Here we are at Chapter 2. Another girl for Inglis to be a knight in shining armor for. This one features Leone. I do not own Reborn to Master the Blade. They belong to their respective owners. Here's chapter 2. Enjoy.

Chapter 2: Healing Leone

It's another day at the academy for Inglis and her friends. Due to her squire status, she doesn't have a lot of classes with her friends. So, here she was in one of the squire courses. She listens intently as the instructor gives the lesson. Everyone else is listening in as well... well, almost everyone. Inglis can feel the lecherous looks from some of the boys in the class. While Inglis appreciates her goddess-like beauty, especially when she's checking herself out in the mirror... good looks do come with flaws as well. Like having boys gazing at you for the whole class, or worse, attempting to woo you. Inglis can't wait to get out of this class and onto the next one. One of the classes for everyone at the school is combat training. Unfortunately, few students at the whole school can give Inglis a good fight. The only one who can actually go toe to toe with her is Yua, but she's in a different year, so no dice.

In her first match of the day, Inglis faces one of the male students. He brandishes a sword and tries to act confident, but the shaking in his legs says otherwise. Many know of Inglis' inhuman strength and skill. Still, a few of the boys take a chance because they believe that if they can beat her, it'll make her fall for them. Yeah, they're wasting their time. Inglis wins the match in seconds, and the rest of her matches as well. After the match and another class, Inglis is on her way to the cafeteria for lunch and to meet up with her friends. However, along the way, she hears some commotion from around the corner.

"Why don't you just drop out and join your traitorous brother, huh!" she hears one girl yell.

Peaking around the corner, she spots Leone surrounded by three other students, two guys and one girl.

"Yeah, what was the principal thinking, allowing you to enroll here? You're a family of traitors," one guy says.

"You're wrong! Yes, my brother joined the Steelblood Front, but that's precisely why I'm here. I'm going to become a knight and bring my brother in to face justice for his actions. I am not my brother," Leone tries to defend herself.

"Please, I'll bet you're secretly working for the Steelblood Front. You're here as a spy for them, looking to get more recruits or steal information for your terrorist friends," the girls retorts.

"I am not. I would never betray the kingdom!" Leone argues.

"Your very existence is a betrayal. Why couldn't you have just died like your traitorous parents?" one mocks her, which seems to really hurt Leone.

"Okay, that's enough," Inglis steps out to confront them.

"Ah! Miss Inglis, what are you-," they seem shocked at her arrival.

"I know that Leon may have joined the Steelblood Front, but I'm sure he had his reasons. It's no secret that there are some from Highland who treat those on the surface with contempt and discrimination. Like they're less than human. Like toys for their amusement. However, I also know that Leone is no traitor. The fact that she's here shows that," Inglis stands between them to defend her friend.

"But Miss Inglis, you can't seriously trust her, can you? She's a traitor, just like her brother! Please, if you keep hanging out with someone like her, it'll only hurt you in the end," one guy says.

"I doubt that. Leone is my friend and I trust her with my life. If you want to keep attacking her character without any shred of proof, then you can take it up with me. I'm always in the mood for a fight," Inglis shows that smile she always has when a brawl is about to start.

Seeing that they won't convince her, and they're too scared to talk back lest they receive her hungry wrath, they three bullies take their leave while they're still standing. Inglis watches them go before sighing.

Inglis turns to Leone, "You okay, Leone?"

Leone keeps her head down and doesn't say anything at first. But Inglis seems them. She sees the tears falling down Leone's cheeks. The poor girl tries to hold them back, but they keep coming until Leone can't hold them back and falls onto her knees, crying.

"Leone..." Inglis mutters with concern.

"Why? Why did this happen? They know that my parents are gone, and yet they continue to insult their memory. Even while I was protecting people before coming here; no matter how much good I do; they still see me as a traitor. All because of one thing that someone else did. What my brother did was wrong. I will never argue that, but... I'm not my brother. Why can't anyone see that? It hurts so much. Why do I keep doing this?" Leone lets her inner pain out.

Inglis pulls Leone into her warm embrace, "It's because you're a good person, Leone. Most would've given up already. But you, you keep on fighting. Because you fight for what you believe is right. If you ask me, you're one of the strongest people I know," Inglis says while rubbing Leone's back.

"But, what if they're right? If you keep associating with me, it may hurt you. I'm not like you, Inglis," Leone pulls back a bit. "You're so strong and beautiful and you have a good family, and everyone loves and adores you. I don't have anything like that. Not anymore... I hate my brother for what he did, but... I still love him deep down. Even if he's the cause of all of this, he's still my big brother," she cries.

Inglis smiles and wipes her tears away, "I'd be worried if you didn't,"

"Huh?" Leone utters, confused.

"I can understand why you would hate your brother, but if you stopped loving him completely, then you wouldn't be the Leone that Rani and I met that day. It's because you're such a kind and caring person that you're in pain. But despite what people say about you, you still fight to protect them. Most don't have that kind of strength. You're stronger than they could ever hope to become. You're cute and just. You're the kind of knight everyone should look up to. That's why I like you so much," Inglis smiles.

"Because... I'd be a good sparring partner?" Leone smile a little.

"Well, yeah, there's that, but I simply like you that much. Plain and simple," Inglis replies.

Leone blushes at her kind words. Inglis truly is unlike any other.

"Heh, if that was a love confession, it'd be a pretty good one," Leone chuckles.

"Well, it always can be," Inglis winks.

"Huh?" Leone mutters in confusion again.

Inglis kisses Leone's forehead and then her left cheek, "Come one, how about we get something to eat together? Food always makes me feel better," she offers, standing up and offering a hand to Leone.

Leone shakes her head and smiles. Inglis was always different from everyone else. Maybe that's why Leone's come to like her so much too. She takes Inglis' hand, and they head to the cafeteria, their hands still intertwined.

And that's the chapter. I know, shorter than the last one. These chapters will vary in length. The next one will feature Lisolette. Until then, please Read and Review.