It had been two weeks since Harrison started training in Ninja Ballet with Calista, and she’d already seen significant progress. Her Strength and Stamina were getting much better and she’d multiplied her XP whenever she got the chance. He also tried to get her used to using weapons— she tended to neglect them, almost like an aversion. She was partial to the Standard Baton everyone received at the start of classes, but he hoped she’d find other, more creative weapons she could fit into her arsenal.

  Hillary hadn’t avoided a slight Rep hit from that Teamwork period a week prior. Everyone quickly spread the news that Calista had hurt her nose. It wasn’t a terribly difficult feat; everyone knew a Paeseoan’s nose was one of the weakest points. However, the bones were still as hard as steel, spraining Calista’s toes when she hit her with her white cushion shoe. Thankfully, the sprain was small enough that the Medic drone healed her instantly.

  Since then, she’d kept her remarks and glares to a minimum, but that gave Harrison a bad feeling. She wasn’t one to let her Rep be impacted, however minimally.

  Whatever it was she wanted to do, Calista had to be prepared. All she could do was continue improving.

  “Hold… hold… breathe…” Harrison circled Calista as she balanced herself on one foot, her arms extended to her sides and her other foot raised behind her. He’d put a light weight block on her head and raised foot to give her a challenge.

  Her body trembled, threatening to fall, but she had thirty seconds left on the timer. Her emerald green eyes stared straight ahead, blinking away the drops of sweat. It was the end of their cooldown period, long after curfew. Harrison had reached his limit of past-curfew requests for the week, so they’d have to finish earlier than desired until Tuesday, when the requests would refill.

  When the timer was up, Calista smoothly brought her foot down, her hands raising above her head gracefully. Her ankles were still a little wobbly, but much better than when she started. “Ten more Strength points,” she announced with a smile.

  Glancing at her tag, Harrison asked her, “How much XP do you have?”

  “Seventy,” she answered excitedly. “I can’t believe how fast I’m going!”

  “You’re finally seeing the perks of a Guild. Membership accelerates your XP earning rate. The more you lower your Weakness Level, the faster it’ll go.”

  “Still working on that…” Calista bit her lip and shrugged.

  “Everyone has to work on it. It doesn’t just disappear,” Harrison encouraged her. “We just need to set goals.”

  +5 Rel-P

  “You said Level 8 for Weakness, right?” Calista wiped her forehead and followed him to the door.

  “Right, and Level 5 for Overall. We just have to keep working at it so you get a good grade during Finals.”

  An anxious look crossed Calista’s flushed face, which Harrison almost missed. “Something wrong?”

  She shook her head. “Nope.”

  “You sure?”

  She paused, then sighed concedingly. “You think I can get on the team with a Level 5?”

  “Don’t worry about the team.”

  “I know, but I feel like I should try and aim for it. My siblings need me now more than ever.” Her shoulders sagged. “If I don’t make it on the team, I feel like I’d let them down.”

  As they crossed the door, Harrison turned to offer her some encouraging words, but was startled by a pair of black marbles staring at him. Calista also jumped, letting out a strangled yelp and jumping back defensively.

  “You scared the bugs out of us, Li.” Harrison put a hand on his chest, chuckling.

  Lílitha raised a dark blue brow, leaning against the opposite wall. “What’s there to be scared of?”

  “I didn’t expect to see you. What are you doing over here so late?” Harrison asked her.

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  “How was training?” She picked at her fingers, stretching them and letting them go so they bounced.

  “Good…” Calista seemed uneasy, keeping a wide distance between herself and the little woman.

  “Relax, Cali, she won’t bite.” Harrison motioned for her to approach, allowing himself a little smirk.

  The human girl glared at him, reluctantly stepping forward. “Not funny.”

  +2 Rel-P

  Lílitha shrugged. “I only bite in battle. If you want to be on the team, you should stop being such a wimp.”

  “Li.” Harrison gave her a pleading look.

  “What? I’m only saying the truth. I see you in class— you scare easily. If you did less of that yelping and jumping, Gravity wouldn’t pick on you so much.”

  “Anyway, did you want to talk to me about something?” Harrison quickly interrupted before Calista could retort.

  “I was… thinking,” Lílitha said, pushing off the wall and approaching him. “You know the Games are soon. Finals are in about a month. I’m honestly not sure if I’ll make the team this year.”

  Calista’s emerald eyes blinked at her. “You’re not sure? If you’re not sure, what hope do I have?”

