However, because her work required her to be away often, her time with Lein felt so rare.
"Elen… if you don't want to be left behind, you have to move," Hana stated firmly. Her eyes burned with determination, like a flame that refused to be extinguished. She would not lose. Not this time.
Hearing those words, Elen and Laras felt their hearts pound. For some reason, the emotion stirring in their chests felt like a call to fight for something they all shared.
Unlike them, Nita only smiled faintly. It was not because of competition, but out of pride. She was proud to see her female friends fighting as if they were striving for something precious. For her, her affection for Lein was nothing more than that of a sibling. She wanted to be someone meaningful within the family, to replace the mother figure that had long been gone. She wanted to be a warm protector for all of them.
"Ahem…"