A Glass of Milk… and a Life Changed
The morning began with an unusual calm.
Inside Jin's room at the academy, the small kitchenette was tidier than usual.
On the table stood three cups:
Two cups of coffee…
And a smaller one, filled with milk, topped with a thin layer of cocoa.
From behind the couch came the low sound of a television—
a colorful cartoon, exaggerated laughter echoing from overly cheerful characters.
Then—
Jin sat down on the chair. He didn't speak.
Half of his face was completely black with embarrassment.
On the opposite chair sat Professor Kang Yura,
her arms crossed in front of her, her eyes—
a killing glare that needed no words.
And on the couch—
A small, adorable being.
Soft brown hair.
Bright hazel eyes.
Holding the small cup with both hands,
drinking her milk calmly…
watching the TV with absolute focus.
A moment passed.
…That was—
the child.
After a short while, Yura finally broke the silence.
"…May I understand?"
She said it in a terrifyingly calm voice.
"Why is there a child in a student's room?"
Jin opened his mouth, closed it, then spoke quickly.
"It's not what it looks like!"
She raised an eyebrow.
"Then explain."
Jin sighed, rubbing his face.
"I met her outside the empire. Bandits… killed her parents."
He paused, then continued.
"She had no one."
Yura looked at the child.
Lily was laughing now at something on the cartoon, completely unaware of the tension.
"…And you brought her to the academy,"
Yura said slowly.
"To the student dormitory."
"I didn't have a choice,"
Jin said quietly.
"If I had left her…"
He didn't finish.
Silence filled the room.
Then Yura spoke again, her tone softer.
"Do you understand the size of the trouble you've caused yourself?"
"I do," Jin answered immediately.
"And I'll bear it."
She stared at him for a long moment.
Then she exhaled.
"You're a reckless teenager…"
She paused, then added in a strange tone,
"…but it's clear you're not heartless."
She stood, walked over to Lily, and bent down slightly.
"What's your name?"
"Lily!"
The child replied happily.
Yura smiled—despite herself.
The Balcony
On the dormitory balcony, after he had explained everything.
"So… that's how it was," Yura said.
Jin nodded.
"I'm only asking you… to keep this a secret."
She looked at him.
"And you?"
"I'll take care of her,"
he said firmly.
"And when I'm gone… I need someone to watch her."
She was silent for a moment.
"Her name?"
"Lily."
Jin looked at the child—
a gaze filled with sadness,
mixed with a tenderness he didn't know the origin of.
Classes Resume – Training Grounds
Classes resumed.
The training grounds were as noisy as ever.
Students.
One-on-one sparring.
Wooden swords colliding.
Instructor Lucas standing watch, his eyes missing nothing.
Now it was Jin and Rachel's turn.
But this wasn't a duel.
It was… instruction.
Aileen said,
"Your movement is slower today."
"Lack of sleep,"
Jin replied.
They paused briefly to rest.
Aileen said,
"Even so… your style has become calmer."
He looked at her.
"Is that a compliment?"
Her cheeks reddened slightly.
"Maybe."
They fell silent for a moment.
Then she added lightly,
"…It's nice fighting with you."
He smiled at her.
"Likewise."
Shuang Yu was sitting not far away, drinking water.
She suddenly said,
"Aileen, your face is red."
"Huh?!"
Aileen turned quickly.
"It's not!"
"It is,"
Shuang Yu said innocently.
"Are you sick?"
"I'm not sick!"
Aileen shouted.
Jin looked between them.
"…Did I say something wrong?"
Shuang Yu replied with childlike seriousness,
"No. But it seems you said something dangerous."
"Dangerous? How?"
"I don't know,"
she said, shaking her head.
"But women are like that."
Jin stood there… confused.
"…What is this?"
Night
At night, in his room.
Jin lay on the couch as usual.
But this time—
Lily was asleep in his arms.
Her breathing was calm.
Her small hand clutched his sleeve.
He looked at her.
He thought:
How did someone this small end up with such a fate?
Then—
without words—
he made a vow.
To protect her.
To make it up to her.
Only a few days had passed since she arrived,
yet the feeling was clear.
Whenever his thoughts drifted…
a memory returned.
Something old.
Something that broke his heart from within.
And so—
The reckless teenager…
became a father.
Suddenly.