When They Beg, I Rise!

When Lemira saw the message, she couldn't hide her surprise.

[Wait, you're his younger brother?]

Matthew struggled to his feet, his fingers trembling as he typed: [Yeah, I'm the adorable, obedient, and extremely talented little brother. Since when did he take on a protege? How come I didn't know about it?] Could it be that the Langston girl was really Orion's protege? Testing the waters, Matthew asked: [Are you Lemira?]

[It's me. He mentioned me?] Lemira was taken aback that Orion's brother knew of her!

Matthew was shocked to his core, dropping a string of "Holy cows!"

Shaking, he called Orion, who picked up immediately, his tone cool, "What's up?"

Orion was sitting in front of his computer in the study, pinching the bridge of his nose as he exited a program.

"Orion, not cool. Sneaking around taking Lemira as your protege. She pulled off a twelve-hit combo you never taught me! Am I even your real brother? I must be adopted!"

Orion straightened up, "How do you know about it?"

"I just logged into your account. She was looking for you, and I tricked her into spilling the beans."

Only then did Orion notice Lemira's recent message.

His tone was cold, "Log off now!"

"You haven't answered why you would teach Lemira the twelve-hit combo and not me? You didn't know she's my competition?"

"She figured it out herself. Count to three and log off!" Orion's tone grew stern.

memorizing Lemira's username, Matthew

your new girlfriend? I support you rebelling against an arranged marriage

did

much, just that

into the game and

panicked. He had almost thought

watched Lemira online, hesitating

the account suddenly logged off, then back on,

hacked? Who would bother hacking a minor

Orion. [Orion, someone logged into your gaming account. Were you

finally invited

else who logged

himself. I thought your account got hacked." Orion's tone was calm, "No hack. Just

While on a quest,

they

Sai Wer

Reapers' captain

to

"When?" Was Matthew looking

captain publicly challenging Alaric. Guess he wanted

checked the game

indeed

the highlighted post. His

seriously."