The sun was already high in the sky when Lin swaggered into the yard, his hands on his hips and a mischievous grin on his face.
"I've got it!" he announced, interrupting Elya, who was in the middle of arguing with Kain about the best way to carry water buckets.
"Got what?" Elya asked, glaring at him.
"The solution to our boring chores!" Lin declared, puffing out his chest. "I call it... the Great Orphanage Challenge!"
Kain raised an eyebrow. "That sounds made up."
"It is made up," Elya snapped. "What are you even talking about?"
Lin ignored her, turning to the Blade King, who was calmly sipping tea on the porch. "Master, you said we need to work hard to grow stronger, right?"
The Blade King nodded, his expression unreadable. "That's true."
"Then let's make it a competition! Whoever does the best job gets bragging rights for the day—and maybe a reward, if you're feeling generous."
The Blade King tilted his head, his lips twitching with amusement. "A reward, you say?"
"Exactly! Imagine it—'Lin, the Champion of Chores!' Sounds great, doesn't it?"
Elya groaned, rubbing her temples. "You're impossible."
"I think it's a good idea," Kain said, shrugging. "Might make things less boring."
"That's because you don't take this seriously either!" Elya shot back.
Mira, who had been quietly sorting herbs nearby, spoke up. "I don't mind trying it. It could be... fun."
Elya threw her hands in the air. "Fine! Let's do it. But don't come crying when I beat all of you."
Lin grinned triumphantly. "You? Beat me? You're on, mop queen!"
---
The first challenge was simple: sweeping the yard.
Lin grabbed a broom and twirled it like a staff, striking a dramatic pose. "Behold, the future champion in action!"
Elya rolled her eyes. "Are you actually going to sweep or just show off?"
"Watch and learn," Lin said, starting to sweep with exaggerated precision.
Mira, meanwhile, took a quiet but focused approach, her small frame darting around efficiently. Kain, who had chosen the sturdiest broom, swept with such brute force that he nearly uprooted a patch of grass.
Elya, determined to prove herself, worked quickly and furiously, muttering under her breath the entire time.
"Careful, Elya," the Blade King called out. "Remember to breathe. Your qi should flow naturally with your movements."
"Yeah, yeah," she muttered, swiping at a stubborn clump of dirt.
---
It didn't take long for chaos to erupt.
Lin, attempting to show off, accidentally tripped over a stray log and flung his broom into the air. It landed with a loud thwack against the fence, earning laughter from the others.
"Graceful," Elya said dryly.
"That was just a warm-up!" Lin shot back, grabbing his broom and redoubling his efforts.
Kain, meanwhile, snapped his broom in half with an overzealous swing. "Uh... oops?"
The Blade King chuckled from his spot on the porch. "Strength without control is like a hammer without a handle."
"I'll fix it!" Kain said hastily, grabbing another broom.
The real surprise came from Mira. As she worked, her movements became smoother and more fluid. Without realizing it, she began channeling a small amount of qi into her broom.
The result was both impressive and hilarious.
The broom vibrated in her hands, spinning rapidly as if possessed. Mira yelped, trying to hold on as the broom dragged her across the yard in a wild spiral.
"Help!" she squeaked, her voice barely audible over the whirring sound.
Lin doubled over laughing. "Mira, what are you doing? Trying to fly?"
The Blade King stood, moving with unhurried grace. With a light tap to the broom's handle, he disrupted the qi flow, causing it to stop abruptly. Mira stumbled but managed to stay on her feet, her face red with embarrassment.
"Interesting technique," the Blade King said, smiling gently. "I'll call it... the Spinning Sweep."
Mira looked mortified. "I didn't mean to—"
"And yet, you succeeded," he interrupted, his tone warm. "Well done."
The other orphans stared at her in awe, their laughter forgotten.
"You... you used qi," Elya said, her tone somewhere between amazement and envy.
"It was an accident," Mira mumbled, avoiding their gazes.
"Still counts!" Lin said, grinning. "Looks like I've got some competition after all!"
---
The next challenge was carrying water buckets across the log.
Kain excelled, his raw strength allowing him to carry the heaviest buckets with ease. Unfortunately, his balance left much to be desired, and he fell off the log twice.
Elya, determined to win, carried her buckets with surprising agility, earning grudging respect from Kain.
Lin, true to form, spent more time cracking jokes than actually carrying water. At one point, he pretended to slip, drenching himself and earning groans from the others.
"Why are you like this?" Elya asked, glaring at him.
"Because someone has to keep things interesting," Lin replied, shaking water out of his hair.
---
By the end of the day, the orphans were exhausted but surprisingly cheerful.
Mira had earned quiet praise for her accidental qi display, while Kain was dubbed the "Walking Ox" for his sheer strength. Lin, despite his antics, claimed the unofficial title of "Most Entertaining," much to Elya's annoyance.
"You're all ridiculous," she muttered as they gathered for dinner.
"Ridiculously awesome, you mean," Lin said, winking at her.
The Blade King, watching from his usual spot on the porch, smiled as he sipped his tea.
"They're chaotic," Rina said, sitting beside him. "But they're trying."
"That's all that matters," the Blade King replied.
As the orphans laughed and bickered, he leaned back, his gaze drifting to the horizon.
This is only the beginning, he thought. One day, they'll surprise even themselves.