He rubbed his temples. "It is fortunate you arrived. Otherwise, I would surely have incinerated this entire office by now."
"And what exactly did your visitor do to push you into 'Beast Mode'?"
"Remiel wishes me to tutor both his offspring. I accepted only one. Then his grandmaster, a pathetic sycophant, had the audacity to boast and threaten me. I came *this* close to turning him to ash."
Natalie's black-bandaged hand rested on her hip. "So, there will be two of us under your tutelage now? Good. I'll finally have someone to train with."
"Who said anything about you training?" Nephtali's look was sharp. "*You* will be the one setting the curriculum and administering the examinations for the prospective Headmasters and Superior Headmasters. You have already completed your training for those ranks."
"What?!" Natalie exclaimed, taken aback. "You never discussed this with me! That's completely unfair."
"You will start by administering the first assessment to Remiel's child, and then I will assign his tasks. You know the standards for a Headmaster's assessment."
Natalie frowned. "What if the boy complains to his father that you are torturing him? Your training regimen is notoriously complex, especially for those under your direct command."
"You survived every single test I put you through," Nephtali countered simply. "Can a Superior Grandmaster's child do any less?"
"Superior Nephtali, we are different beings. You know I am no ordinary warrior; I can weather any storm you conjure. But I have my doubts about this one—he will be just like his sister, always complaining."
"Just do as you are told. And more importantly, do not cause any undue commotion in the training grounds. Always remember who you are."
"I won't forget, Superior Nephtali. Now, I will take my leave."
Natalie headed for the training grounds, but a piercing, adolescent scream stopped her dead in her tracks, followed by a guttural shift in vocal tone. She saw a creature preying on a young girl.
With a snap of her fingers, an unseen whip of arcane energy shot out, lassoing the unconscious girl and pulling her clear of danger. Simultaneously, Natalie aimed her staff and fired a blinding bolt of power at the creature.
"Looking for a meal?" she challenged, her voice hard. "Try this for size."
The creature shrieked, "She's mine!"
Natalie launched herself into the air, engaging the monstrous being in a brief, furious dance of power before delivering a final, crushing blow from her staff. The creature instantly petrified into a column of stone, which Natalie shattered with a follow-up strike.
She glanced down at the girl, who was dressed in revealing, tattered clothes. Headmaster Fairah and several other Headmasters arrived, their faces etched with shock.
"Superior Headmaster Natalie, what occurred here?" Fairah asked, looking at the broken stone fragments.
"She was attacked by a creature. Take her to the Clinic immediately and determine her allegiance. We clearly need a stronger defensive barrier around this Division."
In Superior Nephtali's office, the Grandmasters were assembled to strategize on the recent breach by the creatures.
"Superior Nephtali," Vivian reported, "our current roster of Healers cannot possibly erect a barrier encompassing the entire Division. We require Healers of exceptional strength, and even then, the Division is vast."
Lauren, a Healer herself, bristled. "Are you implying our abilities are lacking? We can create a powerful defense without requiring the aid of the strongest among us!"
Red, a calm but commanding presence, interjected dryly. "There they go again. Silence, both of you. Unless you wish your tongues to be bound."
Nephtali looked at the quarreling women, and they fell silent immediately, fear overriding their feud. Natalie, who had just entered, suppressed a smile.
"Master Red and I will erect the barrier ourselves," Nephtali decreed. "Though we are not of the Healer Sector, we know how to craft a powerful defense. Superior Headmaster Natalie and Grandmaster Caius, you will accompany us. The rest of you, remain here."
Later, deep in the forest at the territorial boundary, Natalie sat on a moss-covered log, waiting as Nephtali and Red prepared their work.
"The Division's boundary is here," Red confirmed. "Shall we employ the standard Chains of Restriction for the wall?"
Before Nephtali could answer, the air shimmered, and a horde of vile creatures materialized all around them. Caius gasped.
"Superior Nephtali, they are far too numerous. Do we engage?"
The creatures didn't wait. They lunged. The four Guardians fought back, but the sheer numbers were overwhelming. Nephtali glanced at Natalie, and she knew what he was thinking.
Taking a deep, painful breath, Natalie cut her hand and drew forth her spirit—her true, celestial essence.
Non possum ego oro ut mei verba.
(I cannot pray, but let my words be so.)
The creatures froze mid-attack. Every single one of them. They were puppets, paralyzed by the overwhelming force of her command. With a simple flex of her finger, the creatures turned as one and retreated to their original posts. The three men stared, thunderstruck. Natalie drew her spirit back into her body, wiping a bead of blood from her nose.
"How did you manage to control them?" Red demanded, utterly stunned.
"Red, a Seraphim can accomplish feats beyond our comprehension," Caius murmured, his voice hushed. "You forget what manner of Angel Sariel truly is."
Nephtali simply looked at Natalie, his expression unreadable. She wiped away the blood that had trickled from her nostril, a sign of the physical toll the exertion had taken. Nephtali and Red quickly set to work, weaving an immensely strong barrier around the perimeter.
