"Jade, we know very well that you're lying to us, so please, tell us the truth," Irene said sternly, her gaze piercing through my defenses.
Our eyes locked, and for a few seconds, I tried to resist, but ultimately, I lost the battle of wills. With a sigh, I confessed everything. I expected anger, but instead, they mocked me gently.
"Jade, are you really that weak? Well, at least we know she'll be able to protect you in the future," Lily chuckled, her laughter soft but filled with warmth.
Irene approached and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, giving me a look that said, 'be brave.'
"Don't mock me, Mom. I'm sure if you released my seal, none of this would have happened," I retorted, my voice tinged with frustration.
"You can keep dreaming, Jade. Don't think for a second that we'll release your seal. Besides, you'd be better off training more instead of complaining," Irene replied severely, but seconds later, she joined Lily in laughter.
Anger flared within me, and I rose with the aid of my crutches, attempting to leave as quickly as I could, though it was a challenge with my limited mobility.
"Jade, do you need help climbing the stairs?" Lily asked, her smile tinged with concern.
"No, I don't need your help," I said defiantly, beginning my ascent.
But barely a few steps up, I tumbled down the stairs. I braced for the impact and the pain that would follow, yet I felt nothing of the sort. Instead, I found myself caught in strong arms. Opening my eyes, I saw it was Irene who had caught me.
"You see, Jade, this is why you should always listen to your mother," Irene said as she carried me to my room, followed by Lily.
Irene opened the door to my bedroom and gently laid me on the bed. At that moment, guilt washed over me.
"I'm sorry I shouldn't have yelled at you," I murmured, my voice laden with remorse.
"It's alright, but don't let it happen again, or you'll be grounded for life," Irene warned, her gaze intimidating yet not without a hint of jest.
"Irene, stop scaring Jade. She has every right to be angry since we teased her," Lily interjected, stroking my head soothingly.
"Lily, you're too lenient with her. What if she becomes a delinquent in the future because you've spoiled her too much?" Irene said seriously, her concern for my future evident in her tone.
"Jade will never turn into a delinquent; she's far too sweet for that," Lily said, pinching my cheeks affectionately. I tried to swat her hands away, but her grip was firm, and her laughter filled the room as the sun began its descent, painting the sky with strokes of orange and pink.
Lily descended to the kitchen to prepare dinner, leaving Irene and me alone. The room was bathed in the soft glow of twilight, casting long shadows across the walls.
"You know, Jade, there's no shame in losing, even if it's in a ridiculous way. Just tell yourself that next time you'll do better," Irene said, touching my head gently, a rare smile gracing her lips.
Her words stung and encouraged me simultaneously. I resolved that once healed, I would intensify my training, vowing never to feel such embarrassment again.
"Well, Jade, it's time for your shower, and I'll help you," Irene declared, lifting me up before I could protest. Twenty minutes later, the shower was over, and I was dressed, my cheeks burning with a mix of warmth and mortification. After all, I was an adult trapped in a child's body.
"By the way, Jade, I wanted to ask you something. Are you angry with Raven for hurting you?" Irene asked, her tone serious yet gentle.
"No, I don't hold it against her. It was an accident, and she's my first and only friend—just as I am for her. I can't hate her for something so trivial," I replied with a smile, feeling the truth of my words deep within.
"Just friends, huh?" Irene mused, her voice trailing off thoughtfully.
At that moment, I didn't grasp the full meaning of her words. It was only in the future that I would understand the depth of our connection.
Irene said nothing more as she helped me down to the living room. She settled me into the armchair and turned on the television before joining Lily in the kitchen. Four hours later, I found myself alone in my bed when the system's notification chimed.
[Dear Host, since you are so weak at the moment, I advise you to look in the system shop for items that will make you stronger.]
"You mock me too, system? As if my day couldn't get any worse," I grumbled in frustration.
I chose to ignore the system's taunts and closed my eyes, hoping for a better tomorrow.
A week had passed since that eventful day, and things had improved significantly. Raven initially felt incredibly guilty, but to alleviate her guilt, I told her she had to do whatever I wanted for two weeks. Honestly, it was great; she bought me everything I desired.
Today was the day we would learn the results of our exams. There I was in class with Raven, everyone waiting anxiously, some visibly panicked.
The tension in the room was palpable, a thick cloud of anticipation and dread hanging over us. Raven's leg bounced nervously under her desk, her eyes darting to the door every time a shadow passed.
