"Lime!"
"Hmm? What is it Eiji?!"
"Why.....why don't you just become a Squire?"
"..."
Eiji was shocked by the words that came out of his mouth.
Being a squire meant that she would have to stop her swordsmanship training and train in being a support for a swordsman.
This would also mean that she have to forget in making a name for herself and Becoming stronger.
A squire could only become a side kick of a swordsman, although only the stronger ones have a squire, and squires are very important aspect when a swordsman is going on a mission or even in their daily lives.
Squires are basically just servants, they would have to do everything that their master told them!
They might get some benefits from their master like being taught swordsmanship or being given resources, but those were rare cases, and only those that are in their last breaths or looking for a successors would do so.
"L- Lime! Sorry! Forget what I said!"
"It's okay Eiji! I know what that you mean well!"
"But..."
"Don't worry I also thought of that, You know, I know that I don't have the talent of my brother, but I still want to become strong!
Not just to get my clan and my father's approval but also for myself.
I want to be able to hold my head up high not because I'm from a huge clan nor because I am the daughter of the clan's patriarch but because of my own power!
I want to become stronger, and not make the people that said that because my mother was just a servant I don't deserve to be in the clan,
I want to become stronger so that no one can bully me in the future!
And I want to become stronger so that I will be fine even if I don't get associated with my own clan!"
"Lime..."
Eiji was shocked at Lime's words. He knew that Lime wanted her clan to acknowledge her, but he didn't know that she was ready to be on her own when she gets the chance!
Eiji stared at Lime and didn't know what to say.
"It's fine Eiji! If I don't become strong in the future, I'll just become a Squire!
But at that time, You'll be my master and you'll have to protect me okay?!!"
"...."
"Okay! I PROMISE!"
Eiji nodded seriously at Lime, in his heart he vowed to protect her in the future.
For now, he could only watch her get hurt, but that would change from now on!
Just like what his master did for him in the forest, he would silently watch over Lime and protect her.
"Hey! What about your fight?!"
"Hmm..I won."
"Really!? That's awesome! I know you can win this tournament too! So just win it Eiji!!!"
"You know, if I want to win, I have to fight your brother!"
"T-thats.... That's fine! You can defeat him! Right?!"
"I don't know!"
"Then, just do your best if you fight him!
It's still fine even if you lose to him! And it would be awesome if you win!"
Lime was really a bit bias of her judgement for him.
But Eiji knew he can't win against Herald!
Well not when he's holding back, but if not.....
When Lime and Eiji was talking, Renji and Newark came to the room, they heard about what happened to Lime and both decided to visit, Renji was just tired and after waking up, he was back in his high spirits.
After chatting for a few more minutes, Eiji and Newark went back to the stadium.
Renji also went back to his room, even if he doesn't have any severe injuries, his Ki was still depleted and he got many small cuts and bruises, so he was still told to rest in the hospital for today and can be released tomorrow.
-----
When was everyone gone, only Lime was left in the room.
"..."
"Sob!.....heuk! Sob!"
As she stared in her fists, tears started to roll down from her eyes and she started to sob.
She may have been acting all mature and happy in front of her friends but at the end of the day she was still a little girl in her early tens!
Lime didn't feel his presence but, there was another person in the room.
In fact he was beside her bed looking at her gently.
He was Karma, her father, he was here even before Eiji came, but the both of them didn't sense his presence, and besides, Karma's power wont even be detected by someone at the Grandmaster Level, much less Eiji and the others who were just Elite Level.
Karma could only sigh at the sight of her daughter sobbing.
He knew he was a terrible father for her.
He loved her and that's a fact, but the people in the clan were waiting for him to make a mistake again and make a fuss or even take his position away from him.
But he has a lot of responsibilities, and for him, the clan was more important even more than himself, so he could only silently watch over Lime as she grows up and become stronger herself.
And if the time comes when she becomes stronger and can really distance herself from the clan, he would approve of it even without consulting the clan and face their anger himself!
But for now, he could only watch her sobbing in the hospital bed, without her even knowing that he was always there for her, silently.
End Of Chapter.