  “I don’t mean it that way. It’s just that I bugged up pretty badly last time. I don’t know if you saw that match—” she nodded at Calista— “but I got eliminated in an early Chaos Round. I didn’t even last a few days.”

  “That’s a Chaos Round, Li,” Harrison reassured her.

  “Still… there’s no guarantee I’ll get in. And I want to. I have to.” She scratched her head, her large ears folding back into her head. “So… I thought I could maximize my chances… and join a Guild. Your Guild, specifically.” She looked away, her skin going from periwinkle blue to a sky blue; her version of blushing. Her ears had completely flattened into her hair.

  Harrison looked at the shocked Calista, whose jaw had dropped, then looked back at Lílitha. He couldn’t help smiling, self-satisfaction and elation blooming within him. “Finally coming through, huh?” he said.

  +5 Rel-P (Lílitha)

  “Don’t get cocky.”

  “I’m not saying you can’t go on by yourself, but… it’s funny. That’s what teams are for, I suppose.” He sighed dramatically, smiling wider.

  “Harrison, I will bite your head off,” Lílitha threatened, her ears popping up again as a sign of irritation.

  “What happened to ‘I only bite in battle’?” Calista asked.

  “I can make exceptions.” She flashed her fangs, making the human girl shudder.

  “Okay,” Harrison laughed. “What changed your mind?”

  “Just… seeing how your current student has improved…” She glanced at Calista and sighed. “If being in a Guild helped her so quickly, then maybe I should try. None of the other Coaches will take me, and even if they did, they’re not worth it. I’d rather be with someone I trust— the only one I trust.”

  +10 Rel-P

  Harrison put his hand on his heart. “I’m so touched.” Despite his playful tone, he really was moved. Having someone with trust issues actually trust him was an amazing thing.

  “Anyway, will you… let me in your Guild?”

  “Yeah, why wouldn’t I? I’ve been waiting years for this.” He messed up her dark blue hair. She growled and smacked his hand, baring her fangs and pointing her ears up. He backed away, smiling. “Sorry, sorry.”

  +2 Rel-P

  “Wait, just like that? You’re… just like that?” Calista’s mouth flapped. “Does that mean I have to fight… her? Or…?”

  Lílitha sighed impatiently. “Again with the wimpiness.”

  “I’m not wimpy! I just didn’t expect… I don’t know.” Calista’s face was red. “You’re not going to make me fight her, are you?”

  “Maybe.” Harrison shrugged smugly. “It would be funny.”

  “For you!”

  +2 Rel-P (Calista)

  “So, when do I come by? Next Saturday, right?” Lílitha asked.

  “Lucky for you, today’s Saturday. I know you wouldn’t like everyone else to hear this…” He scanned himself at the door and pointed at the same spot for Lílitha to stand.

  “Welcome, Lílitha Houdge. Congratulations on your acceptance to Guild Kappa.” The patches appeared on Lílitha’s sleeves.

  “Congrats, Calista. You got yourself your first Guild-mate.”

  +6 Rel-P (Lílitha)

  Lílitha rolled her eyes— without visible pupils, most wouldn’t be able to tell, but Harrison caught the subtle rise and fall of her eyebrows as she did so.

  “I saw that.” Calista pointed at her with a frown, surprising Harrison. “Don’t think I’m overjoyed about it, either.”

  “Aw, come on, aren’t you happy not to be the only one anymore?”

  “She’s going to bite me!”

  Lílitha groaned. “Oh, for- I won’t bite you as long as you don’t try and bug me off.”

  “She won’t bite you, relax.” Harrison looked at his best friend. “You won’t, right?” he muttered out the corner of his lips.

  “Sure…” Lílitha’s fangs glinted mischievously as she smiled. “See you tomorrow, human.”

  Calista shuddered again, marching past the two to go to her dorm.

  “Your call sign should’ve been ‘Cannibal’,” Harrison muttered.

  Lílitha stretched her arm to punch him in the stomach. He bent over with a groan. “Don’t be ridiculous, Harrison,” she said. “That call sign’s already taken.”

  +5 Rel-P

  “Do you want the badge?” he asked her. “You know you’ll technically be a Favorite. Calista wants to wait, but I don’t know if you want to. You’re practically at the level of one, anyway.”

  Lílitha only took a few seconds to ponder. “Sure. I can imagine the look on Hothead’s face when she sees it.” She grinned.

  Harrison looked at her sternly. “Don’t do that.”

  “I’m only wearing the badge, Harrison,” Lílitha said innocently, widening her black marble eyes to appear ‘cute’.