You Take Lightning, I Wear Flowers

Before Lucia even reached the door, she saw Soren Lann, Ethan Lu, Ryan Lu, Luna Lian, and Adrian Drake all waiting for her under the corridor.

Adrian Drake was even peeking out from behind a pillar, craning his neck to see what was happening.

"What's going on?" Luna Lian secretly sent a voice transmission to Lucia.

"The Divine Lord asked me to fetch you back," Luna replied.

Lucia walked over and greeted formally, "Divine Lord."

Soren glanced at the flower garland on her head, then looked toward Sean Shaw waiting at the doorway, and asked, "Where did you run off to?"

Lucia glanced at Ethan Lu as she answered, "Nowhere special..."

"What's that on your head!" Ethan Lu frowned. "Take it off!"

Lucia had completely forgotten she was still wearing the flower garland. She quickly took it off and stowed it in her Storage Pouch.

"Ethan, don't be so overbearing!" Soren said with a smile. "Why do you even care if a young girl wears flowers on her head? Especially on the Celestial Emperor's birthday—it's the perfect occasion."

"He's out there getting struck by lightning, and you're in here wearing flowers!" Ethan Lu grumbled. "As if we weren't embarrassed enough already sitting in there!"

Lucia apologized, "Sorry, big brother. I didn't mean to—I just forgot to take it off..."

"Why are you apologizing to him?" Soren said. "Do you know what today is? It's His Majesty the Celestial Emperor's birthday! If you don't wear flowers today, when can you? Lucia, you did nothing wrong—don't listen to him!"

Lucia couldn't help but laugh when she saw Ethan's dark and helpless expression.

Ethan shot her a glare.

She instantly stopped laughing and put on her best 'I'm totally innocent and well-behaved' face.

"Ethan, they're your little brothers and sisters, not prisoners in your jail," Soren teased. "You scare them so much they act like they're about to confess every time they see you!"

Ethan replied, "Divine Lord, if you keep shielding them from everything, they'll never learn restraint. Sooner or later, they're bound to cause trouble! This is Drake Abyss, not our home turf."

"You worry too much. His Majesty the Celestial Emperor is here! Didn't he just say Lucia is his proud disciple? Any teacher would naturally protect their favorite student a little more!"

"Besides, Lucia actually handled everything today really well. It's just that..." He glanced faintly toward Sean Shaw and said, "Anyway, I believe Lucia will become an outstanding Divine General! So don't force her to go home!"

Lucia nodded vigorously at Ethan Lu.

Ethan said coldly, "If you want to be a Divine General, you need to think things through! Don't just act on impulse and hot blood—use your brain!"

"Got it, big brother," Lucia replied.

Ethan turned to Ryan Lu. "Did you hear that?"

Ryan looked to his left—no one there.

Then he looked to his right—still no one.

With an innocent face, he pointed at his own nose. "Big brother, are you talking to me?"

"Who else would I be talking to? You're the one with the least brains!"

"How am I the one with no brains?" Ryan protested. "What does this have to do with me?"

"As their brother, it's your job to protect them! How can you say it has nothing to do with you?"

"Ah! Fine, fine, fine! I was wrong, okay? It's all my fault! Everything's my fault! Just spare them—punish me instead!" Ryan patted his chest dramatically.

Ethan cast him a look of disdain, then turned to Luna Lian. "Lian-Lian, you're the most sensible. Keep an eye on them for me."

His tone with Luna was completely different—gentle and careful, nothing like how he spoke to Ryan.

Luna nodded.