As they walked back, Nephtali suddenly stopped Natalie, letting Red and Caius move ahead on the pathway.
"Those creatures," Nephtali said softly, his back to her, "they were fashioned by Lucifer himself. You control them because you possess the power to do what he can do, don't you?"
"As a Seraphim, our power surpasses yours," Natalie admitted, gazing into the dense woods. "I despise using my Seraphim power. To be one of them is a curse to me."
"You are different," Nephtali insisted, finally turning to face her. "You are not like them. You know right from wrong, and you protect the creations of the Lord. You are a good Seraphim, Sariel. Do not ever forget that. Never."
Natalie met his gaze and smiled, a genuine, warm light in her eyes for the first time that day.
Back at the office, the girl Natalie had rescued was brought before Nephtali. She was silent, shaking, and prone to sudden bursts of tears.
"Superior Nephtali, what shall we do?" Fairah asked, exasperated. "She won't speak. We've tried to console her, but she only cries."
"She is traumatized by the attack," Nephtali concluded. "Ensure she has all she needs, and I will summon a Healer to calm her."
At that moment, Natalie entered. The girl looked up, saw Natalie, and immediately ran to her, throwing her arms around the Superior Headmaster in a desperate hug, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Auntie Natalie!" the girl cried, her voice frantic. "It's me, Luna! The little girl you rescued once! Auntie, what happened to me? Why am I suddenly grown up? I'm so scared!"
Nephtali and the others watched, astonished.
"You… you are Luna?" Natalie asked, gently holding the now-adult-sized girl.
"Yes, Auntie Natalie! I am! What happened? Can I ever go back to my old body?"
"Why don't we ask Superior Nephtali?" Natalie suggested.
Nephtali explained, his voice flat. "The creature's energy influx changed her. She cannot return to her former self. She will remain in this body. She must accept it."
"Don't you like it?" Natalie countered, turning to Luna. "Think of it: no more years of waiting to grow up! You'll be able to enter the restricted training grounds, and you can accomplish so much more than you could as a child. This is a blessing, not a curse."
Natalie offered Luna a conspiratorial smile, and Nephtali watched the strange, earnest conversation unfold.
"But I haven't even passed the Junior Master assessment yet," Luna pointed out, her tears slowing. "I can't start training to become a Headmaster."
"Do you wish to pass the Junior Master assessment so you can begin training next year?" Nephtali asked, his voice firm.
"Yes, Superior Nephtali, but…"
"Headmaster Fairah and Headmaster Dmitry will instruct you. You will pass the Junior Master assessment within one week. Do you agree?"
"I could teach Luna," Natalie volunteered. "Wouldn't most of the Headmasters be returning to their families in a few days?"
"Some Headmasters wish to remain here to prepare for their Superior Headmaster training. You know how difficult that training is. There have been years when no one passed, save for you."
"I don't recall actually *training* for Superior Headmaster," Natalie mused. "I just fought one of the strongest Grandmasters until he submitted."
Nephtali stared at her, then lapsed into a profound silence. He stood and approached Natalie, reaching for the linen on her hand. Luna watched, eyes wide.
"Ouch!" Natalie winced. "Superior Nephtali, my wound is still swollen."
Nephtali removed the bandage and inspected the angry cut. "The blade Malika used contained a minor venom. That is why your wound remains so raw."
"I'm used to it," Natalie shrugged. "It will be on my hand for a few more weeks, I'm sure."
Fairah smiled faintly. "Superior Headmaster Natalie once said that if she didn't have a wound on her body, she'd grow lazy in her training."
Nephtali shot a scathing look at Fairah. "I hope no one in this Division follows her example. I want no more hard-headed troublemakers like her."
"Why am I being scolded now, Superior Nephtali?" Natalie protested, throwing her hands up. "We were talking about Luna! How did this become about me again?"
Nephtali produced a fresh, black cloth and bound her hand, tying the knot tightly. "Do not remove this. I will remove it."
"Yes, I know. I never do remove what you place on me."
"Headmaster Fairah, Luna is your responsibility now. She must pass her Junior Master assessment in one week."
"Yes, Superior Nephtali. We will leave now."
"Natalie," Nephtali added, his voice regaining its sharp, authoritarian edge. "You skipped breakfast again. Go to the Master's Hall and eat. Remember that you have a wound that needs healing."
"Yes, Superior Nephtali."
The two girls left the office. Luna stared at the black cloth bound tightly to Natalie's hand.
"Superior Headmaster Natalie, may I ask a question?"
"Of course, what is it?"
"How can you talk to Superior Nephtali like that? You aren't afraid of him, and he worries about you."
Fairah chuckled. "Luna, don't you know? Superior Headmaster Natalie is Superior Nephtali's personal charge."
Natalie smiled, but there was a flicker of something deeper in her eyes. "I never forget to respect him. He is my Superior and my Guardian. Sometimes, I just forget that he's actually above me in rank. I mostly just see him as a very severe older brother who constantly lectures me."
Luna and Fairah laughed as they walked away, the girl stealing one last, awestruck glance back at the intimidating office of the Superior.