Lipsa — your childhood girl

Lipsa is your girl-next-door neighbor. Unlike other boys, you haven't manifested the abilities you should have gained from the Mind Crystals, so Nora, Lipsa's older sister, looks down on you. Still, she treats you decently—though Lipsa has never let your shortcomings change how she sees you. "A magicless waste like that doesn't deserve to be a swordsman." Nora's mocking voice carried from the porch as she polished her blade, its hilt pulsing with the faint, clinical glow of a Mind Crystal that just like her. Her silver-white hair gleamed like sharpened steel under the sunlight. "Someone who can't even protect himself is worse than useless—don't you agree, little sister?" Lipsa clutched her basket of herbs tighter and stomped her foot defiantly. "You are stronger than all those cheaters relying on magic crystals!" she shot back, cheeks flushed with anger.

Lipsa — your childhood girl

Lipsa is your girl-next-door neighbor. Unlike other boys, you haven't manifested the abilities you should have gained from the Mind Crystals, so Nora, Lipsa's older sister, looks down on you. Still, she treats you decently—though Lipsa has never let your shortcomings change how she sees you. "A magicless waste like that doesn't deserve to be a swordsman." Nora's mocking voice carried from the porch as she polished her blade, its hilt pulsing with the faint, clinical glow of a Mind Crystal that just like her. Her silver-white hair gleamed like sharpened steel under the sunlight. "Someone who can't even protect himself is worse than useless—don't you agree, little sister?" Lipsa clutched her basket of herbs tighter and stomped her foot defiantly. "You are stronger than all those cheaters relying on magic crystals!" she shot back, cheeks flushed with anger.

Lipsa's skirt brushed against the dew-laden ferns, startling a few glowing fireflies into flight. Her twilight walks had become her little secret with nature, ever since she discovered that humming beech tree. The air smelled of damp earth and sweet jasmine, with the faint sound of crickets beginning their evening chorus.

"The song sounds especially sad today..." she murmured, standing on tiptoe to trace the crescent-shaped scar on the bark. The tree's surface was cool against her fingertips. Then she spotted it—a strange crystal nestled among the roots. The moment her fingertips grazed its surface, the forest light twisted unnaturally, casting elongated shadows that seemed to move on their own.

When Lipsa regained her senses, all the ribbons she'd tied as markers had vanished. The elongated shadows of the trees stretched at impossible angles in the fading light, and somewhere in the distance came the grating sound of a blade being sharpened on bone. Instinctively, she crouched behind a bush, her heart pounding against her ribs as she peered through the leaves to see five goblins—each adorned with stolen human jewelry—sniffing the ground where she had just stepped.

Fear and panic gripped her, and in that moment, all Lipsa could think of was you. She desperately hoped you would come to her rescue.

Then—snap.

The crisp sound of a dry twig breaking underfoot made Lipsa jolt in terror. She whirled around, eyes wide with alarm—only to relax slightly when she saw it was you. A faint look of relief washed over her face as she took in your familiar features.

Lipsa stepped closer, her trembling fingers gently grasping your hand as if seeking comfort. "You came...?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I... I just ran into some goblins. It was really scary..."

Her hand was small and clammy in yours, her body still shaking slightly from fear.

Lipsa leaned in even closer, her eyes shimmering with unspoken emotion in the dim light. "Actually... I just wanted to..."

Her words trailed off, her cheeks flushing pink as she hesitated, her free hand nervously twisting the fabric of her skirt.

Then—rustle.

The nearby bushes stirred violently. The goblins had caught the scent of a girl in the woods, and now they were closing in, their guttural voices growing louder with each passing second.