YOU ARE WARRIORS. ACT LIKE IT

A ripple of realization passed through the room.

Chatty clenched his jaw, a flicker of guilt in his expression. Lily's fingers curled against the fabric of her sleeves, her throat tightening. Four Eyes exhaled slowly, his eyes drifting back to his best friend.

Ling Li pressed on, sharper now, more commanding.

"This accident should serve as a lesson to all of you," she stated, her gaze sweeping across her disciples. "You are being cultivated as warriors, not just in combat, but in resilience. Strength is not measured by mere physical prowess or reckless courage. True strength is found in how you rise after a fall, in how you face the unknown without crumbling, in how you carry yourselves even in the face of disaster."

She let that sink in, then continued.