"Are you worried?" I whispered to her, trying to offer a comforting smile
Raven shook her head, a determined look settling over her features. "No, we've prepared as much as we could. Whatever happens, we'll face it together," she replied, her voice steady.
Just then, the door swung open, and Pauline entered, a stack of papers in hand. The room fell silent, every pair of eyes fixed on the sheaf of our fates.
"As I call your name, please come up and collect your exam results," Pauline announced, her voice cutting through the silence like a knife.
One by one, names were called, and students returned to their seats with expressions ranging from elation to despair. When my name was called, I made my way to the front, navigating the classroom with my crutches proved to be a cumbersome ballet, each step a calculated effort to maintain balance. As I approached Pauline, her lips curved into a welcoming smile, and she handed me my papers with a flourish.
"Jade, you've shown remarkable improvement since the last term. You've finished top of the class this time—congratulations on your straight A's," she said, her grin reflecting genuine pride.
[Quest: Academic Triumph completed, reward: 200 gold coins.]
A part of me questioned whether I should bask in the glory or shrug it off as a trivial victory. After all, the quest had been a rather easy feat for me, and I felt a twinge of embarrassment for the ease of it all. I returned to my seat swiftly, where Raven's gaze bore into me with intense curiosity.
"So, Jade, did it go well?" she inquired, her voice laced with a hint of skepticism.
"Who do you take me for? Of course, it went well. I even finished first in the class," I boasted, a touch of arrogance coloring my tone.
"I don't know why, but I don't believe you. Let me see," she challenged, snatching the papers from my grasp. As she scanned the sheets, astonishment washed over her features.
"Oh, for once you haven't lied. Are you sure you didn't cheat?" she asked, one eyebrow arching in playful accusation.
"Me, cheat? Never in a lifetime. I'm simply a genius, that's all," I retorted with a smirk, only for the system's screen to pop up before me.
[You should be ashamed, Host. These were merely primary level exams—nothing extraordinary.]
I dismissed the system's mocking tone, but our exchange was cut short by Pauline calling for Raven. She looked at me, panic etched across her face.
"Don't worry, I'm sure everything will turn out fine. I'm certain you did exceptionally well," I reassured her, hoping my confidence would be contagious.
Raven's POV:
The words of Jade offered me a sliver of comfort as I rose and made my way to Pauline's desk. She extended the papers towards me, and despite my best efforts, panic seized me. Then, seeing Madame Pauline's reassuring smile, I felt a bit more at ease.
"Raven," she began.
My heart raced with anxiety.
"Raven, this time you've done exceptionally well on the exams," Madame Pauline declared.
At that moment, I was genuinely elated, for aside from Jade and her parents, no one else offered me praise. I glanced down at the results, my eyes tracing over the A's and B's—a stark contrast to the F's and C's I was accustomed to.
"That's excellent, keep it up," Madame Pauline encouraged, and with a beaming smile, I returned to my seat.
Seeing my grin, Jade guessed, "I take it you did well. I told you you'd make it, congratulations!"
"Of course, I knew I would," I replied with feigned arrogance, mimicking Jade's earlier bravado.
As the bell rang, signaling the end of classes, Jade and I exited the classroom. In the courtyard, as usual, Jade's mothers awaited us—Lily with her ever-present smile and Irene with her stoic demeanor. Upon reaching them, Jade and I were enveloped in Lily's warm embrace.
"So, how did the exams go?" Irene inquired, her curiosity apparent.
"It went well for me," I said, still smiling.
"Oh, that's wonderful, Raven," Lily responded, patting my head.
"Congratulations, Raven. And you, Jade, your results?" Irene asked, her smile softening.
"Of course, it went well," Jade boasted confidently.
"You'd better have done well," Irene teased, her smile betraying her pride.
"I want congratulations too," Jade demanded, looking at Irene.
"No, otherwise you'll get too big-headed. After all, these are just primary school results, nothing extraordinary," Irene chided.
"Don't listen to your mother, Jade. She's proud of you; she just doesn't want to admit it, right?" Lily said, playfully pinching Irene.
Irene winced slightly but said nothing, which made both Jade and I laugh. Sometimes, I think how grateful I am to have met Jade. Through her, I've experienced what it's like to be praised, to talk about problems, and to know happiness. It's as if Jade was sent to bring joy into my life because now I feel like Jade and her parents have become my second family. I can never thank Jade enough for this, and I hope it lasts as long as possible.